So, you consider yourself a “pure simulation” person, always angling for the right set of sliders that produce accurate statistics? If that's the case, then you probably don't allow unrealistic trades. Also sentimentality doesn't get in the way of signing key free agents or cutting aging veterans -- statistics are everything.

This shrewd knowledge of players and stats might spill over into the realm of fantasy sports and the thrill of draft day where you manage to avoid the big busts early and manage to steal talent late. You enjoy the combinations that can be put together: the star QB and stud WR, two aces at the top of your rotation, a scoring point guard and defensive center.

If the above is true, then at some point in your gaming career you may have found yourself in the following dilemma: wanting to play a “sim” season while succumbing to the allure of a fantasy draft

Are these two desires mutually exclusive? I doubt a real life team could financially -- or mentally -- afford both T.O. and Chad Johnson, so drafting those two isn't exactly “sim.” Yet, if you are trying to put together a deep-threat passing team, those two might be tops on your list -- in both fantasy and video game leagues. Well here's how some virtual GMs satisfy both sides of this tricky coin.

“Forgetta 'bout it”: You could adopt this East Coast phrase as your mantra, literally ignoring the fact that your superstar fantasy team could never exist in reality. Or you can suppress your inner fantasies and force yourself to play with your hometown team, regardless of how terrible they might be. This course of action, like a fad diet, only works for so long, until your are shamelessly gorging yourself on a full course of fantasy draft action. The other variation -- running two leagues simultaneously -- is equally flawed, especially for those of us that are “time-impaired.”

“Captain, system's offline”: A more logical approach to the dual leagues is becoming less science fiction now that online leagues and dynasties are a reality. Some prefer to do their realistic simulations offline against computer controlled teams. This allows them to keep a close eye on what trades go down and/or adjust rosters to match real life transactions. Then, these same users will compete in fantasy-based leagues online against friends, matching the same emotions that statistic-based fantasy leagues create.

“Alternate history”: An even more imaginative approach is to create a backstory for your league that makes fantasy drafting somewhat more reality-based. Perhaps labor issues caused the NFL to fold, only to “reset” the following year. Maybe Bud Selig and the owners association decide to force parity by eliminating small/big market teams through a one-time draft. Unless you're blogging the progress of your team online, this story only has to be detailed enough to satisfy your own hang-ups with fantasy drafts. If you are playing a text sim or a console game with customization features, you could go the extra mile and rename all of the teams, etc.

“Expand and Contract”: A few weeks ago I wrote about All-Star Baseball 2005 and its unique “Expansion” mode. In it, you create-a-team, participate in the fantasy draft, and play out your seasons. I wish more games had a mode like this because it's the ultimate compromise (in other words, an expansion draft is the closest thing we have in real life to a fantasy draft). You can finagle this in some games by creating a team and only taking athletes who really wouldn't be protected -- granted, this takes a little more homework on your part. Stick to aging veterans, unproven rookies, and guys buried behind star players, just the kind of draftees you tend to avoid.

Is this dilemma affecting you? What do you do to resolve it? I tend to go with the “alternate history” route, but then, it doesn't bother me like it does some. What else do you do to justify a fantasy draft?