[Reginald Rutledge]

I got off the phone yesterday with Chris LeMay (effannatic) and I don't think in the eight years I have known Chris, we have really had a long conversation of any sort. But all MF/EF'ers are the same - "The love the game". Chris is no different. I guess it was a "clearing of the air" sort of thing as I know he had questions about intentions of creating a solitaire coaches association.

Heck, I think half the battle of anything is just talking to people. Sometimes you're really not feeling it and other times, it just takes time. We all make mistakes and to "err is human, forgiveness is divine". But it was not that deep. Chris and I share a similar passion for the game and somewhere in that conversation, we got to talking about just the creative aspects of the game - from a solitaire perspective.

Of course, the "old wheels" in my head was spinning as I sat there listening to Chris's words and I began to think about the freedom of playing solitaire in that you can do so many things alone that you probably will be challenged on playing in a league. This is from a person who founded the DFW, the Texas Shootout, Training Camp sessions in the Midwest, was a consultant for the BAM in its founding days, and started the CBSMF. I know the challenges of getting everyone to buy into an idea for the good of a league. Obviously, you will be met with strong resistance in many instances. This can not only be defeating but unfortunate for the league. The reason being is that if it works, everyone wins even if they do not realize it!

In the solitaire world, there are no resistance. What you've always wanted to do can now be done without any arguments. I have had numerous coaches ask me to be a part of leagues now (and I am most appreciative of that) but I've got my loyalties to the BAM, getting my new Commissioner of the CBSMF (Greg Hardmon) fully engaged, and creating "The NFL Greatest Teams Solitaire League". I have decided after 16 years no more league stuff as I do not want to inhibit league mates with my belief. I've got an obligation to help grow the BAM league and finish getting the CBSMF to a point. But I love knowing that I have this one league where everything I wanted to do in the game can now be done. Many things will not be shown to the public. But every once in a while, I will televise games with great capability and energy.

I know everybody does not get into the game like I do. I remember that was one of the "beefs" that some coaches in my home league had is that I wanted all the pagentry of a real game and they just wanted to play. I never meant to inhibit those coaches, just to help them recruit. I know by doing many of the things that I do in the game, it lends credibility to the game in that when national media drops by your house to film what's going on, seeing a miniature version of reality quickly makes them lose that "humorous thinking" and respect what you are doing. For me, I get two things done: (1) squash the myths and, (2) Recruit more people to a league. The myth we all know but the free advertisement you can't beat!

So now I take all of what I know into a private world and trust me guys, I am loving and enjoying this! I never had my own teams. Now I am creating those teams and getting a lot of satisfaction out of it. I've got my own TV network with Footballfigure.net Broadcast Network. I will go to great lengths to make it look good! I can now play on snow, in stadiums, with my players having sound chips, creative players who leap off the ground and with wires, at any time of the day or night. There are so many things that I thought I could do for the good of the game (in league play) that I know I can do playing alone.

I've got a major story coming with a newspaper in Knoxville, Tennessee called the Knoxville Sentinel about what I do. They saw my model stadium and immediately wanted to write a story about what I do. These stories are waiting to happen all over the country but having the write look helps a lot!

So doing creative things from the solitaire perspective can only help your experience in the game and maybe open doors. I know I am fully energize to play this way now and fully engaged in having simply one thing - FUN!

So look for some great storylines in the world of solitaire as I encourage all my solitaire brothers to do the same!

Reg