Chicago Phoenix - Stepping Down

[JeffD 648]

Managing this team has been a treat all the way from working with league management on the expansion concept way back at the start of the pandemic to winning a championship in season 76, and all the ups and downs before and since then.

 

Overall, I think the Chicago Phoenix have been a success. While my activity has been called into question throughout my tenure, some as a bit of an inside joke, others in a more assholeish way, I think many of my longer-term players will agree that I have been dedicated to trying to build a winner here in Chicago, and we have managed to make the playoffs in 12 of our 16 seasons since we came into the league. While it would have been nice to have been able to have brought more than one cup to Chicago the playoffs are a fickle beast and while we have been close, I was never able to secure one with this second core.

 

Now to thank some specific people.

 

@solas – my first ever draft pick with Chicago and a career player for the Phoenix. Camus was a legend and you are among my favourite members here

@fishy – while our time together got off to a rocky start when I drafted Matty Socks without scouting, I think it ended up being a fun adventure with that first core

@Blazzer – my first AGM and another career long Chicago Phoenix player – I know you hated how Lee Xin played but I hope our conversations in the locker room and early morning gen chat made your early time in the league enjoyable

@Quik – Thanks for trusting me with Christian Mingle and sticking out your career in Chicago – glad we could get a cup out of it – hope all is well

@MubbleFubbles – Thank you for spending as long as you did in Chicago. Our chats on player builds and roster construction were always very enjoyable and I wish you all the best with this player and any in the future

@Shindigs – I hope everything is good with you – we talked a ton while you were here and I am sad we could not win a cup together, but I learned a lot from you on new builds with the hybrid attributes. Hope to see you around again soon!

@fromtheinside – So glad you chose to spend your career in Chicago with Sundin. Once again sad we couldn’t win a cup together but I hope I provided you with a fun place to play out your career

@Subject056 - I know you are a fairly new member of the Phoenix and we haven't talked a ton but whichever member gets to take over as a general manager for the Phoenix has a great member and player to build around as their cornerstone. I hope you can carry Chicago back to glory in the near future!

 

To the plethora of other players who have played in the red and orange since our inception I would like to thank each and every one of you for your time here, whether you got here through trade, free agency, the draft or other means. I hope I gave you a locker room and team where you could have fun while I tried to build a winning team with a good enviroment.

 

Outside of that I would like to thank all the other general managers who put up with me in my role. I have issues responding to DMs, as has been brought up a few times, but that was never anything personal. That issue extends to my personal and work life as well and is something I am trying to work on. I truly did enjoy talking to most of you and you made the role a fun one to work in.

 

I hope to stick around the VHL in some capacity as I have been here on and off since its creation sixteen seasons ago but it is time for me to hand the reins over to someone who can dedicate the time needed to build Chicago back into a championship caliber team.

 

tl;dr it is time for me to admit I am inactive and I’m going to retire

[Alex 3,190]

Sad to see you go Jeff, thank you for everything you’ve done! Best of luck in the future!

[fromtheinside 1,289]

You're one of the last GMs from the past crop of management figures. You outlasted a lot of people! I really enjoyed being part of Chicago and playing under your management Jeff. Super easy to deal with, and we had a nice chill locker room throughout the last handful of seasons. I also enjoyed the degenerate Lost Ark arc we had with Beav lol. Despite you being a filthy Red Sox fan, I wish you all the best buddy. Cheers!

[solas 1,951]

Thanks for making my time in Chicago so great! By far the best locker room I've ever been a part of

[Subject056 1,187]

It's true we haven't spoken much and I blame the summer for my discord activity dying down a bit! But I appreciated your responses in our LR when I did decide to randomly blab in there. I do regret not being more active in our LR so I could get to know you better. Thank you for the kind words, I'll do my best for Chicago! I wish you all the best in your future endeavours. If you ever come out of retirement I hope to have my player on a team with you!

[InstantRockstar 1,243]

We've had our immense differences with one another, but I'm genuinely happy for you, and what you could achieve with Chicago. Congrats on an awesome tenure and good luck with whatever life has in store for you. 

[Rayzor_7 741]

Our interactions may have been limited but always sucks to see someone leaving the GM group.

Well done on your tenure and best of luck in your future endeavors!

[Nykonax 1,563]

glad i could win you a cup. that chicago team was really fun and one of my best LR experiences.

[N0HBDY 1,115]

Damn @Frankyou spoke it into existence

[McWolf 3,115]

I appreciate you Jeffery

[Blazzer 759]

Chicago will always hold a special place in my heart. I will never forget those degen chats I had with you, u have done a lot for this team and my player. It is extremely sad to see you go Lidia but best of luck in the future

[rory 1,902]

gm bully club claims another one

[vincentlg2007 498]

Congrats for a beautiful tenure as gm you can definitely be proud of yourself ! Take care !

[Doomsday 4,126]

Fightin' Joe Flacco gestures for you to join him!

[KaleebtheMighty 1,508]

While our interactions were limited, congratulations on your tenure with Chicago, and I wish you the best moving forward!!

[fishy 1,757]

that Chicago core was the best VHL LR experience i have had and probably will ever have. cheers to the community you built

all the best in retirement where you don't have assholes dming you all the time. enjoy the peace

[Rin 138]

Came back just in time to see the GOAT step down. Chicago was, and probably always will be, the best LR I've ever been a part of. Even with all of those seasons with Helsinki for Pepper, and only the latter half of Winter's career taking place in an expansion town, my best memories of my time in the VHL are with that core.

 

I feel awful for fucking you over with the surprise retirement, but I'm really proud of that cup win. The s76 Phoenix are all-time.

 

Massive cheers, and thank you for everything you've done for Chicago!

 

[Ricer13 2,794]

Congrats on a successful run with Chicago! It was a pleasure working with ya. 

[leandrofg 1,153]

Don’t you dare leaving us, Karl Pedersen!

[Banackock 8,036]

Congrats with Chicago and all the work with expansion! Always a good team.. even on seasons when I least expected. Our rivalry was CRAZY back in the 70’s and honestly a highlight of a heated, fierce, and enjoyable time for Seattle. 
 

No point dwelling on negatives like others. Sure, I wish you responded quicker but you still had a positive affect on many - so kudos on your work.