Did the Blogfather just leave a horse's head in our bed?

by EngineerScotty on Jan 20, 2009 10:19 AM PST

Probably not, but it seems that SBNation may well now be viewed by ESPN as the competition, moreso than before.

ESPN, along with Henry Abbott--have now launched something called the Truehoop Network, a network of basketball-related blogs (including TrueHoop) which will receive funding from, and host ads for, ESPN.

Right now there are no Trail Blazer blogs in the network, but I suspect that will be remedied soon; there are lots of good independent Trail Blazer blogs out there.

Many in the comments asked about BEdge--but I kinda suspect that we are The Competition--that any blog affiliated with SBNation is not eligible to be part of the TrueHoop network. The network includes an impressive roster to start, including Wizznutz and The Painted Area. Not that Henry views us as such--I'm sure we'll see lots of cross-linking--but I do worry a bit that his bosses might.

(I do worry a bit, on a larger scale, about the consolidation of the blogosphere into numerous ~~tribes~~ networks, wherein it's considered a faux pas to link to a blog in someone else's network. Again, this is not a reflection on any blogger, but on the big media types who seem to be running these things...)

Dave--does this change, in any way, your (or BlazerEdge's) relationship with TrueHoop? Or am I worried about something that is No Big Deal?

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Comments

I knew I should have made it a FanPost ;-)

by Norsktroll on Jan 20, 2009 10:24 AM PST reply actions

Everything should be made a fanpost

As long as you don’t have to type a bunch of BS to get to the 75 word limit, that is.

by EngineerScotty on Jan 20, 2009 10:24 AM PST up reply actions

I figure Henry will do most of the Trail Blazers coverage

Woof

by Charles Barkley McLovin on Jan 20, 2009 10:35 AM PST reply actions

Exactly.

True Hoop is already a Portland Blog.

Current Titles:

Official Blazer's Edge Poet Co-Laureate for the 2008-2009 Season
Official Blazer's Edge Ambassador to the Milwaukee Bucks
Unofficial Blazer's Edge Grammar Magister
Unofficial Blazer's Edge Grumpy Ol' Curmudgeon
Chaplain of the Jarrett Jack Jump-Pass Memorial Fanclub

by T Darkstar on Jan 20, 2009 11:23 AM PST up reply actions

Not officially...

though the Blazers get more coverage there, than, say, the Dallas Mavericks (a team similarily situated in the Western Conference, but without Blogfather’s allegiance).

And whining about it in the comments seems to be a favorite pasttime. :)

by EngineerScotty on Jan 20, 2009 11:47 AM PST up reply actions

Well down goes one SBNation blogger

Jeremy from pickaxeandroll has defected to the truehoop network.

by Cablinasian on Jan 20, 2009 10:52 AM PST reply actions

Pickaxe & Roll didn't defect ..

Jeremy created a new blog, Roundball Mining Company .. I’m assuming in anticipation of this move given that he hinted at this on his blog roughly less than three weeks ago.

Senior Writer for DePaul's Scout.com website

by erivera7 on Jan 20, 2009 11:23 AM PST up reply actions

I asked Dave about this

he mentioned that there was indeed ‘competition’, although my feel is that it comes down to SB not wanting the ESPN video on their sites (or that they couldn’t agree on a price). I don’t know how much money is involved (almost certainly a small number) but I wouldn’t be totally floored if a SBNation blog suddenly becomes independant again

M, period. Fresh, comma.

by manzell on Jan 20, 2009 10:53 AM PST reply actions

The numbers are not that small. SBNation has received venture capital from some prominent companies

A low to mid-seven figure was discussed. The business is big enough that companies like Yahoo and ESPN/Disney are highly interested in it.

by Norsktroll on Jan 20, 2009 12:05 PM PST up reply actions

How is it then that Dave gets next to nothing for his work here?

will that change?

by Section323 on Jan 20, 2009 12:37 PM PST up reply actions

Like everywhere in business: The platform providers and content aggregators make the big bucks :)

Think Google instead of aunt Marry’s little blog. That being said, the individual sites should get rewarded with something. Maybe a bonus system, share of revenues, options, …

by Norsktroll on Jan 20, 2009 2:01 PM PST up reply actions

What does next to nothing mean in this context?

Using the site traffic numbers, BlazersEdge got a little under 7million page views in 2008. If you figure that the ads generate $3 per thousand page views that generates $21K of revenue. From that $21K, SBNation is going to take a cut to coverage the bandwidth and hosting costs as to make a profit itself. How much of a cut I have no idea, but lets assume 33% for discussion’s sake. That leaves $14K to be divided between Ben and Dave in some fashion. If you assume 50/50 that leaves $7000 for Dave to take home to Baby Point Guard for all of last year. That isn’t a small amount of money, but it isn’t nearly enough to quit your day job either.

by tingeyga on Jan 20, 2009 4:12 PM PST up reply actions

The SBN web site says there is revenue sharing with bloggers.

However, Dave has stated that he doesn’t get any revenue sharing. I’m not sure what that all means.

by pualo on Jan 20, 2009 5:47 PM PST up reply actions

HA!

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!

HAAAAAAA HAAAAAA HAAAAA HAAAAAAA HAAAAAAA HAAAAAAAAA HAAAAAAAAAAAA!

HAAAAAAAAAAA HAAAAAAAAAAAA HOOOOOOOO HAAAAAAAA HAAAAAAAA HOOOO HOOOO HAHOOOO WAAAAHAAAA HAAAAAHOOOOOOO HAAAAAAA HAAAAAAAAAA HAAAAAAAAAAA!

Oh boy, that was funny!

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!

Geez, I can’t stop laughing!

—Dave

by Dave on Jan 20, 2009 7:24 PM PST up reply actions

HAAAAAA! HAAAAAAA!

No, wait…say it again! HAAA HAAA $21K…HAAAA! SBN takes 33…33…HAAAAAA…33%!!!

No, no…wait! The best part…. HOOOO… The best part is when he said, “$7000 for Dave to take home!” OHHHHHHHHHHH!!! You SLAY me!

—Dave

by Dave on Jan 20, 2009 7:26 PM PST up reply actions

You do know why there's nobody filling the Portland slot in HenryWorld, right, Dave?

"Now with a non-provocative footer!"

by timbo on Jan 20, 2009 8:17 PM PST up reply actions

Sounds kind of like your day job...

by EngineerScotty on Jan 20, 2009 9:32 PM PST up reply actions

I take it that my estimates are a touch high then...

by tingeyga on Jan 21, 2009 1:42 AM PST up reply actions

No dude

Dave makes 50k. He is laughing at your small estimate. You think a person of Dave’s stature would settle for less?

"When I have the ball, I experiment." #5

by Sabonis4Ever on Jan 21, 2009 3:50 AM PST up reply actions

Like Damon Stoudamire

was a touch high.

—Dave

by Dave on Jan 21, 2009 9:56 AM PST up reply actions

What are you talking about?

Damon was ALWAYS high. That was the problem.

by EngineerScotty on Jan 21, 2009 10:01 AM PST up reply actions

Hmmmm

Point

WHOOSH! ~~~~>

Scotty’s head.

by Dave on Jan 21, 2009 11:19 AM PST up reply actions

Oh, I got it, Dave..

I was just seein’ your short joke, and raisin’ you some Cheech and Chong humor.

Now quit starin’ at your cards. You in or out? :)

by EngineerScotty on Jan 21, 2009 12:42 PM PST up reply actions

I can see your mansion from here.

Sergio + Rudy = 16
Sergio + Bayless = 16
Batum 8+8=16

by amlmart1 on Jan 21, 2009 8:45 AM PST up reply actions

Kos Media, LLC isn't a collectivist venture, no matter Markos Moulitsas ultraliberal politics.

I’m a libertarian minarchist, however, so I can’t justifiably hate on “kos” for his entrepreneurial ways, although there is a tinge of hypocrisy here by him profiting heavily via capitalistic means.

by AK1984 on Jan 21, 2009 12:44 AM PST up reply actions

Better get that Golliver kid locked up with a quick Max Deal extension...

"Now with a non-provocative footer!"

by timbo on Jan 20, 2009 10:59 AM PST reply actions

Ah, but can Markos Moulitsas compete with the deep pockets of The Walt Disney Company.

For whatever odd reason, this reminds me of the incenstual battle between U.S.S. Mariner and Lookout Landing versus the Daily Kos over a $10,000 college scholarship — which was foolishly determined by online votes — that led to some hilariously biased mudslinging from both sides. Nobody involved came out of that verbal altercation without a few proverbial scars, which was very entertaining to view from afar.

by AK1984 on Jan 20, 2009 11:31 AM PST up reply actions

Somehow I don't see

DailyKos joining a “political blog network” with other political blogs such as redstate. :)

by EngineerScotty on Jan 20, 2009 11:48 AM PST up reply actions

that online vote was nuts

Boomshakalaka

by jksnake99 on Jan 20, 2009 12:35 PM PST up reply actions

AK1984, You are such a D Bag. I mean that in a good way.

Your comments crack me up and I wish I had a nickel for every time you quoted yourself from a previous post.

You are very entertaining to view from afar.

by hoopsdreams on Jan 20, 2009 12:54 PM PST up reply actions

I'm expecting a call from my agent :-)

"..[Travis Outlaw] could jump, grab a rafter, eat a sandwich, and then dunk.."
tmundal 12/30/07

by LetsBlaze on Jan 20, 2009 3:50 PM PST up reply actions

Dave should use this to negotiate a good deal for himself

by pualo on Jan 20, 2009 11:18 AM PST reply actions

I mean, given that this about the biggest single-team blog around.

Bidding war!

by pualo on Jan 20, 2009 3:09 PM PST up reply actions

True

This is the bell cow of SB Nation

Jerryd Bayless = Marlo Stanfield
- Early stage Marlo at this point, but Bayless is the emotionless killer new to the game. He will take over, and there will be causalties – it’s just a matter of time.

by blazeraddict on Jan 20, 2009 9:15 PM PST up reply actions

How soon

before some big media entity buys out SBNation?

Not that it makes a lot of $$$, but I’m sure that every big media outfit out there that covers sports, wants to have a blog network. And it’s probably easier to buy one than to build one.

by EngineerScotty on Jan 20, 2009 11:51 AM PST reply actions

Although Kos Media, LLC certainly isn't a major media conglomerate such as The Walt Disney Co., ...

Time Warner Inc., General Electric, News Corp., or National Amusements Inc., I’m sure that SportsBlogs Nation is financially viable enough — especially with online advertisements — for it to be kept in the fold.

by AK1984 on Jan 20, 2009 12:03 PM PST up reply actions

Man, I wanna add my blog on there.

Then again, I doubt I would have any chance against Blaze of Love, Rip City Project, and Bust a Bucket. I can hope, I guess. Should I plug my blog anyway? Nah.

by robrun2 on Jan 20, 2009 12:37 PM PST reply actions

What's your blog?

BustaBucket.com

by GUnit on Jan 20, 2009 1:51 PM PST up reply actions

Trail Post

I started it a little while ago, but it’s tough to grow it.

Here it is.

by robrun2 on Jan 20, 2009 2:22 PM PST up reply actions

Henry: Pick BE

wtf? Who else are you going to go with? – Elgin

If you smile at me I will understand, because that is something everybody everywhere does in the same language. - Crosby/Stills/Kantner

by 22baylor on Jan 20, 2009 4:26 PM PST reply actions

Eh.....

Whats wrong with SBnation?

"When I have the ball, I experiment." #5

by Sabonis4Ever on Jan 21, 2009 3:49 AM PST up reply actions

Non editable posts?

"Now with a non-provocative footer!"

by timbo on Jan 21, 2009 9:45 AM PST up reply actions

OTOH, ESPN's site seems to not work half the time...

many of the regulars there make the o-live forum crowd seem like, well, here, and ESPN has all their annoying videos. I don’t mind videos, provided they don’t start automatically—it annoys me when I start reading something, then some SportsCenter clip comes blaring through my speakers. If I want to watch/hear the multimedia, I’ll click the “play” button, thankyouverymuch.

(One reason I intentionally do not install a Flash client at work, even though I miss on lotsa good stuff…)

Prior to TrueHoop joining ESPN, the comments were as interesting as Henry’s material. Since joining, Henry is still on the top of his game, but most of the comments are crud.

It sounds like were Dave and/or Ben to launch a new Blazers blog on the TrueHoop Blog Network (I doubt they could move BEdge, which I suspect is a SBNation property, not a Dave or Ben property), they would still have great deal of editorial control over the site, including maintaining the posting standards that make this place a good experience.

by EngineerScotty on Jan 21, 2009 10:00 AM PST up reply actions