12) ManicMav36 is a shining example of the very best in this league. As a member of Head Office, he worked tirelessly to make sure that the league stayed afloat in times of exceptionally troubled waters. He stood up for the league's best interest in order to get it to where it is today. When the simmer quite unexpectedly departed, he stepped into that role to make sure there wouldn't be a delay or interruption in games that season. He's stuck around to make sure that the sim team is managed well in addition to his numerous responsibilities in the head office. Now that he has departed from his role as DSFL commissioner and member of head office, he has elected to stay with the sim team to continue to ensure its success for the time being and has joined our very very important appellate committee, another tremendous opportunity to serve the league and help it be the best it can be. He is absolutely someone I look up to in terms of league management. While he and I approach many things differently when it comes to how to run things, I admire his dedication, his unwavering belief in doing what is right even when that is hard and his willingness to put in the time and energy that the league needs to further blossom.
17) While there are plenty of lucrative sponsorships that she could have participated in, this year, Marcella Toriki has instead agreed to participate in an international health initiative to raise funds and awareness for the current health crisis that we are experiencing. This ad features a variety of athletes from across the league talking about measures that can be taken to help reduce the spread, how to manage the new normal that we are experiencing, and what other actions can be taken to help on a global scale. Marcella Toriki's well known for her international family, and as such, her primary segment revolved around finding ways to "stay close at a distance" using technology to stay in touch. Practicing social distancing doesn't have to be a time of isolation and loneliness, and Toriki is proud to be connecting people with new ways to engage with the people they love in a safe way. She also appeared in the section that touched on mental health in the pandemic. As someone who has experienced mental health issues and has struggled with the early stages of sheltering in place, she was glad to put her time towards providing a message of solidarity and comfort to all those who watched the Ultimus game this year.
19) The New Orleans Second Line has cultivated a team culture that is absolutely amazing. I came to New Orleans as a free agent, with full knowledge of what I was walking into. The Second Line is not so much a football team as it is a family, a collection of people linked together to do the best that they can on the field and to support one another off it. Almost everyone on the team is wholly dedicated to being a team player and pitch in to get things done. The team leadership constantly include others in the conversation to make sure everyone is on the same page and is content with the decisions being made. Given the position I hold here, I struggle a lot with feeling appreciated or wanted in the league, and I know that most days, I can pop into the Second Line locker room and have a pleasant experience to lift my spirits and feel like there is in fact a place for me here. The leadership in New Orleans works tirelessly to provide an excellent league experience for everyone on the team, which inspires people to want to spend their whole career marching to our beat. I'm honored to be a part of the NOLA family and have a strong belief that our team culture is one of the absolute best.
20) My happiest memory in the league happened very very recently. I wonder if you can guess what it is. . . Yes, my current happiest memory is winning the Ultimus as part of the New Orleans Second Line. As a team, we had a strong start to the season, being undefeated for weeks. But then, the first loss came, and more followed. Straight wins, straight losses, with a giant question mark over the playoffs. Beating Austin was exciting, the first win in a while. But then came time to face the Orange County Otters, the other of our big rivals. That game had a lot of nerves beforehand, and being able to walk away with the win, knowing we were set not just to play in the Ultimus but to HOST the Ultimus game was so surreal. I was ecstatic, not for me, but for my GMs, TomHanks and Juosu, and the rest of the team that has worked to build NOLA to what it is today. Then came game time, and I was overjoyed to watch my little team win. Not just win, but win BIG. Getting to be in the locker room after the game was amazing as everyone celebrated the victory. Having a chance to bask in the feeling of being champions, and seeing the purple go up on the banner filled me with so much joy and is easily one of my happiest moments here so far.
17) While there are plenty of lucrative sponsorships that she could have participated in, this year, Marcella Toriki has instead agreed to participate in an international health initiative to raise funds and awareness for the current health crisis that we are experiencing. This ad features a variety of athletes from across the league talking about measures that can be taken to help reduce the spread, how to manage the new normal that we are experiencing, and what other actions can be taken to help on a global scale. Marcella Toriki's well known for her international family, and as such, her primary segment revolved around finding ways to "stay close at a distance" using technology to stay in touch. Practicing social distancing doesn't have to be a time of isolation and loneliness, and Toriki is proud to be connecting people with new ways to engage with the people they love in a safe way. She also appeared in the section that touched on mental health in the pandemic. As someone who has experienced mental health issues and has struggled with the early stages of sheltering in place, she was glad to put her time towards providing a message of solidarity and comfort to all those who watched the Ultimus game this year.
19) The New Orleans Second Line has cultivated a team culture that is absolutely amazing. I came to New Orleans as a free agent, with full knowledge of what I was walking into. The Second Line is not so much a football team as it is a family, a collection of people linked together to do the best that they can on the field and to support one another off it. Almost everyone on the team is wholly dedicated to being a team player and pitch in to get things done. The team leadership constantly include others in the conversation to make sure everyone is on the same page and is content with the decisions being made. Given the position I hold here, I struggle a lot with feeling appreciated or wanted in the league, and I know that most days, I can pop into the Second Line locker room and have a pleasant experience to lift my spirits and feel like there is in fact a place for me here. The leadership in New Orleans works tirelessly to provide an excellent league experience for everyone on the team, which inspires people to want to spend their whole career marching to our beat. I'm honored to be a part of the NOLA family and have a strong belief that our team culture is one of the absolute best.
20) My happiest memory in the league happened very very recently. I wonder if you can guess what it is. . . Yes, my current happiest memory is winning the Ultimus as part of the New Orleans Second Line. As a team, we had a strong start to the season, being undefeated for weeks. But then, the first loss came, and more followed. Straight wins, straight losses, with a giant question mark over the playoffs. Beating Austin was exciting, the first win in a while. But then came time to face the Orange County Otters, the other of our big rivals. That game had a lot of nerves beforehand, and being able to walk away with the win, knowing we were set not just to play in the Ultimus but to HOST the Ultimus game was so surreal. I was ecstatic, not for me, but for my GMs, TomHanks and Juosu, and the rest of the team that has worked to build NOLA to what it is today. Then came game time, and I was overjoyed to watch my little team win. Not just win, but win BIG. Getting to be in the locker room after the game was amazing as everyone celebrated the victory. Having a chance to bask in the feeling of being champions, and seeing the purple go up on the banner filled me with so much joy and is easily one of my happiest moments here so far.
