Post by Soup on Jan 9, 2021 17:30:28 GMT -5
Former Commish Roundtable
1. Tell us a little bit about what you have been doing since the last time we have seen you in sim league.
Kind of a hard to answer question, a lot has happened in my life since you (soup) were in the league with me, my dad passed away a few years ago from a medical complication so that has changed things pretty drastically for me. Went back to China to bring dad's ashes, gotten closer with the rest of my extended family in China as well as my mom. As far as myself is concerned, that whole experience changed the way I saw things a good bit, but idk if one can ever really grasp dealing with a situation like that.
I've become a D&D Nerd and stream it on the weekends. I've also streamed some MTG and won my first tournament a month back. Still single with no kids. I coached little league baseball for 4 years. Went 50-0 and turned the rec team into an above average select team. 
I'm relatively boring. I parent, work, and exercise. My kids are 10 and 6 now. Weebrew 1 is into music and art. She plays ukulele and just picked up guitar. She likes to create stuff (she got a sewing machine for her birthday) and craft. Weebrew 2 is into sports. His favorite team is Texas, but he tells me it is Notre Dame because he's a good kid. Work is boring. I've gotten really into rock climbing and still run/bike a lot.
It’s hard to believe that so much time has passed since the last time I was involved with sim league. Even though it has been 5+ years, I feel as if I tried to stop in every so often to check in on shout, participate in mafia and power hours, and to see how everyone was doing. I’m still single and no kids and don’t plan on that changing anytime soon. I changed professions about two years ago and it has been one of the better decisions I’ve made. Luckily COVID-19 hasn’t destroyed my industry and I’ve even been working from home since late March.2. Give me a couple of your favorite memories from all your years in sim.
Honestly the thing I missed the most are those carefree days in college/grad school where responsibilities were few and you could just waste an entire night talking in shout, so in that regard I'm glad to have jumped back in when I did seeing how many of the OGs came back and are active again in shout, we all need an escape from real life every now and then and sim league shout remains one of the best ways of wasting time.Joining TXIA at the KC vs Dal game in Kansas City. Bruns and I smoking joints on the way and inside the stadium. The Power Hour was always a blast. Playing 2K and COD with the sim guys even though i'm garbage at video games. I still have everyone's phone numbers from 2.0 still saved on my phone. I don't have spectacular moments that come to mind. I'm sure some other responses will jog my memory, but I'll give a few personal highlights.I loved the movie poster articles.
When soup rooted out the sociopath that claimed multiple GMs told him to retire via PM.
I'd say power hours, but I wasn't sober enough to remember them.
I feel as if we could do a whole article on all the good and bad memories from this league lol. A couple that stand out to me are several of the stories that have come out from all the real life meet ups that have happened due to the league. Watching Bruns slap the shit out of Buster in a hotel room in Kansas City is something I will never forget. Getting shit faced with Dirt and Ocho and watching him air guitar the night away to a Lynrd Skynrd tribute band definitely ranks up there. Ankly taking Bankz, Trofie and company to some dive crack bar in Chicago led to some funny tales. And this isn’t even including stuff that happened in league. Articles, photoshopped movie posters, drama, shout conversations both funny and serious all are part of the fabric of this league that made it so great and has us all returning.3. What's one or more things you miss from your time as a commish?
I think this is universal among everyone who has commished, which is seeing how rookies you liked or had an interesting build develop, especially when they're drafted by an active GM. Sometimes I'd even sim early, then check the boxscores for a bit first and say to myself "huh, interesting..." at a few players before uploading. I wasn't as analytical with digging through the software as eric and using spreadsheets to nail down a formula, I mostly enjoyed the "anecdotal" trends of player development and builds, imo knowing *exactly* how something works kind of takes the fun out of things to a certain extend. I miss the arguments between GMs on who they should have drafted, who did i nerf after the draft. I miss building a player and running fake sims hoping he will be the MVP and to watch him bust. People bitching at Soup having a Nebraska SG that i definitely made better than he should have been. 
I liked being in control of the timing of sims and also trying to build hidden gems. That's about it. I hated everything else about it. As far as the work put in and time spent updating, checking things, looking at software, building players, you can miss me on that shit. I don’t miss anything about that. The one thing I miss is the involvement with the people. For the most part we have a pretty great group and that led to some real friendships forged over the seasons. Being a commish I feel like if you allow yourself to you could form that bond with most of the GMs since there was that constant communication with each member. Also pro tip, when you’re commish, GMs are more likely to answer your 3am drunk calls.4. What's one or more things you don't miss from your time as a commish?
Definitely hated the playoff to offseason grind, I was pretty anal at enforcing deadlines, which made things harder on myself being the one to do everything from making the draft/FA threads, updating it, re-uploading the htm after every transaction so rosters are up to date by the minute etc, coupled that with dealing with GMs that aren't the most responsive or attentive to FA rules led to me burning out quite quickly. The constant questions and hey can i do this or I could do this better than you. Sometimes i would get frustrated because people were getting frustrated with me. Just putting a lot of time in for people that simply just didn't like you. I think i had a pretty big rival with Odin at the time. I can't remember who but i butted heads with a certain GM constantly. It might have been Bankz who knows. I didn't really enjoy being a commish, so I could make a huge list. But the most annoying part was the GMs that PM'd/texted me looking for special treatment. It wasn't a widespread problem, and most people weren't doing more than some simple fishing, but there was at least one GM that straight up expected special treatment. The time commitment. None of us were as smart as Eric and had to do everything manually lol. But yeah the off season grind like Ian mentioned was the worst. I feel I was pretty anal about things like he was, however I wasn’t stubborn about letting people help out. I think that led to a longer run for me and caused way less burnout. I absolutely hated building the draft file. Once Eric took that over the time commitment didn’t seem to bother me as much. Dirt mentioned the “I could do this better than you” crowd. You try to let that shit slide off you but it eventually grinds you down and it caught me on the wrong day and led to my eventual resignation. 5. Is there anything you felt you could have done better while you ran the league?
100% I should have taken a more relaxed approach to it and delegated more of the work to people, even if they weren't done exactly the way I wanted. (which while I'm still set in my ways in certain aspects, I do admit is extremely asinine) It would have delayed my burnout and kept my sanity longer and I likely wouldn't have been seen as so antagonistic to people. I'd like to think I'm more tame nowadays, so hopefully my grating personality doesn't wear on people as much this time around. The league was already what it was in 2.0. I think I tried to trick the system to often. Potential here jumping there. If i could go back i would try and make the player reflect the grades I was given. I think I ran a good league despite my not wanting to be commish. If I could redo one thing (other than just asking eric to commish), I should have nixed the build-a-class draft class. I think you may have some people say that I was too much of a “dictator” when I ran the league. I really did try to let people weigh in and listen to ideas and make changes but ultimately, it’s impossible to make 29 GMs happy. I butt heads with some but I feel maybe that was because I had a little bit too much in common with those people, but I think even if you asked them they would say my run as commish was a successful and positive one.6. What brings you back to sim league 6.0?
Mostly the GMs, I'm a pretty private person in most aspects of my online life (due to witnessing firsthand the doxxing and wild wild west nature of the formative years of TMB) but the OGs in sim league are by now some of the people I've known the longest online and quite a few were there to offer a helping hand to me when the situation with my dad happened. Friendship. Gives me a chance to talk shit and bring back great memories from when i was in my 20s. My 30s have been pretty boring. A lot of chubby chicks and no weed. I like the wheel and want to play in a league with the wheel. I was just waiting for a creation draft. Hopefully I can maintain that interest. I wasn't optimistic about that until the league filled - now I'm pretty excited about the potential of a few sim decades with a full league and eric as commish - it should be awesome. I touched on this on the podcast. I’ve been working from home since March and I don’t expect that to change anytime soon. I’ve really chosen to stay quarantined for the most part and have done my fair share of staying home and not going out in public. With this comes a little bit of boredom. Team that with seeing some familiar faces coming back, a new league starting; it kind of led to a perfect storm of sparking a new interest inside me. It is sustainable? We’ll see.7. What are some things you're looking forward to as far as getting back to being a GM?
I wasn't around for the wheel era of 5.0 or a majority of eric's commish tenure when the league really started figuring things out on how to improve upon this old ass early 2000s text based software so I'm definitely interested in seeing how they play out, I still have concerns with certain aspects of the wheel like draft class balance etc but I've heard enough good things about it that I'm willing to approach it with an open mind. I was looking forward to tanking and being a bit more patient. Without the lotto I'm having to re-think my strategy. I'm kind of an old head when it comes to rules so it will take some time for me to get used to these new shenanigans. I'm a bit of a trade whore so that may be my downfall with this format. Building a team. I've always been a big fan of team building whether it is Madden or 2k or TMBSL. I'm a little worried I won't have the time/interest to build up the Skrouse Scratch to maximize my team. I always enjoyed the team building obviously. I had fun acquiring cores and building around them. I took pride in my team building. The back and forth bargaining with other GMs trying to maximize your return on trades. I never had to full on cheese tank to make any of my dynasties happen. I also always enjoyed the creative side of being in the league. From podcasts to articles I like challenging that side of me and using that to make people laugh and have a good time.8. What changes have been installed since you last GM'd that have you the most excited?
Eric's changes to the league that have made things that used to be impossible viable such as big men being viable beyond the first 3 years of a creation class, or cheat code combo guards like D-Wade, Reggie Miller, T-Mac no longer being a thing etc. Also low key interested in seeing how you'd (soup) fare in a league where you can't just make lop sided bullshit trades that benefit you because of the wheel predetermining draft slots lol. I think I'm most excited for scouting. Going into drafts blind is tough. I have some experience with building players. Wheel for sure. I also like how simplified the upgrades are. Well it looks like big men aren’t complete dog shit anymore so that’s something to look forward to. I like how many avenues have been opened up to allow a GM to be active and create content leading to opportunities to improve their team. There doesn’t appear to be any limit to that as well. 9. What changes have been installed since you last GM'd that maybe you're not as high on?
A lot of the changes look fairly reasonable to me, I wasn't around for the latter half of 5.0 but from what I understand and occasionally observed popping in shout once every few months or so, the experiments with things like the wheel, rookie FA etc has led to a place where we've gotten answers on a decent amount of hypothetical questions we used to have about what we could with the software. The Wheel. Trading my picks to dumptime for an MVP will be missed. GMs like Ward and Soup never had value picks to trade. It will be interesting to see elite GMs have draft assets.I'm not sure I like how articles are compensated. Maybe I'll like it eventually - but right now I'm a little skeptical. It’s no secret that I’m not a fan of the wheel. I know the league as a whole seems to enjoy it but man it’s going to take away one of the things I enjoyed most about being a GM. The gamesmanship of trading unknown picks from 5 years into the future took a certain art that I think becomes lost when there’s a number already attached to that pick. Anyways, I’m willing to overlook that for now and give it a shot.10. Now that creation draft and wheel order have been established, what are your plans moving forward?
I have a pretty late first round creation pick so I don't really have a set plan in mind yet, but I do have the #1 pick in the first unrevealed class in 3004 so a good amount of my long term goals would hinge on what that class is and what my creation team looks like, but at this point I think I would lean more towards drafting younger guys in creation rather than going for immediate title contention. I'm trying to trade my 3003 1.2 for a solid pick in the creation draft. I could be wrong on this but i think that's what i would prefer. I want a top 10 player in the league now instead of waiting. I pick in the lotto the next 2 years so adding to a better team would be solid. The grades in this creation draft is not something I'm used to. I don't know Eric's method of building players so i'm a bit lost.I'm going to draft BPA for the most part. I've got my eye on a few players at the 8th pick, but if I don't get one of them I'm very open to moving that pick for rookie-draft picks. I’m kind of in a holding pattern. I wanted to jump right in right where I left off but I’m not sure the creation file talent will allow that with where I’m picking in the back half of the draft. Neither of my next two draft picks are particularly high so I might just have to cruise control the first few years and get a feel for everything and aim towards that third rookie draft where I have the number 3 pick. All that said, this is sim league, where things are completely fluid and those plans can change from day to day. I’m always open to changing up my game plan and looking for opportunities to improve.11. What are your opinions on the creation draft file? Give me 2 or 3 prospects you find intriguing.
Just looking at the grades of prospects and based on my knowledge from the little bit of experience I have with eric's way of making players, this looks by far the weakest out of any iteration of sim league creation draft, nobody in the file looks anything like the top 10 picks in the previous creation drafts where you had guys like George Gervin, David Thompson, Reggie Miller etc that were basically walking 30 ppg guys that could also get you 8 boards, 2 steals and had no TO issues. The 2-3 guys that I'm looking at with A efficiency, A scoring and high handling grades (A/B in TO) are probably going to be the first 2-3 picks overall and the other ones with good grades are mostly 33 years or older. So in other words, I have no idea, and picking as late as I do, I probably won't even begin to make a short list of guys I want to draft until like 20-22 picks in. I see a few players i like. The rest i would rather not pay them. I like looking at a A- Outside and A- handles and i'm not sure those players will even exist anymore. Doug Wrenn
Wayne Estes
Lloyd Sharrar
I want a scorer with A pot
It looks like eric did a great job creating a league. There is a wide variety of players that will lead teams in very different directions.I could see a team or two loading up on the older, more established players. I think there will be some HOF-caliber players available later in the draft because people will want to build young for the long term. I think Pee Wee is a player that fits that bill - if he were late 20s he'd be a pretty clear 1.1. As is I think he might fall to me at 1.8.
There also some young, elite players that are difficult to value because you won't have birds on them. Lloyd Sharrar, for example.
I’m willing to give Eric the benefit of the doubt since he has more knowledge/experience with this software than anyone in this league but my God this draft file looks like shit. I wouldn’t draft most of these players with Dirt’s picks let alone mine. There’s 5-10 that I wouldn’t mind drafting and feel good about it but I don’t think I sniff any of them with where I’m picking. I am intrigued by some of these older guys that are past their prime. Maybe if I can snatch a couple of them up and compete for a few seasons or feature them and get someone interested in trading for them that could be a route I take.12. It's crazy to think this league has been going for 12 years now. What about the league in your opinion has made it last this long?
When I initially signed up for 1.0 in the summer of last year in college I originally thought this was just going to be like a fantasy basketball league, we had no shoutbox, what turned out to be a corrupt commish and a bunch of dudes who mostly had no idea wtf this software was about. Never did I think more than a decade later this would still be a thing, big props goes out to every single person who ever stepped up and taken on the thankless job as commish (except mops, because fuck him) The 2.0 Guys actually hung out with one another. They would travel to another state to watch a game and bullshit. They would call drunk and try to talk with the GMs wife. Honestly, Just talk shit without getting butthurt. The OGs were a great example. Definitely the interpersonal aspect. I think we've got a great group of people that have a mutual interest in roster building and hanging out. I just wish the software were a little more dynamic. It has to be the people and their love for sports, competition, arguing and camaraderie. Most of us joined this league in our 20s and it had a real fraternity feel. And like most fraternities we forged a brotherhood for life. Also the selfless time put in by anyone who has ever been the commish for the league. 13. Any parting shots or warnings to send out to the league?
Don't let soup trade rape you, the 1sts he offers are shit, the players he offers are usually shit too, the player(s) he wants from you isn't shit. Goodluck new guys. Ward and Soup bout to teach ya'll a lesson. I'm just here for the popcorn. Fecta - I'm glad you joined if only so I know I won't be the worst GM in the league.Bankz - Just because I don't like to trade with you doesn't mean I don't like you. No need to take it personally.
Ankly - get your utilization up - my mortgage doesn't pay itself!
I hope you guys liked the idea of getting some former commissioners together to weigh in on leagues of past and what brought them back. That being said, I’d be remised if I didn’t also acknowledge Poetic, MJ, Odin, Druce and Eric. For the purposes of this roundtable I solely needed the former commissioners that had some sort of break before returning for 6.0. The others didn’t meet that criteria but are every bit as important to the history of this league. Shoutout to Heebs for mailing it in on the answers. Shouldn’t have expected anything less after his run as a GM and commish. Hey Ian, you fucking chatty Cathy. Quit talking about my articles in chat before they're released bitch. I own the Midwest.
to each of you for former service which contributed to the league continuing all this time. Poor one out for 
all the way outta here with that, so glad that's gone haha