09-23-2019, 12:28 PM
(This post was last modified: 09-24-2019, 11:51 AM by IsaStarcrossed.)
Please split this 522 words to @IsaStarcrossed and 1193 to @Jiggly_333
"Hello ladies and gentlemen, this is Bjørn Ironside reporting in from the S18 Sports Center. We're here with another exclusive as @Jiggly_333 announces his decision on the coGM hire for the Chicago Butchers. He couldn't wait to get the news out, so let's dive straight into the interview!"
Ironside: "As the new GM of the Chicago Butchers, you obviously have some serious decisions to make in short order. I hear you came to one of those decisions today. Who are you officially announcing as your coGM and what went into the overall hiring process that resulted in this choice?"
Jiggly_333: "I am going with Toasty. He's a great kid and he's got a lot of experience with the sim. I have a great working relationship with him and I really feel like he can bring everything that I can't to the table. The funny thing about the process is that the moment that flyeaglesfly confirmed to me that he wasn't returning as a GM, I instantly went to message Toasty's GM about talking to him because I didn't want to deal with applications. I've done application requests before and they almost never get the absolute best people in the league. I knew who was the best person for the job and I went straight to him, with a couple of backups in mind, but he was my top target."
Ironside: "What kind of role do you see Toasty filling now that he is moving into Chicago to help you with the team?"
Jiggly_333: "When looking for a Co-GM to work with, the biggest thing you need to realize is what are your own personal strengths and weaknesses. I know exactly what my weakness is and it's just the entire sim. Looking back on my downfall with the Chicago Blues, that was a very understated part of it to the general public, but many of the DSFL GMs kept coming to me saying how horrible my strats were. So, the important thing was to find somebody who does know what they're doing. I remember Toasty's time with the Orange County Otters and seeing all the work he did to learn everything he could from timeconsumer, I remember him doing all of these things with testing in the sim and I feel like he's someone who can help the players come here build themselves into the best that they can be. I am extremely excited to have him on board."
Ironside: "You've obviously had a very busy schedule here recently. Just a couple weeks ago you were just a player on the grind for a championship. Then in rapid order you became a coGM and then GM. When you took the coGM spot, were you aware that there was a chance you'd have to take over the whole thing?"
Jiggly_333: "Yes. That was one of the first things that Eagles told me when I applied. I understood the pull to want to look at free agency, I've tried it in the past with varying results. I could say that it's a bit of a rude move to do, by bringing someone in expecting to be only a side-part of the management team; but he gave me every opportunity to back out and I just couldn't in good conscience leave this team like that and not give him his own opportunity to fully experience the league. I just want people to be happy and if this is his happiness, I wish him well. I do hope to try to sign him back, we have the cap space for it, but I understand his decision."
Ironside: "How confident are you in taking this team forward yourself? What are your expectations for yourself as the leader in Chicago?
Jiggly_333: "That's my secret, Cap. I never have any real confidence. But I think that makes for a very good pragmatic view of situations. Figuring out how things can go wrong and trying to plug those holes before they appear. It's very unclear what direction this team is going to go in the future, especially with the way the team is currently set up. I think I've been on the record a few times saying how horrible of a job being a GM is, but the only way to fix that i to find ways to make it rewarding. My own personal goal in this position is to take the current Chicago discord, which is completely empty except for occasional weekly messages, and turn it into a genuinely enjoyable place for people to hang out and talk. While I'm not exactly the kind of person who walks into a server and screams 'DED CHAT', I do hope that I can help facilitate any conversations that sprout up and get people to stick around and be active."
Ironside: "You have one of your biggest decisions out of the way, but you've got a long off season still ahead of you. It all starts with the draft. It is well known that this is a very stacked draft class in S18. Chicago is without any picks in the first two rounds. I don't expect you to give up too much, but what are the chances of Chicago making some moves in this draft?"
Jiggly_333: "The chance is next to zero. I have a couple of ideas, but I'm probably going to sit back on this. Our focus this off-season is on the free agent market. If any other teams want to come to me with offers, I probably won't take any unless I really like it; but you never know. This may be a stacked draft class, but we've had one of these draft classes every other season it seems. It's risky, but I'm okay with my picks for now."
Ironside: "Another decision you have on your plate is the situation with Lightsout Lewis. After stepping down as GM, he now intends to test the market. He stated that he hasn't quite closed the door on Chicago. He is one of your young stars and a play maker. How hard do you intend to push to keep him home?"
Jiggly_333: "We have the cap space to accommodate him, we can play a few different cards to try to bring him back in. Thinking back on my own experiences when testing free agency, I almost always re-signed because I just liked the LR too much. Unfortunately, I don't think Chicago has this luxury at this moment. With the help of other free agents and potential draftees, we can build an environment that he'd want to return to and it's on me to do that before he signs elsewhere."
Ironside: "When this team first opened in expansion, the GMs in control made some big moves to start Chicago with a championship window. The assets they traded off to get there will still be impacting this team heading into S18. Do you think the championship window they created is still open or do you see this team needing to reload?"
Jiggly_333: "I love Oles, I love Muford, but I'm not going to sugarcoat where I am here. They wanted to be in a situation where they could win right away. That meant making those sorts of moves. There were a couple of things done that could've helped to build a foundation for future success, but it doesn't look like that panned out either. I understand the desire to want to win a championship out of the gate, but it hasn't worked and I'm kind of stuck with all the pieces trying to figure out how to carry the club over to the next stage of its development. I don't want to do a full rebuild, I feel like the team still has enough talent to be continual outside contenders for the Ultimus. A young QB, a stud RB, a legendary WR, and a couple of solid defenders are still around. It's about filling out those pieces and figuring out who will be needed the most, what kind of team we want to be. That means taking inventory this season and setting expectations for the next one. If we fall next season, then we'll work out of the draft. If we can still make the playoffs, then we'll have more to work on with maintaining a team culture rather than building a new one from scratch. As the team's QB, I know I'm betting my best years on this, so know that there's an urgency to getting the best out of Rosie while she's in her prime. That means making sure the best possible people are around her."
Ironside: "Now that you have the leadership on this team figured out, what would you like to say to any free agents that might be looking at the Butchers this off season?"
Jiggly_333: "A locker room in its natural state is empty. It's the people who walk in and fill it up that make it a good place. By coming to Chicago you have a chance to make your own mark, create your own destiny. You can go somewhere that's already contending and try to fit in with an already established culture or you can go somewhere that you can help create the culture. And while here, you will get build help from one of the most knowledgeable people in the NSFL sim. I always make the joke about being the league mom, but I truly do try to live by that ideal. I will always be there for my sim league family and know that if you join any LR that I'm in I will make sure that it's a loving and caring environment. Also, we have cap space if you're into that sort of thing."
"This was a quick hiring decision from the Butchers organization, but it seems like they're fairly confident that they've found their man. They have some big plans heading into the next season and only time will tell if they all pan out. At least with this out of the way, they can focus on the off season and put their best foot forward in assembling their roster. As always, thank you for joining us as we try to bring you all the league news as it happens. Until next time, Ironside signing off."
"Hello ladies and gentlemen, this is Bjørn Ironside reporting in from the S18 Sports Center. We're here with another exclusive as @Jiggly_333 announces his decision on the coGM hire for the Chicago Butchers. He couldn't wait to get the news out, so let's dive straight into the interview!"
Ironside: "As the new GM of the Chicago Butchers, you obviously have some serious decisions to make in short order. I hear you came to one of those decisions today. Who are you officially announcing as your coGM and what went into the overall hiring process that resulted in this choice?"
Jiggly_333: "I am going with Toasty. He's a great kid and he's got a lot of experience with the sim. I have a great working relationship with him and I really feel like he can bring everything that I can't to the table. The funny thing about the process is that the moment that flyeaglesfly confirmed to me that he wasn't returning as a GM, I instantly went to message Toasty's GM about talking to him because I didn't want to deal with applications. I've done application requests before and they almost never get the absolute best people in the league. I knew who was the best person for the job and I went straight to him, with a couple of backups in mind, but he was my top target."
Ironside: "What kind of role do you see Toasty filling now that he is moving into Chicago to help you with the team?"
Jiggly_333: "When looking for a Co-GM to work with, the biggest thing you need to realize is what are your own personal strengths and weaknesses. I know exactly what my weakness is and it's just the entire sim. Looking back on my downfall with the Chicago Blues, that was a very understated part of it to the general public, but many of the DSFL GMs kept coming to me saying how horrible my strats were. So, the important thing was to find somebody who does know what they're doing. I remember Toasty's time with the Orange County Otters and seeing all the work he did to learn everything he could from timeconsumer, I remember him doing all of these things with testing in the sim and I feel like he's someone who can help the players come here build themselves into the best that they can be. I am extremely excited to have him on board."
Ironside: "You've obviously had a very busy schedule here recently. Just a couple weeks ago you were just a player on the grind for a championship. Then in rapid order you became a coGM and then GM. When you took the coGM spot, were you aware that there was a chance you'd have to take over the whole thing?"
Jiggly_333: "Yes. That was one of the first things that Eagles told me when I applied. I understood the pull to want to look at free agency, I've tried it in the past with varying results. I could say that it's a bit of a rude move to do, by bringing someone in expecting to be only a side-part of the management team; but he gave me every opportunity to back out and I just couldn't in good conscience leave this team like that and not give him his own opportunity to fully experience the league. I just want people to be happy and if this is his happiness, I wish him well. I do hope to try to sign him back, we have the cap space for it, but I understand his decision."
Ironside: "How confident are you in taking this team forward yourself? What are your expectations for yourself as the leader in Chicago?
Jiggly_333: "That's my secret, Cap. I never have any real confidence. But I think that makes for a very good pragmatic view of situations. Figuring out how things can go wrong and trying to plug those holes before they appear. It's very unclear what direction this team is going to go in the future, especially with the way the team is currently set up. I think I've been on the record a few times saying how horrible of a job being a GM is, but the only way to fix that i to find ways to make it rewarding. My own personal goal in this position is to take the current Chicago discord, which is completely empty except for occasional weekly messages, and turn it into a genuinely enjoyable place for people to hang out and talk. While I'm not exactly the kind of person who walks into a server and screams 'DED CHAT', I do hope that I can help facilitate any conversations that sprout up and get people to stick around and be active."
Ironside: "You have one of your biggest decisions out of the way, but you've got a long off season still ahead of you. It all starts with the draft. It is well known that this is a very stacked draft class in S18. Chicago is without any picks in the first two rounds. I don't expect you to give up too much, but what are the chances of Chicago making some moves in this draft?"
Jiggly_333: "The chance is next to zero. I have a couple of ideas, but I'm probably going to sit back on this. Our focus this off-season is on the free agent market. If any other teams want to come to me with offers, I probably won't take any unless I really like it; but you never know. This may be a stacked draft class, but we've had one of these draft classes every other season it seems. It's risky, but I'm okay with my picks for now."
Ironside: "Another decision you have on your plate is the situation with Lightsout Lewis. After stepping down as GM, he now intends to test the market. He stated that he hasn't quite closed the door on Chicago. He is one of your young stars and a play maker. How hard do you intend to push to keep him home?"
Jiggly_333: "We have the cap space to accommodate him, we can play a few different cards to try to bring him back in. Thinking back on my own experiences when testing free agency, I almost always re-signed because I just liked the LR too much. Unfortunately, I don't think Chicago has this luxury at this moment. With the help of other free agents and potential draftees, we can build an environment that he'd want to return to and it's on me to do that before he signs elsewhere."
Ironside: "When this team first opened in expansion, the GMs in control made some big moves to start Chicago with a championship window. The assets they traded off to get there will still be impacting this team heading into S18. Do you think the championship window they created is still open or do you see this team needing to reload?"
Jiggly_333: "I love Oles, I love Muford, but I'm not going to sugarcoat where I am here. They wanted to be in a situation where they could win right away. That meant making those sorts of moves. There were a couple of things done that could've helped to build a foundation for future success, but it doesn't look like that panned out either. I understand the desire to want to win a championship out of the gate, but it hasn't worked and I'm kind of stuck with all the pieces trying to figure out how to carry the club over to the next stage of its development. I don't want to do a full rebuild, I feel like the team still has enough talent to be continual outside contenders for the Ultimus. A young QB, a stud RB, a legendary WR, and a couple of solid defenders are still around. It's about filling out those pieces and figuring out who will be needed the most, what kind of team we want to be. That means taking inventory this season and setting expectations for the next one. If we fall next season, then we'll work out of the draft. If we can still make the playoffs, then we'll have more to work on with maintaining a team culture rather than building a new one from scratch. As the team's QB, I know I'm betting my best years on this, so know that there's an urgency to getting the best out of Rosie while she's in her prime. That means making sure the best possible people are around her."
Ironside: "Now that you have the leadership on this team figured out, what would you like to say to any free agents that might be looking at the Butchers this off season?"
Jiggly_333: "A locker room in its natural state is empty. It's the people who walk in and fill it up that make it a good place. By coming to Chicago you have a chance to make your own mark, create your own destiny. You can go somewhere that's already contending and try to fit in with an already established culture or you can go somewhere that you can help create the culture. And while here, you will get build help from one of the most knowledgeable people in the NSFL sim. I always make the joke about being the league mom, but I truly do try to live by that ideal. I will always be there for my sim league family and know that if you join any LR that I'm in I will make sure that it's a loving and caring environment. Also, we have cap space if you're into that sort of thing."
"This was a quick hiring decision from the Butchers organization, but it seems like they're fairly confident that they've found their man. They have some big plans heading into the next season and only time will tell if they all pan out. At least with this out of the way, they can focus on the off season and put their best foot forward in assembling their roster. As always, thank you for joining us as we try to bring you all the league news as it happens. Until next time, Ironside signing off."
![[Image: Untitled_Artwork.png]](https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/732271706806419517/769550826225795102/Untitled_Artwork.png)
![[Image: sketch1596853902954.png]](https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/732271706806419517/741483802865696870/sketch1596853902954.png)
![[Image: conviction_-_hayley_atwell_-_still_-_h_-_2016.jpg]](https://cdn1.thr.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/landscape_928x523/2016/09/conviction_-_hayley_atwell_-_still_-_h_-_2016.jpg)
![[Image: Kawai_Bartok-01.png]](https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/896232509690490880/906254243231572060/Kawai_Bartok-01.png)
