My users want to find information that is accurate and that is DEEP. They are huge fans of the game. In addition, they use whatever information they get from whatever source they get it from to gain a competitive edge. This makes it essential that I provide better and better ways of following the game.

My users want that inside local information – not what ESPN feels that the masses want to know or that ESPN wants to blow up into the story of the week. Those are important too, but nothing satisfies people like having real, useful information. They want access to the local “gossip” mixed with the local fact and they want to be able to put that together for themselves. They want information that can only be obtained by either having been present at an event or by getting a first hand report from someone who was there, because, well, that’s the most reliable information there is. This is what the local guys bring and I hope they continue to get special treatment as long as they are doing the job.

That all being said, Mark, thanks for including the two URLs. I’m adding a section to every team page at SignAndTrade.com that includes only LOCAL sources of information about the NBA team. I want to have 5 to 10 of these links per team. I think it will be a great value for the users to be able to get the local lowdown on their favorite teams (or teams of interest) and have somewhere to get it all in one spot. If you (any of you) have any more local Dallas Mavericks websites that you think are informative send me a message – the email is at the end of this post – or post it back here. I’ll see about getting it added. If you have links for OTHER NBA teams you can certainly send them to the email I provided. Please don’t place those other teams links on blogmaverick though – just doesn’t seem right. You can email me at sirahlst@signandtrade.com if you have suggestions.

I grew up reading the Star Telegram and Dallas Morning News and have followed DMN website since it’s launch. I prefer that to the national sites because it covers all the teams in the metroplex area really well. I don’t think I’m going to stop just because ESPN launched another site. By the way, are they up to ESPN Ocho yet on the tube! Maybe Mark could pitch that for HDNet! Ha!

So the theory that they glance at a game on TV instead of actually giving it serious coverage fits right in with this type of approach to sports.

Just watch ESPN Gameday (the Berman crew) for a few minutes and look at all the fluff analysis they produce.

mike c

Also, there is a rumor that ESPN is planning to go regional to compete with Fox Sports and Comcast Sports. You can read more about the ESPN’s local ambitions here: http://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/article/63505

Good for you for not including them in the emails/early press releases, if they’re not going to do anything to earn that information then they don’t deserve it. DFWbrett is right in that content is king and without local reporters to catch the inside scoops those sites are sure to fail.

Espn seems all about making up their own drama and stories lately anyways. I don’t even think they care anymore if what they report is factual and actually about the game. They’ve seemed to of gotten this idea that I actually want to hear about who Tony Romo is dating…what player ran over some pedestrian while drinking and driving..etc. It’s gotten old.

Probably for the best they don’t have a reporter here actually.