Greg Ambrosius wrote:Glenneration X wrote:Mikey, since it seems a few of us would like to start early, would you please reach out to Greg & Tom to make this request since they always seem to respond so well when you do.
(Plus I need my nightly entertainment sure to come after you do.)
I can barely watch.
It's kind of funny -- well, at least to some of you -- that it looks like Tom and I are being bad parents here when in reality we're not. We are saying NO to starting a league 16 days ahead of the agreed upon starting date that involves 15 different owners with 15 different schedules because there's momentum on the message boards by several members to do so. As Tom said, we know that not all 15 are on board to start early, so even 13 of 15 isn't enough to change the starting date.
It's a shame that there's any negativity involved with this league because it's such a great league and Max has done a great job to make this special. Each year we've started this league when pitchers and catchers report and that's what everyone requested this year...until Saturday. As game operators and doing what's best for ALL 15 OWNERS, we couldn't just change the start date because there was a request for it. Heck, not everyone is even paid yet, so let's all chill (I hope that's not condescending to anyone) and prepare for the start of this league two weeks from today. Good luck all.
Okay, I'm going to try this one more time, and this should be required reading not only as part of this thread, but on every thread on these boards. Obviously I'm the one that has been ineffective with my communication here because, Greg, you are taking this far too personally and once again forgetting that we are all of your paying customers who are asking that we be heard and taken into consideration especially when something that you and Tom are doing either doesn't work or needs to be changed from time to time. For all the great things that you both do on our behalf and on behalf of the NFBC, it is maddening and infuriating just how short-sighted and dismissive you both can be when you are confronted with change, innovation, and challenges to be better by your clientele who are have been pushing for so many things (many of them so simple like starting a draft early for instance) for years which just take forever to happen, and sometimes not at all. I am not going to list them all here. You have heard them all before (overall live scoring and a myriad of other technical improvements that have been promised for example). I am not trying to stir the pot to get a reaction and insight some sort of insurrection or uprising against either of you, but I am sick and tired of getting PM's and emails from your clientele telling me that I'm "dead on", or "I'm glad you told them", or "keep fighting the good fight", etc. It's just bullshit. I'm sorry, but I call them like I see them, and I speak my mind. I know when I'm right, and I can admit and take responsibility when I'm wrong, but it's time for action, and I'm not wrong on this. Myself and many others are weary of being rebuffed, scolded, ignored, placated, stalled, etc. when we confront you for the good of not only us but for your company as well. Many have given up in frustration long ago I have been told. But sooner or later, this is going to begin to cost you market share and attrition of your base from which the bulk of your revenue comes from, and that would just be not only tragic but outright stupid. We all love to compete as part of this great fraternity and brotherhood of fanatics that has fostered so many great friendships and so much amazing camaraderie year in and year out...and to the tune of thousands or even tens of thousand of dollars in my case no less. But that being said, we expect and deserve better from you, especially those of us who continually have helped to drive new revenue to you each year. As a company owner in my own right, I am speaking from experience on this, and there are many others just like me that would love to contribute to you, be heard, and know that it has made a difference because change actually does come and now, not perhaps at some later date. What you choose to do with what I wrote is up to you. I believe that I was respectful and not belligerent or antagonistic in anyway in making my points to you. I would appreciate a public response to what I wrote on a new thread by you for the benefit of us all particularly for those in the silent majority; and that goes for anyone else who has read what I wrote here and agrees. No PM's, phone calls. emails, or text messages. Have the guts to speak your mind and put your ass on the line.
Adlai E. Stevenson, former governor of Illinois and ambassador to the UN, once said:
“All progress has resulted from people who took unpopular positions”. Only history will vindicate courageous leaders who dare to row against the tide; if they end up being right of course." Wise words and ones I try to live by as a leader in my own right. Hopefully they resonate with you as well.
-MTM
"If a woman has to choose between catching a fly ball and saving an infant's life, she will choose to save the infant's life without even considering if there are men on base." ~Dave Barry
