It’s funny, I’ve been playing fantasy football since the 2009 season, but I have never asked myself, “Who actually had the brains to come up with it?”
No one knows who actually came up with fantasy sports. It’s like the people of Gotham trying to figure who’s Batman.
It’s time for a little history lesson.
Now, despite what the 2014 Cadillac Sedan commercial says, fantasy sports did not start inside a garage.
It started in Oakland California by eight members of the Great Oakland Professional Pigskin League in 1963 and believe it or not, the group is still going on today. The eight members choose two quarterbacks, four halfbacks, two punters and kickers and two full backs along with defensive players. The group organized their offensive players in which only touchdowns counted. (Seriously, I’m not making this stuff up.)
A member of the group, Andy Mousalimas, eventually spread the word of the game through his California bar during the 1969 season.
During the 80’s “Maria’s” league in Spokane, Washington and the “G-League” became popular on the west coast, as the leagues emulated new components like playoffs, player pools and live drafts.
With the popularity growing, CBS finally launched the first ever live-fantasy football website in 1997. By 2000, numerous websites made their own fantasy leagues including ESPN.
By 2009, NFL Network would create their own version of fantasy football, with now close to 24 million people playing fantasy football and about a billion playing fantasy sports.
Fantasy sports have come a long way since it’s humble beginning, but I don’t see it going anytime soon.
Fantasy player of the week: Kevin Durant, Small Forward, Oklahoma City Thunder – Like I mentioned last week, Durant has just been on another level. I know it’s been two weeks where I’ve talked about basketball, but Durant’s 84 points against Utah is undeniable good.
@Lukeoroark
