Curbing the Competitor Within

I've given it more thought than I'd like to admit. Over the past few days I've asked the opinion of no less than five other people about what to do. Even today, the day of decision I was still uncertain if I had done the right thing.

You see, it's all about fantasy football.

My team did well this year. Not as confidently well as last year, but I made the playoffs and then the final four. But it was that last milestone that gave me pause. Last year I won the tourny to the great surprise of everyone including me. This year, my former company was kind enough to include me in the league, but I would imagine few expected similar success.

Making the final four was enough, to me, to say hey, I'm not half bad at this. Certainly there is a lot of luck in such things, but at least I demonstrated that what little skill I had, I put to good use on occasion (and made some remarkably dumb move, too). But I found myself cheering for former co-workers to go the distance and win the tourny this year instead of wishing I would win myself. I just didn't think that would be much fun for everyone else. I don't even work there for crying out loud.

So I started to think maybe I should tank on purpose. But there are male egos to be dealt with a tanking on purpose wouldn't go over well, I suspect. So I decided to leave my team alone and just hope that either in this semi-final round or in the finals next week I might be outplayed and I wouldn't win it all, leaving someone still in the office, still around to enjoy the glory to win.

And it would seem as though Mother Nature stepped in and honored my request. The New England blow-out of the Jets would have solidified my spot in the final game. But today, with inclement weather, the Pats ran the ball leaving Brady without a single touchdown and a fraction of his usual passing yards. Moss was left with a less than stellar day. And while some of my other players stepped up to the plate and made some big yards and a couple touchdowns, it won't come close to being the points I will need to win.

And so I am relieved.

And no male egos are injured. And everyone back at the office should be happy that the final game will be between two of their own.

And while I expect I might play next year, I won't play again in this league as I think it's time to move on. Thanks, guys, for inviting me to play and for all the fun of becoming a completely obsessed football fan. And to PC - I wish you all the best in the finals!!