BlogWorldExpo Recap

by Al Yellon on Nov 11, 2007 12:25 PM CST in Chicago Cubs Recaps

From Wednesday through yesterday, I was in Las Vegas, mostly to attend BlogWorldExpo, billed as the first convention of its kind, and partly to just have some fun in Vegas, since I hadn't been there since 1999. (Fortunately, I got out of there without losing any money -- I won some playing blackjack the first night, then gave most of it back the second night. Oh, well.)

It was nice to finally meet, face to face, a number of SB Nation bloggers who I've emailed many, many times in the nearly three years (which is an eternity in blogtime) I've been part of this group: Adam from Lone Star Ball (and you'll get a kick out of his experience at a blackjack table at Caesar's Palace); Larry of Viva El Birdos; Brandon of Acme Packing Company, who is a good guy even though he's a Packers fan; Steve of Clips Nation; Jim from the USC blog Conquest Chronicles, and Dex from the Padres site Gaslamp Ball, who sat next to me at one of the sessions on Thursday, snapped a photo of me taking notes on my laptop, and said of me in that post: "Al's older than me, but he also looks a little more dangerous, which is why I haven't mentioned anything about 1984."

Hmmm. I only look a little more dangerous? I have to work on that. (But he was probably smart anyway to not mention 1984.)

There were also two SBN bloggers who I'd met before -- Matt from the Chicago Bulls site Blog-a-Bull, who told me he's a huge Cubs fan and originally wanted to start a Cubs blog, but since there were already so many, he figured the Bulls were the next best thing, and Our Fearless Leader Tyler Bleszinski from Athletics Nation. I'd be remiss if I didn't say here and now -- hey Blez, thanks for lunch on Friday!

In addition to the SBN folks, I was fortunate to be able to meet and hang out with ESPN.com's Rob Neyer, whose online columns and books I have enjoyed for many years (and who, we all learned, doesn't have a college degree); Matthew Cerrone, whose MetsBlog is incredibly well-researched and comprehensive (I was really impressed with how thorough and knowledgeable Matt is); Jamie Mottram, who used to run FanHouse for AOL and is now charged with starting a similar project at Yahoo (and who also, with his brother Chris, runs the very funny and well-written Mister Irrelevant blog; and Chris Ballard from SI.com.

We all shared thoughts on quite a number of topics relating to sports blogging and blogging in general (there were an estimated 1200 bloggers in attendance); you can read some of the things that were discussed here, here, and here; thanks to my SBN colleagues for blogging, and especially to Jim from Conquest Chronicles, live-blogging, the events, while I was busily taking notes.

Friday afternoon, after the sessions were over, nearly everyone in attendance squeezed into a too-small room (so small that when there weren't enough seats, so that people were standing in the back, they enlisted some convention center employees to open the movable walls to the next room over) to hear Mark Cuban deliver the "ending keynote" (that phrase is a bit of an oxymoron, isn't it? Isn't a "keynote speech" supposed to start a convention?).

Cuban was introduced as a man who has a number of different enterprises under his hat -- but also as a blogger, "one of us". I'm sure many of you have read his blog, BlogMaverick; I find it refreshing, because it indeed does do just what many bloggers do -- talk about what's going on in his own life, as well as about some of his ventures. Just because Cuban's life happens to include "Dancing With The Stars" doesn't mean he can't be a human being, too.

Cuban said that he started blogging in 2004 when he did an email interview with a Dallas Morning News reporter, and then when he saw the interview published, it turned out to be something completely different than what he had said in his email responses; he decided to post the exact email exchange to tell people what "really" happened. (If I have searched his site correctly, this is the relevant post.) About blogging, he made the following very insightful comments:

Bigger point: the key to a successful blog is… HONESTY. Be honest to what you write. Are you writing because you think your blog is going to get more read? If so then you’re just pandering, just like the MSM. People will see through this very quickly.

About personal blogging: sometimes something just crosses your mind, and you think, "I want to blog about that". If it’s personal it doesn’t matter, but if you’re working for someone and trying to build a brand, you have a challenge in staying true to yourself. Fight the temptation to pander to readers.

As most of you know, I have not been in favor of Cuban's interest in, and now formal bid to, buy the Cubs. I laid the reasons for my position out in detail in this post three weeks ago. I have to say that listening to Cuban speak, and then answer questions about his various businesses, how he got into them, what people need to do to succeed (other than get really, really lucky and be in the right place at the right time, as he did when he sold broadcast.com to Yahoo for $1 billion), I'm definitely impressed with his business savvy. I have no doubt that he enters every business he gets into armed with the right information he needs to succeed, whether it be the Mavericks, HDNet, or the movie "Redacted", which is produced by his company HDNet Films and, in a move very unusual to the industry, is being simultaneously released to theaters and on DVD this Friday (and if you have HDNet, you can get a sneak preview even before that).

After the Q&A session a number of us crowded around him to try to get a word in before he had to go. I introduced myself and handed him a BCB card and he said, "I read your site." I asked him if I could interview him for the site; he directed me to a website where I could find an email address for him. I emailed him Friday evening and had a response within six hours (clearly, from his cellphone, I copy/paste his reply here in its entirety):

Can't tlk at all re the cubs...sorry

While I was disappointed... this is, actually, exactly the right thing to do. Smart businessman. Have I changed my mind about whether he should be the next Cubs owner? Not yet, and it's too bad he couldn't (or wouldn't) talk to me, because maybe he'd have changed MY mind.

So Mark -- if you really are reading this site, I'll ask you again, if you feel you can: tell us directly. As I said in my email to you, BCB has a large number of the most passionate, knowledgeable and in-touch Cubs fans. You already know the power of blogs, since you have your own. You can email me anytime. I'll post whatever you and I discuss without editing.

Change my mind. Maybe you ARE the right guy. But I'd like to hear it from you directly.

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Comments

So all of this is to say...

...that you didn't hang out with Will Leitch?

FREE CARMEN PIGNATIELLO!

by cwyers on Nov 11, 2007 12:19 PM CST reply actions

Oh, crap.

I knew I left someone out. Sorry, Will. Yes, Will was on a couple of the panels I was on, and he's just as funny in person as he is on Deadspin.

And he has a book coming out in January.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Nov 11, 2007 1:15 PM CST up reply actions

wow, Mark Cuban reads this site

Perhaps its the goatee Al that makes people think you are dangerous?

"Prince Fielder Dies Of Inside-The-Park Homerun" - The Onion

by DTJchris on Nov 11, 2007 12:24 PM CST reply actions

Mark Cuban

It's good hear Cuban reads THIS site. It's the best Cubs blog out there and the best way for him to get to know what true, avid fans think and feel about our team. I have to believe he does quite a lot of research before entering any business venture, so why not start HERE if he wants to get a pulse on the fans?!

"I'm a Cubs fan. I'm very, very patient." -- from a Shoe cartoon.

by No Southern Belle on Nov 11, 2007 12:45 PM CST up reply actions

The goatee...

Plus the stud in his ear and the glare that he gave me that said, "I don't want to hear peep about Steve Garvey."

To be completely honest, Al was a great guy and a lot of fun to hang out with. It was my pleasure to sit on those panels with him. BCB is lucky to have him.

by Dex on Nov 11, 2007 5:50 PM CST up reply actions

Thanks, man.

Same to you -- I enjoyed meeting and talking baseball with you and the rest of the SBN bloggers.

And you get extra points for NOT mentioning 1984.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Nov 11, 2007 7:23 PM CST up reply actions

Did this before...

"...and, in a move very unusual to the industry, is being simultaneously released to theaters and on DVD this Friday."

He did the same thing with "Bubble", which Steven Soderburgh directed. This was their first effort attempting distribution in this manner. This is very controversial. In fact, some directors, such as Night Shamalan believes it will help to actually close the doors of theaters.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/20/AR2006012000423.html

Wait 'til next year. And the next. And the Next. And the next after that too.

by TheEman on Nov 11, 2007 12:30 PM CST reply actions

So far it is a HUGE failure

BUBBLE as well as the other HDNET films do almost no business
theatrically. Major chains like Regal refuse to show them because they won't show anything their audience can watch at the same time at home. As a practical matter none of the films
his company has released this way were likely to do much theatrical business anyway. REDACTED is very unlikely to be shown in a major chain for political reasons ( not Bill O'Reilly's favorite film) so they may not lose a whole lot but actually I was surpised to hear they were going day & date release on this as
it might have some theatrical life in non chain theaters who are also not happy with this kind of release.
My company which specializes small art films is considered a virtual dinasour in that we release of films on DVD 5-8 months
after the theatrical release.
The more interesting issue on REDACTED FYI was a fight between Cuban's comany Magnolia and DePalma over the use of
photographs of dead soldiers. While DePalma accused Cuban & Magnolia of censorship in refusing to allow the photos in the film, in fact the issue had nothing to do with censorship and everything to do with not having legal clearence to use the photos. Slightly OT but interesting and it is not often the
issues of art film distribution come up on the BCB so I can't resist.

"It's the Cubbies. There's always a vibe. It's the greatest vibe in baseball." Greg Maddux on Cub fan's optimism even after the 06 debacle.

by jessica on Nov 11, 2007 5:29 PM CST up reply actions

Redacted....

... is opening in the Landmark chain -- which is at least partly owned by Cuban, from what I understand. Landmark has several screens in the Chicago area, and in other major cities.

I agree with you that political considerations are likely part of the reason it won't get wider distribution.

We'll see how the reviews are this coming weekend. "Bubble" got widely panned. If "Redacted" gets good reviews, people will see it, whether at theaters or by buying or renting the DVD.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Nov 11, 2007 7:25 PM CST up reply actions

This sort of thing has been done before...

Back in 1983, the movie "The Pirates of Penzance" was released in theaters and to Select TV.

To quote IMDB:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086112/trivia
Pirates of Penzance was shown on a Los Angeles television movies channel - SelecTV - simultaneously with its theatrical release. This was only the second time that something like this had been tried - in 1956, Laurence Olivier's 1955 film version of Shakespeare's "Richard III" had its U.S. premiere in New York City and its television premiere on NBC on the same day. Like "The Pirates of Penzance", "Richard III" was also a box office flop, but unlike the former film, "Richard III" won universal acclaim from the critics, became a film classic, and was not boycotted during its theatrical run.

and

The film's failure at the box office had nothing to do with the reviews, which were often quite positive. The real problem lay with Universal's decision to release the film simultaneously to SelectTV and to theaters. Theater owners were so angry that they boycotted the film; in the end, a grand total of 92 theaters agreed to show it, and it enjoyed a long run at only one of them (in Washington, DC, where it became a cult success and played several weeks).

I can't believe we are talking about this. Please let something happen regarding the Cubs that we can talk about. (Signing Kaz Matsui is not an acceptable option).

In the middle of a good time, Truth gave me her icy kiss. Look around, you must be joking. All that way, all that way for this -Oysterband

by Ross on Nov 11, 2007 11:06 PM CST up reply actions

Al

I posted this question elsewhere but it probably will get buried since it's in a older thread.

What do you think would be the best time for the sale to happen for the team?

by puckishcubsfan on Nov 11, 2007 12:31 PM CST reply actions

The "best time"?

There's no "best time", though some are going to argue that "10 years ago" was the "best time".

It's going to happen, eventually. Whoever the new owner is, will either keep or replace the current staff, probably some of both. And then we shall move on to the future.

I don't really understand the question, is what I'm saying.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Nov 11, 2007 1:18 PM CST up reply actions

You're right

The question could have been clearer.

What I meant was what do you think would be the best time for the sale to happen as far as what would happen with the team?

I want to say midseason. Have time for things to settle before the next offseason.

And I don't think it would really impact the locker room because the Tribune is a faceless organization. If it was an individual I think it would be more of an impact.

I think the players probably associate McDonough as their boss and I don't expect him to be replaced until the offseason if he is. Same with Hendry.

by puckishcubsfan on Nov 11, 2007 3:24 PM CST up reply actions

It won't matter.

Since there won't be a sale before the 2008 season begins, it's my feeling that even if a deal is made during the 2008 season, it won't be announced till season's end.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Nov 11, 2007 7:29 PM CST up reply actions

Al..

I found this comment to be pretty interesting:

I have to say that listening to Cuban speak, and then answer questions about his various businesses, how he got into them, what people need to do to succeed (other than get really, really lucky and be in the right place at the right time, as he did when he sold broadcast.com to Yahoo for $1 billion), I'm definitely impressed with his business savvy.

Being an admirer of Cuban and a semi-regular reader of his blog, it immediately reminded me of one of my favorite quotes of all time, directly from Cuban himself:

The point of all this is that it doesn't matter how many times you fail. It doesn't matter how many times you almost get it right. No one is going to know or care about your failures, and either should you. All you have to do is learn from them and those around you because...

All that matters in business is that you get it right once.

Then everyone can tell you how lucky you are.

Just thought that you, or someone, might find that interesting.

by Yepsen on Nov 11, 2007 1:00 PM CST reply actions

I agree with that quote completely.

n/t

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Nov 11, 2007 1:16 PM CST up reply actions

Cuban

Honesty, passion and transparency. Strange qualities for a baseball owner. Perhaps he's not the evil self absorbed man some wish to portray him as.

It's not to late to go to Soto.

by tharr on Nov 11, 2007 1:05 PM CST reply actions

Maybe not.

But that's the way he comes across at times. He was completely different in person.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Nov 11, 2007 1:17 PM CST up reply actions

Also

I think another side of him came out on Dancing With the Stars a show I admit an addiction to.

I like him more than I did before the show.

by puckishcubsfan on Nov 11, 2007 3:25 PM CST up reply actions

Similar reaction to Bud

I met Bud Selig once outside Wrigley during the 2003 post-season. Just long enough to shake his hand, get an autograph, and try to pin him down on who he was rooting for. Of course he declined, but did admit that Cubs vs Red Sox would be fantastic for baseball. Then with a wink, and a friendly squeeze of my shoulder, he was off to do Commish stuff, swallowed up by his team of handlers.

Now, I won't go as far as Al did with Cuban and say I was impressed with Bud's business savvy, or anything savvy for that matter. And don't get me wrong - I still think Bud has made many many stupid decisions during his tenure and baseball has suffered because of it. But he did strike me as a true fan, and somebody that I wouldn't mind sitting down with and having a hotdog and a beer (or custard as it were) and talk some baseball.

Now, if he'll just keep his nose clean during the Cubs sale process...

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Nov 11, 2007 4:32 PM CST up reply actions

Al and M Cuban

Besides your insite. The game threads have been pretty halirious at times.

Since the end of the season not much happening but I always check.

The Cubs will be great in 2008!

by Scott G F on Nov 11, 2007 3:04 PM CST reply actions

Not surprised

Cuban can't talk about the Cubs purchase. Got to be all sorts of non disclosure agreements he's had to sign in order to examine the Cubs' financial records.

With all the hostility against him among the baseball establishment, I'm sure he doesn't want to do anything to rock the boat.

So far he's been far more low key than anybody expected.

by Clark Addison on Nov 11, 2007 4:11 PM CST reply actions

One more comment about Cuban (+1)

I like him because he's young and not set in his ways. Does he make mistakes? Yes! Read Jessia's take on Bubble. But he is smart enough to learn the system, then manipulate it, (like me).

He has money, not like Trump who is worth money. There is a difference.

Bud Selig and the old boys network engrained in baseball needs a new owner that will bring baseball into the 21st centry. "The Boss" is dead, well stepping aside. Baseball needs Cuban.

Why not the Cubs?!

The Cubs will be great in 2008!

by Scott G F on Nov 11, 2007 6:42 PM CST reply actions

Cuban...

... isn't as young as you think he is. He turns 50 next July.

I see what you mean about "manipulating the system". He's tried to do that with the Mavericks, too -- and the NBA hasn't been real happy with him. I can see how the "old boy network" might not want someone like him. But I'd like to know WHY you say "Baseball needs Cuban".

Maybe you're right. Tell me why.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Nov 11, 2007 7:22 PM CST up reply actions

WAIT, Al!

Isn't 50 young? My 36 y.o. girlfriend hasn't complained to me. At least, to my face.

Wait 'til next year. And the next. And the Next. And the next after that too.

by TheEman on Nov 11, 2007 10:06 PM CST up reply actions

Oh, absolutely.

50's young. So is 51.

But the point was, Cuban has an image, I think, of being a "young turk", and he's not as young as a lot of people think -- actually, I thought he was in his early 40's myself, until I checked.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Nov 12, 2007 3:54 AM CST up reply actions

Tell you why

50 is the new 30 Al. Compared to most owners he would be a pup.

IMO I believe Cuban would reinvigorate baseball akin to Stienbrenner did back in the 70's. The Boss good or bad reset the watermark for baseball. The Yankees are the most recognized team on the planet. That's because of marketing overseas and taking advantage of the system.

Regarding Cuban I'm not talking about fluky P.T Barnum non-sense that is just fluff for the crowd. Cheerleaders are not the answer. I am talking about opening doors for news streams of talent to an even greater extent. Latin America, and the Asian peninsula is a hot bed of talent and the Cubs had Heesop Choi as the only notable Asian on the team. I find that alarming. I believe Cuban would leave no stone unturned and make the Cubs an easier choice for players overseas that are only exposed to the Yankees and the Red Sox. I believe he would embrace the global game of baseball more then the stodgy purists that anchor it down by living in the past.

Baseball needs a face lift badly. Steroids and HGH stories are the more talked about then the Red Sox WS victory. I find that sad.

It's a shame that Cuban couldn't buy the Pirates, his favorite team. That is were his talent would really show as a maverick owner and motivator. The Cubs are an easy sell with a huge fan base in place, the Cubs are on the verge of going global akin to the Yankees/R. Sox in the right hands. I believe Cuban would be the person that took them to newer, greater heights.

The Cubs will be great in 2008!

by Scott G F on Nov 12, 2007 7:04 AM CST up reply actions

I'm not sure...

... why you see Cuban as the answer to globalization -- that's been going on for nearly a decade, maybe longer. The Cubs, belatedly, beefed up their Asian scouting, with the result being the possible signing of as many as three Japanese players in the next few weeks.

I do agree with you that 50 is the new 30, though. :)

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Nov 12, 2007 8:27 AM CST up reply actions

Note

I was just giving a "for instance". I think that it would be more fun with Cuban instead of the nameless faceless cold boardroom ownership that has owned and limited the Cubs.

The Cubs will be great in 2008!

by Scott G F on Nov 12, 2007 8:36 AM CST up reply actions

Define "fun".

n/t

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Nov 12, 2007 9:01 AM CST up reply actions

Fun defined regarding Mark Cuban

1 activities that are enjoyable or amusing; "I do it for the fun of it"; "he is fun to have around"
2 verbal wit or mockery (often at another's expense but not to be taken seriously); "he became a figure of fun"; "he said it in sport"
3 violent and excited activity; "she asked for money and then the fun began"; "they began to fight like fun"
4 playfulness: a disposition to find (or make) causes for amusement; "her playfulness surprised me"; "he was fun to be with"
5 amusing: providing enjoyment; pleasantly entertaining; "an amusing speaker"; "a diverting story"; "a fun thing to do"

For some reason # 3 seems to be a better fit of the definition. I would take 40% #3, 40% #5 and 20 % #1.

Does that answer 100% of your question?

The Cubs will be great in 2008!

by Scott G F on Nov 12, 2007 10:41 AM CST up reply actions

Sort of.

I'm still not sure why you think this is a necessity for a Cubs owner.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Nov 12, 2007 1:50 PM CST up reply actions

I'm for Cuban because he's the only

prospective owner with a track-record of owning a professional sports team. And he's done a pretty decent job of it. Has he won a championship? No. Has his team been more more consistently successful than the Cubs since say, WWII? Yes.

Don't get me wrong. Party animals like Stanton Cook have been fun to have around. I'd just like to see someone who seems to tie his ego directly to his team's success. It might not be healty for Cuban, but I'll take my chances on what it might mean for us fans.

by TR on Nov 12, 2007 7:17 PM CST reply actions

Don Levin...

... owns a professional sports team. Yes, it's a minor league team. But it HAS won championships, and Levin has never hesitated in doing whatever it took to do so, particularly in the years when the Wolves were more independent than they are now.

I think Levin's public comments show him to be the same sort of guy in terms of winning that Cuban is -- well, except for the "Dancing With The Stars" sort of ego.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Nov 12, 2007 8:32 PM CST up reply actions