Thank You. Seriously, Thank You.
As the title says: THANK YOU.
I've been dreading the release of this episode and clip of me crying for a few weeks now. I am not one to open up publicly about my personal life or get very deep online, but I've realized that I 1) couldn't cut the clip and 2) may as well explain why this whole thing has meant so much to me.
Let me be clear off the top, as I've said before, The Dozen has yet to really become anything. We are worlds, universes, and leagues below the likes of anything Dave does, Pardon My Take, Call Her Daddy, Chiclets, KFC Radio, Foreplay, Chicks, etc., but we are growing, and I am very excited about the future. Without your support, this show is a fucking zero... but luckily, everyone has been here by our side.
This isn't my show, it's our show. Whether you're someone competing, behind the scenes, or one of our incredible fans. This is ours to grow and turn into something unique and cool.
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Over the last few years, and especially the last few months, I have gone through a ton of stuff in my personal life, outside of work, that has really weighed me down. Again, I don't really open up publicly all that much, and that won't change right now (personal preference), but just know this: I needed The Dozen: Trivia Tournament to work.
To say I've been down and out privately for a while would be an understatement. The joy of work is what has kept me going. Working here, creating content, all of that moves me forward. But even then, it just felt like I couldn't really catch a win. Things felt like they had been crumbling around me a bit for a while. Countless things have broken against me, or fallen by the wayside lately. Maybe I'll open up more one day, but I'll leave it at that for now. So while it is dramatic to say this, it's also true that this Tournament needed to feel like a success.
And you know what... it sort of did. But it only did because of you. No matter who you are, if you're reading this and supported the show, bought merchandise, yelled at me on social media, or if you're a co-worker involved with the show, you helped make this something I was actually fucking proud of for once.
(Yes, even with all the little typos and the error that fucked up the first match... trust me, I lost sleep over it)
That's why I got so damn emotional on our final night of filming The Dozen: Trivia Tournament. To see so many of my co-workers stay late, or drive back into the office just for the trophy presentation in a fake trivia Tournament really turned on the waterworks for me. Nobody had to do that, but they felt the need to take time out of their nights and show up.
It truly meant the world to me then, and I'll be forever thankful for that support. While crying does seem fucking silly, and, quite frankly, a little embarrassing, if I can turn it into an opportunity to thank everyone who has helped me out, then so be it.
This whole thing is also a testament to what Dave (big thanks to Dave for taking time out of his schedule to take part in The Dozen, by the way) has built here at Barstool. The freedom to build and create whatever you can possibly imagine. Rone talked about it the other day with Erika (another person I am thankful for when it comes to allowing us the opportunities to make what we want) on Token CEO that there is truly no place like Barstool when it comes to creative freedom. Overnight, a dumb internet trivia show during quarantine can turn into a big YouTube game show that people treat like a sports league. Working here fucking rules.
But work for the show is not over, and it will never be over. We want more matches, bigger moments, live event matches at bars/venues, there is an app coming where you can play trivia and maybe win a little money (more to come there). The possibilities are endless and I need everyone to stick along for the ride. None of this is possible without you, the fans & competitors.
I will leave you with one of my favorite speeches, and something I listen to every now and then for a kick in the ass...
Keep on chasin' something everybody, keep on chasin'.
We will see you soon for Season 2.
EDIT: For some reason, this reverted back to my original draft at 9:40 pm, so I added back in what I originally published at 9:25 pm.
