My eyes are bloodshot from staring at my computer screen and my right index finger is starting… My eyes are bloodshot from staring at my computer screen and my right index finger is starting to callus from overusing the mouse. Yes, it’s that wonderful time of the year again – fantasy baseball is back!

As I take a break from poring over home and away batting averages and every AAA pitcher’s WHIP (walks plus hits-per-inning pitched), I have decided to give some consideration to how fantasy sports, as profitable and enjoyable as they may be, just might turn out to be the ruination of the sports fanatic as we know it.

Consider the following scenario I – a diehard Redskins fan (laugh if you must) – am getting settled into my couch to enjoy the Washington versus Dallas Monday night showdown. Such an event is normally deemed a holiday for me, considering I get the opportunity to see my beloved ‘Skins about twice a year here in Pittsburgh. Not only that, but we’re playing our archrival, the fiercely hated Cowboys.

Tonight, however, I watch the game with a certain queasy feeling in my stomach. I’m losing by eight points to the best team in our fantasy league, and a Jason Witten touchdown will guarantee me a victory. So, do I root for a Dallas touchdown, while still praying for a Washington triumph?

Oh, the messes we make.

This constant struggle between the desire for pride and money as opposed to, well, just pride, was realized almost each and every week throughout the season. Why would I want to beat my opponent when his quarterback is Mark Brunell?

Of the millions of participants in fantasy leagues around the United States, I’m quite sure that all but maybe 5 percent of these sports junkies experience my same dilemma on a regular basis (you “neutral” fans are spineless anyway).

So, the question begs to be asked, why do we still play the game?

Perhaps we want to, in some way, feel involved with professional sports. Unlike college, most people have little or no ties to a professional team. Consider that Pitt athletics and the facilities are maintained in part by your donations to the athletic department. In addition, we see and interact with student-athletes in many of our classes and around campus. No need to explain my attachment there.

But, as for my undying love for the Redskins, I don’t live in Washington, and I never have. My father and his father did, however, and now burgundy and gold runs thick through my veins.

Still, that seems like a trivial reason to support a team that I don’t fund (other than with the occasional ticket or merchandise purchase). With fantasy sports, however, I can feel like I’m calling the shots. What did I do with Jason Witten? Benched him and hoped for a terrible game. And a week later, I traded for Clinton Portis and picked up Chris Cooley. So now my favorite team is actually playing for me!

Then again, this theory might be expecting too much out of most fantasy participants – including, on occasion, myself. For some, possibly most, the bottom line – or financial gain – is of the utmost most importance, favorite team be damned.

Or perhaps, it’s our pure competitive nature that drives us to occasionally abandon our loyalties and support our adversaries. Maybe we just didn’t get enough of it in second-grade tee ball.

So, whether for pride, wealth or pure enjoyment, fantasy sports are incredibly addictive and aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. So, sports fanatics, get used to those sleepless nights deciding whether or not you should start Rudi Johnson against your darling Steelers.

In the meantime, good luck to all of you competing in fantasy baseball leagues this summer.

And to all you fellow Orioles fans out there, do yourself a favor and don’t draft Alex Rodriguez.

Andrew Chikes is a staff writer for The Pitt News. Make him an offer to join your fantasy team by e-mailing him at [email protected].