Commissioner of Next Year's Players Championship

And a quick "Thank You" to Al, I.strether and keyzick (and some of my other friends in our current tour events) -

I agree with J-Pav, also think he'd make a great commish, if Geoff is ready to pass the torch.

I have no problem with J-Pav taking over as commissioner or gbrooks continuing. I do think that there should be a co-commissioner or a "board" so to speak to help in case the commissioner is out for an extended period. As we all know "life" happens and it takes priority over the leagues we are in. Having some type of co-commissioner would keep things moving and help in communicating with Strat HQ on board issues.

My first action would be this: If I am to take the role as commissioner, I will not participate in the tour events (thus my reason for only doing it for one season). Also, my take on the job is the role of a "good umpire". The less you see or hear from me, then the better things should be going. We had many tour events commissioner and board-free for many years. Part of me wishes it could be run that way again, and part of me recognizes that no one will create Event 1 League 1 without some sort of guiding hand.

Firstly, J-Pav, I appreciate your volunteering the time and effort. As I noted earlier, I'm sure you'd be a fine commissioner, and it's time and effort I, myself, would avoid. Your willingness to run the tourney is commendable.

The tourney, however, should not be "board-free." Things are going to go wrong in the tournament, and the players will need to communicate with the commissioner about them. Players will make minor and grievous errors, SOM's system will make errors effecting leagues, and problems may arise--as we saw with Event 5--with the commissioner's decisions and rulings that preceded league play. Players have to be able to communicate with the commissioner about these legitimate problems on a regular basis. Also, since this is a paid tourney for prizes of cash value, the commissioner has to be accountable to explaining most of his decisions and many of his actions to the paying contestants. So, if there is never cause for communication, excellent. However, many forum communications will likely be needed to be made.

So, considering actual disputes between players rarely occur. The effective commissioner is actually more like an, at times, visible "Super" than a 'good umpire." He keeps everything running efficiently on his own, while still tending to the legitimate complaints and issues of his "tenants."

How does one bring variety to a standard 12/80 league? DH option, waiver penalties, what else?

How does one bring variety to a standard 12/80 league? DH option, waiver penalties, what else?

DH option
12/100 league
12/60 league
Unleashed or not Unleashed.
12/80 league

These are more than enough options to schedule a varied 5-event, 20xx league that both reflects most common 20xx play and stays within the "simple" tourney mode J-Pav advocated and most players want.

To I.strether:

I'm unsure how long you've been playing, and I only recognize your name from the posts this season (have you played under other names?) I myself have played since the 2002 season. The tour back then was very informal. That SOM kicked in some tickets (probably with the intent of boosting participation) doesn't make the "tour" some kind of sanctioned, formal event. If it were sanctioned, SOM would act as commissioner and we'd have the standard three page long disclaimer written in legalese.

The tour is a largely informal gathering played for pride. Whatever goes wrong along the way can be handled by most any reasonable and impartial person. If the need should dictate adding in a few outside opinions, it would take me about one minute to find two or three vets to get a consensus. We do not need to vote on a board, have board meetings, record the minutes of said meetings, and post recorded said minutes for public viewing. Whenever a guy incorrectly reuses a ballpark does not need to turn into a five page treatise on whether or not God can make a taco that's too hot for Him to eat.

To mesquiton: Thank you, and I want you to know that just like the golfer who buys the drinks after a hole in one, I resisted the urge to say the tour champ should assume the commissioner duties the following year!

I'm unsure how long you've been playing, and I only recognize your name from the posts this season (have you played under other names?) I myself have played since the 2002 season. The tour back then was very informal. That SOM kicked in some tickets (probably with the intent of boosting participation) doesn't make the "tour" some kind of sanctioned, formal event. If it were sanctioned, SOM would act as commissioner and we'd have the standard three page long disclaimer written in legalese.

I've been playing from the very beginning (2002), although I'm not sure how that's relevant. The tournament is not informal now. SOM posts an official tournament page advertising the event, and it provides prizes for cash value for paid participants. That does make it a "sanctioned, formal" event. Ask any attorney with only one semester of Contracts law; he'll tell you the same. No "disclaimer in legalese" is required.

The tour is a largely informal gathering played for pride. Whatever goes wrong along the way can be handled by most any reasonable and impartial person.

Maybe the tour is a "largely informal gathering played for pride" for you. It is not that for everybody. Many players who don't know other players--and that's a lot--are interested in the tournament for the proffered prizes. Their considerations are just important as yours and other tournament vets'. Any commissioner, including yourself, would have to accommodate their interests in a fair competition for those prizes.

If the need should dictate adding in a few outside opinions, it would take me about one minute to find two or three vets to get a consensus. We do not need to vote on a board, have board meetings, record the minutes of said meetings, and post recorded said minutes for public viewing.

I suggested a board, but I hardly advocated for it. However, in a paid contest for "cash" prizes, it would be inappropriate for you to just consult random vets for a "consensus," particularly if they are also contestants in the tournament. I hope you would see the conflict of interest in such "consultation," and why decisions and decision-making would need to be open to all contestants. If it wasn't, contestants would have a legitimate complaint of an unfair paid contest (privileging particular contestants) and legitimate cause to request refund of their contest "fees."

Whenever a guy incorrectly reuses a ballpark does not need to turn into a five page treatise on whether or not God can make a taco that's too hot for Him to eat.

Nothing like this ever happened. So, such a complaint is just alarmist...and a bit snarky. Possible future commissioners should avoid being both; you will be SOM's main customer relations rep for the tournament, if you are commissioner.

Finally you never addressed what I actually said about communication between a commissioner and the paying contestants, not between the commissioner and some board. Here's what I actually said about the matter. I assume you agree with it:

"The tourney, however, should not be "board-free." Things are going to go wrong in the tournament, and the players will need to communicate with the commissioner about them. Players will make minor and grievous errors, SOM's system will make errors effecting leagues, and problems may arise--as we saw with Event 5--with the commissioner's decisions and rulings that preceded league play. Players have to be able to communicate with the commissioner about these legitimate problems on a regular basis. Also, since this is a paid tourney for prizes of cash value, the commissioner has to be accountable to explaining most of his decisions and many of his actions to the paying contestants. So, if there is never cause for communication, excellent. However, many forum communications will likely be needed to be made."

How does one bring variety to a standard 12/80 league? DH option, waiver penalties, what else?

DH option
12/100 league
12/60 league
Unleashed or not Unleashed.
12/80 league

These are more than enough options to schedule a varied 5-event, 20xx league that both reflects most common 20xx play and stays within the "simple" tourney mode J-Pav advocated and most players want.

12/100 and 12/60 are not standard 12/80. Good call on the unleashed set.

Is gbrookes back yet?

I think the reigning tour champ should assume commissioner (and all fiscal, legal, financial, and public service) duties and responsibility. I nominate "mesquiton"!!