Feedback Needed / Dynasty Concept

[TavesSoul]

Originally Posted by Vris

Plus, what of the world in the 2070s? As Raidergoo said, the US would probably look a lot different. At that point, cities like Toronto or Montreal would/could be very important American cities and would/could house a team in this universe.

You know, I was going to leave this alone, when Raidergoo said it, but I feel I should comment on it now. There is no possible way that Canada is ever annexed into America, unless the States invaded and took us over. Outside of that highly unlikely possibility (invasion of Canada would start a World War against the States), Canada has a stable and effective government that would never allow for it to fall into anyone else's hands. Montreal, I can see the argument for, as at one point Quebec was looking to separate, but most of the Quebecers I know today think that was a stupid idea, and I doubt it'd ever come up again. I know 60 years is a long time, but it's really not long enough for this scenario to have even a slightly realistic possibility. /end rant

Sorry, but as a Canadian, I always find any talk of us becoming part of another country insulting and ludicrous. Canadians just wouldn't let it happen. I'm not saying this as a sign of disrespect, but out of civic pride I guess. As for the storyline for the franchise, it seems good, though I agree with those that say the name the "Quakes" with that aspect of the storyline doesn't work. If you do change that part to the other suggested reason, it'd make a lot more sense. I think your storylines fairly plausible, especially if you tie in the rise of another sport (perhaps Football, which is now billed as America's Game) as becoming America's new past time in Baseballs place.

[Raidergoo]

Originally Posted by TavesSoul

You know, I was going to leave this alone, when Raidergoo said it, but I feel I should comment on it now. There is no possible way that Canada is ever annexed into America, unless the States invaded and took us over.

What would happen if most of Canada moved to Florida because Ontario was was buried under seven meters of ice year-round?

It's a bizarre hypothetical, like Yellowstone National Park blowing up, an Atlantic Ocean tsunami, or Will Smith becoming commissioner after retiring from the Marine Corps after defeating alien invaders.

[battists]

OK, so Canada isn't getting annexed, and I've adopted the "drilling in the Chesapeake" motif.

However, this leaves me in the position of having to re-explain "New York Capitals," or change the team nickname. Here's the logo I'm using.

[TavesSoul]

Originally Posted by Raidergoo

What would happen if most of Canada moved to Florida because Ontario was was buried under seven meters of ice year-round?

It's a bizarre hypothetical, like Yellowstone National Park blowing up, an Atlantic Ocean tsunami, or Will Smith becoming commissioner after retiring from the Marine Corps after defeating alien invaders.

Well, if that happened, Toronto and Montreal wouldn't exist anymore, and neither would Canada. So we still wouldn't be annexed. :P I didn't mean to sound pissy, in case I did, but apparently unbeknown-est to me previously, I have a great sense of civic pride. Of course, it could also be that I haven't had much sleep due to the start of the U again, and I'm getting sick. More likely it's that.

Wait, are you implying that Independence Day isn't a realistic movie?

[battists]

Alright, enough with the threadjacking.

[TavesSoul]

Originally Posted by battists

Alright, enough with the threadjacking.

You have my apologies. As for solving your New York Capitals problem, you could always write a storyline in which the Capital was temporarily moved to New York during some state of emergency, and now New Yorkers feel it should be moved back there, hence the name of the team to reflect this. It'd make for an interesting political subplot. Just a thought, especially since I owe you for the threadjack.

[battists]

Originally Posted by TavesSoul

You have my apologies. As for solving your New York Capitals problem, you could always write a storyline in which the Capital was temporarily moved to New York during some state of emergency, and now New Yorkers feel it should be moved back there, hence the name of the team to reflect this. It'd make for an interesting political subplot. Just a thought, especially since I owe you for the threadjack.

Interesting idea. Certainly, the "terrorist attack" seems the most likely thing to cause an emergency relocation, but hey, I've got a little Dan Brown in me, I can come up with something. Power companies go under in metro Washington, city shuts down, etc. Wildly popular NY politician stirs up backing to push for the move, etc.

[TribeFanInNC]

Originally Posted by battists

However, this leaves me in the position of having to re-explain "New York Capitals," or change the team nickname. Here's the logo I'm using.

I like the logo. You could call them the Americans or the Patriots with that logo. Renaming is certainly easier, though probably not as creative.

[battists]

Originally Posted by TribeFanInNC

I like the logo. You could call them the Americans or the Patriots with that logo. Renaming is certainly easier, though probably not as creative.

I was thinking "Patriots" myself, but thought there had to be something better.

"Politicians"? Nah, wouldn't want to start the new league out with a disreputable image.

[battists]

Dammit, I just realized that I had some awesome person make jerseys for me, and it says "Capitals" in big letters across the front.

[TavesSoul]

Originally Posted by battists

Interesting idea. Certainly, the "terrorist attack" seems the most likely thing to cause an emergency relocation, but hey, I've got a little Dan Brown in me, I can come up with something. Power companies go under in metro Washington, city shuts down, etc. Wildly popular NY politician stirs up backing to push for the move, etc.

I think you're best to go this sort of route. The obvious choice for a political center if Washington wasn't available for some reason would be New York, and since you have jerseys made, it seems you're stuck with it. You could also go the route, which is media relevant right now, of some sort of epidemic affecting Washington for a time, during which it had to be quarantined, and the President moved to New York. You could tie that into the fact that maybe this new President is the first one to reopen Washington after years of abandonment and neglect, and having a team there is to try and draw and encourage people to return to the once powerseat of the United States.

[TribeFanInNC]

Originally Posted by battists

Dammit, I just realized that I had some awesome person make jerseys for me, and it says "Capitals" in big letters across the front.

Haha...All I got left is civil war then.

OK, even I think that is too complex

[TavesSoul]

Originally Posted by TribeFanInNC

Haha...All I got left is civil war then.

OK, even I think that is too complex

Funny thing is, that was also one of my thoughts. It'd help you explain why the capital was moved, and it'd be an interesting story, as now you could explain how the States reunited. The problem with this storyline as you'd have to make the war over politics, and politics in games just bogs things done, and opens you up for flaming and worse thread hi-jacks then my Pro-Canada one in this one. I'd personally stay away from the Civil War idea just cause of that, though I would definitely love to read it if that was what you ended up going with.

[battists]

OK, updated opening:

In the late 2040s, the U.S. economy went into recession again. The popularity of Major League Baseball dropped to an all-time low. In 2048, after years of diminishing interest in the sport, 37 of the 40 Major League franchises reported substantial losses. In 2049, the league took drastic action, contracting from 40 teams to 24, but this failed to reverse the trend. When the Los Angeles franchise went up for sale, they were unable to find a buyer who would agree to keep the team operational.

In December of 2051, the collective bargaining agreement between the Major League owners and the MLB players association broke down. Two months later, MLB Commissioner Jesus Chavez announced that the 2052 Major League baseball season would be played by "scab" players from outside the players' union. Fans voted with their wallets. Through May, average attendance at games league-wide was 4,500.

In January of 2059, the dissolution of Major League baseball was announced. The U.S. economy continued to sputter.
Later that year, after a long legal battle, Shell Oil obtained the rights to drill for oil in the Chesapeake Bay. Operations began in 2060, and in 2061 the D.C. area suffered an earthquake measuring 3.2 on the Richter scale. Scientists claimed that the drilling in the Bay had created a new fault line, and further seismic activity could be expected. Since then, low-level earthquakes have become commonplace in the Maryland / Virginia / D.C. area. Seismic activity wreaked havoc with the power infrastructure, damaging sensitive equipment and drastically increasing costs for power providers. In the summer of 2062, the greater D.C. area experienced repeated power outages, the longest lasting nearly 72 hours. Southern Power Co., the leading provider of electricity to the city, went under.

In response to the unstable power situation, Ernest Wilson, governor of New York, waged a loud, public battle urging the government to temporarily move government operations to New York City. He won his battle in the 2065, and swept into the White House on a wave of popularity. Wilson served an undistinguished term, in which the economy remained largely stagnant, and partisan politics prevented any sweeping changes.

In 2068, the United States elected Patrick Hain President. As the star third baseman for the Boston Red Sox, Hain was the last true superstar of Major League Baseball before the league shut down. In his last season, he batted .397 with 44 HR and 140 RBI, and the Sox won the last World Series in the history of MLB.

With the election of Hain, interest in baseball increased nationwide, and the numbers of youths playing baseball again rose dramatically. By 2075, the United States had gone close to 20 years without professional baseball, although various amateur leagues still existed throughout the country. With the economy on the rebound, in 2076 a group of investors began the process of bringing professional baseball back to the United States, with strong political help from President Hain and his younger brother Bill Hain, also a lifelong baseball player.

By 2079, most of the groundwork had been laid, and arrangements had been made for a modest 8-team league with a single level of minors, with plans for expansion back into the Mid-West within 3 years. In September of 2079, the New World Baseball League was formally introduced.



Bill Hain was elected as the commissioner of the NWBL, and he announced that the inaugural draft would take place in January of 2080, with play to commence that April. Teams would be divided into East and West divisions, with the following teams:

U.S. East Division
Boston Irish
New York Capitals
Philadelphia Riot
Washington Quakes

U.S. West Division
Los Angeles Lancers
San Diego Tsunami
San Francisco Stallions
Seattle Steam


Thoughts?

[TribeFanInNC]

I like it better. Less apocalyptic. I was envisioning Will Smith and Independance Day with the first go around. This one is a little more like The Governator Goes to Washington.

[battists]

Thanks. Part of the key for me is I'm just looking to set the stage. Most of what I will write once the game starts is going to be baseball-specific. I just can't stand starting a professional league in 2080 that isn't MLB without explaining myself!

[kq76]

Yeah, I like it better. I especially like the part about Bill Hain, the President's younger brother, but also a former player becoming commish. That logo is pretty sweet too, old and futuristic looking at the same time.

A good chunk of it is about this earthquake which I don't get, but maybe you're planning on running with that somehow. It's interesting, no question, but it seems like you take a fair bit of time talking about it yet it doesn't really seem to much matter really.

What I'd do if I were you is: 1) focus on the east coast cities like someone else said (when you focus on things it's often a bit easier to tell or follow a story), and 2) somehow shake up the status of the major east coast cities (it seems you would do that with this earthquake, but it doesn't sound like you really are) like somehow make some Virginia city an up-and-coming city due to some new-found natural or technological resource and/or make it the capital instead of NYC.

But in any case, it looks good!

[battists]

Originally Posted by kq76

Yeah, I like it better. I especially like the part about Bill Hain, the President's younger brother, but also a former player becoming commish. That logo is pretty sweet too, old and futuristic looking at the same time.

A good chunk of it is about this earthquake which I don't get, but maybe you're planning on running with that somehow. It's interesting, no question, but it seems like you take a fair bit of time talking about it yet it doesn't really seem to much matter really.

What I'd do if I were you is: 1) focus on the east coast cities like someone else said (when you focus on things it's often a bit easier to tell or follow a story), and 2) somehow shake up the status of the major east coast cities (it seems you would do that with this earthquake, but it doesn't sound like you really are) like somehow make some Virginia city an up-and-coming city due to some new-found natural or technological resource and/or make it the capital instead of NYC.

But in any case, it looks good!

See, the biggest problem is this:

For some reason, way back when I started thinking about this idea, I chose the Washington Quakes. I have a logo and team jerseys that match. I now kind of regret it, but I've already started the league file and I'm being lazy about changing the #%(*%($& logo and jerseys at this point, especially since I have no clue how to make jerseys.

[Raidergoo]

2069 is not a Presidential election year. 2068 would be.

Ducks low flying chair...

[battists]

Originally Posted by Raidergoo

2069 is not a Presidential election year. 2068 would be.

Ducks low flying chair...

Fixed.