Disclaimer: I am saying this as my own opinion not representing any team or division regardless of my affiliation.
I may not be a seasoned member of this league like Kyto or some of the others. I have only been in this league as either a coach/owner or just a coach for 7 years. Despite my experience outside of the RMFL nothing can really prepare you for what you experience in this league. I have seen owners screw over players, players screw over owners, players screw over other players, and owners screw over owners. I have listened debates about playoffs, league structures, division structures, teams in or out, players in or out, self-serving proposals and some really good overall proposals, I have seen owners of potential RMFL teams puff up their chests, I have "sold my soul" believing in something that really was never going to happen, I have won, lost, and go my ass kicked up one sideline and down the other (on the scoreboard). I have been left to pay large bills and had to even go to court over some of them. I have been laughed at and So why am I still here? Well I believe in the potential of this league and I love this game and the friendships this league has given me the opportunity to make.
The truth of the matter is that not everyone is going to be happy with what the league is and does how it is structured and who plays who. So lets stop trying to make everyone happy and do what is best for the league if it is reduced to 15 teams that are on the same page and believe in the league then so be it.
The league needs an identity, it cannot be everything to every one but it can have enough for most. It is possible to have a competitive division and a recreation division.
The league needs rules that make sense and not rules that are created because someone or some team did something and we have to create a rule to prevent it from happening again.
We need to address root causes and not surface issues, for example every year at least one team has the argument that they cannot compete at AAA level for one reason or another. While this may be true what is the reason why? Well you have teams that fill up 60+ spots field 40 each game and have players become playoff eligible by taking a roster spot and meeting the minimum requirements. They pick and choose who and when players play strategically as to get a good playoff spot but safe their best for the playoffs. You also have teams load up a AA roster and refuse to compete in AAA but run the table in AA. So address that issue not with playoff eligibility rules but with a roster cap (AAA cap at 50, AA cap at 40, A if applicable cap at 30). The roster cap puts a little bit more commitment in play and over time starts to equal the playing field a bit from a depth consideration. You are still going to have some areas with captive recruiting pools but who knows maybe there is the ability to make two teams in those areas with roster caps. The other things is that if a team is to move up and they threaten to fold then let them fold, there are enough teams to go around. I have yet to see in 7 years the rules followed, is it because the rules are inadequate or is it because we are afraid of losing teams?
Player commitments, yes players pay to play but regardless they should be held to some kind of standard as they representing not only their team but the RMFL if they don't like it they don't have to be a part of it. We have smoking and drinking on high school fields and we wonder why we cant find fields or only have the option to play on old grass fields with hills and holes everywhere. It seems the small few "punks" who would rather get in your face after they hit you rather than give you a pat and help you up are overshadowing the majority of those that still respect the game enough to remember what it is like to play and act like a champion. We have gotten away from talking about the game and looking forward to insulting posts on the forum. Then we act like it does not impact our image, our financial positioning and potential sponsorships.
Maybe old school and "new" school have collided and "new" school is winning, maybe I am just getting too old, maybe what potential I see is just a dream and this really is nothing more than a "beer" league where a bunch grown men try to relive their glory days and a bunch of young could have been better players think they have something to prove. Maybe it really is just about who has the biggest stick and not the brotherhood build on a tough road trip. Maybe it really is about the individual and not about making a difference to a young kid watching you play, or the helping raise money or awareness for issues that hit close to home maybe it really is not about the love of the game.
I find it hard to believe that despite the realities of the league (cost, travel, AAA vs AA, etc) 30+ grown men (and some women) cannot remember the purity of the game, the impact of the game for the fans, the players, the community and for the youth that watch (and they do watch), the love of the game and come up with some win-win solutions and some true standards that are followed that have meaning (no forfeits, not folding mid season, no folding because of structure, etc), a true identity for the league and the teams that are a part of it, and a true presence in the communities. I once had two business owners give me $5000 (collectively) because they followed us, saw our presence on the field and off the field and wanted to help us out. Many of you once had the same I am sure. Where else can you go and play a game that is quickly passing you by? Where else can you go and build friendships and brotherhood like the good old days? Where else can you go and be tested physically, mentally and emotionally? There is more to this game and this opportunity than individualism or teamism (I know its not a word). Give a little, take a little, enjoy the opportunity.
Comment as you will, respect or disrespect I don't care. When I look in the mirror I know who I am and I like what I see looking back at me and I don't need validation from anyone but me and God to know that I do the right thing for the right reason and that I am human and I make mistakes but learn from them as I make them.
I hope resolutions and found and this league gets stronger through the adversity and challenges and you all have an opportunity to keep playing this game.
