Fri Sep 13, 2013 12:31 am
I don't sit in front of my computer 24-7 like some people do. I have a very demanding job and work hard. Most days I don't even have a chance to check the message boards. In addition, I've had spotty internet service over the last few days and wasn't able to get access long enough in the evenings to enter a team.
Those who know me on these boards, including at least half the league, know that when I say I'm joining, I do exactly that. If something were to come up where I couldn't join, I would certainly let everyone know in a timely fashion so as not to hold up the league. I see no reason to post on these boards an anticipated team entry date after signing up just to coddle those strato addicts who can't wait for a league to start to get their next fix.
So imagine my shock and amazement when I logged on tonight to enter my team and learned that someone who didn't even bother to sign up for the league in the nearly 9 full days it was posted in the ATG discussion forum took my spot. Is there no more civility, decency and respect left on these boards?
I have no problem with those who actually signed up for the league entering teams. That's what you are expected to do and that's exactly what I would have done if some selfish thief with no sense of community, no respect for others and low morals hadn't stolen my spot. I shudder to think that this tight knit online community has members who would engage in such low class behavior.
What's the point of having a sign up list if it isn't honored?
I signed up for this league when it had languished and was on life support, when the founder of the league, drfreeze49, lamented that only 5 had signed up despite more than 150 page views and said that it was "his last try at recruiting". At least 4 people who signed up for the league after me joined as a direct result of my recruiting efforts of sending messages in my existing leagues touting the league and encouraging people to join. I even posted a link to to a previous such league to give prospective managers an idea of how to put together a team in this theme, stating that "this is one of my favorite themes". Does that sound like someone who would walk away from a league without comment after signing up for it?
Where was the cowardly thief when the sign up list had vacancies?
Vinny, I know that you have been watching this league thread by your frequent updates. While I know that you were eager to get the league off the ground, I'm disappointed that you didn't respond to nomadbrad's self serving post questioning whether all on the list would join by stating that the league signup sheet was filled and that those who suddenly wanted to join the league when it looked like it was ready to fill could be alternates in the event someone changed his mind. At least that would have discouraged those not on the sign up list from entering.
I can remember that the same thing happened when a league of titans of sorts was put together a couple of years ago on the old TSN site that included the elite managers in the community. Like here, there was a filled sign up list and a public password and a manager not on the sign up list joined the league, acing someone out of his spot on the list. The offending manager lost about 100 games and entirely ruined the concept of the league.
I don't know who the offending manager here is, and I doubt that he has the guts to come forward in this forum to attempt to justify his crass behavior, but I wouldn't shed a whole lot of tears if he also loses 100 games.
Good luck to all of the honorable managers in this league.
