Proposal For Lifetime NFBC Standings
Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2004 3:56 am
I received this e-mail this week from Buster of CreativeSports, who has proposed an idea for NFBC lifetime standings in following years. I told him it was such a good idea that he should post it on the NFBC boards and get some feedback, but I know he's busy and might not have had time to do that. So I'm going to do it for him.
Anyway, this is an idea that I've considered already and will definitely initiate in 2005. I think having Lifetime Standings rewards our initial 195 owners and creates a reason to remain with the NFBC. Anyway, here's Buster's proposal and let's add to it. Thanks again Buster:
"I realize that Krause has its own marketing people, and doesn't need my unsolicited advice, but it looks like you are going to get it, anyway.
"I was thinking that you ought to consider a "lifetime" (you need a better word) championship as well as your “league” and “overall” championships for all future years. You don't need to fund it too much, i.e., $5,000.00 which can be siphoned off of the league prizes without any major complaints.
"No matter who wins this season, you will have one team thinking that it was due mostly because of his/her skill, drafting and maneuvering, and the other 194 claiming luck, injuries, full moons, bad umpiring, blown saves, etc. as the reason that each did not win.
"However, the owner that has the best overall record after two, three or four years, now that is unlikely to be completely luck. Why not reward that owner, and make it an ancillary competition? The process would be quite easy. This season, the first place overall team gets 195 points. Second place 194, etc.
"Come next season, you have not only your “league” and "overall" standings, but updated daily the "lifetime" standings, adding last season's points (195 for first all the way down to 1 for 195th place), to the current standings. At the end of two years, you will crown the 2005 "Lifetime" champ. You do the same for the third season, and so on. You really do need a better name than the pathetic “lifetime” name used above, though.
"At about the fourth year, you can "throw out" a team's worst finish, or more likely, the year that the team didn't play. This way, teams new to the competition are not penalized. Teams would be ranked based upon their best three years. You can decide what to do in ensuing years thereafter.
"This works out for you, the company and us the player. Regarding the company, it encourages us to play every year. It keeps us interested throughout the season, even if we are in 120th place. The difference between 100th and 140th place currently is nothing more than just a wee bit of pride. However, considering a lifetime prize, that 40 places can be significant.
"So, we come back to play again, as the lifetime award is prestigious and great for bragging rights, which, despite the money, is a lot of what this entire league is about. We have the incentive to return, and we will return.
"Granted, this doesn't immediately help teams that are going to play next year, but didn't play this year. Hence, the limited prize for the lifetime winner, so as to not take away from the yearly competition. Yet, those new teams can compete after three seasons, as you throw out a year that an owner didn't play, or if the owner played all four, you throw out his/her lowest score.
"You obviously want to keep as many of the 195 in this next year, and the following years. This is an easy way to keep us committed.
"For the player, we have something that is worth shooting for. Naturally, the $100K is enticing, but any of us with even a modicum of intelligence knows that we have, at best, about a one in fifty shot at winning. Winning the overall lifetime prize any given year is much less luck and much more skill, as we would have to be good for a number of consecutive years. You can even start your own Hall of Fame after about five years, inaugerating one or two teams each season. Imagine those bragging rights!"
We are with you on this one, Buster. Let's get the creative juices flowing as a Lifetime Competition is inevitable for each year going forward.
Anyway, this is an idea that I've considered already and will definitely initiate in 2005. I think having Lifetime Standings rewards our initial 195 owners and creates a reason to remain with the NFBC. Anyway, here's Buster's proposal and let's add to it. Thanks again Buster:
"I realize that Krause has its own marketing people, and doesn't need my unsolicited advice, but it looks like you are going to get it, anyway.
"I was thinking that you ought to consider a "lifetime" (you need a better word) championship as well as your “league” and “overall” championships for all future years. You don't need to fund it too much, i.e., $5,000.00 which can be siphoned off of the league prizes without any major complaints.
"No matter who wins this season, you will have one team thinking that it was due mostly because of his/her skill, drafting and maneuvering, and the other 194 claiming luck, injuries, full moons, bad umpiring, blown saves, etc. as the reason that each did not win.
"However, the owner that has the best overall record after two, three or four years, now that is unlikely to be completely luck. Why not reward that owner, and make it an ancillary competition? The process would be quite easy. This season, the first place overall team gets 195 points. Second place 194, etc.
"Come next season, you have not only your “league” and "overall" standings, but updated daily the "lifetime" standings, adding last season's points (195 for first all the way down to 1 for 195th place), to the current standings. At the end of two years, you will crown the 2005 "Lifetime" champ. You do the same for the third season, and so on. You really do need a better name than the pathetic “lifetime” name used above, though.
"At about the fourth year, you can "throw out" a team's worst finish, or more likely, the year that the team didn't play. This way, teams new to the competition are not penalized. Teams would be ranked based upon their best three years. You can decide what to do in ensuing years thereafter.
"This works out for you, the company and us the player. Regarding the company, it encourages us to play every year. It keeps us interested throughout the season, even if we are in 120th place. The difference between 100th and 140th place currently is nothing more than just a wee bit of pride. However, considering a lifetime prize, that 40 places can be significant.
"So, we come back to play again, as the lifetime award is prestigious and great for bragging rights, which, despite the money, is a lot of what this entire league is about. We have the incentive to return, and we will return.
"Granted, this doesn't immediately help teams that are going to play next year, but didn't play this year. Hence, the limited prize for the lifetime winner, so as to not take away from the yearly competition. Yet, those new teams can compete after three seasons, as you throw out a year that an owner didn't play, or if the owner played all four, you throw out his/her lowest score.
"You obviously want to keep as many of the 195 in this next year, and the following years. This is an easy way to keep us committed.
"For the player, we have something that is worth shooting for. Naturally, the $100K is enticing, but any of us with even a modicum of intelligence knows that we have, at best, about a one in fifty shot at winning. Winning the overall lifetime prize any given year is much less luck and much more skill, as we would have to be good for a number of consecutive years. You can even start your own Hall of Fame after about five years, inaugerating one or two teams each season. Imagine those bragging rights!"
We are with you on this one, Buster. Let's get the creative juices flowing as a Lifetime Competition is inevitable for each year going forward.