The Voice Of Reason News Hour 08.08.04: Final Farewell
Posted by Widro on 08.08.2004
How’s everyone’s week been? Good? Eventful? How about mine you ask? Well funny you should ask…
Well hello everyone, my name’s Widro, and today is my last day as co-party host of this little website we have at 411mania.com. And to think, at this time last month, this kind of thing was only a distant dream in the back of my head…
A Little History
When I joined 411wrestling in February 1999, I never realized how it would change my life. I was a junior in college and was preparing for an internship doing financial research on Wall Street. I did do that internship over the summer, working 8-4 everyday in a suit, and got home at night for my increasing role at 411. The internet was an exciting time, and I can say that what I learned in my first year at 411 (teaching myself perl and building a new posting system) helped me segue into a full time career doing web design (:cough: foxkids.com represent :cough:).
After a few months as WCWidro, the only pro-WCW voice of reason on this whole site, Dave Gagnon left for Scoops and the opening was there for me to become co-webmaster.
The rest, as they say, is history.
Ashish and I have been running this website for nearly six years, and for the most part, we did a fantastic job as partners. The site grew from humble beginnings to its own domain in its first few years, and then went on to conquer the IWC as the internet’s top independent wrestling site in 2003. I’ll always be proud of our success with 411, and I regret nothing about my time here.
But sometimes things can’t stay the same forever…
Looking To The Future
By now most of you know that things are going to be changing here, quite drastically, very soon. Time moves on and people change, and our visions for what we wanted 411mania to become had grown apart. Although the split seems sudden and out-of-the-blue to most, the seeds had been sowed months ago. I harbor no ill will whatsoever at 411 or Ashish or anyone here, and I hope everyone here feels the same way towards me. You’ll see in the coming months our respective plans coming to fruition, and from what I’ve heard about Ashish’s plans, I think 411’s future sounds interesting and bright. Hell, I already am loving the new wider top story pics.
One day we’ll all look back at August 9, 2004 and say it was the start of something huge at Inside Pulse, and the start of a whole new era at 411. I truly believe this will wind up expanding the universe of website we all frequent, and create tons of new writing stars on the IWC for years to come.
When you come over to Inside Pulse tomorrow to check us out, you’ll see my full statement on that site, as I don’t think it’s my place to go into detail in this space. Instead, I’d like to just single some of the very best writers 411 has to offer. Make no mistake about it, 411 still has dozens of writers in all zones that are worth your time, but here are ten in particular that I think you all really should start reading on a regular basis.
1 - Michael Melchor The new King of 411 Music is the hardest working Music/Wrestling double zone writer I’ve seen. He has added Double M Raw to his already full schedule doing Double M Smackdown as well as Double M Mondays in Music.
2 - Scott Rutherford I liked this guy so much I would ship him our DVD advances to Australia! He is also doing a crazy workload expansion with his wrestling flagship as well as modding the forum and, oh yeah, taking over the Movies Zone. The guy also loves JayDog.
3 - Huckaby The dude is out on the streets or something, and I’m not even sure he knows what has gone down, but when he’s back you owe it to yourself to read Thinking Out Loud every week. Plus this monster feature he has been managing is gonna be the Must Read 411 Feature of 2004.
4 - Ron Gamble
Even though we’ve had our differences, I have nothing but respect for Ron Gamble who with my departure graduates to the second-most tenured staffer at 411. In addition to his black column, I hope he comes back to wrestling or has an expanded role in the upcoming weeks.
5 - Jacob Ziegler
The heart and soul of 411 Movies has also just started an awesome new Ring of Honor Column on wrestling. He is a definite must-read for anything he posts on 411. (But answer me this - Why Z Why!?)
6 - Matt Nute The very best weekly columnist on 411 Wrestling resumes his non-vacation Finish Line career tomorrow. Plus I am fairly sure he’s continuing to do 60 Second Raw on The Wrestling Blog so be sure to check that out.
7 - Evocator My long lost soulmate. We just cannot be together and it breaks my heart. I heart you Evocator. I heart your forever.
8 - Larry Csonka My personal pick for the Voice of TNA at 411, Larry has already expanded his role immensely. His debut columns - Your News, My Views and wRestling's 3 R's - already show great promise and his weekly TNA Reviews are among the net’s best..
9 - Ari Berenstein Hailing from just one borough over from me, Ari’s Tracklisting is a weekly highlight on 411 Music. I hope he continues to review the alternative CDs and crank out more mixes.
10 - Big Mike Watters He’s not a columnist, but you gotta respect the man with all the stroke on the 411 forum. Don’t cross Big Mike because this time he doesn’t have my iron fist ruling over him - he’s on his own and it’s a whole new ballgame.
To everyone else on 411 - good luck. I think you are all great writers because I had a hand in bringing all of you on board. I’m proud of what 411 was and will be, and you guys have the opportunity to grow even bigger.
Goodbye
I’m not one for big goodbyes, but I’ll do my best to do it justice. I’ve been at this site for almost six years, and I grew to consider it my online home.
I want to thank Ashish for the opportunity in 1999 and the chance to run the site with him that summer and beyond. As I said to him, 411 will always be one of the highlight achievements of my life, and I will never look back with any regret.
Of course I want to thank all the writers who have supported 411 over the years. Of course the “big names” are a big part of 411, but there have been dozens or even 100s of writers to pass through the halls of 411 over the years, and every one of them helped build and maintain the site. I pride myself on trying to maintain relationships with as many readers and staffers as possible, and I hope I keep in touch with everyone, whether they are 411 or pulse or neither. It would be impossible for me to make a complete list, so rather than run the risk of forgetting one of a dozen of my collogues, I’m gonna let the goodbye speak for itself.
When it comes down to it, it’s the people that made this site great, and it’s that same spirit that will continue on with 411 even in my departure.
Sad but True, My Final Words on 411
Damn, I’m less than 12 hours away from the biggest launch I’ve ever attempted, so I’m gonna cut this short. I’m not going to make this a huge plug, but if you’re curious to see what we have in the works, click over to insidepulse.com around midnight or so. It’s Keith, Hyatte, Flea, Grut, Eric, PK, Ross, Games, Figs, Comics and a whole lot more, including our $1000 Summerslam Sweepstakes. I think you’ll like what we’re doing.
