Ian Oland

I’m getting in a Bar Battle with Alan May this Friday to raise money for The Bahamas Disaster Relief Fund

Hi, I’m here to notify you that you now have plans for Friday night. And anything else you thought you were doing is now canceled.

I am, in the words of Alan May, coming out of mom’s basement to compete in a Bar Battle with, in the words of May again, the most tan, the most handsome, and the most captivating analyst in hockey media, Alan May.

When we’re not chirping or threatening bodily harm at each other, we are going to make you drinks at Penn Quarter Sports Tavern to help raise money for The Bahamas Disaster Relief Fund. I am told I will be “making” $6 Great 8 cocktails and Alan will be pouring $6 Optimal Wit pints from 8 – 9:30pm. Whoever gets more of their signature drink ordered and served, wins not only the night but full bragging rights for the rest of time. RSVP here.

And I promise, if I win, I will never forget.

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By Ian Oland 3 years ago

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The D.C. Sports Media Draft Podcast with Dan Steinberg and Jamie Mottram

Earlier this week, two pioneers of new media and blogging, Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post and Mr. Irrelevant’s Jamie Mottram (the creator of For The Win and FanHouse), held a podcast about one of the more fascinating developments in sports journalism.

The Athletic, a successful subscription-based site started last year, has raised $5.8 million in funding and is expanding into new markets. The Athletic first began in Chicago, offering quality coverage of its pro sports teams. The model has since been applied to Toronto, Cleveland, and Detroit, and will be expanding into the San Francisco and Philadelphia markets. It’s also going to cover college football and basketball nationally.

In part one of Steinberg and Mottram’s talk, they reference flavors of Cheez-Its and Guns N’ Roses albums from 1991. They also discuss how a subscription-based service like The Athletic would translate in DC.

In part two, they conduct a media fantasy draft to pick the best writers for this regional site. You’re going to hear a couple familiar names and no, one of them is not me, so, Mom, don’t get your hopes up.

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By Chris Cerullo 6 years ago

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Photo: Chris Gordon

Editor’s note: Hockey Prospectus projected Troy Brouwer to score 21 or 22 goals this season. Ian did not consult the book before betting the Brouwer Rangers that he would not even hit twenty. The stakes if he lost: Ian would have to dress up with the B.R. and attend a game in full regalia. Brouwer scored twice on March 16th, and Ian has been dreading this coming Saturday ever since. To get you wayyyyyy more ready than you need to be for the big day, we turn things over to the Brouwer Rangers.

As you should know by now, Ian is set to join the ranks of the Brouwer Rangers. On Saturday, March 29, 2014, during a #mustwin hockey game between your Washington Capitals and those bastardly bastards of Beantown, Ian will don spandex, fanny pack, and helmet as retribution for a momentary but utter lack of judgment. It will be glorious.

In the meantime, let’s recap how Ian arrived in this tight spot (spandex joke!).

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By Peter Hassett 9 years ago

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