An Open Letter to the NFBC

[Outlaw]

It's hard for me to see, where any idea from these boards can garner much attention or understanding by anyone. It is just not the place or right vehicle/format. The conversations get pretty confusing pretty fast, like the Friday pitching change suggestions, they were all over the map. Like I said earlier, NFBC needs to formally poll/survey their customers on ideas. Maybe do one in the off season and one in season on ideas and prospective changes, new games, new formats, new rules, price point changes, etc... Every owner with at least 1 Team in the NFBC gets an email or survey/poll sent to their email asking them to participate. Most owners (probably 90%) don't even come to these boards much if at all. NFBC is making decisions/changes on a small minority that speaks up on these boards, and a few posters may not be representative of how a majority of their customers truly feel.

Nothing gets solved on these boards...same issues over and over for years, all one has to do is read the old posts from yrs ago. Mike was not bashing anyone with his post/ideas, most on these boards would be hard pressed to articulate his concerns as he did in his post. Shoot, most probably don't even understand them......

[Tom Kessenich]

Mike, with all due respect Greg and I are more than capable of taking constructive criticism. The idea that we won't listen to ideas from you or any of our players simply has no merit. I'm sorry but it just doesn't. Just because Greg and/or myself have not agreed with things you've proposed in the past doesn't mean we won't listen or are incapable of listening. The bottom line is we have to make decisions and we know that sometimes those decisions are not going to please everyone. That's the nature of the business. But what we have always strived to do is make the game better for everyone and I think we've done a great job of that. However, if there are ways in which we are lacking or haven't done enough we certainly want to hear them so we can keep improving everything we have to offer.

Greg asked you to provide ideas to improve our game. I've asked you to provide ideas. The same goes for anyone. Bring on the ideas that you believe we aren't doing that will improve our game. Why would anyone think we wouldn't want to hear them? Honestly, Mike, that makes no sense. The history of our events is based on Greg and I listening and incorporating a large number of ideas our players have provided. There is no logical reason to think that's going to stop now.

So again I'll say to you and anyone else - if you have ideas to improve this contest and/or all of our contests let's hear them. I'm not sure why it has to be a private forum. List them here. You were the one who made all of this public with this thread. So if you have ideas please list them here and we can have the discussion that Greg and I have both invited.

[Baseball Furies]

Mike, with all due respect Greg and I are more than capable of taking constructive criticism. The idea that we won't listen to ideas from you or any of our players simply has no merit. I'm sorry but it just doesn't. Just because Greg and/or myself have not agreed with things you've proposed in the past doesn't mean we won't listen or are incapable of listening. The bottom line is we have to make decisions and we know that sometimes those decisions are not going to please everyone. That's the nature of the business. But what we have always strived to do is make the game better for everyone and I think we've done a great job of that. However, if there are ways in which we are lacking or haven't done enough we certainly want to hear them so we can keep improving everything we have to offer.

Greg asked you to provide ideas to improve our game. I've asked you to provide ideas. The same goes for anyone. Bring on the ideas that you believe we aren't doing that will improve our game. Why would anyone think we wouldn't want to hear them? Honestly, Mike, that makes no sense. The history of our events is based on Greg and I listening and incorporating a large number of ideas our players have provided. There is no logical reason to think that's going to stop now.

So again I'll say to you and anyone else - if you have ideas to improve this contest and/or all of our contests let's hear them. I'm not sure why it has to be a private forum. List them here. You were the one who made all of this public with this thread. So if you have ideas please list them here and we can have the discussion that Greg and I have both invited.

So now we're back to speaking in absolutes such as "always" and "never" which I have not used in putting forth my positions. And am I to gather from what you have just posted that we are all again to take to the message boards to air our concerns and ideas even though it has been pretty well established that this forum is not indicative of the majority of the population's thoughts or even participation (thank you Outlaw for your post that preceded this one)? Not to mention that very little gets solved on these boards, nor do I think it is the venue for this type of conversation when we are talking about corporate matters such as marketing, sales, public relations, creating new revenue streams, etc. I believe it was offered by Greg himself that focus groups be formed and other private avenues be pursued rather than go down the road of public dialogue over and via the message boards. Is that offer now off the table? What's ludicrous is how flip and defiant of an attitude you have to all what has been brought out here which is sadly and frustratingly nothing new. All this does is continue to perpetuate needless animosity and waste more valuable time which I have in short supply. In the corporate arena, I get paid very large sums of money for my ideas,insights, and consulting which I am offering up to you and Greg for free. I think the least you could do is provide me the courtesy of a phone call that I have been waiting on for weeks. And I'm quite sure that when the spring rolls around and there's need of my money for help in filling a Super, Diamond, or Platinum league or whatever, the calls will come all too quickly as they usually do. Which by the way, when was the last time you or Greg personally invested upwards of $25,000 or more of your hard-earned money per year in what amounts to a very expensive, high risk gambling hobby only to be routinely poo-pooed and approached with the attitude your taking even when I have been trying to be as diplomatic and professional as I have been about all of this? The answer is never, nor would you. Oh but I forgot, I accused you both of being "rubes from the sticks", right? It's gotten so bad that you're even inventing things that I never said or came close to implying. So if you'd like to talk ideas, stop with this crap, and please feel free to give me a call. I'd be more than happy to put that first focus group Greg has been alluding to together out here. I'll even pick up the airfare and accommodations for you and Greg if STATS can't find it in the budget for you guys...which is more than I can say that STATS ever did for any of your most loyal and highest paying clientele who deserve it in my opinion. At this point I'd even be happy with a conference call to get the ball rolling. You guys decide. If I don't hear from you, I'll just let the issue die as do most of the less persistent and less confrontational of us of in the group who are rebuffed enough times and get fed up eventually in trying.

But just because you called me on it, here's one good idea which I would like to see implemented without a two month message board debate as to the why's and wherefore's that it can't happen for whatever reasons and rationale:

Those of us who compete for the highest of stakes in the competitions that you currently offer have been asking for a Platinum League which Greg had posted about and alluded to happening weeks ago and has since disappeared from conversation or implementation for some reason. If you want to fill a $20,000 per participant league like this, it needs to go up on the boards now on it's own thread so that it can be signed, sealed, and delivered on with all the complementary bells and whistles come the second weekend in Vegas this coming March. It also more than likely needs to be on the Saturday evening and take the place of the second Diamond that we created last year, and not be an additional competition offered on a Monday morning after the entire weekend in Vegas no less. There is just no way that there are enough of us who are willing to shell out $40,000 or more on three separate contests in addition to paying our entire way for Vegas as well. It comes off as greedy with the intention to further milk to whales so-to-speak. And as far as the prize structure that I briefly saw a breakdown for as suggested by Greg, the grand prize for the Platinum League should be $160,000 and not $150,000 unless you are intending to re-invest some of that money back into the event itself which possibly could be an alternative.

There you have it. An idea to get started on, and a good money-making one with lots of PR and marketing potential as well. It's just one of dozens more that are not only in regards to high stakes play. I would love to see you get right on this for us. Let's see where it goes from here...

[Fourslot40]

You are way out of line in my opinion. I'm not sure who pissed in your cherrios, but your rants and opinions are misguided as evidenced by the lack of support on this thread. Greg and Tom have always remained attentive and courteous to everyone. There are custom leagues, including your own, that currently exist. You are not speaking on behalf of most. The first idea benefits you and the small pool of players that can afford to participate. What's next? No focus group, no bs private forum. You started this thread, now bring'em out. Insert hulk hogan going to his ear here.

[Greg Ambrosius]

Mikey, enjoy the game today with Q, KOQ and Frankie. That should be A LOT of fun. I'm enjoying the Arizona Fall League now and will make a post on some of the top prospects I've seen out here this weekend. There's a lot of good, young talent here that we'll see in the majors this year. Pretty good stuff.

Glad you have our best interests in mind and of course we'll talk soon. I'm heading to Lambeau Field on Monday Night and hope to hook up with Richard Kulaski there. We'll have the first NFBC forum there and continue next with your one-on-one. We look forward to your ideas to market the NFBC better than we are now. Any idea to grow the NFBC is a good idea, so carry on.

[Gekko]

Holy crap...this thread is still going? It's beginning to look like a good time to detonate it.

Seriously, Mike if you want to help the NFBC, pick up the phone and give Greg/Tom a call. if they like your ideas, great. if they don't or can't do them for whatever reason, that's okay too since this is their gig. Airing this stuff on the message board doesn't help anyone.

In my early years of playing high stakes baseball/football, i took this hobby way too seriously and unfortunately had some public battles with Greg. looking back, i wish i had refrained from taking them public.

[Brock]

Mikey, I haven't met you but everything I've read about you has been good and I know you have made many friends through the NFBC. You're obviously a successful guy and you're very passionate about your ideas and improving this game. The NFBC is without a doubt the leader in the fantasy baseball industry and provides a great venue for those of us who play. There's many different price points and formats to choose from and Greg and Tom are constantly trying to improve their product and grow their game. This is their game and we are their customers. You don't sit on the board and I'm not sure why you immerse and insert yourself into the running of their business. With all due respect to you but your opinion is no more important than anyone else's regardless of your profession. I can't say enough nice things about the NFBC and I'd like to commend and thank them for this game and the experience. The overall success of the game benefits all of us who play but it's really not our business as to how they do it. I thought the mobile app was a great innovation this year and greatly enhanced the experience. I'll be in NYC for the drafts and I hope we can meet each other. I've read your post and have re-read it and I'm still not quite sure what specifically you would do to improve the overall product. Again this is their business and I think they do a damn good job. Peace.

[Fourslot40]

Prediction - a new "fantasy camp" edition coming soon!

[Baseball Furies]

Mikey, enjoy the game today with Q, KOQ and Frankie. That should be A LOT of fun. I'm enjoying the Arizona Fall League now and will make a post on some of the top prospects I've seen out here this weekend. There's a lot of good, young talent here that we'll see in the majors this year. Pretty good stuff.

Glad you have our best interests in mind and of course we'll talk soon. I'm heading to Lambeau Field on Monday Night and hope to hook up with Richard Kulaski there. We'll have the first NFBC forum there and continue next with your one-on-one. We look forward to your ideas to market the NFBC better than we are now. Any idea to grow the NFBC is a good idea, so carry on.

Thank Greg. We had a blast today. Guess what the topic of conversation was the entire four hour tailgate? Really hope that you will follow up with me personally soon not only for a one-on-one, but for some time with a bunch of the guys out this way.

-Mike

[BK METS]

Mikey, enjoy the game today with Q, KOQ and Frankie. That should be A LOT of fun. I'm enjoying the Arizona Fall League now and will make a post on some of the top prospects I've seen out here this weekend. There's a lot of good, young talent here that we'll see in the majors this year. Pretty good stuff.

Glad you have our best interests in mind and of course we'll talk soon. I'm heading to Lambeau Field on Monday Night and hope to hook up with Richard Kulaski there. We'll have the first NFBC forum there and continue next with your one-on-one. We look forward to your ideas to market the NFBC better than we are now. Any idea to grow the NFBC is a good idea, so carry on.

Thank Greg. We had a blast today. Guess what the topic of conversation was the entire four hour tailgate? Really hope that you will follow up with me personally soon not only for a one-on-one, but for some time with a bunch of the guys out this way.

-Mike

Called Frank, but couldn't find you guys.. I was looking all over the B lot. Oh well, great win today.. Sorry I missed you Mike.

[Greg Ambrosius]

Mikey, enjoy the game today with Q, KOQ and Frankie. That should be A LOT of fun. I'm enjoying the Arizona Fall League now and will make a post on some of the top prospects I've seen out here this weekend. There's a lot of good, young talent here that we'll see in the majors this year. Pretty good stuff.

Glad you have our best interests in mind and of course we'll talk soon. I'm heading to Lambeau Field on Monday Night and hope to hook up with Richard Kulaski there. We'll have the first NFBC forum there and continue next with your one-on-one. We look forward to your ideas to market the NFBC better than we are now. Any idea to grow the NFBC is a good idea, so carry on.

Thank Greg. We had a blast today. Guess what the topic of conversation was the entire four hour tailgate? Really hope that you will follow up with me personally soon not only for a one-on-one, but for some time with a bunch of the guys out this way.

-Mike

If you were at Frankie's tailgate, and at a great Jets game, and you spent 4 hours talking about me then I know you are sick bastards!! I mean, really???? You talked about the NFBC and NFFC FOR FOUR HOURS!!!! I better get Q's take on this first and see if KOQ concurs before getting the synopsis from the rest. I need to investigate this one for a bit before making that phone call!!

I'm flying home now and heading to Lambeau Field tonight where I promise I won't talk about you guys for even four minutes!!!

Talk to you this week and get the Marketing List together. We'll bang it out and improve the NFBC.

[Greg Ambrosius]

And just so everyone knows: Mikey and I have NEVER clashed. Not every single idea of his has been adopted by us, but that doesn't mean we've CLASHED over these ideas.

In fact, I've only met Mike once and talked with him a handful or so times. Most of the time was three years ago when he came up with the brilliant idea to run the New York Super League as a private league to prove who is the best fantasy baseball player on the East Coast. It was a great idea and we hosted it with him and even agreed to move our venue to Mahwah, New Jersey on his recommendation, site unseen. His push for New Jersey made sense after we were in Atlantic City and we agreed with him. We're not in Mahwah anymore, but the MTM Super League continues to be a highlight of our live drafts on the East Coast.

The Second Diamond League last year filled quickly and there was a push to change the prize structure after the league was filled. We couldn't do that. We've polled last year's participants about a prize change this year and the feedback hasn't changed much, but we'll discuss it before going live this year and see what we can do. There's still a chance to get a private league to a $100,000 league prize and above if the demand is there. We'll see.

I have some ideas to make that happen and I'm sure others do, too. We'll get on the phone with anyone who has good ideas and improve things for low-level leagues and high-dollar private leagues. That's how we always roll. We are always striving to improve the contest and if I've clashed with anyone over 10 years, well, I guess it was inevitable!!! I clash with Tom sometimes too, but we get over it and talk things through. It's how grownups act and I see no problem here with anyone who has clashed with my ideas before.

Carry on everyone and GO PACK GO!!!

[Baseball Furies]

Thanks for your reply and your post, Greg. Please give me a heads up in advance so that I can put your call in my schedule to give it sufficient time and attention. After we speak initially, we can decide how to take it from there. Give yourself a little time to recover from last night's debacle at Lambeau first though. I don't want you taking it out on me.

[Quahogs]

Thanks for your reply and your post, Greg. Please give me a heads up in advance so that I can put your call in my schedule to give it sufficient time and attention. After we speak initially, we can decide how to take it from there. Give yourself a little time to recover from last night's debacle at Lambeau first though. I don't want you taking it out on me.

[Glenneration X]

when I do speak out usually on behalf of others who come to me as a sounding board with the hopes that I will say something since I am "The Mouth".

MtM victoriously proclaiming to "all those he speaks out on behalf of" that he has gotten the tyrannical powers that run the NFBC to agree to meet him on his terms!!! Power to the People!!!

PS....Just in case you can't make them out in the crowd, that's Mrs. MtM and the draft facilitator from last year's MtM Super in the first row.

[Baseball Furies]

I just wanted to let everyone know who has been following this thread since inception that Greg and I had a one hour conversation today to kick things off in terms of the dialogue about possible changes, improvements, and innovations for the NFBC. I am thoroughly appreciative for his time and generous listening. I believe copious note were taken on his end, and a lot of information and ideas were discussed. We did not get into the how to's about how to go about implementing most of what we spoke about, but I am confident that there will be more dialogue to come. We're do to touch base again next week, and in the interim, Greg will be in the process of digesting everything and even getting some things in motion which I see that he has already. I will let him share with you personally his thoughts and roll out whatever ideas he would like to get in motion on himself as he sees fit. However, I wanted to let you guys know that it was all good and positive. I am going to keep at it with him, and hope to have as many of you who would like to support any of the new initiatives and changes that may come out of our brainstorming sessions participate as much as you can whenever possible. I am optimistic and excited that today we took the first steps towards what myself and many of you have been hoping to see this great game and organization that is the NFBC make some of the much needed and wanted innovation and positive change it so desperately needs. Thanks again, Greg, and let's keep it rolling!!!

[Outlaw]

I just wanted to let everyone know who has been following this thread since inception that Greg and I had a one hour conversation today to kick things off in terms of the dialogue about possible changes, improvements, and innovations for the NFBC. I am thoroughly appreciative for his time and generous listening. I believe copious note were taken on his end, and a lot of information and ideas were discussed. We did not get into the how to's about how to go about implementing most of what we spoke about, but I am confident that there will be more dialogue to come. We're do to touch base again next week, and in the interim, Greg will be in the process of digesting everything and even getting some things in motion which I see that he has already. I will let him share with you personally his thoughts and roll out whatever ideas he would like to get in motion on himself as he sees fit. However, I wanted to let you guys know that it was all good and positive. I am going to keep at it with him, and hope to have as many of you who would like to support any of the new initiatives and changes that may come out of our brainstorming sessions participate as much as you can whenever possible. I am optimistic and excited that today we took the first steps towards what myself and many of you have been hoping to see this great game and organization that is the NFBC make some of the much needed and wanted innovation and positive change it so desperately needs. Thanks again, Greg, and let's keep it rolling!!!

Good Stuff Mike, Greg and Tom!

[Quahogs]

I just wanted to let everyone know who has been following this thread since inception that Greg and I had a one hour conversation today to kick things off in terms of the dialogue about possible changes, improvements, and innovations for the NFBC. I am thoroughly appreciative for his time and generous listening. I believe copious note were taken on his end, and a lot of information and ideas were discussed. .

[Glenneration X]

Greg during minute 5 of his conference call with the MtM focus group, 55 minutes before the completion of the call, but 4 minutes later than Greg had originally put aside for it.

[Potter]

I am optimistic and excited that today we took the first steps towards what myself and many of you have been hoping to see this great game and organization that is the NFBC make some of the much needed and wanted innovation and positive change it so desperately needs. Thanks again, Greg, and let's keep it rolling!!!

Yeah, this comment isn't at all insulting.

The only thing NFBC desperately needs is for you to shut your piehole.

[Greg Ambrosius]

I just wanted to let everyone know who has been following this thread since inception that Greg and I had a one hour conversation today to kick things off in terms of the dialogue about possible changes, improvements, and innovations for the NFBC. I am thoroughly appreciative for his time and generous listening. I believe copious note were taken on his end, and a lot of information and ideas were discussed. .

I love it when a post can actually make me laugh out loud!! This one definitely did, as did Glenn's!! You guys sure know how to rip on ol' Mikey.

Yeah, it was a good hour conversation with Mike, although he spoke for 59 minutes of it!! The fact that he talks faster than any New Yorker I know means that he actually got three hours of ideas into that one hour conversation. There's no stoppage of ideas that come from Mikey!!

But it's all good. Sometimes maybe we need a kick in the pants to take things to a new level. I'm always way more conservative than others and I'm always looking at keeping everyone happy. Sometimes you need a swing for the fences attitude and maybe a jolt of aggression to pull off some things you never thought possible.

All of Mike's ideas and everyone's ideas we receive regularly are meant to grow the NFBC and keep it sustainable for years to come. There's no disputing that. We also know there's competition in this space in several forms, whether that's the daily games, other season-long games or just the economy in general. It's tough to keep increasing the prize guarantees and hit them each time. It's also tough to do everything promotionally that everyone would like to see, both from a time standpoint and an economic standpoint. But we'll do our best to improve across the board and see if we can take the NFBC to the next level.

Thanks for the time and the ideas Mikey. It was a good push to move us forward.

[Baseball Furies]

I am optimistic and excited that today we took the first steps towards what myself and many of you have been hoping to see this great game and organization that is the NFBC make some of the much needed and wanted innovation and positive change it so desperately needs. Thanks again, Greg, and let's keep it rolling!!!

Yeah, this comment isn't at all insulting.

The only thing NFBC desperately needs is for you to shut your piehole.

Hey Potter, what's the matter? Your anal bleaching appointment go awry or something? Do all of us who are seriously trying work on bettering this thing for your whining ass as well a favor, and crawl back under your rock until baseball season rolls around again. You can then check back in and thank us later once we're done.



In this photo: Potter goes in for a little off-season touch-up

Editor's note: Once again a subject matter that I should not have Googled on behalf of the author.

And P.S. Feel free to email Greg your resume. If and when he starts his search for an agent, I'm sure that he will give you strong consideration, bleached anus and all.

[TOXIC ASSETS]

Quahogs & GlennX ---funny stuff
Potter - looks like an unnecessary personal attack to me.

[Money]

I've had the pleasure to compete with Mickey in one league. His SP1 was Brandon Morrow and he was out of FAAB money in June. This is the guy who is going to take the NFBC to the next level? It may be time to start taking a serious look at the daily games

[poopytooth]

Assuming Greg/Tom are good with this...Mouth, you want innovation...how about a contest where someone who gets lucky in one league doesn't necessarily cash out. How about an ultimate triathlon. ..15 teams, 3 leagues...One Draft champion...One regular Draft and one auction league...The regular Draft and auction would be faab leagues....points from all 3 leagues would be added up and the highest total wins. Entry fee $5,000....payout the same as ultimate leagues...

I get it doesn't add new players...

Well...challenge extended...

why not expand the mtm super league to this format?

Challenge still extended...