STARS!

Slocum/AP

        
          One sport that I feel like is never really highlighted is Hockey.  I have been a fan of the National Hockey League, specifically the Stars, ever since I was born.  Hockey is brutal and awesome to watch, never knowing when the next fight is going to break out...but wait, let's make them do it on ice.  How can you not think Hockey is great when walking into the stadium with the cold chill of the ice keeping you cool throughout the game.  One of my favorite things about Hockey are the fans.  Hockey fans are straight-up out of control, in a good way.  I can specifically remember going to Stars games when I was younger and the entire crowd yelling STARS during the national anthem.  Some might call that disrespectful, but I just call it being an avid fan. 
          So how are the Stars doing this year?  Let's just say it corresponds to the rest of Texas sports.  Yes we did get the Rangers to the World Series for the first time ever, but we still lost.  The Houston Texans aren't going to win a Superbowl anytime soon in my opinion.  University of Texas football even surprised us with our lack of winning.  According to ESPN NHL Power Rankings, the Stars came in at 13.  We had a three game winning streak, but was stopped by Colorado with a 5-0 loss.  Out of 30 teams ranked on the list, that leaves the Stars at about the middle of the pack, not great but not bad.  The Stars are also up two spots up from the week prior.  The good news those is that the Stars Offense is ranked fourth, a lot better than our overall ranking. 
          What is going on with Texas sports.  Being a Texas native, I know we all have the persona of thinking we are the best at everything.  But I feel like we are allowed to have that persona when it is true.  I now have to defend my teams that were once great, but have nothing to say about them except just take the heat.  The Cowboys, Longhorns, Mavericks, and Rangers all used to have pretty decent seasons that gave me something to rebuttal to my antagonizing friends.  But now, there is nothing except silence.  I really want to Stars to come back and give us something to talk about, but I unfortunately do not think that is the case.  I do not like to rag on Texas sports, but when there's nothing left to say, you just have to.  
          Thank god sports are in cycles so we always have something to look forward to in hopes of becoming champions once again.  If that were not the case, we could enter into the next Great Depression. 
         

Fantasy Football?

          When Football season comes around, the first thing that comes to my mind is fantasy football.  I'll admit it, I'm not the most avid fantasy football player out there, yet it is still the first thing that comes to my mind.  For those of you who do not know what fantasy football is, it is an interactive, virtual competition in which people manage professional football players versus one another.
          One reason why I think that fantasy football is so popular is because they way that it incorporates other teams.  Fantasy football almost seems to support itself in a continuing cycle that makes the actual football game important to many different people.  Although you might not like a particular team, a player from that team might be on your fantasy football team.  This makes many avid fantasy football fans follow teams that they would not normally follow, giving each football game an even wider audience.
          I can easily see why this is so popular for football fans.  Not only is it a great way to make money, if you're good, but most usually team up creating an entire fantasy football community.  Betting on sports is one of the most common types of gambling, but fantasy football almost legitimizes this sort of gambling.  It is completely fair and based on the players and how well they play.  This gambling also involves a large amount of strategy that is not realized.  The best teams that win are those teams that are the most successful at following which players are performing the best or which players are not hurt. 
           Not being an avid fantasy football fan, I can also see the negatives.  Unless your lives revolve around football, it might be hard for those to keep up with the fantasy league.  Only those that are dedicated to spending time on the league should sign up, especially with money involved.  Another disadvantage that I could see is taking away the fanatics for home teams.  It becomes harder to differentiate who you want to win if it involves a home team.  For example, one of roommates wanted to the Houston Texans to win because it's their home team, but also wanted the Colts to get as many field goals as possible.  Its hard to root for your home team when the other team getting getting field goals equals more money in your pocket. 
          Although there are many positives and negatives to fantasy football, it is something that I do not see going away anytime soon.  The U.S. male population is almost driven by fantasy football during football season.  I'm not sure if you're okay with this, but I know that I definitely am.