I’ve always loved fall—the turning leaves, the transition back to hot lattes instead of iced ones, and the return of Sunday football. I grew up watching the Vikings with my dad, and once I got to college, I really started paying attention to the rest of the league. I realized that I enjoy watching football games even when my team isn’t the one playing. There’s just something exciting about the rivalry, the community…
This season, I’m trying something new. I’m playing fantasy football for the first time, and so far, I love it. And while I admit that I love seeing my team win, fantasy still doesn’t trump my love for the Minnesota Vikings.
There’s something I’ve noticed, though, in my three short weeks in a fantasy league…people expect me to lose. That, or they ask, “did you actually draft your own team?”
Ok, I admit, I had a little help from my boyfriend who knows a ridiculous amount of NFL trivia. I couldn’t tell you which team every single player is on and where they played college ball and exactly how many rushing yards they had in the last season. That’s a bit over the top for me. But I understand who plays what position, what that means, and who is playing well. I may have received a few pointers, but I still drafted my own team. What bothers me is the assumption that I didn’t do any of it myself because I’m a girl.
Today, my boyfriend and I were talking to his coworker about fantasy and I heard, “You lost fantasy to your girlfriend? Do you know how much that sucks for you?” To which I countered, “what’s so bad about that? It’s the twenty-first century women know about football, too.” And then I did a little mental end zone ball-spike when he started backtracking because yeah, women understand sports, too.
Oh yeah, and one of the two undefeated teams in my league? Drafted by a woman. So don’t tell me women don’t understand sports, or that we don’t know anything about football. You can still catch me cheering on my Vikes every Thursday, Sunday, Monday…whenever it is.
I have to admit, victory feels a little extra sweet when your team name is Sundays Are for the Girls.
Here’s to another great season, and for all the female football fans out there—keep doing what you do.