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« on: November 06, 2014, 01:36:03 PM »
For the last two years, I’ve been grateful to work with TheOpenMat.com in providing a high-level of wrestling news, coverage, results and original content. My official title as “editor” will be retired as I’ll be moving on to concentrate on new ventures and opportunities.
I will still remain a relationships with TheOpenMat as a contributor for future columns or opinion pieces, but my day-to-day operations with the website have come to an end.
After leaving USA Wrestling, Eric Bettermann offered me a unique opportunity. At the time, TOM was working with a merger with Amateur Wrestling News. There were issues with my young daughter that made a move back to Minnesota a no-brainer and when the TOM opportunity dropped in my lap, I thought it would be the best situation at the time, and it was. I hadn’t planned on leaving USA Wrestling in 2012, but sometimes things don’t always go the way you think they will.
For over a year, we produced what we believed to be an improved magazine tied together with the web’s most complete news resource. Unfortunately, the relationship with TOM and AWN didn’t work out as originally planned and due to my status as a independent contractor, I opted to stick with the TOM side of things. Working with Eric and Ray Brinzer on a slightly different take to wrestling coverage was enjoyable. Having known Ray for a number of years prior to coming on board, I developed a friendship beyond business with Eric.
Some ideas didn’t come to fruition and ultimately, I had to make a plan that would be beneficial to all parties. We feel this is a move forward for both myself and for TOM. I’m not just dropping everything and bolting, leaving TOM to fend for itself. I’ll still assist in some capacity when needed and contribute a story here and there.
I’m extremely happy in being able to help build TOM into a real powerhouse of wrestling coverage. You’ll still hear me on some TOM live audio broadcasts and I’ll be there in a pinch if some tech issues arise.
So for now, I’ll be maintaining my role as a freelance broadcaster and journalist while spending ample time on building my new (but old) business with Mat Talk Online. Some of you might know that’s the site that got me started back in 1997 when I created it in my dorm room. Short Time will continue to exist and relevant episodes will still be posted on TOM’s news site.
I’m currently working in consulting or freelance roles with a few different factions, so I’m not leaving wrestling – I’ll never leave wrestling if I can help it.
TOM will still be providing rankings, features, videos, scores and everything you’ve come to know and visit on the site, the only difference is my name won’t be officially attached to it. This community was built for the fans and was a resource I believed was truly for the fans, whether we agreed on things or not. It’s been a unique and enjoyable place to get to know several of you here personally – those I didn’t know beforehand. I’ve had a lot of good times at the Midlands with Fuhr and Bryce and even got to meet some of our more seasoned posters like Vise and Jammen.
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