Me: Welcome coach, so tell us first, what is the outlook for the Sooner Training Grounds this year? Are you planning for a playoff run?
Sooneer: I'm happy with them, good group all around, team players. 3-0 And #1 in the league, they are looking good, and playing very very good, I can't speak to the playoffs yet, but if we keep it up, We should be in a good position
Me: What do you think of the league expansion and how it has effected the league as a whole?
S: Well, allows for more players to get playing time and be more competive in the future, but I would have rather the Developmental leagues be increased and lowered the number of teams. Just seems like there are so many players now that all want their own teams and want their 1-2 players to play for them. While I understand that, it really lowers the "competition" and fun in the lower leagues. Would have rather had more developmental leagues for the time being with more focus on getting all teams "competitive' rather than just allowing everyone to have thier own.
Me: So, you have managed to keep your teams rolling along through all this, have their been any issues with defection?
S: No not really, I've only had about 5 players requesting releases and I granted them all except one. So I think i've been very fair in doing whatever I can to help out where possible. I'm more than willing to do what I can, but I have to think about my teams first and act in their best interests.
Me: Yes, there have been rumblings through the presses about your latest fiasco, do you think it is a situation of player ego?
S: Yes, and its not one sided, Both Thunder Cash and myself are being egotistical. I won't let someone threaten me and he won't budge on his position. So its a case where both parties are being a certain way because the other is, I've sent olive branches to come to an agreement where we both win. Because thats what we should all be striving for, situations where everyone wins. And I know i've been in the press alot for my actions, but I've always done whats best for my teams, and I will continue that regardless what people think about me.
Me: Well, they say that you cant be a sports star in any capacity without ego, ego is directly tied to leadership, and leadership is what it takes to be a player, owner, or coach. Do you think there is any way to remedy the situation here, I assume since he was a starter that you would like to put this behind you and get back to your perfect season?
S: have a large ego, and everyone around me will agree. I'm more than willing to put my ego aside to remedy a situation like this. Players on my team have already made a DT and boosted him to fill his spot, but when we were forced and we were forced, to trade a lvl 8 for a lvl 4. It puts our team in a real bad situation, and I really don't know how he and I can resolve the situation. He feels like he made a reasonable request and I feel like I've made a reasonable request. So I really dont' see how to resolve this, as I won't accept cash only because now its not about cash, and I don't even think I would take a DT for trade because a member of my team has already put for the effort to make another DT and equip build one. So its really a tough situation for us both to be in at this moment.
Me: Perhaps this is a situation others in the league can learn from. What advice would you give to the new owners out there that are so prevalent after the expansion?
S: Be fair, new owners need to realize that they have agreed to play for a team, and need to honor that agreement. Most of us owners understand that you want your player on your own team, to be in control of him. But If you are the Starting player on a team, and that team needs you. Give them time to find a replacement, or find a replacement for them yourself and arrange the deal for the team you want your guy off of. And never resort to threats about throwing games and sandbagging your players. It will only cause negative situations where they can be resovled very easy if you are just nice.
Me: In talks with Thunder, it is apparent to me that he regrets his actions, and says that his pride tends to get the better of him. He also says that a quit talk with him prior to sending him down would have went a long way, that a lot of this holdout is due to him feeling like he was forced into a situation. Do you think that the fact the GM was doing deals and not you directly made this situation worse in any regard?
S: No my GM didn't do this. I made the trade to move him down, and I appologized to Thunder for moving him down and said i'd release him if thats what he wanted. Although I did talk him into staying because he would have been the starter, and just been a backup on the sooners team. I do admit fault for not talking to him about the trade, but I was only doing what I thought was best for him, and shortly after the trade he signed a new contract with us. It would be nice though if GM's had to approve Owners trades and if Owners had to approve GM's trades. Would make sure everyone is on the same page, or an ingame/onsite im system. But when it comes down to it I do regret moving him before asking him, but I was under the impression that was ok now, and not an issue anymore
Me: We around the league have noticed that his performance in the first couple games has been lackluster. His frustration with not performing well may have played into this as well. From your perspective, does it make it easier to bench an ill-performing player, or is this just as difficult of a decision regardless of his on field statistics?
S: Whether he was our defensive captian or water boy, the off field issues are by themselfs. No one player is bigger than the program, and whether its our star player or not. So no, It doesn't make the decision any easier because of on field statistics. Too be honest I didn't even look at his performance on the field.
Me: So, in closing, is there anything you would like to say about your team, or any topic that you want the people to hear?
S: Yes, there has been alot of talk about some teams I own, Which I have refused to respond to about My "Kosovo Liberty" team. It seems as if people think I took money from that team as well, and I'm going on record to refute those claims, I bought that team after someone else took the money off it, to rebuild it. And have just recently hired some GM's to help with that process. Also I am very proud of all the members of our organization and the support and dedication they have given and hope they all succeed with me or on their own in the future. Boomer Sooner!
Me: We just want to say, that it is an impressive empire you and your staff have built, and success seems to come easy to you guys. Good luck with the upcoming season
S: Thanks we have over 100 members and keep growing, thanks for having me on. Appreciate the opportunity.
Sooneer: I'm happy with them, good group all around, team players. 3-0 And #1 in the league, they are looking good, and playing very very good, I can't speak to the playoffs yet, but if we keep it up, We should be in a good position
Me: What do you think of the league expansion and how it has effected the league as a whole?
S: Well, allows for more players to get playing time and be more competive in the future, but I would have rather the Developmental leagues be increased and lowered the number of teams. Just seems like there are so many players now that all want their own teams and want their 1-2 players to play for them. While I understand that, it really lowers the "competition" and fun in the lower leagues. Would have rather had more developmental leagues for the time being with more focus on getting all teams "competitive' rather than just allowing everyone to have thier own.
Me: So, you have managed to keep your teams rolling along through all this, have their been any issues with defection?
S: No not really, I've only had about 5 players requesting releases and I granted them all except one. So I think i've been very fair in doing whatever I can to help out where possible. I'm more than willing to do what I can, but I have to think about my teams first and act in their best interests.
Me: Yes, there have been rumblings through the presses about your latest fiasco, do you think it is a situation of player ego?
S: Yes, and its not one sided, Both Thunder Cash and myself are being egotistical. I won't let someone threaten me and he won't budge on his position. So its a case where both parties are being a certain way because the other is, I've sent olive branches to come to an agreement where we both win. Because thats what we should all be striving for, situations where everyone wins. And I know i've been in the press alot for my actions, but I've always done whats best for my teams, and I will continue that regardless what people think about me.
Me: Well, they say that you cant be a sports star in any capacity without ego, ego is directly tied to leadership, and leadership is what it takes to be a player, owner, or coach. Do you think there is any way to remedy the situation here, I assume since he was a starter that you would like to put this behind you and get back to your perfect season?
S: have a large ego, and everyone around me will agree. I'm more than willing to put my ego aside to remedy a situation like this. Players on my team have already made a DT and boosted him to fill his spot, but when we were forced and we were forced, to trade a lvl 8 for a lvl 4. It puts our team in a real bad situation, and I really don't know how he and I can resolve the situation. He feels like he made a reasonable request and I feel like I've made a reasonable request. So I really dont' see how to resolve this, as I won't accept cash only because now its not about cash, and I don't even think I would take a DT for trade because a member of my team has already put for the effort to make another DT and equip build one. So its really a tough situation for us both to be in at this moment.
Me: Perhaps this is a situation others in the league can learn from. What advice would you give to the new owners out there that are so prevalent after the expansion?
S: Be fair, new owners need to realize that they have agreed to play for a team, and need to honor that agreement. Most of us owners understand that you want your player on your own team, to be in control of him. But If you are the Starting player on a team, and that team needs you. Give them time to find a replacement, or find a replacement for them yourself and arrange the deal for the team you want your guy off of. And never resort to threats about throwing games and sandbagging your players. It will only cause negative situations where they can be resovled very easy if you are just nice.
Me: In talks with Thunder, it is apparent to me that he regrets his actions, and says that his pride tends to get the better of him. He also says that a quit talk with him prior to sending him down would have went a long way, that a lot of this holdout is due to him feeling like he was forced into a situation. Do you think that the fact the GM was doing deals and not you directly made this situation worse in any regard?
S: No my GM didn't do this. I made the trade to move him down, and I appologized to Thunder for moving him down and said i'd release him if thats what he wanted. Although I did talk him into staying because he would have been the starter, and just been a backup on the sooners team. I do admit fault for not talking to him about the trade, but I was only doing what I thought was best for him, and shortly after the trade he signed a new contract with us. It would be nice though if GM's had to approve Owners trades and if Owners had to approve GM's trades. Would make sure everyone is on the same page, or an ingame/onsite im system. But when it comes down to it I do regret moving him before asking him, but I was under the impression that was ok now, and not an issue anymore
Me: We around the league have noticed that his performance in the first couple games has been lackluster. His frustration with not performing well may have played into this as well. From your perspective, does it make it easier to bench an ill-performing player, or is this just as difficult of a decision regardless of his on field statistics?
S: Whether he was our defensive captian or water boy, the off field issues are by themselfs. No one player is bigger than the program, and whether its our star player or not. So no, It doesn't make the decision any easier because of on field statistics. Too be honest I didn't even look at his performance on the field.
Me: So, in closing, is there anything you would like to say about your team, or any topic that you want the people to hear?
S: Yes, there has been alot of talk about some teams I own, Which I have refused to respond to about My "Kosovo Liberty" team. It seems as if people think I took money from that team as well, and I'm going on record to refute those claims, I bought that team after someone else took the money off it, to rebuild it. And have just recently hired some GM's to help with that process. Also I am very proud of all the members of our organization and the support and dedication they have given and hope they all succeed with me or on their own in the future. Boomer Sooner!
Me: We just want to say, that it is an impressive empire you and your staff have built, and success seems to come easy to you guys. Good luck with the upcoming season
S: Thanks we have over 100 members and keep growing, thanks for having me on. Appreciate the opportunity.
Last edited May 1, 2008 20:37:07
