The Future of the Hangout

[Tony-OH]

Last night I sat down and wrote a four and half page response to Mr. Bader's post that also included the way ahead for the Hangout. Throughout the night last night, I saw posts, PMs and e-mails with advice, all of which ask me to stay on the high road. I decided to sleep on it last night and when I awoke I decided to go with my gut feeling. There is nothing to be gained for the Orioles, me, or most important of all to me, my Hangouters by continuing this fight publicly. Things are what they are and there is nothing that's going to change that, so it's time to move on.

My plan is that we are no longer going to produce Orioles major league content any longer and that we will eventually change our name to Baltimoresportshangout. We will remain the same great community, but we will no longer have a staff developing game reports, minor league game summaries, news, or spring training reports (although Hangouters are encouraged to post their own experiences on the board). We will still keep a prospect tracker and I still plan to do some minor league scouting as it's part of my next soon to be announced venture. as of now I still intend to do my top prospect list like always. As for plus memberships, I will make a final decision on pricing soon. I'm working on subsidizing the loss of revenue with another sponsor and a unique and fun idea for a new forum that could help offset things as well. I do not intend to raise the price of our memberships despite the loss of revenue.

I realized long ago that our community is the strength of the Hangout and I have no reason to think it won't become even stronger is it evolves. The Orioles boards and its contents will always be there along with the Ravens and Terps talk. As you guys know, our community is much bigger than the Orioles anyways. Although our one common denominator is that for good or bad, we are all Orioles fans, but that we evolved into so much more. We are a true family or sorts. We share our triumphs and tragedies while discussing current events, movie, music, video games, TV and more. I've laughed and cried while reading posts and I've made friends with people I would have never had met if not for the Hangout. I've learned more about so many subjects on these boards then I've ever learned in a classroom. We have two marriages and two kids in this world by people who met online at the Hangout.

I love the Hangout Community. It's truly part of my life and I know it's a valuable part of lot of people lives. Not everyone gets it and not everyone likes it, and that's ok, but at the end of the day I know how many people's lives are affected daily by this community.

As for Hangout nights, although we will not be having them at Camden Yards, Hangout nights will continue. My plan is to find local establishments where we can do exactly what we always did at the game, drink, eat, and talk about the Orioles. It'll probably end up a cheaper night for most anyways.

At the end of the day, this is the end of one chapter and beginning of another. Our community will continue to grow stronger and I'm looking forward to the future. I want to thank everyone for the well wishes and support over the last few days and I want to again apologize for this becoming public.

[Jagwar]

Thanks Tony. Let us know if there is anything we can do to support the Hangout moving forward.

[GotNitro]

I'll second that. It is going to be quite impressive how strong the OH community is. We appreciate the virutal community you have created for us, Tony, and I know that myself and most others here will follow wherever the new roads take us.

[canonfaz]

The High road is the best road. Thanks for trying to keep the Plus Membership cost down Tony, but I'm would gladly pay more if need be.

[ShaneDawg85]

I didn't actually see all of what went down last night, so I can't comment directly on it, but I can imagine that it didn't go so well. It will admittedly be an adjustment not calling the place Orioles Hangout. I guess that's what happens when you spend almost ten years viewing material and content. But, we all have to make changes and adjustments, no matter how hard they may be. But, while this site has primarily been focused on the Orioles, the heart and soul of it are the people, everywhere, be it long-timers or newbies, that is what makes this site, both on the board and elsewhere. I've learned so much about the game of baseball that I never did, more about this organization than I ever did, and through it all, be it through passion or insanity, hung right along with everyone else in the eternal hope that next year would be different. Deep down, I know a lot of people will continue to do that, and I'm one of them.

The name may change, but the spirit and soul will carry on through the support of its people, and you can count on me as one of them.

[TonySoprano]

Tony,
In one way I wish you had followed the advice of Peter Clemenza and gone to the mattresses. But that's me. I have much respect for your decision to take the high road.


However, if you ever change your mind, you know who to reach out to; we're on your side. Capische? (Just trying to add a little, emphasis on little, levity to the situation)

CLEMENZA

Pretty ******* bad. Probably all the other Families will line up against us. That's alright --

this thing's gotta happen every five years or so -- ten years -- helps to get rid of the bad

blood. Been ten years since the last one. You know you got to stop them at the beginning,

like they should have stopped Hitler at Munich, They should never've let him get away with

that. They were just asking for big trouble.

[cindyluvsbrady]

Thanks Tony. Let us know if there is anything we can do to support the Hangout moving forward.

I agree!!!!!!

[GBader]

My apologies for not responding to your many questions and replies; however, shortly after my second post on Monday, our accounts were locked and I was unable to post or private message. Therefore, we did not have an adequate opportunity to explain our position and our rationale, or to answer the criticisms.

The main message the Orioles want to share with each of you is that we remain committed to supporting online Orioles communities. We do appreciate your love of the Orioles and for your passion both for and against some of our decisions, policies, efforts and initiatives.

If anyone would like to contact me to discuss your concerns, I’d be more than happy to open up a dialogue.

[Dipper9]

My apologies for not responding to your many questions and replies; however, shortly after my second post on Monday, our accounts were locked and I was unable to post or private message. Therefore, we did not have an adequate opportunity to explain our position and our rationale, or to answer the criticisms.

The main message the Orioles want to share with each of you is that we remain committed to supporting online Orioles communities. We do appreciate your love of the Orioles and for your passion both for and against some of our decisions, policies, efforts and initiatives.

If anyone would like to contact me to discuss your concerns, I’d be more than happy to open up a dialogue.

Mr. Bader, thank you for coming on here and at least listening to our concerns. I have but one question, and its an easy one, its not private, and its on ALL of our minds.

After 14 losing seasons, countless slaps in the faces to the fans (ie, charging additonal fees for walk up ticket sales), and an obvious refusal to even consider going after the best talent in the league when its available, I ask one simple question...How can the Orioles brass expect the fans to shell out tight dollars in this economy to suppport an organization that gives nothing back?

By the way, we love Baltimore on the away jerseys, and we love the cartoon bird, but really, truly, the only thing we care about is winning. My high school daughters have NEVER in their lives seen an Orioles team win more games than they've lost.

[Tony-OH]

My apologies for not responding to your many questions and replies; however, shortly after my second post on Monday, our accounts were locked and I was unable to post or private message. Therefore, we did not have an adequate opportunity to explain our position and our rationale, or to answer the criticisms.

The main message the Orioles want to share with each of you is that we remain committed to supporting online Orioles communities. We do appreciate your love of the Orioles and for your passion both for and against some of our decisions, policies, efforts and initiatives.

If anyone would like to contact me to discuss your concerns, I’d be more than happy to open up a dialogue.

Just for clarification sake, your account was suspended until we could respond because you posted confidential information in a public forum. Regardless, as I told you in e-mail yesterday, you are welcome to post as long you stay away from anymore of the negotiation portion of our conversations.

This thread is about moving on and I don't want it to get derailed into more he-said/he-said stuff. Thanks for understanding and we hope you will post the Orioles' thoughts on matters more important than Hangout negotiations.

We all moving forward and not looking back. Thanks.

[Nigel Tufnel]

My apologies for not responding to your many questions and replies; however, shortly after my second post on Monday, our accounts were locked and I was unable to post or private message. Therefore, we did not have an adequate opportunity to explain our position and our rationale, or to answer the criticisms.

The main message the Orioles want to share with each of you is that we remain committed to supporting online Orioles communities. We do appreciate your love of the Orioles and for your passion both for and against some of our decisions, policies, efforts and initiatives.

If anyone would like to contact me to discuss your concerns, I?d be more than happy to open up a dialogue.

Greg, I'm sure the O's do all sorts of great things in the community, but it is kind of unfortunate timing for you that at the same time the O's are yanking their advertising from this site, there are threads like this about the Ravens:

http://forum.orioleshangout.com/foru...rigance-photos

Again, I'm sure the O's do plenty of things like this, but at the moment it's an unfortunate contrast.

[The Rick]

My apologies for not responding to your many questions and replies; however, shortly after my second post on Monday, our accounts were locked and I was unable to post or private message. Therefore, we did not have an adequate opportunity to explain our position and our rationale, or to answer the criticisms.

The main message the Orioles want to share with each of you is that we remain committed to supporting online Orioles communities. We do appreciate your love of the Orioles and for your passion both for and against some of our decisions, policies, efforts and initiatives.

If anyone would like to contact me to discuss your concerns, I’d be more than happy to open up a dialogue.

The only apology truly needed from your end is for coming on here and openly explaining the details of your negotiations with Tony. It blows my mind that you would stoop that low. Regardless of what Tony did to piss you off in negotiations, that never should have happened. It's this type of behavior that has me more hopeless than I've ever been as a fan of this team.

What you did is akin to a boy breaking up with his girlfriend, and then sending a mass e-mail to all of her closest friend's and family explaining how screwed up she was. It's childish and petty and I hope you were reprimanded for it.

Tony - Sorry, I know you're saying that we're moving on, but it bothers me that he would come on here again to offer a token apology while not addressing at all his biggest flaw during all of this.

[Tony-OH]

My apologies for not responding to your many questions and replies; however, shortly after my second post on Monday, our accounts were locked and I was unable to post or private message. Therefore, we did not have an adequate opportunity to explain our position and our rationale, or to answer the criticisms.

The main message the Orioles want to share with each of you is that we remain committed to supporting online Orioles communities. We do appreciate your love of the Orioles and for your passion both for and against some of our decisions, policies, efforts and initiatives.

If anyone would like to contact me to discuss your concerns, I’d be more than happy to open up a dialogue.

In addition to the great questions already asked, perhaps you could explain your commitment to online communities. You are telling people there could be Hangout nights, but where are the details? Who has contacted me to work the details with our community? No offense, but these are just empty words. The same empty words given by the organization when it comes to paying for a successful major league roster. The dialogue has been opened.

Someone previously said it would be a great idea to start a thread titled, "Ask Greg." This would be a great way for you to continue public dialogue while supporting online communities like this.

I started the thread. You can access it by going here.

[Pushmonkey]

My apologies for not responding to your many questions and replies; however, shortly after my second post on Monday, our accounts were locked and I was unable to post or private message. Therefore, we did not have an adequate opportunity to explain our position and our rationale, or to answer the criticisms.

The main message the Orioles want to share with each of you is that we remain committed to supporting online Orioles communities. We do appreciate your love of the Orioles and for your passion both for and against some of our decisions, policies, efforts and initiatives.

If anyone would like to contact me to discuss your concerns, I?d be more than happy to open up a dialogue.

The only thing the fans care about is winning. The only thing the warehouse cares about is money.

[DuffMan]

I'd be lying if I said that I didn't want to read that response you wrote up in response to Bader's post, but fully understand that it's for the best that you don't air out your dirty laundry in public. Kudos to you for being the bigger man in that situation. This has always been a classy website and it shows with how the guy in charge handles things.

Nobody likes change, but sometimes things have to change and this clearly is one of those times. I'm sure it will take a while to get used to the changes and calling the site Baltimoresportshangout will certainly take some getting used to as well, but knowing that the message boards aren't going anywhere at all and we will still have a place to hangout and discuss the O's, Ravens, and everything else is fantastic news.