To All Bleacher Report's World Football Community Members

Happy New Year to all you Bleacher Creatures.

2008 was a fantastic year for Bleacher Report and a terrific year for our World Football Community. We saw the section sub divide into our favourite areas, making it easier to follow our favourite teams and leagues and saw greater recognition for many hard workers here on Bleacher.

It is the effort of so many that make me proud to be the World Football Community Leader. Ever since Salaar’s arrival, I’ve stayed pretty much in the background but I have been here. I do observe, I do communicate with Zander and point out problems and possible solutions here and there but in all honesty it is a pretty smooth ship to sail.

You all make it very easy for me.

One thing I have been following with interest however is the World Football Community Awards.

It is sad to see our community so divided and I have decided to step in with the help of others to create a structure that suits all, even the non believers. I want to take the debate away from this years voting and into a new (hopefully leveller) playing field

First however, we must iron out some differences…It is time to come together.

The current awards being organized by Barney will show our 2008 writer of the year.

From next year, I propose we slow down the award giving to each other and create the Bleacher Report World Football Awards aimed at teams and players.

Let us start with our internal awards system. Every two months is far too often and takes away much of the glamour and anticipation of such events. I’d propose just two awards per year which will be organized through the CL with the help of Bleacher Report Management.

One at the end of the year like we are currently voting on (Writer of the year awards) and one at the end of the European Season (Writer of the season awards). (1)What do you think? With ONLY work done in that period being used as selection or voting criteria…(see point 4)

This way it is every 6 months or so and gives writers a chance to establish themselves (if they wish to do so) on site before award time.

(2) So what about nominations? I’m open to suggestions but (3) what about only people who have been contributing for that entire year being eligible? A player who plays three months of the season doesn’t win player of the year…

That is why we have newcomers and various categories so that we are all involved. A player only needs one game to score the goal of the season….

I understand people complaining about only the top writers getting recognized but they have all worked very hard to get where they are and produce good work on a very regular basis. They deserve praise.

Maybe an e-mail address to send votes to, instead of the current system that can be intimidating, we don’t want people voting for people because they voted for us…..that is left for the Eurovision song contest. All voting details would be announced with the winner.

(4) Would anyone be interested in pick of the day votes or other stats making up who wins or makes it onto the shortlists? Such information is easily available from Zander and the boys….

A suggestion that has been made would be a second language award or even foreign article award as the site grows. I think that would be brilliant.

(5) What about prizes? Well I read a suggestion that the winner gets published on Fox Sports, but sadly that is for the editor of Fox Sports to decide and not me or even Zander. I’m sure Z would be able to chuck us a t-shirt or some other prizes our way if it were every six months but that is something we could discuss should we come to some sort of general agreement.

I think it is important to mention that every member is vital to Bleacher Report. No one can expect instant success but I can tell you this, I am twice the writer I was when I started and many more will say the same. That is 18 months now and counting, I hope to see you all still here, 18 months from now.

The next section is a brilliant idea I picked up on Barney’s voting board (thanks Saraswathi).

We start our own Bleacher Report World Football Awards, recognizing the teams and players we write about. The fans opinion on who is player of the year, team of the season etc.

A step further of actually sending awards, letters or certificates to the stars we choose would only heighten Bleacher Reports standing and publicity.

(6) What do you think?

I’ve numbered the questions that I’d love feedback on to make it easier to cross reference once all the opinions have come in.

I’ll end by wishing you all a successful year at work, school and especially with your writing.