Reality hits fantasy football winners hard
36-year-old grocer and Kansas City Chiefs fans from Clyde, Kan., whose wife labeled fantasy football a "waste of time" and who admits "luck had more to do with it than anything," won the top prize in USA TODAY and RapidDraft.com's fantasy football contest: $250,000.
But there are no complaints from David Girard, who told USA TODAY he was nervous in Week 17.
"I couldn't even watch the games," but he did "break down" to see Tony Romo help carry him to victory.
Asked about spending a quarter of a million dollars, Girard said he had promised his wife bedroom furniture.
Upon further review: "I have four kids. … Most of it will go toward a college fund for them."
-- Other fantasy winners: Carlos Williams, a sales specialist from Pinellas Park, Fla., earned $1,000 as the Pigskin Pool champion.
His strategy? "Try to pick a key upset every now and then," said the 40-year-old Pittsburgh Steelers fan, who plans to use most of his winnings on house repairs.
First place in USA TODAY's 3-Play game went to Bob Verhasselt, a 36-year-old Dallas Cowboys fan from Weston, Wis., who "loved watching Tony Dorsett."
This season, he turned to the NFL's newest 2,000-yard man. "Chris Johnson pretty much stabilized my victory," he said.
But winning $500 goes beyond football.
"It comes at a good time," Verhasselt said. "We're having our fourth baby in May." -- Bob Kimball
36-year-old grocer and Kansas City Chiefs fans from Clyde, Kan., whose wife labeled fantasy football a "waste of time" and who admits "luck had more to do with it than anything," won the top prize in USA TODAY and RapidDraft.com's fantasy football contest: $250,000.
But there are no complaints from David Girard, who told USA TODAY he was nervous in Week 17.
"I couldn't even watch the games," but he did "break down" to see Tony Romo help carry him to victory.
Asked about spending a quarter of a million dollars, Girard said he had promised his wife bedroom furniture.
Upon further review: "I have four kids. … Most of it will go toward a college fund for them."
-- Other fantasy winners: Carlos Williams, a sales specialist from Pinellas Park, Fla., earned $1,000 as the Pigskin Pool champion.
His strategy? "Try to pick a key upset every now and then," said the 40-year-old Pittsburgh Steelers fan, who plans to use most of his winnings on house repairs.
First place in USA TODAY's 3-Play game went to Bob Verhasselt, a 36-year-old Dallas Cowboys fan from Weston, Wis., who "loved watching Tony Dorsett."
This season, he turned to the NFL's newest 2,000-yard man. "Chris Johnson pretty much stabilized my victory," he said.
But winning $500 goes beyond football.
"It comes at a good time," Verhasselt said. "We're having our fourth baby in May." -- Bob Kimball
