With the always increasing popularity of fantasy sports, the average fan may sometimes wonder whether or not it factors into a players mind at all. Well, for what I believe may be the first time, we have an answer.
I find this piece especially pertinent as I’m a Marion Gaborik owner in one of my leagues, which coincidentally I’m getting killed in. I appreciate his apology immensely. It’s not going to help me win the league but at least I know that he feels for me.
This article points out something that is rapidly becoming a different side of the sports landscape. Players are not only accountable to fans of their own team, but also to a potentially larger group of fantasy owners. Gaborik may be happy if the Wild win a game even if he doesn’t register a point. Conversely, I’m brimming with joy if he pots a hat-trick regardless of the outcome of the game. I can’t count the number of times I’ve had to cheer against a team I like or had such conflicting interests that I found it impossible to watch.
I’m glad Marion was man enough to apologize, even though he shirks all the blame onto the upper brass. I just hope that my apologies from Marc Bulger, Stephen Jackson, Matt Leinart and Christobal Huet are in the mail.
Sacs in The City. 