Living the Fantasy

Then, with pens and paper in hand, they eagerly await the announcement:

“Billy is on the clock.”

The fantasy football draft begins.

It’s a ritual that some 37 million Americans are participating in this year, according to a recent study from national outplacing firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc.

For the 12 players in the group that drafted Sept. 3 at Ebbets Field – all employees, former employees or friends of employees at Hickok’s Steakhouse and Patton Alley Pub – the fun comes from the friendly competition.

“I used to be an athlete in high school, and football is, by far, my favorite sport,” said Dave Geier, the former Patton Alley employee who runs the league. “It’s just one way you can get more involved.”

Whether the league is for money or just for fun, in person or on the Internet, auction-style or simple draft format, all fantasy football leagues create a sense of camaraderie among participants – even office professionals.

“Normally, we’re having meetings about projects, and you don’t get a chance to talk with people about things that are not pertaining to work,” said Jeff Smith, who organized a new league for Butler, Rosenbury & Partners co-workers. “This gives us a chance to see what people are like outside the job – get to know people on a different level.”

And for those bosses who are worried about employees using company time for fantasy football, Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc. says they shouldn’t be concerned. The firm found that the 37 million Americans who will participate in fantasy football this season will spend nearly an hour a week managing their teams from work.

While that could be interpreted as lost productivity, CEO John Challenger recently told Reuters that the time is worth it.

“The potential damage to morale and loyalty resulting from a fantasy football ban could be far worse than the loss of productivity caused by 10 minutes (each day) of online team management,” Challenger said.

Top 10 Fantasy Players

Fantasy Football Rule No. 1: Running backs are point-makers, evident in these rankings.

1. Shaun Alexander, running back, Seattle

2. Larry Johnson, RB, Kansas City

3. LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, San Diego

4. Tiki Barber, RB, New York Giants

5. Rudi Johnson, RB, Cincinnati

6. Clinton Portis, RB, Washington

7. Ronnie Brown, RB, Miami

8. Stephen Jackson, RB, St. Louis

9. Edgerrin James, RB, Arizona

10. Carnell Williams, RB, Tampa Bay

Source: Yahoo! Fantasy Sports

First-round Picks at Ebbets Field

1. Larry Johnson

2. LaDainian Tomlinson

3. Shaun Alexander

4. Tiki Barber

5. Stephen Jackson

6. Rudi Johnson

7. Peyton Manning, quarterback, Indianapolis

8. Clinton Portis

9. LaMont Jordan, RB, Oakland

10. Carnell Williams

11. Edgerrin James

12. Ronnie Brown

Celebrity League

ESPN 1400 AM’s new local sports show, The Bench, has created a celebrity league. Four listeners were chosen to run teams in the league, competing against hosts Kevin Howard and Tony Matteo and other local celebrities:

• Liz Delany, Alice 95.5 FM

• Kirk Elmquist, Springfield Cardinals vice president

• Dan Lucy, KOLR-10 TV

• Whitney Scott, KSPR-TV

• George Spankmeister, KXUS 97.3 FM

• The Skinny Improv comedy troupe