Interactive sports system

Abstract

A system for interactive sports. The system is comprised of participants and two or more real-life athletes organized individually or in teams. Participants direct operational decisions for a real-life athlete or team of athletes who must follow the directions of participants. Participants compete against other participants controlling other athletes and teams, based on the performance of the athletes or teams that they control. Participants vote by numerous communications media and their preferences are collected and processed by an information system. Participants also communicate with real-life athletes and players and other participants. Athletes and teams compete and winners receive compensation. Participants who control winning teams are also eligible for compensation.

We claim:  
     
         1 ) An interactive sports system comprising 
 a) Participants    b) Two or more players, individually, or organized into two or more teams    c) A system allowing participants to direct a significant operational decision or action for a player or team.    
     
     
         2 ) The interactive sports system of  claim 1  wherein the significant player or team operational decision or action includes, but is not limited to, one or more of the following: 
 a) Naming the player or team  
 b) Choosing the logo of the player or team  
 c) Selecting the initial players  
 d) Selecting a coach  
 e) Selecting starting line-ups for each game  
 f) Selecting specific plays during games  
 g) Selecting game point spreads  
 h) Substituting players during games  
 i) Providing feedback to players before, during and after games  
 j) Communicating live with players after games  
 k) Trading players  
 l) Selecting a season Most Valuable Player  
 m) Setting player salary and bonuses  
 
     
     
         3 ) The interactive sports system of  claim 1  wherein participants are comprised of one or more of the following: broadcast viewers, fans, others who participate in directing a major team activity and/or characteristic.  
     
     
         4 ) The interactive sports system of  claim 1  wherein a team is comprised of two or more players.  
     
     
         5 ) The interactive sports system of  claim 1  wherein participants provide instructions to a team and/or player prior to, during and after one or more games.  
     
     
         6 ) The interactive sports system of  claim 1  wherein participants direct the major team activity and/or characteristic by providing instructions via one or more of the following: telephone, internet, television, mail, remote control, text messaging and other communication media.  
     
     
         7 ) The interactive sports system of  claim 1  wherein instructions of participants are processed to produce a narrower set of instructions, based on at least a plurality of voting participants.  
     
     
         8 ) The interactive sports system of  claim 1  wherein players and teams follow the instructions.  
     
     
         9 ) The interactive sports system of  claim 1  wherein players and teams compete to win.  
     
     
         10 ) The interactive sports system of  claim 1  wherein player and team competition is broadcast by one or more of the following: live performance, television, radio, internet.  
     
     
         11 ) The interactive sports system of  claim 1  wherein a participant registers to direct the activities and characteristics of only one player or team.  
     
     
         12 ) The interactive sports system of  claim 1  wherein participants who register to direct the activities and characteristics of the winning player or team receive a prize.  
     
     
         13 ) The interactive sports system of  claim 1  wherein a player who wins in an individual sport or plays on the winning team of a team sport receives a prize.  
     
     
         14 ) The interactive sports system of  claim 1  wherein participants can pose new significant operational decision choices to other participants.  
     
     
         15 ) The interactive sports system of  claim 1  wherein participants may take part in a separate fantasy competition with other participants.  
     
     
         16 ) The interactive sports system of  claim 1 , further comprising a fantasy competition.  
     
     
         17 ) The interactive sports system of  claim 1  wherein one or more players are selected from the general public.  
     
     
         18 ) The interactive sports system of  claim 1  wherein one or more players, in addition to playing, are involved in a community activity.  
     
     
         19 ) The interactive sports system of  claim 18  wherein the community activity is broadcast by one or more of the following: live performance, television, radio, internet.