Post by Canton Cougar Fan on Aug 22, 2007 20:20:12 GMT -5
I debated about posting this. It does concern operations of an indoor football league and was posted in a public CIFL forum by a league owner, so I consider it fair game. This was posted on the 16th of August. A little late, but I was out of town and didn't see it anywhere on our boards.
It is funny that this appeared on our message board today. I have a major update for everyone...
Over the last 6-8 months we have worked hard to create a solid league in the CIFL. We, like the other leagues, have experienced some issues this season that gave our league a black eye. I believe that as a league we did the right thing by eliminating teams that we didn't feel should be in our league, thus proving that we want to get better and we want to be the best.
We have been contacted a few times each day by those interested in either joining our league as an expansion team or bringing their existing team over to the CIFL. In an attempt to solidify what we have, we really have not looked too much into expansion, only going with what we feel are the most qualified people to run teams in this league. We don't want the money or the ability to call ourself the biggest league, we want to have the best teams and to be able to call ourselves the best league. We owe that to our owners, to our players and to our fans, and we stand by that.
Today was a tough day for me because I have found some disturbing news over the past week. Last Friday, owners of teams in the CIFL opened their email to find an email from the IFPA, email address of yourindoorleague@yahoo.com. This email contained some very private information, some true, some not about our league and operations and future plans for indoor football. I was blown away to see such detailed information and ideas so similar to ones that we have either entertained or have written on our dry erase board in this office at some point. As I read on, I realized that this email had to come from someone with in the league office, someone that I put my trust in to be here working with me on a daily basis. I was right.
When we created the league I was very nervous about those that I would deal with and always watching over my shoulder because I didn't want to have the day where the knife was driven into my back. Well, I regret to say that I must have let my guard down because it happened with that email, however, the old web address glifl.com has some old email addresses that are still valid and a while back I set a catch all for all the glifl.com email accounts as a back up on Yahoo, those would then just end up in a big GLIFL folder. After reading the email over and over I decided that I should clean up some of my mailboxes and in there I found the yourindoorleague@yahoo.com activation email linked to Sean (Tatonka) that he registered it on the Thursday before sending the email. In addition to that was the email draft of what was sent to our owners written by Josh (exit322) which was then modified before being sent as there are some changes. Essentially, two of the people that I have worked closely with over the past two seasons have been working together and plotting to destroy the CIFL and its image to the owners, thinking they would come on board with their ideas that we have come up with this offseason. I have never felt so violated and betrayed in business.
These two members of this forum will be no longer. I have banned them both for something that I believe is unforgivable. I have not worked countless hours over the past two years trying to bring the fans quality minor league football entertainment to have it taken away or have my trust and business breached upon by those that think this is just some easy set up and that they can do it better.
This message will make its way through the message boards online and anyone that shares any important league info with these two should reconsider because it is in my belief that they were going to target every league, not just the CIFL. People need to know. This is unfortunately what this business is, a business where you can't trust anyone and you always have to keep your guard up because someone is always waiting to take you down, always.
I feel that we have a lot of work to do in preparation for the 2008 season and most owners believe that the things to be changed or fixed, such as stats, film and officiating are the major hurdles that we have to take care of. I am here to say that I agree, and that we are listening to the owners and to the fans to make this league the best there is and that they will be better. These are minor issues that just need some compliance and organization and they will be there for all to enjoy. We have set a high standard for what is acceptable and our fans know better than to just say "ok". You want the best and that is what we are here to give you, it is what you deserve. We appreciate the standards that we are being held to, it is what will make us stronger and the owners, players and fans will benefit from it! Thank you for being loyal to the CIFL and making your voice heard where you want to be to your owners, we won't let you down.
Jeff Spitaleri
Co-Owner CIFL
Jeff said:
It is funny that this appeared on our message board today. I have a major update for everyone...
Over the last 6-8 months we have worked hard to create a solid league in the CIFL. We, like the other leagues, have experienced some issues this season that gave our league a black eye. I believe that as a league we did the right thing by eliminating teams that we didn't feel should be in our league, thus proving that we want to get better and we want to be the best.
We have been contacted a few times each day by those interested in either joining our league as an expansion team or bringing their existing team over to the CIFL. In an attempt to solidify what we have, we really have not looked too much into expansion, only going with what we feel are the most qualified people to run teams in this league. We don't want the money or the ability to call ourself the biggest league, we want to have the best teams and to be able to call ourselves the best league. We owe that to our owners, to our players and to our fans, and we stand by that.
Today was a tough day for me because I have found some disturbing news over the past week. Last Friday, owners of teams in the CIFL opened their email to find an email from the IFPA, email address of yourindoorleague@yahoo.com. This email contained some very private information, some true, some not about our league and operations and future plans for indoor football. I was blown away to see such detailed information and ideas so similar to ones that we have either entertained or have written on our dry erase board in this office at some point. As I read on, I realized that this email had to come from someone with in the league office, someone that I put my trust in to be here working with me on a daily basis. I was right.
When we created the league I was very nervous about those that I would deal with and always watching over my shoulder because I didn't want to have the day where the knife was driven into my back. Well, I regret to say that I must have let my guard down because it happened with that email, however, the old web address glifl.com has some old email addresses that are still valid and a while back I set a catch all for all the glifl.com email accounts as a back up on Yahoo, those would then just end up in a big GLIFL folder. After reading the email over and over I decided that I should clean up some of my mailboxes and in there I found the yourindoorleague@yahoo.com activation email linked to Sean (Tatonka) that he registered it on the Thursday before sending the email. In addition to that was the email draft of what was sent to our owners written by Josh (exit322) which was then modified before being sent as there are some changes. Essentially, two of the people that I have worked closely with over the past two seasons have been working together and plotting to destroy the CIFL and its image to the owners, thinking they would come on board with their ideas that we have come up with this offseason. I have never felt so violated and betrayed in business.
These two members of this forum will be no longer. I have banned them both for something that I believe is unforgivable. I have not worked countless hours over the past two years trying to bring the fans quality minor league football entertainment to have it taken away or have my trust and business breached upon by those that think this is just some easy set up and that they can do it better.
This message will make its way through the message boards online and anyone that shares any important league info with these two should reconsider because it is in my belief that they were going to target every league, not just the CIFL. People need to know. This is unfortunately what this business is, a business where you can't trust anyone and you always have to keep your guard up because someone is always waiting to take you down, always.
I feel that we have a lot of work to do in preparation for the 2008 season and most owners believe that the things to be changed or fixed, such as stats, film and officiating are the major hurdles that we have to take care of. I am here to say that I agree, and that we are listening to the owners and to the fans to make this league the best there is and that they will be better. These are minor issues that just need some compliance and organization and they will be there for all to enjoy. We have set a high standard for what is acceptable and our fans know better than to just say "ok". You want the best and that is what we are here to give you, it is what you deserve. We appreciate the standards that we are being held to, it is what will make us stronger and the owners, players and fans will benefit from it! Thank you for being loyal to the CIFL and making your voice heard where you want to be to your owners, we won't let you down.
Jeff Spitaleri
Co-Owner CIFL
