Bleacher Nation is one of the most popular Chicago Cubs news, rumors, and analysis sites on the Internet, home to some 25,000 visitors a day. On any given day, those visitors view 50,000 pages, leave hundreds of comments, and give the site a genuine community feel. To date, the site’s busiest month came in July 2012, when it was home to more than 820,000 visitors, viewing more than 1.46 million pages.
And, not to brag, but Bleacher Nation has been mentioned on ESPN.com, Yahoo.com, CBSSports.com, Deadspin.com, and 670 The Score, among many others. ESPN’s Wayne Drehs called it a “must follow,” featuring “news, info, rumors and intelligent analysis.”
It was also one of seven finalists for Blogs With Balls 4.0′s Best Team-Specific Site award. Ok, that’s bragging. The site lost out to a sports blog on the Washington Post. There. That’s not bragging. (Or is it?)
Bleacher Nation is also a widely-followed member of the Cubs’ social media sphere, with over 25,000 followers on Twitter and 6000 fans on Facebook, and features a podcast with a listenership approaching 2000.
Bleacher Nation is written by Brett Taylor, who started the site in December 2008. In March 2012, Bleacher Nation added a Minor League Editor, Luke Blaize.
A little more about Brett (slightly douchey “headshot” to the right) from a July 2011 post, when he made the transition from lawyer to full-time blogger:
I was one of those college kids who was adequately-good-at/moderately-interested-in a variety of things, and so, when it came time to graduate, I took the path of least resistance: more school. Law school, to be precise. I enjoyed writing, as well as the construction and meaning of language, so joining a profession whose frequent purpose is to debate the meaning of the word “the” made some sense to me. And, whatever your idealistic notions when entering law school, if you do well enough to join a large law firm at the end of your three years, you do. So I did.
While there were many things I enjoyed about the practice of law, in time I learned it wasn’t for me. The hours were miserable, the stress was constant, and planning for the future was nearly impossible. Worse, I didn’t like the effect it was having on me as a person. I sometimes joked that I was paid to be a professional asshole, and, too often, the joke proved more accurate than I cared to admit.
So, when my family circumstances changed earlier this year (including the addition of the world’s newest and most ardent Cubs fan (she has no choice in the matter)), it was time to move on. It was time to be more present at home – not just in time spent, but in actual, engaged presence. It was time to get my life back in order.
And along with becoming a full-time dad, I decided to give writing a more concerted go. Bleacher Nation has always been a hobby of mine – something I did in my spare time for fun. But now I’d like to make it something more. I’d like to make it a job.
Sounds like an awesome guy. (Modest, too.) Selected works include:
If It Takes Forever: Mortality, the Chicago Cubs, and a Person Named Steve
Will the Chicago Cubs’ Debt Prevent Any Big Free Agent Signings After This Season?
Ryne Sandberg Was Not Welcomed Back as Manager At AAA Iowa
On the Close of the Jim Hendry Era: Losing a Friend, Gaining a GM
The Two Ryan Dempster Trades, and How We’ll Remember the Man
The Complete Dictionary of Reasons to Fire Jim Hendry
Managing Expectations and the Meaning of Confidence
Worst Closer Facial Hair: Brian Wilson, Ryan Franklin, or John Axford?
The Real Story Behind What Jim Hendry Had to Say About Milton Bradley
Was Randy Wells Actually Better in 2010 Than in 2009?
The Milton Bradley Signing: Nine Humorous Pictures
Live Together, Die Alone: LOST and the Chicago Cubs
Looks Like Some Players Are Getting Some New Cubs License Plates
The End of the Milton Bradley Era: A Portrait of the Player as a Young Man
The 2012 Cubs Convention: I Came, I Saw, I Squealed
Contact Brett here.
Feel free to make fun of him for this:
[...] About [...]
Things Brett could’ve said before that picture was taken/ picture captions:
“Now is not the time for big changes!”
“2012 world series anyone?”
“Mike Quade is an all-star!”
“Feet taste good!”
“This message has been approved by Brett Taylor and the BN community.”
“Chik-fil-aaaaaaaaaaaa!”
“Just wait ’til next year!”
“Brett Taylor: your friendly neighborhood Ace”
“At least we’re not the Astros!”
“I’m only a semi-professional asshole.”
That’s all I could come up with …..for now. I don’t particularly like the last one though.
Avid Cubs fan diving into the Cubs Twitter & Facebook Universe. BleacherNation can’t be beat – keep doing what you do! Thanks!
Luke and Brett are OK but I’m the engine that runs this place…
Thanks, 503 (and Scotti, natch).
Where are you from Brett?
Columbus.
Forgive me if you have answered this a million times, but how the intense Cub love?
You can pretty much blame it on WGN – kid comes home from school, looking for any game he can find, lands on the Cubs. Do that for a few years, and you start to like that team in blue. A few more years, and you’re a fan. A few more years, and you’re disgustingly, irreparably hooked.
Also, you’re a decent human being who loves his country and family, and doesn’t punch old ladies in their throats without provocation.
In my experience, all people who meet these criteria are fans of the Cubs.
That punching old ladies part is unconfirmed
Absolutely.
That’s awesome. Thanks. Bleacher Nation is the best. Thanks for all you do.
Theo Epstien and the Ricketts family have only proven that they are losers that could not attract quality free agents and negotiate with a small time alderman to fix Wrigley Field,
As the Cubs continue to lose they always point fingers – we have a rebuild plan- they lose without class and that is worriesome.
Hey Brett! It’s Luke again. Could I have Sahadev email address to ask if he would jump on my friends and my podcast? Thanks a bunch for helping us out too. It means a lot.