Full Hand

So with the relatively recent launch of the Heroes Ultimate Blog, we seem to have a full hand of BPL Clubs now blogging and covering the season (assuming you're feeling generous about the UQ Blog).

So the natural thing to do here at the stately Brisbane Ultimate Blog mansion, of course is start the fantasy blogging reviewing competition thingee.

Basically, we're going to go up and down the blogging street and bang on the doors and rate whatever shambles out onto the footpath. Here we go!!!!

Moreton Bay Buggers
Key Bloggers: Mike, occasionally MatR and Wetnose used to as well.
Posts over last seven days: 1. Generally a few posts per season.
Following (aka number of comments over last seven days): 1.
Layout: Currently seems to be getting a makeover, as its been stripped back to nothing.
Content: Does what is says on the can. Excellent sense of history and competition. One the one hand, we sometimes feel the need to get the red pen out on Mike for his atrocious spelling in the occasional title (we all fail in the body of course). He's a teacher! On the other hand, we know he's busy, keeping the kids off the street and all, so we forgive. We forgive!
Humour/Heckle Mix: No strained chuckles here, as the focus is on love of the game and the people. Matches the Bugger worldview. Straight up hard yakka.
Quote: "I love the start of a BPL season. The potential, the new tactics, the new team list, the fear and excitement and this league the new teams."
Name Dropping: Very rare. Possibly a tactic to prevent opponents gathering intel.
Appropriate Recognition of the Brisbane Ultimate Blog: Nil, although pointing elsewhere is not the nature of the Bugger Blog.
Final Comment: This is a blog that's more about the timeless historical record than weekly entertainment. Simple, straight-forward and a cornerstone of the BPL blogging scene. Still, we'd love to see more.

UQ Ultimate
Key Bloggers: Natman, Gref, Kaitlin
Posts over last seven days: 1
Following (aka number of comments over last seven days): 0 The only commentless blog under review.
Layout: Header seems to be busted again, which is a pity as the Unicorn logo remains a good one. The switch to pink on black last year at least makes this one distinctive.
Content: Surprisingly and sadly, for the best club in Queensland three year's running, and one that's full of students with IT skills and no doubt heaps of time on their hands, there's nothing there about the UQ BPL teams Passion and Lovers. Indeed, what is there is fairly brief.
Humour/Heckle Mix: Flat.
Quote: "Wednesday 03-03-2010 Rain has made UQ Sport closed the fields.... so we can't have our fun tonight."
Name Dropping: Zippo, which is surprising. You'd think this thing would be like chat roulette or something.
Appropriate Recognition of the Brisbane Ultimate Blog: We make their blogroll.
Final Comment: *sigh*

Gold Coast Ultimate
Key Bloggers: Squishy aka Stef
Posts over last seven days: 3. Not bad, but then they're covering a whole city ...
Following (aka number of comments over last seven days): 4. Not bad.
Layout: Ow. Much like Stef, the Slamtown blog hurts my eyes and general sensibilities, but then its a good match for the team and scene. There's great Slamtown and Gold Coast logos out there, but they're not to be seen as yet. Has tried to use a few pictures which is to be applauded.
Content: Match reports and general Coast stuff, although the new BPL Power Rankings are a welcome addition to the overall scene. Will be interesting to see if they can keep this up and entertaining over a long season. Reports from GC League have been strong in the past, and give a real sense of the competition.
Humour/Heckle Mix: Usually confined to the comments, I guess mindful of the blog representing the entire Gold Coast, rather than just some sort of fruity BPL team. Features a link to the Kenny Dobbins blog which is awesome - the linking I mean, although the blog has its moments too if you're interested. The adoption of the Mayoral voice could prove interesting and give some life to it.
Quote: "The plethora of memorable qoutes in addition to the hard work on the pitch, and a good night on the town will have this Regional tournament going down as a groundbreaker for the SFC. It will be used as a stepping stone in pursuit of our ultimate goal at this tournament. The Mayoral Assent has summoned for a Changing of the Guard."
Name Dropping: Frankly, most of us are still in the dark as to who's on this team, and indeed, who Gold Coast Ultimate really is.
Appropriate Recognition of the Brisbane Ultimate Blog: Appreciates what the BUB has done to build their readership. We get so little appreciation here sometimes.
Final Comment: Good stuff entertaining and informing a wide audience.

Cobras
Key Bloggers: Reece and Wetnose
Posts over last seven days: 1. Acceptable if it can be sustained.
Following (aka number of comments over last seven days): 2. Not bad.
Layout: Needs its own header (flowers? wtf?). Don't like the ads.
Content: Detailed match reports. Some big chunks of text will scare off the Gen Ys though. Makes use of the wonders of the internet by including links too!
Humour/Heckle Mix: Ambitious but still needs work. That said, Wetnose loves the smack when he can, although this is most often in the comments of other blogs.
Quote: "Never fear devoted reader's and bored 9-5 workers. I will cover every single game I play. No need to worry about taking back previous comments (Hi Sensei). I won't let my blog's quality or quantity falter (Hi Sensei)."
Name dropping: Reasonable. Folks from home and away teams get mentions.
Appropriate Recognition of Brisbane Ultimate Blog: Ok (as Wetnose also helps run the BUB) and we're on the link list, but could step up. I mean, last Thursday JdR scored an awesome goal off a diamond cut from the front of the stack, but didn't get a mention (of course, this was against Neil's outrageous layout score).
Final Comment: A solid setup, so unlike everything else to do with the Cobras - I mean, there's no caps lock at all ....

Dojo Mojo
Key Bloggers: Sensei aka Steve
Posts over last seven days: 2. Not bad. Usually once a week.
Following (aka number of comments over last seven days): 15. Selection of a firey hot topic for a second post of the week has been very popular. Few people miss a chance to check the Dojo Blog.
Layout: Matches the team's aesthetic. Lots of detail and a sense of history. Dojo TV brings a certain uniqueness (although seems to be sadly missing this season) and occasional 'holy crap Japanese TV yeah?' moment.
Content: Fairly one eyed match reports, but isn't that the Dojo way as we in the West have come to understand it? Frequent mention of the garden and grounds gives the blog a sense of place (up the street from stately Brisbane Ultimate Blog mansion). Occasional diversions into wider matters are high quality and worth reading. Good use of popular culture.
Humour/Heckle Mix: Oh so dry. It's easy to get the Dojo voice into your head. Might be time for the tinfoil beanie if you can't enjoy this stuff.
Quote: "Where's my quote?????"
Name dropping: Tends to only drop the big names and people they're desperately trying to get the attention of. Bit like Molly Meldrum.
Appropriate Recognition of Brisbane Ultimate Blog: Very good. Its clear Sensei and the Dojo appreciate the work and lead guitar of the BUB (to the Sensei's occasional drum solo of course).
Final comment: Highly recommended.

Heroes Ultimate Blog
Key Bloggers: Carl and Dan (thankfully no Jangles in sight)
Posts over last seven days: 3. Not bad. Let's see where this goes ....
Following (aka number of comments over last seven days): 2. Not bad.
Layout: Clean and nicely logoed.
Content: Presently heavy on the BUML match reports, light on the philosophy. A good place to establish a new blog with.
Humour/Heckle Mix: Gentle and generous, much like the Heroes themselves.
Quote: "Well last night saw the Heroes take on the Cougars. I liked our chances coming up against what seemed to be a very unfit team of teachers, however I did not take into account the crazy skills of their incredible player Mike. An impressive display of skill took the cougars to an early lead of 2-0 over the heroes. We were somewhat in awe of Mikes efforts, Laura was quoted during the game to say "WOW, he's good""
Name Dropping: Pretty good - lots of Heroes and friends rating a mention. Match reports attract the attention of other teams.
Appropriate Recognition of Brisbane Ultimate Blog: Good - they link to us, and post emails from JdR for general gratification. Sadly, the Cobras blog is inexplicably the first on their list.
Final Comment: Patiently awaiting some BPL commentary - particularly for the many old Thursday night hands, it'd be great to read the views from a newer BPL team.


And now for the no doubt highly controversial (we point you to the comments section to vent) and totally subjective (its Ultimate after all) scores!



So that's it - as a big picture, its outrageously awesome! So many people writing about the BPL this season. Views from every angle! So keep up the blogging and the commenting, people!

ps for those who have been asking about "the world outside Brisbane Ultimate" (well, Megs anyway), this week's bit of the internet we point you (and by you, we mean specifically Rob and Jon) to is "the taste of pain".