Arda Cup President
Boromir the 88th (no relation to any of the other Boromirs. In fact, history has only recorded 9 Boromirs to ever exist, so no one knows how he gets away calling himself the 88th), held a press conference today to field questions from the national media about getting ready to kick off the 2010 Arda Cup.
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Boro: First, let me begin by welcoming all of you here today. I'm sure you are excited to start the tournament, as I am. This year we will see new players in their first Arda Cup, old players on different teams, expansion teams like Gelion and Pelennor making their first appearance, and many of the traditional teams that have been in since the first Arda Cup. This is setting up to be the deepest and most exciting tournament we've had yet. Now, I am open for your questions. Let's start with Master
phantom, from MESPN.
the phantom: You said this is the deepest field ever, but you surely are not blind to the criticism against the Committee, and particularly yourself, that you have overstepped your authority to achieve this?
Boro: I'm assuming you are referring to new rules we've put in place this year like the salary cap? I should remind you the salary cap is not strict, owners do not have to be under the cap. If an owner can and wants to spend more, he may do so, but if he does then the team will be fined. These fines will then be spread evenly amongst the teams who remain below the cap, to provide them with a bit more money to maintain key players or perhaps acquire a free agent. I do not see anything inherently evil with enforcing a salary cap.
the phantom: Surely you realize it's not just the new salary cap, but you have also made it now where all trades and signings must be approved by the committee.
Boro: This was put into place because of a difficult situation towards the end of the last Cup and the start of free agency. It was clear to us that Hurin and Gwindor were not happy with their situations in Angband and wanted to leave. Angband did not want them to leave, but instead of trying to reach a peaceful agreement, the black-cloaks decided to try to scare Hurin and Gwindor into staying, by force. In fact, threatening them with a curse if they did leave. Therefor, the committee felt it was our duty to step in and make it possible for Hurin and Gwindor to leave, if they wanted to, and not being under the threat of a curse. To prevent these situations from happening again, we decided we should be able to aprove or deny all future transactions. You should notice we have not been unfair in the application of this new rule, as we approved Durin's Bane, who was not happy in his place, departure from Moria and signing with Angband, now named Thangorodrim.
the phantom: Yes, because that wasn't a move to appease Angband into allowing Hurin and Gwindor to leave.
Boro: Was there a question in there?
the phantom: Nope, just trying to make the point that by spreading the talent, and attempting to equalize the teams you are working completely contrary to your stated goal of having an exciting tournament. The end can only be, instead of having a thrilling tournament capped off by 2 great teams like Armenolos and Hithlum last year, just 32 mediocre teams playing mediocre games. That's too much mediocrity for some of us to chew.
Boro: Need I remind you these rules were voted on and passed by the majority of the owners? But if you have no further questions, than I'm moving on...yes Formendacil?
Formendacil: I find your choice of words regarding the new rules interesting, that is voted on and passed by the majority of owners. Not the disregard of the minority, but I have observed that perhaps the Committee beat all the owners into submission by making examples out of the disbanding, and then flooding of Isengard, as well as the blow-up of the Armenolos team?
Boro: With regards to Isengard we had proof Saruman was keeping all the profits for himself. Every fan, not matter what team they support, deserves to see a quality team on the pitch. This is the most prestigious sports event in the world,
BAR NONE. Saruman was using the prestige of the Arda Cup to make a profit, yet field a crap team and didn't pay his Uruks for the last few matches, and NEVER paid Grima at all. Yet he was boasting record profits and when we began our investigation, Saruman could not provide any of his financial records claiming he left them in his robes and when he washed them the new detergeant turned made everything in the washer techni-colored. Thus, it was necessary to disband Isengard and flood their stadium.
As far as Armenolos, why Ar Pharazon, Sauron, and Tar Minastir left for other teams you will have to ask them. My guess is they had bigger aspirations then spending their career in Numenor. It's no secret Ar Pharazon has always wanted to go to Aman and Sauron no longer decided to be sub-servient, probably why he has taken the position of Lord, Owner, and player-manager of Barad Dur.
Form: So you are expecting us to believe you did not force Aman, who had always rejected Ar Pharazon entrance to the Blessed Realm, to now allow him on the team?
Boro: Yes.
Skip spence here, since you've brought up Sauron claiming complete ownership over Barad Dur and I notice that Melkor has left the Valar to field his own team in Utumno, I want to ask if you feel any possible danger in allowing the two Dark Lords this much freedom? What I mean is, many of us believed last year that Mandos and Tulkas were able to keep Melkor in check, but now with his own team, completely made of servants there is no one to do so. There is also musch scratching of heads at Sauron's aims when he asked several of his enemies from the 2nd Age to join his team. What is to stop Melkor from becoming the much feared Morgoth, or from Sauron trying to create a War of the
very Last Alliance?
Boro: I have been assured that Melkor does want something in this world even more than total destruction, and that is an Arda Cup. He felt he could not do this under the restricting Valar, and thus left to field his own team. Sauron, Elendil, Isildur, and Gil Galad are far to honourable and prideful to debase themselves by petty squabbling as typically seen when you stick Orcs and Dwarves together.
Skip: You're making it sound like the War of the Last Alliance was a tiny curfluffle, and not the product of two deeply-rooted enemies.
Boro: Wasn't it? I mean ask yourselves what the Last Alliance accomplished? It was a mere mis-understanding, nothing more.
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That is all there is time for, I thank you all for your questions and looking forward to the start of a brand new Arda Cup like the rest of you. Most teams have a filled roster, we're still waiting on The Barrowdowns, nothing unusual about that, but the groups have been decided and will be released shortly. The host teams have not all been decided yet, but that should be finalized shortly as well.