2x Media Voucher (3113 words)
A Career Retrospective – Tree Gelbman
By: Anastasia Firestone
I was the first person to ever interview Tree Gelbman back when she was just a prospect ready to go into the (then) NSFL draft for the Jim Phillips News. After several years down in the DSFL, Tree finally began her career in the pros with Chicago, making the playoffs several times and winning a Tight End of the Year Award. Contacting me to let me know of her pending retirement, I decided to fly out.
The air was significantly different when I sat down on Tree’s couch outside her house for this interview. Long gone was the person cutting team meetings and slacking off during workouts, replaced by a model player (excluding the alleged crimes) who was now working hard to do their best to keep up with the day to day rigors of the league. The cereal eating was still there of course, I would be upset if it wasn’t, but there was actual food around the house, and not a bottle of vodka in sight. Time changes us I guess, and in Tree’s case you can argue that it helped turn her entire career around. Over bowls of Reese’s Puffs, we decided to begin our interview.
Anastasia: So, Tree, you’re finally calling it a career eh? What led to the decision to retire? Friends? Family? Yourself?
Tree: Mostly myself. I’m pretty blessed in that I haven’t been injured at all in my career in the ISFL so health was never a concern. Family and friends have supported me the entire way with my journey, and the coaching staffs on my team have had my back as well. But to retire was mostly my own volition. I’m definitely starting to see my skills drop off a bit, and the training I’m putting in is only keeping me above the rest of the pack so much. Figured it was time to hang up the cleats while I’m still respectable out on the field and not go out as a husk of my former self.
Anastasia: It’s always a bit of a interesting reason to see why people retire. Do you think you could hang on for a few more seasons and stretch your career out more or not really?
Tree: At this point, who knows. Maybe I could have stretched out a few more decent years but we wouldn’t figure that out until we’re in the middle of the season. I’m going on the high road here and retiring while I still have some dignity left on the field.
Anastasia: Are you going to request to be traded at the deadline if the Butchers are out of playoff contention in one last chance for a ring?
Tree: No shot. I’m determined to end my career playing for the team that took that chance on me all those seasons ago. Winning a ring would be cool and all but I’m determined to do it with Chicago only. This city has become my home and I’d love to become a coach for the team in a few seasons once I’m done here.
Anastasia: A noble cause, now speaking of Chicago, talking about how they’ve been and stuff. How would you sum up your time with the Butchers organization?
Tree: Absolutely fantastic. Coming out of Austin I was a very unproven commodity, a tight end with zero experience at the big league level who had missed some time in the minors development stages. And they saw something in me. They saw someone who was a slacker that could be molded into something that resembled a model player. Still not entirely what aspects of my game they liked about me there, but evidently the gamble paid off for them. Every season here has been an absolute blast despite all the up and down seasons that we’ve had. We’ve been at the low of 3-13 back in Season 23, to the highs of 12-4 in Season 27, so you name it we’ve experienced it. Having the experience leadership of Bayley and Muford, and then later CC, has helped us keep the ship upright even when things weren’t exactly going our way.
Anastasia: What was your favorite moment with Chicago? Does anything specifically stand out from the crowd?
Tree: Realistically I don’t have one particular favorite moment that is the stand alone “best one.” I’ve had countless moments on and off the field that really have meant the world to me all things considered. If I had to pick something though I’d give it to when I finally managed to win Tight End of the Year back in Season 26. I never expected to win an award in my career considering the slow start that I had and then the fact I couldn’t really develop that consistency with my quarterback O’Donnell, but I pulled one out of my ass and here were are with something in the trophy case.
Anastasia: And you almost won one in the DSFL as well right? Your first season with Kansas City?
Tree: Yeah and then I lost to a second year, inactive max TPE tight end. Really felt fun. They introduced a rule the year after that IAs couldn’t win awards so I feel some justice in that regard, but man it would be nice to have two trophies not going to lie. Help boost my spot in league history that much more.
Anastasia: Speaking of Kansas City, lets look back to your origins there. 12th round pick as part of a giant class of earners, talk me through the minor league days.
Tree: Well the beginning was kind of rough, definitely struggled to find my footing at times there but overall it went decently well. Kansas City had one really good season while I was there where we made it to the finals before getting bounced by the Myrtle Beach Buccaneers. That didn’t feel good, to be so close to victory only to get bounced in the game. I guess that was the first fire lit under me during my playing career; if you wanted to actually get something done you’re going to have to work for it.
Anastasia: Any reason in particular you guys never really were consistently good? Bad management or something?
Tree: Not at all, in the nature of the DSFL you have teammates who pop off for one season and then get called up immediately while you’re left trying to patch the holes in your roster with whatever rookies exist as well as bots. It’s a mess. I don’t fault the management at all for the struggles, it’s a brutal job in the minors.
Anastasia: How did the minors shape you into becoming the player that you eventually wound up as?
Tree: Starboy, Butters, Matty, and whoever else was my management down there were great motivators to keep the team working hard and trying to improve even when things got rough down there. Taught us at an early level that grinding for wins is important as it keeps you humble and committed every step of the way. I owe them a lot for that, after slacking my way through college football.
Anastasia: Guess it goes to show how much leadership can affect a team, when you have those passionate leaders that go above and beyond to keep things in order it really pays out in the long run. Moving on from the minors, you got drafted by Austin but never played a single down for them, can you expand a bit more on that?
Tree: Well, can’t really say much more that hasn’t previously been said. Got drafted there, things didn’t work out, wound up leaving in free agency.
Anastasia: Surely there’s a bit more, do you feel like you got slighted at all by Austin? Did the management lead you along with something that wasn’t ever going to happen?
Tree: Do I feel slighted? I mean, sure a bit I guess. Felt like that all things considered I could have gotten a look my second season. It sucks that the team that drafted me didn’t give me a shot to prove myself in the spotlight but circumstances out of our control is what ended up complicating the matter. A tight end expected to get taken in the expansion draft that didn’t, a team pushed to the cap that didn’t really have a place for me to go, it all added up. The one thing that wasn’t complicated was how the management explained things to me, I was kept in the loop at every stage of the process about what was going on and why shit was falling the way it was falling. They never led me on with false promises of guaranteed snaps or roles on the team, it was all open negotiations and I was given the opportunity to vent my frustration each and every step of the way. While the two managers who were there at the time are now gone, I still commend them for being great through the entire process.
Anastasia: Sounds like a solid bunch of people. Now can you describe free agency in a little more detail and just explain what that process was like? I’m sure you had a decent bit of press.
Tree: There was a surprising amount of interest across the board. I didn’t really get a single offer until I put out a presser at the request of my agent. I’m not really one for standing out in the crowd.
Anastasia: Yeah, I know it took a lot to get you to open up in our first interview back when you were in the draft.
Tree: Guilty as charged. Going back to the free agency though, I got some interest after the presser. Chicago, Orange County, and San Jose were the three to all reach out to me, as well as an open invitation from Austin to return if I was willing to give them a shot then.
Anastasia: And at that point, was it too late with Austin?
Tree: I mean I wasn’t against returning, they were a nice bunch of people. I just felt like I wanted to get elsewhere and explore a team with new people on it. Austin had a few too many people I was familiar with and they felt like, almost too popular? I like a place where I can kind of lurk in the shadows and do my thing in peace and quiet.
Anastasia: Was that the most important aspect of when you signed with your new team?
Tree: Yep. Whatever team I signed with I wanted to go somewhere where there wasn’t a ton of focus on them. Every team that offered on me made a compelling argument. San Jose had two of my favorite people in all of the league on the team; Matty and Leon McDavid and playing with them was incredibly tempting. Orange County came out of the gates and promised me an immediate chance to compete for a title and for some tight end of the year awards and I’d be lying if I said that wasn’t incredibly tempting. Chicago offered me a place where I could become a part of an up and coming team that was looking to do some damage. All were tempting and all were very hard to turn down.
Anastasia: Quicky bouncing to something related to that field before back to you. Leon McDavid, you mention you love him to death, did you guys have a rivalry with each other or something along those lines?
Tree: We had a “rivalry” with each other that just kept each other motivated through thick and thin. Rivalry isn’t really the right word as it was entirely amicable and friendly, but duking it out with him each year for tight end supremacy was always a fun time, a true legend of this league and I’m glad to have known him.
Anastasia: Always nice to have allies like that. Now as we now know, you went with Chicago, what did Bayley and Muford offer you that the other teams couldn’t?
Tree: It was largely the opportunity to be a huge piece in a team that was developing and shaping up to become something of a threat. I don’t do well when under the spotlight, having every flaw nitpicked and every weakness overanalyzed. Going there the team was rebuilding its players and more importantly, its identity. Nowadays, the Butchers identity is that of a cohesive unit. Sure we have a few standouts on the team like Tyron Shields and Osiris Firestorm-Fjord, but the rest of the team doesn’t really have those league wide celebrities. We’re a tight nit community and that’s what makes us special.
Anastasia: Did your love of axes come into that decision at all?
Tree: My axe love knows no boundaries. It wouldn’t have mattered if I went to Chicago or went to San Jose or Orange County. The axes were coming with me regardless of if the general managers wanted them to or not. The Butchers social media guy knows that from experience.
Anastasia: Yikes. Now, describe that first season in Chicago, you mentioned not having a ton of expectations, did you guys kind of match that your first year?
Tree: Our first year was not great. The team was still young and developing and was struggling to find its feet. That’s how we wound up with the first overall pick that year and landed a stud named Juan Domine. But while the on the field product wasn’t great, the off the field one was. The locker room was really blending well together, people were hyped at the improvements we were seeing on the field, it was great. Bayley and Muford were huge assets in keeping our eyes focused on the future. It’s too easy to get caught up in the present and look at a one win season and get hung up on how much that sucks. What’s hard is convincing everyone to look at that one win season as motivation to keep up the pressure, and they nailed that perfectly.
Anastasia: I imagine when you managed to make the playoffs it felt like a weight off your shoulders, like the team had finally got over that hump that you previously never could.
Tree: Oh hell yeah. The playoffs are a whole different kind of animal. Chicago made it a few times and every time it was an absolute blast. The entire stadium was buzzing, the fans were screaming the entire time, it was electric. While it sucks that the Butchers didn’t get a title while I was playing there, but we got valuable experience for the younger players that’s going to be huge in a few seasons when they get back there. And they will be back there soon.
Anastasia: That optimistic about the future eh?
Tree: Oh hell yeah. Bayley and CC are looking to take this team to the next level through a great blend of free agency and draft picks. While I won’t be there to be a part of it as a player, I’m hopeful they’ll let me hang around a bit as a coach. They made me a captain this last season so fingers crossed that experience leads to more opportunities with the team down the line.
Anastasia: I wanted to address that. You’ve always talked about being a quiet person who liked to avoid the spotlight. So how did that play into the fact you got named a team captain? Did anything change and force you to become more public? Or just did the captaincy change anything in general?
Tree: Alright one question at a time. First of all lets address the whole “being named the team captain” thing. It was an absolute honor to be considered for it in the first place. Previously before me the captaincy was owned by Sean O’Leary who’s retirement left a pretty decent sized hole in the team. So going into the season after it the team was looking for someone to fill the gap. They turned to me, of all people. The former slacker in Kansas City who couldn’t really be assed to put their best foot forward. Now the person being tasked to help guide the players towards career development. A twist that a director would love. Ok, so now as for being the you know “quiet captain.” I didn’t have to be any more active outside of the clubhouse to be a captain there. I was tasked with leading the players, not improving the teams public image. I did what I had to do, and I think I did it pretty damn well.
Anastasia: Slacker turned award winner, can you describe how it felt to hear your name called there?
Tree: Considering I thought that day would never come, truly amazing. To have the season I did considering that I wasn’t the best at the position, it’s something I’ll never take for granted. Having my name in the record books forever will be something I can show future generations of Butchers players.
Anastasia: What’s next?
Tree: I’m going to buy a farm, I’ve always wanted to be a dairy farmer. Cows are adorable and milk is nice. Maybe I’ll do a true crime podcast, I’ve always had an interest in that stuff and could offer some great insight.
Anastasia: Yeah I remember your name always got tossed around with those allegations that never went anywhere. Any last thoughts on those?
Tree: I’ve got nothing. All the court cases have shown that I am in no way related to any of those crimes. All allegations came entirely from circumstance and I will not comment further as my lawyer isn’t here.
Anastasia: Moving on, a career now over, did you have fun?
Tree: Absolutely. It’s been a storybook career and I’m looking forward to hopefully getting some Hall of Fame consideration one day. Don’t know how likely it will be, but hey never say never.
Anastasia: Want to go on one more vodka and cereal binge?
Tree: You know it.
Tree retires with a storybook career, granted it might be a horror novel with the axe based obsessions and alleged crimes, but a storybook nonetheless. Tree is someone I’m absolutely thrilled to have gotten to know over her career, and as one of the few people who’s been able to interview her and not leave with an unrelated axe wound, I feel like I’m under some form of divine protection. Will we see her in the Hall of Fame one day? Maybe, Tree doesn’t seem that optimistic but with her methods of “persuasion” we’ll see. Signing off, Anastasia.
A Career Retrospective – Tree Gelbman
By: Anastasia Firestone
I was the first person to ever interview Tree Gelbman back when she was just a prospect ready to go into the (then) NSFL draft for the Jim Phillips News. After several years down in the DSFL, Tree finally began her career in the pros with Chicago, making the playoffs several times and winning a Tight End of the Year Award. Contacting me to let me know of her pending retirement, I decided to fly out.
The air was significantly different when I sat down on Tree’s couch outside her house for this interview. Long gone was the person cutting team meetings and slacking off during workouts, replaced by a model player (excluding the alleged crimes) who was now working hard to do their best to keep up with the day to day rigors of the league. The cereal eating was still there of course, I would be upset if it wasn’t, but there was actual food around the house, and not a bottle of vodka in sight. Time changes us I guess, and in Tree’s case you can argue that it helped turn her entire career around. Over bowls of Reese’s Puffs, we decided to begin our interview.
Anastasia: So, Tree, you’re finally calling it a career eh? What led to the decision to retire? Friends? Family? Yourself?
Tree: Mostly myself. I’m pretty blessed in that I haven’t been injured at all in my career in the ISFL so health was never a concern. Family and friends have supported me the entire way with my journey, and the coaching staffs on my team have had my back as well. But to retire was mostly my own volition. I’m definitely starting to see my skills drop off a bit, and the training I’m putting in is only keeping me above the rest of the pack so much. Figured it was time to hang up the cleats while I’m still respectable out on the field and not go out as a husk of my former self.
Anastasia: It’s always a bit of a interesting reason to see why people retire. Do you think you could hang on for a few more seasons and stretch your career out more or not really?
Tree: At this point, who knows. Maybe I could have stretched out a few more decent years but we wouldn’t figure that out until we’re in the middle of the season. I’m going on the high road here and retiring while I still have some dignity left on the field.
Anastasia: Are you going to request to be traded at the deadline if the Butchers are out of playoff contention in one last chance for a ring?
Tree: No shot. I’m determined to end my career playing for the team that took that chance on me all those seasons ago. Winning a ring would be cool and all but I’m determined to do it with Chicago only. This city has become my home and I’d love to become a coach for the team in a few seasons once I’m done here.
Anastasia: A noble cause, now speaking of Chicago, talking about how they’ve been and stuff. How would you sum up your time with the Butchers organization?
Tree: Absolutely fantastic. Coming out of Austin I was a very unproven commodity, a tight end with zero experience at the big league level who had missed some time in the minors development stages. And they saw something in me. They saw someone who was a slacker that could be molded into something that resembled a model player. Still not entirely what aspects of my game they liked about me there, but evidently the gamble paid off for them. Every season here has been an absolute blast despite all the up and down seasons that we’ve had. We’ve been at the low of 3-13 back in Season 23, to the highs of 12-4 in Season 27, so you name it we’ve experienced it. Having the experience leadership of Bayley and Muford, and then later CC, has helped us keep the ship upright even when things weren’t exactly going our way.
Anastasia: What was your favorite moment with Chicago? Does anything specifically stand out from the crowd?
Tree: Realistically I don’t have one particular favorite moment that is the stand alone “best one.” I’ve had countless moments on and off the field that really have meant the world to me all things considered. If I had to pick something though I’d give it to when I finally managed to win Tight End of the Year back in Season 26. I never expected to win an award in my career considering the slow start that I had and then the fact I couldn’t really develop that consistency with my quarterback O’Donnell, but I pulled one out of my ass and here were are with something in the trophy case.
Anastasia: And you almost won one in the DSFL as well right? Your first season with Kansas City?
Tree: Yeah and then I lost to a second year, inactive max TPE tight end. Really felt fun. They introduced a rule the year after that IAs couldn’t win awards so I feel some justice in that regard, but man it would be nice to have two trophies not going to lie. Help boost my spot in league history that much more.
Anastasia: Speaking of Kansas City, lets look back to your origins there. 12th round pick as part of a giant class of earners, talk me through the minor league days.
Tree: Well the beginning was kind of rough, definitely struggled to find my footing at times there but overall it went decently well. Kansas City had one really good season while I was there where we made it to the finals before getting bounced by the Myrtle Beach Buccaneers. That didn’t feel good, to be so close to victory only to get bounced in the game. I guess that was the first fire lit under me during my playing career; if you wanted to actually get something done you’re going to have to work for it.
Anastasia: Any reason in particular you guys never really were consistently good? Bad management or something?
Tree: Not at all, in the nature of the DSFL you have teammates who pop off for one season and then get called up immediately while you’re left trying to patch the holes in your roster with whatever rookies exist as well as bots. It’s a mess. I don’t fault the management at all for the struggles, it’s a brutal job in the minors.
Anastasia: How did the minors shape you into becoming the player that you eventually wound up as?
Tree: Starboy, Butters, Matty, and whoever else was my management down there were great motivators to keep the team working hard and trying to improve even when things got rough down there. Taught us at an early level that grinding for wins is important as it keeps you humble and committed every step of the way. I owe them a lot for that, after slacking my way through college football.
Anastasia: Guess it goes to show how much leadership can affect a team, when you have those passionate leaders that go above and beyond to keep things in order it really pays out in the long run. Moving on from the minors, you got drafted by Austin but never played a single down for them, can you expand a bit more on that?
Tree: Well, can’t really say much more that hasn’t previously been said. Got drafted there, things didn’t work out, wound up leaving in free agency.
Anastasia: Surely there’s a bit more, do you feel like you got slighted at all by Austin? Did the management lead you along with something that wasn’t ever going to happen?
Tree: Do I feel slighted? I mean, sure a bit I guess. Felt like that all things considered I could have gotten a look my second season. It sucks that the team that drafted me didn’t give me a shot to prove myself in the spotlight but circumstances out of our control is what ended up complicating the matter. A tight end expected to get taken in the expansion draft that didn’t, a team pushed to the cap that didn’t really have a place for me to go, it all added up. The one thing that wasn’t complicated was how the management explained things to me, I was kept in the loop at every stage of the process about what was going on and why shit was falling the way it was falling. They never led me on with false promises of guaranteed snaps or roles on the team, it was all open negotiations and I was given the opportunity to vent my frustration each and every step of the way. While the two managers who were there at the time are now gone, I still commend them for being great through the entire process.
Anastasia: Sounds like a solid bunch of people. Now can you describe free agency in a little more detail and just explain what that process was like? I’m sure you had a decent bit of press.
Tree: There was a surprising amount of interest across the board. I didn’t really get a single offer until I put out a presser at the request of my agent. I’m not really one for standing out in the crowd.
Anastasia: Yeah, I know it took a lot to get you to open up in our first interview back when you were in the draft.
Tree: Guilty as charged. Going back to the free agency though, I got some interest after the presser. Chicago, Orange County, and San Jose were the three to all reach out to me, as well as an open invitation from Austin to return if I was willing to give them a shot then.
Anastasia: And at that point, was it too late with Austin?
Tree: I mean I wasn’t against returning, they were a nice bunch of people. I just felt like I wanted to get elsewhere and explore a team with new people on it. Austin had a few too many people I was familiar with and they felt like, almost too popular? I like a place where I can kind of lurk in the shadows and do my thing in peace and quiet.
Anastasia: Was that the most important aspect of when you signed with your new team?
Tree: Yep. Whatever team I signed with I wanted to go somewhere where there wasn’t a ton of focus on them. Every team that offered on me made a compelling argument. San Jose had two of my favorite people in all of the league on the team; Matty and Leon McDavid and playing with them was incredibly tempting. Orange County came out of the gates and promised me an immediate chance to compete for a title and for some tight end of the year awards and I’d be lying if I said that wasn’t incredibly tempting. Chicago offered me a place where I could become a part of an up and coming team that was looking to do some damage. All were tempting and all were very hard to turn down.
Anastasia: Quicky bouncing to something related to that field before back to you. Leon McDavid, you mention you love him to death, did you guys have a rivalry with each other or something along those lines?
Tree: We had a “rivalry” with each other that just kept each other motivated through thick and thin. Rivalry isn’t really the right word as it was entirely amicable and friendly, but duking it out with him each year for tight end supremacy was always a fun time, a true legend of this league and I’m glad to have known him.
Anastasia: Always nice to have allies like that. Now as we now know, you went with Chicago, what did Bayley and Muford offer you that the other teams couldn’t?
Tree: It was largely the opportunity to be a huge piece in a team that was developing and shaping up to become something of a threat. I don’t do well when under the spotlight, having every flaw nitpicked and every weakness overanalyzed. Going there the team was rebuilding its players and more importantly, its identity. Nowadays, the Butchers identity is that of a cohesive unit. Sure we have a few standouts on the team like Tyron Shields and Osiris Firestorm-Fjord, but the rest of the team doesn’t really have those league wide celebrities. We’re a tight nit community and that’s what makes us special.
Anastasia: Did your love of axes come into that decision at all?
Tree: My axe love knows no boundaries. It wouldn’t have mattered if I went to Chicago or went to San Jose or Orange County. The axes were coming with me regardless of if the general managers wanted them to or not. The Butchers social media guy knows that from experience.
Anastasia: Yikes. Now, describe that first season in Chicago, you mentioned not having a ton of expectations, did you guys kind of match that your first year?
Tree: Our first year was not great. The team was still young and developing and was struggling to find its feet. That’s how we wound up with the first overall pick that year and landed a stud named Juan Domine. But while the on the field product wasn’t great, the off the field one was. The locker room was really blending well together, people were hyped at the improvements we were seeing on the field, it was great. Bayley and Muford were huge assets in keeping our eyes focused on the future. It’s too easy to get caught up in the present and look at a one win season and get hung up on how much that sucks. What’s hard is convincing everyone to look at that one win season as motivation to keep up the pressure, and they nailed that perfectly.
Anastasia: I imagine when you managed to make the playoffs it felt like a weight off your shoulders, like the team had finally got over that hump that you previously never could.
Tree: Oh hell yeah. The playoffs are a whole different kind of animal. Chicago made it a few times and every time it was an absolute blast. The entire stadium was buzzing, the fans were screaming the entire time, it was electric. While it sucks that the Butchers didn’t get a title while I was playing there, but we got valuable experience for the younger players that’s going to be huge in a few seasons when they get back there. And they will be back there soon.
Anastasia: That optimistic about the future eh?
Tree: Oh hell yeah. Bayley and CC are looking to take this team to the next level through a great blend of free agency and draft picks. While I won’t be there to be a part of it as a player, I’m hopeful they’ll let me hang around a bit as a coach. They made me a captain this last season so fingers crossed that experience leads to more opportunities with the team down the line.
Anastasia: I wanted to address that. You’ve always talked about being a quiet person who liked to avoid the spotlight. So how did that play into the fact you got named a team captain? Did anything change and force you to become more public? Or just did the captaincy change anything in general?
Tree: Alright one question at a time. First of all lets address the whole “being named the team captain” thing. It was an absolute honor to be considered for it in the first place. Previously before me the captaincy was owned by Sean O’Leary who’s retirement left a pretty decent sized hole in the team. So going into the season after it the team was looking for someone to fill the gap. They turned to me, of all people. The former slacker in Kansas City who couldn’t really be assed to put their best foot forward. Now the person being tasked to help guide the players towards career development. A twist that a director would love. Ok, so now as for being the you know “quiet captain.” I didn’t have to be any more active outside of the clubhouse to be a captain there. I was tasked with leading the players, not improving the teams public image. I did what I had to do, and I think I did it pretty damn well.
Anastasia: Slacker turned award winner, can you describe how it felt to hear your name called there?
Tree: Considering I thought that day would never come, truly amazing. To have the season I did considering that I wasn’t the best at the position, it’s something I’ll never take for granted. Having my name in the record books forever will be something I can show future generations of Butchers players.
Anastasia: What’s next?
Tree: I’m going to buy a farm, I’ve always wanted to be a dairy farmer. Cows are adorable and milk is nice. Maybe I’ll do a true crime podcast, I’ve always had an interest in that stuff and could offer some great insight.
Anastasia: Yeah I remember your name always got tossed around with those allegations that never went anywhere. Any last thoughts on those?
Tree: I’ve got nothing. All the court cases have shown that I am in no way related to any of those crimes. All allegations came entirely from circumstance and I will not comment further as my lawyer isn’t here.
Anastasia: Moving on, a career now over, did you have fun?
Tree: Absolutely. It’s been a storybook career and I’m looking forward to hopefully getting some Hall of Fame consideration one day. Don’t know how likely it will be, but hey never say never.
Anastasia: Want to go on one more vodka and cereal binge?
Tree: You know it.
Tree retires with a storybook career, granted it might be a horror novel with the axe based obsessions and alleged crimes, but a storybook nonetheless. Tree is someone I’m absolutely thrilled to have gotten to know over her career, and as one of the few people who’s been able to interview her and not leave with an unrelated axe wound, I feel like I’m under some form of divine protection. Will we see her in the Hall of Fame one day? Maybe, Tree doesn’t seem that optimistic but with her methods of “persuasion” we’ll see. Signing off, Anastasia.
"You relieve the same day over and over again, you kind of start to see who you really are."