Sports writers Chris Dertz and Derrick Smith sit down to debate a growing addiction all over America: Fantasy sports.

Chris Dertz: September is here, and it’s finally that time of year. I’ve got my rosters ready and my strategy perfected. That’s right, Fantasy Football is here.

Derrick Smith: Fantasy Football? How about focusing on something that’s taking place in real life? The 2008 NFL season.

CD: That’s exactly what I am focusing on! Fantasy Football helps me focus even more on what’s going on in the big league. I find myself actually caring more about things like injuries, turnovers and explosive girlfriends. You’ve got to face it, Fantasy sports are getting bigger and bigger every year and it looks like it’s here to stay.

DS: It just seems pointless to me. Imagine how many college students are missing out on precious study time by surfing Fantasy Web sites trying to find the results of each of their players. It’s extremely nerdy and sad, and I’m sorry, but a real sports fan doesn’t need a fantasy league to keep them posted on league updates.

CD: It’s not that I wouldn’t pay attention otherwise, but Fantasy helps me root for the little guy. Now instead of hearing the name Selvin Young and saying “Who?” I can be proud of myself for picking him up in free agency (he was undrafted in real life too, by the way). He lead me to victory for at least two weeks last year. From September to February, my life revolves around football anyway, so what’s one more thing?

DS: OK. I understand that in your own little world you can be a winner, but seriously though, snap back into reality. How much joy can you possibly get by picking names, putting them on a fake team and watching their numbers accumulate? It has no effect on the outcome of the real season and there is no way you can affect the outcome of your own team. You’re better off hooking up the PS3, popping in Madden NFL 2009 and playing against a friend. At least then it’s competition that shows some sort of skill on your part.

CD: I can get quite a bit of joy from watching the Woodhull Wallabees routinely pound the competition year in and year out, actually. Just think about how parents feel when their little tykes score their first goal in a game and gradually get better and better? I’m like the parent of my own little fantasy family, and, for the record, I won over $200 playing in Madden tournaments last year.

DS: Well I’ll give you that one, although you may beat me in Madden, you’ll never top me in NCAA Football, but it still doesn’t change my opinion of the whole concept of Fantasy sports. I’m sure there are plenty out there that would agree with me, but I just have better things to do. While I am still an avid sports fan, I focus my attention all on one team and that’s all I care to watch. I honestly do not care about Ocho Cinco (though a very bizarre story) and the third string running back on the Titans is just completely irrelevant. All fantasy sports do is give Americans another excuse to waste this beautiful weather by staring into a monitor eating Cheese Nips.

CD: I’m not sure what else I can say to that, other than I’m content to watch my little LaDainian dominate defenses every week, and if you can’t see how awesome that can be, then there’s no saving you — Baked Lays are my snack of choice, by the way.

DS: Well, neither one of us is convinced and I guess there is just no end to this debate. Have fun tracking your virtual team. I will admit though, it must be better than watching the Bears lose and watching SportsCenter highlights of Kyle Orton’s neck hair grow.

CD: Derrick, my friend, nothing is better than watching the Bears lose.

DS: A Packers fan! That’s a whole ‘nother debate in itself!