Don't be a brownoser-The Bluenoser Interview

Padreman · 11-21-2013, 02:57 PM

Another Hall of Fame Member
Bluenoser he has a Join Date of Mar 2002
Closing in on 7,400 post and Thanked almost 2,200 times .

Please feel to ask any addition and follow-up questions

When and what version did you start playing OOTP?

Started playing OOTP in 1999, when version1 was released. Haven’t missed any of them.

What feature of the game do you lovemost?

Customization – The bare nuts and bolts ofbaseball are pretty much the same from game to game, but one of the featuresthat make OOTP stand out is the ability for the user to create anything from asimple little world to a full fledged, global (Universal even) thriving worldthat lives not only on the field, but well beyond it. OOTP is really onlylimited by one’s imagination.

What's your favorite baseball team (anyleague)?

Boston Red Sox – I grew up in Nova Scotia,east coast. Back then, we didn’t get baseball coverage here. Only Saturday’snewspaper even carried the standings and leaders. Around 64 or 65 radioimproved and I could pick up night games from Fenway. I fell in love with Yaz,and eventually the Sox.
Dartmouth Moosehead Dry – local team thatplays in the Nova Scotia Senior Baseball League.

How old you?

Closer to 58 than 57.

Where are you originally from?

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Are you a family man?

Yes, been with my wife for 33 years. Wehave 5 children and 6 grandchildren. They’ve all been exposed to OOTP or willbe when old enough.

What do you for a living?

Semi-retired. I served in the Armed Forcesfor 30 years. Unemployed right now but with winter coming I’ll probably go backto work for 4 or 5 months.

Besides OOTP do you have any otherhobbies or interest?

Hiking, camping, outdoor activitiesbasically, and spending as much time as I can with my family.

You make yourself available to the"newbies" and for those who need questions answered why spend timedoing that? What do you get out of it?

As good as OOTP is, it can be over whelming,or even intimidating, for new users. I feel as a veteran player I have aresponsibility to help those new to the game when they get stuck or frustratedand can’t figure things out. If my help gets even one more person playing thegame and enjoying it, then that’s good for OOTP and good for me in the longrun. Word of mouth is a great marketing tool. If people come away with a goodimpression of the game and find help easy to get, that’s what they’ll telltheir friends.

How you answer this next question some will either love you orhate you, but Bonds, Sosa, McGuire, Clemens, Hall-of-Fame or not?

For me the HOF is about numbers, but justas important is the character of the individual. Did those guys put up the numbers? I don’tthink anybody can argue that. Yes, they did. Did they show good character, act in aprofessional manner, did they promote the game, were they honest, forthright,candid and could they be looked upon by fans and admired not only as players,but as people? Imo – No. So, sorry guys, you failed my #2 test – you don’t get in my HOF.

If the OOTP team asked you be aconsultant what will you change, add or remove for new version of the game?

Add more stats, give the Almanac some TLC,and continue to grow storylines. The idea/concept of storylines is an amazingaddition, but there is still plenty of room to grow.

Who was the most influential person in your life that got you into knowing and loving baseball?

Yaz, Yaz, Yaz – my dad was a travellingsalesman, and died at a young age, so sadly had very little influence in mylife. Listening to Yaz on the radio drew me into the game.

Is there any other game or show or bookyour currently enjoying you would like to let us know about?

Being a Canadian, I am and have been a hugehockey fan for as long as I can remember. I purchased FHM, and while it haslots of growing to do, the foundation for an OOTP like experience has been laid,and I have no doubt that FHM will reach the same level of excellence as OOTP. I alsostill play Links 2003 Golf, modded to 1.07.

The Game · 11-21-2013, 05:46 PM

Love the answer on the HOF.

Rizon · 11-21-2013, 06:46 PM

Quote:

What do you for a living?

Semi-retired. I served in the Armed Forcesfor 30 years.

My brother in law is in the RCAF at one of bases that's in Nova Scotia. I don't know which one, eh.

Bluenoser · 11-21-2013, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rizon

My brother in law is in the RCAF at one of bases that's in Nova Scotia. I don't know which one, eh.

Either Greenwood (most likely) or Shearwater, which used to be a base on it's own but is an Annex of The Halifax Base now.

Questdog · 11-21-2013, 08:21 PM

I agree with the HOF answer, but for a different reason.

If all the HOF players had to pass your #2 test, we'd have to throw quite a few out who are already in.....

However, I think those players fail test #1 since the numbers were accumulated through dishonest means.

Clemens is the one who probably would have had HOF numbers without cheating, but I would never vote for him to get in. Bonds may have had a HOF career without the PEDs, but it is less certain and even if it was, he'd get no vote from me. Sosa and McGuire would not even have come close to HOF numbers without the PEDs......

I would, however, vote for Peter Edward Rose, since 1) his issues were not an issue until his playing days were over and 2) in the light of PEDs, betting on your own team to win every night doesn't seem like much of an infraction to me and 3) a 25 year suspension seems long enough, when players only get 50 days for doping......

Bluenoser · 11-21-2013, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Questdog

I agree with the HOF answer, but for a different reason.

If all the HOF players had to pass your #2 test, we'd have to throw quite a few out who are already in.....

However, I think those players fail test #1 since the numbers were accumulated through dishonest means.

Clemens is the one who probably would have had HOF numbers without cheating, but I would never vote for him to get in. Bonds may have had a HOF career without the PEDs, but it is less certain and even if it was, he'd get no vote from me. Sosa and McGuire would not even have come close to HOF numbers without the PEDs......

I would, however, vote for Peter Edward Rose, since 1) his issues were not an issue until his playing days were over and 2) in the light of PEDs, betting on your own team to win every night doesn't seem like much of an infraction to me and 3) a 25 year suspension seems long enough, when players only get 50 days for doping......

Agree with the above, but then imo there's a lot in there who don't belong anyway, and I'd have no problem kicking them out.

rpriske · 11-22-2013, 10:22 AM

A Hall of Fame without Bonds and Clemens is nothing more than a curiosity. It certainly doesn't honour the best players in the game.

I will keep saying until I am blue in the face, to punish players for doing something that was A: not against the rules, and B: both tacitly supported and encouraged by both the teams and the league is hypocrisy at its basest.

People who get caught for PEDs done AFTER the were made explicitly illegal - throw the book at them.

Padreman · 11-22-2013, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rpriske

A Hall of Fame without Bonds and Clemens is nothing more than a curiosity. It certainly doesn't honour the best players in the game.

I will keep saying until I am blue in the face, to punish players for doing something that was A: not against the rules, and B: both tacitly supported and encouraged by both the teams and the league is hypocrisy at its basest.

People who get caught for PEDs done AFTER the were made explicitly illegal - throw the book at them.

.

The Wolf · 11-22-2013, 11:33 AM

"5. Voting: Voting shall be based upon the player's record, playing ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character, and contributions to the team(s) on which the player played."

There's no way "integrity, sportsmanship, character" can allow for PED use, before or after they were made part of the CBA. Especially given that the player's union fought drug testing tooth and nail to the point where the MLB was twenty years or so behind the other major sports.

No loopholes. Bonds did it, Bonds hurt baseball, Bonds hurt other players, Bonds should pay. Forever.

rpriske · 11-22-2013, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Wolf

There's no way "integrity, sportsmanship, character" can allow for PED use, before or after they were made part of the CBA.

I disagree completely and utterly. A player using every legal means to make himself the best player he can possibly be it something that should be lauded, not condemned.

Questdog · 11-22-2013, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rpriske

I disagree completely and utterly. A player using every legal means to make himself the best player he can possibly be it something that should be lauded, not condemned.

Uh, why should baseball have to explicitly make a rule banning something that was illegal?....

D-BacksJosh · 11-22-2013, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rpriske

I disagree completely and utterly. A player using every legal means to make himself the best player he can possibly be it something that should be lauded, not condemned.

Anabolic steroids have been illegal since 1990.

Correction: The use of anabolic steroids for performance enhancement has been illegal since 1990. I believe there needs to be a legitimate medical condition in order to obtain it legally.

The Wolf · 11-22-2013, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rpriske

I disagree completely and utterly. A player using every legal means to make himself the best player he can possibly be it something that should be lauded, not condemned.

And injecting dangerous drugs that are illegal and controlled is somehow legal and should be lauded? Buy a clue. Do you think Bonds had a prescription?

"In the U.S., anabolic steroids are Schedule III controlled substances under the Controlled Substances Act, which makes simply possessing of such substances without a prescription, first offense, a federal crime punishable by up to one year in prison."

They were illegal. No way around that.

The Wolf · 11-22-2013, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D-BacksJosh

Anabolic steroids have been illegal since 1990.

Correction: The use of anabolic steroids for performance enhancement has been illegal since 1990. I believe there needs to be a legitimate medical condition in order to obtain it legally.

They were made illegal in the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988. Bonds didn't start using until the 2000's.

Anyone still want to claim that what he did was legal, or that his illegal cheating showed integrity, sportsmanship or character?

D-BacksJosh · 11-22-2013, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Wolf

Anyone still want to claim that what he did was legal, or that his illegal cheating showed integrity, sportsmanship or character?

Barry Bonds was always about Barry Bonds. His actions are the antithesis of integrity, sportsmanship and character IMO.

TribeFanInNC · 11-22-2013, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Padreman

You make yourself available to the"newbies" and for those who need questions answered why spend timedoing that? What do you get out of it?

As good as OOTP is, it can be overwhelming, or even intimidating, for new users. I feel as a veteran player I have a responsibility to help those new to the game when they get stuck or frustrated and can’t figure things out. If my help gets even one more person playing the game and enjoying it, then that’s good for OOTP and good for me in the long run. Word of mouth is a great marketing tool. If people come away with a good impression of the game and find help easy to get, that’s what they’ll tell their friends.

Thanks for doing this.

I used to do this quite a bit as well and feel the same way. Not everyone feels they need to give something back. Kudos to you.

canadiancreed · 11-22-2013, 01:21 PM

They don't. See gambling and the 1919 World Series, and possibly (I can't find if gambling was outlawed for players for the NAtional League) the 1877 Louisville Grays

And how did an interview thread get morphed into MLB drug policy?

TribeFanInNC · 11-22-2013, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by canadiancreed

And how did an interview thread get morphed into MLB drug policy?

Yeah, I kinda wondered this myself....

rpriske · 11-22-2013, 01:44 PM

Steroids were not against the rules of mlb until 2001.

Before that, they were not only not against the rules, they were encouraged.

Want to tell me that Bonds and Clemens weren't already Hall of Fame caliber by 2001?

Look, people make judgments about people's behaviour all the time. As canadiancreed (I think) was trying to remind us, there was a time when players openly gambled on games. (Though I think there is a BIG difference between a player trying to play better and one that is trying to play worse).

Where I have an issue with hypocrisy is when you have players who are encouraged to do something by the teams they play for and are then treated like pariahs when it comes out that they did just that.

As I said above, there are anti-PED rules in place now, for a little over a decade. I feel little sympathy when a player gets caught taking them after that date. (Sorry Ryan Braun...) When someone is taken out and pilloried for taking them when they were both allowed and encouraged, then I have an issue.

In the case of Clemens and Bonds, you have the players who were arguably the best ever at their jobs and are having that taken from them.

Do we strip Ed Walsh of his career records because the spitball was outlawed after the fact? Hardly. Heck, we don't even strip people like Gaylord Perry and Don Drysdale of thier records when they were throwing it when it WAS illegal.

But then, that is one of the publicly approved methods of cheating, I guess. Baseball fans are funny sometimes.

rpriske · 11-22-2013, 01:46 PM

And I just saw the last post that went up while I was typing mine.

I agree. I will step aside. Back to saying justifiably nice things about Bluenoser.

11-22-2013, 01:21 PM	#17
canadiancreed Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 11,660 Blog Entries: 1	They don't. See gambling and the 1919 World Series, and possibly (I can't find if gambling was outlawed for players for the NAtional League) the 1877 Louisville Grays And how did an interview thread get morphed into MLB drug policy? __________________ PT21 PT22 Last edited by canadiancreed; 11-22-2013 at 01:28 PM.

11-22-2013, 01:44 PM	#19
rpriske Hall Of Famer Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Spencerville, ON, Canada Posts: 23,972 Blog Entries: 1	Steroids were not against the rules of mlb until 2001. Before that, they were not only not against the rules, they were encouraged. Want to tell me that Bonds and Clemens weren't already Hall of Fame caliber by 2001? Look, people make judgments about people's behaviour all the time. As canadiancreed (I think) was trying to remind us, there was a time when players openly gambled on games. (Though I think there is a BIG difference between a player trying to play better and one that is trying to play worse). Where I have an issue with hypocrisy is when you have players who are encouraged to do something by the teams they play for and are then treated like pariahs when it comes out that they did just that. As I said above, there are anti-PED rules in place now, for a little over a decade. I feel little sympathy when a player gets caught taking them after that date. (Sorry Ryan Braun...) When someone is taken out and pilloried for taking them when they were both allowed and encouraged, then I have an issue. In the case of Clemens and Bonds, you have the players who were arguably the best ever at their jobs and are having that taken from them. Do we strip Ed Walsh of his career records because the spitball was outlawed after the fact? Hardly. Heck, we don't even strip people like Gaylord Perry and Don Drysdale of thier records when they were throwing it when it WAS illegal. But then, that is one of the publicly approved methods of cheating, I guess. Baseball fans are funny sometimes. Last edited by rpriske; 11-22-2013 at 01:52 PM.

11-21-2013, 02:57 PM	#1
Padreman Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2013 Location: Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico (formally San Diego, CA.) Posts: 4,140 Blog Entries: 1	Don't be a brownoser-The Bluenoser Interview Another Hall of Fame Member Bluenoser he has a Join Date of Mar 2002 Closing in on 7,400 post and Thanked almost 2,200 times . Please feel to ask any addition and follow-up questions When and what version did you start playing OOTP? Started playing OOTP in 1999, when version1 was released. Haven’t missed any of them. What feature of the game do you lovemost? Customization – The bare nuts and bolts ofbaseball are pretty much the same from game to game, but one of the featuresthat make OOTP stand out is the ability for the user to create anything from asimple little world to a full fledged, global (Universal even) thriving worldthat lives not only on the field, but well beyond it. OOTP is really onlylimited by one’s imagination. What's your favorite baseball team (anyleague)? Boston Red Sox – I grew up in Nova Scotia,east coast. Back then, we didn’t get baseball coverage here. Only Saturday’snewspaper even carried the standings and leaders. Around 64 or 65 radioimproved and I could pick up night games from Fenway. I fell in love with Yaz,and eventually the Sox. Dartmouth Moosehead Dry – local team thatplays in the Nova Scotia Senior Baseball League. How old you? Closer to 58 than 57. Where are you originally from? Halifax, Nova Scotia Are you a family man? Yes, been with my wife for 33 years. Wehave 5 children and 6 grandchildren. They’ve all been exposed to OOTP or willbe when old enough. What do you for a living? Semi-retired. I served in the Armed Forcesfor 30 years. Unemployed right now but with winter coming I’ll probably go backto work for 4 or 5 months. Besides OOTP do you have any otherhobbies or interest? Hiking, camping, outdoor activitiesbasically, and spending as much time as I can with my family. You make yourself available to the"newbies" and for those who need questions answered why spend timedoing that? What do you get out of it? As good as OOTP is, it can be over whelming,or even intimidating, for new users. I feel as a veteran player I have aresponsibility to help those new to the game when they get stuck or frustratedand can’t figure things out. If my help gets even one more person playing thegame and enjoying it, then that’s good for OOTP and good for me in the longrun. Word of mouth is a great marketing tool. If people come away with a goodimpression of the game and find help easy to get, that’s what they’ll telltheir friends. How you answer this next question some will either love you orhate you, but Bonds, Sosa, McGuire, Clemens, Hall-of-Fame or not? For me the HOF is about numbers, but justas important is the character of the individual. Did those guys put up the numbers? I don’tthink anybody can argue that. Yes, they did. Did they show good character, act in aprofessional manner, did they promote the game, were they honest, forthright,candid and could they be looked upon by fans and admired not only as players,but as people? Imo – No. So, sorry guys, you failed my #2 test – you don’t get in my HOF. If the OOTP team asked you be aconsultant what will you change, add or remove for new version of the game? Add more stats, give the Almanac some TLC,and continue to grow storylines. The idea/concept of storylines is an amazingaddition, but there is still plenty of room to grow. Who was the most influential person in your life that got you into knowing and loving baseball? Yaz, Yaz, Yaz – my dad was a travellingsalesman, and died at a young age, so sadly had very little influence in mylife. Listening to Yaz on the radio drew me into the game. Is there any other game or show or bookyour currently enjoying you would like to let us know about? Being a Canadian, I am and have been a hugehockey fan for as long as I can remember. I purchased FHM, and while it haslots of growing to do, the foundation for an OOTP like experience has been laid,and I have no doubt that FHM will reach the same level of excellence as OOTP. I alsostill play Links 2003 Golf, modded to 1.07. __________________ Chargers= Despicable Traitors Last edited by Padreman; 11-21-2013 at 03:29 PM.

11-21-2013, 05:46 PM	#2
The Game Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Inside The Game Posts: 30,803	Love the answer on the HOF. __________________ Go today don't wait for tomorrow It isn't promised, all the time you get borrowed Don't live your life for other people Don't bottle your emotions till they crack and fill a couple just sorrows Take your mind and refocus go get a paper write your goals out Throw your middle fingers to all your haters "Stay Strong"

11-21-2013, 08:21 PM	#5
Questdog Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: In a dark, damp cave where I'm training slugs to run the bases...... Posts: 16,142	I agree with the HOF answer, but for a different reason. If all the HOF players had to pass your #2 test, we'd have to throw quite a few out who are already in..... However, I think those players fail test #1 since the numbers were accumulated through dishonest means. Clemens is the one who probably would have had HOF numbers without cheating, but I would never vote for him to get in. Bonds may have had a HOF career without the PEDs, but it is less certain and even if it was, he'd get no vote from me. Sosa and McGuire would not even have come close to HOF numbers without the PEDs...... I would, however, vote for Peter Edward Rose, since 1) his issues were not an issue until his playing days were over and 2) in the light of PEDs, betting on your own team to win every night doesn't seem like much of an infraction to me and 3) a 25 year suspension seems long enough, when players only get 50 days for doping......

11-22-2013, 10:22 AM	#7
rpriske Hall Of Famer Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Spencerville, ON, Canada Posts: 23,972 Blog Entries: 1	A Hall of Fame without Bonds and Clemens is nothing more than a curiosity. It certainly doesn't honour the best players in the game. I will keep saying until I am blue in the face, to punish players for doing something that was A: not against the rules, and B: both tacitly supported and encouraged by both the teams and the league is hypocrisy at its basest. People who get caught for PEDs done AFTER the were made explicitly illegal - throw the book at them.

11-22-2013, 01:46 PM	#20
rpriske Hall Of Famer Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Spencerville, ON, Canada Posts: 23,972 Blog Entries: 1	And I just saw the last post that went up while I was typing mine. I agree. I will step aside. Back to saying justifiably nice things about Bluenoser.