Dear PFLers,
Throughout my two years serving you as the PFL Co-Commissioner and player, I have had the honor of seeing this league strive and build up to be a worldwide commodity. The league has expanded its wings to all four corners of the globe and it is all thanks to the dedicated fans and loyal players.
The PFL has bred to be an exciting league, attracting over 6 million fans from 28 different countries. At its peak, the PFL had a 12 man roster, three super bowls, two world champions, and tournaments this country has never seen before. Unfortunately, all great things must come to end, and I am sad to report that the PFL will be shutting its doors for regular play on June 13th, 2003.
My partner and I have brought the PFL to its extreme and now it is time to say goodbye...for now. Times are changing and so are we, and so must the league. With Josh and I departing to different schools, as well as the 8 man roster going elsewhere, there is no other choice but to shut down the doors to the league. Perhaps it will be revived once again after college, or maybe it will be passed on down to a poor soul who needs it most to alleviate his stress from football practice like we once did. There will definitely be more events and games...but regular season play is suspended.
So I’d like to thank all of you for the years of support and dedication you have shown. Josh and I take pride in our work and will not forget this experience. I will not forget the feeling of winning my first championship or having numerous showdowns with my rival, Josh Amiss. The crisp paper football, the glossy shining desk, or the smell of newly written lines on the desk in permanent marker are the things I will treasure most. But most of all, I’ll treasure the memories and the camaraderie I had with fellow players and my dear friend Josh.
With that being said, I’d like to say a final goodbye from us at the PFL. Although this is a hard time for us, keep your eyes open in four years for a return hopefully. Keep flicking and keep believing, we enjoyed it.
Your Co-Comissioner,
Tim Osgood
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Someone wise once said that "all good things must come to an end." I always knew the quote but never really paid any mind to it, until now. I have been a player and co-commissioner for two years in the league that Tim Osgood and I created. We have taken the game of paper football to new heights and brought it to your doorstep. It has been a great ride and I will always cherish the memories of our three seasons playing paper football.
I remember the first day we ever played paper football together in Coach Gearin's block seven marketing class. We were just two zit faced juniors then, both complete rookies trying to figure out the game. Little did we know that that was the beginning of a great rivalry and a breakthrough in the world of sports. After that day we realized how much we loved the game and how it was keeping our minds off of football practice which was usually only an hour away. Tim and I knew that if we were going to follow through with playing this game day after day, then we should do things right and organize a league. Tim and I would push each other to making the next big decision on the league. First, Tim would come up with a good rule, then that would push me to come up with another rule. That would make Tim want to think of the next big idea which would motivate me more. This went on for months but with me and Tim the only players. That would change however as our classmates would see what we were doing and ask us to teach them. Once they would play it they were hooked and that gave us the ability to have tournaments and to form an organized season with multiple players.
After the first week of the season the game hit the streets and we started to get a numerous amount of fans who love the game and wanted to be a part of it. They gave us the fuel to keep going with the league and keep coming up with fresh ideas to keep them interested. They held this league together and I want to thank them for all of their letters and their support, we are here because of you.
I will never forget the memories of the P.F.L and the people who were involved in it. I wish that the league could go on and live forever but it can't. I am sure there will be pick up games every once and a while, but with Tim and I moving on to college and going our seperate ways the P.F.L will never be the same again. I want to thank all of the people who have kept this league alive through the years. Thank you to Joe Poulin who has been there whenever we needed a cameraman or a player, and for your hard work and dedication as Players Union President. Thank you to the "Rookies" of our first season: Nick Reusch, Peter Hajjar, Bob Berube, Fola Aiyeku, Jason Noonan (never played a game in his career), and Craig Lombari. Thank you Coach Gearin for letting us play paper football in the middle of class, and for your guidance and wisdom. Thank you to Mehmet Hergunsel for not flying a plane into my house! (haha just kidding Mehmet we appreciate what you've done in the league). Thanks again to the fans because if it wasn't for you, there would be no P.F.L. And thank you Tim Osgood for creating this league with me, giving me countless duals on the game field, but most of all for giving me the memories that will stay with me forever.
I think it is always good to end a speech with a quote, and since I can't quote many people directly I figured I would use a quote from a song: "And if the cloud bursts thunder in your ear, you shout but no one seems to hear, and if the band you're in starts playing different tunes, I'll see you on the dark side of the moon."
Thank you again, and goodbye,
Joshua Amiss (Co-Commissioner)
Please view the co-commissioner's previous letters to the PFL here.