I have now joined the millions of Americans as a Fantasy Football Team Owner, and it is clear to me that I have made some serious errors in judgment in the last 30 years. You've seen that book, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten? Well, apparently it simply doesn't apply to fantasy football. Here are the top five things I learned in Kindergarten that I unlearned from football.

1. Share everything - unless it's a football, of course, then do everything to get a take away.
2. Don't hit people - it's football, do I really need to elaborate?
3. Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody - unless you just beat someone in fantasy football and then it's "who's you're daddy?"
4. Flush - that's pretty much what I want to do with my players right now.
5. Don't take things that aren't yours - unless it's a football.

All joking aside there is one thing I learned in Kindergarten that applies to fantasy football. In fact this is a universal truth for Dad's everywhere on Sunday afternoons in the fall: take a nap in the afternoon. I remember as a kid when there were only three networks, and on Sunday afternoons football was the only thing on. We would come home from church, and after a big meal Dad would lay down on the couch and fall asleep watching football, and some afternoons I would join him.

Now I'm a Dad, and my own son is old enough to become interested football. People play football and watch football because of the shared experience, with their friends, their sons and daughters, their Moms and Dads. Now I want to add one thing to the list of what I learned in Kindergarten and fantasy football: connect with people, you'll be healthier and happier.

Erik Hansen
Thornton City Councilmember
erik.hansen@cityofthornton.net