Viva Murillo!
I'm something of a political junkie. I watched plenty of campaign speeches, most of the primary debates, both conventions, all of the presidential debates and countless political shows leading up to the election. I was considering candidates when I was getting ready for my fantasy drafts...back in 2007. It was the longest and most expensive political campaign in history, and I enjoyed watching it unfold.
But of all the images and moment I remember most, it was a speech on election night that sticks in my mind. No, it wasn't Barack Obama's historic victory speech, though that was also memorable. It was actually John McCain's concession speech. With humility and sincerity, he demonstrated the greatness of our political system by embracing the man who had just bested him in a grueling campaign. It was McCain's last shot at the presidency, and it was a tough loss. But McCain, a former prisoner of war, had been through worse, and he showed a lot of class with his words. Even those who disagreed with him politically had to admit that he carried himself well that night.
If only fantasy owners showed the same degree of class when their campaign ended. But in reality, many of them stop paying attention to a league once they're out of the running for the title. A few might post a quick "congrats" on a message board but few take the time to really acknowledge the owner who won it all.
Imagine a political candidate doing that. Suppose McCain posted "nice job Barack" on his web site and never mentioned it again? Suppose he grumbled about his bad luck, went back to the Senate and acted like nothing had happened? It wouldn't be acceptable, of course -- and it's not acceptable for you, either. You need to congratulate your league's champion. That means more than a couple of words on the league's site or even a quick e-mail. If it's a person you know, call them. On the phone, with voices and everything. Take five minutes, say hello and acknowledge their victory. If you don't know them well, an e-mail is fine. But be sincere. Let them know that league members took note of their accomplishment and wish them well.
It's a good thing to do for several reasons. First, it makes winning your league look like something to be proud of accomplishing. If nobody says anything to the winner, how fun is it to win? The money will be gone before you know it. We play to win, and we play under the assumption that it's worth our time. A sincere congratulation validates that assumption.
Second, you're not acknowledging some slacker who abandoned their team in week 6. The winner is almost always one of the good guys -- somebody who answers e-mail, checks the waiver wire, considers trades, manages bye weeks and sets a competitive lineup. Those are the owners who make the league what it is, and it's good to acknowledge them when it pays off. Even if they're a rival, it's the rivalries that make the league fun. Without good owners, your league would be a disaster and probably would have folded already.
Third, you can bet that most owners won't follow this advice. You'll stand out just by doing the right thing. You shouldn't do it for personal gain, but there are probably franchise benefits as well. After all, this owner might be a trading partner in the future. You think they might remember the one person who actually called them on the phone to acknowledge their victory? I would.
Finally, you do it because you'd want someone to congratulate you when you win (hopefully next year). And the great thing about playing is that you can afford to be gracious because you've always got next year. There is no "next year" for McCain's presidential aspirations, but he did the right thing anyway. So should you.
Michael Murillo congratulates Jim Leonard and Lucky Kalanges for their championships this season. You can reach Michael Murillo at vivamurillo@gmail.com.
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