watching vs participating

In today's USA Today, there was an article on a guy who is REALLY, REALLY into fantasy sports leagues. He has become some kind of super expert and is now involved with ESPN as some sort of commentator. He was bragging in the article how he has been playing since he was 14 (he is now 37) and how he has played in more leagues than almost anybody.

I truly don't get it. How does this matter, and why should I care? I mean, this is about FANTASY SPORTS!! I suppose it can be fun for some people to play in these kind of things, but to this extent? This guy NEVER mentions where he actually played the real version of these sports, or in fact, whether he ever did any physical activity. How can someone get so involved in something as a spectator, but not as a participant? And how in God's name can he be an "expert" when he has no clue at all without first hand participatory knowledge? You don't have to have played pro football, but it would be nice if you had stepped on the field once or twice in high school.

Fantasy can be fun, but it is probably a little more important to PARTICIPATE i the real world every now and then.