Remember Tomorrow - A TCY/FOF Dynasty

[Franklinnoble]

*******************

This dynasty is the third part of an ongoing series. It will make a lot more sense if you go back and read the first two parts:

Interest Chargers

Escape To Yesterday

*******************

[Franklinnoble]

Tempe, Arizona
August, 1992

Franklin Brown awoke at about 10 a.m. in the morning. Being in a new place hadn't diminished his ability to sleep in late.

He didn't feel too guilty about it. There was nothing scheduled for today, other than taking a walk around the campus and getting familiar with his new surroundings. He had been up until about midnight the night before moving his belongings into his new dormitory room. He'd return the U-Haul trailer today before lunch, he decided.

Arizona State University was about 2,500 miles from his home in Maryland, and that suited him just fine. Franklin was about a week from his 18th birthday, and he had wanted to get as far from home for a long time. He was to major in Aerospace Engineering, at his father's behest, but that wasn't really a subject that interested him. Still, since he had no idea what he wanted to do with his life, he went with the program.

He was fortunate enough to be well-equipped as a college freshman. He came west with a pickup truck (which he would return at the end of his freshman year, so his brother would have a car to drive) and a motorcycle (which was to be his primary transportation - it was cheap, and well suited for the desert climate). He had a private studio dorm room, and a brand new computer... a top of the line 486, with 8MB of RAM and a 210MB hard drive, running the latest version of MS-DOS, and Windows 3.1. It was the only thing he had unboxed so far.

***

The package had been in high orbit for 165 years. It was time to return.

It had not been idle the entire time. With a limitless supply of solar energy and ambient space debris, it had constructed a counterpart - a communications and surveillance satellite that would remain behind. It had also done a great deal of data gathering; as much as an intelligent computer could manage in the pre-Internet era.

The self-propulsion jets re-emerged from the sides of the package, and soon, re-entry was made. It knew the exact location of its master, and now was the time for him to know his destiny.

[sterlingice]

Oh great. Now I've gotta bookmark yet another thread.

SI

[Franklinnoble]

Tempe, Arizona
August, 1992

The package had made its way undetected through re-entry, and now hovered approximately 300 feet over the eastern edge of the campus of Arizona State University. It would have to find its way into room D504 without being seen. The photoreflective camoflage was effective at a distance, but up close, it could be spotted. Taking the elevator was not an option.

***

It was late afternoon when Franklin returned to the dorm room. After returning the trailer, he had spent the day on campus, finding the locations of his classes and purchasing books and supplies. He hadn't decided what to do about dinner, but figured on taking the motorcyle out for a spin in the warm desert evening.

Then the phone rang. Franklin answered it. "Hello?"

"Franklin, I need you to open your window." The voice sounded eerily familiar.

"Who's this? My window is already open." Both of his windows had been propped open most of the day.

The line went dead. Franklin walked toward the window, only to see a shimmering object hover through it.

"Holy crap!" The object settled on his desk. It's color became solid black. It was about the size of a briefcase.

The 'lid' opened, to reveal what looked like a laptop computer screen. It took on a soft blue glow, and then a face appeared in the picture. It spoke.

"Don't panic. You should probably sit down."

Franklin picked up a hammer and held it threateningly. "What the hell is this? What's going on? Who are you?" He looked out the window to see if the culprit were about.

"Franklin, shut the windows and sit down, please. You can beat the hell out of this device all you want - it won't make a difference." The voice was the same he had heard on the phone. And the face looked strangely familiar. Franklin stared at it.

"Who are you?" He stood still in the middle of the room, still wielding the hammer.

"Can't see the resemblance? I'm you, nimrod. About 100 years older, or so. Depending on how you calculate it. I've sent you this device from your future."

"Yeah, right. I'll buy that. Prove it."

"I can tell you anything you want to know about yourself. I know everything from how you dented that BMW while parking at the Giant grocery store on the first day you got your driver's license to how you used to hide your comic books from Dad inside your drum set."

Franklin's eyes went wide. "There's no way you could know that. I've never told anybody any of that."

"Please sit down. This is going to be a long story."

[finkenst]

nice!

and on the busiest shopping day of the year!

[Franklinnoble]

Thanks... I'm not planning on doing much shopping today.

[Franklinnoble]

Tempe, Arizona
August, 1992

Franklin never ate dinner that night, and he didn't get to sleep until about 4 a.m. What his futuristic counterpart had to tell him was overwhelming, and would have been unbelievable, had it not come from himself.

When he awoke at about 10 a.m., he thought for a moment that it had all been a bizarre dream, but the package was still sitting on his desk - apparently idle, although Franklin knew better. It had asked to be plugged into his phone line last night - Franklin wondered how it was getting along.

The message still resonated with him as he showered. I have seen civilization as we know it completely destroyed twice over. Molecular nanotechnology is the most dangerous scientific advance in the history of mankind, and you must be a guardian against its misuse.

Other parts of the message were equally disturbing. In his original timeline, he never finished school. That wouldn't happen again.

He toweled off and got dressed, and sat down at his desk. The screen on the nanocomputer flashed to life. The device didn't bother with a graphical facial representation this time, but it did speak.

"Good morning, sunshine. Are you ready to get started?"

"Started with what? I'm still trying to digest the convoluted history lesson you just gave me last night."

"That's just the tip of the iceberg. You need to be prepared to be a guardian against armageddon. The sooner we start, the better."

"Ok. What's the plan?"

"Well, for starters, we get you upgraded. Nanotech implants will not only guard you against any future attacks, they'll keep you alive longer. And they'll probably keep you from flunking out of school again."

"Wait a minute... you said it was going to be a few decades before nanotechnology comes about... why do I need implants now?"

"Because you never know when somebody is going to decide to screw around with the timeline. For all we know, there could be somebody here from the future now. The implants will improve you physically and mentally. You'll be nearly indestructable, and you'll have the strength of ten men. You'll be able to remain in constant contact with me via the communications satellite - through which you'll have perpetual surveillance and access to the most advanced information and intelligence system in the world."

"Sweet. I'll get good grades, and I can walk-on the football team here."

"Good grades are fine, but football would be a bad idea."

"Why? You said I'd have the strength of ten men. I'd be a kick-ass linebacker."

"You need to maintain a low-profile for at least the next ten or twelve years or so. I don't want to disturb the timeline too much, and I didn't become a public figure until I took over ownership of the Chargers in 2003. Playing football would make you a local and national celebrity in very short order, and that would be too disruptive."

"Oh, come on... you know how much of a dream that is of mine."

"This isn't about you, Franklin. While you may enjoy fantastic benefits as a result of this technology, you're not getting it for your own self-promotion. There are bigger things at stake here, and you must keep that in mind."

"You're right. So, how do I get implanted?"

"Just put your hand on the surface of the computer. Anywhere is fine."

Franklin pressed his palm to the device. He felt a brief, cool, tingling sensation - sort of as if his hand had fallen to sleep for a moment.

"That's it. The nanites are in. They'll take a few days to take effect, but the changes will be pretty drastic. You haven't finished growing yet - this will accellerate that. Fortunately, you don't know anyone here that will notice the sudden change... keep it that way for the next week or so. By the time you go home to see the family for Christmas, they'll just assume you've had a nice growth spurt, which is actually about what happens in the original timeline anyway."

"Nice. So, that's it?"

"Not exactly. You're going to need money - lots of it. In order to be able to influence the research and development of this technology, as well as the political direction of the future, you need to be in a position of substantial power. Most of that will be my job."

"What, you're going to start printing money now?"

"Actually, yes, but I can only do a few thousand dollars or so without drawing much attention. The bulk of the capital will be raised through more conventional means. The stock market is going to heat up in the next few years, and we'll make most of the money there. We'll also be taking a trip to the racetrack a few times a year, and maybe even Las Vegas."

"Racetrack?"

"I know the winner of every major horse race for the next few decades. I also know the winners of every major sporting event. So, we can make a few careful bets to get the seed money. The investments will be a lot easier to manage once the world wide web takes off."

"Sweet. So, are the Redskins going to repeat this year?"

"Uhh, no. You should savor that Super Bowl win. It's going to be a while."

Franklin frowned. He changed the subject. "Alright, so what have you been doing on the phone all this time?"

"While there's no Internet for me to tap into, I can still dial in to the university, and a few banks and corporations. I'm doing surveillance, mostly, but I've also managed to establish a few accounts for you, and I've taken care of your tuition for this semester. You can tell Dad you've established in-state residency and gotten more scholarship money. He won't ask too many questions, and this will give you a little more autonomy."

"Wow. Anything else?"

"Not for right now. You should probably go get breakfast. Remember, don't interact with too many people today if you can help it... you won't recognize yourself in a day or so."

[JeeberD]

I want nanotech implants...

[Franklinnoble]

When I came up with this concept, I had this in mind:

[GoldenEagle]

Originally Posted by JeeberD

I want implants...

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by Franklinnoble

When I came up with this concept, I had this in mind:

Oh, were you, butthead?

SI

[Franklinnoble]

Originally Posted by ardent enthusiast

You probably think the Cubs have a shot at winning the World Series, then, huh?

Nah... managing a TCY and FOF career in one dynasty is enough... I won't be adding OOTP.

But our hero will be able to put some money on the Red Sox.

[StanGunner]

-----------got to get this back to first page.... come on Franklin..holidays over
we want more!
we want more!

[Franklinnoble]

Tempe, AZ
May, 1994

Franklin had now just about finished two years at Arizona State. He was majoring in computer science, which was appropriate, considering his extracurricular activities.

While he still lived on campus during most of the school year, he also had purchased a large estate in the southern part of Tempe. It was several acres that would have ended up as a subdivision in a few years. He bought the land, surrounded it with an 8 foot brick wall and a lot of shurubbery, and then built a cozy little mansion on the spot. His current net worth was over 50 million dollars, and he was just getting started.

Nobody really knew about any of it. He certainly couldn't tell his parents. It hadn't been easy to accumulate that much wealth in a hurry - it was hard to cover his tracks. But the nanotechnology gave him an advantage that the government, or, more importantly, large casinos, couldn't match.

He'd surely have been banned from just about every casino in the world by now without it. That industry was closely knit, and his uncanny abilities as a card counter, his ridiculous luck at the roulette wheel, and his nostradamic knowledge of the outcome of sporting events would have surely been noticed, had he only one identity.

But he had more than one identity. The nanotechnology could make him look like just about anyone, of any race (he drew the line at impersonating women). Over the last year and a half, he had visited Las Vegas, Monaco, and Atlantic City on numerous occassions. He had used over 75 different personas. He could create foolproof credentials for any identity he wanted, and by spreading himself around in this manner, he had amassed a fortune in short order.

Most of the money was now carefully invested. He knew every major trend to expect from the stock market, and he would be certain to capitalize on it. His plan was to finish school and start his own company. He would have to remain modest in his ambitions for another ten years or so, but by then, he would be worth billions, and nothing would be beyond his reach.

Today, however, he planned to try out a new development, something he had been working on with the artificial intelligence that his future self had sent to him. It was Friday afternoon, and he was in the basement lab of his estate.

He spoke to the large computer screen on the wall. "We need to give you a name."

"I already have a name." The computer replied.

"No, you have my name, and my memories. Even most of my personality, it seems. But I can't go around calling you 'Franklin.' It's just too weird."

"Fine. Call me John."

"John? Why John?"

"Because it's simple. And I'm not programmed to be any more creative than that."

"Whatever. Fine. Are you ready for the upload?"

"Yes. The micro fusion core is online and stable. I'm moving over now."

Across the room stood a chrome humanoid robot. Its skeletal structure was largely exposed, with the rest being largely a mass of carbon nanofibre. It was already online and reasonably sentient, and had been doing chores around the house for about a week. It was now being upgraded with a new intelligence - John's intelligence.

The robot spoke. "Well, that seemed to have worked." It moved its arms and hands about. "I have full command of the robot now. The uplink to the main computer is stable. I should be good to go."

"Well, not like that, you're not. Jump in the tank and get dressed."

The "tank" was a large vat of nanomachines that Franklin kept in the lab. They were available for rapid fabrication of whatever he might need. John lept into the vat and emerged with a swirling mass of the black molecular machines crawling over his robotic body. They eventually congealed, and gave him the appearance of a normal man, clothes and all.

"You look like me. In about 30 years or so. I think you should probably change your appearance a bit." Franklin remarked.

"You're right. This was just the first thing that came to me." John's hair suddenly became blonde. His jaw and cheek bones changed shape a bit, and he looked like no more than perhaps a distant relative.

"That'll do. I'm going to go get changed. We should probably leave in a little bit."

"Are you sure you want to do this? I don't know if its a good idea."

"I'm sure. I just want to see. I'm not going to do anything else about it. I have to know."

***

It was a favorite hangout for just about any kid with a motorcycle on Friday nights. For some reason, they all congregated in a parking lot on Mill Avenue and did a whole lot of nothing. They'd pick up girls, go for rides, and come back. Occasionally, a few of them would walk next door to the Jack in the Box for burgers and shakes. Otherwise, it was a typical waste of time for young men who couldn't think of anything more intelligent to do with themselves.

Franklin stood across the street and watched. John stood next to him.

"So that's her?"

"Yep. Just like I remember."

"Doesn't it bother you a bit to see her?"

"No. All I have is your memories. I don't really have any feeling one way or another about her. It ended very badly, you know."

"I know. You told me. It's weird. I mean, I've changed a lot of my own history up to this point, but this seems like a bigger deal than all of that."

"Get over it. She's not worth it. She's a big reason why you quit school. And in five years, she'll screw you over like you can't imagine."

"Right. Well, I had to see. Let's go get a pizza."

"Sure."

[JeeberD]

Oooh, the evil Ex-Wife!

[Franklinnoble]

Originally Posted by JeeberD

Oooh, the evil Ex-Wife!

Yeah. I had something more dastardly in mind, but that wouldn't have seemed too realistic.

Besides, she didn't really become an uber-pain-in-the-ass-bitch for another few years from that point.

[Wolfpack]

But if in this situation, the NFL started with 32 teams in 1920, wouldn't that mean the NFL of this timeline is completely different from the one in the OTL or did Franklin's self-immolation in 1827...now I've gone cross-eye....

[Franklinnoble]

Originally Posted by Wolfpack

But if in this situation, the NFL started with 32 teams in 1920, wouldn't that mean the NFL of this timeline is completely different from the one in the OTL or did Franklin's self-immolation in 1827...now I've gone cross-eye....

You've basically got it.

The events in 1827 essentially "re-set" the timeline to its original state. The encapsulated A.I. that was left in orbit stayed out of the way until 1992.

Essentially, here's how I see this dynasty working out: I'm going to basically leave history alone until 2004 (with the exception of our protagonist's personal life). At that point, I'm going to start a FOF2k4 5.1b career with a real roster file. I'm also going to start a TCY career at that point, to generate draft files with (even though we have a draft file generator, and I don't really need to... I have a few things I wanna do with both games). I may even incorporate a feature I used in an earlier dynasty, where readers suggest players for each year's draft file.

[Franklinnoble]

dola...

This basically means that, with Jeebs reading the thread, we're probably going to have a disproportionate amount of UTEP players in the NFL after 2004...

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by Franklinnoble

dola...

This basically means that, with Jeebs reading the thread, we're probably going to have a disproportionate amount of UTEP players in the NFL after 2004...

Kansas, too? Eh, pretty please?

SI

[JeeberD]

Originally Posted by Franklinnoble

dola...

This basically means that, with Jeebs reading the thread, we're probably going to have a disproportionate amount of UTEP players in the NFL after 2004...

Woot!

[Franklinnoble]

Tempe, AZ
September, 2001

Franklin slammed open the door to the basement lab and screamed.

"Why the hell didn't you tell me about this?!?"

John was sitting at the main console, watching the news feed from several different networks. "Because you would have stopped it."

"You can bet your ass I would have stopped it. And we should have stopped it, dammit! This is outrageous!"

"We're not here to change history on a global scale, Franklin. At least not for a few more years. If you had stopped it, there's no telling what it would have done to the timeline."

"Bullshit. Thousands of people are dead. There might be more planes out there. There might be time to still do something about it. He rushed to the console and queried the surveillance satellite."

"Don't bother. There are no more planes. There were only four. The two in New York, one in D.C., and the one that went down in Pennsylvania."

Franklin didn't listen. He had the satellite run a full sweep anyway. "I can't believe you fucking did that. All those people..."

"I've got news for you, Franklin: this happens every day. About 3,000 Americans died today in these attacks. We lose more in car accidents in a month. In Rwanda, they can kill twice that many in a day. So, while this attack has huge political implications, and will drastically shape the course of world history, the actual death toll is relatively small. We can't save everyone, but we can do what's best for the course of history. We're here to prevent global genocide at the hands of madmen with nanotechnology. That's a big enough job. We leave the rest alone."

Franklin slammed his fists on the desk and stormed out of the room. "That sounds like a cop-out to me, you heartless son of a bitch."

[Franklinnoble]

Originally Posted by ardent enthusiast

Quick, redirect the USS Nimitz. Please.

Please explain...

[Franklinnoble]

Tempe, Arizona
August, 2004

Every year, Forbes magazine publishes a list of the wealthiest people in America. There are plenty of billionaires omitted, because many of them have no interest in seeing their names printed in a magazine. Within ten years of receiving the Package, Franklin could have topped the list, had he seen fit to make his assets public.

But they weren't public. In fact, they were excruciatingly private. They were hidden in countless offshore accounts and dozens of foreign holding companies. A brilliant, motivated accountant with top-notch security clearance and a team of computer experts might be able to trace a portion of it, but for the most part, he was the world's most anonymous rich person.

That was about to change.

Franklin did have a few domestic interests that were masked, but not as painstakingly so. A clever reporter and a lot of legwork would reveal a private investor who held controlling interest in several trading companies, technology start-ups, and venture capital firms. The investigation might disclose a total net worth of about $2 billion. It was a fraction of his true value, but it would satisfy the curiosity of most.

With those assets, Franklin was about to make himself a public figure. He was going to buy himself a little present for his 30th birthday.

The Arizona Cardinals.

The Cardinals were quite possibly the most hapless and poorly managed team in all of pro sports, and they were right in his backyard. It had taken a lot of political bribery, and a small miracle, it seemed, for the team to secure public funding for a new stadium, so the time was right for the Bidwell's to sell out. They weren't really going to make the team any better, and the speculative value of the franchise was never going to be greater than it was now. Franklin made the family an offer they couldn't refuse: $700 million. It was more than twice the estimated value of the team, and in the ballpark of what Dan Snyder had paid for the Redskins a few years earlier (and the Redskins owned their stadium outright, and had a season ticket waiting list about 20 years long). In short, it was a ridiculous amount of money.

To Franklin, it was inconsequential. He had been micromanaging a financial empire for over a decade (with the help of a very gifted artificial intelligence), but it had grown stale and repetitive. He'd never been able to do anything with his fortune that would attract attention. Until now. Now, he would surely attract attention.

The press conference at the Cardinal's headquarters and training facility in Tempe was somewhat unexpected, and not very well attended. One local television station and two newspapers had sent representatives. The Cardinals weren't very newsworthy, and for good reason. Even though they had hired new head coach Dennis Green in the off-season, expectations were low, and nobody got excited to hear the team publicist make an unheralded announcement. It was how Franklin wanted it. The ones who showed up would be the die-hards. They deserved a little something for their trouble.

Ron Welch was the beat reporter from the Arizona Republic assigned to the conference. He could hardly be classified as a die-hard. He was two months out of school, and considered himself lucky to have a job as a reporter at all. The sports editor had sent him over to do the story because everyone else was busy. His job was to tape the interview, ask a few smart questions if he could think of any, and bring it back to the office. It probably wouldn't even be anything worth printing, but the Republic had to cover it. Welch enjoyed the free coffee and danish that was provided as he waited for the conference to start.

Karl Abraham, the Cardinals director of Public Relations, approached the podium. The lone television camera was rolling. The news photographers didn't bother taking any stills. Karl wasn't very photogenic - another in the list of obvious gaffes by the Cardinals management. He spoke.

"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming out this morning. It is my duty to announce the end of an era in the history of the Cardinals football club. Bill Bidwill has just completed the sale of the franchise to new team owner Franklin Brown. Mr. Brown has purchased 100% of the team for the sum of 700 million dollars, and will immediately assume ownership and management of the franchise. Mr. Bidwill will not be available for comment."

The room exploded with activity. Flashbulbs went off, and a soft roar of muttering arose as reporters expressed disbelief, and made hurried phone calls to their editors. This was big news indeed. A television reporter asked, "When was this deal finalized, and howcome the Bidwill's intention to sell wasn't made known sooner?"

Abraham replied. "Mr. Brown will be happy to answer all of your questions after he has made a brief statement. In fact, it is now my pleasure to introduce the new owner of the Arizona Cardinals, Franklin Brown."

Franklin, who had been unnoticed as he stood towards the back of the room, stepped up to the podium, and spoke. "Thank you, Mr. Abraham, and members of the press. I will ask you to please hold all questions until I've had a chance to read a brief statement."

He continued. "My name is Franklin Brown. I am a private investor and venture capitalist, and a graduate of Arizona State University, as well as a resident of the City of Tempe for the last dozen years. I am a proud Arizonan, and a life long football fan, and I have watch for too long as our NFL franchise has floundered in a state of pathetic mediocrity.

No, mediocrity isn't the right word, because we haven't even been mediocre. We've been horrible. I mean to change that. I have purchased this team with my own money. I owe no debt towards this franchise, and I have ample assets to invest in its improvement. I intend to do so. The public has been generous enough to support us with their attendance and a new stadium, and now it's time to pay it back. While there is little room for improvement in this coming season, every member of this franchise is on notice - I will spare no expense to make this entire organization better, so if you aren't the best at your job, you'd better polish up your resume, because I will find a replacement.

I am assuming control of all football operations. Everyone reports to me. I will handle the general management duties and all decisions related to personnel.

I am going to compete aggressively, and I am going to market this team aggressively. I intend to make sure that visiting teams no longer have a home field advantage in our stadium. The first step towards that goal is making the team identifiable with our fans and with our home. So we're getting rid of the Cardinals nickname. It's absurd. There are no native cardinals in Arizona, and the name means more to St. Louis than it does to Phoenix. We will solicit the input of the people, and come up with a new mascot following this season. This is your team, folks. We want you to be a part of it."

Franklin paused. The cameras rolled. Reporters scribbled furiously. He continued. "I'll now be happy to take your questions."

The TV reporter spoke again. "When did the Bidwill's decide to sell, and how was their decision kept secret until now?"

Franklin replied. "The Bidwill's didn't decide to sell. I decided to buy. I made them an offer that was twice what the team is worth, and, let's face it, for them, this was a business; a means to turn a profit. They accepted the offer, and have already finalized their exit from the team completely. They have no wish to comment at this time, and we have mutually agreed not to discuss the terms or circumstances of the sale any further."

Ron spoke up, "You said the entire franchise was 'on notice.' What exactly does that mean, and what changes do you expect to make?"

"It means what it means. Everyone, from the front office to the locker room, from the secretary to the towel boy, everyone is on notice. I will evaluate the performance of every coach, player, scout, and every other employee within the organization following the completion of this season, and make as many changes as I deem appropriate. This means I may very well fire the lot of them. Or, I may keep everyone on board. It all depends on how the team peforms. As I said, if you wish to remain, you'd better be the best in the business."

Another reporter spoke, "We're all pretty familiar with most of the entrepreneur's in the region, but I don't think any of us have ever heard of you. If you don't mind, how did you come by your fortune, and how have you managed to remain so anonymous until now?"

"I do mind. Next question."

The TV reporter spoke again, "How much involvement do you expect to have with regards to player personnel and such? Are you worried about establishing a reputation as a meddlesome owner, along the lines of Jerry Jones and Daniel Snyder?"

"First of all, I will be involved in all personnel decisions. I expect to retain an expert scouting and coaching staff, but I will make all final decisions, from draft picks to roster cuts. Anyone in the organization who has a problem with this can hand me their resignation right now. Secondly, there's nothing wrong with how Mr. Jones or Mr. Snyder do business. Their teams are two of the most financially successful franchises in all of sports, and all they do is spend money to try and win. Their fans appreciate that they care about winning, above all else. The attendance numbers prove it. The TV ratings prove it. The merchandise sales prove it. Mr. Jones has won three Super Bowls. Mr. Snyder hasn't been as fortunate on the field as of yet, but I'm sure it's only a matter of time."

Ron spoke again. "Do you intend to make any immediate roster moves?"

Franklin replied. "No. Every player on the team will have an opportunity to prove himself. Some contracts may be re-negotiated to give us a better salary cap to work with in the off-season, but no one will be cut right now."

"Have you contacted any other teams about potential trades?"

"I just signed the papers last night, Mr. Welch. Give me a few minutes to swing a Herschel Walker deal, will you?"

A few laughs rose from the crowd. Ron wondered how he had known his name. Another reporter spoke, "What new franchise nicknames do you have in mind?"

"I'll do a little brainstorming and publish a list in the next few weeks. I encourage our fans to write in or call with their suggestions. On that note, I must bring this conference to a close. We have a lot of work to do. Please contact our public relations department with any further inquiries."

Franklin stepped away from the podium and walked out of the room. Ron Welch scribbled some more notes and dialed his editor. He would have his first by-line after all, it seemed.

[Franklinnoble]

OK... I'm open to suggestions for team nicknames. I may even post a poll.

I'm partial to the "Copperheads."

[Franklinnoble]

Alright... franchise nicknames so far:

Arizona Copperheads
Arizona Gila Monsters
Arizona Bombers
Arizona Cannons
Arizona Mercenaries
Arizona Infantry
Arizona Cavalry

I had a military theme going there... anyhow, please post your suggestions.

Thanks...

[JeffNights]

The Arizona Scorch.

[Franklinnoble]

Originally Posted by ardent enthusiast

So, no hope for changing the history of one ET2(SW) Polston?

Uhh... no. Sorry. Gotta stay outta the way of the timeline, you know. We wouldn't want Biff to end up owning a casino and ruling the town of Hill Valley, would we?

[Franklinnoble]

dola... although... I could probably think of SOME way to work you into the story, post 2004. If you want.

[Franklinnoble]

Come on folks... no other name suggestions?

I want to have this poll posted tonight.

[Cap Ologist]

How about the Chapparals or Scorpions?

[Franklinnoble]

I was also thinking of going with an old-school USFL name, like the Wranglers or the Outlaws...

[Franklinnoble]

I'm going to post the poll at around noon Pacific time. Here's the list so far - I'm going to trim it a bit:

Arizona Copperheads
Arizona Gila Monsters
Arizona Bombers
Arizona Cannons
Arizona Mercenaries
Arizona Infantry
Arizona Cavalry
Arizona Scorch
Arizona Wranglers
Arizona Outlaws
Arizona Chapparals
Arizona Scorpions

Any more suggestions?

[StanGunner]

I'll second scorch.

[Franklinnoble]

OK... the poll is up. Multiple choice is OK.

http://dynamic2.gamespy.com/%7Efof/f...ad.php?t=33588

Go vote.

[Franklinnoble]

I'm crazy about polls... we're having a run-off election:

http://dynamic2.gamespy.com/%7Efof/f...ad.php?t=33645

[Franklinnoble]

I think Ardent has vote-whored his way to a Gila Monsters victory in the polls.

Of course, I'm not really bound by it.

[JeeberD]

Election fraud!!!

[Franklinnoble]

Originally Posted by JeeberD

Election fraud!!!

What, me ignoring the poll, or AE stuffing the ballots?

I really think Gila Monsters is too clunky for a team name... I dunno...

[Franklinnoble]

Update coming soon...

I still need a logo pack, folks.

[Franklinnoble]

Tempe, AZ
September, 2004

With the new team name still undetermined, Franklin got down to the business of preparing the franchise for an overhaul. Nearly every contract on the roster was re-negotiated, for two reasons - one, to improve the team's salary cap position for this year and the next, and, two, to keep everyone under contract during their "evaluation" period.

Veteran MLB Ronald McKinnon refused to re-negotiate at a reasonable salary level, and was promptly traded to Green Bay (along with several draft picks) for the younger, more talented, and cheaper Nick Barnett. While this move improved the team's youth and ability at MLB, the draft pick cost (2nd, 3rd, 5th, and 6th round picks in 2005) was enormous, and was widely criticized as being inhibitive towards the team's rebuilding efforts.

The Cardinals had limited talent on the offensive side of the ball, and almost no rushing game, with the aging Emmitt Smith their best RB. Franklin called head coach Denny Green into his office.

"Coach, I think we're going to have to throw the ball. A lot."

Green replied, "Well, I think we're going to need a balanced attack."

Franklin nodded. "I expect the game plan to be very pass-heavy. And I want to see McCown start. I'd better not see Navarre on the field unless he's hurt. And King better not be throwing passes unless there's no one left to run the ball."

"Are you going to let me coach this team?"

"I'm signing the checks here, coach. You do your job, within my rules, or tender your resignation."

Green stomped out of the room. Franklin just shook his head. He'd probably be shopping for a new coach in the offseason.

[StanGunner]

Finally we get some action!

[Franklinnoble]

Tempe, AZ
January, 2005

The Cardinals finished the season 7-9, which was pretty decent, for a Cardinals team, but not a winning record, and certainly not enough to earn a playoff berth. Not that it could be expected at this point, anyway. The final standings:

Front Office Football 2004
2004 Regular Season Standings
   
  AC North              W   L   T   Pct   PF    PA    Conf    Div  
Cleveland               8   7   1   .531  294   324   6-5-1   3-2-1     
Cincinnati              7   9   0   .438  322   370   7-5     4-2       
Baltimore               5   11  0   .313  276   326   4-8     2-4       
Pittsburgh              3   12  1   .219  247   348   3-8-1   2-3-1     
   
  AC South              W   L   T   Pct   PF    PA    Conf    Div  
Indianapolis            11  5   0   .688  424   367   8-4     4-2       
Jacksonville            9   7   0   .563  281   291   7-5     3-3       
Houston                 7   9   0   .438  327   331   5-7     5-1       
Tennessee               4   12  0   .250  319   404   3-9     0-6       
   
  AC East               W   L   T   Pct   PF    PA    Conf    Div  
New England             12  4   0   .750  330   211   9-3     5-1       
Buffalo                 9   7   0   .563  258   233   7-5     2-4       
Miami                   9   7   0   .563  272   259   7-5     2-4       
New Jersey              7   9   0   .438  306   314   5-7     3-3       
   
  AC West               W   L   T   Pct   PF    PA    Conf    Div  
Kansas City             9   7   0   .563  317   247   7-5     4-2       
Denver                  8   7   1   .531  275   304   6-6     5-1       
San Diego               8   8   0   .500  403   329   6-6     3-3       
Oakland                 6   10  0   .375  284   354   5-7     0-6       
   
  NC North              W   L   T   Pct   PF    PA    Conf    Div  
Minnesota               14  2   0   .875  439   312   11-1    6-0       
Green Bay               14  2   0   .875  471   270   10-2    4-2       
Detroit                 5   11  0   .313  219   346   4-8     2-4       
Chicago                 1   15  0   .063  214   376   1-11    0-6       
   
  NC South              W   L   T   Pct   PF    PA    Conf    Div  
New Orleans             10  6   0   .625  340   284   8-4     5-1       
Tampa Bay               10  6   0   .625  352   298   7-5     3-3       
Carolina                9   7   0   .563  318   317   6-6     4-2       
Atlanta                 4   11  1   .281  256   379   4-8     0-6       
   
  NC East               W   L   T   Pct   PF    PA    Conf    Div  
Washington              10  6   0   .625  343   271   7-5     3-3       
New York                9   7   0   .563  377   302   5-7     4-2       
Philadelphia            9   7   0   .563  377   357   6-6     3-3       
Dallas                  7   9   0   .438  310   320   4-8     2-4       
   
  NC West               W   L   T   Pct   PF    PA    Conf    Div  
Seattle                 10  6   0   .625  389   288   8-4     5-1       
St. Louis               10  6   0   .625  350   338   7-5     3-3       
Arizona                 7   9   0   .438  253   316   6-6     3-3       
San Francisco           3   13  0   .188  218   375   2-10    1-5       

The pass-happy attack for the Cardinals didn't pan out so well. Injuries to WR's Fitzgerald and Boldin hampered things, as well as McCown's lack of experience. McCown finished the season with 18 TD's and 22 INTs, completing 57% of his passes for 3231 yards, and a QB rating of 68.3.

The Seattle Seahawks defeated the Miami Dolphins in the Super Bowl by a score of 24-13.

[Franklinnoble]

Hmm... that standings table didn't turn out too well... wonder if I need to do something different with the formatting...

[JeeberD]

Code, my friend.

[Franklinnoble]

Originally Posted by JeeberD

Code, my friend.

Duh. I've used it many times before, but it'd been a while, so I forgot. Color me stoopid.

Thanks, Jeebs. I fixed it now.

[Franklinnoble]

2005 Offseason Report - Part 1

Following the end of the season, Franklin began making plans for 2005. The team was in excellent cap shape, with nearly $36 million to spend on free agents and rookies. The only retirement was Emmitt Smith (not surprising - he had padded his rushing record with over 1,300 yards in 2004, and was content with that). They held the 13th pick in the upcoming draft, and the free agent pool figured to be stocked with talent.

Before the free agency period began, the team held a press conference to introduce some big changes within the organization. The news media wouldn't be caught off guard this time, and the press room at team headquarters was packed. Republic reporter Ron Welch had a seat front and center.

New team publicist Debra LaFave stepped up to the podium. "Ladies and gentlemen, if you will please take your seats, Mr. Brown will be here to make an announcement shortly." The table next to the podium had a cloth draped over it - it didn't take a genius to figure out that the new team helmet was underneath and about to be unveiled. The voting on the new team mascot had been heated and sometimes contentious, and everyone was eager to see what decision had been made.

Franklin stepped from behind a curtain behind the podium, and began to speak. "Thank you for coming out today. We have a lot to cover, so please hold your questions until the end, please."

He continued. "First, I would like to say that I am proud of the work that this organization has done during the past season. While we missed out on the playoffs, I believe we finished well after an 0-3 start, and I am optimistic about the potential this team has. However, some changes are necessary, and we're going to start making them right now."

"Head Coach Dennis Green has been fired. I have great respect for his abilities as an NFL coach, however, he would prefer to be in an organization where he has more control over player personnel decisions, and that is not compatible with our objectives here. We will honor the remainder of his contract, and we wish him luck in his pursuit of other opportunities elsewhere. None of his staff has been retained. Nor has any of our scouting staff." This didn't surprise any of the news media. Green was clearly unhappy with Franklin's intrusive style of ownership, and was probably ecstatic over his generous severance package.

"I am pleased to announce that we have hired Head Coach Raymon Emmons from Northern Arizona University." This did surprise many of the media, and a murmur rose up from the crowd. Emmons was almost totally unknown, and most expected to see a big-name NFL coach hired, not a small college coach.

Franklin continued. "Coach Emmons has previously worked as an offensive coordinator in the NFL and has the right credentials for the job. I know there will be a great deal of skepticism over this decision, but I ask you all to give him a chance to prove himself before you criticize him too harshly. He will be bringing his Offensive Coordinator from NAU, Blaine Keillor, and he has hired Detroit Lions Defensive Coordinator Paul Sweeney. We have also hired Lee Woodard as lead scout. All of the new staff will be introduced here tomorrow, and will be happy to take your questions then."

"Now, on to other business. I am pleased to announce that we will be lowering ticket prices a bit for next year. Until the new stadium is built, we are going to make the games as affordable as we can for everyone who wants to come out and see the team. We turned a modest profit last year, and we're passing the savings on to you."

"We are also pleased to announce our new team mascot. As I indicated last year, it was my desire to give the team a more appropriate regional identity. I believe now we have done that, and I am happy to unveil the new team colors and logo for your Arizona Scorpions." Franklin pulled the cloth off the table, to reveal a dark red helmet with a copper colored scorpion emblazoned upon it.

"We will have full uniforms to present to you soon. I'll take your questions now." Franklin pointed to Ron Welch, who already had his hand raised.

"Mr. Brown, I'm sure you know that your decision to hire a coach with no NFL head coaching experience is a little puzzling to most of the fans and media following the team. Can you give us some more insight into this decision, and why you think it's best for the team?"

"Certainly. We looked at other available candidates, including many current and former NFL coaches. But, frankly, they wanted too much money and too much control. I'm going to be honest - I already have a reputation as a 'hands-on' owner, and Arizona doesn't exactly have a grand tradition of winning. There wasn't a single NFL coach that we interviewed that didn't want either total control of the operation or an absurdly high salary, or both. Coach Emmons is a minority candidate that we feel has been overlooked both at the college and professional level, and I like the idea of hiring a local coach. I think he's going to do an excellent job here, and we're going to make sure he has the tools to get it done."

Channel 3 news was next. "Why the Scorpions? Clearly, the Gila Monster is more imposing."

"We can't please everybody. The final decision was mine. Both names were very popular, but I just liked the sound of 'Scorpions' better."

A reporter from Channel 12 spoke, "What needs do you expect to address in the upcoming draft? With Emmitt Smith retiring, will you draft a running back? And do you intend to hire a general manager?"

"I will still act as general manager. I have an experienced coaching and scouting staff to help evaluate talent, but the business end will remain my responsibility. As for the draft, well, it's too early to tell. We have many needs to address, and we will do so via the draft and free agency, where appropriate."

Ron had another question, "The team finished 7-9 this year, which many said was a pretty good accomplishment, and would be something positive to build on. Are you worried about how the coaching change will affect the cohesiveness of the team at this point, and if perhaps we might see a regression next season?"

"That's a good question. My goal is to build a stable, consistent program, and I think stability proves to be successful in this league. It is, however, necessary to make some changes to get things started. Let's face it, Coach Green didn't want to be here, so something had to be done. We still have a good core of talent on this team to build around, and that's not going to change. I expect to keep the player turnover on this team at a necessary minimum - we'd rather build our own talent than constantly pursue it from outside. I certainly hope we can improve upon our record from last season, but that remains to be seen."

There were a few more questions from the assembled media, and then the conference was adjourned.

[Franklinnoble]

Ok... now for the interactive part.

I did this with another dynasty a long time ago, and it worked out pretty well.

Suggest a few players (say, 2 or 3) that you want to see in the draft this year. They can be real or fictional. Try to keep them somewhat realistic (like, don't try to put R2-D2 in my draft file, please - but, go ahead, add yourself, your kids, your grandmother, whatever). I need names, positions, and schools. I'll set these guys up as players that will almost certainly be drafted, probably pretty high. So, you'll get to follow their careers in this dynasty.

Please submit your suggestions as soon as possible. Don't worry if you don't get them in in time for this draft - you can always have them for next year's.

Thanks!

[Cap Ologist]

Wow, my lucky day. Debra LaFave as your publicist. I almost didn't catch that one. Glad you chose the Scorpions. I get a percentage of memorabilia sales right for suggesting it?

[illinifan999]

I'd like to see my favorite all-time TCY QB, Kenyon Hughes be drafted. Not sure if you can put Sol8 schools, but he was from Durango University in Colorado. If you can't, William and Mary. He was 6-3, 225. I wish that save file hadn't gotten corrupted.