The Rhetoric Hasn't Changed:Predictable Am I

[Reginald Rutledge]

About 15-16 years ago, when Miggle launched it website, guys like Biglock told me he copied everything that I wrote. He even put it in a binder just as a source of information. Back then, I was talking about the Texas Shootout, the development of 3.2 gram weight scale, creating an association, my favorite college team (Tennessee Vols) and the need for a college league or tournament, revenue sharing, television, marketing of the game, technology and innovations, and a plethora of other things.

It's like I've been suspended in time for those years. So many people have come and gone. I've watched good friends die, get married, lose their family, and graduate from colleges. I've seen young boys turn into good young men. I've seen so many factions in the game. I remember when I first discussed "The Box" on the Miggle site and the criticism that came with that. So many could not understand why I would want to bring luck into the game. Now, many of those same people are playing in the college league.

I remember the arguments on 4.0 grams and the many leagues that ban my products. I remember the boil base era and guys taking potshots at my wife and family because someone won a tournament and their player did not. I have been blamed for so much in the game that it would have been enough to drive the average guy away. If I would have done half the stuff that others had done in this game, trust me, I would have been crucified on these chatboards. "Reggie Bashing" would have reached fever pitch!

In retrospect, I am happy I stayed true to my convictions. I am happy I stayed the course and continued to try to stay on the leading edge. I've been in so many un-necessary battles for the good of the game. It is good to look back at the years and see the development of the LAEFL, the Alamo EFL, the DFW, the LVEFL, the BAM, the SFLOC, the CBSMF, the Texas Shootout, and the NFFL. A few of the people in these leagues bought into what I was preaching and took it back to the masses and most of these leagues are thriving for it. I don't have a magic bullet or anything but I do want to see the game progress on after I leave. I definitely am no one special, just a guy who put major work in doing good for many in the game.

The rhetoric hadn't changed. So predictable am I as I sit here and look at some papers from an EFLer from Chicago who wrote me about some things I said 15 years ago online. Thanks to many of you who joined me in some of these leagues and envisioned some of the things I was talking about 15-16 years ago. Some of those things seem to have come true!!!

Reginald Rutledge