Footbag Mag

Guest_2 · Post by **Guest_2** » 15 Mar 2006 15:36

How tight would it be if you could get a subscription to a footbag mag?

I know Kickers Quarterly used to exist-but I just got an oppurtunity for a class to design a magazine for credit on anything I want...Footbag!

I get to include 2 articles someone else wrote and 2 I wrote.
Which two would you write?!

brinard · Post by **brinard** » 15 Mar 2006 15:43

depends on how you want the mag. do you want expert level stuff or beginner or what.

id put some modding laver or clima stuff in. its a pretty well know "article", maybe newbs could actually learn....yeah right...j/k

you could cover an event. even if its just a reg. meeting.

i dont know what else your looking for, or if you were even asking a question

id definetly read it. cool idea.

Iron Clad Ben · Post by **Iron Clad Ben** » 15 Mar 2006 16:46

I think the idea of a footbag magazine is really cool. I can just imagine the delight of anticipation of knowing it's coming and checking the mail every day at the beginning of the month. I have great memories as a kid waiting for Mad Magazine and Thrasher to come in the mail every month.

Conversely, I look at the aims of a periodical and I think one can pretty much get all the footbag information they need from the websites and the forums. This sounds so damn cliche but... in the information age, the magazine has become almost obsolete, the internet, if used properly can be a way better way to publish, distribute and access information.

Regardless, here are some article ideas:
-Footbag shoes alternatives to lavers, the REAL article... NB's, Climacools, and those bad ass nikes that weigh like 3 ozs, plus whatever else shoes are LEGIT alternatives used by good players.
-Trick tipz: Introduction to uptime sets (someone needs to write this fucker)
-Footbag club spotlights, do one on Kingston first maybe
-Interview with one of freestyle's current heavy hitters (we all know who they are, not gonna name names)
-Haterade section, poke fun at add-hunters, WHAMO, Blough, 4-square dorks, Euro net players and any hackyslackers out there giving the sport a bad name. Let's face it, negativity can be fun sometimes!

/rant

Ben

C-Fan · Post by **C-Fan** » 15 Mar 2006 21:13

If you want, you can include my "do you know how lucky you are?" article in your mag. EDIT: here it is.

Do you know how luck you are?
by Ken Somolinos

Do you?

Footbag is easily as dumb as any other sport out there. In footbag you catch a small ball on your feet and dance around while trying not to drop it. In Basketball you bounce around a bigger ball for a long time, and try and put it through a hoop 10 feet off the ground. In Baseball you scratch your nuts, try and hit a ball with a wooden bat, and then run around in circles. In short, footbag is no dumber in the abstract than any other major sport out there.

But while some would argue that we are unlucky that society as a whole doesn`t economically reward us for our talents in this sport (the lowest paid player in the NBA, NFL, or MLB probably makes more than the combined earnings of all Open participants at this year`s worlds) , this may also be something of a blessing. In any case, people who love playing footbag are blessed in a way that fans of most other sports just aren`t.

I remember as a kid watching basketball on TV and fantasizing about playing against Jordan and Pippen. But even back then when I was faking out invisible defenders in my driveway, I was aware that this would never be more than just a fantasy. I knew that even if I should become a very skilled basketballer, I would never get to enjoy playing the sport with the best of the best. Not knocking my self-confidence; I`m just aware of reality.

I remember falling in love with footbag, playing during school in the lunch courtyard, playing after school in my neighbor`s big driveway. My love of the game developed much in the same way as my love of basketball did, and if anything, I had even more fun playing footbag. Now the thing that makes footbag special, is that while it`s totally random what sport you will enjoy the most, if you happen to fall in love with footbag, you will have opportunities that fans of other sports can only dream of.

I remember in January of 99 going to San Francisco for the first time, and calling up the first family to play footbag one day. I had met Sunil before, but he wasn`t at the session. I got to play with Carol W., Eric Wulff, and Tu Vu, all whom I barely knew. I was barely guiltless at the time, and my average string was maybe 5 tricks or so, all completely one-sided. And there I was, playing in the same circle with that year`s Men`s and Women`s World Champions, trading high fives and trying to learn as much from everybody as my nervousness-soaked brain could process. These were people I had watched on video over and over, and here I was, playing with the cream of the sport, giving passbacks, asking questions. Playing footbag. And after that, we went out to dinner.

Think about that.

As many, many footbag newbies over the years can attest to, the top echelon of footbag players will not just play footbag with you, but will hang out with you as well. And most of them are pretty cool too! Seriously, try just getting an autograph from the top players of any other sport, much less going to dinner or a club with them. I still like watching NBA games, but I have even less faith that Nick Van Exel will go eat Mexican with me than I do of him getting a game of one-on-one with me.

Now, you can debate why the top footbag players are so much more accesible. Is it because they don`t get paid anything? Is it because the sport is still such a small community? Is it because the sport is so young? Frankly, the answer doesn`t matter that much. The fact is, somebody who can only do toe stalls on one foot, but loves the game and is a fan, can play the sport they love with the best players in the world. They can learn from the top players. And they can often find good friendships with them. That is something beautiful and rather unique in the world of sports.

The other amazing thing about this open, accessible nature peculiar to footbag, is that when combined with the youth of the sport, you have the historic opportunity to meet some of the creators of the sport! Seriously, while there may be a chance you can meet (and even play baseball with) Derek Jeter, you can`t meet the guy who invented bunting, or even legends like Babe Ruth and Joe Dimaggio. Our sport is so young however, that people like Rippin` Rick Reese and Kenny Shults, architects of modern freestyle, are still shredding at tournaments. Do you realize how lucky you are that the inventor of ripwalk can teach you how to hit it at a tournament? That`s like Babe Ruth giving you batting tips, or George Mikan showing you how to do a jump hook. Our children will be jealous of us. And if that still doesn`t get you excited, there is still the chance to make history yourself in this sport. I remember meeting Yacine Merzouk at 99 Worlds in Chicago. I think he could only hit 2 three add tricks, and this year he took third at worlds. Vasek didn`t know what footbag was, what, 3 years ago?

I have caught myself wondering at times what life would be like if footbaggers were rewarded for their efforts the same way other pro sports players are. But then I realize, that I am just lucky to have found something that I enjoy so much, that still gives me so much enjoyment after 6 years. Massive financial rewards disproportionate to what I do wouldn`t make me enjoy playing any more than I do now. At most it would just give me the freedom to play more. But the way things look now, I`m glad footbag is my hobby. I think about the friends I`ve made, about the places footbag has taken me, and about the fun I`ve had hitting tricks and combos. I think about the combos I want to hit next week, and I get excited knowing I have a good shot at hitting some of them. I`m excited knowing I will probably have fun even if I don`t.

Yeah, sometimes I have a bad session. But even then, I always take a moment to remind myself how lucky I am. Because really, footbaggers are amongst the luckiest fans and athletes in the world of sports.
Signed,
a fan.

Jeremy · Post by **Jeremy** » 15 Mar 2006 21:48

I like the idea of a footbag magazine very much. If the IFPA gets around to processing my application to be communications director (the position hasn't been filled for months now) then I'll be trying to create something along these lines although online rather than something printed (at least to begin with).

james_dean · Post by **james_dean** » 16 Mar 2006 02:49

That wuold be sweet Jeremy.

Ken. Yeah. Very well written, expressing one of the coolest things about footbag. Nicely done.

Guest_2 · Post by **Guest_2** » 16 Mar 2006 05:48

That was awesome Ken

Jeremy-that would a really cool idea. I would love to help out if you'd like. I'll even send you a free copy of this one to scope out my extreme talent

Zeke · Post by **Zeke** » 16 Mar 2006 10:59

Iron Clad Ben wrote:-Haterade section, poke fun at add-hunters, WHAMO, Blough, 4-square dorks, Euro net players and any hackyslackers out there giving the sport a bad name.

You were better off as a stain on your daddy's sheets!

Iron Clad Ben wrote:Let's face it, negativity can be fun sometimes!

Wow! You're right, that felt great! Don't worry, I'm only as serious as he was

DoctorJay · Post by **DoctorJay** » 15 Apr 2006 04:39

There is an easy way to found a mag online - Just install a wordpress weblog and find some people who write articles.

What do you think?

Bander87 · Post by **Bander87** » 15 Apr 2006 10:41

DoctorJay wrote:There is an easy way to found a mag online - Just install a wordpress weblog and find some people who write articles.

What do you think?

Yep, this would be cool too. But a real magazine would be even sweeter.

You could have a "beginners corner" in the magazine and maybe some question and answer section. You can also have random pics of players, although full color ones would cost more $$.

sniikeri · Post by **sniikeri** » 15 Apr 2006 10:45

Bander87 wrote:Yep, this would be cool too. But a real magazine would be even sweeter.

I presume that you too realize that this won't be reality until footbag is a bigger sport?
I would like to see good quality footbag magazine online, not a badly done paper magazine. A paper one would be cool to have but it wouldn't really reach anyone.

jbalexdarkelf · Post by **jbalexdarkelf** » 02 Jun 2006 08:34

I was actually thinking of this while mowing the yard yesterday.
But dealing with the fact that footbag must be a bigger sport to have a mag, i think that that is false. TO footbag players it doesnt matterhow big the sport is.

It like this to me:

Are basketball magazines made to appeal to tuba players? Maybe, but people interested in basketball are the ones more likley to read the mag.

carl winslow · Post by **carl winslow** » 02 Jun 2006 14:55

One of the problems with a footbag mag is that still photos of footbag doesnt do the sport justice. from seeing a still picture its not clear whats going on, video is where its at. maybe a video magazine? edit- sequences of footbag would look cool

smokefree · Post by **smokefree** » 02 Jun 2006 15:23

I think its completly possible if someone knows how to print them. Then all you need is some dedicated sport lover to write the articles (you all). Don't print 10000 just print how many you can sell to us footbag and modified folks... and sell them to cover your expenses. I think it can be done. Basically a for us by us small-time magazine, you know? But then again i dont know how much money it takes to print one.

BenRea · Post by **BenRea** » 03 Jun 2006 09:26

that would be a great idea, it think it would be especially good for footbag companies and the local sellers trying to make some money. GREAT advertisment.

dyalander · Post by **dyalander** » 05 Jun 2006 18:47

There would need to be a dedicated set of editorial and writing staff, it would not function on random contributions, or at best the quality would be low.
I think it would be of the most use to the ifpa which is an organisation that should have plenty to say to the footbag community on a quarterly basis, and has the infrastructure to provide a solid online mag as an extension of footbag.org.
While it would be possible for a group of players to collaborate and put together a mag online or in hard copy, I'm unconvinced it is a better way of getting info out than modified, flipsider, and footbag.org. I'm sure those of you itching to write footbag articles and put together pics and vids, tourney reports etc. could be of great use to Ellis who is no doubt always looking for up to date and fresh things to put on flipsider. I don't see why flipsider can't be all the things you guys want from a mag and more. It will be more effective to centralise our efforts rather than spread them further by creating another info source.

C-Fan · Post by **C-Fan** » 05 Jun 2006 19:50

I agree that one of the problems with a footbag magazine is that the sport doesn't photograph well. Buuuut, if a magazine were to happen, most likely it would be an online one. And in that case, we could put videos in there instead. I think exclusive videos would be a nice draw for a mag as well.

Canthraxsoldier · Post by **Canthraxsoldier** » 05 Jun 2006 20:25

realistically it would have to be an online thing....and I think Dyalan said it best when an extension of Flipsider or .org would be perfect.

The fact is there is nowhere near enough demand for a printed zine to cover the costs of printing and distribution...the photo/video comment from Ken is true as well..but back to the distro point....say in Australia....maybe...10 or 20 people would want it, because people aren't going to go into their local newsagent for a copy of "Footbag World" or whatever one would call it.

I think just continuing articles in flipsider would work better than quarterly magazine updates.

DoctorJay · Post by **DoctorJay** » 06 Jun 2006 11:26

You need people who write good content on a regular basis.

That is all.

Then you send your articles to Ellis or start your own weblog.

Your online mag is finished.

You ( and Ellis) can embed photos ( flickr) podcasts and videos ( youtube) as well.

Summing up, all technique is available - the only thing which is missing are your articles.

Found an online mag group and start writing.

Good luck.

Hakker · Post by **Hakker** » 06 Jun 2006 12:00

Iron Clad Ben wrote: I have great memories as a kid waiting for Mad Magazine and Thrasher to come in the mail every month.

Hah, I still do that!

Anyway, the mag sounds like a great Idea! You should definately put an article just on the sport as a whole, and maybe some trick/modding tipz articles, too.