Quik's Face the Board Answers

[Barkeep49]

Originally Posted by Barkeep49

How did you first hear about FOFC and Front Office Football?

Okay mister host… we’ll start off with a meatball.

An obvious question to answer, but one that I really can’t be too precise about. But I was basically looking for this game long before it existed. I owned and played every single version of Front Page Sports Football and later FB Pro (including running a MP league in FB Pro 96-97-98 for several friends), and then one day stumbled on a combination package of Baseball Mogul and Football Mogul, which intrigued me a lot. After I had played several seasons of FM before finding it to be (for my own tastes) nearly perfect in genre, but rather lacking in execution. I don’t remember how exactly I got to Front Office Football (a web search?), but I eventually did – and that was right around the time of the release of the game we generally called FOF2.

I landed in the Sideline forums, started reading up, was sufficiently impressed with the conversation there, and settled in. Over time, I started posting about what I was doing in-game, and one thing led to another. Before long, I was a contributing writer to the FOF2 strategy guide (though my name escaped the credits somehow), a very frequent visitor to the site, and in time my contributions wandered away from game issues into the dreaded “OT” universe, and at that point the toothpaste was out of the tube.

Originally Posted by Dodgerchick

Are you and new forum member "Quickslant" in any way related?

Originally Posted by PackerFanatic

Have you ever actually been caught in quicksand?

I’ll take these two as a collective question about the screen name. Its origins really aren’t all that interesting, however – back a long time ago, I first got online using AOL, and found my way into chatroom-based trivia contests. I was using a very vanilla screen name (just my initial and last name) at the time, and it was difficult for the moderators to abbreviate it easily. So, I decided I’d come up with something that was more cyber-friendly… and QuikSand seemed to capture some combination of my real name and my reputation for being pretty quick on the draw with the trivia questions. The missing “c” is probably attributable to a sense of balance with two four-letter parts, and perhaps a nudge toward a more cyber-friendly attitude.

Originally Posted by Buccaneer

Why have we spent 6 years trying to find a picture of you on the web?

If that really has been the main focus of your last six years, you have (and deserve) my sincerest condolences.

Really, I recall failing to post a pic back in the day when doing so was something of a chore (especially for a not-so-technically-inclined type like myself) and never was really all that motivated to do so since then. Anyway – the one I happen to have handy is right here, at a very proud moment:



In any event – I’m the one in the dark green fleece. (I’ll let you draw your own conclusion about my hands) The 36-hour-old angel in my hands is baby Elisa Kay, now approaching 11 months.

Here’s a more up-to-date shot of the little lady, from a couple of weeks ago:

Originally Posted by SkyDog

Has becoming a father changed you, and if so, how?

I think there are differing answers to this. My co-workers would probably say that I am a more pleasant and caring person that I was before – or perhaps more likely, I’m a bit less curmudgeonly than before. I have (shockingly, I know) a reputation for being a bit analytical (or maybe being really analytical) and the softer side of me with the baby and talking about her is new to some people. But I don’t think I have really changed as a person – though my priorities certainly have.

My wife and I are absolutely thrilled to be parents, and are enjoying every minute with our little lady. She is very well behaved, has a charming personality, eats and sleeps very well, and has been an absolute delight. Every day, she adds something to our life that makes us wonder how we managed to get by and be happy before she came along.

Originally Posted by wade moore

What is your formal education and how does it apply to your chosen career?

I went to rural public schools in Ohio growing up, and my high school was located basically in the middle of a giant cabbage patch. My mother was very interested in having me to go Cornell (she grew up in western NY), but while we visited their campus we made a stop at Syracuse and for some reason I was very impressed by them – so I ended up turning down a few other intriguing acceptances and going to Syracuse. I stayed there for five years and got my dual major BA in economics and public policy studies, along with a master’s degree in public administration.

After school, I moved to Maryland (for convoluted reasons) and pursued work with the state legislature as a professional policy analyst. I quickly was impressed by the ability I had to really “make a difference” with my work – a variety of weird circumstances actually placed me very prominently on a huge fiscal initiative in my very first year, and I handled the spotlight well, by all accounts. I spent a few years as staff to the House Committee on Ways and Means in Annapolis, and have since worked as a professional advocate (basically a lobbyist) and have a god reputation in this area on a pretty wide range of issues, especially tax and fiscal policy.

My background in economics and public policy serves me pretty well in this field, and the fact that I started out with a strong base of science and math (at one point thinking I would dual major in mechanical engineering and economics) has me among the more numerically-inclined people in my line of work (a sizable majority of lobbyists are actually lawyers, many of whom have very little quantitative skills). I also teach economics at my local community college, and have enjoyed doing so for about the last six or seven years.


Okay, this has gotten too serious… fortunately, many of the continuing questions are of a much lighter nature. Let’s see here…

Originally Posted by JPhillips

What is your favorite recreational spot in the Annapolis area?

I spend a fair amount of time at the Patuxent National Wildlife Refuge, and find it a pretty nice place to do a wide range of things. I am a birdwatcher (as I have shared here) and have had a number of nice sightings there, plus it’s a nice 6+ mile trail that makes for a good bicycle ride, out and back.

I also enjoy getting down to Jug Bay Wetland Sanctuary several times a year, for birding and light hiking.

Originally Posted by JPhillips

In a cage match who comes out alive, Friedman or Keynes?

John Maynard Keynes was a fine economist and social thinker, and made impressive contributions to advance both areas.

Milton Friedman was a titan, upon whose strong shoulders our greatest thinking will be borne for generations to come. I fear I’m caught up in a bit of the most-mortem hyperbole here, but I do indeed think he will be remembered as among the most important people of the 20th century – not meaning the top 100 or anything, but more like the top three or four.

Originally Posted by oykib

Mount Rushmore: minds that have had the greatest impact on human history.

Okay, I do love the Rushmore game.

Aristotle
Newton
Darwin
Einstein

Originally Posted by WSUCougar

Mount Rushmore of bird species

Well, rather than get cute about it, I will try a fairly straightforward list, confining myself to North America to keep this within my area of knowledge:

Bald Eagle
American Robin
Red-Winged Blackbird
Ivory Billed Woodpecker

I wanted to include the “Lord God Bird” (the IBW) as an emblem of a lot of things, even though it wouldn’t have made much of anyone’s list five years ago. It nosed out several other worthy thoughts – this was a hard choice for me.

Originally Posted by albionmoonlight

Desert island. Five Books.

Well, given the profound amount of time implied, I guess I’d re-stoke the fires for the mighty trio of I-started-but-not-even-close great novels… Ulysses, Remembrance of Things Past, and The Magic Mouuntain.

I’d add to that Godel, Escher, Bach as the most thought-provoking book I have ever read. And I suppose I’d want something a little bit fluffier to go along with all that… as an homage to my childhood, maybe a Guinness Book of World Records.

Originally Posted by cuervo72

A relative (say, a sweet old aunt) gives you a gift card for Olive Garden. What do you do?

I suppose there are certain times when the notion of “re-gifting” may be of questionable propriety. I understand there are people who enjoy that sort of thing, so I’d gladly pass on the good wishes to someone who would get something out of the trip.

Honestly, it’s not that I think Olive Garden (or any of its ilk) is truly repugnant, nor am I a true food snob. I just feel that creativity is an important element in a restaurant experience worth paying for and sitting through… and the increasingly popular vanillization of the American restaurant has meaningful creativity as its first casualty.

Originally Posted by cthomer5000

Which would be your preferred method of execution for Billy Joel?

Too easy. Drink furniture polish until the job is finished this time.

Originally Posted by Vince

What's it like to be a part of the ballerz club, yo?

Playing cards for fairly high stakes (stakes that to me would have been completely unimaginable about five years ago) has been a lot of fun. I am a very competitive person in general, and I happen to find poker to be as close to a test of excellence (in some weird ways) as I have ever experienced. To play my best requires a combination of skills – intelligence, knowledge, cunning, discipline, emotional control, and many more intangibles. I think there is a lot of similarity between the philosophical ideal of a “superman” and the perfect poker player.

The fact that it has been, on balance, pretty lucrative, is a nice plus.

Originally Posted by Subby

Why do you insist on spending more than $100 for fashionable dress shirts?

It’s an investment in myself, and possibly in my game. Really.

During our trip to Vegas this summer, following a semi-tricky play in a cash game, a loud player at the table made a speech about “look at this guy, a professional in here, with his fancy shirt and all, making a bet like that!” (Probably a word-for-word quote, that) And there’s no doubt that he adjusted his play based on his overall read, which he said out loud was partially based on appearance, in addition to play.

But more seriously, I just really like a few shirts, and a few indulgences here and there out of the poker fund to improve “quality of life” is as it should be, no?
Oh, and it’s Façonnable, you ignorant brute.

Originally Posted by Flasch186

what do they need to do to Monday Night Football to regain the luster that has been lost over the past 6 or 7 years?

Lost cause. Social phenomena just don’t come back. Nationally televised football on a different night of the week was a great novelty back in the day. Now, it’s over. It’s no big deal.

Originally Posted by panerd

Which gangster from 'The Wire' would make the best head football coach? What about from the police side?

Stringer Bell is my kind of guy, probably heavy into the Xs and Os… might fall for an occasional reverse, though.

From the cops… I think Bunny Colvin is my guy. I think I’d follow him anywhere.

Originally Posted by st.cronin

Down by 4, 2 minutes left in the game, which active qb do you want taking the snaps?

Fine, Tom Brady. Happy?

Originally Posted by SplitPersonality1

Which horses are your early picks for a run at the Derby in 2007?

I really liked CIRCULAR QUAY for the BC Juvenile, and he didn’t exactly embarrass himself. But STEET SENSE looked awfully good against a tough field – and did it at the right track, too. Curse or no curse, I guess he’s got to be at the top of the list.

Originally Posted by SplitPersonality1

If you were stranded on a desert island and you had to choose which annoying children's character would be your only companion, would you choose Elmo or Barney? (Suicide is not an option.)

Important clause at the end there. My baby is too young to have me feeling too deeply about this yet – I’ll hang with Elmo.

Originally Posted by JediKooter

T-Shirts - Tuck them in, yes or no?

Despite the documented predilection for the occasional expensive shirts, I do wear t-shirts fairly often. I think my rule boils down to: with shorts untucked, otherwise tuck them in. Glad we covered this.

Originally Posted by duckman

Paper or plastic?

**shurg**

Originally Posted by John Galt

Do androids dream of electric sheep?

Originally Posted by cartman

What, in your opinion, is the most famous application of '2/3' in world history?

Originally Posted by Subby

Do you ever get tired of the same lame, overcooked jokes about 1) your hatred of Billy Joel 2) your life as a super computer 3) your ginormous civilization-crushing hands 4) certain hilarious fractions

Lumping these three together, for obvious reasons and despite the literary reference…

I don’t think I have much room to complain about the jokes. The “computer” thing I suppose is a certain form of flattery… even though its origins are far more humble than one would expect. Really, the “Quik is just a computer” stuff arose from speculation about my prodigious posting counts at FOFC years ago (back before my numbers were eclipsed) – but I guess (hope?) it has stuck this long for reasons better good than bad.

The Billy Joel thing I brought on myself, I reckon, so I really can’t bitch about that. The “giant hands” gag is courtesy of a former friend of mine, so while I live with the occasional joke, the fact that I have already plotted his demise is enough to get me through.

Most people at FOFC today probably don’t even have a reference for the 2/3 joke, even, which is part of the lore, I guess. Some years ago, I started offering up a variety if puzzles to the FOFC community, including (a couple of times, actually) the delightful probability puzzle usually called “the Monty Hall Puzzle.” In it, you are essentially split into two possible answers… 1/2 or 2/3, and the puzzle just lends itself toward debate about the two answers. There are a couple other similar puzzles, including one other where the correct answer also is 2/3… and somewhere soon after the legend arose that the correct answer to any QuikSand puzzle must just be 2/3.

Anyway – while I haven’t been the source of unending puzzles at FOFC of late, I still regard them as a great avocation of mine, and I torture my students with at least one of them every week.

Originally Posted by cuervo72

Which hat for tomorrow: killjoy, or troublemaker?

You should know by now that the only hat I wear is the safari hat of longstanding FOFC lore.



So, umm… this is the Front Office Football Central site. Anything to do with the actual game?

Originally Posted by Eaglesfan27

Besides QB, what do you think is the most important position in FOF 2007?

Well, I kinda want to say that the answer isn’t really a position, but a style of player. There are just some players who seem to be clearly a cut above, and those are the real impact guys – whether it’s a DE who posts 20 sacks, or a WR with 1800 yards every year – those guys are the ones who make the real difference in the game.

As for a single position – I simply don’t feel right unless I have a solid, run-stopping defensive tackle, no matter what I am trying to do with my FOF team. I very rarely see guys like that who have impact stats, but at the end of the season, I like seeing my team ranked as one of the toughest to run against, and figure that the big guy up front played a real role in that. (I also tend to think that excellent run stopping DTs are criminally undervalued in the real NFL football market)

I really haven’t played enough FOF 20007 to know whether these long-standing opinions need to be altered… so this applies both retrospectively and presumably still today.

Originally Posted by TredWel

Looking back over the many dynasty reports you wrote, which one was your favorite?

I got the itch to write a dynasty thread a long time ago, largely as a way to keep myself motivated in my career. Over time, I have definitely lost count of how many threads I have launched, with varying degrees of detail and widely differing levels of house rules.

My favorite overall dynasty was probably taking over the FOF 2001 Colorado Springs Black Squirrels for maybe 20 seasons or so. I had a crazy, very confining set of overlapping rule that I believe I called “straitjacket rules” at the time, and I really enjoyed keeping the team together under that many restrictions.

Originally Posted by WheelsVT

What are your favorite house rules to use in FOF (if any), and why? How were these affected by FOF2k7?

I don’t have a single set of rules that has been perfect for me. I really enjoy the building process (in FOF and in most other games), but I tend to lose interest once the team gets good and the focus is on maintaining that. So, I like playing “empty cupboard” style and with a variety of restrictions that stretch out the time it takes for the team to come together.

I also have had fun with any number of other rule sets – my “Island of Misfit Toys” concept is usually entertaining, playing with minsal contracts only proved pretty fun in FOF 2004, and putting every player onto one-year contracts was intriguing as well. Jury’s still out on how these will fare in FOF 2007 – again, I just haven’t played the new game that much to get a feel for things.

Originally Posted by MizzouRah

How long would it take for you to win a Super Bowl with the Raiders?

Good heavens. If there were ever a situation screaming out for a real-life empty cupboard, that’s it. Right from the President of the General Partner on down.

Originally Posted by MIJB#19

Jaime Canter or Ron Lyle?

(For the understandably unfamiliar, these are the two QBs who have helmed my IHOF franchise, the Chesapeake Chitterlings)

I think I have to have a special fondness for Ron Lyle, since I maneuvered to draft him, and at the time that was a fairly controversial thing. He iss working out well for us, though the league’s influx of star-caliber QBs over the years has made him just one of many guys who have standout skills.

Jaime Canter was handed to us, played well for us, led us to a title game, and was the face of the franchise for years – but deep down, I can’t help but look at that dispersal draft and wonder why our team selected with its first pick a solid guy who was already in his twilight, while there were several truly outstanding rookie QB prospects sitting out there unclaimed. It’s worked out fine – Chesapeake is a solid franchise in the league, and we’re hopeful about the years ahead.

Originally Posted by Vince

What is your favorite non-FOF text sim?

FOF is, really, just a bullseye for me, as I have said in a number of venues. I think football allows just the right degree of decision-making and detail that I’m looking for, and FOF lets me immerse myself where I want to, and delegate where I don’t.

I have gotten a lot of enjoyment out of the Championship Manager / Football Manager series, and while I haven’t played it as deeply as FOF, I haven’t reached a point in any career where I felt I had really “touched bottom.” It’s a great and immersive game, and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes this genre, regardless if his exposure to the beautiful game.

On the other end of the spectrum, Fast Break College Basketball did the unthinkable for me – took a recruiting-based game, centered in a sport about which I really don’t know too much, and turned it into a game I come back to again and again. It’s a very different experience for me than playing FOF or FM, but FBCB is a wonderful game in its own way as well.

[Subby]

Good stuff. It's interesting - beyond all of the puzzles and intellectual debate and straight out ballin' - Quik is just an all-around down-to-earth good guy.

I count myself lucky to know him.

[3ric]

Thanks for sharing, QS.

[albionmoonlight]

An awesome beginning to Face the Board.

[VPI97]

Good read.

Even though I should have put 2 and 2 together at some point, I don't think I ever realized that you went to Syracuse. I'm truly sorry to hear that and I weep for your eternal soul.

[Draft Dodger]

Great read. Thanks QS.

[KWhit]

Nice. Good stuff, Quik.

But the way you talk about those shirts make me suspect that you're a bit of a poof.

[wade moore]

Great read. Somehow in all this time I failed to realize what you actually do for a living, but it definitely makes sense now.

[Eaglesfan27]

Excellent read. Thanks Barkeep for organizing this and thanks to QS for the thoughtful answers.

[vtbub]

Wonderful read.

[NoMyths]

Originally Posted by So sez Quik:

I spent a few years as staff to the House Committee on Ways and Means in Annapolis, and have since worked as a professional advocate (basically a lobbyist) and have a god reputation in this area on a pretty wide range of issues, especially tax and fiscal policy.

This I can believe.

Good stuff indeed, though it's a bit frightening how much of the information I remembered from being here for so many years. Nice way to indulge in some nostalgia, though.

[Pumpy Tudors]

That was enjoyable. I can't wait to learn about other members of the board. Fantastic stuff.

[JPhillips]

Nice read. I was especially touched by his reaction to being a father. I just said basically the same thing to my Mom the other day about my little girl.

QS: If you read this, do you think the Patuxent Preserve would be a good place to take a two year old? I live pretty close by(on Powder Mill Rd. west of Rt. 1) and wondered if it was a place I could go with Langley.

[JeeberD]

Great stuff, Quik.

Originally Posted by wade moore

Somehow in all this time I failed to realize what you actually do for a living, but it definitely makes sense now.

Ditto. For some reason I thought teaching was your full-time gig.

[wade moore]

Originally Posted by JeeberD

Great stuff, Quik.




Ditto. For some reason I thought teaching was your full-time gig.

I knew teaching was a part-time thing, but I also realized that in all this time here I never did see what he actually did for a living. I actually partially wondered if it was something he kept under wraps and wouldn't answer.

[QuikSand]

Thanks to everyone for the questions and the compliments. And for finding the occasional well-placed Freudian typo.

Originally Posted by JPhillips

QS: If you read this, do you think the Patuxent Preserve would be a good place to take a two year old? I live pretty close by(on Powder Mill Rd. west of Rt. 1) and wondered if it was a place I could go with Langley.

If you like the outdoors, it's a nice place for a walk - there are several trails, and a nice visitor center with a few things that kids would like. Nothing too fancy, but worth the trip, I reckon.

[Ksyrup]

I would not have taken you for a lobbyist. Placed against 98% of the lobbyists I've known/worked with, you would appear to have the clear advantage of applying substantive knowledge to your advocacy efforts.

[Toddzilla]

Who knew Big Blue could procreate?

[John Galt]

A very interesting read, although I'm still wondering if androids really do dream of electric sheep.

[timmae]

great stuff indeed... keep 'em coming.

[Warhammer]

Originally Posted by John Galt

A very interesting read, although I'm still wondering if androids really do dream of electric sheep.

I think they stop at 10 / 11.

[digamma]

Thanks for this. Good idea for a board feature.

[Toddzilla]

Originally Posted by Warhammer

I think they stop at 10 / 11.

Well played, sir.

[Warhammer]

Originally Posted by Toddzilla

Well played, sir.

At least someone got it!

[Antmeister]

Wow....very good read. It was cool to see a window into someone else's life. Good job elaborating on the numerous questions. I actually expected one or two sentence for each one, but this was pretty good.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Doesn't QuikSand get to pick the next person to "face the board"? I guess we'll find out who he chooses in the next day or two. Whoever it is, that person has a tough act to follow.

[MizzouRah]

What a great idea, thanks to QS!!

[Lorena]

Thanks BK for setting it up and QS for the read. I also expected 1 sentence answers and enjoyed it quite a bit.

[gkb]

Good read Quik...I think the most interesting part was learning what you do for a living. Ever get the itch to be crazy, quit your job, and try to be a professional poker player?

[Dutch]

That was a fun read and informative. Great job, Quiksand.

[SnDvls]

bravo to Barkeep and Quik

althought I don't know you personally I feel I "know" you more now

thanks for sharing.

[Izulde]

Fantastic read

[Draft Dodger]

Originally Posted by Pumpy Tudors

That was enjoyable. I can't wait to learn about other members of the board. Fantastic stuff.

Loren next, pls

[Galaxy]

Originally Posted by Pumpy Tudors

Doesn't QuikSand get to pick the next person to "face the board"? I guess we'll find out who he chooses in the next day or two. Whoever it is, that person has a tough act to follow.

I like that idea.


Great job QS.

[Vince]

Bravo!

[Barkeep49]

Originally Posted by Pumpy Tudors

Doesn't QuikSand get to pick the next person to "face the board"? I guess we'll find out who he chooses in the next day or two. Whoever it is, that person has a tough act to follow.

Quik has submitted his choice and that person has agreed, so the new thread will be up tomorrow.

[wade moore]

Originally Posted by Barkeep49

Quik has submitted his choice and that person has agreed, so the new thread will be up tomorrow.

You tease.

[Anthony]

i hope it's Subby. my favorite FOFCer.

[Galaxy]

For some reason, I always pictured Quik as a glasses-wearing accountant.

[Anthony]

i wasn't entertained by this particular segment (although it was indeed touching seeing how proud he is to be a dad and nice to finally put a face to the name since this is someone i've interacted with for nearly a decade now). i'm hoping Subby is the next person to be interviewed, he'll provide more in the way of comedy and entertainment. please let it be Subby.

[Anthony]

....or Kodos. he's my 2nd favorite FOFCer. he is funny man #2 in my book. i just want to be entertained. please, no one boring like Pumpy or cthomer or Jim.

[Poli]

Wow. The things people do when I'm gone.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Well, now I feel like shit.

[Subby]

I hope its Pumpy. It would be cool to get a scrapbook-style FTB

[albionmoonlight]

It will be nice to finally see what Pumpy looks like.

[Chas in Cinti]

i would like to echo the thoughts... hard to believe we've been doing this for almost a decade...

[QuikSand]

Originally Posted by gkb

Ever get the itch to be crazy, quit your job, and try to be a professional poker player?

It has come up from time to time at our household. Being new parents, it's a good deal less attractive than it was a while ago, but we fairly frequently had conversations about this sort of thing. But really, only one of us was ever truly committed to the idea enough to really say "thumbs up" and so I (wisely, I think) have remained among the tourists, rather than the professionals.

[digamma]

I spent a few years as staff to the House Committee on Ways and Means in Annapolis, and have since worked as a professional advocate (basically a lobbyist) and have a god reputation in this area on a pretty wide range of issues, especially tax and fiscal policy.

So, it's actually omniscience, rather than CPU driven ability.

[Senator]

This was really a great thing to read.

Now Bucc can focus on other holy grails.