ANNOUNCEMENT

by Orson on Aug 12, 2009 8:22 AM EDT

For tone. Go ahead and get emotional. It's only the greatest song ever recorded.

Ahem.

As of this month, EDSBS will be joining SB Nation, America's largest and finest collection of blogs devoted to sports, sports, and in its spare time, sports. The mortal known as Spencer Hall will be joining them as well, for whatever he's worth.

What does this mean for this site?

More focus, certainly: spread out across two blogs does take its toll, especially when life happens to throw non-bloggy type things in your way. (See: "Bathing," "Being human with other humans," or "doing much of anything else.") This is no complaint whatsoever, but instead a note on the influences forcing a bit of consolidation. A more focused writer is a better writer, even if the focus is on making sodomy jokes while discussing college football writing. Hopefully being full-time will alleviate some of the stresses and shortcuts one takes under extreme chronopressure. (Okay, we'll still take shortcuts, but the stress will be slightly less than it was.)

Additionally, the site and its writers will be in very good hands, and allow for the freedom you've come to enjoy at EDSBS. Profanities, tastefully done as always, will remain present when necessary. Tech support, as good as it's been on a volunteer basis, should be even better under the watchful eye of a full-time IT staff. Perhaps we'll even try to bring the site up to, oh, we don't know...2003 standards. Don't hold your breath, but it might happen. Posting should increase, as we'll just be doing EDSBS, and thus let loose on the internet to bound like the untrainable giant breed puppy we've always wanted to be. Otherwise: same url, same layout, same writing, only more of it.

We're also thrilled to be working with the fine ranks of SB Nation suit-types and bloggers this brings, many of whom we've come to know, love, and occasionally fear since the inception of EDSBS: Jim Bankoff, Peter Bean, Joel Hollingsworth, and our old compatriot and online heterosexual same-sex-but-not-gay life partner, Chris Mottram. Let love rule, and let us hug as men do: it's a fine crew of people, and we could not ask for better.

As for the other, more esoteric things we did for Sporting News under the Amateur label: those will continue, as well, perhaps even with passable camera work, especially in the offseason when we're so desperate for entertainment that nearly killing yourself is preferable to the alternative of sitting around and missing football, sweet football. Hopefully these will form a book, and then you can purchase this book, and read it on long winter nights when you need something you can read, enjoy, and then burn for warmth.

In short, it's a wonderful move with one sad aspect: we'll have to leave our comrades at the Sporting News, since running this site and side work is a full-time gig. They are owed all thanks and due praise for supporting us over the past year and a half, and for the invaluable life experiences they made possible. Saying final goodbyes next Friday will be difficult, and there's little else to say about that.

So: EDSBS remains, nothing changes except more and better content, and we still get to do this from our kitchen table and the IKEA chair in the living room. The only thing that changes? We've been asked to stop wearing the autographed Tebow T-back we type all posts in, and have deeded over to the Shanoff Institute for Tebow Studies. We recommend a bleaching and stout wash cycle before handling with gloved hands, sir.

In conclusion: thank you for letting us do this. It is you who are owed the cocktails, not us. A salute is in order:

Tweet Comment 74 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

1 million cocktails for everyone

by Kevin@LSU on Aug 12, 2009 8:27 AM EDT reply actions

Will Stranko Montana be making the jump, too? It’d be a shame to leave him out in the cold.

by PeteJayhawk on Aug 12, 2009 8:27 AM EDT reply actions

The bullet holes on the plane…. stupendous.

Congrats, and welcome.

by PB on Aug 12, 2009 8:28 AM EDT reply actions

Sweet.. that’s good news.

by ALGator on Aug 12, 2009 8:28 AM EDT reply actions

Sure, this is an improvement for both writer and reader but, you forgot SELLOUTZZ

by ChasingMizzou on Aug 12, 2009 8:30 AM EDT reply actions

Our blue and orange baron still rulz!

by Crabapple Buck on Aug 12, 2009 8:31 AM EDT reply actions

Congrats on the move, man. Here’s to that SBN paycheck getting you a killer ottoman for that chair. Or at least a pile of blankets…

by Scott @ WFNY on Aug 12, 2009 8:33 AM EDT reply actions

Congrats.

by JPH on Aug 12, 2009 8:35 AM EDT reply actions

welcome to the SB Nation borg.

by kleph on Aug 12, 2009 8:41 AM EDT reply actions

The plane’s not flying… Tebow is levitating it with his mind. Or its sitting on a stack of foreskins a mile high.

by cowboycane on Aug 12, 2009 8:43 AM EDT reply actions

congratulations Orson

continue living the dream… please… for all of us.

by CincySooner on Aug 12, 2009 8:49 AM EDT reply actions

I, for one, welcome our new SB Nation overlords.

by The Ghost of Ingle Martin on Aug 12, 2009 8:51 AM EDT reply actions

High five homes.

by BurritoBrosShits on Aug 12, 2009 8:52 AM EDT reply actions

Oh no! you don’t deserve to be on the same network as the greatest blog in the world – DA BRUINS NATION!!!!

No… Die!!! No!!!

by Nestir on Aug 12, 2009 9:01 AM EDT reply actions

DAMN IT SWINDLE, WE WERE THE FUNNY ONES!

Welcome aboard.

by Hawkeye State on Aug 12, 2009 9:08 AM EDT reply actions

Resistance is futile.

by The Ghost of Jay Cutler on Aug 12, 2009 9:09 AM EDT reply actions

get that paper, son….and go jackets, sting ’em!

by nick black on Aug 12, 2009 9:11 AM EDT reply actions

Well…there goes the neighborhood!!

All kidding aside…

Welcome Orson!

by Paragon SC on Aug 12, 2009 9:16 AM EDT reply actions

I had no idea that EDSBS also operated a budget airline. I’m guessing that payment is in the form of alcohol and we have to pack our own chute.

Congrats on the SB Nation deal.

by BDoc on Aug 12, 2009 9:23 AM EDT reply actions

Orson your Florida Swamp Trash lineage is showing with your choice of music.

So you get to be paid off some blog network that thought that you deserved to get paid for posting LSUFreek images and picking low to medium hanging fruit about how Brandon Spikes looks like an extra from a Michael Crichton novel-cum-movie, meanwhile I make about as much as a shift manager at McDonald’s while trying to uncover the mysteries of the universe? How do I get in on this racket?

by GTSteve on Aug 12, 2009 9:26 AM EDT reply actions

Congrats on the move. Now my internet laziness is even greater not having to leave sbnation as much.

by psuphiman80 on Aug 12, 2009 9:29 AM EDT reply actions

Congrats Orson… and god damn you are one sexy bastard.

by Gator03 on Aug 12, 2009 9:30 AM EDT reply actions

GTSteve:

Rephrase you whole post, but with clever profanities. Then, sprinkle on some sports.

There, you’re a blogger.

by That 5.0 Guy on Aug 12, 2009 9:30 AM EDT reply actions

I couldn’t get the rights to Freebird so I’m thinking of calling Free, I don’t know, Chicken.

by buddy randolph on Aug 12, 2009 9:30 AM EDT reply actions

Awesome, O. Welcome, welcome.

by Year2 on Aug 12, 2009 9:39 AM EDT reply actions

@ 24 – I believe “Free Range Chicken” is in the common domain.

by Eric on Aug 12, 2009 9:42 AM EDT reply actions

So the Army of Orson will not be laying waste to this nation?

Congrats!

I will be drinking some Texas and California wines tonight to celebrate my new calendar system that is based on the date when EDSBS joined SB.

by Anonymous IV on Aug 12, 2009 9:45 AM EDT reply actions

More for us, less work for you…sounds like a sweet deal. Congrats Swindle, you deserve it. Hope SB knows they’re getting the best damn blogger in the biz.

by Stockman on Aug 12, 2009 9:47 AM EDT reply actions

Sell out. No one wants to see a bathed and groomed Orson

by pic6bamr on Aug 12, 2009 9:53 AM EDT reply actions

Congrats Orson

I’ve been reading edsbs for over 3 years now and I never go a day without it (and never will)

by haybeav on Aug 12, 2009 9:54 AM EDT reply actions

Posting should increase, as we’ll just be doing EDSBS, and thus let loose on the internet to bound like the untrainable giant breed puppy we’ve always wanted to be.

As long as you don’t mess up the rug or chew on my autographed David Pollack jersey, I guess we’ll keep you.

In all seriousness, welcome to SB Nation!

by MaconDawg on Aug 12, 2009 9:56 AM EDT reply actions

Congrats, Orson. I must admit that any “ANNOUNCEMENT” makes me nervous but this is a good one for a change.

by MPHOKIE on Aug 12, 2009 9:57 AM EDT reply actions

Let us consider your acheivement for a moment – you get paid money for your college football obsession. Let that sink in for a moment, counsel. Looks like Newton was right about the Philosopher’s Stone, he was just off a couple hundred years. Congrats, EDSBS crew, if y’all are happy, your legions are happy.

by haveagreatday on Aug 12, 2009 10:05 AM EDT reply actions

You’ve earned it, sir. I may never have to leave SB Nation for anything college sports related ever again now.

by Signal to Noise on Aug 12, 2009 10:07 AM EDT reply actions

Thanks for coming over and making us all look less funny.

by The Great Barstoolio on Aug 12, 2009 10:11 AM EDT reply actions

Congrats Orson! When are you taking TCOAN to the Sizzler to celebrate?

by Geaux Irish on Aug 12, 2009 10:18 AM EDT reply actions

you have always been bound for bigger things, O. May this be the beginning of many beginnings for you.

by vegas_buckeye on Aug 12, 2009 10:21 AM EDT reply actions

Does this make you the “blogger to be named later” in the Matt Hinton trade?

It’s always great to welcome a Floridian Orson to a Nation of which I am a part, although I prefer it when the Orson in question has broken a Gator national championship trophy with his ass.

Welcome!

by T. Kyle King on Aug 12, 2009 10:24 AM EDT reply actions

Great news indeed! The internets have made me skeptical of “good news” announcements, but I don’t mind being wrong once in a while. I don’t know what I would do without this place (especially in the offseason).

Congrats, Orson!

by sonofsamford on Aug 12, 2009 10:30 AM EDT reply actions

The YouTube link wouldn’t work on the iPhone. I thought for sure it was “Come Sail Away.”

I for one will miss the non-football content at the Sporting Blog. Congratulations

by Zone Left on Aug 12, 2009 10:31 AM EDT reply actions

Very big coup for SBN, congrats!

technical questions: domain is being transferred and will stay the same, but what about the RSS feeds? when will those change, and to what? Thanks.

by Brad on Aug 12, 2009 10:38 AM EDT reply actions

Brad—

We’ll figure that out. I don’t think they’ll change, but if they do we’ll announce it.

by Orson Swindle on Aug 12, 2009 10:39 AM EDT reply actions

oh, please tell me the zwinky ads will be coming along as well. my adblock gets lonely without them.

by kleph on Aug 12, 2009 10:50 AM EDT reply actions

Congrats. Seeing that your beeg boss at American City kicked the bucket and changes might be forthcoming, good choice.

However, pure BS on Freebird.

Nothing compares to Jerry Jeff Walker’s rendition of “Up Against The Wall Redneck Mother” or, for that matter, “You Never Even Called Me By My Name” by David Allen Coe.

by yoyofutbawl on Aug 12, 2009 10:52 AM EDT reply actions

Now THAT’S good news. Congrats!

This doesn’t mean the end to the call in show I hope.

by ohiodawg on Aug 12, 2009 10:53 AM EDT reply actions

i thought the announcement was something along the lines of “orson’s pregnant”, but whatever.

by jd on Aug 12, 2009 10:59 AM EDT reply actions

Welcome to SBNation. This is like a huge recruiting coup, as SBNation just grabbed one of the finest blogs out there.

by T-Mill on Aug 12, 2009 10:59 AM EDT reply actions

Does this mean the return of edsbs live?

by chilltown on Aug 12, 2009 11:04 AM EDT reply actions

Great news Orson! I was really nervous that this announcement was the proverbial “Money Shot” finale but then you went and made it a real happy ending! EDSBS 4LIFE lawyaz!

by RanchyBalls on Aug 12, 2009 11:09 AM EDT reply actions

@pic6bamr

I can promise you we have no bathing or grooming requirements at SB Nation, otherwise this company would’ve never gotten off the ground in the first place.

Welcome, Orson. I was thinking it might look a little better with you on top of Snoopy doghouse via the way of the Red Baron.

by Blez on Aug 12, 2009 11:14 AM EDT reply actions

Anything that brings more glory, righteousness and high-proof distilled beverages to this, the finest of all sports blogs, nay, the finest of ALL blogs (“Instapundit? Dooce? Gawker? Morons.” “Really.”) – it is a great and good thing and a mitzvah. Or whatever the Southern Baptist equivalent is, hell, I don’t know, it’s only 8:19 here and I’m already drunk.

Congrats, Mazel Tov, Slainte, smoke up Johnny!

by Vandy J on Aug 12, 2009 11:19 AM EDT reply actions

All your college football are belong to us.

by fresh on Aug 12, 2009 11:19 AM EDT reply actions

Orson FTW. 2003 was such a good year for internet design.

by Brian Reggie F'n Nelson on Aug 12, 2009 11:30 AM EDT reply actions

Spencer, I’m the bracketology blogger over at SBN. Welcome to the family!

by BracketDobber on Aug 12, 2009 12:02 PM EDT reply actions

Holy sweet white-hot Jesus.

by Run Up The Score on Aug 12, 2009 12:28 PM EDT reply actions

I once had a lithe and somewhat athletic young lady ride me “cowgirl” style for the entire long version of freebird. My chest hair even got lit by some seeds that popped.

Thanks for the flashback. BTW, she also did a “Stairway to Heaven” rendition.

by hlh on Aug 12, 2009 12:36 PM EDT reply actions

2003? Sweet. I can use all those great SARS references again!

by jakldawg on Aug 12, 2009 12:45 PM EDT reply actions

Sir,

Congrats and shit. Now that you have more time to write about CFB please include more commentary about the Pac-10 and California Football. If you don’t know what ‘California’ is we also go by Cal, Berkeley and the Golden Bears. Perhaps a write up about Cal along the lines of the What White People Like theme that was done sometime last year? I assume it would be similar to Michigan’s except with more hippies and, you know, Nobel Prizes.

I understand you are a man in the South with a passion for SEC football but we twelve readers from the left coast would really appreciate some love for the Conference of Champions. To be fair your coverage of southern cal has been good, especially PC’s attitude towards the NCAA and all those ‘rules’ (insert long fart here). But the Pac-1 has nine other teams that deserve you tender keyboard kisses.

Thank you

by oaklandbear on Aug 12, 2009 12:46 PM EDT reply actions

@52 – I long for the halcyon days of 2003. what you say !!

by haveagreatday on Aug 12, 2009 12:50 PM EDT reply actions

as one of the 12 left coast readers I wholly applaud any move that brings more Orson to my day. Never spent much time on SBN but this chance will draw me in I’m sure…

Does SBN have a twitter policy? What about a LSUFreek policy?

by christoff on Aug 12, 2009 1:14 PM EDT reply actions

Hey Orson, how about using some of that SB loot to fix up EDSBS Live?

by boondoggle on Aug 12, 2009 1:21 PM EDT reply actions

God help us all….

Congrats guys and keep up the outstanding work!

by TheMightyErik on Aug 12, 2009 2:17 PM EDT reply actions

Orson, I presume this is a good thing. I admit Red [redacted] Cup-now-Red Cup Nation was hard to adjust to at first, but overall looks like they got a good outfit there. Hopefully EDSBS won’t change too much, format wise. Congrats on living the dream.

hlh, damn I knew one of these days I’d go to a blog and run into an old one-nighter (thanks for calling me “lithe” BTW).*

*TOTALLY kidding, and really, how many gals ride cowgirl through all of Freebird? A LOT, that’s how many.

by the ex-croominator on Aug 12, 2009 2:19 PM EDT reply actions