LOTO TOUR '07 - ROUND 2

[Jeepdriver]

It took several weeks to get everything together. I had surgery for gosh sakes and I easily drafted my park, created my team and entered the league.

IMO there was plenty, actually more than enough time for everyone, regardless of outside responsibilities, to get in this league.

Robert, and many others did everything humanly possible, IMO. In fact, I would even go as far as saying everyone was coddled here due to the friendships.

GL everyone in Round II. 8-)

[Jeepdriver]

And what's the deal with Kav? His team is already loaded in the league with waivers done and everything. :?:

[ROBERTVOZZA]

I was so tired and ornery last nite from my long day and all the messages and bad feelings from losing Edge and Cubit that I misinterpreted Kav's message in part...He is declining from any future play (Not this Round of LOTO)...So I just needed to clarify that point...

Now that I am better rested and fed...Let me capsulize my points...

1. LOTO (League Of Their Own) grew from a group of longtime friends 4-5 yrs of playing together...into a 48 Player invitational Tour last year because the group kept expanding...It was a lot of work and a lot of FUN.

2. The Tour shrunk to 36 players this year due to a lot of vets either retiring from the game or dramatically reducing their playing time.

3. I had initially planned to not do the Tour or play at all this year - But a number of old and some newer friends kept asking about it...Finally, due to the great relationships I have fostered the past 5 yrs, I decided to set it up - With a general consensus that I would have more help than in the past due to my personal and financial situation being very challenging from June thru September...

4. The Tour started late, then took even longer than anticipated to get the 1st round going...The second round (Which is well documented in this thread) has been more time consuming and stressful(Likely due to my own REAL LIFE situation as much as the Tour)than any Strato Experience I have ever had...In the past, i just had more time to message everyone and/or the players just took care of business themselves and it just came together...Because everyone who played were people I knew from here, there always existed a mutual respect that could easily smooth out any communication issues - Something which happens all the time on the internet.

5. The past 4+ weeks have been nothing short of a time mgmt. nightmare for me...And I have attempted to keep the Tour, the rules, my friendships, my teams and my personal life together - oftentimes without ANY sleep...

I try to understand EVERYONE'S perspective and REAL LIFE SITUATIONS(Much in part due to being a Counseler much of my adult life) and try very hard to keep everyone happy...When things bog down - I have to field ALL the complaints and act upon them...

If this were REAL BASEBALL and I was the Comissioner, I might still have the same headaches - BUT, I would be getting paid nicely for them and not working 2 other jobs to support my 2 families...But this is only a cyber GAME - That use to be an escape from the stresses of REAL LIFE - Both a nice competitive mental challenge and a fun environment of like minded individuals whom I have thoroughly enjoyed the past 5 yrs...

6. It is still a lot of work - But it is no longer ANY FUN for me at all...So in the attempt to please others, I have, in effect done nearly nothing to please myself...I like organizing things, bringing people together and competing with people I enjoy...But with so many REAL LIFE responsibilities, I can lead the horses here to water, but I just don't have the time or energy to make them drink it anymore...

Please understand, I am not pointing fingers at ANYONE individually...It is the collective drain that this has become that has been my undoing...And maybe after some time away, a good rest and geting my personal life in order, I might change my mind...but as of now, I am going to play out the 2nd Round and then Retire from SOM...I need no apologies or sympathy and I do apologize for anything that has not worked out for anyone here...

If I make the Finals Round - I am going to offer my spot to Jim(And if he declines, to Cubit)...If not, I will restate how the Final 12 spots are reached, restate the rules and everyone can fill at leisure and let me know the results, so I can congratulate the LOTO CHAMPION...

Aside from that...I am likely going to disappear for awhile and just play some ATG III - as a PLAYER ONLY...

GL and MY Best to all,

Robert

[Cubit]

Robert, I, for one have been honored and thankful to you for all your efforts. NOTHING I posted yesterday ever asked to be reinstated or complained about not having the whole league wait for me; I was merely expressing my regrets for having done that and not having known about it. Sometimes SOMO PMs get missed; sometimes the boards don't get checked; sometimes a player, like myself, takes things for granted and forgets to check.

I fully understand and would certainly have done what you did in your place. I only regret that I missed out on the chance to continue playing in this creation with you folks this year. That's it.

I deeply apologize to one and all if my belated awakening and posts caused anyone angst or concern.

[ROBERTVOZZA]

This is just how things work out when there are so many different people (Likely all adults with families and responsibilities) with different schedules and situations (Not to mention all the diverse personalities, regional differences and time zones)...My problem has been that I just haven't had the time to keep everything in order here while trying to manage my real life...And that is definitely 75% of my need for a break...I have taken this little game of ours much too seriously for nearly 6 yrs now...

I have never minded doing everything to set it up and bring people together in much intended goodwill in a competitive environment...But when that goodwill occasionally gets twisted due to miscommunication - Which is inevitable in these situations...It becomes a strain...Which I would equate with it being less fun and no longer worth the effort...

So I will see you all in the A league and perhaps the Finals...But i will be focusing primarily on things outside of the Strat Community much more over the next 2 months...Thanks for getting back on it, Cubit...It is much appreciated, because whether it was anyone's fault or not, I still feel bad about it and would do whatever it took to smooth over...With anyone who plays - Not just old friends.

Robert

[Jeepdriver]

Robert, congratulations. You have officially worked your way into the Guiness Book of World Records, beating out George Foreman on the number of retirements by one person. :wink: :wink:

I kid only because I know you'll be back. :wink: 8-)

[ROBERTVOZZA]

Went down swingin...Just like Sonny Liston...And he went down swingin'...Just like Tommy Dorsey..." :wink: :)

[ROBERTVOZZA]

This morning and got LA'd a couple timz and now I am robert the new man and good to go. Now I'm ready for another 60 Hr week... :wink:

[doctrcpa]

Congrats to our own Stephen Ames (AKA errormagnate) for winning this past weekend's PGA event!! :D

[ROBERTVOZZA]

I didn't know he was a pro golfer... :) Congrats Steve...R