Len to give NSBB a shout out!!!!

[Schwarber Fan]

As if it wasn't already enough to do the Q & A with us, Len Kasper has agreed to give a shout out to NSBB (via PM from me) on a TV broadcast.

 

I asked Len if he could do it on a WGN broadcast so all non-Chicago residing Cubs fans could hear it. He might not get my message until after tonight's game however so every one please watch tonight and every night to see when he does it!

 

-Aramis Fan

[Mark Priors Calves]

He already did that once in June.

[Schwarber Fan]

Len said he specifically is shouting us out for the Q & A plus I think we should take all the shoutouts we can get.

 

BTW, tonight's 7:05 PM CT game will be airing on WCIU

[Chris]

A shout out, a Q & A, and another shout out!?!?!?!

 

Thanks, Len!

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Len is one of the holy trinity.

[Chris]

I'm blacked out from the game even with MLB EI, so I'll need someone else to get the audio if it happens!

[JC]

Len is one of the holy trinity.

 

Does he take the place of beer, wine or liquor?

[Knightlife_in_Lubbock]

Len is one of the holy trinity.

 

Does he take the place of beer, wine or liquor?

 

Wine

[Marco4]

Wine

Well, with the Cubbies season, wouldn't you?

 

Joke courtesy of Frasier.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

For those of us who don't get CSN, can someone give a quote? Thanks!

[Chris]

For those of us who don't get CSN, can someone give a quote? Thanks!

 

MLB EI has the game blacked out for me :(

 

Hopefully someone will get the audio when it happens!

[nilodnayr]

Just got home a bit ago, I hope it isnt tonight, although an amazing gesture, a WCIU game does not have the best ratings.

[Schwarber Fan]

Just got home a bit ago, I hope it isnt tonight, although an amazing gesture, a WCIU game does not have the best ratings.

 

I'm trying to get Len to do it on WGN

[Laura]

minimum standards for shoutouts = ^^^^^^^

[Chris]

I'm not concerned with the specifics of the shout out. If Len wants to give one, it's his world. Len has already done a great thing by giving one shout out and agreeing to do a Q & A with us.

[swordsman]

Is anyone else concerned with the downside of the publicity this might generate? Lot's more people coming to the site does not necessarily improve the quality of the site. Len and others coming by and doing Q&A discussions certainly does. Getting more users does not, necessarily. The site has two assets, one is the sites ability to attract people within the Cubs organization (and MLB in general) to give insights into the game that cannot be gotten elsewhere. The other asset is the contributions of the posters themselves. It seems to me that the second asset fuels the first. It also seems to me that the posters on the site that make it valuable are special in the general population of baseball fans. Adding more fans as posters will not necessarily proportionately improve (or even maintain) the civility, insight, or community of the site.

 

Think of it this way, the site is like a horse stall. The floor is covered with a 2 inch layer of horse-hockey with diamonds scattered throughout. You sift throough the poop for the diamonds. The proportion of diamonds to poop is pretty high because of the self-selective nature of how people have heard about and find the site. Getting a shout out from Len will undoubtably result in a influx of new people to the site. My feeling is that it will be the equilevant of dumping a foot and a half of fresh poop in the stall without the previous concentration of diamonds.

 

I look at cable tv the same way.

 

Anyone else concerned?

 

I am happy and honored to have Len here and hope he enjoys his relationship with the posters here. I feel the same way with all the insiders who grace us with their insights. I fear that popularity, however, could kill the golden goose of this site-community's spirit.

[Chris]

If memory serves correctly, the last time a shout was given it really didn't add a jump to the number of people logged on, but it did fire everyone up.

 

I agree with what you're saying, but my thought process is that there are very knowledged fans out there that still do not know about NSBB. I'm a fan of quality and not quantity, but there are people not on NSBB that could make very valuable contributions. In addition, I personally view a shout out as a mark of what we've accomplished and not so much what we're trying to become.

 

I do agree with your assessment of the quality of posts on the board. I've said more than once that it is the quality of the site which has opened up the opportunities that we are enjoying in regards to our guests.

Edited September 14, 2005 by Chris

[BigbadB]

Is anyone else concerned with the downside of the publicity this might generate? Lot's more people coming to the site does not necessarily improve the quality of the site. Len and others coming by and doing Q&A discussions certainly does. Getting more users does not, necessarily. The site has two assets, one is the sites ability to attract people within the Cubs organization (and MLB in general) to give insights into the game that cannot be gotten elsewhere. The other asset is the contributions of the posters themselves. It seems to me that the second asset fuels the first. It also seems to me that the posters on the site that make it valuable are special in the general population of baseball fans. Adding more fans as posters will not necessarily proportionately improve (or even maintain) the civility, insight, or community of the site.

 

Think of it this way, the site is like a horse stall. The floor is covered with a 2 inch layer of horse-hockey with diamonds scattered throughout. You sift throough the poop for the diamonds. The proportion of diamonds to poop is pretty high because of the self-selective nature of how people have heard about and find the site. Getting a shout out from Len will undoubtably result in a influx of new people to the site. My feeling is that it will be the equilevant of dumping a foot and a half of fresh poop in the stall without the previous concentration of diamonds.

 

I look at cable tv the same way.

 

Anyone else concerned?

 

I am happy and honored to have Len here and hope he enjoys his relationship with the posters here. I feel the same way with all the insiders who grace us with their insights. I fear that popularity, however, could kill the golden goose of this site-community's spirit.

 

It's a fair enough assessment, but one that I don't agree with. Is Tim operating this site at a loss financially? Breaking even? There really aren't all that many NSBB members paying for premium services, and if the ads go away due to lack of hits, what happens to NSBB if Tim gets tired of losing money?

 

What if you or I had not yet been introduced to NSBB? Would we wish to be turned away because the site was comfortable with the membership where it's at? Even today, many people are still purchasing their first computers. True blue Cub fans who may or may not have things to add to this site.

 

I enjoy reading VancetheCubFan's opinions about everything Cubs. He was a late arrival to this site. It's further proof that one didn't need to be in the click when this site formed to be able to offer something in return for their presence. No disrespect to any late arrivals that are not mentioned.

 

NSBB, IMO, is still in the infancy stages. It's just now starting to bloom. I don't think it's anywhere close to what it can still become. And that's because this place has dedicated enough people that will go above and beyond their membership to make it a better place.

 

Right now, we are getting attention from broadcasters, minor leaguers, sports journalists to name a few. 3 years ago, we got none of this. 1 year ago, we got very little of this. Now, we get a lot. We could eventually see daily interviews from players, management and ownership of these organizations and others.

 

Let the moderators separate the diamonds from the poop. And let more and more fans experience a whole new way to enjoy or parish in all that is Cubs. That's the way I see it anyway.

[Derwood]

As I found out when starting a different thread, around 50% of registered members on this site have never posted a message. A "shout out" may bring in some interest, but not many people stick around.

 

I understand how one might have concern about this site becoming like cubs.com, but since we have moderators here who actually do their jobs, I don't fear that we will be overrun by 12 year olds and trolls.

[swordsman]

What if you or I had not yet been introduced to NSBB? Would we wish to be turned away because the site was comfortable with the membership where it's at? Even today, many people are still purchasing their first computers. True blue Cub fans who may or may not have things to add to this site.

 

I enjoy reading VancetheCubFan's opinions about everything Cubs. He was a late arrival to this site. It's further proof that one didn't need to be in the click when this site formed to be able to offer something in return for their presence. No disrespect to any late arrivals that are not mentioned.

 

Given the above points, I feel I should clarify that I am not adocating limiting enrollment or that newer, younger or less frequent posters have any less to offer. Let me be very clear in that point. My point is that the organic nature in which this site evolved, the way that people who have a similar appreciation for intelligent, civil discussion about baseball and other topics came together, support each other and interact in a civil manner has value...unique value. People founded the site as a harbor on the stormy seas of internet dialogue. Others found the site by invitation, legend and search for just such a safe harbor. That fact has value. Encouraging advertisement of the site risks that by encouraging quantity over quality and I want to make sure the community understands that risk.

 

The business model (not implying a profit motive at all) may require that the nature of the site change. Perhaps that is the price of starting a good thing and growth. I certainly don't expect any one person to shoulder the financial burden for sustaining the community. Perhaps the business model could change to preserve the nature of the site rather than the other way around.

 

Regardless, public endorsement and the possible changes that will result is just a concern of mine that I had not seen addressed.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

BBB raises some great points. (And thanks for the kind words.)

 

I think an influx of newbies could create more work for the mods, but it also has the ability to raise the prominence(sp?) of the site. I'm not sure that more traffic will necessarily lead to more revenue for the site, but it surely can't hurt. If the Cubs see this site as the primary Cubs fan site on the web, it could also increase access to the players and the team. This access will bring us more of the indepth and inside information we crave. If people are worried about the diamonds among the poop, so to speak, it just makes it more imperative for the posters who bring the diamonds to post more often.

[Chris]

Here's the Link to the first shout out from Len.

[nilodnayr]

Here's the Link to the first shout out from Len.

 

Yay, a link to a rare thread started by nilo! Sword, I think you hit in on the head that the reason this board (and site :D ) has proliferated is because it is a haven for those fed up with the garbage out there on the web. The mods really are to thank for keeping it that way (they are our pooper scoopers :P ). However, I think this site can (and has) withstood an influx of newbies throughout its existence, for good and bad. I was a late arrival here from ESPN and cant imagine my life without it. Since then its only grown exponentially. Really the sky is the limit and the more the better! If a poster joins to just sell us cubs ear radios....he gone! Jeez, I need to stop watching the sox.

[Yeti]

Is anyone else concerned with the downside of the publicity this might generate? Lot's more people coming to the site does not necessarily improve the quality of the site. Len and others coming by and doing Q&A discussions certainly does. Getting more users does not, necessarily. The site has two assets, one is the sites ability to attract people within the Cubs organization (and MLB in general) to give insights into the game that cannot be gotten elsewhere. The other asset is the contributions of the posters themselves. It seems to me that the second asset fuels the first. It also seems to me that the posters on the site that make it valuable are special in the general population of baseball fans. Adding more fans as posters will not necessarily proportionately improve (or even maintain) the civility, insight, or community of the site.

 

Think of it this way, the site is like a horse stall. The floor is covered with a 2 inch layer of horse-hockey with diamonds scattered throughout. You sift throough the poop for the diamonds. The proportion of diamonds to poop is pretty high because of the self-selective nature of how people have heard about and find the site. Getting a shout out from Len will undoubtably result in a influx of new people to the site. My feeling is that it will be the equilevant of dumping a foot and a half of fresh poop in the stall without the previous concentration of diamonds.

 

I look at cable tv the same way.

 

Anyone else concerned?

 

I am happy and honored to have Len here and hope he enjoys his relationship with the posters here. I feel the same way with all the insiders who grace us with their insights. I fear that popularity, however, could kill the golden goose of this site-community's spirit.

 

It's a fair enough assessment, but one that I don't agree with. Is Tim operating this site at a loss financially? Breaking even? There really aren't all that many NSBB members paying for premium services, and if the ads go away due to lack of hits, what happens to NSBB if Tim gets tired of losing money?

 

What if you or I had not yet been introduced to NSBB? Would we wish to be turned away because the site was comfortable with the membership where it's at? Even today, many people are still purchasing their first computers. True blue Cub fans who may or may not have things to add to this site.

 

I enjoy reading VancetheCubFan's opinions about everything Cubs. He was a late arrival to this site. It's further proof that one didn't need to be in the click when this site formed to be able to offer something in return for their presence. No disrespect to any late arrivals that are not mentioned.

 

NSBB, IMO, is still in the infancy stages. It's just now starting to bloom. I don't think it's anywhere close to what it can still become. And that's because this place has dedicated enough people that will go above and beyond their membership to make it a better place.

 

Right now, we are getting attention from broadcasters, minor leaguers, sports journalists to name a few. 3 years ago, we got none of this. 1 year ago, we got very little of this. Now, we get a lot. We could eventually see daily interviews from players, management and ownership of these organizations and others.

 

Let the moderators separate the diamonds from the poop. And let more and more fans experience a whole new way to enjoy or parish in all that is Cubs. That's the way I see it anyway.

these are both excellent posts on this subject, i must say that with the increase in numbers here, my post frequency goes down, as well as my interest in increasing numbers of threads, but i do have to admit that it is nice to be getting the input from Cubs organization. anyway i guess my point is that guarded growth can only help us, ESPECIALLY if people pay for premium. Edited September 15, 2005 by Yeti

[NCCubFan]

I'd probably be concerned if I thought the publicity would only bring bad posters. If it brings a mix, we can weed out the rotten apples. The result would be a better site because we'd have the new good posters who might otherwise know about the site.

 

Besides, Modzilla is chomping at the bit for some new trolls to slay anyway. :lol: