I’m standing at my kitchen sink, looking out the front window with a cup of black coffee. It’s the early morning, and the overnight temperature brought with it a fresh blanket of frost that covers the lawn. I’m thankful to be back in Vermont during the offseason, but in these quiet little hours before the day begins I have the time to ponder this last season; to think on what went wrong, but more importantly than that, what went right. I take a sip of the bitter liquid and sigh.
Most of all, I am thankful to be on the Minnesota Grey Ducks, and to have a good working relationship with the front office. I made it no secret that I was unhappy playing in the SLB position at the beginning of the season. My statistical output had fallen off a cliff from my rookie year when I was in that spot. Playing that position forced me to reconcile an ugly fact that I had not wanted to consider: I have below average speed and that is going to limit what I can do on the field. The middle linebacker position is where I thrive, and when I presented my case to the GMs of Minnesota, it only took a few weeks of playing out of my natural position before they listened to me and switched me back to the MLB spot I wanted to be in. CC and Jamar have my gratitude for listening to my wishes when they certainly didn’t have to.
I walk away from the window and take a seat at the kitchen counter. I pick up a team photo and smile--All us Ducks lined up in a row, all smiling. Behind Ryan Negs is Damian Blackfyre holding the peace sign behind his head, giving Negs bunny ears. I chuckle softly and consider how fortunate I am to be on a team with these players. Whether it’s game day, the offseason, or just practice, I’ve felt at home in the locker room. Blackfyre and I have become great friends on and off the field. I recognize that every season there is essentially a new team--new draftees, trades, and call-ups change the roster from season to season. There is a chance I could even be called up to the Butchers this season, but I’m not holding my breath, and that’s just fine with me. Minnesota is my home. I’m grateful to belong here.
But when I do make it up to the big leagues, to the ISFL proper, my departure from Minnesota will be bittersweet. While I will be leaving my old team behind, the culture of the Minnesota locker room will welcome me always with the mantra of: “Once a Duck, Always a Duck.” Also, Chicago is a team that is loaded with former Grey Ducks like myself, and so I’ll find myself immediately in good company when I do arrive. Other players might be lucky to have one or two former DSFL teammates on their ISFL team--I think I’ll have four, plus a gaggle of Ducks that came before me. It doesn’t get better than that, and I’m thankful to have landed in Chicago amongst friends.
Looking back at the photograph, I see Alejandro Chainbreaker next to me. It’s important as a young player, I think, to find your mentors; people you admire and look up to; people you respect. I remember being a S24 prospect before the DSFL draft and looking up the stat leaders on defense for the previous season. I saw Chainbreaker’s award winning performance the season before, and admired that right away before I even was a Grey Duck.
His mentorship my rookie season definitely helped me with my training, and I think helped me have such a strong rookie season. At times I felt like I was competing against him in a race to be the top linebacker. Iron sharpens iron, so they say. I’m not sure I’ll ever overtake him in terms of production, but if I don’t that’s okay too--I wish him nothing but all the success he can get. It remains to be seen whether or not he’ll be back to play another season for the Ducks, but he’s my brother and I’ll be happy to play next to him for as long as possible, hopefully solidifying us as the top DSFL linebacker tandem.
I pause my reminiscing to take a bite out of an oversized cinnamon bun and I take a moment to lick the sugary glaze off my fingers and have another gulp of coffee. The morning birds have begun their songs.
We made the postseason for the first time in my career this past season. I’m thankful for drafting Ryan Negs first overall. Despite his sometimes erratic play, no one can question his leadership in the locker room. The players on both the offense and the defense respect him, and I’m thinking that next season he’s going to be one of the best QBs in the entire DSFL. While I’m talking about the offense, I can’t go one without talking about Mike Rotchburns. When Jameson Vermillion was called up after the start of the season, many of us wondered what the new-look running game would be like. Rotchburns handled the primary back responsibility admirably up until we were able to pick up Xavier Creed on waivers. Any success we’ve found on offense has come when Rotchburns has been playing at a high level, and it is my sincere hope that he’ll be back in the Blue and Grey for next season.
My coffee cup is empty, and so I stand up and walk over to the french press by the sink and pour another cup. The coffee is cooler now, and I greedily take gulps of the bitter liquid.
Bitter. Like an enemy.
I think that if we’re talking about what we’re thankful for, I have to say I am thankful for the Dallas Birddogs for playing the role of our antagonist this season. This is by no means a slight at them, in fact, I have many friends and people I respect from the Birddogs squad, but in a long season it is good to have a bit of drama and spice to keep things entertaining. That’s the business we’re in: Sports Entertainment. I hope that we continue this rivalry into next season, but that either side doesn’t get carried away in ad hominem attacks or take the twitter-beef too far. This is still a game, after all.
I glance at the clock on the wall: 5:30am. It’s time to get back into the gym to resume training for the coming season, to build up myself for my eventual ISFL debut. Above all else, I’m thankful I had the opportunity to play in the DSFL, that this league welcomed me, and I’m very much looking forward to the next chapter of my simulated football legacy.
Give thanks; be grateful.
(1157 words)
Most of all, I am thankful to be on the Minnesota Grey Ducks, and to have a good working relationship with the front office. I made it no secret that I was unhappy playing in the SLB position at the beginning of the season. My statistical output had fallen off a cliff from my rookie year when I was in that spot. Playing that position forced me to reconcile an ugly fact that I had not wanted to consider: I have below average speed and that is going to limit what I can do on the field. The middle linebacker position is where I thrive, and when I presented my case to the GMs of Minnesota, it only took a few weeks of playing out of my natural position before they listened to me and switched me back to the MLB spot I wanted to be in. CC and Jamar have my gratitude for listening to my wishes when they certainly didn’t have to.
I walk away from the window and take a seat at the kitchen counter. I pick up a team photo and smile--All us Ducks lined up in a row, all smiling. Behind Ryan Negs is Damian Blackfyre holding the peace sign behind his head, giving Negs bunny ears. I chuckle softly and consider how fortunate I am to be on a team with these players. Whether it’s game day, the offseason, or just practice, I’ve felt at home in the locker room. Blackfyre and I have become great friends on and off the field. I recognize that every season there is essentially a new team--new draftees, trades, and call-ups change the roster from season to season. There is a chance I could even be called up to the Butchers this season, but I’m not holding my breath, and that’s just fine with me. Minnesota is my home. I’m grateful to belong here.
But when I do make it up to the big leagues, to the ISFL proper, my departure from Minnesota will be bittersweet. While I will be leaving my old team behind, the culture of the Minnesota locker room will welcome me always with the mantra of: “Once a Duck, Always a Duck.” Also, Chicago is a team that is loaded with former Grey Ducks like myself, and so I’ll find myself immediately in good company when I do arrive. Other players might be lucky to have one or two former DSFL teammates on their ISFL team--I think I’ll have four, plus a gaggle of Ducks that came before me. It doesn’t get better than that, and I’m thankful to have landed in Chicago amongst friends.
Looking back at the photograph, I see Alejandro Chainbreaker next to me. It’s important as a young player, I think, to find your mentors; people you admire and look up to; people you respect. I remember being a S24 prospect before the DSFL draft and looking up the stat leaders on defense for the previous season. I saw Chainbreaker’s award winning performance the season before, and admired that right away before I even was a Grey Duck.
His mentorship my rookie season definitely helped me with my training, and I think helped me have such a strong rookie season. At times I felt like I was competing against him in a race to be the top linebacker. Iron sharpens iron, so they say. I’m not sure I’ll ever overtake him in terms of production, but if I don’t that’s okay too--I wish him nothing but all the success he can get. It remains to be seen whether or not he’ll be back to play another season for the Ducks, but he’s my brother and I’ll be happy to play next to him for as long as possible, hopefully solidifying us as the top DSFL linebacker tandem.
I pause my reminiscing to take a bite out of an oversized cinnamon bun and I take a moment to lick the sugary glaze off my fingers and have another gulp of coffee. The morning birds have begun their songs.
We made the postseason for the first time in my career this past season. I’m thankful for drafting Ryan Negs first overall. Despite his sometimes erratic play, no one can question his leadership in the locker room. The players on both the offense and the defense respect him, and I’m thinking that next season he’s going to be one of the best QBs in the entire DSFL. While I’m talking about the offense, I can’t go one without talking about Mike Rotchburns. When Jameson Vermillion was called up after the start of the season, many of us wondered what the new-look running game would be like. Rotchburns handled the primary back responsibility admirably up until we were able to pick up Xavier Creed on waivers. Any success we’ve found on offense has come when Rotchburns has been playing at a high level, and it is my sincere hope that he’ll be back in the Blue and Grey for next season.
My coffee cup is empty, and so I stand up and walk over to the french press by the sink and pour another cup. The coffee is cooler now, and I greedily take gulps of the bitter liquid.
Bitter. Like an enemy.
I think that if we’re talking about what we’re thankful for, I have to say I am thankful for the Dallas Birddogs for playing the role of our antagonist this season. This is by no means a slight at them, in fact, I have many friends and people I respect from the Birddogs squad, but in a long season it is good to have a bit of drama and spice to keep things entertaining. That’s the business we’re in: Sports Entertainment. I hope that we continue this rivalry into next season, but that either side doesn’t get carried away in ad hominem attacks or take the twitter-beef too far. This is still a game, after all.
I glance at the clock on the wall: 5:30am. It’s time to get back into the gym to resume training for the coming season, to build up myself for my eventual ISFL debut. Above all else, I’m thankful I had the opportunity to play in the DSFL, that this league welcomed me, and I’m very much looking forward to the next chapter of my simulated football legacy.
Give thanks; be grateful.
(1157 words)
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