Tonight, thanks to your input, we're launching some new FOX Sports blogs features (and we've got more coming soon).
Specifically, here's what's new:
New Blog Directory. We've changed the blog directory around a bit. We've added a Tag Cloud, so you can see which topics are so hot right now, and you can easily access posts about teams you want to read about. If you prefer the old blog directory, you'll still be able to access the old-school page by clicking the "Browse All Recent Posts" links under the...
Search Box. You can now search posts by category using the new search box on the blog directory page. You can't (yet) do a full-text search, but that's in the works.
Avatars. You can now upload a picture as a virtual representative of yourself. It will show up on your blog and whenever you comment on somebody else's blog. Please keep 'em clean!
Official FOXBlog box. We're going to use the FOXBlog to provide you with updates, get more good feedback from you, and point out interesting posts in the FOX blogs world. So we thought it would make sense to devote a place for the FOX Blog on the blog directory page.
Category pages. We listened to you, and got rid of the full posts on the category pages (to see an example of a category page, here's here's the MLB page). This means that it will be easier to find good posts quicker.
That's it! Here's an example of what the page will look like (click for full-size):
Please let us know what you think, and know that there's much more on the way!
Say what??? Carnac is the first to post a comment on an interesting post? Will the sports gods never cease to amaze us?
The best thing about all these new-fangled gizmos is the fact that it all looks good and professional. Second, it seems like it will offer easier use for those looking for something specific. Keep these type changes coming and you will see more bloggers stick with it.
Carnac was near total discouragement back in January. Postings were not being read 'cause they were not "seen". It's a little different now but the new changes are a continuing step in the right direction. Carnac likes it. Thank you FOX Sports for trying to improve the experience.
This new system is totally bogus dudes. It's as if the Stallon totally moved in on our space. It was totally cool the way it was! It's like the waves just glassed out from under my board.
Hate it or love it, people are going to be driven by bloggers as much if not more than team loyalties. Also the subject of the blog is a lot more important than the team it's about. Will I read a Michael Vick blog? Probably. An Alge Crumpler blog? Probably not. There's no way to tell which aspect of a team is being blogged about. So for those two reasons, I think you'll see a lot of bloggers utilizing the old format for good reason.
I think this is very popular with bloggers who are tired of non-sports related blogs dominating the conversation. I would like to see more sports blogs, but I have to say that it appears these blogs are popular, and it would be strange for a sports site to eliminate these blogs if people (myself not included) like them. Maybe having a more general blog category would be a good idea so the sports categories remain unpolluted.
This is what happens when programmers sit around talking with each other instead of the end user. They push out some goofy #### that they love, "hey way coooool man, doesn't it look way rad!" While everyone actually using it scratches their collective heads.
The simple fixes would have been:
as per DrCrab, a section for the match.com crowd to fawn over the girls;
adherence to the topic rules (which would require SOMEONE to actually watch the site);
and a most read list that DID NOT accrue posts from the author of the blog into the comments totals. Keeping those posts that are actually most read on the list and the vanity comments out.
How about expanding the topics lists a bit. There are a lot of people on this site who write about and are interested in sports other than those listed. Hot topics like the Olympics and grand slam tennis events, etc. would be great when those events roll around too.
I would like a feature that automatically emails you when one of the bloggers on your favorites list makes a post. Is that possible to do? If so, it would be really cool.
initially, i was a tag cloud hater. but i'm kinda digging it now. this forces people to be accurate with their categories. i'm tired of reading about NASCAR in the CFB section.
i like the search feature, too. good show, Fox, good show.
I think the tag cloud could be cool and definitely like the search feature, but The sports intell. idea of an email sign up where we can be notified when our favorites post would be cool.
We need a pGA site and move the NFL to the bottom until it becomes big news again. Move College Basketball up until the final four is over then move MLB to the top. Delete NHL as no one cares.
Hey Doc, quit being such a crab lmaoooo!! If you want to see the same headings as we always have thus far, just click on the "browse all recent posts" it will bring up the page we are used to.
As someone who has been blogging for a couple of months, I am confident I'll figure out how to navigate. I do think that novice bloggers are going to be lost and won't necessarily get an idea of the beautifly dysfunctional blogging community.
The old format is better. However they just need to filter blogs so that they go under the catergory they deserve. I get sick of seeing NFL blogs on the NBA section etc..
I think that in order to be under a catergory, you must actually have written a post about that subject. That is what I suggest fixing more than anything.
where's the scroll bar to look up bloggers by name
i gotta put em in my favorites to get there, but what about a scroll bar with bloggers names , maybe?
Yes, I agree with Dr Crab I want #### flinging ####, and i want to know who is doing the flinging. An alt. sport section would be way kool man. Ganzaga stomps! did Olmiss pound LSU? did you see the pic's that HAZ posted on got
Ok, I see the UFC is on the front page of Foxsports.com. Starting in April, TNA wrestling will preceed UFC on their programming. So where's the love for Pro Wrestling? The article on UFC was talking about UFC being mainstream. With WWE coming to NBC on saturday nights, Raw being in the top 10 of cable programming, and TNA up and coming in all areas, why not have a wrestling/ pro wrestling section not only here on blogs, but on FOX in general. Don't forget that TNA was on Fox sports net before SPIKE came into the picture. HELLO? IS THIS THING ON?
Question: Do you have stats for hits and number of blogs and bloggers? My guess is that things have tapered off since the new format was introduced. I'd be curious to know if I'm correct (I ususally am.)
It would be nice to have an edit feature for your previous posted blog for blog writers. To correct spelling or inject a snippit or two. I posted a story and made a mistake filing it under MLB WBC and im the only one. No one will see a good story.
I must be missing something here, ive tried to post on the site, but it doesnt show up, what am i doing wrong?? otherwise i think the new format is pretty cool, thanx
wingnut, exit stage left
No good. Ideas and themes are more interesting than teams as topics. If your blog is about steroids, where does that file, Giants? THis just seems too commercial.
You guys need to filter it so that blogs go in the right catergory. Every day I see a blog about maybe Baseball or Basketball, have no mention at all to the NFL, yet be in the NFL section. Also many blogs that are just about sex should not be in sections for the sports. Make a Etc. catergory for the sex/politics. You need to filter these things!
is anyone in there? i've been sending an email your support team every day for two weeks now and i havent even gotten a reply yet. i've contact MSN and PASSORT who all tell me to contact you.
Hello.
Really loving the blogs. I think the search function is important. I read/posted on the view from the couch, but then couldn't find it after I forgot to bookmark it (I discovered it again by doing a vanity search and tracking back that way...and bookmarked it).
Also, I hope blogs, new posts are prominently displayed next to news stories.
I know that won't be easy, but many of us read the AP/FOX etc. story and then search for blogs.
I know it is a little bit Web 2.0, but it would be cool to go to Foxsports.com and see a list of our saved blogs inside the site (after signing in, of course).
Regardless, I love the effort and appreciate what everyone is doing!
EJ Passeos
Hey Fox Production Staff... I know a lot of fans are annoyed and I've posted in other blogs, but is anyone else really annoyed by the Wwwwrrrruuuppp sound that Fox plays just after the ball is snapped in all their NFL games. I'm not trying to sound like a whiner, but I think it's not only way overproduction, but it's distracting since it's done during the play, upstages their announcers and it's keyed to stats changing in the info box, which people aren't watching anyway, since a play is going on. It really has no production value what so ever and I'm sure the Fox exec that loves this thing never had to sit through an entire game listening to this "thing" on EVERY play. It's immediately annoying and after a few minutes nauseating. PLEASE, if you are a Fox person reading this, bring this up at a production meeting. Guys, please don't play sound effects while a play is being run. For any fans still reading and know what I'm talking about, please send a message to the Fox people at their feed back site http://msn.foxsports.com/feedback.< br>
Steve
The mere idea that a blog is "featured" because of the number of responses is below any level of professionalism I can imagine. If Mike Kahn was to be judged by how many people respond to him rather than how many read him it would be curtains for Mike Kahn. A blog should show how many people are reading it and be rated accordingly. In fact most columns by professional writers don't even have response possibility. Readership should determine most popular blogs stats not responses.
and another thing. I resent that you allow someone to simply put NASCAR for example in their opening paragraph and then ramble about everything else, yet when someone like myself, tries to write with humor about the addictions of TV sports watching but doesn't deal with a particular game or full of 10,000 "stats" that anyone can get anywhere, you don't even list it as a new post. Just more of your subjective "cliquism" I guess?
If I were running the Fox Sports Community blogs you'd open up to a welcome page with each sport featured (and perhaps a popurri category) in which the reader can click on links of each sport that interests him and THEN you'd get blogs of the day, most interesting, etc... until for EACH sport. Writers should not have to compete intersport since some of us never read MLB or NHL or whatever sports and it's unfair that in order to develop a readership you get buried under the NFL bunch going #### over a select game or during playoffs, etc. This is the internet. It's not like you're paying for ink and paper printing costs here. you can afford, an it will help your overall readership/Fox name loyalty if you make it easier for people to find what they want to read about.
Last edited by dustylaker on November 25th at 1:37 PM.
