The mission statement was a collaborative work and saw many revisions. When all was said and done I found myself drawn to one particular line. The line that I think is the most important yet is the least exercised guideline in the statement.

The closing line of the mission statement reads like this:

Be a catalyst for the expansion of our industry so the hobby we enjoy can transcend generations.

It got me thinking (uh oh), what exactly does that mean and how do we as a group ensure this will happen. The more I thought about it the more I realized one organization is simply incapable of making an impact. Under the current structure of the industry, no one group is able to make an impact to that degree. Fantasy football does not have a commissioner that governs us all. There is no league office we can send harassing mail to. There is no standard scoring system we all play by. The industry itself is unorganized, disjointed and without leadership. Under the current structure, how can one organization hope to evolve and be responsible for the industry unless the people accept them? And we all know open acceptance is a rare thing in society today.

So who is responsible? Who can shape this hobby? Who has the loudest voice in the community that can make positive changes and ensure this hobby will transcend generations? Why you are. I am. We all are. Everyone who plays this glorious game needs to look at themselves and take some responsibility for the hobby. Ask yourself this one thing,

"Are you contributing to the growth of the hobby?"

It does not take much to contribute. Did you get your sister involved? Do you offer advice on a board? Do you talk about it with friends in a crowded elevator? Something that contributes to the growth of the hobby in a POSITIVE way? If not, either get off our bus or do something about it.

Fantasy gaming in general is a very young industry. Most of you have been playing for less than a decade. You obviously love the hobby or else you would not be taking important time out of your life to read this drivel. Now think about this question for a second.

"Will you play fantasy football until the day you die?"

The immediate reaction is usually no because you look at the older set and they are not playing fantasy football. But think about it. Why would you ever stop playing? When the kids come? I have two kids and am playing more than I ever have. When work gets busy? I am up to my eyeballs in work yet somehow found time to put this stuff together. It never goes away. Realistically, with the power of the Internet, your first league, which is probably still together, will be together for the extent of your lifetime. Do you see any reason why it would not? I am willing to wager your "buddy" league will be competing together till the bitter end. If you are lucky, you will go down swinging. I think of a friend that has yet to make the playoffs and is the only one to have never made it, we will call him "Doug", because that is his name. Imagine 57 years from now, "Doug" needs one more win against a bitter division rival to make the playoffs for the first time in league history, and kicks the bucket? Now that is pain. If anyone has a high probability of coming back as a specter because he had unfinished business here on earth, he would be it.

My simple point is this. We are just getting started here. This hobby knows not how to transcend generations for it never has. Just like any other societal landmark, we the people need to take responsibility for how the hobby is played. If we do not, corporate America will drive us out. Fantasy sports is projected to do nothing but explode. It has and continues to grow at an alarming rate. We need to be responsible for the decisions that are made in the early goings so as not to ruin our hobby on the back end. If we leave it up to corporate America to solve, much of the tradition, the folklore, the history in the game will be lost.

Part of our responsibility is to ensure our children get involved in fantasy football. My team and league will not just die with me; I want it to go on. In my will I want to leave my fantasy football team with my kids. As part of that passing my children will understand the importance of keeping on my team and making it a winning and above all, example of how to play the game. Fantasy football leagues should take on a form of monarchy where the family lines will carry on the tradition. I want my kids to throttle my buddy’s kids with my team 60 years from now. I want their kids to throttle my buddies kid’s kids 100 years from now. My fantasy football team should be treated like a family heirloom, something that is treasured and handed down from generation to generation.

Fantasy football is a wonderful teacher. Children learn to compete against others in a civil game of number crunching. But even more so than number crunching, the child will receive exposure to complex logic, develop social skills necessary to negotiate and work cooperatively, appreciate and embrace the spirit of fair play and be rewarded for their efforts. Part of the skill in drafting players is to know something about humanity. You need to look past the numbers, past the situation and see the true potential locked inside a player. This game teaches our youth something about themselves and every one of us. It is potentially, one of the purest forms of instructional wisdom on the planet. I plan on getting my kids involved as soon as they are able.

Set up a league with you, your kids, your neighbor and his/her kids. Get your wives involved; get the neighborhood involved. Get the kids playing and learning. Imagine a party every Sunday filled with parents and children cheering a TD and putting 6 points next to Jason’s name? Wings, the grill, a few dogs, each wife can take turns making the football cake, and football. Start simple, TD’s and FG’s only with each child picking 3 players each week. Keep it simple, keep it fun, but use it as a learning tool and a motivator to prepare them for the next step.

Start introducing more players and more rules as they start to see the nuances of the game. Keep the game challenging and they will want to keep playing. I am in several leagues that challenge me to my limits; I do not think it ever a problem that you will run out of complexities to add to the game. Just do not introduce it too fast. Some veterans are still not ready to accept some of the bigger challenges out here.

Get the youth involved and do something good for the hobby, as we are the only caretakers. That is my message and hopefully I have convinced a few of you to think your position on this hobby through. Be proactive, make a difference, bring this hobby to the masses and set us all up for success by bringing in the youngsters. Watch them learn and grow as humans and prepare them now for that one day when you have "the talk". The "one day, this empire will be yours, and these are the values this team has embraced for generations" speech. When I hand over my team to my son or daughter, I want to hand them a proud winning franchise, a franchise rich with history. Till that day, I will play my heart out for them.

Till next month my fantasy brethren, stay well and may all your players make it to the starting gate. Feel free to stop by thehuddle.com for more musings and general football acumen from the progno.

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