Eight years in, and I never once thought about the demise of this site. Or that SbB had somehow lost its scab-ripping reputation in the sports media.
(If no longer being cool means SbB ascending to the same prestigious pantheon as Liam Gallagher and Tom from Myspace, what exactly is the downside?)
But that changed when I heard a kiss of death-comment last week about SbB by a certain mildly-successful sports radio host who, for a brief moment, was the scourge of the sports blogosphere.
While guesting on Jorge Sedano’s morning show on 790 The Ticket in Miami last week, nationally syndicated ESPN Radio Host Colin Cowherd was asked what he thought about SbB:
He (Brooks) has cultivated a following with the two things guys like, sex and sports. … I have a website and I always tell the guy who runs my website, ‘girls and sports’.
In fairness, if you listen to the clip in context, he isn’t exactly gushing over SbB or sports blogs in general for that matter. But he did firmly recognize our relevance - however reluctantly. He also earlier brought SbB up in the interview without prompting, which, I must confess, is more than a little disconcerting.
Now for the best part of Cowherd’s remark: Three years ago he guested on a sports talk show I was co-hosting with Gary Miller on ESPN Radio’s KSPN-AM in L.A. (yeah, the guy who used to do SportsCenter.)
During the visit, Miller asked Cowherd if he’d heard of SbB, and Cowherd replied that he hadn’t. At the time I believed him, and took his non-reax as the highest compliment I could receive from a longtime mainstream sports media guy - since he was never intended to be my audience.
But now hearing Cowherd’s recognition of blogs and SbB reminds me of when I still had to keep office hours at a sports radio station in L.A. a few years ago. Myspace had been out only for a year or so - pre-News Corp - so it was still marginally cool. That is, until our middle-50s, combed-over sales manager for the station, who I also remember as having inordinately long nosehairs, walked up to me one day in the office and bellowed that he had just discovered “something called Myspace” - and had friended me.
Good night everybody!
I’ve always prided myself on the fact that SbB wasn’t meant for consumption of the majority of sports fans. Guys who think Chris Berman is funny, Frank Deford is still relevant and Rick Reilly is a genuine American original were, to this day, never meant to get SbB. (Now, the late, great Tom Mees narrating Canucks-Whalers highlights on SportsCenter ‘83, that’s a whole ‘nother matter.)
I specifially started SbB to get myself as far away from the dinosaur sports media as possible. And produce content that a sliver of folks would like, but that Arnie Spanier’s pistachio brain could not comprehend.
For the 47 of you left who followed SbB those first few years, you know SbB was the Sex Pistols of sports media. U-G-L-Y in every possible way. But there was just enough of an entertainment quotient to grab a loyal audience. Including guys like Will Leitch and Bill Simmons. (Actually with them, it was more likely the big juggs.)
You also have to remember though that for many of those intial years, I was still working fulltime in radio. Finally, I got the courage to bolt the only biz I’d every known to give web a full-time, no-net shot.
I made that call having previously made zilch on the site for all those years, so I knew I had to change the site up immediately to make it financially viable - with out losing the original appeal.
I had to stop drinking and chasing women button up SbB design-wise to make it attractive to advertisers. So I blew my brains out for a full year (ugh) redesigning it. Nightmare. But once the new site was up, money started flowing in from advertisers and I soon started hiring writers who, unlike me, didn’t need a primer on basic sentence construction from the Hollywood Adult School on Sunset & Highland. (Home of the Sheiks!)
Traffic has since grown exponentially.
It probably isn’t a coincidence that our audience has exploded since I scaled back my regular editorial contributions, and I suppose with me as lead singer, this band would’ve probably never escaped The Baked Potato.
I continue to think the site is miles better today than it used to be, but Cowherd’s comment still gave me pause. Not to mention what do I know? I’m 41 and still most appreciate Bryan Adams‘ for his profound contributions to Canada’s widely celebrated guitar rock legacy. Not that indistinguishable duet you heard him on while awaiting valet outside P.F. Chang’s at the Beverly Center.
So kiddos, it looks like from here on out, it’s damage control for SbB. I suppose the best I can hope for at this point is for Mike & Mike to tell me to DIAF - right before Golic’s next Odor Eaters live read.
7:05 am on May 19th, 2009
As a longtime reader I think you need to get back to posting daily pics of the girls. The stories are good, the girls are great and when you put them both together the site is awesome. Thats why I read it daily until recently when you stopped with the ladies
7:22 am on May 19th, 2009
I can only guess the reason you stopped posting daily pics is you are attempting to go "legit". It's really taken away from the charm of the site. I wish the daily pics would come back.
You can start by posting a bunch more of Whitney.
7:26 am on May 19th, 2009
^^^ditto. 1+1=2
7:45 am on May 19th, 2009
Where's the girls?
8:08 am on May 19th, 2009
Jesus you guys are up early. Get some sleep!
8:28 am on May 19th, 2009
I used to think Brooks was a duche, but I was also kind of envious of Brooks, an average looking guy getting to hang out with well above average women. Now that I see he is a total poser about how he wants to keep this as a viral site and stick it to the mainstream I know he's a duche. By September 1st this site will have ZERO girls pics and will be all mainstream sports and no goofs.
9:12 am on May 19th, 2009
Need more pics of girls
Nobody cares what Cowherd says, or any non-athlete sports media figure that isn't hot for that matter
9:22 am on May 19th, 2009
The site is just not the same without daily pictures of the hotties!
9:36 am on May 19th, 2009
Right guys, because there’s nowhere else on the internet to find pics of hot girls.
10:00 am on May 19th, 2009
All I have to say is where the girlz at?
10:44 am on May 19th, 2009
Dude. I agree what happened to the girl posts?? Also, Mike and Mike suck so incredibly bad. Possibly the most boring radio show I've ever heard. If you're ever mentioned on there without prompting shut this site down immediately.
10:58 am on May 19th, 2009
Colin Cowherd? seriously? C'mon Brooks that guy is so far from relevant he can't see it with the Hubble Telescope. Keep up the sports and get back out with your camera and bring back the SbB girls.
Girls & Sports Girls & Sports Girls & Sports
11:14 am on May 19th, 2009
You can't please everyone and what made your site what it is today is what you put into it. Keep doing what you do best and the fans will keep on coming. Girls and sports are still the best!
11:29 am on May 19th, 2009
wheres the love for the Sbb girls? there hasnt been an update for weeks?!!!
11:51 am on May 19th, 2009
I agree, the girls bring me to this site, the articles keep me.
12:12 pm on May 19th, 2009
Wow! Brooks got mentioned by a dimwit hack on a local radio show with an audience of 50 unemployed, drunk Puerto Ricans!! If ever there was a life-vindicating moment, there it is. What next? Dave Dameshek’s podcast?
12:59 pm on May 19th, 2009
This is still the first site i check daily, Brooks - - better than Bloomie, WSJ, our myriad trade sites! Your original style and approach won me - - keep it up!
1:01 pm on May 19th, 2009
Colin Cowherd got this much of a rise from you….FOR THE LOVE OF GOD…Colin Cowherd…Really???? Wipe your nose and get back to work slacker, We will not stand for anymore crying about how your p ussy hurts because Cowherd made a remark while in Miami
1:16 pm on May 19th, 2009
Yes, I came for the girls, stayed for the sports. I miss them all: Lyndsey, Crystal, Anyssa, Allie, Whitney, and more. Bring them back!
1:31 pm on May 19th, 2009
I still come to read the blog updates, but I'll admit, every single day I click on the girls >> updates to check for any updates. Sadly, there's been nothing new in that section for a long time. It was certainly great when you had both the articles and the girls to look at each day. Yeah, there's hot, busty girls in bikinis everywhere on the net, but there's something about those SbB girls! Hope they come back, but I'll still return even if they don't.
1:45 pm on May 19th, 2009
Come on Brooks, it can't be that bad, can it? But I agree with the majority, where's the girls? Sure I can go to a hundred other sites and see girls, but they're not SbB girls, and that makes a HUGE difference. Your pics aren't cheap, they're tasteful pics of very beautiful women.
2:00 pm on May 19th, 2009
Like many others, I started coming to SbB because of the SbBGirls (Denise, then many others, and later Whitney).
Now I just come for the sports gossip. In fact, this is the only sports blog/site I visit every day.
Can we have more Whitney pictures?
2:09 pm on May 19th, 2009
If it wasn't for SbB I would never have realized how big of a self centered, mean spirited, self loving person Joe Morgan is. Please bring back more Crystal. Thanks Brookes.
4:07 pm on May 19th, 2009
Who cares what Coward……oops Cowherd has to say. It's impossible to listen to eSpN after M&M and before the Evening programming kicks in. Cowherd and whoever they pair up with Tirico make up 6 hours of bad radio.
I have read your stuff before, but since Cowherd hates you I'll be sure to bookmark your site.
Mike
6:17 pm on May 19th, 2009
Brooks, definitely go with more sports coverage => Brazilian women's soccer, women's track and field, women's golf, women's tennis, and women's volleyball. And i'm looking forward to an in-depth backstory on the ball girls of the Madrid Open, too !
7:44 pm on May 19th, 2009
Without question, we need more new babe content!!!!! The dearth of new pics of new and old hotties is nearly unacceptable. This new direction for SbB wouldn't have anything to do with a new girlfriend "refocusing" your content, would it?
8:51 pm on May 19th, 2009
Brooks, we come here for the ladies. The stories are great and I get more breaking news about athletes indiscretion here than anywhere else on the web, but come on SbB is about the babes! Bring em back! And don't worry about what The Herd says, he's a douchebag half the time.
8:54 pm on May 19th, 2009
What's a duche???Oh yeah - more girls please. Thanks.
9:59 pm on May 19th, 2009
Brooks,
You are the man. I know that you respect Cowherd, but he does have a wrong opinion every now and then. And this is one of those times. While we all admit we have come for the babes, we all readily admit that we appreciate your take on sports and the perspective that you provide. And a few times you may be wrong about your opinion, but we do come back and keep reading.
Inasmuch as Cowherd may not like your site, I hope you realize that Darren Rovell has your site listed under favorites and I am quite sure that he knows all of the benefits that you provide to your readers and feels very comfortable in endorsing your content - all of it.
Keep on keeping on!
10:42 pm on May 19th, 2009
I have a sh*tty job and cant afford to quite it. I have an ugly fat girlfriend and she wants to get married. My athletic peak is over. I drink to much.
"Alas, some men do not become what they aspire to be . . ." - Master & Commander
F*** this Cowhead guy. Do it for me; the girls, the sports, the bad jokes, this site is my respite. It must go on . . . and we need more pics of Whitney.
As I cross Michigan Ave I stop between the bridge and the Wrigley building and I ponder the day I was so close to you and the girls and yet I was in my sh*tty office. I look down the river and I think to myself, "Brooks was here", and Im able to move on with the solace that sometimes dreams do come true.
11:05 pm on May 19th, 2009
This is the ONLY sports site I ever visit.
Why? … because of the girls.
My visits have grown fewer and fewer since Crystal's last picture was posted. The drop off in pictures was especially sad because we have seen so few pictures of Wendy and Allie.
I imagine there is a treasure trove of images on a hard drive somewhere in LA. I lie awake nights wondering if they will ever be posted.
11:22 pm on May 19th, 2009
boy, lots of people said the chicks, so i'll just nod and agree, but more than that Brooks, you guys have been a delight to my daily adventure through the web.
i hit maybe 6 or 7 sites everyday, myspace included, and always find some gem that your boys and girls have dug up for everyone to laugh at and enjoy.
F the hater's, keep it the content coming, i'll be waiting.
btw, big props to my buddy graduating UGA as an MPA, GO DAWGS!!!
3:27 am on May 20th, 2009
I think Brooks started this post 'cause he was in need of a little ego stroking.
His narcissism is all encompassing , Precious.
Just stick to posting the exclusive and very beautiful and generously proportioned young women and stop whining when people don't agree with you or are critical of your political beliefs.
My violin is playing just for your bruised ego.
6:14 am on May 20th, 2009
What? An existential crisis post? A troll? Satire? (d) All of the above? In either event, here's my take:
–Content: My bookmark points to the 'brog' tag filter, because if I wanted to deal with a cast of thousands, I'd go read a Gawker site. That's been my position since about the 3rd week of the multi-writer format. Although I occasionally peek at the daily grind, I haven't read enough recent posts to see if the situation has changed.
–Content, part II: You have a radio background. Add an occasional audio segment, regarding whatever.
–SbB Girls: If you've done all this photography (and still want to bother with it), then you need to start up a second site, because it's your photo style that's bringing the above posts. Link to the new site occasionally from SbB (e.g., sharing ad slots). If you're really into shining advertisers' shoes, (a) try to sign up a designer for a shoot, and/or (b) run straight fashion shoots (the kind which involve actual clothes).
–Cowherd: I'd just like to know which Brainwave at Corporate (BaC, pun intended) chose to run Cowherd's "sanctimonious woman" routine (re: Vince Young) as an advertisement last year. At some point, I actually said "Yes, dear" to the radio, and tuned it out.
10:24 am on May 20th, 2009
"Steve" up there, summed it up perfectly for me:"…the girls bring me to this site, the articles keep me."
12:52 pm on May 20th, 2009
Want to be slightly more distanced from the main media? Try covering rugby and cricket - both have had world cups since you started up, and as a kiwi in the US I still have to scramble to find coverage on mainstream sites. Over a dozen countries in both sports. Think it over.
2:42 pm on May 20th, 2009
Everyone- the girls have quit. They filed a class action lawsuit against SbB to suspend posting any new pictures.
Brooks doesn't have the b*lls to tell us straight out what happened.
8:43 pm on May 20th, 2009
Yeah, I came here for the girls but I also read the articles. No wait, thats the same excuse I say when I read Playboy! Allthough I think your ladies are hotter and dont need to be nekkid.
11:28 pm on May 20th, 2009
Whatever happened to Flash Warner? I used to love reading her updates.
12:45 am on May 21st, 2009
Girls quit the website!!! No way, that sucks, why not hire new ones? lawsuit wont let you? Yah models is the one reason why I came here in the first place, but I like the site is fun to read and belive it or not, I do discuss sports news with buddies of mine at bars, on topics posted at this site. yah sucks, but why would they sue Mr Johnski? you sure seem to know a lot about this.
8:55 am on May 21st, 2009
Girls are gone…most likely because of the almighty coin. Isn't it always?
9:54 am on May 21st, 2009
No daily SbB girls photo is a bummer. Yah I come here less often too, really only to check if Brooks has posted another one.
More interesting to me is that Brooks has not responded to comments about no more girls photos. Transparency is part of the culture of blogging, so tell us what's up, Brooks. You'll catch less flack if you're honest.
It's telling that you're not interacting with the commenters here, too.
12:23 pm on June 1st, 2009
Brook
We love you man but your excellent style of taking photos of the hotest babes has got to come back.
Maybe another site showcasing them and you can retire ?
4:03 pm on August 25th, 2009
i know so many local guys that get their show prep from your site…case in point 97.1 in Detroit’s Doug Karsh almost word for word!