[LeaferSutherland]

Please select the blog that you would like to see become the official Stars blog of The NHL Arena.

Defending Big D
The Other 6 Seconds

This week we ask you to select which blog does the best at presenting both sides of every story?

For every member that takes the time to click these links, check these blogs out, vote in the poll and impress me with a critique on any one blog mentioned, I will be giving out Jersey Awards throughout the contest.

So let's hear what you have to say... and let's please try our best to be constructive with our words.

(This tourney encourages fans of all teams to participate and not just fans of the team in question.)

[Cujorulesdtown90]

I looked at both of these late last night along with a ton of other blogs, and this one is extremely hard for me to choose, I really like both.

Defending Big D I really liked reading because of the articles, alot of blogs are just stats, this one isn't at all, well, of course there are some stats, but alot of it is good stories about players, as well as in depth game reviews. It is completely up to date, and there is no bias to either side of any story. That can be a good thing, but with this blog, that is what you expect with a blog, opinion, and it is hard to really tell the author's opinion on the articles. Other than that, I have no complaints, I think it is a great article that any Stars fan would be missing out on if they didn't check it out.

The Other 6 Seconds I liked because of the "mailbag", that is something you don't see on a ton of blogs, and with any new thing, its refreshing from what you usually expect from a blog. This, unlike Defending Big D, is quite opinionated in articles, its pretty fair-weather but can be one sided on some articles, but nothing really worth ragging on them for. I also liked the layout of this blog better, it didn't seem as cluttered as Defending Big D.

You could not go wrong with either choice on this one, they are both great blogs that deserve attention from Stars fans, but since I have to vote, im voting for Defending Big D.

[Tamby]

As Cujo said, both of these blogs are excellent, with each having its pros and cons. Cujo and I are on the same page with essentially everything he said, so rather than parrot his post, I'll say I agree and make a couple of other points.

Defending Big D has really gained ground, recently joining the SB Nation as the representative Stars blog, even adding a regular online radio/podcast segment. It's a very professionally-written and edited blog; in fact it's almost like a mini Stars newspaper. This makes it a great source for information, and the writers are quite good at their craft, but as a result it does lose a bit of the human aspect. One of my favorite things about blogs is reading opinion, especially well-backed opinion. It's pretty much the only thing DBD is missing.

The Other 6 Seconds is also a well-written blog that has an attractive, easy to navigate layout and pertinent content. While it's not as professionally written as DBD, it does have the human element I like. Cole Jones rarely, if ever, whines or rambles; if he does have a negative topic he generally backs it up with explanations. Cujo says it can be fair-weather or one-sided, but I disagree. Mr. Jones seldom fails to provide sound reasoning for his perspectives, and I enjoy the passion he has for his favorite team.

In the end, I'm going with The Other 6 Seconds. I feel it is less reporting and more personal, and to be honest the fact that it is authored by an individual and not a group makes me respect it all the more. I love Defending Big D, but while I seriously appreciate their top-notch coverage and respect their growth, The Other 6 Seconds just feels more "bloggy" overall.

[DefendingBigD]

This is actually some great feedback, and I wish I could get more of this sort of critical assessment. Sometimes you operate in a vacuum and don't realize exactly how you're being compared to other sites.

First of all, when I started Defending Big D I didn't really think of the site as a 'traditional' blog, and have purposely worked towards a more professional and news oriented website. That being said, it's never been my intention to completely take the 'human element' out of our content. I guess there's a fine line to walk when you don't want to sound like the Associated Press, but at the same time not be one of those blogs that does nothing but get overtly worked up and trashes the team. I come from a more traditional writing background, but I think that we've been able to at least present our personal opinions as well; just in a more straightforward presentation.

I do agree however, that Cole at The Other 6 Seconds operates a more traditional blog and it's a great site. What's funny about this whole contest actually is that all of us get along fairly well together and this has created some fun competition. Cole runs a great site and he deserves the attention he's getting.

Once again, really appreciate reading this feedback and it's opened up my eyes on some of things we can work on.

[ColeJ.]

stop campaigning! you're catching up!

[DefendingBigD]

Campaigning? I was just politely alerting our readers to the contest. On Facebook, our website and Twitter. That's all.

[ColeJ.]

well... stop it...

[hockeynut019]

<3 Cole Jones!

[ColeJ.]

hockeynut019, on Dec 19 2009, 01:26 PM, said:

<3 Cole Jones!

cole jones <3's you too, but your team is going down this afternoon.

[hockeynut019]

ColeJ., on Dec 19 2009, 01:27 PM, said:

cole jones <3's you too, but your team is going down this afternoon.

You can take advantage of our injuries all you want. At full strength, your Stars are always toast. :p

[Tamby]

Since both DBD and TO6S are represented here now, maybe we can have a Blog-Off Battle Royale...perhaps a cage match or a quarterstaff dual on a log across a ravine or something.

Thanks to both of you (and your fanbases) for coming by and making yourselves known! I hope y'all decide to stick around the Arena and add to our small but proud Stars supporter group. PM me if you have any questions.

PS - please excuse my signature. The wife is a Canucks fan and enjoys tainting my image from time to time.

This point has been edited by Tamby: 19 December 2009 - 03:24 PM

[ColeJ.]

i'll stick around if you can convince your stars army of forumers to vote me to victory! :)

[Tamby]

ColeJ., on Dec 19 2009, 02:29 PM, said:

i'll stick around if you can convince your stars army of forumers to vote me to victory! :)

I'm amazed the total number of votes is as high as it is already! You've probably noticed we're not exactly the most active team-specific subforum of the Arena these days. I'm hoping the Blog-Off boosts readership/participation of all blogs involved and our little corner of the Arena as well.

[ColeJ.]

for the record, here's my take on the 2 blogs.

defending big d is amazing. they cover the team better than the real stars beat writers and media, and they're one of the first sites i visit every day when i boot up the laptop. i think the reason why i feel very little true rivalry with defending big d is because i understand we bring totally different things to the table. they're a legit news source that is updated multiple times per day.

i don't even try to report news, really. i work graveyard shift at the police department, so i'm asleep when most of the news is happening. i don't aspire to be a be-all-end-all stars site that is your one-stop-shop for hockey news. i just want to be something fun and entertaining for stars fans to check out during their daily trip around the internet.

before i opened my blog this summer, i used to have some down time at work where i'd have nothing better to do than read stars crap online... and it got to a point where it seemed like i was running out of new things to read. i decided i'd try to help the problem by coming out with my own daily distraction for all the stars fans with jobs that bore them. :)

i've been very happy with how i've been accepted into the stars online community with this blog, and defending big d deserves a load of credit for that. they've invited me to their game day chats, their radio podcasts, and their blogger round tables.

if i have to lose (which i don't plan to do!!!) it would be an honor to come in second to DBD. i can't even comprehend running a site with such reporting accuracy and depth while still holding down my (more than) full time job and keeping any semblance of a personal life. for that, i tip my hat.

This point has been edited by ColeJ.: 19 December 2009 - 03:56 PM

[Tamby]

I'm just extremely grateful that both of you have signed up here and given us some insight into the hows and whys of your blogging. Your blogs are both outstanding for their own reasons, and after reading the explanations I can say with all honesty that DBD and TO6S both absolutely succeed at achieving the stated intentions of their respective creators. Major kudos to you both.

[DefendingBigD]

Being referred to as a 'legit news source' is both flattering and scary as hell.

And I think Cole does a great job of updating his site much more often that you see on other sites as well. To me, it's just great to see another Stars blog get the recognition his has. Too many Oilers, Kings, and Maple Leafs blogs out there.

This point has been edited by DefendingBigD: 19 December 2009 - 04:47 PM

[Phil09]

Go Coley! =)

[LeaferSutherland]

Congrats to The Other 6 Seconds!