Fantasy sports are all
the rage these days. What used to be a niche among only the most dedicated of sports
nerds can now be enjoyed by millions of sports fans now due to the
proliferation of the internet. In this week’s reading, Participation in Internet Fantasy Sports Leagues and Mass Media Use,
authors Quint Randle and Rob Nyland examine the symbiotic relationship between
sports, fantasy sports and the mass media.
Randle and Nyland conducted a survey of fantasy sports
users on their habits of viewing and reading sports coverage. Unsurprisingly,
the vast number of fantasy sports users heavily consumed sports media in all
platforms. They also found a significant correlation between internet usage and
fantasy sports participation. What they did not find was any correlation between
actual sports activity and fantasy sports. The authors pointed out that fantasy
sports allow sports fans to enjoy the thrill of competition and triumph that
sports fosters on a personal level. It is called fantasy sports, after all.
I found it interesting that the authors chose to include
a seemingly unrelated nugget of information regarding the differing motivations
behind male and female sports fans. According to their research, male sports
fans identify themselves through athletic participation and sports knowledge,
while females do by attending events and rooting wholeheartedly. I find that to
be highly subjective analysis.
The authors prove their point about fantasy sports
involvement and sports interest, but accomplish little else.
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