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Barili Resigns -- An Explanation

Most of you know I resigned yesterday. I didn't give reasons on the site, trying to leave without causing any ripples. I told only the Commissioner why I was leaving. Since I left, however, Craig Parker has decided to spend his time slandering me and posting false reasons for my departure.

The MFL is a game. It's supposed to be fun--entertainment. Craig's actions and his words, however, demonstrate that he takes it far more seriously than a game, and took the fun out of the MFL for me and many other GMs from the past. Let me explain what I saw happening in the league:

1. Cheating. Anyone who remembers the "Phantom Maddenite" remembers that he sent the true ratings for all the rookies in the last MFL draft to every GM in the league. He did this to level the playing field because he suspected Craig was using those ratings--which only HE knew for sure--to slant the draft in his favor. After all, the trades away many good players every year, only to collect draft picks and mysteriously draft all good players in the off-season. He maintains a playoff team because he knows EXACTLY who to draft and how much to raise the salary cap so he can fit them on his roster. Following the last draft (the one during the transition to Madden 2K4), Craig and I discussed DE Osi Umenyiora, a real NFL average player I drafted who turned out to have superstar ratings. Craig admitted to me during this ICQ discussion that he had "tweaked" several of the rookies in order to provide busts and sleepers in the draft. Osi was one of them. Most of the rest ended up on his team. Big surprise.

2. Questionable Ethics. This same off-season, a GM who is gone now was leading the voting for GM of the Year. He had turned around a franchise and most GMs recognized what he did. Craig, however, wanted Pappy (Raiders) to win, so he went on a person campaign to get other GMs to vote for Pappy, even though the other GM more accurately met the requirements for the award. I was one he convinced to do so, since I hadn't planned on voting at all and hadn't researched it. When that dishonesty was detected, Craig canceled the awards instead of re-doing them fairly and recognizing the person who deserved it.

3. League Operations. Craig still rules the MFL. He just does it through his League "Commisioner" Barry Setser. Barry is aware of Craig's cheating--the instance I mentioned and others--but cannot expel Craig because he does not own the code and would be forced to shut the league down. When Barry took over, I decided to stay with the MFL. I thought perhaps he could turn things around and keep Craig's influence to a minimum, but I was wrong. Craig still has control. That's why he can continue to re-open threads that Barry has closed on the message boards without facing repurcussions--he's really the puppet master of the league. I don't blame Barry--he's trying, but Craig's claws are in deep.

4. Disrespect Toward Military Personnel. Most of you know the things Craig said against military personnel. The military produces mostly "ignorant, obnoxious, arrogant people." He hires "grunts to do BS work." The military isn't "civilized society." He hinted that he thought the military could become like the Nazi SS and repeatedly stereotyped military personnel and veterans. Those things are all his opinion and he has every right to express them, whether we agree or not. But I have the right, should I find those opinions offensive, ridiculous, or unfounded, to argue them with my own opinions and observations. Further, when I attempted to debate those points, Craig's dishonesty showed again, as he twisted his words and mine, back-tracked quickly, and tried to portray me as the villain in his own little crime of ignorance. I choose not to associate with people like Craig. The military has taught me about honor, integrity, respect, and loyalty--things with which Craig is ruefully unfamiliar. I overlooked that when it concerned the first three items in this list, but I could not do so when it took the form of insulting the brave men and women serving this country.

One of the great freedoms we enjoy is the right to determine our OWN social life. The pursuit of happiness is our road to follow, whatever direction we want to go. Thanks to Craig Parker, the MFL was no longer a pursuit that brought me happiness. Knowing I would never get a fair shake, especially after a heated debate with the king of the league himself, I made the conscious decision to leave the league and seek my enjoyment elsewhere. Again, I did so quietly. I told only Barry Setser my reason for leaving, but he told Craig and Craig decided to ridicule and slander me on the site because of it. That just demonstrates how much Barry is under Craig's thumb--he can't even stop him from being a childish whiner.

To most of the rest of the GMs--I had a great time. For the most part, you seem to be a fine group of folks. I hope you continue to enjoy the league for years to come. I didn't leave in an attempt to bring the league down or take any of you with me. The only reason I made this website announcement was to defend myself against Craig's attacks and make clear my true reasons for leaving.

If you have any further questions, my e-mail address and ICQ are at the bottom of the web page. Please feel free to contact me. Only Mr. Parker himself is not welcome to make contact. Any correspondence from him will be considered harrassment and dealt with accordingly.