Rapids Website comments

[panicfc]

I follow the team as best I can from afar, but the website is useless.

Sure they lost yesterday, but put the match report on the site. Its been 24 hours now, dammit give us something.

Do something creative!

Sorry to rant, I know its been said, but I went to the site a few times today to see if Hanki was ousted and nothing is up.

[broken paste]

i think hankinson is in charge of the website, too.

crap team, crap website.

lower your expectations if you want to follow the rapids. the only fair comparison to this team is some minor league baseball team in some forgotten midwest town.

visit rapidsfan.com if you want to know what is going on with the team. the front office surely won't tell you, and not ever on their website.

hankinson. out. now.
counce. out. now.

[panicfc]

I think you have point, and a good one at that.

[chilistrider]

Not to make excuses, but yesterday was a holiday, and maybe the person who updates the website had the day off? I agree with you, there are still a lot of improvements to be made to the website to bring it up to snuff, but I have to say this: Make concrete suggestions and they may well be implemented. The last time there was a thread like this, I made a small handful of concrete suggestions, and then within *days* they were all up on the website. Clearly the webperson is open to feedback, and I think we all know that people respond better to constructive feedback than to outright bashing.

One thing they might want to do if they have a hard time getting match reports up is put links to Rocky Mountain News and Post stories the day they're published, or to keep a sort of running archive online of what is being written about the Rapids around town.

[panicfc]

Originally posted by chilistrider
Not to make excuses, but yesterday was a holiday, and maybe the person who updates the website had the day off? I agree with you, there are still a lot of improvements to be made to the website to bring it up to snuff, but I have to say this: Make concrete suggestions and they may well be implemented. The last time there was a thread like this, I made a small handful of concrete suggestions, and then within *days* they were all up on the website. Clearly the webperson is open to feedback, and I think we all know that people respond better to constructive feedback than to outright bashing.

One thing they might want to do if they have a hard time getting match reports up is put links to Rocky Mountain News and Post stories the day they're published, or to keep a sort of running archive online of what is being written about the Rapids around town.


I don't think there are "days off" in pro sports, especially when your team is playing.

This isn't a suggestion, it should be mandatory to have match report done as soon as the match is finished.

If they have to wait for the webmaster to put the story up, well that's another problem to address.

[greenie]

Originally posted by chilistrider
Make concrete suggestions and they may well be implemented.
Again a request to have the fans do part of someone's job for the team.

Look, nobody should have to suggest that the team put up a game report on the website within a few hours of the closing whistle.

Hell, as of this writing (11:25AM Tuesday), the website doesn't even mention a score for the game -- let alone have a recap on a match that ended 40 hours ago.

Of course, why should we expect anything more? The last update to the Schedule page shows a 1-1 tie with DC United on April 26th. It's like the month of May never happened. How can we trust the information on this page when it hasn't been updated in nearly a month?

This is no dig on whatever individual is responsible for the site. They could be sick, on vacation, or simply swamped with other tasks that are more important.

And that's the problem.

The team -- that is, Dan Counce and AEG -- are clearly not interested in keeping the website up-to-date, let alone a professional representation of the Rapids. And why should they? Tickets are still flying out the door.

[panicfc]

Originally posted by greenie
Again a request to have the fans do part of someone's job for the team.

Look, nobody should have to suggest that the team put up a game report on the website within a few hours of the closing whistle.

Hell, as of this writing (11:25AM Tuesday), the website doesn't even mention a score for the game -- let alone have a recap on a match that ended 40 hours ago.

Of course, why should we expect anything more? The last update to the Schedule page shows a 1-1 tie with DC United on April 26th. It's like the month of May never happened. How can we trust the information on this page when it hasn't been updated in nearly a month?

This is no dig on whatever individual is responsible for the site. They could be sick, on vacation, or simply swamped with other tasks that are more important.

And that's the problem.

The team -- that is, Dan Counce and AEG -- are clearly not interested in keeping the website up-to-date, let alone a professional representation of the Rapids. And why should they? Tickets are still flying out the door.

If they would like to right a check I would be happy to help them. I know a guy who can do a buzzing website and we could set it up for a just a few $$$$.

I wonder if ticket and merchandise sales would improve if they spent some money improving their product on and off the field.

[nowar99]

Originally posted by greenie
Again a request to have the fans do part of someone's job for the team.

Look, nobody should have to suggest that the team put up a game report on the website within a few hours of the closing whistle.
...
The team -- that is, Dan Counce and AEG -- are clearly not interested in keeping the website up-to-date, let alone a professional representation of the Rapids. And why should they? Tickets are still flying out the door.

The sad thing is, the Rapids website used to be a pretty darn good web site. Stuff was posted in a fairly timely manner. Information was kept reasonably up to date. They had Rapid-speak (I kind of envisioned that they got rid of that because they didn't want any fan criticism). Etc., etc. A few criticisms that I had were more towards stylistic preferences.

Overall, a pretty good job was done with it. Now it is just a waste. They just posted the game summary (thanks for telling us that Nat Borchers was the 100th ever player for the Rapids - what a GREAT lead! I'm sure thats what EVERYONE came for!), and they STILL had the Rapids versus Fire on May 25th banner on the front page as the next game!

Now the web site is about as good as our offense. Oh, wait, I didn't mean that. Its as good as our defense. No, wait. Its as good as our goalkeeping. Yeah, thats it.

Either way, much like the team, they seem much happier that there is black and blue stripes and less concerned with the overall quality.

[FCDenver5280]

Is trying times right now.....

I know everyone is mad but to start going off on the organization as a whole because the on field product is sub standard right now is not logical. Imagine how the front office staff must feel right now...

[wcgcapone]

http://www.tvbarn.com/ark/images/pets_sock-puppet.jpg

[panicfc]

Originally posted by FCDenver5280
Is trying times right now.....

I know everyone is mad but to start going off on the organization as a whole because the on field product is sub standard right now is not logical. Imagine how the front office staff must feel right now...

Its not the field product, its the website I'm complaining about.

(I was going to do a Clinton quote thing, but that's bad taste).

The team is bad, but the website might be the worst in MLS right now - San Jose is giving them a run for crappiest site in the league.

[AndyMead]

Most sports websites are now simple turnkey systems where updating just means cut and pasting the report into a form, entering a headline, and hitting the "submit" button.

The league summary was emailed at 11:12 ET (9:12 MT) on Sunday night

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER GAME SUMMARY
SUNDAY, MAY 25, 2003 - CHICAGO FIRE 4, COLORADO RAPIDS 0

NAPERVILLE, IL - A three-goal first half outburst keyed by midfielder
DaMarcus Beasley (1g, 1a) powered the Chicago Fire (2-1-3, 9 pts.) to
dominating 4-0 win against the Colorado Rapids (0-5-1, 1 pt.) on Sunday
night at Cardinal Stadium. Chicago's Ante Razov scored his first two goals
of the campaign on a pair of penalty kicks while the Fire's Justin Mapp
netted his first goal as a professional.

Beasley helped open the Fire's account in just the 6th minute, dispossessing
Colorado's Wes Hart along left sideline and taking the ball immediately to
goal. Just as Beasley entered the penalty area Hart attempted to knock the
ball away, but instead undercut the Fire midfielder's legs. A penalty kick
was immediately awarded by referee Brian Hall and Razov promptly gave the
Fire a 1-0 advantage, sending a low shot into the left corner of the goal.

A turnover by Hart also led to the second Fire goal, as Beasley swooped in
to pick up the loose ball near midfield after Hart stumbled. Unchallenged as
he bolted down the left wing, Beasley entered the penalty area and lashed a
wicked left-footed blast into the top right corner of the goal.

Six minutes later, rookie Damani Ralph sprang Beasley down the left side
again with a clever heel pass. Surveying his options, Beasley slotted a pass
across of the mouth of the goal to Mapp, who calmly finished with a low shot
to make the score 3-0.

Chicago pushed the margin to 4-0 in the 75th minute when Razov converted his
second penalty kick of the game after Kelly Gray was pulled down in the
penalty area by the Rapids' Nat Borchers. Razov is just the third player in
League history to score two penalty kicks in one match, joining the Rapids
John Spencer (2001) and the recently retired Carlos Valderrama (1996).

A fourth straight loss for Colorado also saw Tim Hankinson's club endure its
third consecutive match without a goal while extending its scoreless streak
to 323 minutes. Already without leading scorer ZiZi Roberts due to a knee
injury, the Rapids suffered yet another blow when a midweek quadriceps
injury kept starting midfielder Pablo Mastroeni out of the lineup.

Both teams return to action on Saturday, May 31. Chicago will face Western
Conference leaders San Jose at Spartan Stadium (4:00 p.m. ET - ESPN2). The
Rapids return home to Denver, where they begin a home-and-home series with
the Los Angeles Galaxy (9:00 p.m. ET - FSW/HDNet).

MLS Man of the Match: DaMarcus Beasley (Chicago Fire)

Colorado Rapids (0-5-1) vs. Chicago Fire (2-1-3)
May 25, 2003 -- Cardinal Stadium

Goals by Period 1 2 Tot
Colorado Rapids 0 0 0
Chicago Fire 3 1 4

Scoring Summary:

CHI -- Ante Razov 1 (penalty kick) 8
CHI -- DaMarcus Beasley 2 (unassisted) 32
CHI -- Justin Mapp 1 (DaMarcus Beasley 1, Damani Ralph 1) 38
CHI -- Ante Razov 2 (penalty kick) 75

Colorado Rapids -- Scott Garlick, Wes Hart (Alberto Rizo 73), Robin Fraser,
Jeff Stewart, Matt Crawford (Casey Schmidt 45), Kyle Beckerman (Seth Trembly
45), Nat Borchers, Mark Chung, Chris Henderson, John Spencer, Chris
Carrieri.

Substitutes Not Used: Steven Herdsman, Scott Vallow.

TOTAL SHOTS: 10 (3 tied with 2); SHOTS ON GOAL: 8 (Mark Chung 2, Seth
Trembly 2); FOULS: 20 (John Spencer 4); OFFSIDES: 2 (Chris Carrieri 2);
CORNER KICKS: 1 (John Spencer 1); SAVES: 4 (Scott Garlick 4)

Chicago Fire -- Zach Thornton (Henry Ring 79), Evan Whitfield, Carlos
Bocanegra, Jim Curtin, Orlando Perez, Chris Armas (Kelly Gray 57), DaMarcus
Beasley, Logan Pause, Justin Mapp (Ryan Futagaki 73), Damani Ralph, Ante
Razov (Nate Jaqua 82).

Substitutes Not Used: Craig Capano, Dipsy Selolwane.

TOTAL SHOTS: 12 (Ante Razov 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 8 (Ante Razov 4); FOULS: 18
(Ante Razov 4); OFFSIDES: 2 (Damani Ralph 1, Ante Razov 1); CORNER KICKS: 4
(Ante Razov 3); SAVES: 8 (Zach Thornton 7)

Misconduct Summary:
CHI -- Carlos Bocanegra (caution; Reckless Foul) 68
COL -- Chris Carrieri (caution; Encroachment) 76

Referee: Brian Hall
Referee's Assistants: -Chris Strickland; Kermit Quisenberry
4th Official: Roni Canales
Attendance: 9,076
Time of Game: 1:51
Weather: Clear-and-68-degrees

[panicfc]

So you are saying team's use the league match reports?

The turnkey thing is what I expected, so it appears the staff is just amazingly lazy, despondent or apathetic.




[Andy- got the scarf and the ECG!

thanks]

[jdonnici]

Originally posted by FCDenver5280
I know everyone is mad but to start going off on the organization as a whole because the on field product is sub standard right now is not logical. Imagine how the front office staff must feel right now...

Hopefully, the front office staff feels the same way the fans do -- disappointed at being the league's bitch, not content to lead only in ticket sales, and wondering why Counce hasn't given Hankinson his walking papers.

Today's article in the Post didn't do anything to increase confidence in Hankinson. It only decreased the confidence in Counce to do what the fans care about -- put a winning team on the field.

With numerous players speaking out, fans all over the web calling for a coaching change, and even the normally-sugarcoated MLS broadcasters wondering when Hankinson will be shown the door... well, what does Counce know that the rest of the world doesn't?

[panicfc]

Originally posted by jdonnici
Hopefully, the front office staff feels the same way the fans do -- disappointed at being the league's bitch, not content to lead only in ticket sales, and wondering why Counce hasn't given Hankinson his walking papers.

Today's article in the Post didn't do anything to increase confidence in Hankinson. It only decreased the confidence in Counce to do what the fans care about -- put a winning team on the field.

With numerous players speaking out, fans all over the web calling for a coaching change, and even the normally-sugarcoated MLS broadcasters wondering when Hankinson will be shown the door... well, what does Counce know that the rest of the world doesn't?

The sage of Darryl Powell is a joke, so sad to see a team jerked around again and again, but maybe they deserve it.

[AndyMead]

Originally posted by panicfc
So you are saying team's use the league match reports?


Vice-versa. I believe the home team PR staff generates the report that is distributed by the league and also shows up on mlsnet.com shortly after the match.

[panicfc]

Originally posted by AndyMead
Vice-versa. I believe the home team PR staff generates the report that is distributed by the league and also shows up on mlsnet.com shortly after the match.

That makes more sense, and makes them look even more like incompetent baffoons.

Somebody needs to hire a better webmaster.

[Bonji]

personally I like rapidsfan.com

[greenie]

Originally posted by panicfc
Somebody needs to hire a better webmaster.
Therein lies the problem. The Rapids have no webmaster, either internally or externally.

[jimmyco]

Greenie was the best webmaster the team ever had.