04-14-2023, 10:37 AM
(This post was last modified: 04-21-2023, 01:54 AM by xenosthelegend. Edited 1 time in total.)
As I head into my 5th season with my second player, I thought this would be a good time to write up how important the San Jose Sabercats have been to me over what is now almost 3 years in the ISFL (ok I am broke so the 2.5x media being offered was tempting as well). The Sabercats are the only ISFL team I have ever known, (I do love my Buccaneers and Birddogs as well) and I could not have asked for a better experience for my time here. The Sabercats have treated me well as both a player and a person and it has made my experience here in this league that much more enjoyable.
As a player, I first joined the Sabercats as the wide receiver Zach Crossley. San Jose was kind enough (read crazy) to take me in the third round of what was an absolutely stacked r/nfl draft class. Back then we were still allowed to pick the height and weight of our players and Crossley was 5'8 and like 170 pounds. Still the team wanted me to join and allowed Crossley to have every opportunity to flourish. Sadly, Crossley (or getcaughtsley as Penne would call him) never was a top wide receiver in the league, I like to think it was a solid career that I could be proud of. Now we are on to the infamous Booter McGavin. Booter has also had some trouble succeeding in the league (seriously can I hate a damn clutch field goal) but the support has been unwavering. I have finally made my first pro bowl (took 2 careers and over a decade's worth of league seasons) and things are on the up and up. I love being in San Jose and wouldn't change a single damn thing about it.
Now to move on from the boring discussion of the dots that move around on a screen to the actual conversation of the people and what they mean to me. I joined the ISFL in the height of the Pandemic in 2020. This was also a time of major change in my life as not only was the Pandemic uprooting our "normal" day to day interactions, but I had just left my job to begin my new life as a PhD student. I was terrified of remote classes for school and felt that I would struggle to make connections. So I looked for a place where I knew people would be comfortable talking online because I knew I would be craving connection moving forward. I found that place and the connections I was seeking here and especially with the Sabercats.
I want to start the personal callouts by highlighting both Russ and CK as they have been constants during my whole time here in San Jose. Those two are some of the most positive individuals I have ever met in my entire life. Through the ups and downs of the seasons, they never lose focus and never lose their love for the team we share. They have a constant mission to bring in guys who are the right locker room fit and make the experience of the ISFL a better place for us all. They are also two of the most understanding individuals I know. They always emphasize to everyone how real life comes first and that the team is here to support you at every single twist and turn that may come up. I have the utmost confidence in these two running the team and I get excited about every single draft because I know they found us some new Cats who are just going to be amazing fits in our locker room.
The next callout will be Urq and Asked Madden. There is nothing more I enjoy in the morning than waking up and seeing whatever rantings and ravings you two have about the current happenings over in Scotland. The banter is amazing and makes me feel so connected to the locker room and individuals that would be 6 hour plane rides away. You both provide me with so many laughs and I love that you don't take things too seriously. Wish you guys could be around for more games (damn you timezones) because there is little more I enjoy about this league than spamming our Farrell emotes (I also don't really get why the guy is a meme and at this point, I am too afraid to ask).
The last specific call-out I want to make is to someone that is sadly not currently an active member of the cats. That is none other than the illustrious Penne. My favorite activity in this league is watching our dots play with as many people as possible in the locker room. Penne was always there for games and always happy to either support you or commiserate with a bad experience. Penne, you never take things too seriously and that is what I love about you. Your nicknames for me were always hilarious and your memes were so timely. I love talking about things outside the league (Magic arena is still 100% worse than MTGO) and just understanding each other as humans. I miss you in the private locker room and thank you for helping make this league special.
There are many more people that have shaped my experience in the ISFL but I don't have the time today to call you out individually. Know that I truly do appreciate all you have done and have enjoyed spending time with you through this crazy little hobby we all share. I never thought I would find as close of a community as I have found here in the ISFL and I am truly grateful to have experienced this over the past 3 years. I will be honest and say life is being hectic and my time for the league does seem to be dwindling. I know I can ride out the rest of Booter but I am unsure past that period. All I know is that regardless of what happens moving into the future, the time I have spent here has been thoroughly enjoyable and I am so happy I made the decision to join.
As a player, I first joined the Sabercats as the wide receiver Zach Crossley. San Jose was kind enough (read crazy) to take me in the third round of what was an absolutely stacked r/nfl draft class. Back then we were still allowed to pick the height and weight of our players and Crossley was 5'8 and like 170 pounds. Still the team wanted me to join and allowed Crossley to have every opportunity to flourish. Sadly, Crossley (or getcaughtsley as Penne would call him) never was a top wide receiver in the league, I like to think it was a solid career that I could be proud of. Now we are on to the infamous Booter McGavin. Booter has also had some trouble succeeding in the league (seriously can I hate a damn clutch field goal) but the support has been unwavering. I have finally made my first pro bowl (took 2 careers and over a decade's worth of league seasons) and things are on the up and up. I love being in San Jose and wouldn't change a single damn thing about it.
Now to move on from the boring discussion of the dots that move around on a screen to the actual conversation of the people and what they mean to me. I joined the ISFL in the height of the Pandemic in 2020. This was also a time of major change in my life as not only was the Pandemic uprooting our "normal" day to day interactions, but I had just left my job to begin my new life as a PhD student. I was terrified of remote classes for school and felt that I would struggle to make connections. So I looked for a place where I knew people would be comfortable talking online because I knew I would be craving connection moving forward. I found that place and the connections I was seeking here and especially with the Sabercats.
I want to start the personal callouts by highlighting both Russ and CK as they have been constants during my whole time here in San Jose. Those two are some of the most positive individuals I have ever met in my entire life. Through the ups and downs of the seasons, they never lose focus and never lose their love for the team we share. They have a constant mission to bring in guys who are the right locker room fit and make the experience of the ISFL a better place for us all. They are also two of the most understanding individuals I know. They always emphasize to everyone how real life comes first and that the team is here to support you at every single twist and turn that may come up. I have the utmost confidence in these two running the team and I get excited about every single draft because I know they found us some new Cats who are just going to be amazing fits in our locker room.
The next callout will be Urq and Asked Madden. There is nothing more I enjoy in the morning than waking up and seeing whatever rantings and ravings you two have about the current happenings over in Scotland. The banter is amazing and makes me feel so connected to the locker room and individuals that would be 6 hour plane rides away. You both provide me with so many laughs and I love that you don't take things too seriously. Wish you guys could be around for more games (damn you timezones) because there is little more I enjoy about this league than spamming our Farrell emotes (I also don't really get why the guy is a meme and at this point, I am too afraid to ask).
The last specific call-out I want to make is to someone that is sadly not currently an active member of the cats. That is none other than the illustrious Penne. My favorite activity in this league is watching our dots play with as many people as possible in the locker room. Penne was always there for games and always happy to either support you or commiserate with a bad experience. Penne, you never take things too seriously and that is what I love about you. Your nicknames for me were always hilarious and your memes were so timely. I love talking about things outside the league (Magic arena is still 100% worse than MTGO) and just understanding each other as humans. I miss you in the private locker room and thank you for helping make this league special.
There are many more people that have shaped my experience in the ISFL but I don't have the time today to call you out individually. Know that I truly do appreciate all you have done and have enjoyed spending time with you through this crazy little hobby we all share. I never thought I would find as close of a community as I have found here in the ISFL and I am truly grateful to have experienced this over the past 3 years. I will be honest and say life is being hectic and my time for the league does seem to be dwindling. I know I can ride out the rest of Booter but I am unsure past that period. All I know is that regardless of what happens moving into the future, the time I have spent here has been thoroughly enjoyable and I am so happy I made the decision to join.