Fantasy zone

Vivian Buenrostro, Co-Editor-in-Cheif

November 15, 2013

As football season starts, Aron Ramirez, 11, shows his appreciation for the sport by playing Fantasy Football online with other fanatics. Players draft NFL players to form Fantasy Football leagues and compete with others.

Junior Aron Ramirez began a fantasy football league with friends and Music Director, Mr. Fell, last year and has kept it going ever since.

Ramirez was interested in establishing a fantasy football league so he asked Mr. Fell for permission to make an announcement after a band rehearsal welcoming anyone who was interested in joining. By doing so, Fell, a current USC football fanatic, signed up as well.

“We all love football, so this is just another way to bond and break the awkward teacher-student barrier,” Ramirez said.

Once the season long competition ends, a winner is crowned as league champion and in this case, rewarded with Starbucks by the losing team.

Because the players’ performances are based off of the performances in real life, the activity still allows people to subconsciously gain knowledge over the real game.

“It doesn’t require any physical activity so it’s a win-win,” senior Nate Galindo said.

Fantasy football is a competition in which participants draft real NFL players for their team to play against each other in a league and score points according to the actual performance of their players. With the increase in Internet access, the increase in fantasy football participants is inevitable, but will it derive from the classic College and NFL Football games?

“I don’t think it will overshadow the real game,” junior Juan Medina said. “It’s just a way for fans to have more control over the game they’re crazy about.”

In 2010, it was estimated by Fantasy Sports Trade Association that 32 million people aged twelve and above in the US- Canada region participate in Fantasy football. This new way to enjoy sports has contributed four billion dollars into the sports business. “Fantasy sports players watch more games telecasts, buy more tickets and spend more money at stadiums at a higher rate than other sports fans,” forbes.com reported.

Although fantasy football appears to be more convenient, it has not reached the popularity peak of stealing away the cheering fans from stadiums and living rooms.

About the Contributors

Vivian Buenrostro, Co-Editor-in-Cheif

Senior Vivian Buenrostro is not only a writer for The Downey Legend online newspaper, but has also taken on the responsibility of Co-Editor-In-Chief. Having been a part of the newspaper staff since her sophomore year, she has experience with the different positions and has even held the positions of Arts and Entertainment Section Editor and Song of the Week Editor. “Newspaper has been one awesome ride these past three years,” Buenrostro said. “I’ve learned skills that are applicable to everything and anything.” Although Co-Editor-In-Chief is a tough and tedious job, Buenrostro is ready to take on the challenge. Throughout this year on staff she hopes to build a close bond with all of the staff members and have productive deadlines. When she is not running the staff or writing stories, Buenrostro enjoys jogs around her neighborhood, making healthy shakes and other concoctions, or swimming in the waves at Huntington Beach. “Time doesn’t really exist when I’m in the ocean,” Buenrostro said. Buenrostro also loves live music; she has been to various concerts including Young the Giant, Arctic Monkeys, and Walk the Moon. Buenrostro plans to graduate and attend an out of state school far from California. “As much as I love Downey High,” Buenrostro said, “I can’t wait to go to college in a new environment.” While away at college she hopes to major in biology and medicine to start her path towards her career goal of being a doctor. Buenrostro aims to make her final year at Downey High School rewarding in both her academics and her position on The Downey Legend staff.

Amanda Lira, Photographer/Photo Editor

Among the returning members of The Downey Legend is Amanda Lira, who had personal motives to join the online newspaper. Lira who currently holds the position of Photo Editor was in junior high when she began to take an interest in photography and decided her dream was to work for a magazine. However, as time passed her gears began to shift toward medicine; but in spite of that, she never lost her passion for photography. “I joined ROP for sports medicine; my goal is to be in Skills USA this year,” Lira said. “I also decided to return to newspaper to meet new people and to feel like a part of something; we are like a little family.” Lira’s current dream is to attend San Francisco State and major in physical therapy. Aside from photography and medicine, Lira enjoys going to the beach with her cousin Lupe and watching Johnny Depp and Bradley Cooper movies. Lira’s aspirations have guided her decisions, from choosing to apply for newspaper, and taking ROP sports medicine. “I think it’s a big achievement¾becoming Photo Editor, and this year I plan on giving it everything,” Lira said. “It’s my senior year and the first step to getting where I want to be.”