| Fifteen years ago, my friends and I wanted to | | | | he or she is part of a fantasy football league. My |
| get involved in fantasy sports. We had heard of | | | | own participation has initiated a new experience. |
| Rotisserie baseball, the game where you select | | | | As a writer, I'm always looking for a new idea, |
| major leaguers and use their statistics for your | | | | something unique, and fantasy football has given it |
| own fantasy team. Most of us preferred football | | | | to me. A work of fiction. For years, while I was |
| over baseball, so we did a little research and | | | | busy writing how-to books and articles, I |
| decided to create a fantasy football league. Now, | | | | dreamed, as most authors do, of writing the |
| we're entering our 16th season, with 20 of the | | | | great American novel. When that didn't come, I |
| most rabid football nuts anywhere, competing for | | | | just wanted something different; something I |
| pride and a small monetary prize each year.We're | | | | thought would interest a large audience.It finally hit |
| not alone, of course. Over 15 million Americans | | | | me -- a work of fiction, based on fantasy football. |
| play fantasy football, a game that uses the | | | | It's called The League. Suspense, conspiracy and |
| statistics of professional football players for | | | | fantasy football combine for the first-ever |
| personal, fantasy teams. During the last decade, | | | | published work of fiction that has a back drop of |
| this game has erupted, like a volcano. There are | | | | America's favorite game. Here's to a dream come |
| hundreds of web sites, dedicated to it. Magazines | | | | true and a hope that 15 million Americans love |
| litter the newsstands in June and July, all dedicated | | | | The League as much as I do. Learn more about it |
| to providing the best information possible about | | | | at Barnes has published several how-to books on |
| players from the National Football League, as well | | | | real estate finance, Internet business, and |
| as offering "expert" prognostication as to which | | | | self-publishing. Recently, he has expanded his |
| players will benefit your fantasy team the most, | | | | horizons into the fiction world, with his |
| based on their performances on the gridiron each | | | | suspense-thriller, The League, presented by DNA |
| Sunday. There are even radio and TV shows, | | | | Press. The League is available at Amazon.com, |
| dedicated to discussion of fantasy football and the | | | | DNA Press, and will be in book stores this |
| NFL players that dot each team's roster.If you | | | | summer. Mark is currently working on his second |
| know someone who loves football, chances are | | | | novel, another sports-related suspense thriller. |