The MFHL stands for Mario's
Fantasy Hockey League. It's entering its 3rd season in three years this summer and so far,
it's been considered as one of the Internet's best league and it might well be... The
league has many features and many reasons make it one of the top ones. First, a pair of
commissionners, the Cortello brothers (with Vinnie), that take this thing very seriously.
Not only do they keep everything pretty much tidy up all the time, but they are also very
open to new ideas and definetely encourage involvement from the team owners. An other
thing is the way they've managed to finally find a bunch of very interested persons that
are ready to put enough time into the league activities to make it even more interesting.
And we're talking about a very competetive bunch. While some are simply managing their
team like pros, making important transactions that will improve their team, others are
constantly in the spotlight, getting a lot of attention from the media. And that is the
other great feature about this league : media coverage. Many columnists and reporters
follow the league's activities very closely... and the creation of this MFHLnet mega web
site is just the iceberg under the top we always see... Now, more than two years after
starting it all, how does commissionner Mario Cortello feel about his league? What's his
general feeling about Season 3 which is just about to begin? Let's try and find out, shall
we...
The Bruiser : Mr. Commissionner. First of all, let me thank you for accepting to be the
first MFHL related person to be interviewed for the new MFHLnet Times on-line information
service. I thought we could start with a couple of MFHL historical questions. When and how
did the league start?
Mario Cortello (taking a deep breath) : Are you ready? I will get in to detail. So sit
back and I hope you enjoy. I've been in the business (HLS2) for quite a long time. Uh?
That sounds strange! It's an addition. The game and the league.
Anyway, I craved the game so much, but the competition was not enough. Playing HLS2 verse
a couple of friends was not enough. One day as I was surfing the newsgroup, I accidently
ran by 'Fantasy Leagues'. WOW! I almost fell off my chair! Lets not forget, I was a virgin
with the new Internet stuff. All this was new to me. I could not believe it! I was VERY
surprised in the over-whelming interest in HLS2. There it was; a bulletin inviting new
owners for a new league. It was the CNHL calling me for duty?! It started off with a BANG!
I was lucky enough to land a spot and draft my players. I was the proud new owner of the
CNHL's Pittsburgh Penguins. Boy, I was excited! I couldn't wait for the season to begin.
Guess what? The original commish decided he can no longer run
the league. Shit! Was the CNHL dead? As far as I was concerned it was.
In no time, I met many owners who shared the same HLS2 addiction. And this is where I met
my good friend Joey Wilson. Joey was the owner of the CNHL New Jersey Devils. We both just
couldn't sit back and wait for some saviour to come around and save the CNHL. So, Joey
decided to start his own league, the JMFHL. Yup, thats right....Joey's & Mario's
fantasy Hockey League. Joey ran 80% of the show and I chipped in with 20% of the
work-load. I introduced the Stadium and ticket sales and bingo, the JMFHL was rolling. I
was the Leafs owner. Owning a team was good, but I felt that something was still missing.
In my mind, I was thinking to myself if I was able to run a league of my own. Yes, I knew
HLS2 very well, but I had no idea of how to create any web pages or web sites. I was
brain-dead when it came to transferring HLS2 files to html files. So, I asked Vannessa
Wilson (Joey's wife) to help me out and teach me the tricks, since she did such a great
job with the JMFHL website. And so she helped. Let me tell you the Wilson's were very
patient with my continous idiotic questions. They
stuck by me and I thank both of them for their help. If not for the Wilsons, the MFHL
would never exist.
I slowly learned the basics in html and transferring files. The next step was to send out
a posting in the newsgroup. I held my breath, posted it and waited for a response. The
following day, I turned on my computer loaded up my mail and I was shocked to learn all
the request! Wow! Was I dreaming?! I wasn't! The MFHL filled in less than 48 hours. That
has got to be a record! I think. The MFHL took off like a rocket! The web site had plain
text. No images! No one really cared at the time As boring as the web site was, it was the
excitment and competativeness the league offered like no other league.
I was still getting so many owners wanting to join, but there was no room. All 26 spots
were filled for season 1. Looking back today, I could only identify a handful of owners
who have been in the MFHL since day 1. The list includes Micah (Chicago), Vinnie
(Colorado), Karl (Dallas), Bryan (Detroit), Adam (Kings), Kris (Nyr), Yves (Ottawa), Todd
(Pittsburgh), Gary (St. Louis), Douglas (Washington) and of course myself. 3 seasons later
and 19 owners replaced. I knew this would happen. Though I never knew the MFHL would be so
lucky to build its strong foundation with the 11 owners I mentioned. I was wrong again!
Every single one were great and I was lucky to add other great owners to continue in
strengthening the MFHL.
It wasn't all pretty or easy at first. It was tough and many times I wanted to throw in
and give up, but I will ALWAYS remember how Yves (Ottawa Senators) would lift my spirits
back up and gave me reason to continue. I'm glad I did! So we can all thank Yves for that
support he gave me. The other was Gary. This fella added the colours of entertainment to
the MFHL that no other league had. I can't explain it, but those who were there will
always miss Jimmy! I believe it was this that attracted many other owners to join the
MFHL. It was Jimmy the Greek that started off MFHL's colourful entertainment. After Jimmy
prematurely died, I thought it was over for MFHL's entertainment. Boy, was I wrong again!
Although we miss Jimmy, luckily we have more and more today than we did before! It rubbed
off of Jimmy! Thanx Jimmy! It must have been his spirits.
It's hard to believe that the MFHL is entering its 3rd season and going stronger than
ever. 4 new teams were added in season 2 and season 3 is about to begin. I keep getting
anxious owners emailing and wondering when the MFHL will begin season 3! Why? Its the
excitement they miss. For the new owners, you will see what I mean!
TB : Wow, you were ready for this one... Ok, you've mentioned the input from owners... and
you've often stated that the success of a league like this one depends mostly on the
owners and their level of implication. Do you feel that the actual core of owners is
pretty solid and will help prevail?
MC : You bet it is! Some leagues have been blessed and are lucky to have good owners; not
the MFHL. Interested parties hear it from current owners on how good the MFHL is. I hear
it all the time when they inquire about team availability. Its like a skipping record and
I'm not exagerating, either. A league is only as good as the owners in the league and the
MFHL has the BEST owners on the net. If the MFHL was a pro basketball team, the MFHL would
be the Bulls of the NBA. I believe in it to the fullest! A GREAT group of owners. Hey! Its
a 30 team league, not a 10-20 mickey mouse league. Yes, some owners will leave but it is
happening less frequently and it takes looonger for anyone on the waiting list to get a
team. MFHL's success heavily relies on the 'Strike System' which
was introduced years ago. The system has helped the smooth, quick, constant growth of the
MFHL. It's helped separate the good apples from the bad. There will, always, be bad apples
slipping into the basket once in awhile but I am convinced that with the MFHL's 'Strike
System' eventually they will be removed. The owners who fear the 'Strike System' are the
ones who will NEVER survive the fierce natured competativeness the MFHL has to offer.
Owners in the MFHL must constantly be on their toes and looking over their shoulders. I
think YOU know what I mean.
TB : Hehe, you bet I know that everybody has to stay awake in this league to be able to
make it. Now, do you really feel that the league is still well balanced?
MC : Balanced? Its impossible to mantain balance amongst 30 teams. I'm sure everyone
agrees there are strong ones and then there are the stronger ones.
TB : But what are your thoughts about teams like the New York Rangers, the Colorado
Avalanche and the Los Angeles Kings that have built superfortresses?
MC : Hey, you forgot to mention the Leafs <giggling>. They (Nyr, Avs, Kings) sure
have done a wonderful job. It didn't happen over night. These owners have been around
since day 1. They set their goal and aimed for it. The Avs and the Rangers were strong to
begin with, but there is no doubt in my mind that both Kris (Nyr) and Vinnie (Avs) could
have done the same with a weak team. They have great negotiating skills. These teams have
put in endless time towards their long-term projects. I aplaude all of them.
Regardless of team strength, I could tell you who are caniving MFHL GM's and those who are
your ordinary GM's. Perhaps they are still wetting their feet or possibly un-educated in
the pro hockey industry. Some have
succeeded with quality trades; some have colapsed with poor trades. These are business
transactions. Profits and losses. All part of business.
TB : I mean, don't you feel that if only a few teams show really good chances to win the
Cup, it will hurt the other owners' interest?
MC : No! If so, the MFHL is not for you. Remember only 1 team can sip from Lord Stanley.
Success is never handed over and is never guaranteed. I personally crave a challenge to
turn things around. Look at the Whites' Canes. Making something out of nothing. Whites
putting his personal prints on HIS team. Another perfect example is the Los Angeles Kings.
The Kings have come a long way and the list goes on. It's the ones who put their mind to
it and set long-term plans and don't settle for a quick-fix. These are owners the MFHL
attracts. Owners who plan to stay around and have patience and time; 2 important key
elements in order to succeed. Then again, I could be wrong. I mean I have only won 1 MFHL
Stanley Cup.
TB : Hehe, yeah, just one out of two, not a bad ratio. But I mean there are teams out
there that no matter what they do this season, they won't amount to nothing (Mario
interrupts : "Thats the reality of sports. Its a constant cycle.")
and for some teams, this is occuring for the second and maybe third season in a row?
MC : True, but that's what makes these owners so special in my eyes. They never give up!
They are sooo dedicated. I admire them ALOT! This is what makes winning much more
satisfying and a touch more special. They'll look back and remember it was a long bumpy
road; but they made it. Those who give up should never have been allowed in through the
MFHL doors.
TB : True enough... Changing topics... What about the players? Will the low scoring NHL
season hurt the MFHL, making it less exciting in any way?
MC : I hope not. We will have to wait and see. The low scoring is a result of good team
defense and great goaltending. Its one or the other.
TB : And while we're at it, some owners have complained about the re-ratings of some of
their players? What do you think of all this?
TM : They could blame their own players for that. Some players need a good kick in the ass
and may be over-paid. Owners should revert to contract bonuses if they want to get the
most of their players. Ratings are based
on personal performances. Players get what they deserve.
TB : You seem pretty happy with the league as it is right now...
MC : Very happy.
TB : But at this moment, do you feel something might still be missing to the league?
MC : Missing? You could never get enough participation. More and more is
always welcome and encouraged. The one thing I would like to see and
will be pushing for in season 3 is personal home pages. Every team MUST
have one. MFHL would have a direct link to EVERY team's home page
updated by the team owner. Newsletters and available players and other
cool stuff will be included on a team home page.
TB : And what do you feel is the greatest accomplishment of the league, so far?
MC : Three seasons may not seem like much, but to me it is. Looking back 700+
days is a long time for a league to last. The league began with wanna-be's, slowly and
surely the wanna-bes were replaced with owners who know their HOCKEY! I should know
because its getting more and more difficult to squeeze a one-sided trade from any owner.
The MFHL has managed to keep the interest level at a constant HIGH, thanx to the owners.
Lets not forget, many owners have priorities and somehow they manage to attend to their
MFHL duties or else......enough said. The GREATEST accomplishment of the league, so far,
is the media. Yes! Its all the newsletters, the Brian Batemans, the Cherries, the Tigers,
the Blowhards, the Hughsons and the list goes on! Its just amazing! I would hate to think
of how dull the MFHL would be without these characters.
TB : The Brian Batemans? Geez, thanks Mr. Commissionners <grin>... On a more
serious note, I'd really like to thank you again, Mr. Cortello for your
great cooperation here and I wish you the best of luck with Season 3. One
last word maybe?
MC : Thank you Brian and special thanx to every single MFHL owner for making
the MFHL so special. See you around. Let season 3 begin!
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