*Hugh Mongo to retire at end of season

speculadora · 07-11-2020, 11:08 AM

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It's Time to Walk Away

I probably made some waves in the post-game conference after our loss Friday when I started reminiscing on my career. To tell you the truth, games like that make me think about my career a lot. Even I can recognize that I'm not the same player I was a few seasons ago. It's easy to make the leap from there to wondering whether or not you're just getting in the way. I'm sure my teammates would tell me I'm not, but when I watch players on our team practice - guys like Tatsu, Phillips, Trunks - they remind me of myself when I was a younger player, but not of the player I am now. Not that I think of myself quite so negatively, but it makes me realize that that fire they have, that I used to have, is just missing in me these days. Maybe I was spoiled by the fact that we were on top of the league when I first came up, maybe I'm just falling out of love with football. Whatever the case, I'm certain that the conclusion I've come to would remain constant: it's time to walk away.

I'm sure this will surprise some people, others it might not. I look at the state of the Otters now, though, and I am more comfortable now than ever about the direction we're headed in. Yeah, there have been ups and downs this season, but even though we've laid some eggs out there, we're still in first place. We need to tighten things up, but there's absolutely no question that we have the talent to make another run at the title. Even beyond that, I feel like I can walk away without really worrying about letting this team down because we have so many talented players waiting in the wings, ready to step up as some of this old guard - myself included - walk away. Especially my guy Garfield Despacito, Jr., who has been patiently waiting but still busting his ass so he's ready to step up when I walk away. Future Trunks had really stepped into his own early this season. I'm confident he's ready to be the guy in this offense just based on that, even though we've all sort of struggled with this recent stretch of games. And then we have Jeffrey Phillips, who has basically been a star from the first day he stepped out on the field here. There is absolutely zero doubt in my mind that this group won't even miss a beat without me around.

To some of those guys I came up with - looking at you S15 crew - it has been an absolute blast. Winning two of the three we did alongside you guys, I wouldn't trade those seasons for anything. To some of the guys who came on late in that period, this is really yall's team now. I'm so excited by the fact that this defense hasn't even peaked yet as a unit and that the pieces that we might lose will be immediately and effectively replaced. My only regret in all of this is that I am so sure this group is going to go on to win without me. I'd love to be there with you guys, but it might not be immediate, and I can only play for so much longer. It has been an absolute privilege to be an Otter for this long, and it's something I truly wish every player could experience. There's no better team in this league. While my chapter with this franchise will close after next season, I will always be an Otter at heart.

Going out of character for a bit now. This feels pretty weird to write. I have been a member of the Otters in some capacity dating back to the very end of Season 7, the season where hopes of a four-peat were dashed by a Philadelphia Liberty team that finally broke through. I thought for sure that was an inauspicious start to my time there, but thankfully I was wrong. It's been a good two-plus years now that OCO has been my sim league home, and it's going to be super weird leaving. I know there are a lot of great teams out there, and I sincerely look forward to seeing how some of them compare. To all of the people who have contributed so much in making this team amazing over various parts of its history - more than I can possibly name without accidentally snubbing some - thank you all. OCO wouldn't be as great as it is and has been without you all. And a special shout out to some of the guys I'm leaving this team in the hands of. Moonlight, there's no way we win three straight without you and your insistence on making Armstrong different. We stumbled into something really special with that whole 79 speed thing, and it was awesome being the WR1 for Armstrong even if you forever outshine me. Laser and Rev, you guys are the reason I can even consider leaving this team. I feel so confident that it's in good hands, which is something I was always worried about. I felt like I had an obligation to OCO to leave it better than I found it - a tall task - but I'm certain now that I succeeded. The Ultimus loss was a huge bummer, but you guys are so obviously on the right track that if you just keep your heads up through the ups and downs you'll inevitably find your way to some trophies. To everyone else who I've only played against, I hope to get to know some of you better soon as my recreate hits the pros, but for the next season and a half I cordially invite you to suck it.