Bringing Family and FriendsTogether

        One thing that fantasy football has really impacted was the amount of time I got to spend with family members. Since one of my leagues was mainly with family members, I got to see them more often and build a stronger relationship with each of them. The league brought us all together and gave us a commonality that we could all talk about. It added a competitive edge to our relationships and made our Sundays a lot more interesting (NFL games held on Sundays). We would all get together at one of our houses and watch the games to root for the players we had. The atmosphere was exciting because there would be close match ups and games would come down to the very last place. It created great moments for us to look back on and remember. In Fantasy Life, Matthew Berry explains how fantasy football has impacted his relationship with his stepson. "During the season, whether it was picking up free agents, reviewing trade offers, setting or lineup, or going over the matchup scores the next day, my stepson and I always had something to talk about and look forward to. Something for us to do together" (325). I can relate to this because it has strengthened my relationship with my uncle. We would talk a lot more and we had a better connection. It was great because it's another person I can relate to and be comfortable with.
       
          Other than family members, I've made friends out of acquaintances through fantasy football. Earlier in the summer, a group of friends and I created a league for us to play in. This idea excited me knowing how much I loved to play. Throughout the season, I was able to talk trash and propose trades to the other teams. I built better and closer relationships with some of the guys in the league. I've known them but never talked a lot with them. The league brought us all together and created something that we could all relate to and talk about. Berry talked about how fantasy football has brought him closer with mutual friends and how they became more comfortable going to dinner (324). This is how it has impacted my relationship with my friends. We would go hang out more and talk more. The league was what bridged us together and were the stepping stones to a long-lasting friendship.

What activities have brought you closer with other people?

Berry, Matthew. Fantasy Life. Westminster: Penguin Group, 2013. Print