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

[Rick Gammons]

Rich;
    We started in this league on the same day, what, 24 years ago.  We
missed being founding members by only a couple years, but damn, it's hard
to imagine a USML without you!  And you're the go-to guy when it comes
to constitution questions.  I really hope that you'll reconsider now that
March is only a couple months away - I'll promise to give you at least a
week's heads-up before Draft Day!
    Rick


On Friday, January 2, 2015, Richard Robbins <rerobbins at itinker.net> wrote:

> 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
> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','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
>> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','jtfruit at msn.com');>>
>> To: announce <announce at usml.net
>> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','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
>> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','rerobbins at itinker.net');>
>> To: announce at usml.net <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','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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>
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