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Sportspages.com becomes USSportspages.com

Discussion in 'Sports and News' started by RichJohnson, May 14, 2007.

  1. RichJohnson

    RichJohnson New Member

    Here's the note I've posted on Sportspages explaining the new deal:
    RJ
    - - -

    It was 1997 when I came up with the idea of a Drudge Report for sports. My business partner, Rick Scott, came along nearly a year later. We made Sportspages.com into a real site, like everybody else in the Internet business... just making it up as we went along. We did a good enough job in 1999 to win the Webby Award for best sports site, beating out some multi-million dollar efforts.

    We've recieved a ton of complements, comments and complaints along the way. I believe the Sportspages became a serious force in the sports journalism industry. I don't thing we 'broke' anybody, but I like to think we helped 'make' a lot of people -- giving them the added exposure that turned some not-so-humble scribes into radio talk shows and 'perma-guest' spots on various TV networks.

    And then there was the bulletin board, which begat SportsJournalists.com.

    When it felt like too much work for too little return, I would just remember Super Bowl week -- my annual personal self-esteem workshop! Getting complements from NFL folks, writers and broadcast talent does wonders for one's morale. But there's always been that hump.
    We've talked to a lot of people about that mythical 'next level' for Sportspages. The biggest impedement was always time. Both Rick and I have full-time careers, and we need to devote more time to them.

    Now, I'm happy to say we've found a way to both step away from Sportspages and keep it going We recieved an offer for the domain name that we couldn't refuse. At the same time, sports radio veteran Gregg Hanson made us an offer for the entire site.
    So the good news is this: Sportspages.com as you know it will continue, along with the Top Ten and Daily Links Service lists. Gregg has already begun taking over the lists, with long-time linker Mike Stone staying on to help compile the lists each day. Gregg will certainly make changes and improvements to the site, and soon come up with a new look.

    The only difference will be the address: USSportspages.com. You'll see it in your address bar now, thanks to a re-direct. Change your bookmarks now, because the re-direct will only last a few weeks. Sportspages.com will come under control of a London-based company that deals in rare sports books.

    I can't begin to thank everyone I've met with, drank with and argued with over the past decade. I intend to write a lot of individual emails in the coming days. I also hope you'll give Gregg your support as he takes USSportspages to that real, no-kidding next level.
     
  2. donaugust

    donaugust Member

    Hmm, alright. My compliments on your cashing out and not entirely killing the site.
     
  3. playthrough

    playthrough Moderator Staff Member

    Rare sports books? Cool. I might not change my bookmark then :)

    But I'll add usssportspages...the top-10 list is a regular stop for me.
     
  4. Satchel Pooch

    Satchel Pooch Member

    WTF? Good for you, Rich, but why not just pay money for raresportsbooks.com?

    That's cool that you cashed out on a domain name.
     
  5. Jones

    Jones Active Member

    The store is named Sportspages. I seem to remember there once being a disclaimer on Rich's site about it.

    It's a great store, by the way. It's giant -- I'm pretty sure just about every book about sports ever written is in there. I spent a rainy day -- such a rare thing in London -- lost in there once.
     
  6. Starman

    Starman Well-Known Member

    It's Gregg Henson, a three-time-failed mouthbreathing radio sportsyacker who has been run out of just about every job he's ever had, usually one step ahead of a lynch mob ready to crucify him for fratboy Imus/Stern-style borderline racist/misogynist/bigoted prattle over the airwaves. Oh joy.
     
  7. slappy4428

    slappy4428 Active Member

    And could it be the same Mike Stone who worked with Henson at DFN before he got dumped
     
  8. dreunc1542

    dreunc1542 Active Member

    Well Damnit, I was just there for 4 months and I'm sure I would have passed a few boring afternoons in there if I would have known about it.
     
  9. Rufino

    Rufino Active Member

    Yes, it's the same Mike Stone of afternoon drive at WDFN fame. I have to take issue with Starman's characterization of Henson's career. Gregg is an interesting guy - you can check out his website at gregghenson.com and read his blog to learn more about him.

    I'm not a fan of Henson's onair style, but the guy was very good as program director for WDFN and then moved across town in a career move. He was hamstrung by management in his efforts to take down WDFN as program director at WXYT, switched to a successful run as a general talk show host on a non-sports station and eventually was fired. After that he moved to Austin and Philly for a pair of brief runs that lasted around nine months.

    No one in their right mind would criticize someone going from Austin to Philly for much bigger dollars, so I'm not sure how that move indicates failure. He then quit in Philly out of a desire to return home to Michigan after a recent series of family deaths. Again, is that failure? Criticize the on-air style all you want, but "three-time failure" is simply not accurate. And no, I'm not Henson or even a friend of his, just the resident sports radio business wonk who wanted to set things straight.
     
  10. Lucas Wiseman

    Lucas Wiseman Well-Known Member

    Maybe one day someone will offer me a huge bundle of money and I can retire from the web business, too. That would be nice. I've had a headache since Oct. 2001 :)

    Congrats on a great run, Rich... good luck in your future endeavors.
     
  11. slappy4428

    slappy4428 Active Member

    So the 15 bucks I sent you last month WASN'T Enough??? Jeebus... ;D
     
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