The Lamar Debate

Should incoming teams inherit the prior owner's team? Yes.

With recent ownership turnover, disgruntled league owners have complained of the "unfairness" in the new ownership having the ability to claim keepers off the prior year's rosters. The commissioner ruled that, just as every other owner in the league, team Normandin would have his choice of any keepers within the boundaries of the keeper rules set during the establishment of the league.

“Why should he come in and grab that team. I'll ditch mine and take that team and then sell it to someone to get in the league.” - Owner Jack Thoreson

The argument is weak. Here is why:

First and foremost, the format of the keeper league and the rules regarding keepers has been set in stone since the inception of the league (refer to League Rules). All owners had the ability to position themselves for this season from the onset of last year's draft. The reasons as to why they chose to or not is an entirely different, irrelevant debate.

Moving to the events that led to the issue, the transfer of Eric's Expert Team occurred in the weeks leading up to the draft. Prior to transfer of the team, potential owner, Scott, had zero knowledge of the make-up of his inherited roster. The offer to join the league was a blanket invitation, not in which he would have the ability to "come in and grab that team." In fact, Scott was only made aware of league rules upon official entry in the league at which point he realized he 1) had Lamar and 2) had the ability to keep Lamar. To take away this right to his team would be far more egregious than taking it away because other owner's had not set up their roster to pick valuable keepers.

The last point of the matter to address is that of buying and selling teams within the league. Should an owner decide to sell his team or the league commissioner determine excessive inactivity should lead to forfeiture of team, it will be up to the league commissioner as to who will replace the owner. Granted, the league commissioner will take suggestions, but ultimately the decision is his and solely his. As stated before, should an owner decide he no longer wants to play, he will not have the ability to pick his successor and if he leaves, there is no guarantee he can come back whenever he pleases. Ultimately, the argument to keep Lamar off Scott's team is a weak attempt to tip the scales in favor of the pre-existing owners in the league. An attempt that will not be considered any further.

From the The Desk of the Commissioner