The Bishop Sycamore saga has become one of the most bizarre stories of the 2021 sports year. So naturally, in the era of memes and social media hysteria, it’s become the most popular fantasy team sports name.
The fake high school that duped ESPN and Paragon Marketing Group into airing its game against IMG Academy last month is currently the most popular team name among users in Yahoo Fantasy Leagues.
“Bishop Sycamore” is the name of more than 10,000 teams. Those numbers place them well ahead of the second-most popular team name, RUN CMC,” (7,000 users) nicknamed after Carolina Panthers star running back Christian McCaffrey.
The most common fantasy team name?
Bishop Sycamore 😂
➡️ https://t.co/9mYWgZXWlO pic.twitter.com/kqH9wftkhs
— Yahoo Fantasy Sports (@YahooFantasy) September 7, 2021
The diminutive dynamo is a trendy pick in the fantasy football world every year. The NFL’s only white superstar at the dual-threat running back position is very popular.
Live On The Big Screen: Selling Scandal
Bishop Sycamore’s notoriety is skyrocketing behind the con job.
According to Deadline, comedian Kevin Hart and super agent Rich Paul (Klutch Sports) have secured interviews with present and former players and coaches to paint a vivid picture of how the Bishop Sycamore saga unfolded.
“As soon as I started following this story, I was immediately drawn to it and knew it was something that myself and my team at HartBeat had to dive into it. HBP thrives in the docu-series space, Hart advised Deadline. “We understand how to break down stories and capture the most interesting and honest moments in a narrative. We know this con comes with a robust backstory and we cannot wait to share it with the world.”
Fantasy Fan Favorites
Fantasy fans became familiar with Bishop Sycamore last month when ESPN aired their game against national power IMG Academy. It was a 58-0 rout by IMG. The magnitude of the defeat prompted some, including Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, to look into what the so-called school was all about.
The findings showed that Bishop Sycamore is not an actual high school, but rather an online-only charter school with a rogue football team operating outside of the Ohio State Athletic Association.
Former players have accused the school of illegally using 19 and 20-year-old post graduates. Touted as a program loaded with Division I talent, the blowout quickly confirmed Sycamore was not worthy. That’s even before the story began to unfold.
these boys was sharing helmets😂😭 pic.twitter.com/UKOyll0V1O
— 🎰 (@jerrellcalhoun7) August 31, 2021
As Rhett Butler stated in a previous piece about Bishop Sycamore:
“Adding more tinsel to the dumpster fire, Bishop Sycamore’s Head coach Roy Johnson was part of a federal fraud investigation. The local African Methodist Episcopal Church has denied involvement with his previous football-centric school.
He also has an active bench warrant for failing to appear in a domestic violence case.
The bench warrant for failure to appear in a domestic violence case, dropped to a criminal mischief charge, was issued July 2 by the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office. It remains active.”
Bishop Sycamore Saga Captures The Sports World
In addition, a Franklin County judge ruled Johnson and Jay Richardson will go to trial for defaulting on a $100,000 loan issued in April 2018 that never was repaid to First Merchants Bank. Richardson is a former Ohio State Buckeye and current Columbus prep sports TV personality.
Johnson’s $100,000 loan issue has been problematic as head coach of Christians of Faith Academy, the precursor to Bishop Sycamore’s football operations. There is also a 2019 civil lawsuit filed by ARN Hospitality, owner of a Delaware, OH-based Baymont Hotel, where according to reports, the head coach housed football players in rooms during the Fall of 2018.
The scandalous details have been quite amusing to football fans. With the NFL season yet to start, it has become the perfect team name for fans from all over.
