08-26-2022, 01:06 PM
(This post was last modified: 08-26-2022, 02:04 PM by dude_man. Edited 2 times in total.)
"With the 10th pick in the draft the Berlin Fire Salamanders select Linebacker Jordan Hartline from the Bondi Beach Buccaneers!" Jordan Hartline's mouth nearly hit the floor as he heard his name called. The young Linebacker out of Canton, Ohio was not expecting to hear his name called in the first round, let alone have his name called by his top choice destination in the league. Jordan Hartline had experienced disappointment in his first draft since joining the International Simulation Football League, as he saw his name plummet down the draft board before he ended up being picked by the Bondi Beach Buccaneers with the first pick in the 5th round. "That was a tough pill to swallow, watching your name just fall, and fall, and fall. It was a wake up call for me, you spend your whole life thinking that you are always the best but then you see 40 names called before you. It shows you that you need to work and that you can not take anything for granted." Those were the words that Hartline shared with us following the Developmental Simulation Football League draft last season. Hartline, a Tight End at the time made sure that he backed up the words that he spoke that night and immediately went into training camp and the offseason with a chip on his shoulder. He spent every waking moment in the gym and he was working extremely closely with the upper management of the Bondi Beach Buccaneers to improve in any way that he could. Leading up to the first game of the season he had undergone a complete body transformation and ended up moving to Linebacker alongside Kevin McThumper and the rest is history. The Buccaneers were coming off an abysmal season and they were looking for anything to help them bounce back and return to the glory that this franchise expects every season. With Hartline now on defense and the team more fired up then ever they were able to do that as the team doubled their wins and ended up making the playoffs at a record of 6-8. While Hartline knew there were a lot of areas in which he could have improved he made his presence known as he was able to put up 90 Tackles, 2 TFL, 4 FF, 3 FR, and 2 Interceptions in his rookie campaign. "All the hard work paid off!" A nearly speechless Jordan Hartline exclaimed following the announcement of his name at 10th overall in the ISFL draft. "Berlin better be ready, I am going to give it my all to show everyone in this league that I am the best out here! I cannot thank this organization enough for believing in me and I look forward to a long and championship filled relationship!" It was definitely one of the feel good stories of the draft and we look forward to monitoring Jordan Hartline's progress this entire season.
Following the initial excitement of the draft Jordan Hartline was finally able to see what he was getting himself into with the Berlin Fire Salamander organization. He expected to see a bunch of grizzled veterans that he would have to earn the respect of. Instead what he found was a huge core of young players that he fit in with right away. The first one he noticed was Kevin McThumper, throughout the entirety of last season McThumper served as Hartline's go to guy in the Bondi Beach Locker Room when he needed help and the two developed a very exciting relationship on the field. McThumper was a hard hitting bull that used his size and strength to punish the opposing teams and Hartline who was not the same physical specimen that McThumper utilized his speed and pass coverage abilities to create a nightmare for opposing teams. With McThumper alongside of him, Hartline's confidence was already boosted as he knew that even though they were both going to be rookies this season he had someone with him that he could challenge himself with over and over again to make sure that he was always getting better. Another notable face that Hartline noticed when he first walked into the Berlin Locker Room was that of Chad Thorsen. A young Cornerback from the championship winning Tijuana Luchadores. Not only is Chad Thorsen a champion, he is also the number one overall pick from the draft. Hartline could not believe he was going to be a part of a rookie class that had McThumper and Thorsen in it. Immediately he knew that this was not going to be an easy transition. His fellow rookies were going to be pushing him every week if he wanted to keep up with them. "It is extremely intimidating to look across and see guys with that much talent. You know you look back and you see that those guys have been in another league compared to you for a while now and then now you are all wearing the same jersey and that the expectations are the same for all of you. It can make even the cockiest guy feel inadequate." That was Hartline's response following the first practice of the season with the young rookie core. The Fire Salamanders front office definitely have a plan with this huge class of rookies looking stronger than ever. They are a young and talented team who will probably struggle for the next couple of seasons but they have laid the groundwork for a dynasty. "It is exciting to be a part of such a young and talented group and while it is going to be a tough season I know that all the guys here are willing to put in the work for the payoff that is sure to come in the future." With all the pieces seemingly in place for long term success it will be up to the Fire Salamanders front office to keep this class of rookies and this team together in order for the payoff to happen!
So what does all of this mean for Jordan Hartline? How is he approaching this offseason and the coming games this season? Well the first thing that all of this means is that their is no time to take a break. To start his offseason Jordan Hartline decided he wanted to add 25 lbs to his bench press max. That meant that he was going to be hitting the gym every day, twice a day the entire offseason. Not only did he want to increase his strength when it came to his bench press he also wanted to increase his strength when it came to his squats. So he set a goal for also raising his squat max by a total of 50 lbs. Now Jordan Hartline has always been known for his speed and his ability to catch a football. That is why for the longest time he was playing both as a receiver and a linebacker. Because of this he has always had a knack for playing a coverage role and the one gaping problem he has had in his arsenal has been his strength. Knowing that he set the goals that were listed above. He started every day at 5 in the morning with a huge upper body workout. He was working closely with the strength and conditioning coaches of Berlin and utilizing every resource possible was going to be how he achieved his goal. Following the killer workout in the morning Jordan Hartline would then replenish his energy at the team breakfast before moving on to work on his endurance. That along with his strength was going to be the most important thing for him to develop this offseason. "It is one thing to know what you are good at, it is something completely different to know where you need help. Not only are you in denial about your shortcomings but, you also just lack motivation to do the extra work to push past those shortcomings." a exhausted Jordan Hartline told us following his endurance workouts. For many players this is the first time that their shortcomings will be on display. For the longest time they have always been at the top of their game. From High School Football to College they have always stood out and were the big fish in a little pond. Now they are realizing in order to keep up or even make it in this league they need to realize they are just a little fish in a big pond. That is why Jordan is working so hard this offseason, working on his strength and his conditioning level. It is not normal to have a true rookie come up so quickly in this league but Berlin saw something in this young man and because of that he knows how hard he will have to work. "It is an honor to get the opportunity to play at the top level so quickly, while a lot of people spend 2 or 3 seasons developing in the lower league you get to go straight up. It is a culture shock and if you are not willing to put in the work it will chew you up and spit you right back out!"
Well we can definitely see that Jordan Hartline is a devoted player that has a lot on his plate to make it this season with the Berlin Fire Salamanders. However, even for the most dire of workers it is impossible to always work and never have any time for yourself. Knowing what it takes to recharge your batteries is just as important as having the drive to put in the work in the first place. "You can not go 100 miles per hour every day, you will find yourself defeated before the race is even halfway over. This is not a sprint, it is a marathon and if you do not equip yourself with the tools to recover throughout the race then you just will not make it!" Jordan Hartline tells us this as he was leaving for the day. When it comes to recovering the team provides plenty of ways for the players to heal their bodies. They have a top notch training staff and plenty of access to equipment to aid in the bodies recovery process. You will not ever see a Berlin Fire Salamanders player walk off the field with an injury. But, recovery is more than just preventing and recovering from injuries. It is a mental battle as well. Players need to have a way to mentally reset so that they are able to perform at their peak day in and day out. When it comes to the ability to recover mentally Jordan Hartline does a variety of things. The first thing he likes to do is spend some time with Chad Thorsen, Kevin McThumper and Known Acquaitance; yes all of the rookies on the team. The group will do a variety of things, whether it is going to a local bar, or playing a round of golf together. "Having a team that you can also do things outside of football with is huge for me. It helps you realize that you are more than just a football player and that you can always spend time outside of practice and training to remind yourself of that!" Jordan Hartline also likes to spend his time going outdoors and doing hiking trails and other activities. When he is not outside you can normally find him in doors playing video games or reading a book. He is a player that definitely knows how important it is to recharge your batteries so that you can be at your best every day!
Wow, to those of you that have stuck around and read this article, I really appreciate it! It has been a while since I put out an ISFL media piece and I am sure it shows with this one here. I wanted to round out this media piece today by taking a closer look at this new team I call home in the ISFL. Before I do that though I do want to thank everyone on the Bondi Beach Buccaneers organization who gave me the tools needed to succeed and the opportunity to get plugged back into this league. Now the Berlin Fire Salamanders, they were the top choice on my list of where I wanted to be. Not only are they one of the more fun brandings in the league they are entering a window that lines up with what I want my player to be a part of. A rebuild can be one of the most fun projects you can get involved with in this league when you have the right people and let me tell you this, Berlin has the right people! From top to bottom this organization has anything that a user or a player could want out of a team. From an engaging Lockeroom to an amazing leadership team. Dewalt has been nothing but accommodating to Jordan Hartline and that makes the transition easy on anyone. Now sure, it is going to have moments where things get tough, any rebuild will have those moments and for anyone whose says losing does not bother them then they are someone who does not care about winning. For me, losing is something that happens in sports and as long as I am around a team that is not going to just take losing lying down then I can handle it. The game is more than just winning, it is about having a group of people that want to get better together and grow a culture that can influence anyone that joins it. Berlin has that and more. While on paper this team does not look very threatening they are a team that has connected very quickly and the overall feeling in this Lockeroom is one of positivity and hope. Everyone is stepping up and doing their part to make the dream of a championship a reality. It will be a while before you see us competing for a title but, with this group I guarantee you it will be sooner rather than later. To round out this media article I just want to give my impressions coming back into this league after a brief hiatus. I think this league is definitely trending in the right direction and I hope the work continues to get poured into it. It is not easy being in charge of so many people but, this league keeps everything running and I know there is a huge player base that appreciates that and I am included in that. The health of this league depends on that quality being maintained and I think it is filled with more than enough people to ensure that happens. I look forward to continuing to get plugged back in to different communities and opportunities that the league offers. Once again, I cannot thank you enough for anyone that read this article. It is not my best work but, I am giving it a shot to get back into this and earn a little money while I am at it! Thank you again and go Fire Salamanders!
Following the initial excitement of the draft Jordan Hartline was finally able to see what he was getting himself into with the Berlin Fire Salamander organization. He expected to see a bunch of grizzled veterans that he would have to earn the respect of. Instead what he found was a huge core of young players that he fit in with right away. The first one he noticed was Kevin McThumper, throughout the entirety of last season McThumper served as Hartline's go to guy in the Bondi Beach Locker Room when he needed help and the two developed a very exciting relationship on the field. McThumper was a hard hitting bull that used his size and strength to punish the opposing teams and Hartline who was not the same physical specimen that McThumper utilized his speed and pass coverage abilities to create a nightmare for opposing teams. With McThumper alongside of him, Hartline's confidence was already boosted as he knew that even though they were both going to be rookies this season he had someone with him that he could challenge himself with over and over again to make sure that he was always getting better. Another notable face that Hartline noticed when he first walked into the Berlin Locker Room was that of Chad Thorsen. A young Cornerback from the championship winning Tijuana Luchadores. Not only is Chad Thorsen a champion, he is also the number one overall pick from the draft. Hartline could not believe he was going to be a part of a rookie class that had McThumper and Thorsen in it. Immediately he knew that this was not going to be an easy transition. His fellow rookies were going to be pushing him every week if he wanted to keep up with them. "It is extremely intimidating to look across and see guys with that much talent. You know you look back and you see that those guys have been in another league compared to you for a while now and then now you are all wearing the same jersey and that the expectations are the same for all of you. It can make even the cockiest guy feel inadequate." That was Hartline's response following the first practice of the season with the young rookie core. The Fire Salamanders front office definitely have a plan with this huge class of rookies looking stronger than ever. They are a young and talented team who will probably struggle for the next couple of seasons but they have laid the groundwork for a dynasty. "It is exciting to be a part of such a young and talented group and while it is going to be a tough season I know that all the guys here are willing to put in the work for the payoff that is sure to come in the future." With all the pieces seemingly in place for long term success it will be up to the Fire Salamanders front office to keep this class of rookies and this team together in order for the payoff to happen!
So what does all of this mean for Jordan Hartline? How is he approaching this offseason and the coming games this season? Well the first thing that all of this means is that their is no time to take a break. To start his offseason Jordan Hartline decided he wanted to add 25 lbs to his bench press max. That meant that he was going to be hitting the gym every day, twice a day the entire offseason. Not only did he want to increase his strength when it came to his bench press he also wanted to increase his strength when it came to his squats. So he set a goal for also raising his squat max by a total of 50 lbs. Now Jordan Hartline has always been known for his speed and his ability to catch a football. That is why for the longest time he was playing both as a receiver and a linebacker. Because of this he has always had a knack for playing a coverage role and the one gaping problem he has had in his arsenal has been his strength. Knowing that he set the goals that were listed above. He started every day at 5 in the morning with a huge upper body workout. He was working closely with the strength and conditioning coaches of Berlin and utilizing every resource possible was going to be how he achieved his goal. Following the killer workout in the morning Jordan Hartline would then replenish his energy at the team breakfast before moving on to work on his endurance. That along with his strength was going to be the most important thing for him to develop this offseason. "It is one thing to know what you are good at, it is something completely different to know where you need help. Not only are you in denial about your shortcomings but, you also just lack motivation to do the extra work to push past those shortcomings." a exhausted Jordan Hartline told us following his endurance workouts. For many players this is the first time that their shortcomings will be on display. For the longest time they have always been at the top of their game. From High School Football to College they have always stood out and were the big fish in a little pond. Now they are realizing in order to keep up or even make it in this league they need to realize they are just a little fish in a big pond. That is why Jordan is working so hard this offseason, working on his strength and his conditioning level. It is not normal to have a true rookie come up so quickly in this league but Berlin saw something in this young man and because of that he knows how hard he will have to work. "It is an honor to get the opportunity to play at the top level so quickly, while a lot of people spend 2 or 3 seasons developing in the lower league you get to go straight up. It is a culture shock and if you are not willing to put in the work it will chew you up and spit you right back out!"
Well we can definitely see that Jordan Hartline is a devoted player that has a lot on his plate to make it this season with the Berlin Fire Salamanders. However, even for the most dire of workers it is impossible to always work and never have any time for yourself. Knowing what it takes to recharge your batteries is just as important as having the drive to put in the work in the first place. "You can not go 100 miles per hour every day, you will find yourself defeated before the race is even halfway over. This is not a sprint, it is a marathon and if you do not equip yourself with the tools to recover throughout the race then you just will not make it!" Jordan Hartline tells us this as he was leaving for the day. When it comes to recovering the team provides plenty of ways for the players to heal their bodies. They have a top notch training staff and plenty of access to equipment to aid in the bodies recovery process. You will not ever see a Berlin Fire Salamanders player walk off the field with an injury. But, recovery is more than just preventing and recovering from injuries. It is a mental battle as well. Players need to have a way to mentally reset so that they are able to perform at their peak day in and day out. When it comes to the ability to recover mentally Jordan Hartline does a variety of things. The first thing he likes to do is spend some time with Chad Thorsen, Kevin McThumper and Known Acquaitance; yes all of the rookies on the team. The group will do a variety of things, whether it is going to a local bar, or playing a round of golf together. "Having a team that you can also do things outside of football with is huge for me. It helps you realize that you are more than just a football player and that you can always spend time outside of practice and training to remind yourself of that!" Jordan Hartline also likes to spend his time going outdoors and doing hiking trails and other activities. When he is not outside you can normally find him in doors playing video games or reading a book. He is a player that definitely knows how important it is to recharge your batteries so that you can be at your best every day!
Wow, to those of you that have stuck around and read this article, I really appreciate it! It has been a while since I put out an ISFL media piece and I am sure it shows with this one here. I wanted to round out this media piece today by taking a closer look at this new team I call home in the ISFL. Before I do that though I do want to thank everyone on the Bondi Beach Buccaneers organization who gave me the tools needed to succeed and the opportunity to get plugged back into this league. Now the Berlin Fire Salamanders, they were the top choice on my list of where I wanted to be. Not only are they one of the more fun brandings in the league they are entering a window that lines up with what I want my player to be a part of. A rebuild can be one of the most fun projects you can get involved with in this league when you have the right people and let me tell you this, Berlin has the right people! From top to bottom this organization has anything that a user or a player could want out of a team. From an engaging Lockeroom to an amazing leadership team. Dewalt has been nothing but accommodating to Jordan Hartline and that makes the transition easy on anyone. Now sure, it is going to have moments where things get tough, any rebuild will have those moments and for anyone whose says losing does not bother them then they are someone who does not care about winning. For me, losing is something that happens in sports and as long as I am around a team that is not going to just take losing lying down then I can handle it. The game is more than just winning, it is about having a group of people that want to get better together and grow a culture that can influence anyone that joins it. Berlin has that and more. While on paper this team does not look very threatening they are a team that has connected very quickly and the overall feeling in this Lockeroom is one of positivity and hope. Everyone is stepping up and doing their part to make the dream of a championship a reality. It will be a while before you see us competing for a title but, with this group I guarantee you it will be sooner rather than later. To round out this media article I just want to give my impressions coming back into this league after a brief hiatus. I think this league is definitely trending in the right direction and I hope the work continues to get poured into it. It is not easy being in charge of so many people but, this league keeps everything running and I know there is a huge player base that appreciates that and I am included in that. The health of this league depends on that quality being maintained and I think it is filled with more than enough people to ensure that happens. I look forward to continuing to get plugged back in to different communities and opportunities that the league offers. Once again, I cannot thank you enough for anyone that read this article. It is not my best work but, I am giving it a shot to get back into this and earn a little money while I am at it! Thank you again and go Fire Salamanders!
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