Jazz saying goodbye.....for now

[JazzGM-old]

Hey everyone,

I was hoping I could end out on a championship and I sure as hell could make a run going into next season, but it's getting to that point in my personal life that I need to start focusing on some real life things. I'm currently enrolled in a doctorate and master's program and I just became president of a club on campus that's going to take a little more focus. I'm at the point in my professional career where I need to focus on making networks and putting things together for my career that'll be starting in 2 short years. My weekends are starting to fill up with seminars and office visits and I need to make some cuts in places.

I've been pretty dependable through the years here at SSBA and have stuck through 3-4 commissioners and have enjoyed one of the top franchises including back to back championships a ways back. I've had a lot of fun, this league has been a great form of stress relief, but after seeing my attendance problems this year and my inability to follow up on and work out deals to continue the strength of my franchise, I think it's time to hand over the reigns to someone else that can be a little more active. I'll definitely keep in touch with happenings in the league. I'm close friends with HawksGM so as long as he's around, I'll be indirectly connected with the league.

Good luck to all of you. It's been fun.

 

[HornetsGM]

It's a shame to lose such a long term, successful, GM -- but it sounds like you are doing well for yourself!

I wish you luck 

[SpursGM-old]

Good luck with the career. 

[CelticsGM]

Alex, it has been a pleasure to watch you throughout your SSBA career, quietly keeping the Jazz near the top all the time. 17 playoff appearances in 20 seasons is HUGE and show that you DID care all the time.

So all the best wishes to your "real" life ... and never rule out that there will never be some itching to make a comeback in this virtual world!





(it's not like some of us don't have nice business careers, families, and a whole private life, too ...)

[NetsGM]

Though I don't even know if we have ever interacted, best wishes. 

[GrizzliesGM]

Its a shame your leaving. Good luck, and I hope to see you back as a GM in 2 years.

[SixersGM]

Its really a shame to see you leave. I remember, I asked Alex why he keeps on making to the play-offs and not taking a step back to sharpen his tools for a better competitive team next year. And he told me something like.. Championships are made by constant making to the play-offs, and not really a matter of talent. And he gave me an example of it by his Jazz team who won the championship back then.

Alex, you are one heck of a GM here in SSBA. Come back here in two years, when I win a ring or two. 

[JazzGM-old]

I think my success stemmed from just sticking with what worked, I was patient, but when I needed to make a trade I did. Some of my best seasons were those where I was tempted to blow up my team due to slow starts, including both back to back championship years and even this year I was a 7th seed. The keys for me were a pg with a high assist to turnover ratio, defense at PG is kinda irrelevant (remember antonio daniels?), 1 inside guy had to be a good rebounder, the other a good defender, I liked good field goal percentage from 3 (Phillip Meyers anyone?) and I needed a scoring big man off the bench. Defense at the 3 and 5 i found were key (Kirilenko). In fact if your best players are a 3 and a 5 with a pg with a high assist to TO ratio, you were in good shape...I usually shot the three and let my big guys rebound

[BlazersGM]

Good luck, come back some other time

[NetsGM]

Sucks to see you leave, but we wish you the best of luck in real life.  The Jazz have certainly had a lot of extended success, and it always hurts to lose someone who's been here since the beginning.

[RaptorsGM]

How many originals do we have left now?

[HornetsGM]

Quite a few, actually, if you're counting post-twan years:

  PistonsGM       Administrator 2005-01-08 6665   
  HornetsGM       Global Moderator 2005-01-08 2085   
  HeatGM       GMs 2005-01-08 1019   
  GrizzliesGM       GMs 2005-01-08 845   
  SunsGM       GMs 2005-01-08 810   
  RocketsGM       GMs 2005-01-08 912   
  RaptorsGM       GMs 2005-01-08 5179   
  HawksGM       Global Moderator 2005-01-08 1811   
  MavsGM       GMs 2005-01-09 1585   
  CavsGM       GMs 2005-01-09 2197   
  SonicsGM       GMs 2005-01-10 1541   
  SixersGM       GMs 2005-01-28 1373   
  MagicGM       GMs 2005-01-28 1992   
  SpursGM       GMs 2005-01-28 1362   
  BucksGM       GMs 2005-01-28 636   
  GoldenStateGM       GMs 2005-01-31 2358   

[RaptorsGM]

Unbelievable. 3 years later and we still have MORE THAN HALF of our original GMs?


SSBA is the most incredible online community I have ever been a part of.

[CelticsGM]

also Pacers joined in the first season I believe, I joined in the 2006 season and original members Jazz and Clippers just left the league ...

... and don't forget Ivan is still here with us in spirit.

[HornetsGM]

I saw Ivan browsing DJSL the other day.