Sports widows get a fantasy league of their own

Engagement and pregnancy announcements, on the other hand, are worth an extra three points. Add five for marriage, birth and adoption news.

Ms. Riley bases play on People, Us Weekly and InTouch. Covers are the biggest scorers at 10 points. Disses mean deducted points — three off for losers in Us Weekly’s Who Wore it Best section, for instance, and three off for losers of Style Showdown in InTouch.

Strategy is equal parts radar, research and luck.

“Whenever ‘The Bachelor’ is on, if you can figure out who might be the pick, you’re golden,” Ms. Riley said. Same goes for “The Bachelorette.”

TV’s Teen Moms, Housewives and American Idols (aspiring or anointed) usually are everywhere, along with the entire Kardashian family. Awards season is awash in nominees, who are always a good bet, and movie promotional tours and premieres are key — hello Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart with three movies between them to hawk.

Brian Evans, an administrator for a veterinary practice, is in Ms. Smith’s league of 14 teams, which play for a kitschy, zebra-stripe sash with photos of celebs glued on. He’s a fantasy baseball fanatic who isn’t quite as rabid when it comes to Hollywood.

Jennifer Aniston, who may or may not be engaged to Justin Theroux, was carrying his team heading into the season’s end. He picked Daniel Radcliffe, among others, because he knew who the actor is.

Mr. Evans and the two other guys in the league aren’t looking to win. They have a gentleman’s bet for the best of the boys: “It’s a bottle of vodka. Really that’s what I’m going for.”

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