PARIS — For exactly 15 minutes on Saturday morning, a man dressed in a dress, wig, and bonnet that looked like something out of “Little House on the Prairie,” stood in the middle of Market Square with a sign.
The sign could say anything he wanted, with one stipulation – it had to make reference to the man’s ineptitude at playing fantasy football.
Danny McGray, the commissioner of a local fantasy football league, stood in Market Square for 15 minutes and held a sign that said “Life lesson of the day…don’t lose at fantasy football,” as vehicles honked and yelled out the window.
This was McGray’s “punishment” for coming in last place in the 12-person fantasy football league he founded 12 years ago.
This is the first year McGray had to endure the punishment and he said he was dreading it the night before.
“That wasn’t fun, but it’s fun watching it,” McGray said.
All the other members of the league gathered nearby on the side of the road to heckle McGray along with other passing motorists. The punishment was held on the day of the fantasy football draft, which will set up each member’s team for the upcoming NFL season.
In a fantasy football league, players hold a draft where each person picks a different NFL player in each round to build a “team.” Each week there are head-to-head matchups where teams compete. Each player is awarded points depending on their stats for that particular week.
In McGray’s league, a rule was implemented seven years ago that whoever comes in last must endure the public humiliation of dressing up in a dress and standing in Market Square for 15 minutes.
“This way it’s a fight the whole way because no one wants to come in last,” league member Lyndon Mason said. “It keeps it competitive.”
All of the league members grew up together and played sports at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School.
“We’re all super-competitive guys as it is,” Mason said.
During his time in Market Square, McGray did come away with one gift, a small bottle of orange juice.
When asked if he plans to use a different approach to the league this year, McGray said “no”.
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