In writing about Internet resources, I tried to avoid a shamless self-promoting
plug.  But in response to a number of well thought-out posts, I do need to
point out some things, especially since Steve, in listing the places doing a
good job (like his own), he failed to mention me <G>!
 
Steve Klein, Jon Barkan and Dave Reed are doing a great job at USA Today, doing
what they can for college hockey.  I do disagree with the implication by Steve,
however, that there is little professionalism (yet) on the web.  Absolutely, I
yearn for more of it, and am trying to do my part, but it's out there.
 
On Around the Rinks, we have done feature stories on topics no one else has
touched as extensively. It is not just slapped together -- it is painstakingly
put together, and I will put the quality -- not only of the interviews, but the
production quality -- up against anything out there.
 
So far, we have done an in-depth look at the Maine situation -- features on the
coaching changes, and the implications Crowder's move has on Lowell --- news
updates on WCHA commissioner Bruce McLeod. --- Where else in the media can you
hear a radio feature with interviews from McLeod, McLeod'd lawyer, a beat
writer and the acting Duluth AD?
 
And our features on the 4 major conferences would have filled 3 whole pages of
newsprint, with quotes from 75% of the coaches.  In the future, we plan on
tackling topics like ...
        Jeff Jackson at Team USA
        Ben Smith with the women and where women's hockey is headed
        Could/should/will the NCAA ease restriction on hockey recruiting?
        Can the Ivy Leagues continue to be viable?
        Status of increasing the amount of Division I hockey programs, including
                looking at schools such as Penn State, Arizona State, etc...
        Retrospective on Tom Mees, including interview with Bob Norton
 
And not to just shamlessly plug us ... but at US College Hockey Online, there
is a concerted effort going on to do professional-type pieces.  Sure, a lot of
it right now is just fact-fact regurgitation, but there are some pros on board
and more on the way.  For example, Tim Leonard, former RPI beat writer and in
the top 2 in the ECAC no doubt, is expected to do some pieces this year.  There
will be others.
 
The bottom line is .... college hockey fans may not be large in numbers in
relation to other sports ... but they are large in numbers in real terms.  I
mean, when Minnesota-BU gets 17,500 - that's impressive.  When they're scalping
tickets for BU-Vermont, that's impressive.
        So there's still a hungry enough audience out there, where something like the
Internet can be a viable media source, because the international nature of the
Internet means there's just ONE market of 30 million people and you can hit
them all at once with relatively little difficulty.  Since you can do that, a
very miniscule percentage of people, is still a lot of people.  And therefore,
the media themselves CAN make some money and make it a worthwhile venture.
        At least, I hope <G>.
 
        And certainly, that will improve as time goes on.  I believe by the year 2000,
it will explode and a large percentage of people will be watching or listening
to programs through the Internet.
 
Adam Wodon - AC Productions
Host: "Around the Rinks" - The only National College Hockey talk show
Listen 24 hours/day, 7 days/week at:
http://www.audionet.com/sports/shows/rinks/
 
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