One of the hallmarks of the PEBA is "contribution". Members really enjoy their PEBA experience and this shows in their constant involvement with the league. Their involvement takes many different forms.
Our news articles are probably the most visible sign of our active members. The PEBA certainly isn't the only online league whose members produce articles, but no league boasts a greater volume, variety or quality of stories, in my less-than-humble opinion. Sure, you can find excellently written "state of the team" pieces on our site, like RonCo's
TransmitterTalk Reviews Kawaguchi Prospects. These are outstanding for getting to know teams, both for readers and for the author himself. But while most leagues begin and end their writing with team-centric on-the-field action articles, PEBA authors go further, widening their scope or weaving in highly creative fiction to draw the reader into a greater narrative. Here's a handful of examples that have posted just this week!
- Anatomy of a Failure - Ever-impugning Manchester Boutique beat writer and resident cynic L.H. Thompson examines the anatomy of the Great Maulers Collapse of 2013, in a style only L.H. can. As Thompson points out: "But posterity – cruel master, that! – demands an explanation, if not an apology, for the dashed hopes and dreams of an entire region." Indeed it does, and while L.H. offers no apologies, he does get to the heart of the matter.
- Coal Sox Sold to Taiwanese Railroad Tycoon - OOTP 11 introduced in-game team owners, and the PEBA was quick to jump on that train by allowing members to define names and characters for their new bosses. A few members elected to name themselves as owner, delegating GM tasks to a fictional subordinate. Well, what happens when OOTP generates a news story announcing that you're no longer the owner of your team? That's the position Tyler Babcock found himself in. Rolling with the punches, he's using the surprise event as a catalyst for a whole new fictional subplot that involves his departure to join the staff of a U.S. Congressman and the arrival of a railroad tycoon to take his place. Tyler has a strong interest in both politics and trains and has found a creative way to merge those outside interests into his PEBA passion.
- “Kudo and Kimura in the Morning”: Championship Edition, November 2, 2013 - You'd think current Niihama-shi Ghosts Sadao Kudo and Naizen Kimura would have better ways to spend their free time than hosting a radio show for ESPN-Japan. Their team did finish a wretched 49-95, after all. But the unflappable duo doesn't let that stop them from chiming in with their thoughts on everything going on in the League of the Rising Sun, and with the Neo-Tokyo Cup in full swing, they've got plenty to talk about.
As we continue to recruit new members, I'll return to this thread to highlight other ways that members contribute to making the PEBA a unique online league experience. In the meantime, why don't you
drop us a line to get in on the action? We'd love for you to be a part of what we're building.