Let me say two things up front: The Ballers and Pimps are great (not good) teams. I have always enjoyed playing them and look forward to more great games in the future. This post is in no way meant to disparage either of those teams ... That said:
I've kept pretty quiet lately as these rants have gone on and on and several people have lashed out at Stockholm as a team and me personally. I've let it slide because hey, it's fair game to say what you want about me or the team as a whole. But it's hit another level now where people are calling out specific people on the team and bashing their accomplishments. For that, I can't just let my guys be thrown under the bus. So, as an owner and as a (formerly) respected member of the WEPL community I feel that I can't just sit back any longer and be quiet.
You can take all the shots you want at me personally and the Meatballs as a team if it makes you feel better. But I'd ask that before you did so, you really take the time to consider exactly what it is that you're bashing ...
You claim that we're exploiting the sim's issues with power backs.
To that I have several responses:
1. 13-3. That was our record in the regular season. Mal was our anchor, but we also managed to have the league leader in TD receptions, 2nd in receiving yards, two other 500+ yard receivers, another HB who chipped in close to 1,000 yards not to mention a defense that smothered opponents all season long. We didn't exploit anything during the regular season and still won 13 games in a brutal conference. No one complained.
2. Season 7 WEPL Champs. We the title last year by riding Mal as far as his giant legs would carry us and no one complained -- in fact we were applauded for it. Why is that different now?
3. We've always been a power rushing team. Seasons 1-7 were the same for us. No one complained when we won last year even though we went Mal heavy. No one complained in Season 6 when we got bounced from the playoffs in the first round for going Mal heavy either. No one in AAA complained when we rode the backs of Glow and Just Win (two power backs) to the crown there either. So I ask you this, why are we being punished for the fact that the sim right now favors power backs and we're a power back team? We didn't change our identity to exploit anything. It is who we have been from the start. Should we suddenly STOP using Mal and try to be a team that passes 50 times a games (something we've never been ... though I've tried) just because you don't like it? I could understand your point if we were a bad team, or a pass first team, who signed a power back at the trade deadline and completely changed identities to exploit a bug -- but we're not. And you know it.
4. Those that actually look at the game film (and not just a stat line) will see we haven't exclusively run the Strong I Slam. It's not even in our top 3 plays. We have run Mal. A ton. Those who actually look at the game film will also realize that it's not just Mal who's doing this ... it's the great play of our defense. Our offense didn't get inside the 20 on the Pimps today once -- but we won because our defense was amazing against a very good offensive team. And to complain that we are only winning because of exploiting one play (which isn't true) is a huge slap in the face of the great agents we have on defense and our amazing DC Jestel who has done an incredible job the past few seasons.
You claim that you lost respect for me personally for "taking the fun out of the game" and for "driving good agents to want to quit."
For this I can't really say anything. If people want to quit because they aren't winning then that's their issue. I can't control it. If people want to blame the fact that they aren't winning on us -- that's their right. If people want to punish us and call us cheesers because the sim favors our style of play, I also can't do anything about that.
But I will be honest and say that those remarks are a huge punch in my face personally.
The one thing I've always done is try to make this game fun. I have expended countless hours doing write ups, participating in the forums and helping make GLB a cooler place. I don't have to do any of those things. I do them because I choose to. Because I enjoy the game and want to try to make it fun for everyone. So to say that I'm ruining the game for people -- well that's just a big fuck you to the time I've put into this thing.
But again. I can't control that. People are going to think what they want to think. But if you really, honestly look at the situation, you'll see that we're being thrown unfairly under the bus here. We're being made out to be cheaters unjustly because some people need a scapegoat to make themselves feel better.
If that's to be our role, fine. Just don't expect me to take it quietly.
I've kept pretty quiet lately as these rants have gone on and on and several people have lashed out at Stockholm as a team and me personally. I've let it slide because hey, it's fair game to say what you want about me or the team as a whole. But it's hit another level now where people are calling out specific people on the team and bashing their accomplishments. For that, I can't just let my guys be thrown under the bus. So, as an owner and as a (formerly) respected member of the WEPL community I feel that I can't just sit back any longer and be quiet.
You can take all the shots you want at me personally and the Meatballs as a team if it makes you feel better. But I'd ask that before you did so, you really take the time to consider exactly what it is that you're bashing ...
You claim that we're exploiting the sim's issues with power backs.
To that I have several responses:
1. 13-3. That was our record in the regular season. Mal was our anchor, but we also managed to have the league leader in TD receptions, 2nd in receiving yards, two other 500+ yard receivers, another HB who chipped in close to 1,000 yards not to mention a defense that smothered opponents all season long. We didn't exploit anything during the regular season and still won 13 games in a brutal conference. No one complained.
2. Season 7 WEPL Champs. We the title last year by riding Mal as far as his giant legs would carry us and no one complained -- in fact we were applauded for it. Why is that different now?
3. We've always been a power rushing team. Seasons 1-7 were the same for us. No one complained when we won last year even though we went Mal heavy. No one complained in Season 6 when we got bounced from the playoffs in the first round for going Mal heavy either. No one in AAA complained when we rode the backs of Glow and Just Win (two power backs) to the crown there either. So I ask you this, why are we being punished for the fact that the sim right now favors power backs and we're a power back team? We didn't change our identity to exploit anything. It is who we have been from the start. Should we suddenly STOP using Mal and try to be a team that passes 50 times a games (something we've never been ... though I've tried) just because you don't like it? I could understand your point if we were a bad team, or a pass first team, who signed a power back at the trade deadline and completely changed identities to exploit a bug -- but we're not. And you know it.
4. Those that actually look at the game film (and not just a stat line) will see we haven't exclusively run the Strong I Slam. It's not even in our top 3 plays. We have run Mal. A ton. Those who actually look at the game film will also realize that it's not just Mal who's doing this ... it's the great play of our defense. Our offense didn't get inside the 20 on the Pimps today once -- but we won because our defense was amazing against a very good offensive team. And to complain that we are only winning because of exploiting one play (which isn't true) is a huge slap in the face of the great agents we have on defense and our amazing DC Jestel who has done an incredible job the past few seasons.
You claim that you lost respect for me personally for "taking the fun out of the game" and for "driving good agents to want to quit."
For this I can't really say anything. If people want to quit because they aren't winning then that's their issue. I can't control it. If people want to blame the fact that they aren't winning on us -- that's their right. If people want to punish us and call us cheesers because the sim favors our style of play, I also can't do anything about that.
But I will be honest and say that those remarks are a huge punch in my face personally.
The one thing I've always done is try to make this game fun. I have expended countless hours doing write ups, participating in the forums and helping make GLB a cooler place. I don't have to do any of those things. I do them because I choose to. Because I enjoy the game and want to try to make it fun for everyone. So to say that I'm ruining the game for people -- well that's just a big fuck you to the time I've put into this thing.
But again. I can't control that. People are going to think what they want to think. But if you really, honestly look at the situation, you'll see that we're being thrown unfairly under the bus here. We're being made out to be cheaters unjustly because some people need a scapegoat to make themselves feel better.
If that's to be our role, fine. Just don't expect me to take it quietly.
Be ready
