Fantasy Shoe League

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I love shoes. I’m not unique in this. Many women do. Shoes feed a woman’s soul. They make us feel good even when our jeans make us feel bad. I normally try to avoid broad generalizations, but most of the men I know feel the same way about sports as women do about shoes. For the most part, this works out well and keeps balance in the universe. For example, Sundays in the fall are known in my house as football days. They are also a great day for me to go shopping. Denver is playing the Jets? Great, I need a pair of Uggs. New England at Miami? Kids, Mommy needs a leopard bootie. Get in the car!

My husband thinks I’m obsessive about shoes and that I spend too much money on them. He can’t understand why I need five pair of black heels (a two inch heel, a three inch heel, a patent pump, a slingback, and a peep toe). He resents the space my shoes take up in the closet.

But it’s my husband who is obsessed, not me. Yes, I own 50 different pairs of shoes. Yes, I spent $300 on my last pair. But my passion for shoes pales in comparison to his love of sports.

What separates the man from the woman? Two words: Fantasy. Leagues.

My husband belongs to two fantasy leagues: one for football and one for baseball. He spends hours researching his draft picks. He reads online reports to help build his team. He actually attends a draft at some other guy’s house. On draft night, I have to leave work early so he won’t be late for the first round pick.

­­Let me repeat that: I have to leave work early on draft night so he won’t miss the first round pick. Granted, I spend lots of money on shoes. I won’t deny that. But my shoe habit has never interfered with my career, much less my spouse’s. In fact, I would argue in some cases, my shoes have enhanced my career. My menswear-inspired black patent and suede pumps were the perfect accessory for my presentation on marketing results. And because I bought them on sale, they complemented the return-on-investment theme.

My husband spends at least an hour each night during a season checking scores, stats and schedules. He is always up to date on who’s on the disabled list for baseball or the injured reserve for football. To be fair, he does pretty well with his fantasy teams. I’m pretty sure he’s made the playoffs every season. And he did receive a bobblehead trophy for winning the “World Series” last year.

Every Monday from April through January, he gives me an update on his team.