Part 4, International Shoe History

We bring you part 4 in our continuing series reliving great moments in International Shoe history. Today we take a look back at 2007. Despite finishing only 13 points behind the league champion melonheands~ (1533 to 1520), the "much-hated" Manimals finished 7-7 and out of the playoffs. In a controversial finish to the season, the Manimals were left to rely on Anthony Khoury's already-eliminated squad to help them win a game. When Mr. Khoury started a lineup without a defense, Manimal Co-Owner Ricky Gelboim posted regarding a new rule, requiring all owners to post a valid lineup each week in good faith. What follows is an excerpt of that discussion, which may be valid considering this year we have had an owner bench his entire team and play a bunch of injured/bye week players. Clearly this rule was never adopted. Message 404 (3rd one down) is particularly entertaining.


***Proposed Rule Change for Next Season***
by: Manimal (Manimals) Nov 30 2:03pm
Proposed Rule: All teams must field a full roster and make a good faith effort to field their best possible roster.

Reason: To protect the integrity of the league.

-R

Re: ***Proposed Rule Change for Next Season***
by: borgnine (melonheads~) Nov 30 2:31pm
dont think so. we have a rogue owner who is just going crazy and bucking the system this week by not starting a defense.

if i had to guess, its all that bad luck going to his head. i am not going to be the one to say that all the good luck he had last year, should have similarly gone to his head and prompted him to start willie parker in the playoffs.

Anyway, i agree with the fist part of the rule for next year, hands down. but with respect to the second part of the rule, how do we determine what is the best linep. its often not as easy or clear-cut as when Anthony started Trung Candidate over Willie Parker.

Reasonable minds differ and grown men also cry

Message: 400 of 492.



Re: ***Proposed Rule Change for Next Season***
by: AK (Los Angeles Rams) Nov 30 4:04pm
The reason I don't have a defense in my line-up is because I didn't have another player to drop when I bid on Owen Daniels. My interest was securing another solid, cheap TE for next season...I have every right to look out for the best interest of my team considering the time and money investment involved...

Moreover, the next player in line to be dropped was Kurt Warner, who is my starting QB this week. If you look at my other starting QB options, it's pretty clear that Warner is my best bet.....so you can complain about fielding the best roster, yadda, yadda, yadda....but I could have easily dropped Warner for Daniels, kept NYG as my defense, and started Eli "FUCKING SUCKS" Manning, or Jay "250 yards and only 1 touch" Cutler, instead...and the difference b/w no defense and NYG, and Warner and one of those 2 guys actually suggests that I'm trying to field the best possible line-up for this week even though I have no incentive to win AT ALL....so GET OFF MY BACK!!!

Message: 404 of 492.

Re: ***Proposed Rule Change for Next Season***
by: Manimal (Manimals) Nov 30 4:27pm
For the record, I understand why AK is not fielding a defense and I think he can and should look out for his own best interests.

My only feeling was disappointment, since we need Anthony to win this week (or Doug/Petros next week) to even consider a playoff chance. Since I think Anthony has a decent team (QB excepted) and was hoping he would win.

He has no obligation to me, or anyone else. I also don't ascribe any sinister motives to it. Just was hoping that he was trying to win. It might turn out that he has, indeed, played the best lineup, but any lineup that is missing a player is probably not your best one.

I don't think it's a huge deal.
C

Message: 406 of 492.

Re: ***Proposed Rule Change for Next Season***
by: borgnine (melonheads~) Nov 30 4:43pm
my roster is not updated and does not have mason taken off it.

thank god you dropped him !

again, anthony your choices regarding your team are appropriate and I dont think anyone is really questioning them.

or attaching any bad motives. you operated within the rules.

but the choices you made re your team led to an empty roster spot, which in turn has simply initiated a discussion regarding the rules and league integrity.

again, if anyone was in the manimals position, they would be similarly disappointed.

that said, death to the manimals !!

Message: 408 of 492.

Re: ***Proposed Rule Change for Next Season***
by: AK (Los Angeles Rams) Nov 30 4:58pm
Well defining 'integrity' with respect to a keeper fantasy football league is certainly subjective.

In my mind, my integrity is enhanced by doing everything I can to field a 'better' team for next season now that I have no chance whatsoever to compete in the league playoffs. The league can only be 'better' off by me attempting to improve my team for next season.

I have NO obligation at all to try and beat another team to improve the Manimals' chances at being in the playoffs. In fact, I would submit that sabotaging my own team's best interests in order to try and help the Manimals make the playoffs COMPROMISES league 'integrity'.

You have to admit, it is pretty fuckin ironic that the most successful team in league history is accusing what is arguably the most snakebitten team in league history of damaging the league's 'integrity' by not doing everything possible to help them get back in the playoffs, even if it comes at the detriment of that team's own best interests!

I've frequently found myself in the SAME exact position they're in now, and I NEVER tried to manipulate other teams' line-ups because I needed them to win...you defer to their judgment and hope it works out for you...Instead, why don't they THANK ME for trading away Maroney for Fitzgerald and having him in my starting line-up the next 2 weeks???

Message: 410 of 492.

Re: ***Proposed Rule Change for Next Season***
by: Manimal (Manimals) Nov 30 5:08pm
AK,

I'm not blaming you for your actions.

That is why I said "proposed" rule change for "next" season.

I think it's in the best integrity of the league for every team to try to score the most points they can every week, even when they've been eliminated from the playoffs. The best way to enforce that is to require every team to field a full roster every week.

Brian, you are right that the 2nd part of my proposed rule (i.e., the good faith effort part) is difficult to enforce, so I don't think that part should become a rule.

-R

Message: 411 of 492.

Re: ***Proposed Rule Change for Next Season***
by: stavpap11 (Athens Panathinaikos) Dec 2 3:10pm
I will not vote on anything that forces me to hold on to someone in order to field a full team. If a team is out of the playoffs and want to retool, they should be able to. Asking AK to not pick someone up in order to preserve a 10% chance of making the playoffs is a bit too much. Yes, I know, if it was me I would be livid and curse AK but i would know I was wrong for doing it.

Message: 414 of 492.