Where Do We Go From Here?

Its been a long time since I have posted directly on the state of affairs around the Card Blogger Network, but I feel at this point it is necessary for the new people who have come on lately (and there have been a lot of them). For those of you who are unfamiliar with the situation, check out Mario's final post over at Wax Heaven. Mario, though I believe he will be back, was the top blog for card info by far, and that source is closed indefinitely. Love him or hate him, Mario was a driving force around here, and his departure creates a new situation for the rest of us.

First off, for those of you struggling to find a new place to go for all your info, Mario could not have picked a better time to leave. Thanks to social networking, the card companies are much more transparent in news dissemination than ever before. You can check out Upper Deck, Panini America, and Topps all on Twitter as well as facebook for a great run down of the news without fluff. Upper Deck also has a blog and twitter account stemming from that blog, both of which you will see content from me and other bloggers. Earlier this year, there were only a handful of independent sites dedicated to providing actual up to date hobby info, though now, it’s a completely different story.

If you are more looking for news plus commentary, there are a lot of great sites around in addition to this one. As Mario said, the Sports Card Blogroll is a great way to stay on top of every bit of news that comes flowing down the pipe. I have a number of favorites, and though I wont single out any of them due to the shear number of sites I read every day, I would wholeheartedly suggest you develop your own list.

Secondly, I would rush over to Blowoutcards' Forum and Freedom Card Board and get signed up right away. These forums are free and filled with an above average amount of informed collectors. I visit these sites regularly because they are unlike some of the other Mojo-loving pantheons that have sprung up over the last few years. I know both of these boards owners very well, and I also know that they are only about providing good service to their members rather than forcing an agenda down your throat.

In addition, there are a ton of the blogs and collectors on Twitter, and I follow most of them to get better connections with what is going on. Most of the bloggers post links from their site, or shortened commentary, and I would think there is no better way to just flood your mind with card news each morning. Here is a link to a list I think does a great job of giving you some suggestions on who to follow.

Thirdly, to all the bloggers out there, its time to step up and show what you got. You may only get 20 hits per day, but that is still 20 people you are reaching. I would check out this post I wrote a while ago about getting your blog on track, and continue to pump out thoughtful commentary and info at every turn. One of the most effective parts of running a successful blog has always been frequent updates, so I would encourage all of you to do as much as you can to keep people on the Card Blogger Network train.

Lastly, if you are a reader of this site or of Mario's, there is nothing better to replace the downfall of the biggest site around than starting new blogs that have just as much talent in writing and new viewpoints to offer. I have always said that the best part of having new bloggers is having voices in the fray, and I will never hesisate to give you a spot on the blogroll to your right. Also, Chris at Freedom Card Board has created a place for you to start a new blog with little problems if you are unfamiliar with the medium.

I think this is going to be a tough time for the information network we have built, mainly because of how many thousands of people loved reading Mario's site. Although I think he did a good job with what he did, it was not mainly discussed of the service that the blogs provide. Unlike the douchebags over at Beckett, we bloggers do this all for free and the love of the game, and our business is promoting the things we love and our profit is giving commentary to place we feel needs improvement. We don’t care about ad money, readership or profit margins, and the only green we strive for is a refractor out of Chrome, not cash. The extract that is created from this fruit is pure, unadulterated opinion and content, and you can bet your ass that every word is important. As long as we continue to voice our praises and criticisms, the only thing that can be hurt is culture of mistrust and criminality in this hobby.

Guys, I cannot be the only person rallying the troops, and I need you to match my commitment to helping keep the online community as the number one source for hobby information. Hopefully over the next few months we can rebuild a greater place for collectors to come than ever before.

Thanks again for all of your continued support.

My Fellow Blogospherians...

Ladies and Gentleman, as self appointed President of the hobby, I am here to address you today about the state of the things we love so much. Even though, this 100% completely legitimate presendency is only recognized by this blog, the state of Idaho, and three small towns in Alabama, the following address is something we all need to take heed of.

Fellow blogospherians, I am here to say the state of the hobby is GOOD! However, despite our positive state right now, this is not a mandate to coast through the months ahead and expect this speech to be the same at this time next year. Right now, due to concerns in our economy, the state of the hobby depends on you! If you are one that is ready to buy a card - BUY IT! Do your fellow collectors good. Do not wait for the price to drop, even though it will, because that is BAD for this hobby and bad for America.

To begin, be sure to break tons of wax, as this is the lifeblood of this hobby. I guarantee you freddie and fanny shop-owner are better off because you bought their boxes. They need your support because it is tough for them to survive as a small business in a time when it is common to get 10 dollars as a return investment of a 100 dollar box. If you continue to buy, I promise this to you, my friends, I will work tirelessly to make sure that your plight in this hobby improves by demanding our manufacturers give us more value on each investment we make. We will also not stand idly by while they give their boxes away to the people who don’t deserve them. I am not talking about the Secretary of Wax, Mr. Alejandro of the great state of Florida, I am talking about Beckett, Tuff Stuff, and most importantly, the Media. My friends, we need to help the people who deserve it, not belittle them. Save your anger for those who need to feel the wrath of this 'sphere!

Right now, I want to take a moment and talk about Joe the Collector. Joe was simple man from my campaign trail who brought up the fact that he was getting scammed by predators on a weekly basis and he was tired of being the "dunce of the hobby." He outwardly blamed me for his problems, even going so far as to say my policies were making his life difficult. In between his unintelligible remarks about "MOJO" and youtube maildays, he asked me to take pity on him and for help. Well Joe, I promise you and your bretheren to continue to push for manufacturer inclusion of not only anti patch faking technology, but also a scanned database of all high end cards for all to see. I ask you today, do we not deserve that?

I want to move on to another topic, one that plagues both you and I on a daily basis. When most of you look for that card you want, trading is your first instinct. As of late, trading security has been a hot topic, especially in my administration. I promise to you that in the coming months, we will establish a way for the citizens of this blog to trade without fear! Ladies and gentlemen, if we don’t trade, they win. They win, and we lose everything we stand for. Don’t think I don’t feel for you, I do, and I will use my power to make it happen!

One of the main messages of my campaign was to end the vicious cycle of creating cards based on an autograph sticker spot. We need to demand a change from the powers that be. We are strong and we have the means to make sure that there is an on card auto in every set, and a swatch placed correctly on every card. No longer will we be hungry for well designed cards, as we have fought the trend and won!

Of course, it will continue to be important that you participate in the group box breaks we have from this administration. It is your duty to the 'shpere to serve your blog by helping others. It will be fun, this I promise you, and the boxes will be amazing. No longer will you watch high end videos on youtube without a stake for yourself, as you will be involved just as much as the next guy! I will also be moving for a price cut for all middle end collectors so that they will get the benefits of all the top 1 percent of everyone in the hobby. It is a tough time, and everyone needs the help.

Lastly, I want to assure you that the integrity of the blogosphere must be maintained, or we will suffer. As recent as last week, close to 100 people let me know personally that they thought blogs made a positive impact on this hobby. With that I charge you, the reader, to blog your thoughts and make this 'sphere stronger. Make your opinions known. You are the future of this great population, and I want to invest in you! When you make your blog, email my administration directly and ask to be included in our links. We will strengthen you and use our umbrella to help you get the readers you need.

Thank you very much, and God bless America!