(From The USA Today -- By Michael Hiestand)
THE CBS SPORTSLINE FANTASY FOOTBALL SHOW on Saturday signaled the debut of A TV SPORTS GENRE devoted to make believe.
RANDY CROSS, a CBS game analyst who served as A FANTASY EXPERT on Saturday's show, reminded viewers they were dealing with the otherworldly -- "In real football, I wouldn't want TERRELL OWENS anywhere near my team. But you're nuts if you don't take him in FANTASY."
Cross, in an off-air interview, estimates that about 14 MILLION PEOPLE play fantasy football -- "I'd be very surprised if this doesn't become a staple for any network covering the NFL."
Such coverage is becoming a reality.
ESPN airs its first FANTASY SPECIAL Thursday, followed by the debut of similar shows on ESPNEWS (August 27th), FOX (August 28th) and THE NFL NETWORK (September 7th).
[What? We weren't first?]
FANTASY FOOTBALL involves PICKING REAL-LIFE PLAYERS and PUTTING THEM ON YOUR MYTHICAL TEAM, then USING REAL-LIFE STATISTICS TO PLAY OTHER FANTASY-LEAGUERS. CBS' show resembled shows about picking stocks with emphasis on short-term predictions and, essentially, offering tips on socially acceptable gambling.
Networks love FANTASY PLAY, because it gives viewers reasons to watch games they might otherwise not care about and drives viewers to NETWORK WEB SITES offering fantasy games. But with full-blown fantasy shows, says ESPN Executive Editor JOHN WALSH, "nobody has cracked the code yet. I t hasn't gotten to the point yet if we know if fantasy shows can make it. I'm convinced they can."
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