Sports Guide RIP?

Got the news this afternoon. No more Sports Guide. At least not this year. The publisher said something about a wait and see position "Due to the down turn in the economy that has severely affected advertising sales...We are in the process of evaluating our options for 2009 and will announce our plans as soon as possible." We've tabled the first issue of the winter! :( They say maybe next year.... we could go exclusively online, come back monthly, bi monthly, bi annually. We don't know and I don't want to really say much about this as, well, you never know.
Unfortunately, the writing has been on the wall for some time and Dan (owner of Mills Publishing) wants to stop the bleeding. Despite having a worthy publication that met the needs of a sporty community like Utah, there was no love coming from the advertising department or advertisers and so it stopped making financial sense for now.
I wondered out loud if they would put the mag up for sale (so that maybe someone could turn it around and rescue a state treasure; this pub has been around for 25 years!) and was told no. They "wanted the option of reviving it themselves." Hmmm. It won't do them any good though. I once asked a NY magazine consultant to look at some issues and provide feedback and constructive criticism. He said the content was spot-on for our audience but it was obvious the designer(s) had no idea what they were doing and should be fired. Of course, I couldn't repeat this! ;)
Unless someone there spends some serious cash for a consultant, a new designer with magazine experience and without a chip on their shoulder, a website guru and a dedicated sales rep, simply a new editor won't save them. There will ultimately be no difference and, hence, no moneymaker.
Maybe there's someone out there with foresight, disposable income and a brilliant business plan that could make Dan Miller an offer he couldn't refuse?? Ben Warner? John Bresee? Where are you guys?! A Utah pub dedicated to year-round adventure sports, that highlights how-tos, gear, health and community recreation news is definitely marketable. It could easily expand to include the intermountain west and not just Utah. It could thrive like gangbusters on the web and with the right tweaking become instantly viral- expecially if you add video blogs and such. Uh Oh, looks like someone saw the promise. I hear Outdoor Utah Recreation Guide is set to launch their own outdoor rec magazine. A quarterly magazine that's everything Sports Guide was (and probably more)! http://www.outdoorutah.com/index.php?/Newsflash/New-Outdoor-Magazine-to-be-Launched-in-Utah.html
Sports Guide will continue to have a web presence but we'll see how far that goes. I wish I knew more about marketing on the web or I'd find the solutions myself. Unfortunately, I have ideas and great editorial skills - if I do say so myself ;) - but need someone else to figure out the sales end. And now I'm without a title. Jill Adler, Sports Guide Editor, no more.
It wasn't that much work (40 hrs/mo) or that much $$ so I can't say that I'm going to feel the loss financially. But I've been writing for SG for 10 years and editing for nearly five. I'll miss it. I loved the audience, the work and what it stood for. It displayed a way of life; my way of life and those of my friends and fellow skiers, climbers, hikers, bikers and plain voyeurs. Not enough people turned its pages in enough time to keep it alive. What am I going to do now? Same old. I'm an Associate Editor for OnTheSnow.com and still the freelance writer I've always been- Salt Lake Magazine, Sunset Magazine, Flipside Newspaper, Utah Health, etc. On the bright side, I'm back at work on my Utah Dog Hikes book due out by Outdoor Retailer 2009; just had an audition for an IHC commercial with my current commercial running on air as we speak. I've got a piece due tomorrow for MSN.com (not nearly as controversial as the Wife's Bill of Rights piece though!) and six ski states still to cover for Mountain News; many more restaurant reviews and updates for Gayot.com. When ski season starts, I'll do more ski modeling and broadcasting. Always keeping busy. However, ideally, I'd like to add a regular proofreading gig to the pot to replace those 40 hours each month and keep me garage saling next summer. If anyone knows of a newspaper, magazine, website or manufacturer that could use me to massage their copy, PLEASE, send them to my website. In the meantime, I'm going to take a hot bath in my brand new jetted tub, make a cup o' hot cocoa and watch today's recording of "As The World Turns."

Sports Guide Magazine, Rest In Peace, 10/08/2008.

P.S. This would have been the cover of our next issue. :( Sorry, Ritchie (Cheski Photography). We tried!

Ryan's Moving In!

Ok, so it's only temporary. At least that's what I keep telling myself. Ryan's been looking for a place to buy in Salt Lake and in the meantime has run his current apartment into a hellhole. I won't ever spend the night there (ick). Not to mention he can't remember the last time he changed his sheets. He actually threw away all of his dishes because after spending months as a science experiment in his sink they were easier to toss than clean.
He's at my place (in Park City) all the time anyway, I convince myself. What would really be different? Not to mention the Red Sox playoffs have begun so he'll be up here for sure. But it was always comforting to know that I could send him home to his place and it wouldn't mean anything more than he was spending the night at his place. Now, if he sleeps somewhere else it's a big deal.

We had talked about living together but the discussion ends with me saying, "If you want this relationship to last, never move in." It's me not him. I'm a pain inthe ass to live with. I like my space, I need to control my space, and I suck as a sharer. I know my limitations. Fortunately, so does Ryan. He enjoys pushing my buttons but he also knows when he's gone too far and how to make amends. Chinese Food and a big hug.
We've lasted this long because of him, not me. He's terrific and easy going even when I'm a raging bitch. I so love that guy! But we could always take a breather in separate corners.
Then I go and f*^% it all up by suggesting he move in until he finds a place to buy sla he pays for twice a month housecleaning. I don't ask for much- I guess - because he took the move-out letter to his landlord today. Starting Nov. 1, we will officially be living together.
Yikes! Am I making the biggest mistake of my life? I've thoroughly enjoyed the status quo and I could tell that Ryan is scared to death as well; even when he happily cuddled with Sage and announced that he would now see her every day- (like he doesn't already!)
It's temporary, I repeat. We did this once before but Sage wasn't in the picture and Ryan didn't have a driver's license. He was stuck at my place, driving me mad instead of driving. I couldn't wait for him to get out and move down to Salt Lake City.
This time is supposedly just until he buys a place, but we both know that if we're doing well together he may buy the place and stick renters in, instead of himself. Plus, Sage would sure miss her daddy once she got used to having him around.
Some may wonder what I'm afraid of. Those are the ones who have never lived with a boyfriend. A boyfriend whose only reference to living with a woman is living with his mother. Ryan slipped up tonight and said, "Maybe now that I'm here, we'll cook more." I corrected him that "we'll" means "me" and "No, I do not plan to cook more." Nor do I intend to do his laundry or his cleaning. Hence, the cleaning lady that he will be paying for. That's the selling point for sure. Up till now, our biggest battles have been over the fact that he has lived here four nights a week for more than five years and hasn't once cleaned a toilet or sink or floor. Pros and cons:
Pros-
I can hit the gym every afternoon if I want because he'll be here right after work instead of his place and can watch Sage.
twice a month house cleaning
saving money on both sides. No rent for Ryan, I get help with bills
Someone to cuddle with at night and watch Heroes with
twice a month house cleaning
I can play with the girls on baseball nights while he watches Tv and Sage
Cons-
More Mess
Having to move my stuff around to make room for his stuff
Nowhere to run
Toilet seat up and guy gas
Don't get the bed all to myself
Well, I better get back to work. Just needed to flush out my thoughts. I feel better now; actually a bit excited at the new challenge ahead. I'll keep you posted.
BTW, the new issue of Sports Guide is out and posted on our site: www.sportsguidemag.com. Check it out!