Leagues

Speaking as someone who has only a mild interest in basketball, the start of March Madness is a time of confusion. This will be the first year that I construct my own "bracket," attempting to predict many dozens of game outcomes without knowing the slightest thing about any of the teams. The "bracket" competition touches upon a phenomenon which I find almost more interesting than the NCAA tournament itself - fantasy sports. Why do so many people, particularly men, find enjoyment in picking fantasy teams and keeping track of arbitrary points? The activity has become so popular that a TV show centered around fantasy football has aired for four seasons now. Is it simply the same fervor which drives normal sport-watching fans?

Unsurprisingly, the answers to these questions are not very straightforward. A study done in 2007 found that fantasy sport participants fall into two very broad categories: those who truly invest time in analyzing statistics and preparing their teams, seeking the satisfaction of outsmarting their opponents; and those who don't put much effort into their sport-fantasizing, but still enjoy the thrill of winning by luck. Interestingly, the study found that social interaction was not a huge motivation for participation. Most users participate for the possibility of victory, through skill or chance.

Perhaps the most essential aspect of fantasy sports is the addition of control. Users can become more than just sideline sports fans, instead taking part in the game itself, winning or losing through their own actions. In doing so, they are taking a traditionally passive pastime (watching sports) and making it active. This raises an interesting issue - are fantasy users unchanged as spectators?