AOTD, CBS Correspondents, and More: My Take On BR'S Latest Controversy

Before reading this article, realize it is very opinionated, so the 1st person will be used quite often.

As we hit the mid point of Summer 2009, Bleacher Report continues its dominance as the most popular fan-filled media hot spot, and the community here has continued to grow one day at a time.

Over the past month, many of our writers have experienced the transition from columnist to senior writer, one of the bigger accomplishments a member can have on BleacherReport.

For some, this achievement includes a spot in the top 50 writers rankings, the one goal that everybody someday wishes to achieves.

Yet, while there will always be good, we must accept the bad as well. Over the past month, including one action taken this week, controversy is upon us at B/R. While many have spoken out and gave their opinion, I decided to sit back and not make much of a fuss.

Sure, I commented on a writer's article on the topic, that’s why they post it on my Bulletin Board. However, after the rants that have occurred this week, Bleacher Reports controversy has been raised to a whole new level. Some of these topics include Article Of The Day, the latest buzz of CBS Correspondents, and some improvements that could be made for the better of B/R.

1ST Order Of Controversy: The Big Prize Known as Article Of The Day

Over my fourth month tenure at Bleacher Report, aside from wanting to become a senior writer on the site, the 2nd goal everybody shoots for is Article Of The Day.

In this period of time, we have witnessed Leroy Watson take the AOTD stage, putting up many, 16 award winning articles to be exact, out on the table for us to read and understand.

I have not won the award; however, I do know that whenever the award is won, the writer feels honoured for the achievement.

However, does this prestigious award still have as much honor and meaning as it has had in the past?

According to many of the members of Bleacher Report, the AOTD is "a popularity contest" and a joke of an award that many try to hard to win. During this span in time, the conflict of people writing to try and win the award has increased, according to senior writers and other members of the community.

From my perspective, I wish I could have won the award once. I neither complain, nor worry, about whether or not I ever get one. If ever I achieve it, it will be an accomplishment for me because I know I earned it.

Articles such as B/R Chatter pieces, or perhaps comparisons of Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, are always sure to get hits. I believe that our goal as writers is to try to put our best work out there every time, and in some situations they will be POTD worthy.

Saying it is a popularity contest could be argued, especially for the writers who are in double digits (not accusing anyone). However, I have seen many writers who are under the 100 fan mark and win the award. Some believe it is spam when posting a link to an article on somebody's Bulletin Board. In this day and age on the open source network, it is the way to get known within the community you wish to be active in by posting to the top writers on the site.

What has bugged me, however, is the trend of writers publishing beautiful pieces, whether about a sports hero, or a chatter piece, and being framed for trying to win article of the day. To me, it is uncalled for, and nobody should be accused of such actions.

Final Verdict: Though the AOTD seems to have lost some of its meaning, whenever the award is won by a writer for the first time, it is always something special. If you want to win the award, you have to give the extra effort in order to achieve it.

2nd Controversy: The Supposed Snubbing Act Of the CBS Correspondents

Earlier this spring, Bleacher Report writers were hit with the greatest opportunity one can imagine: being hired as a correspondent with CBSsports.com.

The news broke that CBS Sports, a longtime affiliate of Bleacher Report, gave every writer here a chance to have a shot of being a correspondent, or a beat writer as some call it, for one of the 32 teams in the NFL. When the competition began, it was said that 32 men or women were going to be selected during the summer, where they would be paid about $400 a week, the job lasting for eight months.

The applications were open for quite some time, leading to a great amount of applicants for them to choose from.

After no sign of decision made by CBS, the time came this week when the correspondents were announced.

As no names were given out to the public yet, people were curious why they wouldn't give the names of the supposed 32 writers.

Unfortunately, shocking news was brought to the community, one which has led to an uproar on B/R.

Out of the 32 correspondent spots, 16 members of Bleacher Report were selected. Two declined for personal reasons, so this has left us with 14 members.

So what has happened since this announcement?

Well, I have to say, my eye has seen some great controversy in my time here, but nothing bigger then this.

Over the period of 48 hours, articles have lashed out against CBS for screwing with the thousands of people who applied, and didn't even agree with the original standards that were handed.

Some even blame B/R, whom they feel knew about this, but did nothing about it.

Before I go into detail of the bashing, I will say that I do blame CBSsports for this action. Though I understand that it was a tough position to be in, the original guidelines were broken, and no notification was made of this.

An estimated 3000 people applied for this event, and to tell me you couldn't find 32 writers for the job makes it tough for me to believe. Writers John Fennelly, Angel Navedo, Bryn Swartz, and other columnists who surely had great applications for the job. Going out and hiring people, whether from other sites or men and women who have had relations with sports journalism, gives the community the argument that we were snubbed by this million dollar franchise, and broke many hearts.

Even with the disappointment and grief, we should still show happiness. 14 lucky writers from BleacherReport will represent the site at team complexes, which will include media connection and much more.

There is a right to be upset, but what should not be ignored is the people who have received this opportunity.

Showing your opinion to the community is one thing, but some of the articles I have seen in the past day bring down the quality of BleacherReport, and that needs to be stopped.

My Final Thoughts

As Bleacher Report continues to grow and learn from its mistakes, we must be ready for the great future ahead of us. An exciting 2009 NFL season is near; a great motive for the NFL Community, the most popular place to be these days on B/R. Would like to give a shout out to Zander and the B/R team for helping us have a chance at the correspondent position. Even though I did not apply, it brought a lot of good and bad out of many of our writers, and that shouldn't go unnoticed.