Simply for the Love of the Game

[Reginald Rutledge]

DISCLAIMER: Feel free not to read this rhetoric if I am not one of your favorite people in the world!!!

Now that I am about to go back into a world of solitaire, I am sitting here customizing some players that I know will be superstars. You know, the Barry Sanders, Emmitt Smiths, OJs, Paytons, Jim Browns and Dickersons of the world. The guys that created the foundation of what the NFL is today. Just looking at some of those players make me think of guys who I use to hang out with and talk about the game of miniature football with, the guys who had a major impact in the game but are no longer around.

One of the things I am big on is history and appreciation of the game. Many of you never knew much of these guys or their contributions to the game. Some are still around but have lost interest, have been silenced, or just have subjugated to the new crowd of miniature footballers.

We all thought at one time or another, we were alone. I knew I had my league back in Tennessee that anytime I wanted to really play, I could go back home and play under what many now define as the Shootout system. Yeah, we still take great pride in the fact that the system has endured the test of time. Even the stat sheet from my youth is being used today in our leagues. I never thought I would stay around this long.

Through my years in engineering at Tennessee and my years of engineering at Texas, I still remained passionate about the game. It was Dan Fouts and Air Coryell that took my awareness to a different level. But it was those years of understanding the forward pass and what Joiner, Jefferson, and Winslow could do that opened my mind to how the game could be played, even on a miniature level.

As the years past, I became older, became an engineer responsible for the development of the cellphone, got married, but still remained "a baller". In '84, I found Landsman (Miggle) and showed him my stadium. Too much happened there, but we did a few shows together. I found myself galavanting around the Midwest where I became friends with Frank Johnson, Jim Jackson, Dirk Thomas, Joyce Rogers, Jon Thomas, Annette Jackson, Chuck Jones, Edgar Downs, Terry Anderson, Tim Riley and a few others. We did much barnstorming back in those days trying to help Miggle get this thing really rolling. I would roll up to Chicago at a minute's notice if I knew it would help the game. I found myself at Packer fundraisers, at the John Mackey awards were you hobknobbed with Walter Payton, Jim McMahon, Ditka, and my idol John Mackey. We wanted this thing to work!!! Simply for the love of the game!

So much was sacrificed by me, my wife, and my two babies for the game. I always tell my kids, "What you do today affect so many people in the years to come". My kids would be in my van watching movies as we put in thousands of miles across the landscape of America. My wife, Rose would follow along with her husband, hoping for the best for a game that all she knew was this was a passion of her husband. Never a complaint from her, she was (and still is) that perfect MF wife. A woman who can explain a "bubble screen" in a second and then explain the financial analysis of supply-side economics.

Not only did we sacrificed, but my 'Boys sacrificed like Jim Jackson who lost his wife, Annette to cancer, a few years back. I wish some of you could have met this woman. We all loved Annette. She was a good coach who loved being in the group. She had no problem making the travel. Whatever we had to do to move the game forward, she would do along with her husband Jim. Then there was Jon Thomas. I remember Jon Thomas and Jim Davis playing a game of football in Chicago. They got into an argument over a D A M N pass. Who would have thought many years later Jim Davis and I would become great friends. Yeah, Jon Thomas was my boy too. We'd tell each other we love each other. His wife and my wife loved being around each other. Simply for the love of the game!! He'd come to Texas and stay at my house. He loved coming here! Some years later, Jon fell out and died. I had not talked with him in about a half year and I called his girl. She told me. I was devastated. This guy sacrificed much, for simply the love of the game.

I remember in 1995, I wanted to start up the Texas Shootout. At that time, we had been having "Training Camps" in the Midwest, trying to teach people the style of play. At that time, the internet was not online. Al Gore had not invented the internet at this time!!!

My good friend, Dirk Thomas and I were talking on the phone. I told him, "Dirk, I want to have a tournament and I need to come up with a weight standard". Dirk said, "Reg, I've got a balance scale to my surprise". I told him "Take the Haiti blocker and the brown TTC base and weigh it" He said, "It's 3.2 grams". Thus, that was the first ever weight standard established. I remember the time and place like yesterday. We were making standards right over the telephone from Arlington to Akron! Because we had no way to reach people because Gore had not established the internet , I sent correspondence to anyone I knew who had an interest in electric football.

We were fortunate to get 30 people to come to Texas for our first Texas Shootout. It did two things. First, it was the first tournament other than Miggle but it was the genesis of the DFW League. Throughout the years, I did so much for the DFW League, words can not even explain. I've been blamed for coaches getting cancer to healing the dead. I wish I had those powers for I have none. But so much has been asked of me in those years. Last year would be my last in the DFW as I wish that league well.

But Dirk, one of my closest friends in the game, would lose a battle with cancer. I think Dirk and I use to talk every day or close to that. When Dirk and I first began hanging out, he could not hit the broad side of a barn. Year 2 of the Shootout, he walked away with the trophy because he had developed the ability to throw the ball (with accuracy). Y'all would have loved this man. He was a simple man but rich in so many ways. Dirk and Joyce would travel everywhere to promote the game, simply for the love of the game.

Then there was "The Professor", Frank Johnson. Frank and I go back 16 years and I knew he would be an instant friend of mine. Frank has done so much to promote the game as well. I have seen him through hard times and some good times. I always gave him great support and vice versa. But the great thing about Frank is that when you said. "Frank, we've got something happening in Green Bay", he would say "Just tell me the dates". Now this is from a guy who marriage was suffering. These are stories that need to be told so one day, when y'all see a guy like this, you can properly thank him. Frank would go to the ends of the earth to promote the game. Even now, all it took was him and I talking for about 10 minutes and he's coming to Canton to help me. Frank was the "Original Road Warrior". He helped develop the DFW Road Warrior package, traveling to Texas and living with me and playing. I've seen him through the death of his parents as well as other things. He's always been right there, simply for the love of the game.

There's a few people in this game truly know me and one is Joyce Rogers. When she lost Dirk, it took a big part of her. For they were as close as Rose and I. You never saw one without the other. Joyce was the "brains" behind the Cardinal machine. But Joyce was no doubt, her own entity. Joyce loves the game and grew to love it from being with Dirk. But Joyce was more of a "people-person". She love just being around the people. We've watched her kids grow up and her grandkids are growing up. She ran leagues from her house in Akron. She was definitely a lady who sacrificed much, simply for the love of the game.

Guys like Doc Smeby, Mike Turner, and others were just as important to me and the game itself. Unfortunately, Doc passed away too. But his contributions were just as great trying to spread the game across the waters. We would talk strategy from time-to-time but you could always hear that genuine love for the game. Mike Turner, another good friend from Vegas, was one of those who gave the game great support. No matter where it was, he would figure out a way to get there. Everyone knows Mike but few are as respected as he is. I think of him as a living legend in the game. You see, to me, it's not about the wins and losses but more about your contributions outside of the gridiron. You can be the greatest coach in the world but that means nothing if you don't give back to the game by teaching somebody or acting in a selfless manner. Turner has done this many times. Sometimes, guys need to hear that. Their body of work may not be as concrete as yours but you know from an abstract sense, it was just as vital - simply for the love of the game.

There are so many guys and gals (men and women) who have done much for the game that others now ride the coattails on. They have no idea what sacrifices these people made just to get the game to this level. I had a talk with a good friend of mine saying how someone portrayed me as "A self-serving A-Hole" or something to that effect. Totally misunderstood for what I do, but my wife often ask people to ponder, "If my husband is what you say he is, why does he do so much for the game?"

Any MF manufacturere will tell you, there's no money in this hobby. Especially if you were one of the ones who built it to this point like a Coleco, Munro, Miggle, SIW or FF.Net. We did what we did for the love of the game. Between all of us, we've taken hits, criticism, and everything else. But you continue to do for the game because it is not just about trying to make a buck, but because you love the game.

So guys, remember when you feel you need not support these companies, just remember the sacrifices they have made so other people are able to sell their things and talk about the game. Remember that my story is not uncommon just to me, but to countless others who paved the way in a selfless manner. All of these people/entities did this "Simply for the Love of the Game"

Reg

[jimmie]

very moving Reggie indeed.I believe a lot of passion was in us at that time.I love the game it was good to know that my old friend electric football was still around and was loved.Thats what moved me,this game that meant so much to me during my childhood, had meant so much to others as well.We instantly bonded because we knew we felt the same way.The magic between us so real that driving arcoss the country was no problem.Since thier was no internet the phone was our tool of commucation and we ran our bills up sky high (till Reggie give us phone cards because he worked for MCI)The national coaches assocation was what I was pitching 15 years ago because we felt that we should come together for the love of the game.My wife loved football and this hobby,she had passion about her game.I remember one covention we were in the hotel room playing and Jon Thomas said awe that so cute so knows how to set her men up.Then she said want to play?? he said sure lets play three and out,Annette agreed.Jon went first and was out in 6 plays so Annette took over on downs and ran the ball down his throat he was so through when she scored he picked up his men and left the room so funny!!My passion has never been the same since those days Reg with the polticial seen today is thier still love of the game??More about ego to me, thats how I know I have retired to solitare and I am at peace with it, just comes a time to move on.Thanks for that memory Reg love you for it!!

[the mellow canary]

touch Reggie, I was moved.
Good Luck tomorrow in that game.
Thanks
Sean

[Treks1]

Jimmy I have heard a lot about Annette..... and what a wonderful woman she is......

[jimmie]

She was indeed the best friend I `d ever had I miss her much.She would have loved to see how far this hobby had come.

[sweetka]

They say there are angels walking among us! No doubt she was one the angels!