UPDATE: Rosters, Adding Co-Managers, Free Agency

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Mon Mar 29, 2010 1:48 pm

First off, I want to say thanks to Geoff for staying on top of the boards while Greg and I have been away. Both of us will be back in the office tomorrow but there was a lot going on away from the live events and Geoff has had his hands full but he's done an exceptional job with everything.

Now onto some important matters:

ROSTERS

I appreciate the sense of urgency everyone has but we still have plenty of time for everyone to get their rosters set up so they can get their lineups active for the first game Sunday night and next week's first slate of games. So Greg and I simply ask for a little patience as we get the remaining live leagues from this past weekend set up as well as all of the satellites and Online Double Play leagues. Again, everyone is going to have plenty of time before the season begins to check things over so there's no reason to panic at this time.

ADDING CO-MANAGERS

For everyone with a co-manager, ur tech guys have created a link on your team page to get your co-managers set up with access to your team(s). The functionality can be found in the “My Settings” area under “Team Info.” This is something you can now do so if you have a co-manager use this option and you'll be all set up.

FREE AGENCY

Geoff has provided an update in the other thread but again I want to stress that everyone will have plenty of time to prepare free-agent bids before the first period Sunday night. So there's no reason to be concerned. I've seen a lot of panicked posts here but rest assured everything is going to be set up with more than enough time necessary to make any bids should you choose to do so this week.

Don't forget we still have openings available for the Online Double Play so if you want a shot at $60,000 there's still time to do so - or to add a second or third team and increase your chances. Sign up today and you'll be all set.

Again, Greg and I will be back in the office tomorrow and we'll take a more active role on the boards. I'm sure Geoff will be very happy to hear that.

Geoffrey Stein · Post by **Geoffrey Stein** » Mon Mar 29, 2010 1:51 pm

Originally posted by Tom Kessenich:

Again, Greg and I will be back in the office tomorrow and we'll take a more active role on the boards. I'm sure Geoff will be very happy to hear that. [/QB]I think my liver appreciates it most

Finkel · Post by **Finkel** » Mon Mar 29, 2010 2:00 pm

What about the live leagues from the first weekend of drafts. There are Main Events that still haven't been loaded!! (vegas 1 and 2) Shouldn't those get done first? This Geoff guy has been doing an amazing job for the amount of stuff he's had to deal with

Thanks,

Keith

NorCalAtlFan · Post by **NorCalAtlFan** » Mon Mar 29, 2010 2:02 pm

"So Greg and I simply ask for a little patience as we get the remaining live leagues from this past weekend set up as well as all of the satellites and Online Double Play leagues."

What about last weekends live events? You ask for patience, frankly, you guys have used up that goodwill. I'm sure there are people that believe everything will be all taken care of by thursday or friday and we'll just all laugh at this hic cup. With the amount of f*ck ups so far, I'm not in that camp. I shudder to think of the chaos that will ensue when/if FAAB gets screwed up.

Gekko · Post by **Gekko** » Mon Mar 29, 2010 2:06 pm

Originally posted by NorCalAtlFan:

I shudder to think of the chaos that will ensue when/if FAAB gets screwed up. it will make my jack cust explosion look like a fart in a windstorm!!!!!

JamesH · Post by **JamesH** » Mon Mar 29, 2010 2:09 pm

Originally posted by Tom Kessenich:

ADDING CO-MANAGERS

For everyone with a co-manager, ur tech guys have created a link on your team page to get your co-managers set up with access to your team(s). The functionality can be found in the “My Settings” area under “Team Info.” This is something you can now do so if you have a co-manager use this option and you'll be all set up.

This is not working for our team in Chicago League 2. We're the Shawon-o-Meters. I go to the Team Info section and all I see is a spot to enter our team name and abbreviation. Am I missing something?

mrhambone · Post by **mrhambone** » Mon Mar 29, 2010 2:12 pm

I'm in week 1 Vegas League 2 and I believe I'm one of two leagues from week 1 not to have our line-ups. This is day 2 of this condition. I agree with Fink that it would be great to have us a priority over week 2 teams. Thanks for all your hard work. Kyle

Geoffrey Stein · Post by **Geoffrey Stein** » Mon Mar 29, 2010 2:16 pm

Originally posted by Jules Winnfield:

quote:Originally posted by Tom Kessenich:

ADDING CO-MANAGERS

For everyone with a co-manager, ur tech guys have created a link on your team page to get your co-managers set up with access to your team(s). The functionality can be found in the “My Settings” area under “Team Info.” This is something you can now do so if you have a co-manager use this option and you'll be all set up.

This is not working for our team in Chicago League 2. We're the Shawon-o-Meters. I go to the Team Info section and all I see is a spot to enter our team name and abbreviation. Am I missing something? [/QUOTE]Is the roster there?

Geoffrey Stein · Post by **Geoffrey Stein** » Mon Mar 29, 2010 2:17 pm

Originally posted by mrhambone:

I'm in week 1 Vegas League 2 and I believe I'm one of two leagues from week 1 not to have our line-ups. This is day 2 of this condition. I agree with Fink that it would be great to have us a priority over week 2 teams. Thanks for all your hard work. Kyle There was some confusion with the Las Vegas 1 and 2 rosters from Week 1. The guy in charge of those results returns to the Fanball office from the live events tomorrow and everything will be sorted out.

sportsbettingman · Post by **sportsbettingman** » Mon Mar 29, 2010 2:18 pm

:

Originally posted by Jules WinnfieldI just can't resist altering that infamous Bogart line...

"Of all the high stakes fantasy joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine."

~Jules McLean

RedRyder · Post by **RedRyder** » Mon Mar 29, 2010 2:59 pm

Originally posted by sportsbettingman:

quote::

Originally posted by Jules WinnfieldI just can't resist altering that infamous Bogart line...

"Of all the high stakes fantasy joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine."

~Jules McLean

[/QUOTE]

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 2:32 am

Originally posted by NorCalAtlFan:

"So Greg and I simply ask for a little patience as we get the remaining live leagues from this past weekend set up as well as all of the satellites and Online Double Play leagues."

What about last weekends live events? You ask for patience, frankly, you guys have used up that goodwill. I'm sure there are people that believe everything will be all taken care of by thursday or friday and we'll just all laugh at this hic cup. With the amount of f*ck ups so far, I'm not in that camp. I shudder to think of the chaos that will ensue when/if FAAB gets screwed up. Bryan, this is the first thread I've read since returning from Las Vegas last night and this is an amazing post. You emailed me last night to tell me that you were calling us out on all of our screwups and I asked you to trust that we are going to get this right. You said I could call you out if I prove you wrong.

Well, this one has started my day badly and I'll call you out. You continually stated on the boards that the two weekend drafts were bad and that Fanball would screw them up. You arrived at the Bellagio for the first weekend and quickly went on the boards to complain about how long the walk was to the DaVinci rooms and then correctly stated that I had posted that we were in DaVinci 4 when we were actually in DaVinci 1. You thought it was a major screwup, but we got everyone in that room and in fact everyone found the DaVinci rooms on Saturday and we started on time for every single draft, of which you were in two of them. You admit that you thought things would go badly at the live event, but when all was done and we took you out to dinner on Saturday night you admitted that you were impressed by the entire weekend of events.

Now you say we've f*'ed up everything?? This is really, really an amazing post and I am taken aback by it. You just seem to WANT things to go badly so that you can do a "see, I told you so." Just an amazing post.

Folks, it's not armaggedeon in the NFBC. Our tech guys are getting everything done and we are entering rosters faster this year than ever before and the goal is to have all rosters loaded today and FAAB live and active today. I'll get an update shortly, but please have a little common decency and don't act like this. I'm embarrassed for everyone who is working so hard this week to see a post like this. Nobody has f**'ed up as Bryan so eloquently stated. We'll be live shortly and you will have everything in place to start rolling on what is going to be an amazing, amazing NFBC season.

ALL-IN JD · Post by **ALL-IN JD** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 2:42 am

Greg, as someone that has been with you and Tom since the beginning I have zero doubt that everything will be just fine regarding rosters and the FAAB system.

Jeff

DrDobs · Post by **DrDobs** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 2:42 am

Thanks Greg for dropping in a note of confidence... I'm still a little concerned, but if you say you are on top of it, I believe you... Thanks!

Jon

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 2:54 am

Originally posted by DrDobs:

Thanks Greg for dropping in a note of confidence... I'm still a little concerned, but if you say you are on top of it, I believe you... Thanks!

Jon Jon, being concerned is one thing; saying we've f*'ed up everything when that isn't the case and spreading fear of the upcoming week is totally different. I'm so sick and tired of reading the doom and gloom posts from certain folks that I've had it. Let us finish this job and hit the home run we know is coming and then we'll talk. This spreading of fear has almost a political tone to it, kind of like the health care issue and I'll be damned if I'll sit back and let this crap continue.

Bitch at me when we really have failed, but before then let me finish the job ahead.

jamesmaples · Post by **jamesmaples** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 3:00 am

DrDobs · Post by **DrDobs** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 3:15 am

Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:

quote:Originally posted by DrDobs:

Thanks Greg for dropping in a note of confidence... I'm still a little concerned, but if you say you are on top of it, I believe you... Thanks!

Jon Jon, being concerned is one thing; saying we've f*'ed up everything when that isn't the case and spreading fear of the upcoming week is totally different. I'm so sick and tired of reading the doom and gloom posts from certain folks that I've had it. Let us finish this job and hit the home run we know is coming and then we'll talk. This spreading of fear has almost a political tone to it, kind of like the health care issue and I'll be damned if I'll sit back and let this crap continue.

Bitch at me when we really have failed, but before then let me finish the job ahead. [/QUOTE]Absolutely Greg, but from our perspective, remember there are few other variables here at play (fanball wasn't with us last year) and also realize that there have already been broken promises on self-imposed deadlines by the fanball tech team (through Geoff).

If you're referring to my doom and gloom prediction, please re-read and see that my prediction was that if they delivered on the promise of having this system working by the end of the day, everything would be fine. If they didn't, we'd be doomed.

That's really just leaving it up to the fanball tech team to deliver on their promise. Again, I must stress there have already been promises not met..

But with this said, I'll stand by my stance that if YOU say it's going to be fine! I'm 100% a believer! It's just that nobody here on the boards has really heard from you or Tom in the past 3-4 days (for obvious reasons)... So, we've somewhat been in the dark, though I realize Geoff is doing his best...

This isn't a political/health care debate. Outside of really maybe one member here, I've not seen anybody trying to stir the stick just for the sake of stiring the stick... I believe we all want this to work out and are holding out high hopes..

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 4:33 am

Originally posted by DrDobs:

quote:Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:

quote:Originally posted by DrDobs:

Thanks Greg for dropping in a note of confidence... I'm still a little concerned, but if you say you are on top of it, I believe you... Thanks!

Jon Jon, being concerned is one thing; saying we've f*'ed up everything when that isn't the case and spreading fear of the upcoming week is totally different. I'm so sick and tired of reading the doom and gloom posts from certain folks that I've had it. Let us finish this job and hit the home run we know is coming and then we'll talk. This spreading of fear has almost a political tone to it, kind of like the health care issue and I'll be damned if I'll sit back and let this crap continue.

Bitch at me when we really have failed, but before then let me finish the job ahead. [/QUOTE]Absolutely Greg, but from our perspective, remember there are few other variables here at play (fanball wasn't with us last year) and also realize that there have already been broken promises on self-imposed deadlines by the fanball tech team (through Geoff).

If you're referring to my doom and gloom prediction, please re-read and see that my prediction was that if they delivered on the promise of having this system working by the end of the day, everything would be fine. If they didn't, we'd be doomed.

That's really just leaving it up to the fanball tech team to deliver on their promise. Again, I must stress there have already been promises not met..

But with this said, I'll stand by my stance that if YOU say it's going to be fine! I'm 100% a believer! It's just that nobody here on the boards has really heard from you or Tom in the past 3-4 days (for obvious reasons)... So, we've somewhat been in the dark, though I realize Geoff is doing his best...

This isn't a political/health care debate. Outside of really maybe one member here, I've not seen anybody trying to stir the stick just for the sake of stiring the stick... I believe we all want this to work out and are holding out high hopes.. [/QUOTE]Jon, I understand there are a few variables in play here, but the main one seems to be that, as you say, Fanball wasn't involved last year. It's almost as if everyone EXPECTS Fanball to fail here and I'm starting to get pissed about that. STATS struggled in the early years and nobody remembers that now, and even though Fanball has improved everything that STATS created folks keep thinking the worst. I've met with John and Cory and his team enough to know that more man hours have been spent on the NFBC web site and game site so far than previously by F+W/STATS in 6+ combined years.

You say there have been broken promises and that's wild. Where we have a problem that I'll admit to is that Tom and I are in Iola, Wisconsin, Geoff is in Michigan and Fanball is in St. Louis. We've had communication breakdowns between when things may be finished and when things will be debuted and such. We are now having a daily teleconference between the IT team and myself here this week to make sure there are no more miscommunications between us, St. Louis and our NFBC members.

But we're not breaking promises; we're maybe just not meeting deadlines we self-imposed. We are now saying that free agency will be available today and we'll do all we can to meet that self-imposed deadline. You are saying it's a deal-breaker if we don't reach out; so we'll see what we can do, fair enough?

I was on the boards while still running three different live events over 9 days until Sunday. Sunday's schedule was a killer for me as I spent the last 5 1/2 hours on a cell phone doing the Ultimate Auction League for an owner who couldn't make it to Las Vegas. It was the last final customer service act of the busiest two weeks of my life and then I come onto these boards today and see people railing us for customer service. It kills me. I did everything in my power to make sure our customers were happy and it still isn't enough.

I flew back to Wisconsin yesterday from Las Vegas and got home at midnight and am into work today at 8:00. And you guys think we should have been more active on the boards during that time??? It's amazing. And oh, I wasn't on VACATION as someone insinuated.

Yeah, we all "hope" Fanball gets it right. Unfortunately, enough folks have been on the boards predicting the worst and I think that has scared some folks away from our Online championship. But such is life and we'll just have to make this work today and get the momentum back on our side.

headhunters · Post by **headhunters** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 4:38 am

since i was not there i want to make SURE i have this correct. the big f... up was saying the draft was in room 1 instead of room 4 and that easily could have been the hotels mistake. you corrected that upon arrival and got everyone to the correct room. you then bought the guy dinner. He then he gets on these boards on tuesday to complain that stuff isn't ready and we are still 5 days from the season starting? He drafted at the bellagio and we drafted in chicago? greg- THIS is why you make the big big bucks.

ESPN8 THE OCHO · Post by **ESPN8 THE OCHO** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 5:33 am

I have been with this organization since the beginning. Each year the drafts are run in a timely and professional manner. All participants are treated with respect and importance. Greg and Tom do a great job and their word is enough for me until it is proven otherwise. Running quality events for years earns them that much.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 5:36 am

Originally posted by headhunters:

since i was not there i want to make SURE i have this correct. the big f... up was saying the draft was in room 1 instead of room 4 and that easily could have been the hotels mistake. you corrected that upon arrival and got everyone to the correct room. you then bought the guy dinner. He then he gets on these boards on tuesday to complain that stuff isn't ready and we are still 5 days from the season starting? He drafted at the bellagio and we drafted in chicago? greg- THIS is why you make the big big bucks. The hotel did tell me DaVinci 4 and put us in DaVinci 1 instead, but I didn't want to pass the blame.

I'm not trying to call anyone out on their complaints, but it's easy to throw darts at me when I'm tied up in a plane and away from the boards. Each complaint or concern has an answer and now that I'm back on the boards I can at least honestly state my case. I feel like my pants were down when everyone knew I was travelling back from 13 days in Las Vegas.

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 5:38 am

Originally posted by ESPN8 THE OCHO:

I have been with this organization since the beginning. Each year the drafts are run in a timely and professional manner. All participants are treated with respect and importance. Greg and Tom do a great job and their word is enough for me until it is proven otherwise. Running quality events for years earns them that much. Thanks for the kind words. I feel confident in speaking for Greg and Geoff when I say none of us are looking for sympathy but we have been working very hard to make sure everything gets done as best as it possibly can be done. That's been a priority of Greg and mine since our event's inception (as well as the NFFC) and nothing is changing now. We understand that some things have changed this year and some folks take time to adjust to change but all we ask is that people allow these changes to unfold before taking us to task for them. That seems like a reasonable request in my opinion.

In any event, we've had a great run with our events so far. The hope now is to finish strong with the Online Double Play and then kick off the season in grand fashion. So if you want an Online DP spot (or more than one) sign up TODAY and let's make this one final exciting week. Sound good?

Oh, and on a sidenote, every time I see your user name I laugh. It's a personal favorite because I loved that movie.

[ March 30, 2010, 11:42 AM: Message edited by: Tom Kessenich ]

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 5:40 am

Originally posted by ESPN8 THE OCHO:

I have been with this organization since the beginning. Each year the drafts are run in a timely and professional manner. All participants are treated with respect and importance. Greg and Tom do a great job and their word is enough for me until it is proven otherwise. Running quality events for years earns them that much. I really appreciate this post and this is why I know we won't fail on the back end. John and his team saw how hard we all worked in Las Vegas and they know how much respect folks have for me and Tom and the whole NFBC event. When they tell me something is going to work, they mean it because there is no way that John is going to get me embarrassed in front of my customers. He's just not going to do that to me. So he's told me what can and can't be done and he's told me what has the most priorities and he told each of our customers he met with the exact same thing. I wish some of them would talk about the conversations they had with him.

But they are NOT going to let us down. Everything Fanball has done so far with the NFBC site has been to not only maintain what we had but improve it. Yes, there are and will be issues that need to be solved or corrected, but that's not unusual for any online venture. Just be patient with us and we'll get this done TOGETHER just like we've always done. Thanks all for your understanding.

Dyv · Post by **Dyv** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 5:50 am

Here, Norcal, I found a book you should read.

Norcal, you totally F'd up your insult. Not only are you wrong, you sound like a complete idiot who's having an internet 'roid rage. I hope the 'small' repurcussions of your steroid usage find you well.

When you find people like Greg & Tom (and many others working on this game) in this world you completely appreciate their honesty and efforts. You understand this is a complicated process and you give them the space to make things right. These guys will do everything in their power to make it work. If somehow the tech world blows up tomorrow (completely out of their control) then they'll post alternative ways to handle the situation immediately. As long as you have internet to read this board and/or a phone to make a call I guarantee you they'll have your lineups set or find an alternative for everyone.

Your lineups need to be set by Sunday: everyone knows that.

People are possibly going away this weekend: everyone knows that.

If you're leaving right now and going to a place with no internet and no phone to call in your lineup then find a co-manager. Otherwise wait a day. Or possibly two - it's really NOT going to kill you and it's really NOT your entire life. I promise, you'll get through this.

If you've invested more than you can afford in playing these games and the dollars they represent are life savings to you then you probably shouldn't have played.

Otherwise, relax, enjoy the game. Figure out vacations that have internet. Buy a cellphone for yourself. This is going to be okay, there are more solutions than you think.

And I'll tell you right now... riding Greg & Tom when they bust their asses to make things work is childish, stupid and ridiculous. They're too polite to truly lash out, but I'm not.

Stop being an a$$hole, Norcal.

Thanks.

Yours in Christ,

Dyv

SteveK · Post by **SteveK** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 6:35 am

Just want to let everyone know I am not complaining, but I am hearing about recent drafts already being loaded, but I don't have a roster from a March 14th draft. Is there something I am doing wrong that I can't find it? Or is it not there?