Jersey Contest Reminder x2

by Dave on Nov 12, 2008 12:10 AM PST Comment 42 comments

Two reminders about the Jersey Contest.

1. The form for the Miami game is up in case you haven't entered yet. You can find it here. Remember the form for the next game opens up as soon as the current game is completed so you don't have to wait to enter.

2. Already I've gotten a half dozen versions or so of this e-mail:

Hey Dave...where is my entry? I'm sure I entered!

Since we've automated the forms, the answer to that question has been the same every time but once. You entered, but you mis-typed either your name or your e-mail address, which means the game got scored separately. Look for the almost-you farther down the list.

After explaining this the following e-mail comes:

Hey Dave...can you just fix that up for me?

Last year when the automated forms were new we did, indeed correct a couple of those errors because people were getting used to the system. This year, however, we cannot. Manzell, who manages the automated part of the contest, already works overtime making this stuff work for us for not much compensation other than the joy of doing it. It's not fair to make him do more. Plus this year there are hundreds and hundreds of entries, which means mistakes happen more often and they're harder to sort out. In the end it's easier to tell you to be careful to enter your information correctly, which is just what we're doing. We announced this at the beginning of the year and we're going to stick to it. I'm sorry for those it's affected. Hopefully this will be lesson learned for everyone. The most important lines of that form are your name and e-mail address...correct and the same every time. Take four seconds to make sure you do that so you don't lose out on that awesome score.

If either one of us did this for a living and had all day to sort out data the response might be different. But this contest is free, done just because it's fun for you and we're nice people. We want to be as nice as possible, but we have to have it this way to preserve our sanity and time.

--Dave (blazersub@yahoo.com)

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Comments

but seriously can you just fix it for me gosh

honor terry porter

by Ben. on Nov 12, 2008 12:43 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Ben!

You’re not eligible! Bad Ben! Bad!

—Dave

by Dave on Nov 12, 2008 12:49 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Seriously

we only said it once, so people probably didn’t read it the first time. I don’t mind the e-mails, I just want to get this out there so everyone can see it and there’s no misunderstandings.

—Dave

by Dave on Nov 12, 2008 12:50 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

just teasin’ … thought it would be funny if i was the complaintant…

it was either that or write FIRST

i guess i should have gone with my first instinct which was simply THANK YOU MANZELL AND DAVE…

honor terry porter

by Ben. on Nov 12, 2008 12:54 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

simply dave,

just sell t-shirts…they will go to a good cause.

WE WANT T-SHIRTS!!!

"Besides, I met a girl who loves basketball, blazers, and spurs. I'm sorry, you really can't dampen my mood right now :)" -ratbastird(after oden's surgery)

by nateinaloha on Nov 12, 2008 1:29 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Who the heck are all these people?

http://blazersedge.reaxion.org/scoreboard.php

by tominhawaii on Nov 12, 2008 3:54 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

i wondered the same - i bet there are a few people using multiple user-names with different email addresses

by hotstuffdb22 on Nov 12, 2008 4:33 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Nah

Just a bunch of lurkers who want to win a free jersey.

by tominhawaii on Nov 12, 2008 7:16 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Bingo!

I lurked here for a year and a half before I dove in. I might’ve considered a nice jersey contest.

Makes you wonder how many of the “newbies” have been here as long as those who have been posting.

by Timmay! on Nov 12, 2008 8:49 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I have 165 pts

in 2 games…wow…guess I’d better enter more regularly. Can’t this time, the form denied me.

"I believe in [Joel]. I just love the way he plays." - Nate McMillan

by jamon51 on Nov 12, 2008 4:13 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Suggestion

My form always comes up with name and email pre-populated. Dont know if that is google-chrome, or some cookie, but its worked great.

However, for those others that do not have this benefit, can the system be designed to verify that the (name, email) combo exist in the database? This should screen out many minor mis-spellings; and the mis-spelt name and email would have to actually match to some other valid entry for the erroneous submission to be accepted. For what its worth.

by FromAfar on Nov 12, 2008 7:32 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

guilty as charged

Momma always said it cant hurt to ask…. to which I’m sorry for irritating you for asking.

I’ll just have to win it another month this season, it being my new Outlaw Jersey

by bow4meow on Nov 12, 2008 7:35 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

You didn't irritate me at all

The semi-snarky tone is not for anyone who e-mailed but for the benefit of everyone in the future who will be filling out forms. You’re taking a little snark so they’ll remember to double-check. Sorry about that…small sacrifice for the greater whole, you know.

—Dave

by Dave on Nov 12, 2008 11:25 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I asked too - guilty!

No more entering from the office computer – Owner karma falling all over my desk.

by Rick C in Tigard on Nov 12, 2008 7:53 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Nice new background on the Jersey Contest entry form!

I like!

"When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car"

by you'vegottomakeyourfreethrows on Nov 12, 2008 8:09 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Question from a lurker/new member

Where is the best place to find the entry form on a regular basis? Thanks for your help.

Ducks Go!

by trumpetduck on Nov 12, 2008 9:49 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

it's always going to be at http://blazersedge.reaxion.org/gameform.php

the system has rules on when it will display a gameform and when it will not, so you can always check at that address.

M, period. Fresh, comma.

by manzell on Nov 12, 2008 10:13 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

The famous manzell.

You are a hero sir.

Giving [Batum] the freedom to go for steals is going to be like giving a redneck six boxes of ammo and a quarter mile of empty Bud cans. - Dave

by Cablinasian on Nov 12, 2008 3:25 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I think I already answered these questions, but can't tell if similar questions as to last game...

Is there a way to tell without reentering (and perhaps negating my prior entry)?

by homersolo on Nov 12, 2008 12:03 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I don't think so at this point

I think every time you sign in you re-enter.

—Dave

by Dave on Nov 12, 2008 12:09 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes

If you enter your username and e-mail address, and then select “review game forms” (or whatever the link is, I cant remember off the top of my head) it will show you your current answer set (as well as past answers, I think, for all time).

M, period. Fresh, comma.

by manzell on Nov 12, 2008 4:22 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Can someone help me understand the results?

I see a page with the answers on it, organized by popularity, and one of the answers is in bold. Is that the right answer or my guess? Is there a way to see the right answer vs. my guess?

by LicketyBrindle on Nov 12, 2008 12:13 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

PS

and I have no idea how to read the score data. what are the greek symbols?

by LicketyBrindle on Nov 12, 2008 12:14 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

stats

the circle with the squigly, that’s Sigma, which is the standard deviation of scores reported. the thing that looks like a u with a long tail, and flipped, that’s Mu, that’s the average. The first percentage number is the number of users that predicted victory for that team, the one in brackets is the statistical chance of winning based on Sigma and Mu for each team.

The bolded answers are the ones that turned out to be correct.

M, period. Fresh, comma.

by manzell on Nov 12, 2008 4:25 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

mandatory skip

are we still doing a mandatory skipping of a game? i tried finding links for the last game before work but it wasnt there. darn. also i like the new background behind the forms.

also everyone don’t forget to click the ads to support BE!

Honor Terry Porter

by Philthyanimal on Nov 12, 2008 1:17 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

No, no mandatory skip.

Can’t be accounted for when the forms are automated without some serious code twisting.

Also since the network owns everything you see on the page you’re only supporting BE indirectly with your clicks nowadays. However you know that game form page? That’s separate and you would be doing Manzell a favor if you clicked on those.

—Dave

by Dave on Nov 12, 2008 1:26 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

do they do a revenue share then?

Honor Terry Porter

by Philthyanimal on Nov 12, 2008 1:35 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm sure I read somewhere that SBN shares profits with its bloggers.

Is that false? Obviously you deserve it.

by pualo on Nov 12, 2008 1:59 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

no SB share

but I’m up to grand total of something like 94 cents after doing the gameforms since last March. Think of it as a service to the few who dare click.

M, period. Fresh, comma.

by manzell on Nov 12, 2008 4:26 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Here's the article

http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/10/29/former-aol-exec-raises-funding-for-sports-blogs-network/

Rather than strike affiliate relationships or simply represent sites for national ad sales, Bankoff has structured equity swaps for each of the sites in SB Nation in which the company acquires all the content, URLs and related assets, and the bloggers then share the ad revenue.

Maybe that’s in the future, or is it just wrong? Hopefully not.

by pualo on Nov 12, 2008 9:11 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

That's not happening at this point

—Dave

by Dave on Nov 13, 2008 12:28 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

At least you got venture capital in a tough environment

That’s a good indication that the network looks solid to outsiders.

by Norsktroll on Nov 13, 2008 7:21 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I entered in the L*akers game contest and I am on the board for that game

but that score is not included in my total for the month. Any idea what happened? I think I entered my data right. I seem to remember word going around about a problem with that game? Do I need to do anything to fix it? Can you guys help me out? Could use the 70 points.

Hang on everyone, we're "Red Hot and Rollin'" again!

by ORcoastAK on Nov 12, 2008 3:33 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

The Lakers game was in October.

M, period. Fresh, comma.

by manzell on Nov 12, 2008 4:26 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

ah, that would explain it.

I wish I could say this sort of thing didn’t happen on a daily basis.

Hang on everyone, we're "Red Hot and Rollin'" again!

by ORcoastAK on Nov 13, 2008 3:22 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Is the form closed already for the Miami game?

by Norsktroll on Nov 12, 2008 3:46 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, what's the deal?

I can’t access the game form for tonight…..

Witty Unpredictable Talent and Natural Game

by iDea on Nov 12, 2008 4:24 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

The gametime moved

it was originally scheduled for 4pm/7pm eastern, it’s been moved back an hour, but I never updated it in the database. I don’t have access right now to reopen, so you’ll have to accept my apologies.

M, period. Fresh, comma.

by manzell on Nov 12, 2008 4:27 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I wanted to wait and see if Rudy and Greg are available. My bad that I didn’t do it yesterday. If it still reopens it would be nice. Otherwise I probably had no big chance to leapfrog 30 people anyway :)

by Norsktroll on Nov 12, 2008 4:30 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Are you joking?

I’ve seen people leapfrog 15+ people in one game. How many games are left in November?

—Dave

by Dave on Nov 12, 2008 8:10 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Error detected

The november scoreboard has given me a total of 195 points for my three games. However, my three games add up to 223 points! Utah 43, Houston 92, Miami 88.

Am I wrong with the math?

_BlazerGabe

by BlazerGabe on Nov 12, 2008 10:44 PM PST reply actions 0 recs