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BrauBlog

Britt Robson's Timberwolves blog: not dead yet

By David Brauer | Published Wed, Mar 4 2009 2:07 pm

Mpls.St.Paul's Brian Lambert breaks the news that Secrets of the City's owners, Tom Bartel and Kris Henning, have "been forced to stop payments to bloggers, including people like veteran writer, Britt Robson, for his tireless Timberwolves/NBA coverage."

Robson (confession: close pal) probably has more fans than the mangy mutts he covers, but aficionados should know things are not quite that dire.

"If I'm not getting paid, at least through the end of the month, that's news to me," says Robson with bemusement. "Tom and I talked yesterday, and he said the sooner it could end the better, but if need be, he'd pay me through the end of the season," which is April 15.

As a well-deserved going-away present, Bartel offered to reserve brittrobson.com (which currently defaults back to the current blog) and set it up for free.

Of course, some web entrepreneur might want to hook up with the writer, whose coverage is unquestionably the deepest and best-written locally. (And, some say, nationally.) His columns each get between 1,000 and 2,000 hits, with a thriving social-network of commenters who respond to his insight and passion.

A truly smart cookie would figure out how to get him sportsblogging year-round — Robson's Twins and Vikings insights are also worth seeking out.

The price? I get no commission, but it shouldn't be outrageous, given Robson's willingness to toil for SOTC's high-two-figure per-column fee.

Media | Wed, Mar 4 2009 2:07 pm | 5 Comments

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5 Comments: Hide/Show Comments

(#1) On March 4, 2009, Mark Snyder says:

I'd love to see Robson get involved with Canis Hoopus, though I'm not sure he'd be able to get paid for that.

(#2) On March 4, 2009, Kory Lasker says:

As a longtime reader of Britt's TWolves column, It would be really sad to see such detailed coverage go. It's fascinating from an X's and O's standpoint, but it also is more generically appealing because Britt will get into the psychology of the game and the roles people play. For example, there's the odd reluctance of long-range shooter, Mike Miller, to play to his strengths. It's really kept me interested in the team, since I'm able to look at things other than simply just the score.

If you told me I could only have 1 blog per team, I'd go with this triumvirate:

Twolves = Britt Robson (of course)
http://secretsofthecity.com/magazine/blogs/ball

Twins = Aaron Gleeman
http://www.minnpost.com/aarongleeman/
http://www.aarongleeman.com

Vikings = Vikes Geek
http://vikesgeek.blogspot.com/

Funny. MinnPost has featured 2 of these 3 writers.

(#3) On March 5, 2009, Matty Lang says:

David,

Does Britt's column get 1,000 to 2,000 "hits" or 1-2 K "page views"? That's an important distinction and I'm curious to know. Thanks.

(#4) On March 5, 2009, Britt Robson says:

Matty--

The thing I have access to in the SOTC software states it as X number of "reads." If I click into my own column to respond to a commenter, that bumps up the "read" count by 1. Hope that helps--it's all Greek to me.

By the way, the 1-2K figure I gave Brauer when he asked is a majority median range. Occasionally I'll be below 1,000, especially if I put up another post the next day, and slightly more often I'll be above 2,000, especially if I'm linked to nationally, which happens a fair bit.

(#5) On March 5, 2009, Matty Lang says:

Thanks Britt, that helps. I know the software that the SOTC website is built on so that answers my question.

For the benefit of other readers, the number Brauer cites is the equivalent of "page views" which is more important than "hits".

(Hits count every image, every add, every style sheet, etc. that is downloaded each time someone views the page containing your column. That's why "hits" is an inflated number to use.)

Keep up the good work and I hope someone is wise enough to pay you for your valuable work.

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David Brauer authors Braublog and is MinnPost's local media reporter. He's covered media and politics as a writer and editor since 1983 for City Pages, the Southwest/Downtown Journal, KFAN and KSTP-AM, Mpls.St.Paul, Minnesota Monthly, Law & Politics, the Business Journal, KARE11 and national outlets. Follow him on Twitter. Email: dbrauer [at] minnpost [dot] com.

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