08-06-2023, 10:28 PM
(This post was last modified: 08-06-2023, 10:28 PM by dogwoodmaple. Edited 1 time in total.)
7. Write 600 words or more on something about anything in the league that interests you. It could be related to statistics, a league issue that you take seriously, or a niche part of history that doesn’t fit neatly into either of the above categories. This must be directly related to the league, so don’t wax 600 words about your team’s participation on a Werewolf server or something.
Back when I first found this league, it could not have come at a better time. It was in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic and it felt like the entire world had gone mad. I still remember going to the grocery store and shelves and bins being empty and feeling overwhelming dread everywhere I went. I somehow stumbled upon this place and figured with the extra time off work, I could devote some energy to this. Talk about an all-time great decision. The immediate benefit was that this league helped me take my mind off everything that was going on around us, which I sorely needed. My wife works in healthcare so it was a struggle during the entire pandemic and this place brought me some distraction and solace that fit like a puzzle piece. Not to mention that the people I encountered when I first joined could not have been nicer. I still come in contact with most of them, whether it's in ISFL or the other associated leagues and I hope they know how appreciative I am of their welcome. I probably asked 10,000 questions when I first joined, but every single one of them got an answer. When I first created I wasn't sure about my activity level, but what I love about this place is you can succeed with varying levels of involvement. Busy week and you only have a couple hours to do league stuff that week? No problem. Lighter workload and you want to go all in and dive head first into league lore? Awesome. Plus, there was never any pressure from anyone to have any certain level of activity. That honestly made me want to be that much more active. This quickly grew into something even more meaningful as I made really good friends on the Silverbacks and I've ended up sharing locker rooms with them across the sim leagues in the seasons that have come to pass. While we're no longer in the middle of a global pandemic, I don't see this place any differently than I used to. It's something that has become a beloved part of my routine and there's just something about the camaraderie here that I have a hard time explaining. We all know we don't have complete control over our player and even max earning isn't a ticket to tons of trophies or league accolades. I think that's what unites us and keeps us together. We know that we're at the mercy of a very fickle sim engine and we're just doing the best we can. That's why I've always prioritized an active, healthy locker room over anything when it comes to being scouted for drafts. There will be times when your player inexplicably plays poorly. When the output does not match your TPE level or the amount of blood, sweat, and tears that you've poured into them. And during those times, you better have a good locker room to be your backbone. You better have people around you that offer support, commiseration, and are understanding of the frustrations that come for us all at some point. I've told this to scouts, but it's my firm belief that if you're not having a good time in your locker room, you're not going to have a good time period. Individual success only takes you so far in this league, especially when the roster is made up of a bunch of different positions, all trying to work hard to accomplish one common goal. I'm fortunate that everywhere I've been has had a great locker room, great support system, and hasn't minded too much when I hit those frustration walls. All that to say - thank you for this league, the people who run it, and everyone who I've encountered along the way. Hopefully I have a long career with this player, full of excitement, joy, and camaraderie. (648 words)
Back when I first found this league, it could not have come at a better time. It was in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic and it felt like the entire world had gone mad. I still remember going to the grocery store and shelves and bins being empty and feeling overwhelming dread everywhere I went. I somehow stumbled upon this place and figured with the extra time off work, I could devote some energy to this. Talk about an all-time great decision. The immediate benefit was that this league helped me take my mind off everything that was going on around us, which I sorely needed. My wife works in healthcare so it was a struggle during the entire pandemic and this place brought me some distraction and solace that fit like a puzzle piece. Not to mention that the people I encountered when I first joined could not have been nicer. I still come in contact with most of them, whether it's in ISFL or the other associated leagues and I hope they know how appreciative I am of their welcome. I probably asked 10,000 questions when I first joined, but every single one of them got an answer. When I first created I wasn't sure about my activity level, but what I love about this place is you can succeed with varying levels of involvement. Busy week and you only have a couple hours to do league stuff that week? No problem. Lighter workload and you want to go all in and dive head first into league lore? Awesome. Plus, there was never any pressure from anyone to have any certain level of activity. That honestly made me want to be that much more active. This quickly grew into something even more meaningful as I made really good friends on the Silverbacks and I've ended up sharing locker rooms with them across the sim leagues in the seasons that have come to pass. While we're no longer in the middle of a global pandemic, I don't see this place any differently than I used to. It's something that has become a beloved part of my routine and there's just something about the camaraderie here that I have a hard time explaining. We all know we don't have complete control over our player and even max earning isn't a ticket to tons of trophies or league accolades. I think that's what unites us and keeps us together. We know that we're at the mercy of a very fickle sim engine and we're just doing the best we can. That's why I've always prioritized an active, healthy locker room over anything when it comes to being scouted for drafts. There will be times when your player inexplicably plays poorly. When the output does not match your TPE level or the amount of blood, sweat, and tears that you've poured into them. And during those times, you better have a good locker room to be your backbone. You better have people around you that offer support, commiseration, and are understanding of the frustrations that come for us all at some point. I've told this to scouts, but it's my firm belief that if you're not having a good time in your locker room, you're not going to have a good time period. Individual success only takes you so far in this league, especially when the roster is made up of a bunch of different positions, all trying to work hard to accomplish one common goal. I'm fortunate that everywhere I've been has had a great locker room, great support system, and hasn't minded too much when I hit those frustration walls. All that to say - thank you for this league, the people who run it, and everyone who I've encountered along the way. Hopefully I have a long career with this player, full of excitement, joy, and camaraderie. (648 words)