One of the biggest growing trends in sport of my time has been Fantasy Sports. Men everywhere obsess over it. Friends join leagues where winners take home money/trophies, bragging rights, or simple friendly bets. TV shows have even been created in honor of fantasy football. The show The League is about a group of friends who play in a fantasy football league in order to win the "Shiva-bowl" and take home the "Shiva" trophy. With the grammys that have just passed by and the Oscars on the way, there is no doubt that it's an award season. SiriusXM's Fantasy Sports Radio (XM channel 87, Sirius 210) is attempting the first fantasy sports awards (at least the first I have heard of *shurgs*) called The Fantasies. I would think this idea would have been thought of 2-3 years ago at least.
The awards will air on SiriusXM's Fantasy Sports Radio (XM channel 87, Sirius 210) on February 23, 2012 at 8:00pm EST. Unfortunately, I discovered about this rather late. The polls are closed so no one can vote anymore nor see the who is competing for each award, but I can list the awards being given this year. The official website features 14 awards (and another blog gives some of the players up for baseball awards):
- Fantasy Football Stud – for the best fantasy football player in 2011
- Bell Cow - for the best running back in fantasy football in 2011
- Mr. Fantasy Baseball – for the best player in fantasy baseball right now
- 1st Star – for the best player in fantasy hockey right now
- The Bernie Madoff Award – for the biggest fantasy football “steal” on draft day or free agency in 2011
- The Jerry Rice Award - for the best wide receiver in fantasy football in 2011
- Fantasy Ace – for the best pitcher in fantasy baseball right now
- Hoops Hero – for the best player in fantasy basketball right now
- Big Man on Campus – for the best player in college fantasy football in 2011
- Hot Wheel – for the driver most likely to finish the 2012 fantasy NASCAR season with the most points
- Alley Oop – for the fantasy basketball player whose value will rise the most in 2012
- Back on the Bandwagon – for the fantasy baseball player expected to be the most improved in 2012
- Worst screwing – to the player who caused the most frustration in fantasy football in 2011
- Gunslinger – for the best quarterback in fantasy football in 2011
Of those listed, let me talk about who will win. Miguel Cabrera will win Mr. Fantasy Baseball. He plays in the American League, he is very consistent, and he is not limited to first base (third base eligible). Justin Verlander will win the Fantasy Ace. This stud's mug is on the MLB 2K12 video game cover and he is the American League MVP and Cy Young Award winner. Carl Crawford is most likely to win the Back on the Bandwagon award because the club he plays for gives him the best to chance to likely put up better numbers than the others nominees.
I can't wait to see who wins, especially my favorite, 1st Star - the player best in hockey fantasy right now. However, I feel there needs to be more diverse categories and awards in each sport for athletes to win.
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