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General Discussion => Introduction Thread => Topic started by: Bret on June 23, 2014, 05:48:36 PM

Title: Hello from a name from the past.
Post by: Bret on June 23, 2014, 05:48:36 PM
I hope this doesn't get deleted before anyone gets to read it. I am Bret, former admin of pcfootball.net. Wow, that was over a decade ago...

After I walked away from PCF, I stopped doing the internet forum thing. I also stopped playing Madden, but for different reasons. Madden became more of what it already was...a fresh coat of paint, a roster update, and another $60 down the drain. So, I've been out of these circles for a very long time. But, lately I peek in about once every year to 18 months just to see what's going on, and I am surprised by this...the whole site is different, and no one is here. It looks to be rebooted, but I only see about three of the people I was expecting to.

Anyway, like I said, I don't do the forum thing too much any more. I just wanted to poke my head in to say hello and to wish you all well. Oh, and congratulations for outliving Maddenmania! :)
Title: Re: Hello from a name from the past.
Post by: Bret on June 23, 2014, 06:11:01 PM
OK, I'll reply to my own thread with a question I know has haunted many people for over a decade now...

I wonder if GoChiefs ever got the balls to ask Rori out.

:D
Title: Re: Hello from a name from the past.
Post by: rollntider on June 24, 2014, 02:02:45 AM
Bret you are more than welcome here. GLad to see you around. I hope you stay.
Title: Re: Hello from a name from the past.
Post by: Bret on June 24, 2014, 12:31:50 PM
Well, that's good to hear. Last I heard BigBaldBen was running this place, and also last I heard he doesn't hold me in the highest esteem. But, again, I only poke my head in annually or less so I don't know if, when, how, or why that changed. We all know what happens when you assume, so my bad. :)

I recognize rollntider (obviously), Crewe, TheNorm...so it is nice to see that at least some of the "core" of the old site still posts together.

Why did this place reboot, anyway? (Not trying to bring up unpleasantness if there is any, I'm just curious.)
Title: Re: Hello from a name from the past.
Post by: rollntider on June 24, 2014, 08:00:54 PM
I had a database issue and it was best to reboot. The core group has dwindled and why not a fresh start.  I took it over but it I have not given it its proper due though. Ben just stepped away.
Title: Re: Hello from a name from the past.
Post by: Bret on June 25, 2014, 10:55:08 AM
Well, I hear ya on the database issue. I know it's been a decade since I had to deal with it, and I don't know if technology has advanced that far since, but with PCF it wasn't exactly "set it and forget it". Some troubles were occasionally popping up, usually having to do with the web host's end. What a headache. That is on the list of reasons why I'll never admin a site again. Blah.

But, that was also a different product, vbulletin. Maybe this one is better...
Title: Re: Hello from a name from the past.
Post by: Crewe on June 25, 2014, 04:42:05 PM
yep, still here.
I hate that time has dissolved so many in connection with all of the former forum iterations.
Good to see you pop in once in a while, hope all is well.

Title: Re: Hello from a name from the past.
Post by: Bret on June 25, 2014, 06:01:54 PM
Well, not trying to stir shit, and I'm not naming names (because what I'm about to say could apply to so many), but I don't miss a lot of the people tied to those old forums. But, in fairness, they probably say the same about me. Though, only one of us can be right, and that would be me. :)
Title: Re: Hello from a name from the past.
Post by: rollntider on June 26, 2014, 12:04:46 AM
I miss the old PCF days, and I hate it went sideways the way it did. But that time has passed and is water under the bridge.

Go Chiefs did have a slight brief stay and I think someone told him to calm the F down or leave. 

I would like to grow the site more, but with facebook its hard too.
Title: Re: Hello from a name from the past.
Post by: Bret on June 26, 2014, 01:01:51 AM
GoChiefs... :) That guy makes me laugh. Not laugh with him, but laugh at him kind of thing. There are just some guys you can figuratively set your watch to, and Curtis will always be one of those guys.

The old PCF days...obviously that's not the way I wanted it to work out, either. But, after a few years to think it over I realized the drama didn't matter. That may sound strange, but I'll explain...

I started PCF with the primary goal to show the gaming industry that their perception was wrong, and that there was indeed a market that wanted to play football games on the PC. After all this time, I still believe that to be true. But, the NFL and EA signed the exclusivity deal (which I believe runs out next year), which has really hurt the games and hurt gamers. EA is a shit company, and probably always will be. They're going to spin whatever lies they're going to spin and they're always just going to do whatever the hell it is they want to do, regardless of whether or not it is good business. They haven't put an NCAA product on the PC since '99, or an NFL product on the PC since '08. I'm sure they're sitting in their ivory tower, slobbering all over each other about how they made all the right decisions and that PC gamers are an inferior class of people who don't like none of them sports, and PC gamers just play Warcraft when they're not masturbating to CHiPs reruns.

My point is that, even if PCF would have worked out exactly how I wanted it to, and even if my vision for it would have been fully realized, it wouldn't have changed anything because EA just does what they do and they think they're always right. Another huge business (bigger than them) had the exact same attitude: Blockbuster Video. Look how they ended up. I'm looking very forward to the day when EA suffers the same fate. Trust me. Either they need to change their attitude or they're going to end up out of business one day, also.

My only regret about the PCF days is that I didn't get out sooner than I did. When you're not making any money doing something, it had better be a passion of yours, something you enjoy and something you have fun doing. Well, I was spending my own money keeping PCF going. And, the drama sucked all the fun and enjoyment out of it for me. I held on as long as I did because I thought I had an obligation to see it through, and maybe it was just a rough patch it was going through. Once I saw that each new day was going to be exactly like the one before it, that's when I threw in the towel.
Title: Re: Hello from a name from the past.
Post by: bigbaldben on June 27, 2014, 10:47:44 AM
Quote from: Bret on June 24, 2014, 12:31:50 PM
Well, that's good to hear. Last I heard BigBaldBen was running this place, and also last I heard he doesn't hold me in the highest esteem. But, again, I only poke my head in annually or less so I don't know if, when, how, or why that changed. We all know what happens when you assume, so my bad. :)

Last time we 'talked' you seemed like you had moved on from all the drama, but to be honest, I didn't want to risk it.  And I felt I had a duty to those on the board who ... um ... were less forgiving and/or forgetful. 

I would have normally gone by this thread and not even read it, but for two things:

1) I don't own this place anymore, so your presence is not my call.  I haven't even been around much, just pop in from time to time.

2) I'm empathetic.  There are some things that I have said and done over the last decade that I would like to take back or do over.  Some people have forgiven me.  Some haven't.  But I understand the frustration of being truly sorry for something and having no way to convince people otherwise.  It sucks. 

Now you come back years later, again, expressing the same regret and humility.  If your apology still stands, then I accept.  And regardless of whether or not your apology still stands, I offer my own apology for not accepting yours earlier.  I hope you can understand why I didn't at the time. 

I don't know what others might say if you cross paths with them, but that's up to them, and if they don't have the same outlook as me they're still my friends and will (I hope) remain so.

So all of that said, I give you a virtual handshake and say let's move on.
Title: Re: Hello from a name from the past.
Post by: Crewe on June 27, 2014, 12:32:37 PM
My highlight at PCF was getting a death threat lol
Title: Re: Hello from a name from the past.
Post by: rollntider on June 27, 2014, 04:08:26 PM
Quote from: Crewe on June 27, 2014, 12:32:37 PM
My highlight at PCF was getting a death threat lol
never would have ever thought that would happen.  If you don't mind, who was it.





Glad to see the peace pipe with you guys.
Title: Re: Hello from a name from the past.
Post by: Crewe on June 28, 2014, 12:29:51 AM
I don't know, he wasn't a regular for sure.  All I remember is that it was some huff n puff military fire breather who was being a boorish thug and I called him on some of his BS, using, you know...logic.  He just went off and threatened me for about two pages IIRC.  Concussion joined in, baiting him at every turn too, it was glorious.
Good times!
Title: Re: Hello from a name from the past.
Post by: Bret on July 03, 2014, 03:11:28 PM
Quote from: bigbaldben on June 27, 2014, 10:47:44 AM
Quote from: Bret on June 24, 2014, 12:31:50 PM
Well, that's good to hear. Last I heard BigBaldBen was running this place, and also last I heard he doesn't hold me in the highest esteem. But, again, I only poke my head in annually or less so I don't know if, when, how, or why that changed. We all know what happens when you assume, so my bad. :)

Last time we 'talked' you seemed like you had moved on from all the drama, but to be honest, I didn't want to risk it.  And I felt I had a duty to those on the board who ... um ... were less forgiving and/or forgetful. 

I would have normally gone by this thread and not even read it, but for two things:

1) I don't own this place anymore, so your presence is not my call.  I haven't even been around much, just pop in from time to time.

2) I'm empathetic.  There are some things that I have said and done over the last decade that I would like to take back or do over.  Some people have forgiven me.  Some haven't.  But I understand the frustration of being truly sorry for something and having no way to convince people otherwise.  It sucks. 

Now you come back years later, again, expressing the same regret and humility.  If your apology still stands, then I accept.  And regardless of whether or not your apology still stands, I offer my own apology for not accepting yours earlier.  I hope you can understand why I didn't at the time. 

I don't know what others might say if you cross paths with them, but that's up to them, and if they don't have the same outlook as me they're still my friends and will (I hope) remain so.

So all of that said, I give you a virtual handshake and say let's move on.

There seems to be some misunderstandings here, so please allow me the opportunity to clear some of them up...

First off, I'll offer my own definition of "regret", or at least how I personally deal with regrets (with any situation in life, not just PCF). If, given a specific situation and/or set of circumstances, and given the information I had at the time, did I make the right call? If the answer is "yes", then I don't regret it, and I chalk it up to "shit happens". In life, you can only control what you can control, and you can only do your part. You can't control other people's behavior (at least not with methods that comply with local laws).

This isn't to say I have no regrets about the PCF days, but given my definition of "regret" they're not as numerous as one might think. And, Ben, not trying to start anything here but none of those regrets involve you.

As to an apology, I never offered one. I don't offer one. In my mind, I have nothing to apologize for. I did the best I could under a very trying set of circumstances to futiliy reach what was ultimately an unattainable goal. As to forgiveness, I am not asking for that from anyone as I don't require it and, again, I don't feel I did anything to be forgiven for.

When I sent you that message two years ago (or whatever it was), it was to express that I was glad to see most of PCF's core posters still together, and to wish you all well. I meant that then, and I still mean it. I didn't have any ulterior motives for sending that message. If I recall correctly, the message was sent on some sort of "contact administrator" form and not a "thread" because I didn't want to sign up for an account. I meant what I had told you, but there wasn't more to it than that. I wasn't apologizing, I wasn't asking for forgiveness or approval or a way "back in", and if I recall, I didn't leave any contact info for myself because I didn't need a response. I just trusted that you would see it, I pretty much forgot about it, and thought I'd check out the site in another year or two or whatever these inconsistent intervals have been that I pop my head in.

As to "moving on", I guess that depends on your definition of "moving on". I feel more as if I left PCF behind me. I mean, it's over, and there will be no more chapters to the PCF story. I guess some would say that's the same thing, and it probably is.

As to holding a grudge...here's the way I look at it Ben. Continuing a feud with you would involve energies that I feel would be better spent elsewhere, and continuing to feud with you would provide no benefit to me whatsoever. I'd like to think an identical situation exists for you. Don't take this to mean I see myself as enlightened or something similar. I'm just saying that holding on to the old grudges isn't worth it to me.

Ben, I'll be honest with you...if someone offered me a magic wand that can just make people die when I wave it and say their name...I'm not saying I would never use it on you. I will say that, there's a lot of people in line in front of you for the wave of my magic death wand. By the time I finally got around to using it on you the batteries would have worn out, or someone would have taken the wand away from me for abusing my power with it, or it would have broken outside of the warranty period or something like that.

I'm not trying to start anything here. I'm just keeping it real, and letting you know where I was then at and where I am at now. Whether or not you can accept all of this or not, I'll sleep good tonight either way. All I can do is my part, and now I've feel I've done that.
Title: Re: Hello from a name from the past.
Post by: bigbaldben on July 07, 2014, 09:09:27 PM
OK Bret, I can accept your clarifications.  I honestly don't recall exactly what you were expressing whenever that was. I thought I rec'd an apology of some sort at some time, but I don't remember what I had for breakfast, so....

Anyway, if you've got no regrets and nothing to be forgiven for then so be it.  All apologies on my half rescinded as well, since if you didn't apologize, I don't need to apologize for not accepting it.  Everbody wins!

Besides, truth is as you say - Ben vs. Bret was never even close to the main event at PCF. At least I think that's what you're saying.

As for a magic death wand, I'm afraid you would not even be in line.  If I had a line at all, there might be two or three people on it, and only one from the days of forums past. I expect Tider and others know who that would be.

So yeah,anyway, I understand your need to keep it real. But can we put all that aside and let me ask the one really important question that has popped in and out of my head every so often?

What did you do/say/think/throw/murder when the Vikings signed Favre?

Title: Re: Hello from a name from the past.
Post by: rollntider on July 07, 2014, 09:49:33 PM
Quote from: bigbaldben on July 07, 2014, 09:09:27 PM


What did you do/say/think/throw/murder when the Vikings signed Favre?

thats the important question
Title: Re: Hello from a name from the past.
Post by: Bret on July 08, 2014, 12:49:43 AM
Quote from: rollntider on July 07, 2014, 09:49:33 PM
Quote from: bigbaldben on July 07, 2014, 09:09:27 PM


What did you do/say/think/throw/murder when the Vikings signed Favre?

thats the important question

All right, I'll bite on this one...

I was upset. No, not because Favre was the franchise quarterback of my team's arch rivals for so many years. But, because (in my opinion) he is one of the two most overrated athletes in human history (Mike Tyson is the other). Two of the many reasons I feel that way about Favre is because his numbers never justified his hype, and because Favre was always about himself first, and the team would come somewhere after that. How many Packers games, indeed entire Packers seasons, were sacrificed because Favre's consecutive starting streak was so important?

Anyway, at first I thought the guy couldn't decide whether or not he was retired. Then I figured out what he was doing...being all about himself, he thought that going to training camp with the rest of the team was beneath him. So, he stayed "retired" until preseason was over, then he magically comes back.

I will admit to this...if Favre would have played each season like he did in '09 for the Vikings, then I would agree that his hype would be justified. However, it just wasn't that way. Anyway, because Favre is Favre, and he's all about him, that's what cost the Vikings a trip to the Super Bowl.

I dunno how many of you remember, but late in the 4th with the game tied, all he had to do was to kneel on the ball and have Ryan Longwell (another former Packer) split the uprights with it and the Vikings finally get to go to their long-overdue Super Bowl. But, instead of doing the right thing, Favre instead reverted to doing what he did better than anyone who ever played the game...threw an interception. I have to admit that I wasn't all that surprised when that happened. I knew it was only a matter of time before the Favre I knew reared his ugly head and started being himself again.

Sometime next year I'm going to put together my pilgrimage to the Hall of Fame. I have always wanted to visit. I promised myself I would visit after Cris Carter got inducted and before the HOF's integrity was compromised with Favre's presence. I'm looking at next Summer. I think that Favre will go in I believe in '16. :(

In all fairness to Favre, I will also admit that with that masseuse scandal, I was on his side. One question that begged to be asked about all that, and I'm not sure it ever was, is if this woman was so offended then why did it take her two years to get mad about it?
Title: Re: Hello from a name from the past.
Post by: Bret on July 10, 2014, 06:32:48 PM
So, since most of you used to know me back during the PCF days, I thought I'd give highlights of how my life is different now as compared to then...

I have a pretty good job, not perfect, but what job is? I am a tech monkey that maintains a 129-seat office for the a government agency. I've been working here for about 4 and a half years. If I could make one change to my workplace, it would be that people would be fired for consistent incompetence. Government doesn't do that, and I have never understood why that is. But, this place apparently appreciates me. I have had four absolutely flawless performance reviews, and I haven't had any idiotic closed-door talkings-to about shit that doesn't matter anyway. My boss is great. He just stays out of my way and lets me do my job. I don't do well with micromanagers, but I absolutely thrive with freedom, and I am so grateful that I have that at my current job.

I am married now. Have been for a little over five years. I am so relieved my dating days are over. I have a good marriage and I am enjoying the married life.

I suffered a horrific leg injury in late 2010. My fibula and tibia became separated from one another, and my fibula was broken in several places, not just one or two. My orthopedist told me that had this happened around 1980 or before that the leg would have needed amputation. But, thanks for modern medical technology I still have my leg. I can run and do all the other stuff I used to do, but there is pain at random intervals sometimes.

As of last summer I am a home owner. I am also relieved never to have to deal with an asshole landlord again that will always find some lame excuse for stealing my deposit. It's not a huge house, but I REALLY like my neighborhood. No less than four cops and one firefighter live on my street, so I doubt very seriously that crime will be a problem. Even better than that...no HOA!!! Yay!!!

I now drive an '09 F150. It is reliable, and because of the parade of shit cars I've had in my lifetime I appreciate it.

As compared to the PCF days, my life has improved in almost every way. I am grateful for the way my life is now and appreciate my blessings.  The only way my life is worse now as compared to back then is my body. I kind of fell out of working out, and I've put on some weight to be honest with you. I've been trying to work on getting my old body back, but it is slow-going. Blah.

Oh, also...I currently do not own, administrate, or moderate any website anywhere. That is just the way I like it. I can't see myself ever doing that again. :) Well, I have considered opening up my own blog where I can rant on uncensored, but just haven't gotten around to that yet.
Title: Re: Hello from a name from the past.
Post by: rollntider on July 11, 2014, 01:07:43 AM
Congrats on the marriage and the House....

Married to the right woman makes it all the worth while.

Since PCF days I have went back to college again and finished my Associates in Computer Science (2 degrees, programming and web) and have a job in developing software now. I love my job, it isnt perfect, but what job is? It is close to perfect as it can get.

My kids are almost grown. My daughter attends the university of Alabama(ROLL TIDE), my son is in high school

I finally got my dream car, a mustang GT (2006)
Title: Re: Hello from a name from the past.
Post by: Bret on July 12, 2014, 02:01:28 AM
Quote from: rollntider on July 11, 2014, 01:07:43 AM
Congrats on the marriage and the House....

Married to the right woman makes it all the worth while.

Since PCF days I have went back to college again and finished my Associates in Computer Science (2 degrees, programming and web) and have a job in developing software now. I love my job, it isnt perfect, but what job is? It is close to perfect as it can get.

My kids are almost grown. My daughter attends the university of Alabama(ROLL TIDE), my son is in high school

I finally got my dream car, a mustang GT (2006)



That's good to hear. I'm sure you're very proud to have a child at Alabama...I'm sure you're going to go for two for two. :)

Rollntider, I assume you still live in or near Birmingham, so I'll share this story with you...

I actually visited Alabama (the State, not the college) for two whole weeks back during Christmastime of '08 to meet several of what was then my future in-laws. Not Birmingham, but Phenix City, which is across the Chatahoochie River from Columbus, Georgia. It was my first trip to the south. I know you get different perspectives from visiting then you do living in a place. That disclaimer said, I had a wonderful time, and was very impressed. The wife's mom let us have full use of an automobile, and being the life-long Civil War history buff that I am, I took full advantage. We went on many mini-road-trips and hit several sites throughout Eastern Alabama and Western Georgia. It is very beautiful country out there, with rather tolerable weather for Christmastime, generally inhabited by good people who seem to take pride in their home. One of the greatest ironies that I have observed in my life is that the decedents of the losers of the Civil War generally seem far more patriotic than the decedents of the winners (again, just my observation). I'll also throw out there that, again, just based on my two weeks, pretty much every stereotype I've seen and heard about Southerners is wrong. I wasn't even offered a mint julep my entire time there, nor did I see a single banjo or rocking chair! I could very easily see myself living out there myself one day. I get the impression that I would fit in much better down there than I do where I am at now, which is still Tucson, Arizona.
Title: Re: Hello from a name from the past.
Post by: rollntider on July 14, 2014, 12:30:13 AM
Yes outside of the ham. I never had a mint julep. Yep we are considered crazy for being patriots. One thing for sure, people move here and like to stay.
Title: Re: Hello from a name from the past.
Post by: Bret on September 13, 2014, 01:53:53 AM
I'll add this to my intro thread...

As I stated, I haven't done the forum thing since the PCF days (with the exception of tech forums, which aren't social in nature at all). Even though there aren't that many people here, things seem slow, and not everyone agrees with the thoughts I share...it is good to be back, much better than I thought it would be.

I look forward to reading all of your post...yes, even Ben's. :)
Title: Re: Hello from a name from the past.
Post by: Bret on April 12, 2017, 07:02:16 PM
I'm not sure if bumping a 2½ thread is considered bad etiquette, but I'd like to do it, anyway.

I rarely think of the PCF days. But, for whatever reason I've been thinking of them lately. And, also for whatever reason, I'm seeing those days a little differently than I did when I originally started this thread. I don't know if this is me getting smarter or getting dumber, but in either case I'm compelled to share these thoughts with someone. Since I really don't want to deal with hiring a therapist to listen to me, this thread seems like the next best thing.

I don't poke my head into forums like these much anymore. I have a lot going on in my life. I have a full-time job that keeps me busy (but not at this particular moment, which is why I'm making this post). I'm married. I am a homeowner. I'm working out. Basically, I have a lot going on in my life that eats up a lot of my time and doesn't leave all that much left for forums like this...no matter how cool they may be. :)

Back in the early 2000's, I was not nearly as fortunate. I couldn't find a good job. I lived in a shit place. I could almost never get a date, and when I could, a second date was absolutely out of the question. I tried very hard to improve my station in life, or at least some aspects of it. But, back then, those attempts all met with failure. In all candor, I probably was only a few steps ahead of GoChiefs on the social ladder. The only thing I really had on GoChiefs at that time is that I wasn't afraid to ask a girl out, and I could take no for an answer. I don't accept responsibility for the situation I was in because it wasn't my fault. I did what I was supposed to do to pull myself out of that situation. Despite what some would have you believe, your success in life IS NOT all up to you. It just isn't. Only about a third is up to you. The other two thirds are you need someone somewhere somehow to do their part to help you along the way, and plain, old-fashioned good luck. In the early 2000's, no one was doing their part to help me out (by, you know, hiring me or going out on a date with me), and I didn't have any luck in any of my endeavors during those years.

Those two paragraphs out there, I'll offer that the most likely reason I had far more emotional investment in PCF than I really should have is that I didn't have too much going on in my life back in 2003 or whatever it was. Back then, administrating PCF was one of the very few things in my life that gave me any sort of purpose or structure. I'll be the first to say that's sick and pathetic. I admit it, I own it, and I ain't proud of it. But, unlike guys like Andy P and Dave Branda, I never saw the forums as an extension of my small penis. It was never about a power trip with me, and even with this pathetic confession on my part I still offer that, as a board admin, I was head and shoulders above those two assholes. For me, banning someone was very difficult for me to the point that it turned my stomach a little bit each time I had to do it. The fact that it came so easy to Branda and Andy, to me anyway, reveals pretty much everything you need to know of their character (or lack of same).

This isn't to say I have many regrets with PCF. I still really don't. But, I guess what I'm saying is that one of my regrets is my emotional reactions to some situations that presented themselves during the PCF days. I was so focused on building up PCF that I cared far too much for what many others thought. This may have created a general perception of me that isn't entirely accurate, and that I regret.

PCF did provide me an important life lesson, though...it taught me the lesson of "too many cooks". I wanted PCF to be a community effort. My heart was in the right place, but I realize now that was a mistake. Until such a time as PCF grew to something like 100 regular members, I should have just kept all the control to myself. I should have done all the modding, I should have made all the decisions, I should have called all the shots. I should have done what I thought was right regardless of what anyone else thought or was telling me. And, I should have decided all by myself whether something was or wasn't working.

If back in 2003, my life was the way it is today, I still might have created PCF. Andy P and Dave Branda were both drunk on their own power (to say the least), and the football gaming community needed a responsibly-administrated alternative. But, if I did have that do-over, I would retain all the control myself (at least while it was still small), and do what I thought was right while ignoring influences and pressures from those I thought I could trust. And, if someone didn't like something I did or said, I'd tell them to just shove their head up their ass so they couldn't read what I was typing and/or hear what I was saying.

But, now, in the year 2017, there is no way in the world I would ever again admin or mod a board. It is A LOT of work, far more than I feel like putting in, especially with all the other positive things happening in my life.

Before I close, I want to close a loop and express my biggest regret of the PCF days. Most of you who give a shit enough to read this post know that a few people got together, pooled their money, and bought the site from me for $500 once I expressed my desire to sell it. I guess their "captain" or "leader" was Joe Gandolfo. Joe kept it a secret that he was representing a group and not acting singularly. I never understood why he kept that secret because it would not have influenced my decision in the least to sell to him/them. I wanted out, and money is money. I would have sold the thing to GoChiefs (Clayton Wendler for the search engines) if he were the highest bidder. I'm digressing here.

Anyway, back to my regret....after the sale, I'm assuming the infighting amongst the inner circle continued, and PCF began to deteriorate. Joe brought me in to figuratively right the ship. I told him I would do it if I were the only and only person calling the shots. He agreed. He gave me all the passwords and told me to do what I thought was right. Remembering the lessons learned of the couple of years before, I made some changes. And, those changes began bearing a little bit of fruit. However, there was still drama and fighting and complaining, and I was just emotionally spent. So, I walked away. One day I just decided I would never again log in to any football gaming forum, or attempt to communicate with any of their regular posters, for any reason, and just walked away. For my emotional health, that was the right call, and I really don't regret that today. However, what I really regret is not telling Joe that I was walking away, or why. To use a modern-day dating term, I ghosted him. That was assholish of me, and I regret that. So, Joe, if you google yourself and happen to run in to this post, I offer you a sincere apology for how I handled things, especially after you put that trust in me despite the resistance to that decision you were undoubtedly receiving from others around you.

Well, if anyone actually read this, I thank you for allowing me to dump my 14-year-old emotional baggage upon you.
Title: Re: Hello from a name from the past.
Post by: rollntider on April 12, 2017, 08:42:44 PM
I am friends with Joe on Facebook, I will guide him here. For what its worth, I loved my time at PCF, I met several internet friends that I still chat with today. I consider PCF a great thing, and thank you for putting it together. I know there was some strife and fighting going on over there. I hate it happened but it happens.  Look me up on face book if you are on there Bret.
Title: Re: Hello from a name from the past.
Post by: rollntider on April 12, 2017, 08:51:09 PM
oh an bump any thread you would like :)
Title: Re: Hello from a name from the past.
Post by: Bret on April 13, 2017, 01:26:00 AM
Thanks! And...I'm ashamed to admit this, but I don't remember your real name (I'm gonna feel like a moron once you tell it to me). PM it to me if you like.
Title: Re: Hello from a name from the past.
Post by: BigDaddyCool on April 13, 2017, 02:54:04 PM
Well Bret, as long as we're talking about PCF (and your apology is accepted by the way) I feel that I owe you an apology for how things went down there as well.

Back then I was approached by the "group of investors" to present the offer to you for the site. The way it was presented to me at the time was that I would be running the site with the group as "silent partners". Yeah.....as it turned out some of them didn't want to be so silent. That's when some of the infighting began and some people then left for greener pastures like BSB, EAMods and Football Freaks. I really regret about not being more upfront with you about it at the time as I was honoring a request from the group that they remain anonymous. I truly am sorry for that.

I do take some solace from the fact that PCF did outlast MaddenMania as a separate entity in the end. At one point I looked up MM and found out that they had been sold lock, stock and database to Operation Sports and were part of their network. Unfortunately in the end for PCF it gradually became a place where only the advertising spammers went to post there porn ads. Most of my days were spent with deleting those posts and banning the users, only to find out that they came back the next day under different names and posted again. I swear, they must have been using some sort of super spamming program that created profiles automatically. That went on until the day when I went to log in and found that PCF had disappeared. Yeah, our host had decided to close up shop and go out of business overnight and they took more than a few sites with them. It wasn't what I wanted but I didn't have much say in the matter. So after that I migrated over to Football Freaks where they were doing some fantastic work modding Madden NFL 08, and I moved with them to Football Idiots when the FF database crashed.

I've been part of that community ever since and I have been working on modding the final version of Madden for the PC and having a hand in updating the look and feel of that game to modernize it - with the tools that those guys developed it's a fun hobby for me at least.

On a different note it is good to hear from you again, and I am happy to hear about the positive turn your life has taken.
Title: Re: Hello from a name from the past.
Post by: rollntider on April 14, 2017, 01:26:48 AM
Good to see you Joe, Welcome
Title: Re: Hello from a name from the past.
Post by: Bret on April 14, 2017, 01:28:17 AM
Quote from: BigDaddyCool on April 13, 2017, 02:54:04 PM
Well Bret, as long as we're talking about PCF (and your apology is accepted by the way) I feel that I owe you an apology for how things went down there as well.

Back then I was approached by the "group of investors" to present the offer to you for the site. The way it was presented to me at the time was that I would be running the site with the group as "silent partners". Yeah.....as it turned out some of them didn't want to be so silent. That's when some of the infighting began and some people then left for greener pastures like BSB, EAMods and Football Freaks. I really regret about not being more upfront with you about it at the time as I was honoring a request from the group that they remain anonymous. I truly am sorry for that.

I do take some solace from the fact that PCF did outlast MaddenMania as a separate entity in the end. At one point I looked up MM and found out that they had been sold lock, stock and database to Operation Sports and were part of their network. Unfortunately in the end for PCF it gradually became a place where only the advertising spammers went to post there porn ads. Most of my days were spent with deleting those posts and banning the users, only to find out that they came back the next day under different names and posted again. I swear, they must have been using some sort of super spamming program that created profiles automatically. That went on until the day when I went to log in and found that PCF had disappeared. Yeah, our host had decided to close up shop and go out of business overnight and they took more than a few sites with them. It wasn't what I wanted but I didn't have much say in the matter. So after that I migrated over to Football Freaks where they were doing some fantastic work modding Madden NFL 08, and I moved with them to Football Idiots when the FF database crashed.

I've been part of that community ever since and I have been working on modding the final version of Madden for the PC and having a hand in updating the look and feel of that game to modernize it - with the tools that those guys developed it's a fun hobby for me at least.

On a different note it is good to hear from you again, and I am happy to hear about the positive turn your life has taken.

Good to hear from you again, as well. I can't accept your apology, though, because I never needed one. I wasn't offended or angered by your approach during the purchase, just confused by it. I didn't really understand why you felt you couldn't be straight with me, that's all. Things were kind of crazy back then, and I guess none of us were at our best. That's not to say that I give everyone from those days a pass, but I've never held any ill will toward you, Joe, or Rollntider, or a lot of the guys from back then. I'm not even angry at GoCheifs. I miss that guy in a retarded-court-jester kind of way.

As to MaddenMania...as I said earlier in this thread, I have poked my head in to take a look every year-and-a-half to two years. I even posted in a MM-related thread on Gamer's Lab when that was around (it took me a few days to finally understand it wasn't Gamer Slab). Anyway, I have observed that the football gaming community as a whole finally understands what kind of man Dave Branda really is (BlyGilmore for the search engines). While I take pleasure in that fact, I will confess to being a bit irritated that it took a good four or five years for the community as a whole to finally understand what we at PCF had known all along.

While I am laying it all out and confessing, and while I'm thinking out the old days...I'll share with you that I'm wondering how the community history would have unfolded had JamesSGN never turned MM over to Branda, and had Mike from MaddenCentral (the first football gaming site I frequented, and one I really missed) had never turned over MC to Andy P. Things on the whole would have been a lot better for pretty much everyone involved, and there maybe would have never been a PCF.

It's good to hear/see that there's still a community that's still making mods. I get why that community is working on Madden '08, because it was the final PC offering (which I find very sad). But, even though it was the last doesn't mean it was the best. Pretty much every Madden from the late 00's was shit, including '08. That's when EA stopped caring because they had so many years left on their exclusivity deal with the NFL. The people who make Madden always seemed to either hate PC gamers, or at the very least saw them as an inferior class of people. So, it doesn't surprise me in the least that they haven't made a football game for the PC in a decade. I really, really, really hope the NFL never signs an exclusivity deal with EA ever again.

I'm glad this place is here for us to get together once in a while. Sure, the advent of "social media" has really changed the game for boards like these. But, these boards still have a unique character and charm that can't be replaced by social media. I will make an effort to participate more around here.
Title: Re: Hello from a name from the past.
Post by: rollntider on April 14, 2017, 10:50:45 AM
please do Bret. I have plans for this site that have fell through so far. But I do plan on implementing them hopefully soon.  Work has been killer (in a good way though) and it has eaten up my free time that normally goes to gaming/ side projects. My video gaming has dropped also. Plus the fact I got into miniatures/wargaming that eats time too :)
Title: Re: Hello from a name from the past.
Post by: Bret on April 14, 2017, 12:29:20 PM
I have to admit...I don't devote much time to PC gaming anymore because I have went to the console side.

Madden goes without saying. My other PC interests were Civilization, and I found Civ V very disappointing. Star Trek Online came around, and I was initially excited. This was my first MMPORG or whatever it is. I didn't understand that to have a chance at anything you have to either have absolutely nothing in your life whatsoever than the game and do incredibly boring, repetitive tasks to gain the breadcrumbs they offer you, or they nickel and dime you to death on a consistent basis. I put up with that for a few months, but lost interest. I hate Steam, and I hate how the PC game industry keeps gravitating toward that platform. So, I'm pretty much done with PC gaming, though I am loving the resurrection of AOE II.

First console (since the 90's, I mean) for me was the Xbox. I came in to that a little late, but once I heard that you can soft-mod it, install a huge IDE hard drive with Xbox Media Center (now known as Kodi, and developed for every platform imaginable except for the original Xbox). I loved my time with the original Xbox, and I still have it. Great emulators for pretty much every old console system.

Then came the Xbox 360. They never had anything as cool as XBMC, but some guys did come up with a couple of custom dashboards, and there's sites out there where one can obtain both free games and DLC. My 360 has well over 900 games installed to the hard drive, and I paid for maybe 7 of them. No, I don't need that many games. But, my inner child who was constantly told "we can't afford it" when I asked my parents for a console coupled with the inner child who was constantly told go fuck himself when I asked to play with the neighbor kids' consoles demands that I hoarde as many games as possible. It's an issue, I know.

Anyway, despite the fact that things are pretty much over as far as new content for the 360, I was happy with sticking with that. I figured while I wait around for someone to crack the Xbox One, I have all these games to get around to playing which should keep me busy for several years.

However, for Christmas, my wife got me an Xbox One. Being a pirate and all, this felt strange, still does. She got me the Madden version of the One-S with the 1TB hard drive and a year's subscription to Xbox Live. At first, I wasn't all that thrilled. But, I'm warming up to it. The graphics on the One are better than the 360, and they're 4k compatible (for when I get a 4k TV, that is). My library is already up to about 14 games. I've played Madden like twice. But, I'm really digging Forza 6.

The One is pretty good, I guess. My primary complaints are that the One S has no dedicated Kinect port, and it requires a special $40 adapter to plug the Kinect in. I hate the dashboard on the One. And, I hate how every game has to be downloaded and installed locally. Well, that's actually pretty good. But, if that's the way MS was going to go, then a 2TB Hard Drive really should be standard in all Ones. They're cheap enough these days. I'm not sure why MS didn't make that call.

Anyway, that's my video gaming interest these days. If anyone around here has a One, I'd love to play something online with you. As I said, I got Forza 6. I also have Rory McIlroy gold, the last three or four Call of Duty games, Tony Hawk 5, and a couple of others I can't recall sitting at my desk at work.
Title: Re: Hello from a name from the past.
Post by: Crewe on April 14, 2017, 04:33:48 PM
Nostalgia  :D
Title: Re: Hello from a name from the past.
Post by: BojackHorsefella on July 13, 2018, 03:01:56 PM
Jeez. Coming back through and reading this, I took the bait and googled GoChiefs named.

DUDE WORKS FOR SBNATION. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!

How do bad people get good things? :(
Title: Re: Hello from a name from the past.
Post by: Crewe on July 13, 2018, 05:46:16 PM
how in the hell could you find him with such a ubiquitous moniker?
Title: Re: Hello from a name from the past.
Post by: BojackHorsefella on July 13, 2018, 06:02:16 PM
Brett gave out his real name earlier in this post.
Title: Re: Hello from a name from the past.
Post by: Crewe on July 14, 2018, 12:03:23 AM
ah, well, then that makes sense lol
Title: Re: Hello from a name from the past.
Post by: TheNorm on July 15, 2018, 12:17:44 AM
Quote from: Bucfever on July 13, 2018, 03:01:56 PM
Jeez. Coming back through and reading this, I took the bait and googled GoChiefs named.

DUDE WORKS FOR SBNATION. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!

How do bad people get good things? :(

I decided to take the bait too, and looks like he has a twitter page. Nothing remarkable, seems like he sticked on brand with the Chiefs stuff...although this made me do a double take too...

https://twitter.com/ClayWendler/status/966357330022551552

Forgot about all those layoffs.
Title: Re: Hello from a name from the past.
Post by: Bret on July 16, 2018, 12:32:48 PM
I googled him on occasion. The name GoChiefs cut a pretty wide swath through the internet. He didn't only embarrass himself on football gaming forums.

As to his real name, I thought it was common knowledge amongst us. I found a photo of him, and it looks like he dropped a lot of weight and got a decent hair style. I wonder if Rori has seen the new GoChiefs...