Fantasy Football: More than a Game

Daniel Griffin

Opinion Editor

Ever since I was young there were two things that meant the world to me: sports and family. Growing up in a big Irish family with many aunts, uncles, and cousins, my childhood was always surrounded by competition. Whether it be the late night kickball games in my nana’s backyard, the golf tournaments, or even the simplest thing as a game of Left-Right-Center, competing has always been in my blood, and is something that bonded me with my loved ones at a very young age.

Continuing this fire and passion for competition into my teenage years, it wasn’t until the Summer of 2021 where I turned my love for sports over to the electronic realm. Typically thinking of competition and sports as an outdoor activity, in the late summer as football season came around on a beautiful night on my grandmother’s back porch, my whole perspective would change. Just a few days after my grandfather had passed away and spending all our time together to support one another, as we sat on that porch talking about the Patriot’s chances for the upcoming season while tossing an old beat up football around, it came to me that we needed a fantasy football league.

Something I had never played before, my uncles and cousins who were vets fell in love with the idea, especially because we would all be in it together. Calling all our close family who would be interested, and setting a solid 10 man league to start, once the group chat was made this is where all the fun would begin.

Day in and day out as that first season approached, all I could remember was the constant banter and excitement in the groupchat. Everyone was so active and involved, once kickoff of Game 1 began, I knew we would be in for something special. An unimaginable blend of competition and fun, my family league, which I am the commissioner of, has been a great passion.

Combining so many different people in my family in a way we never could imagine, this league brought us all together more than ever before. A tight knit group to begin with but unable to see each other as much as we would like, the constant communications throughout the long and grueling NFL season reminds us all of the purpose of family.

In our 5th season and counting with no stopping in sight, every week I look forward to heckling my next opponent and the mid-week updates which excite us all. Over the years this league has meant so much to me and my family, and is something I wish to continue for the rest of my life.