Admin (Now with new and improved poll)

[croweater 41]

Oh yeah, I voted for myself because I've got a helluva lot of time to put into this league and I'm glad to give up a bit to do it.

Also, I'd be excellent, because I'd have to be.

I hope the other nominees do the same. This isn't a position to be humble in (kudos, croweater 41).

Mine was sympathy for myself. If I don't love me than who will

 

[DemonJim]

croweater 41 ... because he's much better than ClarkeM

 

[ClarkeM]

croweater 41 ... because he's much better than ClarkeM

Agreed

 

[Broken]

I'm glad I'm not choosing (and I'm sure the candidates are glad of that too) but I'd hold a lot of stake in 5 things - Passion for the league, Record of doing things for the league, If they have the best interests of the league at heart, diplomacy and approachability.

boncer34
Being the incumbent he has the runs on the board as far as doing things for the league and having the best interests of the Sweet FA at heart. Stepping down could indicate a lack of passion. I think he's improved in the diplomacy area and that's made him more approachable in my eyes.

ClarkeM
Serious or not, he's an option here. Doing things for the league can't be questioned given the time he spends on the podcasts. Another thing that maybe doesn't capture the attention is he is quite prevalent in the archives area of the SFA and has done, or driven, a lot of things there. Passion for the SFA seemed to be lacking in recent seasons, but looks like it's back. I feel he has the best interest of the league at heart in that he'd make decisions for the best of the league. Seems more diplomatic this season, notably with his podcast feedback and is not as angry as last season. The confronting side of ClarkeM may scare of some people approaching him, but given his handling of the podcast I feel that if Admin he'd become more approachable.

Croweater41
Not much to say here sorry crowey. I haven't noticed much contributions league wise and he appears happy to be a part of the Sweet FA. Approachable given that he comes across as pretty laid back about it all.

Juggalo Balla
The moral compass of the SFA perhaps. I believe he has a passion for the way people interact around here and a passion for the league given his input across many topics, but seems more willing to make suggestions over stepping in as I haven't seen a Juggalo initiative (well one that stands out). Red flags are the Demons, and Hawks, fallout which could make it hard for him to be taken seriously as an Admin. Doesn't have a great track record of being diplomatic in the heat of the moment, but I think he'd be easy to approach if the need arose.

okeydoke7
No question of passion as I doubt he'd be here without it. Has done a lot of memorable things across the league but, given he's a self professed egotist, one could wonder was it only to have his name in the spotlight? The only thing in the way of league operations he did this season (his Round 4 match writeup) was initially "Preview to come". The salary cap possibility raises questions of best interests. Could improve in diplomacy as he rarely takes a backward step (and watch as he picks this apart ). Has support for the role so will be approachable, but I'd have his gift to make information public in the back of my mind when doing so.

pantskyle
I'm sure he has a passion for the league given his activity across the board, but I cannot recall anything by pants that has been done for the betterment of the league which makes it hard to say what he wants from the league or what he will do as Admin.
A polarising poster I'm not sure if some would find him approachable and he could be lot more diplomatic going by the frequent battles he wages in the threads.

The Filth Wizard
Surprise candidate perhaps. Hard to gauge his passion for the league given this is only his 2nd season in the SFA, but showed he was willing to give up something for the job, which makes me think he's serious about the admin role. Not much on his CV as far as doing things for the league however. He is measured in his responses and seems approachable. The big question is lack of time in the SFA.

The Jet
Has been red flagged during this season and has burned many SFA bridges. You don't want an Admin getting suspended and would not be taken seriously as an Admin.

So...Passion/TrackRecord/BestInterests/Diplomacy/Approachability
ClarkeM : +/+/+/~/~
Juggalo : +/-/-/-/~
okeydoke7 : +/+/~/-/+
pantskyle : +/-/-/-/~
TheFilthWizard : +/-/~/+/+

+ = Plus, ~= Half/Half - = Minus

Not considered : Croweater41, The Jet, boncer34

 

[Marlowe]

croweater 41 ... because he's much better than ClarkeM

This time, he's the lesser of two evils.

 

[pantskyle]

Broken you seem to have forgotten about the pants party.

 

[Papa Juggs]

My initiative is not to do anything without a consensus of the entire league not just a few captains signatures.

boncer34 I don't want to get into an argument with you here. I might have had disagreements with some things in the past but that doesn't mean I want to drag everything up right now and have a fight over it. What's done is done and you did a great job making decisions under the pump. Your faithful service to this league is fully recognised by myself. When you announced you were stepping down I paid you respect rather than making a joke because I really do think you've put your heart and soul into the job you've done and have learnt to put your ego aside which for a guy like you might have been difficult. I look up to you and I really admire the way you've handled yourself.

 

[The Filth Wizard]

The Filth Wizard
Surprise candidate perhaps. Hard to gauge his passion for the league given this is only his 2nd season in the SFA, but showed he was willing to give up something for the job, which makes me think he's serious about the admin role. Not much on his CV as far as doing things for the league however. He is measured in his responses and seems approachable. The big question is lack of time in the SFA.

That whole post (the original unquoted one) shows why you're so highly regarded, Broken. I can understand your viewpoint on my application in particular but in regards to the bolded I would like to point out I am the current Dragons VC and announced co-Captain for S18, Co-Captain for NSW/ACT in the last SOO, I have appeared on a podcast, I post a (mostly) weekly media article/10,000 word essay (the criminally under-read 'The Filth and his Fury') and I am also a weekly contributor to the Flogcutter awards. I also posted the match threads for Rd 17. I'm not too sure what else I could do for the league to be honest this season.

It is the underlined final sentence that is the most pertinent though. Yes, I've only been in the league for two seasons (three, technically, as I popped up before the finals in S15 unaffiliated) and I understand that is the aspect that weighs against me. However (stepping away from the SFA for a second) I've been a prominent poster on BF for seven years and a moderator for five. I've previously made the comparison to David Gallop in the FFA, an administrator in one organisation (NRL-North Board) making the jump to another field (FFA-SFA) and making it a successful transition, except in this case I've got a deep understanding of the wheels of the SFA and I doubt Gallop had kicked a soccerball beforehand. One advantage I may have is I'd have a fresher perspective, a fresher view of the league and perhaps fresher ideas than my fellow applicants. It's also relevant that Bonce has said he will be overseeing the S18 admin transition anyway so I'm not jumping into the deep end by applying.

 

[boncer34]

Good luck getting the 200-odd people registered to play the game to come up with a consensus when we can't even have a consensus between less then a tenth of that number.

 

[pantskyle]

Broken 4 admin.

 

[Broken]

Broken 4 admin.

Me being named Admin would be like a mule with a spinning wheel. No one knows how he got it, and danged if I know what to do with it.

 

[pantskyle]

Me being named Admin would be like a mule with a spinning wheel. No one knows how he got it, and danged if I know what to do with it.

We could team up.

 

[The Filth Wizard]

We could team up.

Please tell me that image I can't see is Magnet Crotch and Iron Face.

 

[DemonJim]

My initiative is not to do anything without a consensus of the entire league not just a few captains signatures.

boncer34 I don't want to get into an argument with you here. I might have had disagreements with some things in the past but that doesn't mean I want to drag everything up right now and have a fight over it. What's done is done and you did a great job making decisions under the pump. Your faithful service to this league is fully recognised by myself. When you announced you were stepping down I paid you respect rather than making a joke because I really do think you've put your heart and soul into the job you've done and have learnt to put your ego aside which for a guy like you might have been difficult. I look up to you and I really admire the way you've handled yourself.

Dude... The Captains represent their players.

Just like your local members "apparently" represent the people in their area.
It is not practical to do what you suggest. To think otherwise is to show how little you know... or how much the sun has affected you.

 

[Papa Juggs]

Good luck getting the 200-odd people registered to play the game to come up with a consensus when we can't even have a consensus between less then a tenth of that number.

Where you see adversity I see a mountain that can be climbed.

I like to dream big.

 

[okeydoke7]

Good summary, Broken. I have mostly refrained from commenting too much, given it has been a private process. But this poll brings a public element so I suppose I will respond to a few concerns and also use the opportunity to quickly outline my philosophy on the position.

PART 1: directly regarding Broken's write-up and its judgement on me...I think it probably represented the perceived strengths/weaknesses as the league would see them. The one area I would query would be "best interests" as compared to track record. In terms of contribution to "league operations" I don't think the write-ups to one match thread is all I have done, personally (noting that you seem only to take this season into account when deeming best interests of the league). I think my media thread is a good summation of a body of works that are in the best interests of the league. Running a season long QOOTY only voting process (which needs to be finished next week) as well as the weekly "I LIKE THAT" QOOTY performance of the round also contributes. My appearance on the initial podcasts along with 2 thereafter. Co-captain of one of the 10 clubs. Input in committee discussions and decisions. Mammoth interviews with Boncer and Mobbs when they were made the SFA's first HoF Legends. Even the salary cap thread, which raised questions for you over the best interests column, is an example of having the best interests in mind. Essentially, it's something I thought could enhance the enjoyment of the league for some, and we created an argument for it along with mock salaries to get the discussion going. Because you didn't agree with the idea doesn't mean it wasn't in the best interests. We got a lot of support for that idea. But it's not something that I will influence if made admin, it was just an idea to get the discussion going (more on that later). I've always speculated on the best interests of the league and shared my view with regards to expansion, league rules etc. RE diplomacy, very hard thing to measure. The only real measure would be how somebody conducts themselves within the committee, within their own club leadership etc. The arguments that people have on the boards (not backing down, etc etc) aren't really "diplomatic relations" they are just exchanges where a couple of people (or, their personas) go at each other. My self-proclaimed ego is all part of the gig. I enjoy the SFA and have never lied about being altruistic. I'm here because I enjoy it. I enjoy getting a good position on the field and kicking goals. I couldn't express interest for the admin position for the purpose of ego, because it is a voluntary time-consuming position where the majority of work is done behind the scenes. If anything, it would limit my ability to publicly contribute. Further, it would open me up to much more criticism. I don't mind, i've been around long enough to understand that that would come. I've loved this league for ages and feel like I can successfully facilitate the league so that everyone else can continue to enjoy the league as much as I have. Overall, your summary reflects the existing perceptions, and I agree with your overall judgement. The only part I took offence to was the suggestion that though I am approachable, I do have a habit of making information public and people need to be careful of that. If you can find one person in this league who has approached me with an issue privately only for me to make it public, I will withdraw from this process immediately. I make things public because it is bloody interesting and generates discussion. But I don't break rules when doing so. I get information from the right people and people are always clear when we are on/off record.

SOOOOO this is a long post.

PART 2: There are some really good candidates for the job, many of whom would do a more than capable job. There are also, potentially, some that have expressed interest in private. There's no use coming out and attacking other candidates, as those that have volunteered for the role clearly show the passion for the league that Broken speaks about. So just quickly, here is a quick summary of my thoughts.

-The role of admin is quite different from the role of a poster. IMO, the role of admin is mainly as a facilitator. I certainly wouldn't come in with the idea of making sweeping changes. The admin should be there to facilitate the discussion, set the framework for each season, ensure the league is running smoothly and deal with issues as they arise.

-RE decision making, it seems there are some differences among the candidates. I like the theory of involving the wider league, but understand that it is impossible to generate consensus among such an opinionated bunch of posters. I like the committee process and would plan on utilising the committee. The ideal process would still involve the wider league. In the case of an issue arising, each club has a vote. It is the responsibility of the captain (or representative) to consult their club (or club leaders) so that their vote accurately represents their team's wishes. Where possible, it would be good to take public submissions (EG - let's say committee were voting on the future of the pre-season comp, it would be good to allow wider SFA the chance to have input on different formats, then allow the committee to vote on these). Some posters outside of the committee come up with some brilliant ideas, and i'm not foolish enough to think that only those within the committee care about the direction of the league. Note also that the committee isn't some secret society. I'd aim to be really open about what issues we are discussing and the outcomes. Club captains play a huge role in keeping their team advised so that each SFA poster has a voice also.

-Note that the admin position is not one where agendas should be pushed. For example, the salary cap. The admin position, in my mind, is not one where someone can come in and say "this is for the best of the league so we are doing it." The position, as mentioned, is more of a facilitator. Each person will have different opinions, so the position is most certainly not a chance to begin a dictatorship.

-I would stand down from any captaincy position if made admin.

-Expansion: I am pro-expansion. I have written before that I believe expansion is good, even in the cases where some existing teams are hurt a little. What I mean by that is tat even the weakest SFA clubs are quite strong. None are in actual danger of folding. Expansion brings new players to the game and forces existing clubs to replenish their own stocks by looking outside of the league also. Spreading the talent means that posters get better positions and are more prominent within their clubs, giving us more chance to convert the "sometimes" posters into genuine SFA stars. Match threads can become easier to follow with a little less clutter, also. Of course, the expansion bids would have to prove that they are viable. But overall, the growth of the game is important. Why? Because i'd love to see more and more posters enjoying this league like I have.

-Experience - I've been here a fair while and have been on the receiving end and the giving end of many exchanges. I have witnessed many controversies, many different issues and many different outcomes. I've been involved in leading clubs, i've been involved in the committee and i've been involved in some behind the scenes negotiations (Peterss style). In other words, I understand how the SFA works and why the role of admin is so different to the "posting persona."

-Game philosophy - Really simple. We are here to have fun. All the banter and "rivalries" around the league should be switched completely off outside of it. It's not rocket science. We all have these personas and different posting styles. Anyone that holds genuine grudges that carry on outside of the league needs to get a grip on reality. Obviously, ruled need to be adhered to. But the number 1 rule is simple. What happens in the SFA stays within the SFA, and all comments are directed at persona rather than person.

All in all, I know I can do a good job of it. I am well placed in RL in terms of availability, interest and skill set. I also know that a lot of other applicants would do an equally good job. I'm really happy to see so many applicants (believe it or not) because it shows how many people have a passion for the league (enough to volunteer their own time and potentially sacrifice a lot of their time to do what can be a thankless job at times).

And so, for those who read every word of that...I feel for you.

 

[TheFreshBanana]

Too long. I retract retract retract everything I said about wanting to hear what Okey has to say...

... but I still have 20 mins til class.

Sigh.

 

[okeydoke7]

Too long. I retract retract retract everything I said about wanting to hear what Okey has to say...

... but I still have 20 mins til class.

Sigh.

You'll read it.

Moral of the story: I would do good. So would others.

 

[Papa Juggs]

And so, for those who read every word of that...I feel for you.

Just did, it was actually very well thought out but I believe that is what you're best at and I think you're a great politician.

You promise what you can't deliver.

"I'll retire" still waiting

"I'll post to earn my FF spot" yeah well you ran into "personal issues"

Sure I'm not the most popular and I'm not as good a writer as you are but when I promise my time and my heart to the admin job I actually mean it.

 

[TheFreshBanana]

Ok read it. Time to go to class.

 

[pantskyle]

I read it all. Wasn't to bad at all.

 

[boncer34]

I read it all. Wasn't to bad at all.

Cliff notes?

 

[pantskyle]

Cliff notes?

None of note.

 

[Papa Juggs]

Cliff notes?

Everything you'd want to hear and lots of promises to sacrifice his time to the role and be open and honest.

Perfect speech really.

If this was an election he'd have all the sheep cheering.

 

[Danoz]

My favourite part was where you called the *censored* committee a secret society.