Hi, my name is Sunset Beach, and I am a former sportswriter.
(Hi Sunset)
Okay,so the AA bit may be a bit overdone, but for many years, this is the way many of my former colleagues have viewed internet sports sites, blogs and the message boards. Something you did if you fell off the wagon.
But it's 2007, and look at who's blogging and posting on message boards now.
Roy Firestone. Yes, THE Roy Firestone, hangs out on an Orioles message board and drowns his sorrows with the masses and posts insightful questions..
Scott Van Pelt of ESPN is a regular on a Maryland terrapin board, and recently got into a long mesage board argument with a few fans. That got him in a little hot water, but hey, he was there.
Eddy Landreth, longtime UNC and Fayetteville sports columnist, interacts with fans on a UNC message board.
For a long time, sports journalists looked down their noses at the internet sites. Idle chatter and children posting CAPS to shout at each other. Not a place for the fourth estate.
But when it became obvious this was more than a fad, then they dipped their toes in the water - creating blogs on their own sites where they could cherry-pick the topics and their interactions with readers. That's still as far in the pool as many colleagues are willing to wade.
But things have progressed a lot in the last 12 months.
It is a double-edged sword even now. Many have avoided the message boards for fear of chastisement from their peers for 'dropping down to that level.' That's what I was told when I shared with a former colleague that I enjoyed talking high shcool football on a message board.
Now, to be sure, on many message boards (and I only frequent two), there is a lot of false bravado and chain-yanking going on. But as I have maintained for a few years now, if you are willing to wade past the junk (and there is plenty), there are some good things out there worth getting to.
Carolina Varsity (and I have no financial stake in this) is a great example of where the time is worth the trouble. There are a few trolls, but even most of them have some basic knowledge of the game and their teams. But there is a good core of experienced regular posters who know their stuff. People on chain crews, video crews, former coaches and officials, and parents of kids playing...thats a good mix. The discussion is adult (most of the time :) and respectful. The same is true of the other board I frequent - the one where Mr. Firestone engages. That board is so populated with serious baseball people, its like a little encyclopaedia. Ask the experts. You'll get four lunatic and childish responses, but six or seven serious and thoughtful ones. And I think Carolina Varsity offers some of the same for high school football. It has enabled me to keep up with things I care about from many miles away and a career far from my former one.
So Dale, I didn't start out intending it to be a plug piece - but thanks for creating the forum. If you know someone else who is knowledgeable and respectful - invite them in! The water is now fine. Maybe other knowledgeable football folks will join us for our own little forum of "experts." As if anyone could ever be an expert on how 15 and 16-year olds will do something on a regular basis :)