My
sincere apologies for the late blog. This week has been riddled with
distractions. I know you know what I mean!
Monday
night, I’m innocently running a board meeting, discussing Santa Suit
deliveries, Magical School Bus tours, and the OV Starlight Ball
responsibilities with other charitable women who are serious about raising
money and improving the lives of adults living with disabilities. Yes, a glass
or two of sparkling wine might have been involved. The point is my mind was far
away from Fantasy Football (even though I had two players currently in the
game). Yes, people, not all of us are obsessed. My cell phone rings and I see
that it’s Corey Hewett, one of my beloved sons of a different mother. It must
be urgent for Corey to be calling me—he never calls just to chat. So I excuse
myself from the meeting and answer his call.
“Melinda,”
he says with the urgency of someone who is drunk with power. “We need to talk
trades.”
I
listened and tried to make sense of what he was saying about two top ten
players for a third round draft pick and politely told him I’d get back to him
after our meeting.
Later
that evening I texted Corey back, asking about the proposed trade. He responds
with an apology that he’d told me things were happening fast (the power-play)
and he’s already traded his players away to other teams, but he still has a few
players left for a 6th round pick.
Still
unsure what he’s really talking about, I text back that I’m pretty happy with
my team right now, after all I have worked hard to learn this Fantasy Football
stuff and slowly pull players in from waivers to fill holes in my bench and
lineup. My biggest problem is trying to decide who will perform on any given
week. I believe I am in second place, which is much better than I would’ve
expected my team to perform. I’m not a glutton and see no reason to strip poor
Corey of his best players in the hope that he will make better decisions next
year. I’m assuming he still has some shred of dignity left and will put forth
his best effort to finish the season.
Then
I read the text again. He’s traded PLAYERS to other TEAMS and is still trading
MORE players. This doesn’t seem right—is he really dumping all his players for
next season’s draft picks? I quickly check the constitution for the rules on
trading and don’t see anything about allowing trades for draft picks. I Google
trading for draft picks and find lots of stuff about leagues either allowing or
disallowing trades for draft picks up to an hour before the draft begins. There
are references to checking with your commissioner about the legality of such
trades and how the draft will be conducted when draft pick trading is allowed.
The Captain’s League apparently has not addressed this issue. I’m not sure I
approve of betting on the come and trading a player for next season’s draft
pick.
But
Mr. Hewett, who I hold great respect for, is pulling a Captain Kirk. He’s making
up his own rules and running the old What’s Under the Nutshell game. He’s not
just trading one player to try to increase his chances next year, he’s trading
almost ALL his players in the hopes he will overtake the entire league next
year. What if one of our owners is unable to participate next year and we need
to bring in another owner? I’m imagining telling her, “Oh, but Corey has two extra
picks in the first six rounds,” or something like that. I’d look for another
league!
And
then there’s the effect these trades have on this season’s final few weeks. If
I look at each one individually, I’m not sure I’d approve all of them, but
probably would’ve approved some. I know several owners have been trying to
trade all season. But I’m not even able to look at the trades individually
because we have not determined the legality of trading for next season’s draft
picks AND we are not talking about making trades to better each team—we’re
talking about trading away almost all of one team to benefit a few teams. If
Corey had said, “Hey guys, I’m done with this season and I’m releasing all my
players—have at it.” That would’ve caused a fiasco and several owners would’ve
picked up what they needed. NOT me because I was busy with something else. I
would’ve been disappointed, but taken it like a man. Yes, Corey. I wouldn’t
have accused anyone of screwing me.
So,
to make a short story long—I vetoed the trades. Not because I don’t love and
respect you, but because I didn’t feel allowing trading multiple players for
multiple future draft picks was in the best interest of the league. I don’t
think you are vindictive and don’t expect any retaliation for my decision. I
respect the difference in opinion and philosophy. Successful business owners
look at the needs of the many rather than the needs of the few. The success of
the industry/league outweighs the success of one owner and that is the
Commissioner’s job as the leader of the league.
This
week we will be serving The Captain Kirk:
1/3 oz Tia
Maria® coffee liqueur
1/3 oz dark
creme de cacao
1/3 oz Grand
Marnier® orange liqueur
5 ozhot black
coffee
1 1/2 oz whipped
cream
Pour coffee and liquors into an Irish
coffee cup and sweeten to taste. Float the cream on top, add a cherry, and
serve.
Lindy (Melinda) Brown wishes
everyone a happy Thanksgiving.
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