Thomas Robinson: It's not personal, he's just playing basketball.

[RoyToy]

Well, in the past I would pride myself on writing about something that the other writers weren't really covering, but this time we didn't have access to the players so I was limited to what the Blazers provided for quotes.

In hind sight, if I would have known that the Oregonian and Blazers Edge were both planning on writing articles about Robinson, I would have written about Batum's play last night.

In general articles written after games don't do much for me. They're rushed because of deadlines and most are pretty similar.

I haven't read olive for years and only check BE for news/read the comments. The content in the articles is usually a boring read.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Mike Tokito wrote pretty much the same article.

Yup, that was Denny's complaint too. He didn't like what either of us had to say.

 

[magnifier661]

In general articles written after games don't do much for me. They're rushed because of deadlines and most are pretty similar.

I haven't read olive for years and only check BE for news/read the comments. The content in the articles doesn't really appeal to me at all.

Well Nate and Sly will change that soon! Just you watch. It will be like getting kicked in the nuts!

 

[Denny Crane]

Yup, that was Denny's complaint too. He didn't like what either of us had to say.

That's not exactly true.

Nate's article is terrific, as is yours.

I'm hoping for articles for S2 that are different from what you get elsewhere and with the community spirit that makes this where we post.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

In general articles written after games don't do much for me. They're rushed because of deadlines and most are pretty similar.

I haven't read olive for years and only check BE for news/read the comments. The content in the articles is usually a boring read.

I learned first hand last night it's a hard gig and I've gained more respect for those who do it professionally.

I'll be perfectly honest and this is an ongoing discussion going on behind the scenes here at RC2, there are some in the Blazers that would like us to provide some original and unique content and coverage about the team while there are others who feel we aren't a professional news organization and don't really belong mingling with others who are. We're a little confused and in disagreement over if we should prove our chops as journalists (Which I think Nate did. He really knocked it out of the park and his article on TRob compared favorably if not surpassed the same coverage by BE and the Oregonian) or if we should take a more fan friendly approach and cover things like food and in game entertainment.

 

[Denny Crane]

What was your experience last night?

You sat in the nosebleed seats. Who'd you meet? Who'd you talk to?

 

[BBert]

In hind sight, if I would have known that the Oregonian and Blazers Edge were both planning on writing articles about Robinson, I would have written about Batum's play last night.

You still can.

 

[BBert]

We're a little confused and in disagreement over if we should prove our chops as journalists (Which I think Nate did. He really knocked it out of the park and his article on TRob compared favorably if not surpassed the same coverage by BE and the Oregonian) or if we should take a more fan friendly approach and cover things like food and in game entertainment.

Why not do both? There are two of you.
At least, I'm pretty sure.
Kinda sure.
OK I'm just guessing.

 

[Natebishop3]

What was your experience last night?

You sat in the nosebleed seats. Who'd you meet? Who'd you talk to?

We were literally the only two guys in the nose bleeds, so we met each other for the second time.

 

[Denny Crane]

We were literally the only two guys in the nose bleeds, so we met each other for the second time.

Did you need binoculars to see the uniform numbers?

Meet anyone else from the press? Was Ben Golliver there? You talk to him?

 

[RoyToy]

I learned first hand last night it's a hard gig and I've gained more respect for those who do it professionally.

I'll be perfectly honest and this is an ongoing discussion going on behind the scenes here at RC2, there are some in the Blazers that would like us to provide some original and unique content and coverage about the team while there are others who feel we aren't a professional news organization and don't really belong mingling with others who are. We're a little confused and in disagreement over if we should prove our chops as journalists (Which I think Nate did. He really knocked it out of the park and his article on TRob compared favorably if not surpassed the same coverage by BE and the Oregonian) or if we should take a more fan friendly approach and cover things like food and in game entertainment.

So are your articles just going to be viewed by the people on S2, or are they published on a different site?

 

[Darkwebs]

Yup. So did Ben at Blazers Edge.

Are you sure Ben didn't just copy and paste your article?

 

[Yoda_of_the_MODA]

Blazers credentialed Sly and I for last night's game.

This is what I wrote. Sly will be posting something as well.

The editor in me wants to point out that it's "me", not "I".

Nice write-up, though!

 

[KingSpeed]

Nice work, Nate! You're a chinaman??

 

[SlyPokerDog]

ToB, I don't know why you deleted your comment but I think that is a great idea.

 

[Denny Crane]

ToB, I don't know why you deleted your comment but I think that is a great idea.

Me, too.

 

[KingSpeed]

What was ToB's idea?

 

[SlyPokerDog]

What was ToB's idea?

He wants me to interview you while we both wear smoking jackets and eat caviar.

 

[BBert]

He wants me to interview you while we both wear smoking jackets and eat caviar.

That is a good idea for a vid. Saturday night live style, of course.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

That is a good idea for a vid. Saturday night live style, of course.

Can you do Christopher Walken's "The Continental"?

 

[bodyman5000 and 1]

Got a draft of SPDs article.

Blazers good.
Beer was overpriced.
We can go 18-0.
Fin.

Only yahoo worthy writing of the thread. Loved it. Much better than the exaggeration in the real article. The put back dunk was okay and the pass to Lopez was more of a quick drop..not real zippy. Can't bitch too much when he only has canned quotes to go on so whatever.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

What was ToB's idea?

It was basically suggesting that if they are going to do internet pieces on the Blazers, why not take it to the next step and suggest making it an interactive internet interview where we get to pick the player they focus on and Sly and Nate get press passes and a locker room interview of the player with questions from the forum. Once a month special feature. Then write up an article with a focus on that player.

I deleted it because after reading it I thought people would read it as me getting all serious and carried away with the whole idea when really I was trying to sell a way (bit tongue in cheek) for the two to get locker room clearance for an interview after a game.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

It was basically suggesting that if they are going to do internet pieces on the Blazers, why not take it to the next step and suggest making it an interactive internet interview where we get to pick the player they focus on and Sly and Nate get press passes and a locker room interview of the player with questions from the forum. Once a month special feature. Then write up an article with a focus on that player.

I deleted it because after reading it I thought people would read it as me getting all serious and carried away with the whole idea when really I was trying to sell a way (bit tongue in cheek) for the two to get locker room clearance for an interview after a game.

I think this is actually right on point with what Denny was indicating: The site has been "noticed" because it's a group of passionate fans who dialogue freely within a community. Any expansion of RC2 into the domain of real world legitimacy should be an expansion of that dynamic as well. IMO, people don't come here because we're all super-serious hoops analysts offering up brilliant insights about strategy. It's because we're basically a digital version of the 300-level, the fans who are willing to shout all game and scream at the refs, or the coaches, or the players, or the stunt team, or the mascot...

The team-related IRL things we have done (PF tours, MnGs) are all about fans having an opportunity to get a little bit closer access to a team we love. We aren't BE or O-Live, and I don't think Denny or the Blazers want us to be.

 

[illmatic99]

This is definitely cool. Did they approach you first, or did you guys bring up the idea?

If I could vote for something that you guys could do, it would be more of capturing the fan experience before/during/after the game. Writing about stuff we don't get to see, like guys' reactions on the bench or during timeouts, things that go on in the stands, etc. The media row reports on BEdge sorta do that passingly, but there's a lot more focus on getting quotes from players/coaches than about what goes on in the building. Given your lack of access to the locker room or practices, writing profiles on players might be pretty tough.

Just my $0.02

 

[Eastoff]

Personally I wouldn't read stories about "The funny guy I met in section 321!" Unless it was a drunk Mike Rice who snuck back into the building after getting kicked out.

 

[KingSpeed]

It was basically suggesting that if they are going to do internet pieces on the Blazers, why not take it to the next step and suggest making it an interactive internet interview where we get to pick the player they focus on and Sly and Nate get press passes and a locker room interview of the player with questions from the forum. Once a month special feature. Then write up an article with a focus on that player.

I deleted it because after reading it I thought people would read it as me getting all serious and carried away with the whole idea when really I was trying to sell a way (bit tongue in cheek) for the two to get locker room clearance for an interview after a game.

Sounds like a good idea to me.

 

[Natebishop3]

I think this is actually right on point with what Denny was indicating: The site has been "noticed" because it's a group of passionate fans who dialogue freely within a community. Any expansion of RC2 into the domain of real world legitimacy should be an expansion of that dynamic as well. IMO, people don't come here because we're all super-serious hoops analysts offering up brilliant insights about strategy. It's because we're basically a digital version of the 300-level, the fans who are willing to shout all game and scream at the refs, or the coaches, or the players, or the stunt team, or the mascot...

The team-related IRL things we have done (PF tours, MnGs) are all about fans having an opportunity to get a little bit closer access to a team we love. We aren't BE or O-Live, and I don't think Denny or the Blazers want us to be.

I disagree. The people who post on this board are some of the most intelligent, well-read, and well-written fans of the team. I sometimes forget that fact, until I listen to the radio and hear what some of the other fans think. Go listen to Portland sports radio for a while and then tell me that the people who post here are a "digital version of the 300-level" fan. A lot of the fans are idiots. They don't follow basketball nearly as close as the people who post here do. I would like to see what some of the guys on here can do with legitimate access to the team and an opportunity to show their chops. Some of the guys on here, such as BNM and BrianfromWa, have already written posts that I would put above most professional sports writers.

I think we're better than a bunch of fans who get to be a little bit closer to the NBA action, and I think we can prove it.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

My "300-level fan" comment wasn't intended as a slight on our members' knowledge or sophistication. Rather I mean that as a compliment in terms of passion, connection to the team. I see us a the best of both worlds: intelligent and capable of analyzing the team rationally and objectively, yet also emotionally (and in many cases financially) invested on the team's success. It's that combination that makes us of interest to the front office.

Nobody has any doubt that you have the chips to be on part with Golliver and Freeman; you've demonstrated it time and time again. All I'm saying is that I imagine that contributions from that "knowledgeable fan" perspective are what is desired from RipCityTwo, and will be well received.

 

[Bob Dobalina]

I disagree. The people who post on this board are some of the most intelligent, well-read, and well-written fans of the team. I sometimes forget that fact, until I listen to the radio and hear what some of the other fans think. Go listen to Portland sports radio for a while and then tell me that the people who post here are a "digital version of the 300-level" fan. A lot of the fans are idiots. They don't follow basketball nearly as close as the people who post here do. I would like to see what some of the guys on here can do with legitimate access to the team and an opportunity to show their chops. Some of the guys on here, such as BNM and BrianfromWa, have already written posts that I would put above most professional sports writers.

I think we're better than a bunch of fans who get to be a little bit closer to the NBA action, and I think we can prove it.

I disagree with your disagreement.

Seriously though, I think Platy is on to something. Nate, I know you've been paid to write stuff in the past (correct?), but I'm hoping SPD doesn't try to become too serious and carries the ripcitytwo thing right into press row or any other access they give him. There's no way I could take him as a serious writer anyway.

 

[Natebishop3]

All I'm saying is that I imagine that contributions from that "knowledgeable fan" perspective are what is desired from RipCityTwo, and will be well received.

Absolutely, but right now there seems to be a dispute over what those "contributions" are going to be. The prevailing thought from some people seem to be that we should just write about what we see and who we talk to. That's fine, but I think many of the posters on this board are more than capable of writing articles that are on par with the Gollivers and the Freemans. Ben Golliver was just like you guys at one point. Hell, I was just a fan for a long time too. The only difference between a "fan" and a writer is the willingness of someone to publish your work.

At this point, there's no guarantee that any more credentials will be provided to our site, but I would love to see what some of you guys can do with the same access as Ben Golliver and Mike Tokito and Joe Freeman.