New Year, New Outlook: Arizona State Coverage, Revitalized

by Cory Williams on Jan 2, 2010 4:06 PM MST in General News

Alright, I will admit it. For a while in 2009, I lost my way. After graduating in May, the real world took me by surprise, and I had to fight for everything. No longer were the days of collegiate safety and splendor, relying on college loans and parental support.

After finding a job in late July, things appeared to be turning around. Unfortunately, Arizona State football did not, and I quickly lost all interest in covering the team. What used to be a joy had become a chore.

After spending all day working, there just wasn't enough enthusiasm in my heart to write articles. Adam, the co-manager of House Of Sparky, is currently in law school and cannot reasonably find time to write for the site anymore.

This all came to a head in late November, when Matt and I headed to Pasadena to cover the ASU/UCLA football game. Despite the fact that Matt spent the whole day taking pictures, I didn't even take the time to post any of them.

First of all, I'd like to apologize for that. It was selfish and lazy. Frankly, the readers deserve better than the product I have been putting out.

Some great things happened for me and House Of Sparky in 2009: I covered the Pac-10 tournament in Los Angeles, and was allocated press passes to the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 in Glendale. I also have continued to work with the ASU media department and am proud to be involved.

In the end, the goal here is to celebrate Arizona State athletics, giving these student-athletes the praise they deserve for the incredible amount of time and effort they expend each day. Going to class and going to practice is a never-ending cycle that these young men and women do without fail, without complaint.

House Of Sparky's coverage in 2010 will make it the best ASU blog on the internet. We have the opportunity to celebrate our school's deep and vast talents, to show the world that we are better than the naysayers, more vocal than the pessimists. We have a mission, perhaps a calling, to be Sun Devils.

In the end, we all bleed maroon. Ours just happens to be tinged with gold.

More pics after the jump...

Great job, Matt.

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Comments

Thanks Cory

Look forward to seeing more posts.

by qbdoyle1 on Jan 4, 2010 7:36 AM MST reply actions

If you want...

Email me again around spring football practice — I might be interested in being a fill-in poster. Maybe. Possibly.

"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan

by Dirk Diggler on Jan 4, 2010 3:30 PM MST reply actions

I'm good to see extra posts from DD

The more the better as I believe the more posts the more traffic this site will see. I know there are a couple of blogs/posts out there that generate good volume but none of them have the structure that SBN has.

by qbdoyle1 on Jan 6, 2010 10:19 AM MST up reply actions

For sure

SBN is easily the best community-type site out there. Other sites have pretty good content, but the posting system here is so much better it’s not even close.

"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan

by Dirk Diggler on Jan 6, 2010 12:33 PM MST up reply actions

+1

for sure, it is not even close. I have been on Cactus Ranch a bunch to get their opinion about ASU sports but it is so hard to follow.

by qbdoyle1 on Jan 6, 2010 1:28 PM MST up reply actions

well, that

and they are a bunch of old boosters who still think ASU should act like a “powerhouse” like back in the good ol’ days of the 70’s.

"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan

by Dirk Diggler on Jan 6, 2010 1:30 PM MST up reply actions

haha

that is so true. I love being positive and having wishful thinking, but having realistic comments are also needed.

It is nice to see how on top of stories they are though.

by qbdoyle1 on Jan 6, 2010 4:30 PM MST up reply actions

I don't know if you've ever been to a practice

But back when I was there during the Koetter years, there would always be these old crusty guys on the sidelines watching practice — they were all Cactus Ranchers. Very well connected — but you have to get in on their paysite to hear most of the good stuff and I’ve heard the guy that runs that stuff is an asshole.

"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan

by Dirk Diggler on Jan 7, 2010 8:08 AM MST up reply actions