When the Buccaneers kick off their preseason home opener against the New England Patriots on Sunday, football widows across the bay will let out a collective groan. Even guys who just aren't that into the pigskin will dread the six months of watercooler talk about calf strains and rushing yards. Then there's the endless agonizing over one's fantasy football league.
If you couldn't care less about sports, then join a league of your own. Here are some alternatives.
Fantasy Fashion League
Draft your favorite designer and a dream team of celebs. When Kate Bosworth shows up on the red carpet wearing Yves St. Laurent, you score big — provided both are on your roster. Earn points if your star is mentioned on instyle.com, appears on magazine covers or attends an awards ceremony. Prizes will be posted online soon. Also check out FFL's beauty, celeb and shoe editions.
Season: Fall season starts on Emmy night, Sept. 21, and ends in November.
Cost: Free.
Site: fantasyfashionleague.com
Fantasy Congress
Draft a team of current U.S. legislators and earn points based on their real-life performance. Rack up points when a someone from your bench helps advance a bill, shows up for a vote, speaks on the Senate or House floor or receives positive press coverage. Teachers and professors are even using the league to teach government to students too old for Schoolhouse Rock. The winning citizen gets bragging rights.
Season: Play anytime, but most teams hold fall and spring terms to coincide with when the real Congress is in session.
Cost: Free.
Site: fantasycongress.com
Fantasy Husband League
Each week, choose from 20 characters, each of whom represents a real-life guy. The husbands respond to a relationship scenario, such as: The last time your wife and mother saw each other, they had a minor disagreement. Your mother now wants to visit for a week, and your wife wants nothing to do with it. How can you make both women in your life happy? You earn points based on your husband's response, which is scored by two marriage counselors. The winner gets jewelry.
Season: The next seven-week season begins in late fall; start date to be announced.
Cost: $6.95 per season.
Site: fantasyhusband.com
Fafarazzi
Choose a lineup of celebrities, and earn points when gossip blogs rag on them. The Superficial says Jennifer Aniston wants to have John Mayer's babies? You score big. iVillage Daily Blabber predicts Morgan Freeman and his wife are splitsville? Sucks to be them, but you get more points. The winning team gets a pat on the back.
Season: To be determined by your league's commissioner.
Cost: Free.
Site: fafarazzi.com
Fantasy Music League
You're the head honcho at a faux record label. Using a budget of $70 million, sign 10 singers to your company. As your artists climb the charts for real, your label earns revenue. Say you're managing Rihanna when her Take a Bow tops the Billboard Hot 100; you could win big. After 13 weeks, the top-grossing labels get their share of $25,000 in for-real prizes, including iPods, iTunes downloads and cash.
Season: There are four 13-week seasons a year.
Cost: $10 per season.
Site: fantasymusicleague.com
When the Bucs kick off their preseason home opener against the New England Patriots on Sunday, football widows will let out a collective groan. Even guys who just aren't that into pigskin will dread the six months of watercooler talk about calf strains and rushing yards. Then there's the agonizing over one's fantasy football league. If you couldn't care less about sports, join a league of your own. Here are some alternatives. — Dalia Colón dcolon@tampabay.com
Fantasy Fashion League
Draft your favorite designer and a dream team of celebs. When Kate Bosworth, right, shows up on the red carpet wearing Yves St. Laurent, you score big — provided both are on your roster. Earn points if your star is mentioned on instyle.com, appears on magazine covers or attends an awards ceremony. Prizes will be posted online soon. Also check out FFL's beauty, celeb and shoe editions.
Season: Fall season starts on Emmy night, Sept. 21, and ends in November.
Cost: Free.
Site: fantasyfashionleague.com Fantasy Congress
Draft a team of current U.S. legislators and earn points based on their real-life performance. Rack up points when a someone from your bench helps advance a bill, shows up for a vote, speaks on the Senate or House floor or receives positive press coverage. Teachers and professors are even using the league to teach government to students too old for Schoolhouse Rock. The winning citizen gets bragging rights.
Season: Play anytime, but most teams hold fall and spring terms to coincide with when the real Congress is in session.
Cost: Free.
Site: fantasycongress.com Fantasy Husband League
Each week, choose from 20 characters, each of whom represents a real-life guy. The husbands respond to a relationship scenario, such as: The last time your wife and mother saw each other, they had a minor disagreement. Your mother now wants to visit for a week, and your wife wants nothing to do with it. How can you make both women in your life happy? You earn points based on your husband's response, which is scored by two marriage counselors. The winner gets jewelry.
Season: The next seven-week season begins in late fall; start date to be announced.
Cost: $6.95 per season.
Site: fantasyhusband.com Fafarazzi
Choose a lineup of celebrities, and earn points when gossip blogs rag on them. The Superficial says Jennifer Aniston wants to have John Mayer's babies? You score big. iVillage Daily Blabber predicts Morgan Freeman and his wife are splitsville? Sucks to be them, but you get more points. The winning team gets a pat on the back.
Season: To be determined by your league's commissioner.
Cost: Free.
Site: fafarazzi.com Fantasy Music League
You're the head honcho at a faux record label. Using a budget of $70 million, sign 10 singers to your company. As your artists climb the charts for real, your label earns revenue. Say you're managing Rihanna when her Take a Bow tops the Billboard Hot 100; you could win big. After 13 weeks, the top-grossing labels get their share of $25,000 in for-real prizes, including iPods, iTunes downloads and cash.
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