REPORTING FROM THE JOCK-OSPHERE:
CLEARING THE AIR
by Ryan Corazza and Evan Bartsch
Getty Images
The sun ... she rises high over another blogger.
Last week, we discussed the fact that in the world of athlete-blogging, actually typing the blog is a bit of a stretch for some. To have an athlete always physically sitting down in front of a computer and penning their blogs is a bit onerous, we're learning. It makes enough sense. What we wonder is whether it should be called blogging.
Weplay—which just received $8.6 million in financing in part from the likes of Derek Jeter, LeBron James and Peyton Manning—was a large part of our conversation, but their CEO wanted to defend what they felt were accusations that their product wasn't the genuine article.
"What we're trying to do is accommodate our athlete's life cycles," said Steve Hansen, Weplay CEO. He noted that Jeter is currently in season and in the midst of trying to catch the Red Sox. That makes blogging a chore. To conduct Weplay blogging, Hansen says they've sent a point man out to Yankee Stadium to chat with Jeter and recently sent the same employee down to New Orleans to chat with Manning. The conversations are then compiled into blog entries.
As another example, a few months back, Summer Sanders spent over two hours with them chatting about her thoughts and what was going on in her life, and that constituted a post.
"I think (our users) really care about what Derek has to say today, not so much whether he actually sat down in front of the keyboard and hammered out some keystrokes," said Hansen.
Along with Weplay, Yardbarker admits that some of their blogging is done in the same way—transcribed from a conversation that's ultimately meant to create a post.
Is it blogging? Depends on what you consider a blog.
Also in the Jock-Osphere:
Gilbert Arenas: James Bond Villain?
"I always wanted a pool and then I also have the shark tanks in there," he writes. "When I saw that part in the story, I knew who took the picture.
"I've been in love with fish tanks and sharks for a while. (And not just shark jokes.) I actually bough Ken Griffey Jr.'s old tank online and have that in my living room. I knew somebody who was selling it in Orlando. Actually, the company ended up buying it back from me and building me another one for the same price because the old one was too tall. It was like 10 feet tall and there was too much water pressure to have it in my living room, or whatever, so they build me one that was rounder and shorter. I'm going to have exotic fish in there, a couple sharks, some black tips, some bonnet heads…that's my mild tank."
Gil wasn't happy the pictures of his new pool getting leaked to the Net, but really, we think we're all better for it, no? Check out that grotto!
Darren keeps it real by reporting to mom and dad on the horn in between Gatorade runs for the Raider veterans:
"I call my mom when I first get up each morning," he writes. "She's usually up when we get up at 6:45—it's 8:45 at home. I'll call my dad in the afternoon and usually call my mom again too. But it's not as many phone calls today as it usually will be. I just like to talk to them, find out how everything is going at home and fill them in on what's happening at camp. The little back and forth stuff. Always good to hear their voices.
"Here's a video of me talking about life as a rookie. Some guys get it tougher than others. Fortunately the RBs don't have it as bad as I hear some of the guys on D do."
For reals, I heard Warren Sapp used to have to give foot massages when he broke into the league, and Howie Long had to walk uphill adjacent to fault lines both ways to training camp in the hot California sun.
Mike Conley Jr.: Buckeye Stars Basketball Camp
MC Jr. blogs about his first kids' camp with former Buckeye teammates Greg Oden and Daequan Cook, and later what's it like to go 1 on 1 with Mr. Fantastic himself, Greg Oden (the man played piano for JT at the ESPY's!).
"A few days ago me, Greg and Daequan held our first basketball camp together in CBUS," he writes. "It actually was a very large turnout something like 220 campers. Afterwards I worked out with Daequan for a bit and hung out with some friends. We actually played a few pickup games with the current OSU players for a few days.
"I also got a question in my last blog about how it will feel when I play against Greg. I've played against him many times in practice/scrimmage situations it won't be any different except people will be in the stands."
So who wins, the guard or the big man? Do you whip around big country like a Keebler Elf with a fresh batch of double fudge, or does he get large and back you down into the paint of no-return?
Heather Mitts: All The Small Things
Women's Soccer kicks off the Bejing Olympics tonight against Norway. here's how Heather and her teammates have been keeping the vibe chill:
"The staff and coaches have been performing skits to keep the mood light," she writes. "We were treated to hour foot massages the other day, which was a nice surprise. Since the food isn't quite what it is at home, we were treated to ice-cream sundaes from good old McDonald's last night, which made many of us very happy. Its the little things that make all the difference!
"We take on Norway on August 6 at 7:45 a.m. on MSNBC. The game will be re-aired on Universal HD at 8 p.m, and then 10:30 later that night.
"One down, five to go 'til the Gold! Looking for #2 for my collection. This one will mean a lot more since my playing time will be a little more extensive than the last Olympics! Hope you can find time to cheer us on."
Isn't it customary to count the victories after they are won? Sorry Norway, Heather says your goose is cooked. Next!
