Where Turning Three Years Old Happens
by Evan Dunlap on Mar 19, 2010 2:00 PM EDT
in Diversions
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PrintNot much free time for me today, but I did want to at least acknowledge that, 3 years ago today, I started the Blogspot site that eventually grew up to be Orlando Pinstriped Post, which you're reading right now. I've been privileged to cover the last two-plus full seasons of Orlando Magic basketball, as well as the tail end of the second Brian Hill Era, and never did I imagine that a site born of frustration about unfulfilled expectations would eventually land me, say, on press row for the NBA Finals less than three years later. It's been wild, really, going from refreshing Yahoo! Sports every 30 seconds on game nights alone in my dorm room to getting to wander about the Magic's locker room and hearing, for instance, that Brandon Bass thinks I look like Harry Potter.
I'd like to thank some people who've helped along the way, because this is not something I did on my own. Were it not for the awesome folks at SB Nation, including Matt B., who recruited me and whom I nearly turned down; Seth Pollack, who runs the basketball gig now; and Tom Ziller, as influential a writer in my life as anyone, I would not be writing this post today. Kelly Dwyer, Henry Abbott, Kevin Arnovitz, John Hollinger, Steve Perrin, Brian Windhorst, Ira Winderman, John Krolik, and the FreeDarko folks also indirectly nudged me in the right direction; I'd list Winderman introducing himself to me during Game 3 of the NBA Finals among the 10 most gratifying and surreal experiences of my life. And I would not be as comfortable in locker-room settings were it not for Josh Robbins and Tania Ganguli, who've taught me more about that side of the writing/reporting gig than I can adequately express.
Obviously, I wouldn't be in the position of requiring their tutelage were it not for the Magic organization, which is ahead of the curve with regard to its treatment of bloggers. First-class.
Eddy Rivera's obviously been a big part of helping this site grow, and I'm glad I accepted his offer to jump aboard for free. He's a superstar.
Jon Nichols graciously contributed weekly, in-depth statistical analyses to our site before a job opportunity required that he step away, and I'm indebted to him for making my Monday nights a bit easier.
But most of all, really, thank you guys. Your participation here has also grown this site, and knowing that there's an audience for what I write keeps me going; I've gone from writing for IZOD Center-like crowds to Madison Square Garden-sized ones. Thank you, thank you, thank you for your support.
Also, happy 31st, Hedo.
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Working for free? You got robbed, Mr. Rivera.
Anyway, Happy Birthday, TQC OPP!
J'aime manger de grandes quantités de cire de bougie. Vraiment? Omelette du fromage monsieur!
GREAT job by Ben and everyone involved
happy birthday and thanks for OPP
some times I imagine this team with VC & J-Will at their prime...
Thanks for creating something I never knew I needed
and don’t know now what I would do without.
Maybe you know Judo, maybe I know Smith and Wesson.
by NC Magic Fan on Mar 19, 2010 2:15 PM EDT reply actions
To paraphrase the South Park movie...
Don’t you know our little lives are now complete?
’Cause Ben and Eddy are sweet.
Super sweet!
I hate Varejao.
Love the Blog and Tweets..
Eddy Rivera’s obviously been a big part of helping this site grow, and I’m glad I accepted his offer to jump aboard for free. He’s a superstar.
Eddy is definitely a superstar. You guys do great work..
FEED THE BEAST!!!
Twitter Account
I'd like to profess my love for Ben and Eddy.
Seriously, major love for this site. While I don’t really post a whole lot these days, I do check the site 3-4 times a day and love reading the articles and round-ups.
Keep it going guys!
Check out some of my photos: My Flickr Account
LifeOfAGiant.com - Check out my blog. Photos, randomness, etc. GO!
--
if Jesus paying LeBron, I'm paying Dwight Howard. Because Dwight's not a bitch.
Aww that's awesome!
Congratulations! And as much as you love writing, we love reading the stuff you write, so thank you for taking your time to write this awesome blog!
Happy Birthday!!
I was lucky enough to find this blog midway through last season, and like big aaron above, I now check the site 3-4 times a day for updates. I can’t believe OPP is only three years old. The quality and professionalism far exceeds what should be expected from such a young blog. Ben and Eddy, beyond watching the actual games and interviews, you are Magic Basketball to me. Keep up the great work!! (Please!!)
And not that I'm asking for it...
but I would not think twice about paying for a subscription for this site.
If you're that desperate to give us your money, you can buy a shirt!
/shameless.
But really, I appreciate that.
That's a feel good story Ben. Big ups Eddy!
Thanks guys for giving us a place to go to discuss Dwights dominance, VC’s rise, Jameer’s playmaking, Rashards stone cold stroke, how much van gundy looks like Ron Jeremy and all things Magic.
Love this blog,
Keep it up you guys!
I was the head of the Eric Berry bandwagon- Im sad to say its over.
Puffy Rod's Bandwagon continues forever.
New head of the Matthew Barnaby Bandwagon!!!
High quality blog
and a pleasure to partake.
Thank you.
You made TrueHoop on your Bday. Congrats!
http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/14402/friday-bullets-148
ESPN gets grief around here, but one ESPN writer knows his stuff after all.
"I've had people say, 'I don't need to check the [player statistics]. I've seen it with my eyes.' Well, I would also say your eyes lie to you sometimes, and some of the guys you may really like and think are really doing things, when you get deeper into it, aren't or vice versa." ~Stan Van Gundy
Thanks for all the love, everyone!
It’s been a fun ride.
I write for Orlando Pinstriped Post and have a Twitter account.
"The second unit is kind of crazy because the second unit is only white guys." - Marcin Gortat
You guys deserve it!
OPP is a breast of fresh air.
"It can be done, you can just crush somebody"
For us too...
…and I’ve got s sneaky suspicion that we are about to really experience something we won’t soon forget, sometime in early June…
by mike in munich on Mar 19, 2010 7:27 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm so glad I discovered this blog a little over a year ago.
It was such a fun ride through the 2nd half of the season, the playoff run and the Finals last year and it continues this season as we hopefully make another run to the Finals, this time taking home the title!
NBA Championship or bust in '09-10!!!! GO MAGIC!!!!
If the Cavs had to lose...
I’m glad it was to a team this well-covered. It honestly made everything easier, and one reason part of me hopes the Cavs and Magic meet in the ECF again, even though I’m much more afraid of the Magic than the Celtics. This is an exemplary blog, and a daily read for me. The writing, the professionalism, the frequency, and the legit media access are matched by few. Thanks for undoing most of the damage I’ve done to reputations of college-age bloggers,guys. Happy blog birthday.
That's nice of you to say, John.
I write for Orlando Pinstriped Post and have a Twitter account.
"The second unit is kind of crazy because the second unit is only white guys." - Marcin Gortat
Congrats on turning 3!
This blog is a staple of my Magic diet and the people here make being a Magic Fanatic exponentially more rewarding . . .
Happy B-Day 3QC, err OPP!
Sigh . . . Now I need new AVATAR!
Wow
I wasn’t aware of the history of this site, ibstumbled upon it last off season and have honestly visited this sight daily since.. I salute the honest commentary, it’s exactly what the magic kingdom needed.. Thanks for all the hard work Ben and Eddie happy bday to 3cq
The Problem With Our Generation, Is That Our Future Isn't What It Used To Be
by JoeyBarz on Mar 19, 2010 8:32 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Thanks Ben (& Eddy)!
Following the Magic was not as much fun before I discovered y’all!
Shortest off-season ever!
As someone who grew up in Orlando
I have only 1 team I truly care about.
Thanks for making a place for the one team I do have.
"Morning yall up early w/ the babies watchn Dora. Seems Lamar can't keep my name out his mouth maby I need 2 put my sons shitty diaper n it"~Matt Barnes
I don't contribute much to the site...
but I have been a huge fan of SB nation for a little over a year and OPP is one of the best blogs on the site. It’s an honor to know that my favorite sprots team has such an awesome blog! Thanks and keep up the great work, I don’t know what i’d do without you guys.
Happy 3rd!
Thanks for introducing me to advanced statistics and all of the other great basketball sites/blogs. My NBA IQ has definitely increased since discovering this place. Favorite web site by far. Keep up the great work, guys!
NBA's Present: Dwight, Lebron, D-Wade...
Future: KD, D-Rose, Tyreke...
Past: Shaq, The Boston Celtics, Greg Oden...
HAPPY 3RD B-DAY
I just started reading this site this season and can not believe what I have been missing. You guys do a great job. Here is to many more B-Days for this site!!!
Happy Birthday!
Congrats on three years of existence! It is a well-earned anniversary. Here’s to many more multiples of three anniversaries! Hopefully we can look back at Third Quarter Collapse and realize what a horrible late-90s joke it was three years from now.
Keep up the amazing work!
Philip,
Orlando Magic Daily
OrlandoMagicDaily.com
Thank you for growing in front of my eyes.
I jumped in halfway through the tenure and am damn glad I did.
Congrats..
As a magic/nets fan i laugh a lot because of your second to the last statement.. hehe. cheers for the 3 magical years here in sb.. more power.. :D
we don't light the stars, we simply fade with them..
You guys ROCK!
OPP is my daily, actually almost hourly, must-read. The level of professionalism, intellect, and camaraderie that is displayed by Ben, E, Jon and the community of fans they’ve fostered is a breath of fresh (and addicting) air.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
When the big fella was whistled for his fourth personal foul midway through the third quarter, Stan Van Gundy left Clark Kent alone. And in a phone booth measuring 94 feet across, Dwight Howard used that vote of confidence to transform into his alter ego. - Chris Sheridan
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