I love cracked sidewalks and have been going there for MU news for awhile, but can we get a background of a Marquette game that is actually sold out?
I'm not sure if there is some significance to the picture that is currently in the background but I think it would look a lot better with a packed BC.
In the end it doesn't really matter but I just thought I would throw this out there.
Well, here's the thing .. if you notice, that picture was from the C-USA era of MU basketball.
Knowing that the Big East will eventually implode and we'll be back in C-USA, I figured I could keep that picture and be ahead of the game when we come full circle.
Quote from: Secret of the Ouse on October 20, 2010, 09:56:33 PM
I love cracked sidewalks and have been going there for MU news for awhile, but can we get a background of a Marquette game that is actually sold out?
I'm not sure if there is some significance to the picture that is currently in the background but I think it would look a lot better with a packed BC.
In the end it doesn't really matter but I just thought I would throw this out there.
+1
Quote from: mu_hilltopper on October 20, 2010, 10:04:15 PM
Well, here's the thing .. if you notice, that picture was from the C-USA era of MU basketball.
Knowing that the Big East will eventually implode and we'll be back in C-USA, I figured I could keep that picture and be ahead of the game when we come full circle.
Well that certainly is "glass half empty"
Thanks for your feedback. That's Kevin's department. I do know that it took him a while to build that background. When I joined, the one thing he told me not to mess with (ever) was the background. However, it has been a while and we are due a refresh. Kevin, fix that sh*t.
Since you brought it up, let's expand the question a bit to the broader audience.
Any other feedback or suggestions for the blog?
I thought this was going a different way rather than the image. What is the background of the Cracked Sidewalks writers and alumni (and Scoop admins)?
There is limited background on some of the bloggers, but not all. Obviously it's your right to protect your privacy - if you don't want anyone to know you were Jeff from Real Chili or shined Ziggy's medallions, those are your personal demons.
Based on the exchanges on the board the last week or so (I am specifically thinking about the thread about Hood's announcement that never happened) it sounds like Crackedsidewalks/MUScoop started due to a disagreement with the people who run the Scout board or another board.
Is there some history there that people who have joined in the past few years do not know about?
Also, are Crackedsidewalks/MUScoop intended to be partners? Because why don't either of the sites affiliate with the Scout board or other sites? Crackedsidewalks/MUScoop is only beat by Rosiak anyway so it might not matter anyway.
Not trying to draw out any drama, but just want to get some context.
I love both sites, though. You guys do a good job running both. We all owe a lot of entertainment and quality bball discussions to you guys.
You guys should sell ads. This is such a targeted group that something like the Marquette spirit shop or a college basketball memorabilia seller might bite. This may be a small group in number, but a very concentrated group as far as interests go which might be appealing.
Nothing to do with the Scout board. Just a couple of us that wanted to invest some time and love into our passion...MU hoops. The contributors have since grown and include some MU Scoop founder(s). It's a good relationship with good people. We don't always agree on stuff but everyone's heart is in the right place.
Quote from: HoopsMalone on October 21, 2010, 12:15:48 AM
Based on the exchanges on the board the last week or so (I am specifically thinking about the thread about Hood's announcement that never happened) it sounds like Crackedsidewalks/MUScoop started due to a disagreement with the people who run the Scout board or another board.
Is there some history there that people who have joined in the past few years do not know about?
Also, are Crackedsidewalks/MUScoop intended to be partners? Because why don't either of the sites affiliate with the Scout board or other sites? Crackedsidewalks/MUScoop is only beat by Rosiak anyway so it might not matter anyway.
I love both sites, though. You guys do a good job running both. We all owe a lot of entertainment and quality bball discussions to you guys.
You guys should sell ads. This is such a targeted group that something like the Marquette spirit shop or a college basketball memorabilia seller might bite. This may be a small group in number, but a very concentrated group as far as interests go which might be appealing.
Hoops,
To reinforce what Chicos said -- Cracked Sidewalks was started almost six years ago purely based on passion. The blog format was just emerging at the time & offered a new way to discuss MU basketball (as compared to a message board), and for professional reasons (in my case) it's important to participate in emerging social media platforms.
Later when MUScoop began the founders here reached out to Chicos and me and offered to partner, enabling the blog posts to scrape into their community. What a great idea that turned out to be for both parties -- we have reinforcing content and the collective means to reach a larger community of MU fans. I still greatly appreciate the teaming that goes on with MUScoop.
Regarding ads -- we've never taken them. Our focus is not about covering costs or making a few pennies, it is to disintermediate traditional media and offer MU fans a different, independent perspective on the program. We've considered ads and field offers for partnerships/sponsorships regularly but for now we're content as-is and consider your annual donations to Al's Run and Walk as payment enough. So you know we also sponsor Bo's Warrior Day Golf Outing every summer as well.
In terms of full discloure (T-Bone's request) I'm a 1991 Marquette graduate. While at MU, I was a student manager for the men's team working for both Dukiet and O'Neill. Henry Sugar had some fun with my background here (but at least the photo is legit).
http://wiki.muscoop.com/doku.php/men_s_basketball/tim_blair
Anyway, thanks for reading CS and MUScoop -- & as Henry said .... all suggestions/feedback are welcome
If you guys ever need help with a new background, I can always help out. I definitely love what CS and MUScoop has done for me this past few years since discovering both sites. It's really great that there is such a tight knit group of people that share the same passion as I do.
Quote from: NYWarrior on October 21, 2010, 06:07:50 AM
In terms of full discloure (T-Bone's request) I'm a 1991 Marquette graduate. While at MU, I was a student manager for the men's team working for both Dukiet and O'Neill. Henry Sugar had some fun with my background here (but at least the photo is legit).
http://wiki.muscoop.com/doku.php/men_s_basketball/tim_blair
Haha...That background is almost Mbakwe-esque. When Dos Equis needs a new
Most Interesting Man in the World, you should apply.
Quote from: BrewCity on October 21, 2010, 08:42:46 AM
Haha...That background is almost Mbakwe-esque. When Dos Equis needs a new Most Interesting Man in the World, you should apply.
No, no....but Rob should turn in his badge at work and become a fiction writer
Mental note, you can read all about the evolution of Warrior chat on the wiki:
http://wiki.muscoop.com/doku.php/marquette_internet_forum_history
Quote from: MUCrew on October 21, 2010, 07:39:18 AM
If you guys ever need help with a new background, I can always help out. I definitely love what CS and MUScoop has done for me this past few years since discovering both sites. It's really great that there is such a tight knit group of people that share the same passion as I do.
This. You have proven to be quite talented at Photoshop. I was hoping you were still lurking around and were willing to chip in!
Time to do an MUScoop Web Department role call! I work with Utile et Dulce and he's very good on the Usability side. I'm a software architect, so unless Cracked Sidewalks gets infinitely more complex there's not a ton I can offer to the project.
There must be other web professionals whos talents we can tap to give CS a facelift :) I don't know how much flexibility Blogger.com affords us, though.
Quote from: HoopsMalone on October 21, 2010, 12:15:48 AM
Based on the exchanges on the board the last week or so (I am specifically thinking about the thread about Hood's announcement that never happened) it sounds like Crackedsidewalks/MUScoop started due to a disagreement with the people who run the Scout board or another board.
Is there some history there that people who have joined in the past few years do not know about?
Also, are Crackedsidewalks/MUScoop intended to be partners? Because why don't either of the sites affiliate with the Scout board or other sites? Crackedsidewalks/MUScoop is only beat by Rosiak anyway so it might not matter anyway.
Not trying to draw out any drama, but just want to get some context.
I love both sites, though. You guys do a good job running both. We all owe a lot of entertainment and quality bball discussions to you guys.
You guys should sell ads. This is such a targeted group that something like the Marquette spirit shop or a college basketball memorabilia seller might bite. This may be a small group in number, but a very concentrated group as far as interests go which might be appealing.
I've thought for a while the MUScoop-Cracked Sidewalks Partnership should actually go further. I used to travel to Cracked Sidewalks a lot more, but since MUScoop now posts all blog articles from CrackedSidewalks, its hard to find a reason to drop over there since I know I won't miss a new post.
I think the sites should actually combine completely, obviously over time, like many other fan blog sites that have forums and other fan features along with the blog. That would make the site even more powerful because you would not be splitting up the people who just want to to read the blog from the people that just want to post and read opinions (also would raise your Technorati authority).
Not in the design of something like Arrowheadpride.com (an SB Nation blog), but in that style where the site is giant social and debate hub for fans.
Quote from: Aughnanure on October 21, 2010, 09:18:17 AM
I've thought for a while the MUScoop-Cracked Sidewalks Partnership should actually go further. I used to travel to Cracked Sidewalks a lot more, but since MUScoop now posts all blog articles from CrackedSidewalks, its hard to find a reason to drop over there since I know I won't miss a new post.
I think the sites should actually combine completely, obviously over time, like many other fan blog sites that have forums and other fan features along with the blog. That would make the site even more powerful because you would not be splitting up the people who just want to to read the blog from the people that just want to post and read opinions (also would raise your Technorati authority).
Not in the design of something like Arrowheadpride.com (an SB Nation blog), but in that style where the site is giant social and debate hub for fans.
I agree.
Quote from: HoopsMalone on October 21, 2010, 12:15:48 AM
Based on the exchanges on the board the last week or so (I am specifically thinking about the thread about Hood's announcement that never happened) it sounds like Crackedsidewalks/MUScoop started due to a disagreement with the people who run the Scout board or another board.
Is there some history there that people who have joined in the past few years do not know about?
I should address that comment, as it's not correct.
The "Ahoya" board (aka Rivals) was operated by Mike Juno and John Dodds. In 2004, after disagreements about editorial policy, they went their separate ways and Dodds created the Scout site MUHoops. Eventually, Mike Juno dropped out of sight.
Later, a better mousetrap was invented as MUScoop, and the Ahoya site died out (just checked there .. what a ghost town: Mo Acker just decided to skip his final year!).
But indeed, that original schism reverberates today .. while we all bleed blue and gold and want to see Marquette succeed, the main difference between Scout and Scoop is editorial policy, with one tight and the other loose.
As you saw in recent threads .. that issue remains bothersome to a segment of MU faithful.
Great info. I never came across the history on the wiki.
Some archived posts from the Sports Only site (nothing for the Geocities link + not all links to posts actually work - strangely the link to Madison being desperate works):
http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.sportsonly.com/a/6025 (http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.sportsonly.com/a/6025)
This thread is particularly interesting, and may be relevant... ::)
http://web.archive.org/web/20010818160603/www.sportsonly.com/a/6025/bin/2811.html
Old RingOutAhoya:
http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.RingOutAhoya.com (http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.RingOutAhoya.com)
Edit: Fixed links.
Quote from: T-Bone on October 20, 2010, 11:25:48 PM
I thought this was going a different way rather than the image. What is the background of the Cracked Sidewalks writers and alumni (and Scoop admins)?
There is limited background on some of the bloggers, but not all. Obviously it's your right to protect your privacy - if you don't want anyone to know you were Jeff from Real Chili or shined Ziggy's medallions, those are your personal demons.
I'm a '99 grad, which due to the wonder of the Engineering co-op program means I was "at" school for all five years of the Deane era. Also, my wife is an alum, which is the only reasonable way that my unhealthy obsession persists.
A few years ago, I discovered the wonder of regression analysis, a copy of Dean Oliver's "Basketball on Paper", and started my own blog for stats. Tim and Kevin quickly reached out and invited me to join CS. The rest has been a lot of self-directed research and way too much time on Pomeroy's site. Can't believe it's been almost three years.
Thank you for reading.
-Rob
Quote from: Aughnanure on October 21, 2010, 09:18:17 AM
I think the sites should actually combine completely, obviously over time, like many other fan blog sites that have forums and other fan features along with the blog. That would make the site even more powerful because you would not be splitting up the people who just want to to read the blog from the people that just want to post and read opinions (also would raise your Technorati authority).
Personally, I really like this idea. Of course, I'm not the one to figure out how to make it work. :)
On a side note: what ever happened to Alum91 from Ahoya? Does he have a different username here on scoop?
Love reading the game analysis on Cracked Sidewalks. I've even emailed the guys directly a few times to ask questions or get clarifications and have always received a prompt and thoughtful response. Over time I've gradually moved over to spend more time on this site because the information comes out so much faster (even if it's mixed in with about 80% nonsense) and includes CS posts.
As for the actual background image, it could be so much better. The background on my blackberry used to be JFB's two handed jam against Syracuse and I loved it. Maybe a black and white picture of Al? D-Wade throwing down against Kentucky? Buzz getting hangtime?
Quote from: TallTitan34 on October 21, 2010, 10:12:40 AM
On a side note: what ever happened to Alum91 from Ahoya? Does he have a different username here on scoop?
I remember that guy. Man, he was awesome!
Quote from: mu_hilltopper on October 21, 2010, 10:21:04 AM
I remember that guy. Man, he was awesome!
You're Alum91?!?!?! Eesh, I don't know how I missed that.
Quote from: Henry Sugar on October 21, 2010, 10:00:28 AM
Personally, I really like this idea. Of course, I'm not the one to figure out how to make it work. :)
On an SMF forum that I admin we use something similar to the SMFBlog (http://custom.simplemachines.org/mods/index.php?mod=793) mod. That could be the exact mod, but I'd have to look into it further because I implemented it years ago.
You create a forum that's marked as your blog forum. New Thread creation is limited to certain users, but everyone can reply. A new thread generates a blog post on the main site's landing page. Because anyone can comment on the thread, people that are already visiting the forum can read the thread like they would any normal thread. If people would rather just read the news (blog) they can consume it that way with a little "4 Coments | Write Comment" link at the end of the text.
It's worked like a charm for us for years. It's about video games, so feel free to ignore the content. We customized the layout years ago and we could make it look however we wanted.
Here's the 'blog' generated from all new News forum posts: http://www.dusk-gaming.com
Here's the forum: http://forums.dusk-gaming.com
Edit: The forum is private so that's why you can't see most of the boards :)
Quote from: T-Bone on October 21, 2010, 09:50:55 AM
Great info. I never came across the history on the wiki.
Some archived posts from the Sports Only site (nothing for the Geocities link + not all links to posts actually work - strangely the link to Madison being desperate works):
http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.sportsonly.com/a/6025 (http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.sportsonly.com/a/6025)
This thread is particularly interesting, and may be relevant... ::)
http://web.archive.org/web/20010818160603/www.sportsonly.com/a/6025/bin/2811.html
Old RingOutAhoya:
http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.RingOutAhoya.com (http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.RingOutAhoya.com)
Edit: Fixed links.
Oh Great.
Now Marquette84 can quote people from 10 years ago.
(I kid, I kid) ;)
Quote from: Skatastrophy on October 21, 2010, 10:34:59 AM
On an SMF forum that I admin we use something similar to the SMFBlog (http://custom.simplemachines.org/mods/index.php?mod=793) mod. That could be the exact mod, but I'd have to look into it further because I implemented it years ago.
You create a forum that's marked as your blog forum. New Thread creation is limited to certain users, but everyone can reply. A new thread generates a blog post on the main site's landing page. Because anyone can comment on the thread, people that are already visiting the forum can read the thread like they would any normal thread. If people would rather just read the news (blog) they can consume it that way with a little "4 Coments | Write Comment" link at the end of the text.
It's worked like a charm for us for years. It's about video games, so feel free to ignore the content. We customized the layout years ago and we could make it look however we wanted.
Here's the 'blog' generated from all new News forum posts: http://www.dusk-gaming.com
Here's the forum: http://forums.dusk-gaming.com
Edit: The forum is private so that's why you can't see most of the boards :)
Im thinking something a little bit more free than that, as I don't like the idea of limiting who can post a topic. Obviously I think the landing page should be the blog as that is your true original content and the face of the site, and the name should be Crack Sidewalks (its honestly a more unique and defining name than Mu Scoop). However, there would be a section/tab for the forum, along with a comments section for each post, just like the Wiki, scholarship table, etc. I also think there should be a Fan Posts type of thing (like on SB Nation Blogs), different than a thread and not the official blog, where people can post much longer thoughts, concerns, analysis they personally have about a game, player, etc, or even off -topic (also would have comments enabled).
Quote from: Aughnanure on October 21, 2010, 11:27:51 AM
Im thinking something a little bit more free than that, as I don't like the idea of limiting who can post a topic. Obviously I think the landing page should be the blog as that is your true original content and the face of the site, and the name should be Crack Sidewalks (its honestly a more unique and defining name than Mu Scoop). However, there would be a section/tab for the forum, along with a comments section for each post, just like the Wiki, scholarship table, etc. I also think there should be a Fan Posts type of thing (like on SB Nation Blogs), different than a thread and not the official blog, where people can post much longer thoughts, concerns, analysis they personally have about a game, player, etc, or even off -topic (also would have comments enabled).
You don't have to limit everything, that's just how we set up that particular forum. Same with the domain name. Those are two things that we obviously set up for our purposes. It won't matter if the blog lives at 'crack sidewalks' or not, technically speaking.
Though, if you don't limit who can post a topic then it's not worth reading. It's just a forum where every inane topic is published.
I mean, if you have longer thoughts then you can talk to the CS guys. I'm sure that if your idea has merit then they'll let you guest-blog. There needs to be a hurdle of some sort or else you'll get rambling tirades by MR. HAYWARD every night, which would effectively kill any clout CS has built up over the years.
Quote from: Skatastrophy on October 21, 2010, 11:38:26 AM
You don't have to limit everything, that's just how we set up that particular forum. Same with the domain name. Those are two things that we obviously set up for our purposes. It won't matter if the blog lives at 'crack sidewalks' or not, technically speaking.
Though, if you don't limit who can post a topic then it's not worth reading. It's just a forum where every inane topic is published.
I mean, if you have longer thoughts then you can talk to the CS guys. I'm sure that if your idea has merit then they'll let you guest-blog. There needs to be a hurdle of some sort or else you'll get rambling tirades by MR. HAYWARD every night, which would effectively kill any clout CS has built up over the years.
Im not saying I want to guest blog or that I would want to post the longer Fan Posts, but its just something different to add to this proposed site than - in between the official blog and the forum, which is discussion based. Who knows, I would think there a number of decently talented MU writers who have the motivation and desire to write some pretty decent intriguing pieces in their own free time, thats all - you have to take some of the risks along with the possible benefits of opening up.
However, I don't understand your point about limiting who can post. Isn't that (not limiting who can post) the exact same way it works here? It seems to work decently fine.
Maybe you're thinking of combining the blog and forum much more than I am proposing. I do not think they should be melded together in the same platform, but instead simply exist on the same site. I believe they need to maintain their distinctness, and instead more combine their power into one MU fan site/social hub.
This particular solution would meld the blog and the forum. The benefits would be that there would be one central repository for discussion and commenting on a post (as opposed to today where people discuss on MUScoop separately from the Blogger site).
The limiting of who could create new topics would be in only one forum. That forum could be named Cracked Sidewalks (or anything else) and content authors would craft their posts in there. Upon posting their post would live in the Cracked Sidewalks forum and could be responded to. The post would also automagically be syndicated to the blog site where it could be consumed as it is today (again: the URL of the blog site doesn't matter afaik. It could stay CS.com). The only difference would be that when clicking to post a comment it would bring the discussion back to the Cracked Sidewalks forum on muscoop.com as opposed to having separate discussions at Blogger.com and MUScoop.com.
To reiterate, this would keep the branding/naming separate, but allows for a central discussion point for MU fans. Plus it would take care of the character encoding snafus that occur whenever a CS post is syndicated to MUScoop today because all of the content would exist in the same technology suite.
Quote from: Skatastrophy on October 21, 2010, 01:05:02 PM
This particular solution would meld the blog and the forum. The benefits would be that there would be one central repository for discussion and commenting on a post (as opposed to today where people discuss on MUScoop separately from the Blogger site).
The limiting of who could create new topics would be in only one forum. That forum could be named Cracked Sidewalks (or anything else) and content authors would craft their posts in there. Upon posting their post would live in the Cracked Sidewalks forum and could be responded to. The post would also automagically be syndicated to the blog site where it could be consumed as it is today (again: the URL of the blog site doesn't matter afaik. It could stay CS.com). The only difference would be that when clicking to post a comment it would bring the discussion back to the Cracked Sidewalks forum on muscoop.com as opposed to having separate discussions at Blogger.com and MUScoop.com.
To reiterate, this would keep the branding/naming separate, but allows for a central discussion point for MU fans. Plus it would take care of the character encoding snafus that occur whenever a CS post is syndicated to MUScoop today because all of the content would exist in the same technology suite.
Ok, that makes a lot more sense. And definietly those character snafus are about the only reason I visit the actual blog. I guess I would just rather have everything under on domain and site - CrackedSidewalks.com - obviously not in its current form (let's be honest, MUScoop is no as good of a name to brand an MU fan site with).
Again, we are just discussing ideas for the two to be more compatible/partners and I think your idea would be a good in-between to see if it works well and then later move into a fully powerful functional MU Fan hub/database.
See, Im thinking something more in the overall scope and power of SB Nation blogs, but not in their ugly scattered and confused design (adding a fully organized unlimited forum section as well, along with either the open "Fan Shots/Posts" part - Im not sure what the difference really is between them).
Quote from: Aughnanure on October 21, 2010, 01:41:51 PM
See, Im thinking something more in the overall scope and power of SB Nation blogs, but not in their ugly scattered and confused design (adding a fully organized unlimited forum section as well, along with either the open "Fan Shots/Posts" part - Im not sure what the difference really is between them).
You and I definitely differ there. I avoid SB Nation because most of the time I get 50% of the way through an 'article' before I realize that the author is a kid that has no clue what he's talking about and nothing to back up any of his claims.
Quote from: Skatastrophy on October 21, 2010, 01:51:49 PM
You and I definitely differ there. I avoid SB Nation because most of the time I get 50% of the way through an 'article' before I realize that the author is a kid that has no clue what he's talking about and nothing to back up any of his claims.
Haha, I don't like their design and obviously we would give that main blog space to the already established Crack Sidewalks bloggers. However, the power and functional capabilities of the site as an all-encompassing hub is what Im striving for. SB Nation is just the easiest example to find, and are always some of the top ranked blogs in terms of influence and authority.
Don't get me wrong, I don't want some random kid posting - I want the CS guys doing the official blog postings (we would clearly identify and separate the official blog from the fan ones so there is no confusion or waste of time like your experience was), but Im striving for the actual capability of it all....you seem to be focusing just on the posts you saw. So I don't get where we really differ THAT much.