NASCAR races remind me of their season. Maybe, more appropriately, they are like MLB or PGA seasons. Long, a lot of lead changes and almost anything can happen. I like that I can put on the race on a Sunday afternoon and do other things, periodically checking in, listening for announcers' voices to rise in volume if I'm not watching the screen. I was elated to watch the Real Heroes 400 at Darlington, yesterday. While there were no fans in attendance and everybody was walking around wearing masks and gloves, it wasn't terribly different, from the perspective of a television spectator. I was happy to set my fantasy lineups. I was happy to send messages and tweets to my fellow fans. As the race wore on, I was even inwardly happy to hear my bride's frustrated comment, "Is the race STILL on?"
That's kind of how I feel about this shutdown. At first, we were told to make these social changes and close businesses where people gather in an effort to keep hospitals from overloading. Now, it feels we're told we have to keep this up until the risk is gone. (I recognize this is being governed in a fluid manner and I'm using some hyperbole.) Are we to believe that we'll eliminate all risk of getting sick or killed because of discoveries from this pandemic? That seems absurd, and so I question our standard of living. Our ability and desire to live in community is mostly dependent on a set of common standards to which we silently, maybe even subconsciously, agree.
I have played fantasy sports since 2014. I was invited by the pastor of the congregation by which I was employed at the time to join the church's fantasy football league. I had been recently hired as the Children's Ministry Director and was looking for ways to get to know the parents. Several of the kids' dads were in the league, so I accepted and began what would soon become a fierce hobby. By the 2015 NFL season, I had found several other leagues to join and began to get involved in various FF communities online. Yahoo, ESPN, Fantrax and several other sites became the focus of my internet use. I had found a class of people that I enjoyed and we all subscribed to the same standards for playing a league season together.
I quickly found there are fantasy leagues for other sports. Since 2016, I've played in multiple fantasy leagues for football, baseball, hockey, basketball, soccer, golf and auto racing. Each time I joined a new league or started a new sport, I learned and adapted to the new standards. Admittedly, for me, the most fun part of any league is the draft and that's over before the season starts. Fantasy drafts all kind of look the same, regardless of sport. In similar fashion, NASCAR starts its season, every year, with the biggest, most covered, most celebrated race. Like the first part of any fantasy sports season, Daytona is, for NASCAR, what the draft is for me. The anticipation of what's to come is adrenalizing in the moment. The potential for greatness readies my psyche, steels my resolve and focuses my excitement.
Yesterday, because of the 70 day furlough, the race at Darlington was like a second start to the season. It did not have the pomp, circumstance or celebration of Daytona, nor was drafting my guys for the race wasn't quite up to par with the season start. There are seven races planned for eleven days to get NASCAR back on track. (Excuse the pun.) PGA is also planning multiple events per week in an effort to get as many tournaments as possible played. We have yet to hear if MLB, NBA, NHL or PL (Premier League) will play their seasons. Though it seems clear, for this season, the grind of 164 baseball games, 36 PGA tourneys, basketball and hockey fantasy playoffs to which I have become accustomed are not coming back.
NASCAR races are a grind. Fantasy baseball and golf are a grind. This pandemic response has become a grind. What's obvious at this point is that not everybody is a grinder. As a connoisseur of fantasy sports, I have the most pride in playing the grinds. I like that I belong to a few exclusive clubs of guys who have made player statistics way more important than necessary. I like that I know the other folks in those leagues are as crazy as I am. This grinder applauds the local governments and leagues that have restarted. It's like it's preseason again and some of my leagues have had their draft and I'm still awaiting others. Will there be 2020 NBA or NHL playoffs? Will there be an MLB season? Even, will there be college and pro football seasons? I don't know, but as I go about parenting my children and fixing people's cars, I will be checking in, waiting for the Tweeters and talking heads to get louder. I've been preparing for this.
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