[USML Announce] Put A Fork In The Red-Hots

[Richard Robbins]

All of the kind words mean more than you can possibly appreciate --
especially from you Jeff.

I've really struggled with this one.  For many months.

I do not want to put the league in the position of needing to fill a
vacancy at the last minute, so I thought it best to go public now.

It's not my poor performance that bothers me.  Hell -- I've done much worse
many times over.  What eats at me is how I approached the game last year --
which was with less respect and energy than is incumbent upon league
owners.  In that regard, I feel as if I let myself and each of you down in
a significant way.  I've always said that I trust each owner to do his (or
her) level best to compete, if not for the current year, then with a view
to building for the future.  I'd take that to the bank.  That's the
underpinning that keeps the league together -- you've got to give a damn
about your team.  Last year I don't think I met that standard.  I operated
the Red-Hots without the fire in my belly that I've had since joining the
league in 1991.  I was ashamed that I had the draft day wrong, something
that Rhonda pointed out to me the night before the draft.  I let myself
down.  More importantly, I let each of you down.  The league standings may
say otherwise, and even the strength of retention rosters may say
otherwise, but I know the truth -- I was indifferent last year.  I can't
reconcile myself to that simple fact.

So I will continue to reflect on all this -- but I don't think I'm going to
change my mind.

On Fri, Jan 2, 2015 at 5:22 PM, Jeffrey Winick <jhwinick at aol.com> wrote:

> I assume that an appropriate intervention is being organized.  And I've
> been quiet both because I was hoping for a recantation and because I
> figured it was more likely than not that I'd just make it worse.
>
>  But it's been a full day and there's been no recantation, so I'm
> weighing in.
>
>  The USML would never be the same without Rich.  Not everyone knows it
> but there is a silent "r" at the beginning of "usml" that was added when
> Rich joined the league.  You have to know the computer code to find it on
> the website, but its there.  Rich claimed that it stood for "reorganized"
> but it obviously stands for "Robbins", the man who has maintained the
> constitution, managed the website and otherwise helped keep the league
> together all these years.  So there literally can be no rUSML without the
> irreplaceable Mr. Robbins.
>
>  And if a poor performance were the determining factor as to whether a
> team should remain in the league, I'm afraid I have dibs, Rich.  I pissed
> away 2014 only to watch Myers go to San Diego, Profar hurt his shoulder
> AGAIN and Addison Russell become a Cub. I finished 35 points (!!) behind
> you.  That's a mere 5 points more than the absolute minimum.
>
>  And I'll take the liberty of speaking for the league here - the USML
> with a detached Rich Robbins is inestimably better than the USML without
> Rich Robbins.
>
>  Please reconsider.
>
>  Jeff
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: JOHN FRUIT <jtfruit at msn.com>
> To: announce <announce at usml.net>
> Sent: Fri, Jan 2, 2015 5:08 pm
> Subject: Re: [USML Announce] Put A Fork In The Red-Hots
>
>   Rich, I'd suggest giving it more time and see how you feel come the
> opening of spring training.  Seems the league wouldn't be the same without
> you.
>
>  p.s. not sure why no one else has opined....perhaps they are still busy
> contemplating just how truly pathetic the Bears were this year.
>
>  ------------------------------
> Date: Thu, 1 Jan 2015 15:50:16 -0600
> From: rerobbins at itinker.net
> To: announce at usml.net
> Subject: [USML Announce] Put A Fork In The Red-Hots
>
>  After prolonged deliberation I have decided to step away from the USML.
>
>  My years in the league have been amazing and I value my friendship with
> each of you -- something that I trust will endure.
>
>  But the bottom line is that I find I lack the desire and energy to bring
> to the table what it takes to compete in our league.  I am not proud of how
> I ran the Red-Hots last year -- I was simply too detached, and that's not
> fair to anyone.  Rather than look forward to draft day I find that I am
> struggling to muster the energy to prepare.  It's time.
>
>  With a heavy heart and much gratitude,
>
>  -- Rich
>
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