Today's post is written by assistant coach Marcus Moeller:
They say admission is the first step right? Okay here goes nothing........I have a problem. There, I feel much better. Oh wait, you actually have to admit what the problem is?? Okay......I am obsessed with fantasy football. It's just the truth. I often talk about my team and how they performed on Sunday, but unfortunately I get little response from my co-workers. But that was until things took a drastic turn in late August. Coach Hubbard muttered those words I've been longing to hear, "Marcus, I have been asked to join a fantasy football league...can you help me prepare a little bit for my draft?" To be honest, I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Well now, 2 weeks into the NFL season, you'll find Coach Hubbard and I talking about the ups and downs of our teams and how we wish we would have started this person over that person, etc.
For those of you not engrossed in the joys of Fantasy Football let me give you a quick rundown. Fantasy football is centered around the actual performance of actual NFL players every Sunday. A league of "owners" (typically 10) get together and each draft a roster of current NFL players that make up their team. Every week that owner decides who they will put in their starting lineup (traditional leagues start 1 QB, 2 RB, 2 WR, 1 TE, 1 K, and 1 Defense). Each player gains "fantasy points" according to a scoring system based on each statistical category. For example, for the quarterback position you might receive 6 points for every touchdown, 1 point for every 50 throwing yards, 1 point for every 25 rushing yards, and -2 points for every interception and lost fumble. So, if Tom Brady is in your starting lineup and throws for 250 yards and 2 touchdowns, then he earned you 17 points (12 in TD's and 5 in yardage). Every week you play head-to-head against someone else in your league. So, Coach Hubbard is happy to announce that after 2 weeks, she is 2-0!
This is my 11th season playing fantasy football and I have noticed something about it that I really don't like. Individual performance is EVERYTHING and it is no longer about winning and losing. Being a die-hard Chiefs fan and owning Jamaal Charles (one of their running backs) has caused me to say things I would have never dreamed of saying. Last year, after the Chiefs lost a game I said "Yeah but it's okay because Charles scored 24 fantasy points for me." After I said it I took a step back and thought "wow, never thought I would be okay with the Chiefs losing." The truth is, winning has been devalued. That is the reality of fantasy. There is a very similar trend occurring in youth sports today. The 2 main areas that I believe have lead to this issue are AAU/summer basketball and participation medals in youth sports.
I LOVE AAU basketball. I have always been a huge fan of it. Summer basketball was such a GREAT experience for me and I have so many memories and made some awesome friendships along the way. The one downside that I see to it is the massive amounts of games that kids play during the summer. It is not uncommon to play 3 games in a day and 20 in an 8 day span during the peak of summer ball in July. The sheer number of games has taken the emphasis off winning. Individual performance, getting seen by college coaches, and creating a "recruiting buzz" around each player has become far more important than teaching these athletes how to win AND how to lose. It is not uncommon to hear an athlete that just lost a game say, "yeah, but at least I scored 20". This is so hard to stomach as a coach.
A friend of mine was talking to his 10 year nephew on the phone and found out that his soccer team had just ended their season. He was so proud to tell his uncle about the medal he received at the awards ceremony. When asked how many games he won he replied, "I don't know, we don't keep score." Naturally, my friend responded with, "so what is the medal for?" "Oh, everyone in the league gets one" was the 10 year old's response. I really do believe that winning is not everything, but winning AND losing and the lessons that come from those 2 things, is the most important thing. To steal some of Aaron Rodgers' thoughts (Quarterback of the Green Bay Packers and NOT a member of my fantasy team :), kids must learn how to deal with disappointment. Losing is a disappointment
and a very important tool in the maturation of young children. Winning and losing at a young age is so important. The lessons learned from those experiences are invaluable to the growth of the youth.The reality of fantasy has become the reality of reality.
Our preseason has been all about breaking down those barriers and stressing the importance of "winning" in everything you do. Win in school, relationships, your mindset, the community, and on the court. And if by chance you do lose, you need to learn from it, grow from it, and move on from it.
Until next time...It's a GREAT day to be a LION!!
Marcus Moeller
Assistant Coach
