Growing Quickly - Bump
Posted on Tuesday, February 21st, 2006 at 3:47 pm by Brian Robinson
I just wanted to take a moment to let all the new people on this site know how much I appreciate your participation. In less than two weeks it seems as if the message boards have really taken off. Please SPREAD THE WORD! Let your friends know about the site so that we can continue to build a great forum for Sonics talk.
Since some of you haven’t been reading long here is a brief history of the site and specifically my involvement in it:
SonicsCentral.com was originally formed by Kevin Pelton, who created it out of sheer passion while attending the University of Washington. He invited several people from internet message boards to participate, including myself. As the highlight of his SC.com career, Pelton was given the opportunity to attend media day by the team.
Click here for a sample of my very early brilliance.
When Kevin managed to parlay his passion for this site into a full time gig running the team’s official website (he retains that position today), he unfortunately had to pass off management of the site and focus on his new job. I was one of several writers he asked to maintain the site in his absence. For a period of roughly two years I contributed nothing to this cause and I feel a little guilty about it today.
Then of course I discovered that there was something in it for me if I helped out. On the day before media day this season I had crazy notion to ask for permission to meet with the team at the Furtado Center. 24 hours later, a couple of longtime dreams came true as I not only got to meet with the team for a day, but recieved permission to attend practice and cover the team as a beatwriter for the site. Suddenly I was happy to pick up where Pelton left off.
SonicsCentral.com is currently operated by a group of passionate fans who have all participated in various forums over the last several years. While I was lucky enough get the team duties, the rest of the gang has set the tone for articles with our behind the scenes discussion for years. In many of our cases, the Sonics talk goes back to 1994 when it began on the UW List server. Other members met via the old ESPN forum or just through the grapevine. Since that time, we’ve gotten together for open practices, draft day, and various other events. Most of us have grown from college, gotten real careers, and had children of our own while staying in touch via E-mail (sadly, Steve has refused to grow up through all of this…).
I am not a professional writer on any level but have always dreamed of doing so. I currenly operate a real estate investment company and two cafes in the Ballard Area. I was born and raised in Seattle but have also lived in Oakland, CA and Manila, The Philippines for a very brief stint. I am 32 years old, married, have two children (ages 5 and 3), and not nearly enough time to participate in any of this. When you catch me slacking on the site please remember that I have a life in addition to basketball (not much) and am pretty dang lucky my wife allows this at all. It has taken a lot of time but is well worth it.
I realized last week that my perspective towards basketball had really changed when I caught myself looking for sympathy because I was so busy and “had to attend Sonics practice” that day. Like anyone should feel sorry for that.
At some point all the writers for the site should probably write bios just to introduce ourselves. In the meantime, thanks again to all the new participants. SonicsCentral.com is all about the fans, so please feel free to let us know any ideas, questions, or thoughts you may have about the site or the team. If you would like to participate via writing, management, or design input please feel free to e-mail me.
Thanks,
Brian Robinson
brian@sonicscentral.com
February 14th, 2006 at 12:04 am
I always thought the highlight was doing all the graphics work for the site in MS Paint.
February 14th, 2006 at 12:32 am
Cheers, for the last couple months I’ve been eating up everything that is written and really admire what you guys do. The discussion here is great, keep up the great work.
I am really stoked to be apart of a community that harbors this kind of past.
February 14th, 2006 at 7:58 am
Great site. Thanks for all you’re hard work and balanced approach. I really like the practice and player info and insites from people who really know the facts. It’s all I can do to check the site from time to time. The time you all put into the site is evident and appreciated. It’s the first place I go to see what’s goin’ on.
Since you have access tell Sund I really enjoyed meeting him in Phoenix and his recent quote:
“Sund scoffed at those reports, but admitted “between now and next season, we need to address our backcourt situation. Adding another point guard would be prudent.”
Prudent, I love that…..what planet has he been living on?? How about essential, overdue, should have been considered last off season….
“But just because something was reported in the papers doesn’t mean we’re going to change the way we do things.”
Since the model has been so successful……wouldn’t want to consider a change in the way things are done.
“I can’t worry about how it looks on my résumé if this guy or that guy walks away and we get nothing for him. I don’t care about things like that. You try to put your team in position to be a playoff team. Period.”
Period??? 4 out 6 years in the lottery, how is that getting your team in a position to be in the playoffs. More like getting your team in a position to be in the lottery……..Too much
Thanks again guys
February 14th, 2006 at 9:06 am
I’m a basketball newbie and in an effort to learn as much as possible as quickly as possible I went out and bought the Idiot’s Guide to Basketball. All I learned from it is that Clyde Frazier is very opinionated. I’ve learned infinitely more from this site. Thanks for all your hard work, guys, and for putting up with my stupid questions
February 14th, 2006 at 9:25 am
The really sad part about me refusing to grow up is that I was already older than most of the posters to begin with … :))
February 14th, 2006 at 3:44 pm
“All I learned from it is that Clyde Frazier is very opinionated.”
To save you the trouble, I’ll also pass on that he’s only slightly better at being a color commentator than Craig Ehlo.
“The really sad part about me refusing to grow up is that I was already older than most of the posters to begin with..”
Ahhh grasshopper
February 14th, 2006 at 5:33 pm
Frazier + Ehlo = the two old guys in balcony on the Muppets…hohohohoh!
February 14th, 2006 at 6:55 pm
That’s great…
…well it was good…
…well it wasn’t too bad…
…it was bad…
…It was Horrible!
Man, I loved the Muppets. Manamana.
I did actually post a bio, a long time ago (by the blog’s standards anyhow). It was POST #11 if you are interested.
Big Chris
February 17th, 2006 at 7:46 pm
If the front page is two columns wide but only one gets used at a time. I’d prefer both so the page doesnt require as much scrolling down but if you have a reason for doing it this way, no biggie
February 22nd, 2006 at 4:26 am
Im just very happy to finally been able to find the site where you all avid Sonic fans are posting your thoughts and feelings for the team. For me who has been a Sonics fan since around 1988 its very interesting and pleasureable that you guys find time to share all the info about the team. I promise I will tell everyone about this site on Iceland…. but then we are not so many living here
February 22nd, 2006 at 5:56 am
Iceman, I thought Southern Oregon was a long way from the action; man that takes the cake.
February 22nd, 2006 at 9:04 am
I’ve been visiting sonicscentral since ‘01 & its great to see the see the regular updates again. Understand how time-consuming it may be so thank you for your hardwork!
February 22nd, 2006 at 5:23 pm
PetrCetera: I’m a big fan of your bass playing. Can you tell us how tight you had to wear your undies to pull off that high harmony on “Hard Habit To Break?”
Yours,
Steve