Dre, it comes with the Territory

[Reginald Rutledge]

Dre,

I have been marketing and promoting the game of miniature football for more than 35 years. I feel like I've got a Ph.D in Marketing the game. As a promoter of the game, you study the trends, perceptions, and the people. You put yourself in their position and ask yourself, "What would they like in the game?" Sometimes it's a hit and other times it's a miss. But one thing you don't do is compromise what you do! Kansas Bill may have hit on some thing about the MLK reference and so did Biglock. Sometimes guys rather not respond than be critical of you. Trust me, that happens to me ALL THE TIME!

But guys know your heart. I love what you do! You get me fired up! Good things happen because of your words. Sometimes people have no idea how one's words may affect what others do but it does!

There's an old saying about "Don't bite off the hand that feeds you". Nothing can be more true! In my company business, I've got guys who make decals for their customers of FF.COM players. These guys HATE MY GUTS, I tell ya! However, they hate me so much that they are willing to take that hate all the way to the bank in the form of a PAYPAL deposit or money order. Although I am affecting change in their economic life, they don't see it that way. They think that their vehicle for success rode strictly on their own ingenuity. They don't realize (or maybe they do) that the hand that fed them is the very same one they tell people they hate.

Similarly in terms of hyping, we just know that on June 22 weekend, the reason some of us may come is because of the hype you have done. Granted, we know the work s of Jimbo and Don. Don is my boy and he's elevated himself into Ambassador status. To me, that's the highest honor in this hobby. But it's the "peons" like you and myself that stoke the emotions of the masses.

You and I are the "Peons" that at the end of the day may go unnoticed. I know what you are trying to do but others may not. But if a person has stopped down to read your post, he will be entertained and he will be thought-provoked. That's a good thing.

One thing us "Peons" will need to continue to have is Thick-skin. Criticism comes with the territory. My wife and family have been verbally attacked. I have had racist comments uttered my way. I have had the NCAA and NFL sicked on me. I have even had people say "Reg overhypes the game"? Imagine that? I have had every reason to leave the game. It's kinda like the Mafia. Every time I try to get out, somebody or something pulls me back in! In a way you love it and hate it.

I for one, will be less entertained if you don't hype the game. Yeah, the reference to MLK was pretty interesting but I have said so many over the top things that now I am pleading "Old Age and I don't Give a Hoot"! Because if it stokes emotions and make people come out to the site and read (who would have never before), then that's a good thing. It drives business and drives interest.

So continue to be the "Peon" who stokes emotions because it gives us a reason to come back the next day and read something new, exciting and controversial about the game.

Reg

[mantaraydre]

Everyone, get off the martin luther king " BS " I EXPLAINED THAT KING HAD A DREAM AND SO DID BURGESS. " THAT'S THE ONLY REFERENCE. i DONT REMEMBER SEEING ANT BURGESS MARCHING ANYWHERE OR GIVING SPEECHES TO MILLIONS. I NEVER SAW ANT BURGESS HAVING WATER SPRAYED IN HIS FACE OR THE POLICE ARRESTING HIM. LAST TIME I CHECKED I NEVER SAW BURGESS OUT FIGHTING FOR EQUAL RIGHTS, THE PROBLEM WITH YOU GUY'S IS YOU HEAR ONE WORD OR NAME AND EVERYONE RUNS WITH IT.

ONCE AGAIN I SAID IT BECAUSE THEY BOTH HAD A DREAM. WE KNOW WHAT KING'S DREAM WAS AND BURGESS'S DREAM WS TO INVENT HIS OWN STYLE OF PLAY THAT TOOK SEVEN YEARS . (STOP FOCCUSING ON KINGS NAME AND FOCUS ON THAT FACT OF TWO SEPARATE DREAMS)

HOW ABOUT THE NEXT TIME I WRITE "MOVE OVER OSAMA BIN LADEN, YOU HAVE COMPANY" THEN ALL OF YOU GUY'S WOULD SAY "HEE HEE, DID YOU SEE WHAT DRE SAID ABOUT BURGESS" I REALLY THINK YOU DONT UNDERSTAND THE REFERENCE BECAUSE MOST ON THIS CHAT HATE BURGESS. I GUARENTEE IF THAT THREAD WAS ABOUT 'DON SMITH" EVERYONE WOULD HAVE REPLIED, OH, KING IS IN GREAT COMPANY. NOT A NEGATIVE WORD WOULD HAVE BEEN SAID.

I SEE WHY BURGESS BOUNCED FROM THIS CHAT BOARD

hey reg, this is not a lash out at you, i thought i was creating a new thread and realized it is a reply after the fact. Anyway, i have an idea to run past you in regards to the website.


mantaraydre

[Reginald Rutledge]

of what I say, not you.

I thought what you said drawing a comparison to MLK was interesting.

I know some of the things I say, people perceive as over the top. If I offended you by even remotely putting the two together, my bad.

I will just leave this subject alone. Obviously, I can not be of much help here.

Reg

[dallcow4life28]

Guys, this is electric football, this all sounds so petty to me. This sport--yeah I said sport--will go nowhere, if the greats of the game are bickering like this. I don't even know what was said, but I love the game and have for over 30 years.

Don't screw this thing up before it gets a real chance to blow up. I am gonna do my part to help this sport blow up nationally, but it's really hard to imagine all you grown men tripping off this stuff. Just my opinion--not hatin!!!!

[dallcow4life28]

Dont perpetuate it.