Fantasy Football: During football season, living out a competitive fantasy

by Kimberly Bailey-Tureaud

On the left: Dr. Annette Mayes, Rhonda Johnson and Valerie Dykes. On the right: Mary Stephens, Karen Martin and Gloria Martin

If you run into a group of Las Vegas women gathered around flat-screen televisions at a sports bar on Thursday, Sunday or Monday nights, chances are good you have encountered the First Down Lounge Fantasy Football league.

These ladies have such a deep knowledge of the game, even the most ardent football enthusiasts might feel out of their league when the time comes to compete. According to commissioner Karen Martin, “We started our fantasy football league seven years ago, and some ladies fell out of the group because they lack the competitiveness for the game. We get really competitive, and love to talk smack when our individual teams win. It is great fun.”

First Down Lounge plays via an online platform that can be accessed through NFL.com or Yahoo.com.

“We enjoy getting together as a group every time there is an NFL game,” said Martin. “It is a great social time for us, and we look to see if the players we have drafted on our individual teams make a good play so we can earn points. The person in our group who has the most points at the end of our football season wins.”

Although some people like to play fantasy football for money, Martin says that her group plays for “bragging rights” and the right to be treated to dinner for winning.
“I have always loved sports and the game of football, and many of us go into depression when the NFL season is over,” she said. “We love it!”

For more information contact Karen Martin by email at kmmartin25@hotmail.com.