First off thanks. I wrote that and in the last 30 minutes started to feel like an ass, especially after I read about you selling your baseball collection. I was on my way back to delete what I wrote. I am glad to see you are smart enough to understand I am talking mostly about the tout business as a whole, not Jake individually. Anyway let me answer your questions about what has changed.
- Your tout stuff is coming through. The old Jake is gone. I admit you are probably right, as a tout you must focus on the positive but that is so overused that it turns many of us off. A good example is your record you mentioned above. Already you are saying the record is inaccurate AGAIN. Really? I already mentioned to you once go by everyday and check it to make sure it's right! It takes 5 seconds to do it and he keeps the official records of this site. A tout-like move would be what you did last week. Pretend not to check it every day and then wait until it's way off and then tell TRK you have a big unit difference (in your favor) and ask him to go through your season to catch his alleged mistakes. What ended up happening is TRK gave you the units instead of going back through the season looking for the errors. He's a busy man now and is here to assist but he did not have time for that so he gave you a break. At that time I even mentioned to you the importance of checking it every day. Hey he makes mistakes, so do we, but to go back one day or once in a while two days is no big deal. But since you got the credit last time now it looks like other records are off as well. I'm waiting for you to again tell him to go through your season plays and/or add some more units to your record. Not right Jake. In fariness those units he credited you could have very well been his mistake, however the point is check it every day. Only a tout would not check it and then say "you are wrong, go back through my plays and get it right". The old Jake knew immediately if his record was off, win or lose, and would have been hell bent on checking it for accuracy. Now more than ever it's imperative the records are correct, at least if you want accurate records.
- Attitude. In the old days you seemed much more humble, even with your great record in bases. I asked you questions myself and got your input and it was all handled very classy. I almost fell out of the chair when I found out you were 19. Now? Well let me show you a very small example I read a few minutes ago you wrote:
...Get used to it Dog. You get shit for every single loss, little acclaim for big nights....
While in fact that statement is true that is the business you have chosen like Frank would say. The bottom line is you have no idea how smart you will be 5 years from now. None! I can't write here what the difference will be and make you believe me. It happens to all of us! In 10 years from now you will look back and say, "man was I a dumbshit at 19". And then 5 years from that point and so on. The difference between a 40 year old and a 19 year old in this business is just astronomical. Your problem isn't so much that but you have stopped even coming across with the appearance you have anything to learn. Any idea or suggestions seem to be taken very poorly by you now and you usually lash out at who presents it. Sure some of them are idiots and do want you to do poorly, but if you treat everyone that way you turn off a whole lot of other decent people along the way. The old Jake would always be polite (even if the guy was a moron) and answer clearly and concisely. If you play on the HIGH ROAD in life you force others to join you if they want to talk to you.
Before I forget I want to say, Jake I appreciate the tone of this talk. I came on kind of harshly and you answered back in a respectful tone. In truth a tone I probably didn't deserve. And already I am feeling bad for jumping on you a little. Trust me that will win you more than you think. For me I have always liked you. Always respected your baseball plays as well, I was and still am the first to admit I can't hold Jake's jockstrap in bases. One thing that made it easy to admit that was the way you handled it. May not be fair in life but you are far less likely to get things when you demand it. I'm talking about acclaim, respect, honor, and all kinds of other stuff. Men will give it to you more easily in two situations.
One if you earn it. Secondly if you don't demand it.
To close I hope this doesn't come off like I am lecturing you. To be honest that long thread where a lot of people took shots at you bothered me. It really did. However looking back a lot of it was deserved. And worse your responses came off like "been there done that". The day you know it all is the day you quit learning. Believe it or not you won't learn shit in off-shore, little in the pick forums and nothing in the board room, but you can learn a hell of a lot here in the Rubber Room. About life. Lots of wise folks live down here. Bullshitters don't make it long down here and the reason is these guys know what it looks like, smells like and talks like. What I am saying is I don't know the tout business, won't pretend to say I do. But I do know people. I've met lots of people and folks will help you more when you make sure to let them know you don't know it all. I can only speak for me but guess which guy I would send my money to:
Hey guys this is Jake Thompson. I am 19 years old and up huge in all the sports. The Recordkeeper has my record wrong but I am winning in everything. I'm tired of you guys picking at me for losses and I would like to see more acclaim for me when I win. Trust me I know the way the world works and how to cap games better than anyone here. Shove that 19 year old crap up your ass. Now who needs my PayPal # again.........?
Or....
Hey guys this is Jake. After a good year in baseball I am now working my butt off on the other sorts. I don't have all the answers right now but no one is going to outwork me. Also I would love if anyone has any messages or tips for me. I think I'm on the right track but at 19 I know I have a lot to learn. I think we can make it work out for both the player and I as I will be easy to work with....
This is just a generic example but perhaps without meaning to you have taken a new tone Jake. No better advertising than a few guys down here chatting you up, won't get it the way you are going. Sorry for the long post. I was 19 once and guess what I knew it all myself. I love that Mark Twain quote. I left home at 14 and when I returned 7 years later I was astonished at how smart my dad had got when I was gone. Not the exact line but close enough. Understand?
Touts? I don't like them. But I do like you. If this post helps you in any sense of the word great. If not I understand, some things you must learn on your own. For you to ignore the poor nature I posted originally with and act like you wanted to hear what I had to say is a good start. I appreciate it. Either way let's start making some money. If I can ever assist you feel free to call upon me. Thanks for listening.
[This message was edited by Patrick McIrish on 12-18-02 at 07:02 PM.]
