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Bleacher Features - 'Sanford & Son Syndrome'
CBS SportsLine Fantasy Baseball

'Spatula Boy' June 29, 1998

Earl Bench is in his fourth year of Fantasy baseball. His league uses an unusual, but effective plan for avoiding the Sanford & Son Syndrome.


A sporting event is played for competition. The winner gets pride, while the loser feels agony. This isn't necessarily the case in a Fantasy league. Here, we drink beer and read stats, hoping to finish in the money. If we're lucky we get some financial compensation, if we lose we wait until next season. Every league has someone who makes bad trades. Bad trades can come in many forms, from angleing for draft position next season, or schemeing to help a contending friend get in the money. Furthermore, there is always the guy who loves the trade he just made, even though everyone tells him he lost his pants.

In my league, we have a trade commission and we also revise the rules annually. Neither of these have been very effective to combat the Sanford and Son Syndrome. We did discover an alternative method, which puts the competition back into Fantasy sports. Keep in mind, our league is comprised of a close group of friends, and our rule wouldn't work with poor sports. This year, we inacted a loser's clause, which has everyone scared to death of finishing last.

It is very simple. The last place owner is the Spatula Boy. He will be responsible for cooking burgers during one game of the World Series. Every other owner is invited to watch the game while the last place owner is the cook and servant. Not only must the Spatula Boy cook, he must also serve food and drinks upon demand for the duration of the game. It is absolutely great to see losing teams do whatever it takes to get their team out of the celler. Honestly, we are almost half way done, and no one has given up. To make it more fun, we have a shiny spatula, which circulates around the league. It gets passed from celler dweller to celler dweller. If someone gets out of last, he'll drop it in the new loser's mail box. It's sort of like passing the spatula torch!


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