Redskins Insider: Guest Blog - Message Board Equity?
 

[url=http://blog.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/2007/06/guest_blog_message_board_equit.html#more]Guest Blog - Message Board Equity? - Redskins Insider[/url]

Got a submission from Matt for a guest blog, so here goes. He sent me a link to some articles done in Florida about how the Dolphins interact with the various passionate fans who put together websites and message boards geared to the Fins.


I know a lot of you guys frequent those types of sites when it comes to the Redskins (and pretty much any beat writer these days needs to check out the various locales as well to try to get a pulse of what the fans are thinking), so perhaps this will interest you.


Matt, who is from the site TheWarpath.net, makes a case for the Redskins embarcing all of the more prominent sites that devote hours and care to the team, and not just one. Also, as some of you may have heard, the league looks like it may be essentially taking over the maintenance of indivudual team official websites, so the there could also be ramifications from that on how clubs interact with fan sites and message boards in the future. The NFL is being militant on its rules and regulations for on-line coverage of its teams and at some point we all might have to go direct to a team's site to see any video coverage and clips of practices, etc. It's a strange new world out there.


Okay, I'll butt out now. Here's Matt's entry:


The emergence of fan run team websites over the years has presented an interesting dilemma to NFL teams. How should these fan sites be treated? Should they be treated as a legitimate organization on par with media sources? Or should they be ignored and brushed off as being rabid fans with nothing better to do with their time?


I think by now we're all aware that a couple of years ago the Redskins acquired Extremeskins.com and made them their official team message board. In the process, they effectively locked out the remaining fan sites including the likes of TheWarpath.net, TheHogs.net, and HailRedskins.com, to name a few of the major players. Whether this after effect was intentional or not by the Redskins organization, it left a bitter taste in the mouths of a lot of fans out there who felt snubbed by their beloved team.


Fast forward to the present. I was talking to a good friend recently who happens to be a big Miami Dolphins fan. He was asking me some questions about my site and we started discussing our individual teams' interactions with their fan sites. He started telling me how the Dolphins embrace their fan sites and even go as far has having an annual award ceremony called "The Webbies" where the best Dolphin fan sites are recognized by the team. The awards range from best overall site, to best news content, to the best message board design, etc.


Representatives from these sites are invited to the Dolphins' training facility in South Florida where they are treated to a tour of the facility and a special reception and dinner. The fan site representatives were then given tickets to the next day's game against the Titans.


That sound you just heard was my jaw hitting the floor. Needless to say I was astounded at the royal treatment the Dolphins give to their fan sites. It's really refreshing to hear that a NFL team appreciates their fan sites to that degree. I'm not sure if most people realize the time, money and effort that goes into building and maintaining these fan sites. We all have day jobs and/or school to compete with our valuable time. It's truly a labor of love when it comes to running a site.


I'm not sure if any other NFL teams roll out the red carpet in this fashion to their fan sites, but I do know the Redskins have been less than accommodating when it comes to any sites other than Extremeskins. A few years ago the Redskins were very gracious in granting several fan sites training camp credentials, and the behind the scenes access was exciting to say the least and it felt like some new ground was being broken as far as fan site access to their team was concerned. Immediately after the Redskins acquired the Extremeskins forums, the remaining fan sites weren't allowed to have training camp credentials anymore leaving these sites confused and frankly a little ticked off.


In conclusion, I'm not asking Mr. Snyder to roll out the red carpet and have their own "Webbies", but isn't there enough room to include all of the prominent Redskins fan sites at training camp? It would certainly be a nice gesture if fan sites other than Extremeskins would be allowed to attend training camp as "fan reporters" again. Then again, can Extremeskins even be labeled as a true fan site anymore since they are now officially a part of Redskins.com?


NFL teams are now realizing the importance and relevance of fan sites, I think it's time that Mr. Snyder re-evaluate the team's stance on allowing fan sites into training camp and embrace these other sites that are promoting the team with their own free time, hard work, and extreme love for the Washington Redskins.


Sincerely,
Matt Kyer
[url=http://www.TheWarpath.net]Redskins Warpath[/url]

Re: Redskins Insider: Guest Blog - Message Board Equity?
 

Uh Oh!!!

Great Work, Matt.

Re: Redskins Insider: Guest Blog - Message Board Equity?
 

Great job Matty. Some morons are coming after you in the comments section. I've got your back, they need to learn a little common sense when it comes to business.

Re: Redskins Insider: Guest Blog - Message Board Equity?
 

I expected a bit of a backlash, believe me.

There are plenty of morons out there and I'm sure we'll see a nice example of that with this article.

Re: Redskins Insider: Guest Blog - Message Board Equity?
 

Nice work there Matty.

I really think JLC's blog and it is used and maintained is one of the finest things they have done with that site. At some point JLC will no longer be the beat guy for the Skins, I hope they next guy they bring in devotes the time and energy to the blog that eh does. After the debacle that was DeMasio they really did a good job finding a guy who could bring the right tone to his reporting.

Re: Redskins Insider: Guest Blog - Message Board Equity?
 

Yeah I agree, JLC does a great job and he really gets the fans involved. Redskins Insider is one of those sites that I visit a few times a day now.

Re: Redskins Insider: Guest Blog - Message Board Equity?
 

When does someone point out the irony of this quote?
[QUOTE]God, these sites are sooooo lame. A guy who knows how to run a computer program and all of a sudden he thinks he is some kind of football authority and anyone who doesnt listen is banished!
Thehogs.net is especially gay. Man, I have never seen so many fools flock to one place.


Posted by: Barbarino | June 8, 2007 08:27 AM
[/QUOTE]

Re: Redskins Insider: Guest Blog - Message Board Equity?
 

Nice work Matty. Man, that manolukis is a bonified prick and really doesn't understand the reasoning behind your post.

Re: Redskins Insider: Guest Blog - Message Board Equity?
 

Wow Matt, awesome job!

Re: Redskins Insider: Guest Blog - Message Board Equity?
 

[quote=Schneed10;316549]Great job Matty. Some morons are coming after you in the comments section. I've got your back, they need to learn a little common sense when it comes to business.[/quote]

I did too, it is funny when idiots run around claiming they are advocates of the free market system, but usually are just tools that say that to be cool.

But hey either way perhaps we will get some more people to check out our site.

Re: Redskins Insider: Guest Blog - Message Board Equity?
 

[quote=FRPLG;316560]When does someone point out the irony of this quote?[/quote]

Not even worth responding to.

Re: Redskins Insider: Guest Blog - Message Board Equity?
 

[quote=jbcjr14;316561]Nice work Matty. Man, that manolukis is a bonified prick and really doesn't understand the reasoning behind your post.[/quote]

That's alright, it's to be expected. Their takes aren't based on knowing the entire story.

Re: Redskins Insider: Guest Blog - Message Board Equity?
 

[quote=FRPLG;316560]When does someone point out the irony of this quote?[/quote]

Haha, I just noticed that post. Half these guys dont even know what they are talking about. Most of them just are looking for a blog and an excuse to bash people to relieve the stress from their 9-5 and domestic problems.

Re: Redskins Insider: Guest Blog - Message Board Equity?
 

The people posting comments anyway are the ones who took their mouths off Art's johnson for a couple minutes to post something. They're the same retards who don't post anything of substance but to remind people their posts are repeats or that they are breaking a forum rule.

Re: Redskins Insider: Guest Blog - Message Board Equity?
 

I have to give it to you Matt, this definitely is the type of "good" backlash that hopefully the Redskins organization will pay attention to.

Re: Redskins Insider: Guest Blog - Message Board Equity?
 

Wow. Matty's gone mainstream.

Good read. I agree completely.

Re: Redskins Insider: Guest Blog - Message Board Equity?
 

Let me start by saying I enjoy this site very much and I think it is well done.

But, to think Dan Synder gives a rat's ass about this site you will find yourself sadly mistaken.

He doesn't even care about season ticket holders why would he care about this web site that doesn't even generate revenue dollars for him.

Re: Redskins Insider: Guest Blog - Message Board Equity?
 

[quote=mredskins;316581]Let me start by saying I enjoy this site very much and I think it is well done.

But, to think Dan Synder gives a rat's ass about this site you will find yourself sadly mistaken.

He doesn't even care about season ticket holders why would he care about this web site that doesn't even generate revenue dollars for him.[/quote]

I have no expectations regarding Snyder acting on this, believe me.

However, it doesn't mean we shouldn't voice our opinion on the issue though.

Re: Redskins Insider: Guest Blog - Message Board Equity?
 

[quote=mredskins;316581]He doesn't even care about season ticket holders why would he care about this web site that doesn't even generate revenue dollars for him.[/quote]

Sorry but you are wrong about that. We help to promote the team, and with our [URL="http://www.footballfanatics.com/NFL_Washington_Redskins/browse/partnerID/705"]Warpath Shop [/URL]we certainly do generate revenue for him.

Re: Redskins Insider: Guest Blog - Message Board Equity?
 

This site is [B][U]BY FAR [/U][/B]the best Redskins board on the web today. While it may not have all the flashy glitter and signatures it does have the best content and discussion about our beloved Skins. All this in one package including for [I][U]FREE[/U][/I], the CAP SHEETS which have also been used by outside sources in their works.

Kudos to Matty for taking this issue mainstream and kudos to JLC for posting it up on his blog!

Hell, I bet even Lenny P shows up here from time to time to check out the content!

Re: Redskins Insider: Guest Blog - Message Board Equity?
 

This is a great site!

Just think that Snyder and company have much bigger fish to fry.

It would be nice to be associated officially with the organization.

Have you tried writting letters??

Re: Redskins Insider: Guest Blog - Message Board Equity?
 

Matty2k72, Mr. Snyder's attorney on line 1.

Re: Redskins Insider: Guest Blog - Message Board Equity?
 

Matt,

I thought some of the comments were unfair to you at Redskins Insider, though that's hardly unexpected. It takes a lot more courage to throw your words out for criticism than it does to take others' work to task.

It is an interesting point that I hope is noticed (though remain skeptical on that) by the team. The existence, prominence, and growing popularity of ES and Warpath and countless other sites is evidence that fans crave more access as opposed to less. It would be beneficial to the average Redskins fan if more competent and thoughtful persons had access to the league. Competition among writers (with access) allows for more choice by consumers -- readers -- and everyone benefits. Best of luck to you in this endeavor and keep up the great work here at Warpath.

Cheers.

Re: Redskins Insider: Guest Blog - Message Board Equity?
 

What do people think Dan Snyder thinks specifically about this board? I'm sure he has heard of it many times. He is a childhood fan so I'm sure he appreciates a great site about our collective favorite team. Right?

Re: Redskins Insider: Guest Blog - Message Board Equity?
 

Okay, I admit it. All these years I have been masking my identity. I am, in reality, Daniel Snyder. Simultaneous with this e-mail I have purchased the servers routing traffic for this board.

Resistance is futile.
All your base belong to us.

Re: Redskins Insider: Guest Blog - Message Board Equity?
 

WTG Matty!

Re: Redskins Insider: Guest Blog - Message Board Equity?
 

Questions regarding the lockout fan sites, what does it take for a blogger or a message board with a decent readership to be able to obtain press credentials? Can a small town newspaper get press credentials and why? Basically, what does it take to qualify for press credentials?

I'm no lawyer but It seems to me what the Redskins are doing is discriminatory.

Re: Redskins Insider: Guest Blog - Message Board Equity?
 

Good points Matty, nice article. It would be a real goodwill-creating statement on the part of the Redskins' management to open the door to all fan sites for media credentials.

To have only the Redskins.com Extremeskins site there, they know they control what is being said about the team, and may think they are controlling their image. But it ends up costing them big time in image points when you compare with the pro-fan spirit of the Miami Dolphins' management.

Re: Redskins Insider: Guest Blog - Message Board Equity?
 

Excellent job Matt, kudos to you, it was a great read and we appreciate it.

Re: Redskins Insider: Guest Blog - Message Board Equity?
 

Good work Matty....Thanks

Re: Redskins Insider: Guest Blog - Message Board Equity?
 

On behalf of theHogs.net, I just want to say thanks for speaking up on behalf of of all fan sites. Sure, this topic gets thrown about on the boards, but to take it to the WP puts it in a light that, while it probably won't change anything, will at least let them know that we are here and that's not going to change, no matter how much the FO tries to strangle out the competition.

Re: Redskins Insider: Guest Blog - Message Board Equity?
 

Thanks JansenFan, I appreciate the support.

Re: Redskins Insider: Guest Blog - Message Board Equity?
 

Bear in mind that Mr. Snyder once shut out the WaPo, so a few fan sites are small potatoes, I think. But you never know. It wouldn't kill them to give up a few more press credentials. If and when they do, I nominate myself to be this board's correspondent. I have lots of free time this August.