Roto Founding Fathers

[BEF]

Here is what two of Rotisserie's Founding Fathers are up to these days:

http://youtu.be/3mj3fLl8oSA

[Greg Ambrosius]

Here is what two of Rotisserie's Founding Fathers are up to these days:

http://youtu.be/3mj3fLl8oSA

Very interesting Brian. I have a feeling this will be a hit, like everything else Daniel Okrent touches.

Okrent really is a talented, talented guy. His worry is that he will be known as the inventor of Rotisserie Baseball when in fact he should be proud of what he created. But he has done so much since he wrote down the rules in 1979 and created this fun hobby that he's right, he should be known for much more than this. He has written several books, was the first public editor at the New York Times, has been an editor at Time, Life and other magazines, and now he's involved in Broadway. He's a very, very interesting man and so talented.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Okrent

I've told this story many times, but will again here. In 1994, USA Today ran a story on Opening Day of the MLB season in their Finance section on the growth of fantasy baseball and its economic impact. I was quoted in the story, which was the main feature in that day's Finance section. Later that day I got a call from Good Morning America and they wanted me and Daniel Okrent on the Friday show to talk about the incredible boom of fantasy baseball. I agreed and could hardly wait to go to Manhattan, meet Okrent and spread the positive word about fantasy baseball.

When I got to the Green Room that morning, Daniel was already there. He immediately told me how this baseball craze was getting out of hand, how he regretted inventing this stupid game, how he can't go to the bathroom anymore without someone pulling out a slip of paper with their roster on it and asking for trade advice, and how he felt like he was ruining so many people's lives. I thought he was kidding, but when we got on the air with Charles Gibson he began talking about how this craze had gotten out of hand and how he felt like the inventor of the nuclear bomb, that a good thing has gone bad. I became as positive as I could about the growth of fantasy baseball and it became a fun, lively exchange between the three of us. Gibson is a baseball fan, so he understood fantasy baseball and was in favor of the hobby.

Dan has no idea how much good he's done for baseball, football and all sports. I assume someone would have invented a similar game one day, but he was so thorough and so spot on that little has changed in 30+ years. I'm glad we made him and the rest of the Founding Fathers the first inductees to the FSTA Hall of Fame, but unfortunately he was too busy to attend that ceremony (Glenn Waggoner accepted on their behalf and gave a GREAT speech). I invited Dan back several times, but then he was too busy with the New York Times or Time to attend. Hopefully down the road we can publicly acknowledge what GOOD he's done for all of us because to this day I think he feels he's created the nuclear bomb when in fact he's actually created nuclear energy for all of us. THANKS DAN and good luck with your new play. I'm sure it will be a big hit.