7 Deadly Sins of a Sports Blogger

Posted 9/4/08

Oh the 7 deadly sins, how much fun are these?  Sports bloggers fall into almost all of these categories with regularity, and that my friends, is not always a bad thing.  In fact, I would argue that in order to be successful at this, you need to be a little “sinful”.  Of course, we are tweaking these to fit into our little scheme here, but it should still be entertaining enough.  Let’s dig right into this…

Don’t we all have a “lust for power”?  Don’t we all “lust for more traffic”?  Don’t we all have a “lust for more links”?  Lust means to have a passionate or overmastering desire for something.  As a sports blogger, I tend to have a passionate or overmastering desire to be the best, receive the most traffic, and create the most unique ideas out of any blogger.  This may not happen all the time, but it is a lust for success that drives me and probably drives most of you.

Meaning, excessive eating and drinking, gluttony can still fit into a sports blogger’s life.  The approach I look at gluttony as a “deadly sin” would be to not excessively take in everything that every other blogger writes.  I think from time to time we all start drinking a little too much Kool-Aid from some of the tops bloggers, start to mimic them and lose focus on what our blog needs to be.  We also need to not reach excessive levels in any certain topic or type of post.  Those top 10 lists and funny videos can reach gluttony type levels at times, so be careful.  On a second point, since we all live in our mother’s basement, try not to eat and drink excessively and end up like this guy.

This may be the most important of the sins and one that you really need to think deeply about.  Meaning excessive or rapacious desire, especially for wealth, the sin of greed can take you far away from your goals and comfort zone.  If wealth is the only reason you started your sports blog, then I’m not sure you should really be sports blogging.  The wealth can come in just a short amount of time if you stay focused and let your passion through sports really shine.  Sports bloggers are easily the most passionate of any blogger, but once they see a few dollars start to roll in, can get greedy.

Still wondering why you haven’t succeeded as a sports blogger?  Maybe you are flat out lazy.  Sloth means habitual laziness and is something you need to overcome in order to see that blog grow.  Actually, laziness will hold you back in any walk of life, but definitely will bring your blog’s progress to a screeching halt.  You see the big dog blogs growing in front of your eyes and they didn’t get there by waiting around or putting off that post a couple more days when in 10 more minutes you could have finished it.  Stop waiting around, it’s time to write, promote and network.

Meaning vengeance or punishment as the consequence of anger, wrath comes out in many of our writings.  Whether we are attacking another blogger, story or athlete, I think we’ve all fallen under this category.  I wouldn’t suggest you always set yourself out on a rampage, but every once in a while it is needed.  Plus, starting a nice little skirmish with another sports blogger can bring you each some much needed exposure and traffic.  So what’s the problem with wrath?  You don’t want to come off as the angry blogger every day do you?  Reading angry posts can be entertaining, but only for so long.

Sick of seeing other sports bloggers succeed?  It’s ok to envy another blogger, but you should focus on turning that envy into drive.  I know I’ve been guilty of dealing with the frustrations that come with witnessing the success of fellow bloggers, but if I was unaware of others’ successes, then I wouldn’t be a good blogger.  You should always know what your competitors are working and from what angles, the key however, is to use their success to your advantage.  Remember that your competitors are growing your niche, therefore bringing you more exposure.

You better have some pride if you ever plan on making it through life.  The definition of pride may mean a high or inordinate opinion of one’s own dignity or superiority, but who cares.  If I don’t feel good about the posts, contests, and entertainment I provide, then how will I ever make it?  And if I don’t feel good about the work I’m laying out there, how should I expect any readers to enjoy it?  Have some pride people!  It feels f-ing good.

Now, tell me your sins!


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