We interrupt this track season...

[Timesfreelanceguy]

I do still plan on breaking down the AA and remainder of A sectionals (hint: if you're from the DVC area, you had much to crow about in terms of strength of competition, but you guys already knew that), but what I would like to get your feedback on -- and be creative with IM's budget if you wish -- whether IM.com should have a presence at meets such as Virginia Beach, Univ. nats, Fargo, Reno, etc. Even in-state presence like the state FS/GR meets or Midwest Nationals or the folkstyle nats just over in Iowa at Cedar Falls.

I could envision a world where IM sends a reporter to cover these meets and competes directly with local and national papers and wrestling magazines that might be in attendance, plus any other media that happen to be on hand. I would love to see IM be the most comprehensive news site as well as fan site. I've read a lot of Division I conference tournament and national tournament coverage over the last 15 years or so, and I gotta say, it gets pretty superficial (re: lack of insight) really quickly. As IM is not a "traditional" media outlet, it wouldn't cover these events in traditional ways.

Said reporter would provide the readership with daily comprehensive reports, almost real-time updates on certain matches of fan interest, and the like. I would bet that very few, if any papers, sent anyone out-of-state to anything but Big Ten or nationals, if they even did that.

I know that many parents of elite wrestlers -- if they aren't already sort of annoyed with their local paper's in-season coverage -- don't even bother sending reports from spring and summer events. Local sports staffs are headlong into the spring season anyway and look at wrestling as being "done." I remember that we did a feature on Tyler Clark after he won out at Fargo between his freshman and sophomore year, while I still worked at the Illinois paper, and I kind of had to pull some teeth to budget it.

Said reporter could make visits to Division I and III in-state colleges, and provide "training camp" reports. Even the powerhouse HS programs -- north, central and south, this reporter wouldn't discriminate -- could very well get visits.

Does it sound like I'd want the job? Hell yes I'd want the job! I would love to cover wrestling (almost) 12 months a year and not do anything else. I think it's very obvious to all that the site is not there yet, and won't be for some while.

But hey, Predicament and IAWI are pay sites, those buzzards go everywhere to cover meets, and then they don't even share the stuff they have. Even results go lacking. They have the resources to crush IM as a site, and they don't. Why? 1. You and your participation, which is so far more extensive than fan forums there that it's not even funny. 2. They don't know how to promote what they have. Particularly the Predicament, which just sends their guy (usually just a photographer, not a writer) out and he shows up and says, kind of, "We're the Predicament. Love us. Because you must."

I would really like to get your feedback on the possibilities here. Is this even a desirable situation for IM to get into?

Shannon

[Jaguar]

Absolutely! No doubt. I don't think it is even a close question. I would be willing to pay for a subscription for that kind of coverage.

[FoxesFan]

Shannon:

You are the right person to do this. Your reporting is objective, accurate and always a good read. Your knowledge of the sport is good and growing, limited only by the extent of your travels (i.e. Budget $$). You are becomming an expert -- look out Rob Sherrill. :)

One small cautionary. Part of the charm of ILMatmen is the zero barrier to participatoin. I'm not sure how a fee would effect this. Personally, I would pay, and I would encourage others to ante up to improve the standing of the sport of wrestling. To be objective, we would lose some participation, but how much? Maybe another survey is in order?

[admin]

I've had some of these same ideas. I think the only thing Illinois Matmen is missing is more original content (stories). Maybe we could try a paid premium service (similar to Intermat and Revwrestling) for some of our feature articles and bonus coverage, such as live results. Of course, the message boards, rankings, tournament results, and everything else that is currently free would remain free. What does everyone think? Is it worth a shot? We could start with the Freestyle and Greco State Tournaments.

[admin]

I've created a new poll (http://www.illinoismatmen.com/polls.php) that asks, "How much would you be willing to pay for an Illinois Matmen Premium Service?" Please vote (http://www.illinoismatmen.com/polls.php)!

[Jaguar]

Shannon:

You are the right person to do this. Your reporting is objective, accurate and always a good read. Your knowledge of the sport is good and growing, limited only by the extent of your travels (i.e. Budget $$). You are becomming an expert -- look out Rob Sherrill. :)

One small cautionary. Part of the charm of ILMatmen is the zero barrier to participatoin. I'm not sure how a fee would effect this. Personally, I would pay, and I would encourage others to ante up to improve the standing of the sport of wrestling. To be objective, we would lose some participation, but how much? Maybe another survey is in order?
IM would not need to charge for all areas of the site. Like Intermat and other sites there can be a premium area and an area open to all. I think it could work.

[agdfan]

Definitely would pay for premuim service. I send Intermat money every year. And my vote would also be for Shannon. We miss his coverage around here. Last year when we won the Greco National Duals (A HUGE deal in my opinion) I emailed the sports editor at his past employer since there was a local on the team, and got zero response. :mad: For crying out loud...it was a NATIONAL title.... If Shannon had still been there, I'm sure it would have gotten some paper space...

[Jaguar]

Definitely would pay for premuim service. I send Intermat money every year. And my vote would also be for Shannon. We miss his coverage around here. Last year when we won the Greco National Duals (A HUGE deal in my opinion) I emailed the sports editor at his past employer since there was a local on the team, and got zero response. :mad: For crying out loud...it was a NATIONAL title.... If Shannon had still been there, I'm sure it would have gotten some paper space...
I did the same thing, and nothing, nada, zip was the response. UGGHHH!

[BARR]

I am just curious if either one of you, Jag or adgfan, tried to get the papers to run a story about the FS title too or was it just for the Greco. If I am not mistaken last year was the first time ever that a State claimed the title in both styles. I doubt it would have made a difference and I am not trying to start a FS/Greco debate, I am just curious.

[agdfan]

I am just curious if either one of you, Jag or adgfan, tried to get the papers to run a story about the FS title too or was it just for the Greco. If I am not mistaken last year was the first time ever that a State claimed the title in both styles. I doubt it would have made a difference and I am not trying to start a FS/Greco debate, I am just curious.

I just attempted the Greco title using the "local boy" approach hoping it would get some press, but even that didn't work. This was a daily Quad City paper. When Coe got 4th at DIII nationals, their first National Champ,5 AAs, Coach of the year and Asst. Coach of the year, I emailed a story and team photo to our weekly "town" paper (didn't even attempt the Quad City paper). Know what they did? They cropped the team photo and took only parts of the article, and it ended up making no sense at all. Didn't even re-write it. It didn't even say it was DIII Nationals!!! It's "only" wrestling...UGH!! Pi$$es me off. I doubt they even know what DIII is or have ever heard of Greco or Freestye....:mad:

[Jaguar]

I am just curious if either one of you, Jag or adgfan, tried to get the papers to run a story about the FS title too or was it just for the Greco. If I am not mistaken last year was the first time ever that a State claimed the title in both styles. I doubt it would have made a difference and I am not trying to start a FS/Greco debate, I am just curious.
I did a write up on the whole thing, Cadet, Junior, Freestyle and Greco. I included references and details on all the wrestlers in the readership area, and I emphasized that no state has ever accomplished that level of success in the history of the national dual meet tournament - they did not even respond!

[BARR]

I did a write up on the whole thing, Cadet, Junior, Freestyle and Greco. I included references and details on all the wrestlers in the readership area, and I emphasized that no state has ever accomplished that level of success in the history of the national dual meet tournament - they did not even respond!

Wow, that is just ridiculous.

[birdwatcher35]

As is the consensus with the rest of the posters on this thread, I too would be very willing to pay for a premium section to be added to this site. I am slightly disturbed though that there are currently 25% of the voters who would not. I realize it is early on in the voting process, but this makes no sense to me.

We are talking about initial figures of anywhere from $10-$30 per YEAR for this increased, premium type of coverage that is completely optional to subscribe to WITHOUT affecting the non subscribing members capacity and privelages whatsoever. How many people who would say no to this are spending twice to three times as much for add-ons alone to their cellular phone coverage for example?

The decision to support something like this is an absolute no brainer for anyone who truly wants to be a part of IM becoming a major player in the national wrestling arena (just like the Illinois wrestlers are becoming :D ) I hope that as the votes continue to come in we will see a decided increase in support for this effort. I personally believe it would be worth even more than these original figures if it done properly, and as the track record shows, this site definately knows how to get things done!

[Highc95]

I dont think people understand the exstensive coverage they would be getting. Doesn't anybody hate it when you come on here looking for results and they aren't posted til the next day, and with little detail at that. Come on 30 dollars a YEAR. Thats nothing. Count me in!