User:Jmhenley5326/sandbox

History and Origin
The CRA (Crown Royal Association) was founded in 1999. The CRA was the governing body of a video boxing league that was the brainchild of Derek Hartfiel. None of this is too important going forward,  but the CRA was basically just a good excuse to drink. The CRA is the parent company of the CRL.

The CRL (Crown Royal League) was founded in 2001. It is the fantasy football league that was proposed by Steve Kneipp (former CRA Heavyweight champion). Steve was the acting commissioner of the CRL from 2001 to 2002.

Like most new leagues,  the CRL had a slow beginning. The 1st season was a feeling out process of sorts. The first draft had 10 participants:  8 of which were in the same room,  and 2 on a cheap speaker phone. It only took a few rounds for us to figure out, the speaker phone had to go!

The offseason between year 1 and year 2 would forever shape the CRL into premier Fantasy Football League that you see today. Fiery young commissioner Steve Kneipp ruled with an iron fist,  laying down the laws that would stand for the next 14 years! Steve's 1st new rule: All owners must be present at the draft. No phone ins!!! What? How bold? This was exactly what this young league needed! Nothing could stop this league and commissioner now! But, if history has taught us anything,  it is that if you fly too close to the sun,  you will get burned. Only a few months after Steve's 1st rule of "No Phone ins" went into effect,  Steve told us he was moving to Orlando. He then informed us that he would not be able to attend the draft. Steve made CRL history by becoming the only person to legislate himself out of the league! But now what? A league without leadership is not a league. So, out of the ashes of Steve Kneipp's greatest failure,   the Illustrious Rules Committee was born!

The Rules Committee!
3 men, each with their own responsibilities and skill sets. But who could handle this burden? I think the 1st choice was pretty easy. Derek Hartfiel had founded the CRA, and successful ran one to most prominent video boxing leagues in the history of video boxing leagues. Surely he could be part of a 3 man rules committee. 2nd choice was equally as easy. Lou Cataline was universally loved and was an expert in the art of compromise. Easy. And the 3rd man was Ryan Hunzeker. Ryan had good hair. The Rules Committee was set,  now came the hard part.

The 1st order of business for the Rules Committee:  Should we repeal Steve's 1st rule and let the former commissioner "phone in" for the Year 2 draft? By a vote of 2 to 1,  Steve's 1st rule was upheld and Steve was out of the league he created in less than a year. I often think about Steve and what he meant to the league. Nobody did more for this league,  with the time they spent in it. Thanks Steve!

For the next 16 seasons,  the Rules Committee ran like a well oiled engine. Introducing the league such timeless classics as The Forest Cove Invitational and The Magic Hat. Maybe they weren't the rules committee we deserved,  but they were the rule committee we needed. And we are all eternally grateful for their sacrifices.

The 2018 season saw the retirement of Rule Committee member Ryan Hunzeker. Nobody did less for the league, with the time they spent in it. Lou and Derek carried on without him,  but nobody really cared or had cared for some time now.

The 2019 season saw the retirement of 2 longtime members of the CRL. Sky Patton, 17 year veteran of the CRL and former CRA Heavyweight champion. Growing health concerns led to his untimely departure from the CRL. Jon Reynolds. 9 year veteran and ex-husband of my wife's friend,   Jon was a space filler,   never competitive,   but he set his lineup each week for 9 years,  so there is that. I'm pretty sure 30% of the league didn't know his name. The 2019 season also has seen the largest influxion of new talent in the league since 2002.

Reoccurring Themes in the CRL
There are several phrases and events that make the CRL different from your garden variety fantasy football league. Some of the more popular are.......


 * SUITE - We purposely misspell the word "sweet" as "suite".  The popular phrase being:  "Send me some "Suite" trades".    This is a carry over from another league and a former league member whose name shall not be mentioned.   One of the quickest ways to find acceptance in the CRL would be to drop the occasional "suite" into normal conversation.


 * The JJ Song Contest - Every year, the CRL hosts the annual JJ Song Competition.   Winner get $5.    "JJ",   is JJ York,  childhood friend and former CRL Champion and former CRA Heavyweight Champion.   I used to sit behind JJ in school (several classes) and would always sing song to him.   But not ordinary songs,   JJ songs.   JJ songs are typically songs where you replace key words with the words "JJ".    It basically started with "Swing low,  Sweet JJ (Suite JJ now)",    but became more advanced over the years.   So much so,  that one night JJ refused to ride in the same car with me because I wouldn't stop singing the modified Collin Raye song,  "JJ thinks about you".  It has turned into one of my life's great passions,  so I decided to share my joy with the rest of the league.  Over the years we have had some good,  some bad and one truly epic,  totally originally JJ song entry that will probably never be beaten.   Try changing a few key words of your favorite song to "JJ" and hopefully you will see what I see.   You may even win $5.


 * THE WORST TEAM EVER!!!! - The number one goal every year is not to have..........THE WORST TEAM EVER!!!!  The WORST TEAM EVER!!!! was 1-15 and belongs to JJ York.   That was the last year JJ played.   It was also the year that had the most entries ever in the JJ Song Competition.     Probably just a coincidence he quit after that season.


 * The Ghost of CTC Robertson - CTC Robertson was the husband of a woman that worked with JJ York.  We needed an extra player,  JJ invited him.    He showed up to the draft,  sneezed for 4 hours straight (apparently he was allergic to cats) and then proceeded to win the league.    The last time anyone every heard from CTC Robertson was when I sent him a check for his winnings.    He said "thanks,   can't wait until next year!"    Somehow,   everyone lost his email address.   Now,  fantasy football has a lot of luck involved, but sometimes,  it is more than luck,   it is the Ghost of CTC Robertson.  I truly believe that the Ghost of CTC Robertson only affects those who lost his email address,   but I have no hard evidence of that.   You guys should be safe from him.


 * Good Clubhouse Guy! - Every time Dan Cataline makes a questionable pick, he always backs it up with "He's a good clubhouse guy!".   Can't argue with his logic,   but it has become a CRL meme of sorts.


 * Play My Music! - It can't be a coincidence that the most successful member of the CRL almost always has a team name that is somehow associated with a song.  Derek Hartfiel ends his CRL week wrap-up emails (on victorious weeks) with the popular phrase "Play My Music".    "Play My Music" is hyperlinked to the victory song.    Everyone loves it!