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ESPN Acquires True Hoop, Which Is a Good Thing
The big news in blogging right now is that the Worldwide Leader is acquiring True Hoop and hiring Henry Abbott, meaning the web's top indie NBA blog now operates not so independently under the umbrella of ESPN.com. No wonder Bill Simmons says it's his favorite!
First, bravo to Abbott, who I've had the good fortune of knowing for some time now. He's talented, kind, passionate ... a great guy. The person at ESPN responsible for this (ESPN.com NBA editor Royce Webb?) should be commended, because Henry is perfect for what they should be trying to do. Next up for them: Finding someone like him for NFL, MLB, NCAA, etc.
This is 100% great news for sports blogs, blog users and even fans who don't give a [flip] about blogs (yet) for at least three reasons:
1. From here on out, ESPN's media empire will be promoting and featuring an honest-to-goodness blog, thus educating the sporting web's equivalent of middle America on exactly what the medium is and how good it can be. Elementary stuff for sure, but, as we've learned with FanHouse and the AOL network, the barrier is difficult to break down. Thankfully, the learning curve is steep.2. True Hoop has garnered success thanks in part to Henry linking to the best of the NBA blogosphere, which is self-serving in that it is great content and incents bloggers to link back and spread the word, but it also markets the blogs he links to, effectively sending new users their way. Now that True Hoop is powered by ESPN, this is amplified like never before. Deserving sites -- Clipper Blog, Mavs Moneyball, Yay Sports, The Hype Guy, Wizznutzz, etc., etc. -- are ready for their closeup, and it'll be interesting to see which sites Henry is allowed to ink to.
3. Indie bloggers have made the jump to paid gigs with mainstream sites before: Yoco Hoops' Yoni Cohen on Fox Sports, Aaron Gleeman and Off Wing's Eric McErlain on NBC Sports and plenty of folks on AOL's FanHouse. I'm probably leaving a lot of guys out, and that's not even including full-time bloggers such as Deadspin's Will Leitch and With Leather's Matt Ufford. But ESPN is different. Way different. So while this isn't quite a giant leap for blogkind, it is a shining moment for the medium as a bona-fide profession.
So, yeah, hooray for Henry and the rest of us, as what we're doing is now more important and harboring greater responsibility than ever before. It's an age of opportunity, and we need to step our game up.
Update: Yay Sports' mockup of ESPN-True Hoop is terrific, and here's what other bloggers are saying ...
ESPN Buys True Hoop, Hires Blogger [Micro Persuasion]
ESPN Makes Another Acq-Hire; Buys NBA Blog True Hoop [Paid Content]
The Death March for Old Media Continues [Cracked Sidewalks]
True Hoop Is Turning Pro [Detroit Bad Boys]
True Hoop Bought Out By ESPN [Sactown Royalty]
Stephen A. and the Gang Welcome True Hoop [Deadspin]
ESPN Now Owns True Hoop [With Leather]
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I got $113 to interview a cheerleader, and no one gives a f*ck.... and I was down with SBL when it was still hosted by a field goal kicker.
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Def. a fan of TrueHoop. Smart move by ESPN
2/17/07 7:52 PM
And I haven't been invited to NASCAR FanHouse.
Maybe it's my mistake. I write about the sport I enjoy. Silly me, thinking this is the purpose of sports blogging.
I should do nothing other than tell other bloggers how great they are so they in turn can tell everyone how great I am.
That, plus swear a lot and run pictures copied from Maxim's Web site.
Ought to do it.