Many of you may have noticed that some new Child Boards have popped up on the Franchise GM league site. I thought I might give you a quick synopsis of what has taken place so that you might get a better understanding of what has transpired during the past 11 years within FGM.
First of all, I thought it might be better for all if I went through and tried to categorized the multitude of posts and threads that have populated the FGM board since its inception. The Child Boards are divided into general topics and areas of interest. One of the things I have done over the years is to review the various posts of yesteryear so I could get a sense of where the league has been and how it has evolved over the years. Reading through many of the subjects and issues, has given me a sense of why Franchise GM has been able to withstand the test of time.
Franchise GM was originally founded and put together by Colby in 2009. Besides Colby, we still have some of the original ProFSL veterans who have been with the league since the early years (papps, Daniel, Paul S., BHows, nerwffej, MOLI643, Brent, and rcankosy). The league has undergone some growing pains, but through dedication and hard work by a multitude of GMs, many of they who are no longer a part of FGM, we are all a part of a league that is still evolving and meeting our fantasy needs.
I came aboard in 2010 in response to a post in the Fantasy Baseball Café that a GM was needed for the San Francisco Giants. As many of you know, I am a total Giants fan and try my best to have a team with as many Giants as possible (which is probably why I keep getting eliminated in the first round of the playoffs). Whatever the reason, I believe that my assent to the role of moderator has come about through a variety of circumstances--from general interest to the need to fill a void.
Given that I am a retired high school history teacher, I sincerely believe it's important to understand how the present has been affected by the past. So with that in mind, I tried to divide the countless threads into general areas of interest so that it would be easier for any of you to review what has transpired in the past. It's a tedious endeavor, but I can assure you, it is quite enlightening. In any fantasy league, there are going to be a wide spectrum of perspectives and if you review a given group of posts, you can see a meeting of the minds--sometimes amicable--and sometimes not. However, if you have the time, reading through the posts of the past can be entertaining if nothing else.
For me, I came to ProFSL as a Yahoo refugee and didn't really get a grasp of what a league like FGM entails until I stumbled my way through a host of bad trades and poor free agent signings. It wasn't until the end of my first full season that I decided that a total understanding of the league rules was an absolute necessity, and a general requirement, for any hope of success. Along with that, I began to do the grunt work research to look for those prospects that could help me secure assets that would either improve my lineup in the future or help me get other assets via trade. I floundered in my early years in FGM and it wasn't until my 5th year that I was able to finally make the playoffs and become competitive.
During my early years in the FGM, I didn't get involved with any league operations. I fumbled and floundered and just did my best to try and keep abreast of what was actually transpiring within the league by reading all the new posts. I watched how others developed their teams and didn't get a clear understanding of what I wanted to do until I decided to become the San Francisco Giants. The process was a bit slow, but unlike many of the GMs who have come into the league and gotten frustrated by their lack of immediate success, I didn't give up. While I have not developed a powerhouse, I am content with the direction of my team and what I have done so far.
With all that, my rise to league moderator evolved by volunteering to fulfill some tasks that many people don't want to do. I began by volunteering for the Trade Committee, a journey that has certainly been bumpy at times because of hurt feelings, resignations, and poison posts. When I came aboard, the Trade Committee was in shambles and trades were not getting approved--but through consensus and conciliation, I was able to come up with the model we use today and it has certainly proven to be successful. From there, I volunteered to run the FYPD, and while it was a little tedious at first, I have come to be comfortable enough with the process to run it without much fanfare or drama. Volunteering for these duties were a natural progression for me because of my real life experiences, but it is certainly not for everyone.
During it's existence, FGM has had a variety of Commissioners. Beginning with Colby, we have had a progression of different Commissioners in our 11 years of operation--each with their own style of leadership. I have probably forgotten to include someone, but to the best of my knowledge, we began with Colby, then had Dan Wood, then rcankosy, then Shooter21, and then in 2015, BHows and I assumed the role of Co-Commissioners. Then, as many of you know, BHows stepped down as a Co-Commissioner prior to the 2019 season and you were stuck with me.
The intent of this brief history lesson is to show that we have survived as a viable league because of our ability to evolve and adapt. Our league used to be "ruled" by a Rules Committee, but over the years, we have become more of a democracy and change has evolved by taking into account the views and perspectives of each and every league member. BHows did a great job a few years ago updating our League Rules and, as a league, we have been able to tweak things together to make our league stronger through the use of leaguewide referendums. Whomever you are, if you are a part of FGM, you are an asset because you are the strength and glue which keeps things running.
Please, if you have the time, read through some of the old posts and educate yourselves. Read through the league rules until they become familiar and never hesitate to ask questions to gain greater understanding. Right now we have two vacant teams, which I know we'll fill at some point in the future, but regardless, do your part to improve your teams so that your Division can be as competitive as the NL West.
I am very proud of what we have in Franchise GM and I hope you are too!
