Markus has done a great job making OOTP X one of the most stable out-of-the-box editions in the series. After thorough testing we're satisfied that the new version is ready for primetime, and now that we've hit our offseason the
Planetary Extreme Baseball Alliance is prepping to convert. The date for the move has been set:
Sunday, September 27.
At the same time that we move to X, an ownership position is going to open up. We don't tend to have a lot of openings (most of our owners have been with us since we started play two years ago), so that's already a bit unusual. This opening is particularly noteworthy for a couple of reasons. One, the team in question is the
Aurora Borealis, one of the powerhouses of the PEBA. Two, the owner stepping down is me.
I was never supposed to be commissioner. When the idea behind what eventually became the PEBA was pitched to a group of us on Cleveland Indians blog
Let's Go Tribe!, I had never played OOTP in my life. I was intrigued and signed on as an owner. Unfortunately, our would-be commissioner disappeared once the thrill of the pitch gave way to the work of the setup. There remained a core of bright guys who wanted this to happen, though. Not wanting that to go to waste, I took a stab at commish duties. Two years later, here we are.
I never thought to give up my ownership. That's what I had signed on for, and after all, what was the harm? I knew I'd play fair. Our league's owners have shown great confidence in me, never suggesting that I would use my position to gain an advantage.
And yet I
do have an advantage. While I would never dream of abusing my position - I care about the league and its owners too much to do that - I gain an advantage simply by virtue of attending to my duties as commissioner. All that time spent looking over the league, the teams, the players; it gets to the point where I may be more familiar with the players in a given organization than the owner himself!
The result is that Aurora is developing into a dynasty. And frankly, that's not what I want. We're here to build a history for the long term. As many teams as possible should get a chance to make their mark on that history. My dual role hinders that goal, so it's time for me to focus on my commissioner duties and step aside as an owner.
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So let's talk about Aurora. The Borealis have a franchise record of
444-204. They won it all in
2009 and are coming off a 120-win season in
2010. The team's
cash on hand is maxed at our league's cap ($25M). The
farm system is stocked with intriguing prospects. Did I mention they hold the #5 pick in the upcoming amateur draft thanks to a trade?
This is far from the typical rebuilding project you're usually dealing with when an opening in an established league pops up. Whoever inherits this gig will be walking into a sweet setup. So what exactly are we looking for in a new owner?
- Do you need to be experienced with OOTP? No.
- Do you need to be a member in other online leagues? No. (In fact, the less leagues you're in, the better)
- Do you need to be creative, communicative, personable and participatory? Absolutely yes.
We're a "participation league". There are any number of leagues where you can silently send off your exports and call it a day. Members of the PEBA are held to a higher standard. We value owners who are going to go the extra mile, delving into the total online league experience. That includes building a rapport with the other owners, staying active in the trade market, shaping our history through
creative article contributions, and more.
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Because the Borealis are such a plum opportunity - plus my personal attachment to the team, of course - I'm going to be somewhat picky about who takes over for me. There's good news, though; if you've gotten this far, you may be just who we're looking for. Clearly you like to read! Now the question is, "Can you write?"
Let's find out. First, have a look at our league's
constitution. Next, browse our
news archive and our
forum. If you like what you see and think you'd be interested in joining up,
get in contact with me. I'll promptly email you back with details on our league and our little "inherit the Borealis" competition.
Once you've received my email and are ready,
send me an original story about the Borealis. You can go any direction you want with it and it can be of any length you like. Whoever submits the most promising article will take over the reins for Aurora. If you aren't selected, don't fret; we happen to have a second opening which you'll be automatically considered for.
Well, that's quite enough typing for one night. Gentlemen, thank you for your patience and I look forward to hearing from you soon!