Really no substitute for cultivating good working relationships with your fellow owners, as far as facilitating successful trading down the road.
Guys like TZM describes are likely looking to rob guppies or badger the weak-willed into doing something dumb.
I think the first point you brought up is of paramount importance.
I kind of think it is somewhat "our job" as winning fantasy players, to try and be universally liked when it comes to trading and dealing with other league managers in general.
The fact that they enjoy the trade and see it as "fair"/pleasurable, thats only the icing on the cake~!
No, I'm not taking a "holier than thou" stance, but an even more cutthroat angle than you may realize. What more can you want, than for someone to be "satisfied" and they enjoy the league (and trading) so they come back year after year and donate?
This may seem brutal to some of you, but lets call it what it really is. I want each and every owner to come back every year, and be "happy" in general with the trades, the settings, camaraderie... and pretty much everything. This works to our benefit as winning fantasy players, as its a source of yearly income right...?
(if you want to take it a step further, we should all treat each other fairly in life overall, but I am not going that far , just making a point)
Not only that, I like my leagues and the ones I commish, to be
DRAMA FREE. Unfortunately, I have learned its not always that easy. Certain people (even ones I used to consider "friends") just
HAVE to have some type of drama around them. Simply put, they aren't happy unless there is some trouble or conflict going on around them. This is sad, but its true in life.
So I try and have the leagues drama free, and make sure everyone understands and likes everything....
AND I MEAN EVERYTHING. This way when you do win money, you don't have to listen to a bunch of ####, or "yeah you shouldn't have won except for that BS trade". etc. etc. There will always be a bit of that, but keeping it to a minimum in my leagues is the best I can do for all parties involved.
When a guy wins in my leagues, I want him to be able to say with pride... "
THIS WAS MY YEAR~!".
You also mention that sometimes its an owner looking to "badger the weak-willed into doing something dumb". We have a few guys like this, and apparently they think if they keep making bad offers over and over long enough, sooner or later they will get the weak willed person to accept a trade. I have seen it happen, but generally the guys in my league don't go for that garbage.
One particular owner in my leagues, is notorious for just not paying too much attention, and nor is he a "smart owner". He drafts poorly, and he doesn't necessarily make good moves throughout the season, then he likes to complain about certain things. But the real kicker is, he is widely known for "last minute heroics". He will go all the waydown to the last day or two before the trade deadline, and has often gotten some very lopsided trades in his favor, typically from a team thats out of contention too. (I know damn well these offers sometimes come with a "I will give you some $$$ if I win after this" type of underhanded agreement)
Fortunately he has never ultimately won any of our leagues, but I know this type thing has taken place before.
I guess I have prided myself over the last few years, on most of the deals I have made. Even if the guy I am looking to deal with doesn't agree to something, they tend to at least think it was a "fair offer" or a pleasant interaction anyway.
Every time now when a deal is (or is NOT made) I ask a question towards the end. (more often when its NO deal made) Every time they tend to answer now "we might not have made a trade, but I will admit that you gave me a fair offer".... OR " I was thinking or hoping I could get a little more, but I do think the deal is fair".
This response (and Arodin's) will likely go unnoticed since its tucked in this "Bragging/crowing" thread, but I think this is something important that all winning fantasy players should keep in mind or learn from.
It helps to be "liked" in your league, and that people view you as " pleasantly trade able". I very rarely make trades or deals, but almost every time I need it, I get something done or work out something that benefits my team in some fashion.
Let's have some great games this afternoon!
TZM
