"And if I had a Porsche I'd paint it red..."  That's great that you would have had the time ability to "not stop until it was done."  My real life does not allow for that.  Neither does Daniel's.  Bottom line is that a deal by two long-time GMs was made in good-faith and posted before the deadline.  Semantics are what killed the deal.  Semantics are what's killing this league.  Ambiguous interpretations of procedural issues, not black and white rules.    Honestly, at this point it's all moot, I only passed VMart on waivers because I felt I owed it to Daniel.  It was the right thing to do.  I wanted to play out the season with the team I had spent countless hours building.  The ruling elite have determined my continued stewardship of the team would be a detriment to the Rays/FGM.  That is more than fine, I will cease any activity via fantrax effective immediately.  Maybe the new guy will have a better understanding of the rules...

DW and Sooner both responded to my inquiry in the chat.  If memory serves, you were not (or at least visible in the chat)around when I asked the question.  The fact that DW, as a standing TC member, approved the trade should validate my statements about nobody seeing anything "under the table" going on.  Not to mention the only problem with it a co-commish had was due to a west cosst time stamp, not a failure of execution of protocol.  Feel free to reference the dozens of people who were on that day and the other leagues' handling of the server issue for a template of how both "stringent rules" and "human touch" can blend seamlessly. 

As for Adam Jones, if you recall, I answered in the chat room that evening that I was under the impression that I had already extended him.  That recollection should put to bed your earlier assertation that I had "conveniently" left him off my re-sign list. 

I do things in the real world which prevent me from "stepping up to the plate" to the extent you suggest.  Let me ask you a question, HOSS (because apparently using all caps is more stern or scary).  Why is it, that as a co-commish, your ruling over-rode that of Flash?  Flash had no problems with the trade being posted by one side before the deadline.  I have the PM and time stamp explanation to prove it.  Can you answer that for me, HOSS?  Your contributions to DME and whatever league you mentioned have about as much to do with this situation in FGM as does my hours given to the coaching profession. Just because you do things I don't, that doesn't mean I put any less time into the site and its league.  Look that up, Hoss.  If you are looking for cookies, find your local Girl Scout post.   

Wasn't conveniently forgotten, simple mistake, I have him down in my books as a pending re-sign.  Try not to forget how you were let back into the league, on a technicality, Hoss.  Best of luck going forward with a league so near and dear to you, one you've quit already how many times?  You may want to have a few more replacements (perhaps from those yahoo boards you so despise) for season's end...you know, just in case.   

So let me make sure I understand this.  Two, as you stated, long-time members of FGM reach an agreement on a deal.  Due to circumstances outside of their control, they are unable (for a period of several hours directly preceding deadline) to communicate a final confirmation PM.  Once the site server is finally back up and running, one party clearly lays out the deal and the details in the transactions board after having waiting until the final moments hoping for a confirming PM.  Turns out, due to the server issues, our paths crossed.  Imagine a real-life GM not having a cell phone the day of the deadline due to circumstances none-his-own. 

Fast-forward several hours and you have a co-commissioner that signs off on the deal and the other GM who logs on to accept terms.  Nearly, if not all other leagues on the site extended the deadline many hours to a days' length time period to account for the site issues.  No issues at this point, right?  Apparently, wrong. 

I am at a complete loss to understand why this league continues to operate under such rigid and archaic standards.  When does common sense get allowed into the conversation?  This wasn't "car problems getting to a computer."  This was a site issue that prevented communication.  These are two GMs who've payed their dues and done their time, not fly-by-nighters trying to game the system.  Regardless, the handling of the situation has illustrated a bigger issue for me, which is what compelled me to speak out rather than just go along. 

I can no longer justify spending as much time as I do on a league that no longer provides me the joy it once did.  To invest hours, be it in a deal shot down by an over-reaching TC or  trades ambushed by technical glitches to the site and then have those hours count for literally nothing...is no longer palatable.  I do not say any of this to cause problems for the league, quite literally the contrary.  I would like to see this league return to its glory days.  I hope this little note shakes some of the chains that bind it.  I will just watch from a distance at this point.

Effective the end of this season, I will be stepping down from my GM stake in the Rays and all positions on the staff.  It is not spilled milk, rather an accumulation of small instances that added up to an easy decision.  I bring this up now to give you guys the best opportunity to line up/recruit a replacement.  Best of luck boys, look forward to continue competing with many of you in the other various leagues!