By Jeff Mullin Commentary
November 01, 2006 12:29 am
—
These days, fantasy sports are nearly as big as the real ones they profess to emulate.
Millions of players spend millions of dollars annually to participate in ersatz leagues in virtually every sport.
Football is most popular, with an estimated 8 million participants. Players form leagues, draft teams and play head to head. Points are scored and games won or lost on the basis of complicated statistical systems hinging on the actual on-field performance of real National Football League players.
Peyton Manning, then, is as big a star in the world of fantasy football as he is wearing the uniform of the Indianapolis Colts.
The number of fantasy sports leagues has skyrocketed. Not only are there leagues for pro football and baseball these days but for the college versions, as well. In fact, there even are leagues for Arena Football and Canadian Football League.
There are pro and college basketball and hockey leagues, as well as leagues for golf, tennis, horse racing, boxing, cycling, figure skating, swimming, track and field, skiing, soccer and auto racing.
Now some Southern California college students have formed a fantasy league in the most competitive, hard-hitting, ruthless, bruising, blood-thirsty, no-holds-barred, take-no-prisoners sport in the world — politics.
The students, from California’s Claremont McKenna College, have formed Fantasy Congress (www.fantasycongress.us).
This site opens the realm of fantasy competition to those who don’t know Tiki Barber from a Tiki torch and couldn’t tell Kobe Bryant from Kobe beef.
In Fantasy Congress, players draft teams of four senators and 12 House members.
Since legislators rarely tackle anybody, don’t hit home runs and slam-dunk only in their office trash cans, points are awarded for various legislative functions. For instance, a legislator receives five points for each bill or amendment introduced and then gets more points by shepherding their measure through the legislative maze.
While Tom Brady and LaDainian Tomlinson are kings of fantasy football, the studs of Fantasy Congress are Sen. John Warner and Rep. Don Young.
Warner, a Republican from Virginia, is more, it seems, than just one of Elizabeth Taylor’s former husbands. Warner leads all legislators in Fantasy Congress with 1,991 points.
Young, a Republican from Alaska, who is, in fact that state’s only House member, is second with 1,905 points.
Republicans, as you might expect, are dominating Fantasy Congress statistics. The top nine performers, in fact, are Republicans. The top Democrat is California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who is 10th with 1,508 points.
The top fantasy performer in Oklahoma’s congressional delegation is senior Sen. Jim Inhofe, who currently is No. 4 with 1,609 points. He is followed by fellow senator Tom Coburn, who is No. 53 with 739 points.
Their colleagues haven’t fared so well, however. Rep. Dan Boren, the only Democrat in the delegation, is No. 161 with 310 points. Our own 3rd District Rep. Frank Lucas is No. 453 with just 60 points. We can only hope Mr. Lucas is merely a slow starter.
Ernest Istook, who is giving up his 5th Congres-sional District seat to challenge Brad Henry for the governor’s job, is No. 523 with only 26 points.
Rep. Tom Cole (No. 249 with 201 points), Rep. John Sullivan (No. 467 with 52 points), round out our state’s competitors.
Is Fantasy Congress fun? Sure. Is it an accurate reflection of the effectiveness of a legislator? That is for you, the voter, to decide, next Tuesday. Be assured the importance of casting a ballot is anything but a fantasy.
Mullin is senior writer of the News & Eagle.
Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.
Photos
Jeff Mullin