Fantasy island

'X' marked the spot for today's fan leagues

When the final chapter is written on professional football, historians will hold up the AFL-NFL merger, the TV contracts and free agency as three pillars that helped the sport reach cult status.

Keepers of the flame should add a fourth. Fantasy football reportedly began in the 1960s in an Oakland bar, King's X, where an Oakland Raiders employee formed an eight-team league. Legend has it that the first pick was Houston's George Blanda, who turned in a Pro Bowl year in 1962 with 2,810 yards passing, 27 TDs, 48-49 PATs and 11-26 FGs.

Consider the ways that bar tab has changed how fans view the game: rolling tickers at the bottom of TV screens, expanded stat boxes, even cellular updates. Web sites and newspapers publish fantasy stories. Magazines, TV programs and even books are dedicated to fantasy sports.

And while fantasy leagues and free agency in baseball blossomed before either took hold in football, fans of the NFL have been quick to play catch-up. Estimates are that five million people were playing fantasy football in 1990. More than 30 million now participate.

I became addicted to fantasy football in 1997, while working on the sports desk at The Advocate in Baton Rouge, La. I was talked into taking over a team from a co-worker who'd had his fill of make-believe. My unsuspecting bride of three months OK'd the entry fee, not fully understanding what she was in for. Six years later, she still hasn't forgiven me.

Imagine her joy when I burst through the door at 2:30 a.m. and announced I had bought a football team. "It's like owning the Packers," I explained. "I draft players, trade them, waive 'em, sign free agents."

She rolled over and went back to sleep.

Back to the present. On Wednesday night, we had an online draft for SI.com's Experts League, a group of 12 fantasy would-like-to-know-it-alls. My wife had an open house at her school and didn't get home until about 8:30, well into our drafting.

"Hey," she said.

"How was the open house," I asked, never taking my eyes off the computer screen.

"Blah, blah ... blah, blah, blah ... blah, blah," she said.

"That's cool. I'll be up in a bit," I said, thinking she sounded a lot like Charlie Brown's oft-heard, never-seen teacher.

After 3 1/2 hours of mulling names, the party was over. Generally, I feel pretty good after a fantasy draft. This time, two words: Larry Ned. Yeah, he's one of my running backs. Considering eight RBs came off the board before my first pick, I chose the venerable "best available" with Michael Vick. Seven more backs were drafted after my pick.

After snagging Stephen Davis in Round 2, I had to begin filling my roster with more "best available" players. Eventually, I bought into the hype of Ned, who is among those vying to fill in for the Vikings' Michael Bennett.

There will be other fantasy team owners who go through the same scenario during the next few weeks. My advice: