[Rowleyball]

Briggs and Rowley, known as one of the hardest working front office duos in the UBL, were evaluating their options for 2017 while they watched the World Series between the Boston Patriots and the Las Vegas Outlaws. The phone rang at Briggs’ desk and he answered it on speaker phone.

Briggs: "Hello?"

Voice: “Yes, Matt Rowley please.”

Rowley: “Speaking.”

Voice: “Mr. Rowley, my name is John Dayton and I represent the Los Angeles Stars organization. Our owner, Mr. William Carter, is looking to replace our current General Manager. If you are interested, we will fly you out to our offices here in Hollywood Park to meet with management here for an interview.”

Rowley: “Thank you Mr. Dayton, but right now unfortunately I … (Briggs whispers something to Matt) … actually, can I call you back?”

Dayton: “Certainly. You can reach me by calling our secretary in Baseball Operations.”

Rowley: “Thank you, I will be in contact soon.”

Dayton: “Goodbye.”

As soon as Matt hung the phone up, Briggs erupted at him. “How the hell could you turn down an opportunity like this Matt? I appreciate your loyalty, but come on man! We wouldn’t have made it to the playoffs this year without you. I am 100% positive that you deserve to be a GM right now, not two years down the road, not five years from now, but NOW.”

Rowley was still in shock. “I don’t know. I’m definitely going to have to think this one over. That is home for me, I grew up only an hour away from LA. For my first job as a GM I don’t know if I’ll be able to take the pressure. That Carter sure doesn’t have a great reputation as a boss.”

“Look at it his way,” Briggs responded. “The Stars are one of those teams that expects to win it all every season. They play in one of the biggest markets in the league, have a huge fan base, all of that. How often do opportunities like this come along, Matt? Sure, Carter has a temper, but when you get on his good side you will never be happier. There is always a risk in every action you take. By staying here in Houston, you risk not being able to work for YOUR TEAM. You told me how at first you were upset getting drafted by Albuquerque, one of the Stars’ divisional rivals. Now you get a chance to be with that team, Matt. This opportunity may never come around again.”

This was the most important decision Matt had been confronted with in his professional career. Briggs was convinced that he was ready to step up, but Matt wasn’t so sure. If he accepted the job with the Stars, he would have to face the fans of Los Angeles, arguably the most critical fans in the entire UBL. In Houston he could hide behind Briggs if things went wrong, but as the General Manager he would have no where to hide. Rowley, approaching his 34th birthday, had come to a crossroads. He won the World Series in his last game as a player with the Albuquerque Demons, but if he accepted a job as a General Manager, he would be held responsible for the entire team’s success. The impending decision would undoubtedly impact the rest of his career.