[Dbobola22]

Introduction

It was in February of 2010 that I decided I wanted to get back into being a part of an online league in OOTP.

In the past, I had been in a few different leagues as manager (with mixed results) and I even was Commissioner of a successful league back in 2008 before having to take the walk of shame and tell the dedicated owners that I needed to step down due to personal reasons. Sure I had legitimate excuses as I was working in our family operated business 60-70 hours per week while taking my wife, who was pregnant with our first child, 75 miles round trip every day to the hospital as she watched her mother fight a very long, tough and eventual losing battle with cancer but anybody who knows me knows I don’t like excuses and I felt like I did the dedicated members of my league wrong.

After taking some time off from running the league, I joined online leagues as a manager and I really enjoyed it and see how so many OOTPers are addicted to this online fantasy we let consume so much of our time. However, that wasn’t enough for me as I need to be in control but I don’t need to be the dictator. By being in control, I mean I need to be able to handle issues that come up in a fair manner, I need to be able to set the date and times of exports and make sure they are done on time and I need to make sure I provide an experience where managers feel comfortable putting a lot of their free time efforts into the league they know will still be around for a long time and therefore they can commit to their strategies, even if it means rebuilding for down the road. Nothing is more frustrating than not getting the chance to see your plans cut short because of someone else.

So this brings us back to April 2010. I started a league called Paramount Baseball League (PBL) with a few friends I made from the league I was just in that ended because the Commissioner failed to communicate and ask for help. We went on a recruiting mission and found some of the best online gamers the OOTP boards have to offer and now in July of 2012 we are coming to the end of our 10th season and still going strong.

After the past few months of giving it careful thought I decided to start a second league as Commissioner. Why? I really enjoy playing the game but I’m quickly becoming much more of an online purist as I think after competing against other humans, the AI gets too predictable and its not really all that challenging to build a winner. By adding a second league this should fill my OOTP appetite. Also as we are about to crown the 10th PBL World Champion, there were mistakes made along the way and even though they are corrected as we go, I just feel like starting a second league from the beginning with what I know now, can only be the beginning of what I’m hoping is another special league.

I also knew it was time to branch out as well when I joke with my wife when I get upset over league issues and tell her I’m quitting my league and she looks at me with a straight face and just tells me “shut up, your talking nonsense.”

Coming up with a name for an online league has to be one of the hardest parts of setting the game up. When thinking of baseball and its rich tradition, one league I always respected was the American Legion. When you look at the official website for the legion (History of American Legion Baseball | The American Legion) you can read about its rich tradition and the impact it plays on the kids of America who love this American pastime.

“American Legion Baseball is a national institution, having thrived through a world war, several national tragedies, and times of great prosperity as well as great despair. The league still stands behind the traditional values upon which it was founded in 1925. American Legion Baseball has taught hundreds of thousands of young Americans the importance of sportsmanship, good health and active citizenship. The program is also a promoter of equality, making teammates out of young athletes regardless of their income levels or social standings. American Legion Baseball has been, and continues to be, a stepping stone to manhood for millions of young men who have gone on to serve their country or community, raise families or play the sport at the highest level.”

The key points in this to me is it always been a league based upon values and it preached the importance of sportsmanship, good health and active citizenship. In my opinion the same values are extremely important to an online league and this is the reason for the name Baseball Legion of America (BLOA).

I am a Commissioner who is dedicated to running the best league possible for every team in the league. I make decisions that I think makes sense for the majority of the league, even if my opinion might put me in the minority.

I take GREAT PRIDE in my ability to run a league and to prove it, you could ask any current or former member of the PBL. I'm always available, active on the boards and I do not ever miss a sim without a full warning and those are VERY few and far between. My commitment to the PBL shows in my 7,133 posts to date. I have a few guys who are among the best OOTP GMs you could find in an online league who help out with other aspects of the league to ensure this will be one of the most special OOTP leagues to date.

Rosters

I have updated all the rosters through the July 31 trade deadline to ensure we have the most active rosters to start to date.

The Twists {More details below}

* Teams will not be rewarded on a first come; first serve basis. Once we have 32 committed owner, we will hold a lottery from #1-30. Each team will be assigned a number and based on their place, that is where they will be placed in choosing their team.

* The 'BLOA' has decided to expand to 32 teams prior to the 2012 season and we will hold an Expansion Draft prior to the league beginning. Note: The expansion teams will not be available in the Inaugural team draft, there will be another deciding factor in who receives a team and that will be announced shortly.

* We have decided to realign to fit in the 32 teams. 2 Leagues (AL&NL) while splitting into 4 divisions: East, West, North and South.

* The Playoff format has been altered to accommodate the new Divisions. 4 Division Winners, 2 Wild Cards. Wild Card round has been moved to a best of 3-series as well.

* The Oakland Athletics have been relocated to San Jose, California and received an increase in budget.

Requirements

The only requirements are you own the game, are active on the boards and will write some articles (team, player or league specific).

Sim Schedule

We will be simming 3-4 days per week. 7 days per sim. Example: week 1 will be Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun then week two will be Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday.

Want to Join

If you want to join the league, you can post here or send me an email at Derek.Bobola@gmail.com

Also if your interested in an expansion team. You must send me an email with your OOTP experience and why you deserve the opportunity to run an expansion franchise.

The league will welcome veterans and OOTP rookies but will only accept veterans to run the Expansion franchises as its a commitment that I think OOTP-vets understand more of and a longer process than might be expected by some.