by Jessie Seetoo
What makes people stay up late on the net? Online romance? Games? Homework? These answers might explain most dark circles under the eyes, but for one unique group of people the reason for burning the midnight oil online is to write NBA stories. These diehards are in charge of an online sports magazine featuring the NBA, with extended coverage also of the CBA, billiards, and recently, the Syndey Olympics. Amateurs, you might conclude, since the youngest staff writer is only 19. But these are not just NBA fanatics, they are professionals, four of whom are now being actually paid for their online periodical. They did start out as amateurs, however. Active on major BBS discussion boards, they were originally students like you and me, with majors ranging from philosophy to computer engineering; they were simply passionate about the game. Reviews, replies, discussions, and taunts closely bonded them, but the bottom line is that these people managed to turn their interest into a career. In the beginning, just before the start of the 1997 season, one of these addicts posted an article complaining about a renowned sports columnist being insufferably rash and arbitrary in his predictions. “If it were me, he concluded, “I would analyze the games on the basis of real figures and scores.” Replies flooded in. It turned out that there were others who were keen on truning their dreams into reality. Together they managed to publish an issue on the internet in November, 1997, featuring a full analysis of and predictions for each of the 29 teams in the NBA. They wrote under pseudonyms and had never actually met each other until the first issue came out. Since that time, the online magazine has appeared on a monthly basis. When they provided immediate coverage of the playoffs, the number of visitors reached more than 10,000! Even eminent basketball anchorman Kenny Gao (高景炎) and sports writer Qu Zi-li (曲自立) have consented to cooperate with them. In July of this year an internet company was formed, hoping to create “the most authentic all-sports website in Chinese.” Questioning them about their most memorable and exciting moments, I naively expected them to talk about the glamour of press conferences and star players, or their handsome salaries. But to my great surprise, said one of them (who happens to be my brother!), “the really exciting moments are difficult for outsiders to understand.” He mentioned, for instance, their reports of the playoffs in 1998. Staff members had to watch live relays on TV during the night, and when the games were not shown in Taiwan they had to rely on live radio broadcasts. But all this hard work meant that their homepage was a step ahead of the rest of the world! Yes, they happened to be born in the Age of the Internet. But before joining the company they spent their own money on their website. They were lucky to have come across many opportunities, but I would emphasize that it was their true devotion and self-discipline that caught the experts’ eyes. Entering the business world seems to have given them a more promising future. Yet more complex pressures come with the territory. I asked if they have ever regretted it. Rubbing his panda eyes, my brother said no; we just love this game. No money to buy Sports Illustrated? Tired of rough translated reports in the newspaper? Visit their website at www.SportAve.com.tw a
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The Taida Student Journal has been active since 1995 with an ever-changing roster of student journalists at NTU. Click the above link to read about the authors Archives
May 2024
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