We've gone mainstream!

[BGarrett7]

From this week's Sports Illustrated -- the baseball preview issue with Dice K on the cover.

http://brandon-andi.com/BN-SI.jpg

Unfortunately, over at SI.com/bravesvote (http://si.com/bravesvote) we are sitting in dead last with 0% of the vote. :(

Here's how the voting looks as of right now:
Braves Journal - 2%
Braves-Nation - 0%
Talking Chop - 14%
Rowland's Office - 83%

We're also listed at the bottom of the Braves mainpage at SI.com (here (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/teams/braves/)).

Come on, guys, let's get on it!

[Chief Knockahoma]

holy shit...i...i...i...i don't know what to say!

[McCarroll21]

Holy shit! Go vote!!!

[Chief Knockahoma]

i think i need to go pick up this issue of SI!

[BGarrett7]

holy shit...i...i...i...i don't know what to say!Indeed! Imagine my surprise when I was flipping through the issue and made this discovery.

[Chief Knockahoma]

Indeed! Imagine my surprise when I was flipping through the issue and made this discovery.

i can only imagine!

[JayDonnelly10]

Thats so cool!

I just voted for braves-nation!

[Chief Knockahoma]

alright...there has to be someone here who knows how to make a program that will vote over and over again...

:D

we're up to 5%!

[BGarrett7]

alright...there has to be someone here who knows how to make a program that will vote over and over again...Lame. Rigging online polls is about as stupid as it gets.

[Chief Knockahoma]

Lame. Rigging online polls is about as stupid as it gets.

(joking)

[JayDonnelly10]

Here's how the voting looks as of right now:
Braves Journal - 2%
Braves-Nation - 5%
Talking Chop - 14%
Rowland's Office - 80%

Which adds up to 101% but thats ok I guess

[Zack]

I just voted. At least we're in 2nd. Here's how it looks:

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr style="" background-color:#ffffff;=""><td class="cnnPollAnswer" width="155">Braves Journal
http://www.bravesbeat.com/bravesjournal/</td> <td class="cnnPollBar" width="100">http://i.a.cnn.net/si/POLLSERVER/images/2.0/3f6991.gif</td> <td class="cnnPollPercent" width="35">2%</td> <!-- threshold <td width="90" class="cnnPollCount" nowrap="true">1 votes</td> /threshold --> </tr> <tr style="" background-color:#b8cce9;=""> <td class="cnnPollAnswer" width="155">Braves-Nation.com
http://www.braves-nation.com/</td> <td class="cnnPollBar" width="100">http://i.a.cnn.net/si/POLLSERVER/images/2.0/3f6991.gif</td> <td class="cnnPollPercent" width="35">19%</td> <!-- threshold <td width="90" class="cnnPollCount" nowrap="true">10 votes</td> /threshold --> </tr> <tr style="" background-color:#ffffff;=""> <td class="cnnPollAnswer" width="155">Talking Chop
http://www.talkingchop.com/</td> <td class="cnnPollBar" width="100">http://i.a.cnn.net/si/POLLSERVER/images/2.0/3f6991.gif</td> <td class="cnnPollPercent" width="35">13%</td> <!-- threshold <td width="90" class="cnnPollCount" nowrap="true">7 votes</td> /threshold --> </tr> <tr style="" background-color:#b8cce9;=""> <td class="cnnPollAnswer" width="155">Rowland’s Office
http://rowlandsoffice.typepad.com/</td> <td class="cnnPollBar" width="100">http://i.a.cnn.net/si/POLLSERVER/images/2.0/3f6991.gif</td> <td class="cnnPollPercent" width="35">67%</td></tr></tbody></table>

It's pretty sweet that the site even made it to a SI magazine though!

[McCarroll21]

w00t! I just checked the mail and got my copy... ahh! Pumped!

[BGarrett7]

So, I guess it's safe to assume you weren't contacted about this, Josh?

[McCarroll21]

No. It's taken me by complete surprise.

[BGarrett7]

No. It's taken me by complete surprise.That's weird, but awesome. You would think a major publication like SI would at least have a rep email you and ask for approval, or something.

[McCarroll21]

Yeah, it's kind of shady, but it's also something nice to add to an already good day. At least I know we didn't make it because other sites refused.

[Vuchato]

20%

[BGarrett7]

That's a good way to look at it. You made it because you deserved it, not because BN just happens to be a random Braves fansite.

Regardless, congrats on the accomplishment, Josh. :D

[JayDonnelly10]

I got the issue today in the mail as well....its pretty cool to see this site in their....Im glad I found this site this offseason and since its my homepage I plan on using this site for a long time to come!

Yes contraulations to the enitre staff at braves-nation

[oyhstah crachah]

ok, I feel like a dumbass, but will someone explain to me where it is that you vote?

[Chief Knockahoma]

if you click the link in the initial post...it should open a pop-up window that allows you to vote.

[JayDonnelly10]

Unfortunately, over at SI.com/bravesvote (http://si.com/bravesvote) we are sitting in dead last with 0% of the vote. :(




Click the link above!


Up to 23%!

[oyhstah crachah]

no, it pops up but it automatically goes right to the SI.com Atlanta Braves Team Page......

[JayDonnelly10]

Do u have a pop up blocker? you might want to turn it off if you do as when you click that link two things open the Braves SI page and a pop up where you can vote for this poll!

[Chief Knockahoma]

up to 29%!

[JayDonnelly10]

up to 29%!


Now 35% soon we will be #1

[jschafer5]

Up to 49%!!!

[McCarroll21]

Okay, so I looked at it at 20%, now I come back and view the results and wer'e at 53%. What loser is sitting there right in front of the computer and voting over and over... lol

[CB1]

It doesn't matter anymore, we are permanently featured on the site. Although for prestige, keep voting. We have 56% now.
We have a permanent link there, did anybody know that?

[McCarroll21]

BGarrett mentioned the link in the first post. I don't know how long it's been there. The reason I say that is because Rowland's Office isn't linked to on their page, yet in the magazine it said that they would feature all of these sites on their Braves team page. Kind of makes me wonder if they haven't made the "new" team page yet.

[CB1]

It certainly looks "new."

[BGarrett7]

Based on everything the issue says about web content, the current SI Braves page fits the billing.

[jschafer5]

Up to 55%....

[CB1]

That went down, then.

[F_man8326]

Just voted....I would just like to say welcome to all the visitors currently exploring the site.

[DSBraves26]

Just voted as well...Go Braves-Nation!

[Zack]

We're number 1 at 66%. Anything come out of this other than, we win? Maybe a big giant ad in next month's issue?

[McCarroll21]

Not sure, I wasn't even aware that this would be happening. If nothing else, we can officially say we're the #1 fansite/blog source for Atlanta Braves news and have a poll to back it up.

[CB1]

We wish. I can see it now:
Buy a Braves-Nation.com T-Shirt!
http://jitcrunch.cafepress.com/jitcrunch.aspx?bG9hZD1ibGFuayxibGFuazoxMjZfRl9jMjE uanBnfGxvYWQ9TDAsaHR0cDovL2ltYWdlcy5jYWZlcHJlc3MuY 29tL2ltYWdlLzE4MTE5MzU5XzQwMHg0MDAucG5nfHxzY2FsZT1 MMCwxNzAsMTcwLFdoaXRlfGNvbXBvc2U9YmxhbmssTDAsQWRkL DE1NywxMDF8Y3A9cmVzdWx0LGJsYW5rfHNjYWxlPXJlc3VsdCw wLDQ4MCxXaGl0ZXxjb21wcmVzc2lvbj05NXw=
Official site of superfans such as Adam's Army!
The Artist Poster Formerly known as Prince Hotcorner33!

[JayDonnelly10]

Not sure, I wasn't even aware that this would be happening. If nothing else, we can officially say we're the #1 fansite/blog source for Atlanta Braves news and have a poll to back it up.


You can post that right under the Braves-nation.com and tomahawk logo up top....."#1 Fansite of the Atlanta Braves according to SI Magazine"

[Zack]

You can post that right under the Braves-nation.com and tomahawk logo up top....."#1 Fansite of the Atlanta Braves according to SI Magazine"


Oooo cool. :D

[CB1]

By the way, where is Badman?

[McCarroll21]

Well, Badman wanted to be hired as my robot so he is out clicking and voting over and over to make sure we stay at the top. :D

No, really I don't know. I'm not that much of a failure at life to sit in front of the computer and click the same button over and over ... but maybe he is.

Kidding Badman... :rimshot:

[CB1]

:rimshot:
:D
Figures.
He's out there using his "godly" clicking powers in order to support this site.

[Zack]

It's McCaroll. It's gotta be. You are sitting there clicking and clicking over and over again. I knew it. All that denying it, it really is you.

Loser. :p

[CB1]

Nah, he wouldn't be one to do that, really.
If Hotcorner were here, I would say it would be him.

But what about this possibility:
We actually had people come and look at all of the choices and picked us?
That's what I'd rather have.

[Chief Knockahoma]

i don't think anyone is continuously voting....honestly i don't.

i suggested it earlier in the thread, but purely in jest.

[McCarroll21]

I honestly don't either, we just made some big jumps right away. But that was when it was fresh on the forums, and it doesn't say how many votes so even 15 votes could be a huge percentage jump in the right situation.

[CB1]

Anybody know how long it's supposed to be going on for?

[Chief Knockahoma]

Anybody know how long it's supposed to be going on for?

McCarroll and I were discussing the same thing earlier on MSN....no clue.

[McCarroll21]

Braves Journal is making their push.

[Chief Knockahoma]

Lame. Rigging online polls is about as stupid as it gets.

and you can give that distinction to the fans of BravesJournal as McCarroll and I watched our 69% fall to 37% and their 3% rise to 45% in about...oh, i don't know...two hours?

[McCarroll21]

:D Scripts are fun. Oh well, it's not even worth trying to even stuff the box if we're fighting with a script.

Still, we're the only message board to be recognized, the other three are blogs.

[JayDonnelly10]

That sucks dude....I was happy we were winning cause this is a great site....Im too competitive to lose even this poll, someone go vote a lot!



(Braves-Nation.com is ahead of everyone, but I don’t know why. The last entry on their homepage was right after the Redman signing, a couple of weeks ago. Mac definitely spoils us.) <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>



Braves-Nation is primarily a forum-driven site, I’m guessing that they’re linked from inside there. Maybe not. <o:p></o:p>




11%….i’m not gonna lie, i’ve voted about 30 times, hahaha

<o:p></o:p>
30%!…wow, a 24% swing in just 40 minutes or so…. <o:p></o:p>


Done! How could anybody vote for Braves Nation?


I went on their site to see what they were doing to get their votes up and without registering I saw a post and heres some of their comments on the poll!

[McCarroll21]

As am I, but I'm not about to use a script to try to match them. That's ridiculous. I don't think Mac is the type to use a script to do this, so it must be the rare bad apple that every site possesses. And well, you can't fight with a script using man power.

[CB1]

Hey, we are coming back. Only 15% behind them now. Keep clicking.

[McCarroll21]

The gap has closed considerably... Braves Journal is currently leading us by 2% of the votes. They have 41% to our 39%.

[jschafer5]

Well, we aren't rigging the poll (I think)....What is the point of voting 30 times?...

[McCarroll21]

To me, it's one thing to vote over and over vs. having a script vote for you. SI.com doesn't have any cookies restricting you to vote again, so while maybe not ethically right, it's not prohibited. Using a script that could allow you to vote 5 times every 10 seconds for as long as you have it on is a little much though.

I'm not sure if they were, but the way the percentages jumped last night was certainly not indicative of something that could be done by a human, even a host of humans.

[jschafer5]

I agree!
This poll really doesn't mean anything(not trying to dis braves-nation or anything) when you have people voting 30 times on a poll....People are trying to prove that their favorite site is better by voting for it more than once....It would mean a lot more if they only allowed 1 vote...That being said it would have been cool if was's site was on there!

[Nasadega]

Bah who cares ? We already know this board is great (as much as Mac's blog is awesome, he's part of why I'm there), we don't need a poll for that :p And maybe some SI.com admin will remove all group of votes from an unique IP adress so we'll see who's the true winner

[gobravez]

Man! I hadn't even seen this thread! I was looking through SI today and started to flip out when I saw this... I came to post this when I saw this was apparently old news..

[BravesFan7689]

I just voted and saw we are up to 16%.

[McCarroll21]

I just voted and saw we are up to 16%.
Ehh. We were at 70-something%. We gave up when someone placed a script to vote for Braves Journal. It appeared that they took it off and we were catching up and I think actually passed them, then it came back again. Now Talking Chop and Braves Journal are sitting there worrying about the vote, we've kind of left it for dead.

I'm not worried about the vote anymore, we've already gotten what we can out of it by being in the magazine and getting our link on SI.com/braves (http://si.com/braves). Now it's just up to us continuing to up the quality of the site so we can continue to get that kind of recognition.

[Nasadega]

I don't think they had a script voting for them. The guy that runs the site, Mac Thomason, doesn't seem to care enough to go beyond giving the link on some entries, and noboby said they did that, but a handful guys said they voted hundread of times, which I think is enough to give them that rank

[McCarroll21]

I don't think they had a script voting for them. The guy that runs the site, Mac Thomason, doesn't seem to care enough to go beyond giving the link on some entries, and noboby said they did that, but a handful guys said they voted hundread of times, which I think is enough to give them that rank
I don't think they still have a script, but the night they had it posted the first time it's almost impossible for a human to make the percentage jump the way it did.

I don't think Mac did it, and I'm not 100% sure, but it just doesn't seem possible at the way the percentages jumped. Chief and I sat and watched the percentages jump so quickly we both thought it had to be a script.

Also, when I saw the other three sites on the poll, I said to myself I wouldn't be hurt by finishing a distant 4th. Those sites have all been around a while. We've been around almost 7 months. Just being recognized at this point is enough for me.

But like I said, more power to them, we've gotten everything we could have hoped for and more out of this. Now it's just about continuing to upgrade the quality of the site and keep building.

[DanielW4444]

how did this turn out?

[McCarroll21]

I think the poll is never ending... Not sure. You can still access the poll and vote.

http://www.si.com/bravesvote

The current tally is:
Braves Journal - 48%
Braves-Nation.com - 16%
Talking Chop - 35%
Rowland’s Office - 1%

[DanielW4444]

I cast a couple of votes for this site.