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we are. We've had our ups and downs. We've had a lot of fun
and the occasional troll in the garden. If someone had told
Angie or I before we started this site that we'd still be
going strong after 10 years, I don't think either of us would
have believed it.
This site
went live in June of 2001. The site was pretty minimal. We
actually waited until the 3rd or 4th game before opening it
up so that we had some content in place to start. To get the
word out, we made cheapo cards and handed them out at the
games. We had a stormfans.org banner that we draped across
our seats before the games. I actually wrote a press release
and sent it to all the local sports editors. We got a few
people on the forum (which, by the way, was added as a complete
afterthought), and then a few more.
The turning
point, I think, really came with the July 4 road trip to Portland
against the Fire. The Storm organized a couple buses and I
think we had 50-70 people make the trip. I know Angie and
I had a ton of fun on that trip, and I think most everyone
else did to. For us, that was the first time we really saw
what having a community of fans could be like — loud,
fun and a little crazy. I think you'll all agree that the
last 10 years have been loud, fun and a little crazy.
The
Stormfans All-Decade Team
As we
celebrate our tenth season, Angie and I decided the best way
to do that would be to focus not on the site itself but on
the people who have helped make this site and fan community
what it is. We decided to recognize those people who have
contributed the most, whether it was directly to this site,
the forum or to the Stormfans community at large.
This
is by no means a complete list. There are many, many
people who do things large and small all the time who deserve
recognition, but when we sat down to go over the list these
are the ones who stood out.
At our
10th Anniversary party on July 25th, we announced this list
and presented each with a special t-shirt that only All-Decade
Team members will receive. Here is your Stormfans.org All-Decade
Team (in no particular order):
Norwester
Norwester was perhaps the easiest person to put on this list.
She does so much for this site and for the commune at large,
I honestly consider her a full partner in who Stormfans.org
is and has become. Besides her exhaustive game reports, she
brings her extensive basketball knowledge, level-headedness
and fairness to the forum every time she posts a message and
she represents us all on other basketball forums in the same
way. Over the years, she has taken a ton of pressure off me
as both a site content contributor and as a helpful second
set of eyes on the forum. I didn't break up the All-Decade
Team into starters or bench players, but if I did, she'd rightfully
be the team's captain and all-star.
TDAO
When he first came on the forum, it was undercover. Over time,
his inside info, mastery of all basketball knowledge and statistics
gave him away as a Storm staffer. He's the Storm's web guru
and over the years has made the Storm site a content-rich
leader for the whole WNBA. Many of the things you see now
on other team sites and even the main WNBA.com site started
on the Storm site first. He was also a long-time contributor
to the Sonicscentral fan site. And, he's always been willing
to answer my questions when I've needed technical help on
our site.
Scowl
The uber fan photographer, scowl has been taking and sharing
his shots of the Storm with other fans for years. At the beginning
of this site when I started taking shots with a little point-and-shoot,
seeing his shots inspired me to get better, try new things
and take my own photography much more seriously. He also shoots
for college and professional sports teams, often traveling
around the country to do so. On top of all of that, he also
commutes to every Storm game from Portland on the train. Somehow,
he almost never misses a game.
LaurenRules
LaurenRules took up the game reporting task when norwester
went off to Afghanistan. She has continued supplying the same
level of detail and reporting from a fans perspective that
is indispensable for all the Storm fans out there.
Awase
A true Stormfans stalwart and long time member who is always
looking out for others. It was her idea to do the season ticket
drive a couple seasons ago as a way for the community to give
back and help out kids. Any time there is an opportunity to
donate or help out, she is there.
LozFan
A long time member, but infrequent poster, her contribution
comes by getting butts in the seats. We all try to get other
people to come to games, family, coworkers, but LozFan goes
above and beyond. She is one of the most tireless Storm advocates
out there and I think it is safe to say she is solely responsible
for bringing in if not hundreds then thousands of people to
KeyArena over the years.
Coconut
Monkey
This person is the third photographer who contributes to the
site and is someone who has taken a ton of pressure off of
me to go to every Storm event to document it, because he does
go to every event. He's super quick to post his photos and
has become a key source for people outside of Seattle to get
their Storm fix.
BrrringIt
Probably one of the most well traveled Storm fans, BrrringIt
and her daughter Mini have gone on more Storm road trips than
anyone else and have shared their experiences on the forum
and with game reports. They help bring the Storm home to everyone,
even those of us here in Seattle.
CzechChick7
Without a doubt, this person is the most prolific poster on
Stormfans.org. I actually had to make a new category for total
posts to anticipate how high she would eventually go. But
she's not just about quantity. She's always good for arcane
facts, welcoming new members to the forum and of course keeping
the international players supplied with their national delicacies.
Jilly1217
Another original member, this person has been a force behind
the Storm bench with her husband and two boys. Always willing
to share those super hot, behind-the-bench tickets with out-of-towers
or any other storm fans who might not be able to get that
kind of KeyArena experience. She has also been instrumental
in helping Simone Edward's charity over the years.
Psheehy
His most visible contribution is his website, Chasing
the Title, on which he meticulously breaks down each game's
stats and provides analysis that you just don't find anywhere
else. Behind the scenes, he was deeply involved in the fan
effort to keep the Sonics and Storm in Seattle. With the Sonics'
departure, he has brought his full effort to the Storm and
proves that NBA diehards ought to be WNBA diehards too.
VegemitePower
One of the friendliest people you'll meet, he is the archetypical
superfan/dad. With him, every game is dads and daughters night.
He helps anchor the north end of the arena and is always prepared
with his signs, his storm warning flag and never misses an
opportunity to lead the crowd in an Aussie, Aussie, Aussie
cheer.
StormFanNo1
Another prolific forum poster, this person has supported the
site in a way that no one else ever has, with donations. She
is the only person to consistently donate money to us to help
with site costs, even though we don't actively seek out donations.
Furthermore, any time there are opportunities to donate for
other things, like our season tickets for kids drive, she
comes through big time. You may not have seen her efforts,
but we certainly appreciate them greatly.
SFiCL
She hasn't been to Seattle for a couple season, but no matter.
This person is one of those types who you instantly feel like
you've known for years and acts like a social hub of sorts.
She knows everybody and is fearless in meeting new people.
When the Comets were still in business, she welcomed any traveling
storm fans into her Houston home without hesitation. Let's
hope the Storm give her the opportunity to visit us in September.
Jezzie
& Pwe
Two of the original stormfans, these women have consistently
opened their business, Theatre
Off Jackson, and their home to the Stormfans community.
Whether it's been hosting viewing parties, Storm events, fan
meetings or allowing out-of-towers to crash on their couch,
these two women have been the heart and soul of the Stormfans
community for years. We as a group wouldn't be where we are
today without them.
NewSocks
One of the best representatives of what being a Storm fan
is, and she does it on enemy territory. NewSocks and her hubby
DirtySocks have been the force behind the Storm at Staples
Center for years, and not only do they bring it as fans they
also bring it for other fans. They routinely hand out Storm
fan paraphernalia so that the Storm faithful down south can
get the full Storm fan experience. They also make the trip
up to Seattle each season and have become another of those
social hubs as they naturally and openly accept other fans
into their circle. NewSocks lives and breathes the Storm and
has made all of us better fans over the years.
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