Being Moved to Play the Game

[Reginald Rutledge]

I probably sleep less than your average person, getting sometimes less than 3 hours of sleep. I sometimes don't even go to sleep. This dates back to my early childhood. I always felt if I can't sleep, I need to be trying to invent something! So many things from robots to fuel efficient cars to cellular telephones to miniature football, I've have been a part of patent teams or dabbled in from time to time.

But in spite of being apart of technological breakthroughs like the cellular phone, nothing moves me more than miniature football. I remember when I use to work as an engineer. We talked shop in the morning. Shop at lunch. Shop in the evening. And even shop after hours. For me, it became a "beating"! While I would never disrespect the greatness of my former profession, I would space out at lunchtime when co-workers wanted to go out and discuss the latest software upgrades on the new generation cellphones! I use to think to myself, "********, I wish I was playing some EFL!"

That part of my identity, the passionate football coach, had to stay under wraps because I knew the pressures of having a family, home, and car payment meant. It still does mean that today. But sometimes, to "release" from the pressures of the day, a simple walk into my miniature football world playing games and building stadiums gave me the encouragement to make it another day in the "geeky-world" of technology.

I would be moved by the simple viewing of other people's work, or a picture in the magazine with an old football field, or thought that someone else shared this hidden love like I did. Today, I am still moved by what I see in the game. It does your heart good that guys will stop over at your house on a Sunday afternoon and a 10 minute conversation turns into a 2 hour free for all! It's good to have guys like "The Cuban Assassin" Robert Don come into your league. He brings passion to the league. Guys love this crazy guy and he stokes you up!

You talk to Mozeek, which a 3 minute conversation, ends up 3 hours. Our wives think we're little kids because we are laughing like young punk kids. Discussing anything from mercenary teams to gettin' the BAM rolling. His energy keeps you going and he don't even know it.

You go online and see one of the guys your little girl ask about the most, Weirdwolf is joining the league. That does you good and your hype level goes back up! Then Kevin Boddie, your right hand man, calls and we talk about functionality of DLs in the 3-pt. stance versus standup DLinemen. A 2 minute conversation becomes an hour conversation.

Late night, you get to talk to your brother from another mother, Joel P and his wife Foy, introduces herself to you. Some of the barbs exchange between her and I would have had to be "bleeped out". Now she wants me to move to South Carolina to be close to Joel! Her and I talk about everything from making bases to why Clemson is pronounced "Clemp-son". I feel like I have known her all my life! She moves you to play the game because she encourages her husband to play. Not many wives are that supportive.

Then I talk to Don "Old School" Smith and he's re-doing your Cowboys. You hear the passion in his voice. He's like a kid in a candy store! Don wants to stay on the line for an hour and you know that you have to go study! However his energy rubs off on you and you want to hear what he's talking about. He talks of his new found interest in customizing thanks to guys like Michigan Joe, who has moved "Old School" to really explore customizing with FF.COM figures.

Then you see guys online at 3:00 am perusing the chatboard. Guys like Joe Greco, John Rowan, Darrian Ross, and Chris LeMay. You know these guys are lifers. Miniature football fanatics who at every chance, will see what's going on on these chatboards. Then you read your 'lil brother, Biglock's post of thanks and it moves you. You're grateful for the words of kindness but he doesn't know, his words move you to keep on keeping on!

And then you go to bed at the end of the day and your wife is willing to give you her 2 cents on Marion Barber and Pacman Jones. And just think, this has been a constant for many years, too many to remember! Such is the life of a miniature footballer. It's never a bad time to talk about the game and most of all, be moved by the game.


Reg
Reg