Oct 23, 2009 4:13 pm US/Eastern
Behind The Blog: PhilliesNation.com
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
Name: Pat Gallen
Age: 25
Blog: PhilliesNation.comWhat's your favorite blog of all time? • My favorite blog of all time is probably Truehoop, which is now part of
ESPN.com. It was actually the reason I got into blogging, because I love what Henry Abbott does on his site. It's actually an NBA blog, which is how I got started, by doing my own basketball blog.
What's the best blog post you've ever written? • I'd like to think that each time I write, that it's the best I've done because I'm learning new things everyday, and still learning the craft of being a writer. If I had to pick one though it would probably be the piece I put up after the
Phillies Game 4 win against the Dodgers, when J-Roll won it in the 9th. It was basically a breakdown of my day and just how insane it was at the ballpark. I think it captured what it's like to be a true fan at the game.
What are three tips for aspiring bloggers?If you're in it for the money, you're gonna be here for a while. Two, if writing is a passion, anyone can start their own blog anytime they wish to, so make it happen. Three, don't quit your day job, which I guess kind of ties in with number one.
Describe your typical work day. • Well it starts off with caffeine and a nice breakfast, for sure. Then I get into whatever happened the night before in the world of sports or whatever is happening that day for the Phillies. If we are doing a podcast that day, we will set up the interview and then record it. We just had Tom McCarthy on from the Phillies on Thursday, so that's a cool part of the job. Other than that, a lot of scouring the internet looking for great things to write about, plus I do the Phillies Nation twitter and facebook along with Rob Cowie. So it's about staying busy and giving the fans good content. Hopefully we do that. If I can squeeze the gym in there too, I try. But mostly, I look at a computer all day.
What's the last website you visited?•
Phillies Nation,
ESPN.com and
Yahoo are always present on my browser. The best website I've checked out lately has to be
Qthemusic.com; it's a British Music Magazine. I try to keep up with good tunes.
Do you facebook, myspace or tweet? • I facebook and tweet, but no Myspace. FB really does get addictive quickly, and I try not to spend too much time on it, but it's a nice, easy way to keep up with friends. And it certainly helps Phillies Nation, since we have over 13,000 fans and keep growing. Twitter is a great invention. Up to the minute news, thoughts, quotes, stories, all laid out in front of you, and it's an inviting way to connect with people you otherwise would not have been able to. Wish I'd thought of that.
What's sitting next to your computer?• Pictures of Paul McCartney, Liam Gallagher, and my girlfriend, a glass of water, and some bills I haven't paid yet. I also have a rejection letter hanging from a job I didn't get in the past. Reminds me to keep plugging away and keep working hard everyday.
When's bedtime? • Depends really. If I'm writing something late night, then hopefully before 1 a.m. Normally, I doze off around 12 with Sportscenter on.
What do you hate most about the web?• Everything and nothing. It's incredible to have every last bit of information at your fingertips. It's more than you would ever need and its amazing what the web has become. On the other hand, it has made people lazy. I miss reading the newspaper everyday, because now I don't have to. I click a button and it's all there in front of me. I miss that part of my day. And with inventions like facebook and twitter, it's certainly convenient, but it has taken away face-to-face relationships you would otherwise have.
Who is your arch-rival in the blogosphere?• Well there is some great Phillies content out there. I would say "The Fightins" and "The 700 Level" are our competition, but I wouldn't call them rivals. We each do things in a different way, and we all kick ass at what we do, I'd say.
When's the last time you snail mailed a letter?• Do bills or thank you cards count? Actually, it wasn't that long ago. I sent a thank you note to someone thanking them for looking at my resume and audio and video demos. Handwritten and everything. I didn't get the job.
Drudge, Huffington Post or TMZ?• Huffington. Definitely not TMZ. I like Jennifer Aniston, but I don't need to know where she shopped or what she ate for lunch.
Do you wear glasses?• Perfect vision, luckily.
What makes a good blog?• From my standpoint, being able to refine your craft everyday. Being able to take criticism (I don't do it well, still). Being able to give people an outlet where they can latch on and keep coming back for more. Also, the quicker you can give people their info, the better these days.
Why should we visit yours?•
PhilliesNation.com is the voice of the Phillies fan. The site was put together by the Phillies fan for the Phillies fan. Brian Michael (the founder of Phillies Nation long, long ago) does a great job of setting up trips to New York for Phillies games, or big time tailgating parties, or whatever a fan would want to get in on. With our writing, we want to be as neutral as we can when it comes to writing about the team, but at the same time, we do it from a fans perspective. With podcasting, it allows for the fan to hear directly from others who are with the team on a daily basis—the broadcasters, the beat reporters, the TV anchors. We like to think of ourselves as the bridge between the fan and the team, while still keeping that fandom ourselves. Plus, Brian, Rob, Amanda, Jason, Nick, and Corey all help put together a great site. So if you're a Phils fan, it's the place to be.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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