The Art of the Unfair Deal
Okay, after the fourth week of the season you’re 1-3. Chester Taylor and Amos Zereoue are the only free agent running backs available that aren’t in traction. You’re even thinking about resurrecting Ricky Williams based on sports radio rumors that he’s coming back. Instead, you look at your competition and see that Team Nasty has Chris Brown, Fred Taylor, Curtis Martin, and Quentin Griffin. You’re a bit heavy with receivers with the likes of I. Bruce, D. Jackson, Lelie, and Marvin Harrison, and you know Nasty is a Colts fan.
You offer Harrison for Chris Brown and Jerry Porter and Nasty bites on the deal. Next thing you know, three other owners are bitchin’ to the commissioner that Nasty will now have T. Owens, Joe Horn AND Harrison, and the super bowl winner is basically pre-determined. The Commish thinks it’s pretty fair, but Nasty is the Commish’s brother and there’s more than a crappy trophy at stake. Regardless of whether the Commish decides to block or allow the trade, count on some disgruntled owner bringing cheap beer to the draft next year (or worse, not bringing beer at all).
What should be a fun (and sometimes financially rewarding) game has turned into a simmering stew of distrust. The problem is your referee (the Commish) is also a player in the league, and inevitably has an interest (real or perceived) in the outcome of any particular league dispute. Imagine letting Jeremy Shockey call penalties during a Giants game.
What’s a league to do? Your rules need to contain the Fantasy Bill Of Rights.
1st Amendment
Each owner shall play fair and use good sportsmanship. Each owner shall make transactions with the intent of improving their own team.
2nd Amendment
The league commissioner shall use reasonable discretion to resolve league disputes.
3rd Amendment
If an owner disagrees with the league commissioner's decision regarding a dispute, the owner has the right to have a neutral fantasy judge resolve the dispute.
Imagine, an unbiased third party acting as the final arbitrator of league disputes-- from unfair trades, to interpretation of ambiguous rules, to complaints that “the computer crashed when I tried to set my lineup.” Once again, your owners will be able to smoke the peace pipe together in the same room.
By Bill Green
FantasyDispute.com is an online service that resolves fantasy sports
disputes the same day in a fair and inexpensive way. Neutral fantasy experts
rule on the propriety of trades or any other league dispute. FantasyDispute.com
maintains the integrity of your league by using an outside expert to handle
disputes between team owners or disputes involving your commissioner.
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