Clutch, It's time now to bring in some sponsor for this site. I'm sure everyone is so frustrated the BBS is down everytime after the game. There are a lot of new fans. There are many more to come. the web address of cc.net is just beginning to be circulated on the Chinese BBS. Some showed impatience towards new comers. True, they may open more threads than necessary, or overly interested in one player only. But in time, they will catch up with the board's posting proctical, and grow interests into the whole team and other players. Afterall, that's how a lot of fans become fans. I'm pretty sure there were a lot of Rockets fans become die hard rockets fans after following Steve Franchise here. So, I'm not worried about that, and I ask other senior members to show more patience towards new members, especially from china. Remember there is also culture, language difference here. But the constent problem of clashing of the server must be addressed. As the Rockets' fan base grow, this great BBS needs to grow also. I;m pretty sure with the expended membership, and especially unique demographics of new members. many companies will be interested in sponsoring the site for some web-eyeball etc. I love the commercial nature of this site, but now its just simply growth outside of its original dsign. The tipgar wouldn't solve teh problem since most new Chinese members don't have access to transer money through paypal. I believe it's time for clutch to do something about it, comments?
I would have to agree wholeheartedly. I think it would enable the fans to break into more detailed discussions with a broader range of areas to post. This would enable the site to cosmetically enhance the experience to support all the interest it is generating. I'm all over it and would love to see it for what it could be. However, the pop-up advertisements need to be minimized because they drive me nuts! Peace out!
I think that by doing that, Clutch would get into some sketchy legal issues with the NBA. If not, I'm all for it.
I would love a subscription only area, where people pay like $2-$5 a month to have access. Kind of like ESPN insider. DaDakota
It appears that CC.net has become a major marketing tool for the Rockets. Perhaps Clutch can talk to Tim about some responsible sponsorship from the Rockets. I'm sure there are some things that Tim would like to use that he doesn't have room for on the other web site. For instance, during the half time show they could ask a question and tell everyone to give their opinion on the BBS at CC.net. This would provide valuable feedback and improve their customer analysis. This could provide a ton of marketing opportunities for the Rockets. Tim already uses the site for some opinions. Why not use it on a larger scale. The more involvement they get from fans, the more tickets they will sell.
So every once in a while the server goes down, BIG DEAL! One of the reasons this is my favorite site is because its commercial free. I hate pop ups and banners.
I would imagine it would be a VERY big deal if you (or I) were the one staying up all night to get the server back up and running so that the rest of the free world can post their opinions the next morning.
as a software specilist. I will suggest the site turn its tech based on j2ee(java). I have develop a project (B/S aritecture) for handle the potiential concurrency 1000 ppl. J2ee is more robust than any other tech in current marketing. well, it coe with the high price tag of the application server and consulting fee. there are some free server on net(jboss) and i am glad to design the new website voluntarily. But we need more programmer to participat in it. Any thought?
Well, since Yao Ming is the reason the server is so stressed, we should make HIM get Clutch a new server and some help! Heck, we could even go so far as to get the Chinese government to chip in, since they're taking half of Yao's salary...
I have to add my voice to the need for something to happen. Everytime something big happens it crashes; as you can see we are in for a few big things. I am sure Clutch knows what he is doing but the use of commercials is not a bad idea. I still cannot see how the NBA can have a problem. It should be the other way around; they should embrace sites like these. It does not make sense that as the team get more successful, this site fails to keep up.
I think a lot of people would not come back if this site ever became a pay site of any kind...and that is coming from a new member who has actually been following the site from september of 1996...oh, and who actually subsidised the site in 1997 or 8 by sending a check through the mail to Clutch himself... I really don't see what the big deal is with this bbs going down once in a while....i was in the chat room last night, and posted several times today already....i would not even have noticed that it had gone down if there wasn't a message on the home page saying so... It's all part of the fun of being a Free Fan Site ! And this site with all its flaws is probably the best NBA fan site already...
Oooops....let me revise my comment. People will not come back if they are asked to sponsor the site....i slightly misunderstood the original post...corporate sponsorship is something else....but it shouldn't start to be too intrusive, it would corrupt the site....
I think it would be very appropriate for the Rockets to sponsor this site. I enjoy this site much more than Rockets.com. Perhaps a "News from the Rockets" or "Talk to the Rockets" forum could be established where the team could promote upcoming events or repond to fans questions. As for banners or pop-ups - I don't mind banners, but please, no pop-ups! BTW, I've put something in the tip jar (okay, only once), have you?
I sysadmin, and the server downside of Java is that it's a memory pig. It's damned easy to write Java apps that need a couple gigs of memory to start with. Then you get the Java developers who can't be bothered tuning their app and start telling the hardware folks that the server is the problem... Also, robust is not a word I'd use for Java. C is robust. Dave
I disagree I wouldnt mind paying to keep the site up OR paying to keep TROLLS like The Next (Dumb) Big Thing off of here so we have it for the True Rockets fans....
