Fantasy football has developed into a cultural phenomenon; the gathering of friends and family in a friendly competition over the NFL and the players in the league. The league has turned into winners punishing losers. Instead of winning cash prizes from your buddies, you get to make repercussions for the losers, often presented as making fun of people.
The concept of the humorous punishments for the game has really taken off due to social media, as it raises the stakes, encouraging leagues to create punishments that will go viral.
Senior London Culver has been playing fantasy football with his friends since sophomore year.
“Last year we had our friend do an embarrassing social media post, and then the milk mile the year before,” said Culver. “I think the punishments haven’t gone too far quite yet in my league, however, I have seen a lot of crazy things on social media that are questionable.”
The most popular punishments at LHS seem to be awkward posts online, milk miles or crazy hairdos, and junior Patrick Helberg has been at risk for these punishments in his league.
“I think personally, with my group they haven’t gone too far. We have done punishments like buzz cuts and the milk mile,” stated Helberg. “I do believe punishments definitely can and have crossed the line. For example, making someone damage their reputation with people they know, hurting their digital footprint, or inflicting pain on someone is taking it too far.”
Fantasy football is meant to bring people together and have fun, not ruin people’s esteem or endanger them.
