On The Forecheck named Best Sports Blog in Nashville Scene's "Best of Nashville 2011"

by Dirk Hoag on Oct 5, 2011 11:42 PM EDT in Appearances & Interviews

As Vice-President Biden famously said to President Obama right before a press conference...

We're very proud to announce that as part the Nashville Scene's Best of Nashville 2011 issue, OnTheForecheck.com has been selected as the Writers' Choice for Best Sports Blog in Nashville. Here's what they had to say:

Dirk Hoag's Predators-centric blog OnTheForecheck.com is the crème de la crème of a boom crop of local sports blogs. Aided ably by a handful of merry prankster assistant editors, Hoag does yeoman's work at OTF: twice-daily news dumps, statistical analysis, game recaps. But as always, a blog is only as good as its readers, and the comment threads are strong distillations of the best (and sometimes, worst) of fandom: rollicking non sequitur discussions, cheers, jeers and in-jokes. OTF is a family - with all the baggage that carries - and it's at its best when Poppa Dirk lets the kids get away with a little mischief. J.R. LIND

Thanks go out to the writing crew that contribute here on the site (Chris, Sam, Marc, Ryan, Aditya and Seth) and of course you the readers, who turn this assortment of bits & pixels into a dynamic, welcoming community for Nashville Predators fans, whether new or old. If we're a family, well, let's just say we're taking in a lot of foster kids these days.

But that's not the only landmark achievement we're marking today here at OTF. The odometer is tripping over again, as this week we hit our 2,000,000th visit and 4,000,000th page-view since joining SB Nation back in February of 2009. Those numbers are mind-boggling compared to the early days when I used to publish OTF over on the old Blogger platform, and hope for a few dozen visitors a day!

So if you're a returning visitor here, thanks helping make this place what it is today. If this is your first time, consider signing up and joining the crew (trust me, the Game Threads are a great way to watch a game), or subscribing to the site on Twitter or Facebook as we get ready to embark on the wild ride that is the NHL Regular Season!

Go Preds!

Now here's a look at the swanky soiree that took place at the Parthenon in Nashville to celebrate this year's winners...

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Comments

Congrats, Dirk!

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by hildymac on Oct 5, 2011 11:56 PM EDT reply actions

Ah, this is fantastic!!

Congrats!

Hands go uuppp..... AND THEY STAY THERE!
-nashvillepredators-

by davisca on Oct 5, 2011 11:58 PM EDT reply actions

Congrats...

It is about time…honestly, I don’t know what I looked every morning while eating breakfast before I found OTF. Thanks, and I hope more recognition keeps coming your way.

by Predmonton on Oct 6, 2011 12:22 AM EDT reply actions

As if there was any doubt.

Also, amazing photo caption.

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by PPP on Oct 6, 2011 12:26 AM EDT reply actions

Congratulations Dirk!

Incredible work my friend.

by Tyler Bleszinski on Oct 6, 2011 12:26 AM EDT reply actions

Dear JR,

Please stop using big words when you write. I forgot to bring my dictionary to grad school. Thanks.

C. Death

60% of the time it works every time

by Creeping Death on Oct 6, 2011 12:31 AM EDT reply actions

Big words are sexy.

The (math/stat) geeks shall inherit the Earth, m’kay?

Well done, Dirk. You put the jack-offs in the “traditional” hockey markets to shame. Just keep on keepin’ on!

by MouthGuard on Oct 6, 2011 2:34 AM EDT up reply actions

Congrats!

But just realize that they come to read my insightful analysis. ;)

Defense keeps you in games........offense wins them!

by Grizzledbear on Oct 6, 2011 12:38 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

Obviously!

Grizzledbear logic is the cream of the OTF crop, no doubt. ;)

by Marcus Newman on Oct 6, 2011 9:42 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Congratulations

Well deserved.

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by Bettman's Nightmare on Oct 6, 2011 12:45 AM EDT reply actions

Dear C. Death

My editors at the Scene require me to use Latin at least once in every issue or my pay gets docked. I got a Little Baby Bow Tie on the way, man!

Seriously: Much deserved honor (obviously, I agree, since it was my pick after all). And as I tried to make clear, this honor wasn’t just Dirk and the staffs, but everyone’s. So good on ya all!

Next year, FYI, I suspect this will be a Readers Pick category as well.

"I like JR’s style, kinda reminds me of HST without all the drugs and mayhem" -DonBorvio

In the market for a new favorite player

OtF Resident Rascal

by JRTheByLineGrinder on Oct 6, 2011 1:08 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

Congrats on the little bow tie! Future 303’er, no doubt.

World Wide Weber.
There is no tenderness or humanity in fanaticism.
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by cisar on Oct 6, 2011 2:11 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

woohoo! Congrats on JR jr!!

60% of the time it works every time

by Creeping Death on Oct 6, 2011 7:47 AM EDT up reply actions

It’s just a thought, but “Goc” probably isn’t a good baby’s name :) Congratulations JR, and thanks because we need all the new fans that we can get (both in the new baby sense and the media sense).

by Predmonton on Oct 6, 2011 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions

We really are the best of fandom!

by Lil cutie on Oct 6, 2011 1:58 AM EDT reply actions

Congrats to you! Congrats to us and those like us!

World Wide Weber.
There is no tenderness or humanity in fanaticism.
~Joe Strummer

by cisar on Oct 6, 2011 2:12 AM EDT via mobile reply actions 1 recs

congrats

I don’t post much (this may be my second post ever), but I read a lot of the threads. Congratulations, this has become my #1 newsource for the Preds. Keep up the good work.

by jgapp2005 on Oct 6, 2011 2:50 AM EDT reply actions

WOOHOO!

Congrats on the milestones gang! Finding this site was like a cool oasis in the desert that has been preds coverage (im looking at you Tennesseean) and i check it at least twice daily. Now somebody go find Erat and lets throw a Marty Party haha

by Christopher Seth Rhine on Oct 6, 2011 7:58 AM EDT reply actions

Congratulations!

Very well deserved! OtF has become my ‘morning paper’ over the years. I love the quality news, analysis and commentary I get here.

Congratulations to you Dirk, and a big Thank You from me!

by Predaceous on Oct 6, 2011 8:42 AM EDT reply actions

Congrats to Dirk and the entire OTF staff!

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by 3DLink on Oct 6, 2011 9:08 AM EDT reply actions

Well deserved honor to Dirk and supporting writers!

As I told you in person at the office, Dirk, this is my first stop for Predator and hockey news each day. The quality of the writing and the fun banter of the posters make it a must read.

Well done, indeed!

by darth5 on Oct 6, 2011 9:22 AM EDT reply actions

Congrats.

There’s a reason I’m on this site every day ;)

by DonBorvio on Oct 6, 2011 9:23 AM EDT reply actions

Congrats to you Dirk and the rest of the OTF crew!

Clearly all of us have great taste!

Keep up the good work and GO Preds!

by Tim P on Oct 6, 2011 9:24 AM EDT reply actions

Well-deserved because Dirk does a ton of work to put together the articles, daily links, and insight on stat analysis.

Well-deserved because the whole crew provides great articles and insight on a wide gamut of all things Predator.

Well-deserved because the people who post their thoughts here make this the best community of fans out there.

by OddManRush on Oct 6, 2011 9:34 AM EDT reply actions

Congratulations! You certainly deserve this honor. And I must say that this site is a sight better than the one for the Flyers, my second fav team! And you showed the Tennessean how it’s supposed to be done. You, sir, have contributed in a huge way to the growth of the sport in these parts. HIP, HIP, AND A HOORAY TO YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"I am you, you are me, and we are all together" Beatles

by amyinsparta on Oct 6, 2011 9:38 AM EDT reply actions

NOIIICE!

Congrats, Dirkster! And kudos to all the crew!

by ajinnashville on Oct 6, 2011 9:40 AM EDT reply actions

Well deserved!

by IG-PRED8 on Oct 6, 2011 9:42 AM EDT reply actions

Props

You deserve it and so does the readership.

by Hockey Hillbilly on Oct 6, 2011 9:57 AM EDT reply actions

Congrats to Dirk, et al.....

The best thing I’ve ever done as a Pred’s fan was find this site! I check OTF at least 5 or 6 times a day….Game days just aren’t the same if I’m not here with the rest of my irreverant, sarcastic and always a little off the rails-Pred family. Keep up the fantastic work and Kudos guys!

by TitanPredBearFan on Oct 6, 2011 10:13 AM EDT reply actions

congrats and thanks

I’ve only been here a few months, but now OTF and its merry band are the number one reason I don’t get any work done. FWIW, I’m an ex-sports reporter that covered a lot of hockey in my previous life, and you all do a tremendous job. Thanks for all the work. I don’t know where you find the time, but thank you.

by el pucko on Oct 6, 2011 10:39 AM EDT reply actions

Congrats

I love OTF. I check it at least twice a day. And the GDT threads are the best. Keep on keepin’ on.

by jerseypredsfan on Oct 6, 2011 11:01 AM EDT reply actions

WOOT

by Marcus Newman on Oct 6, 2011 11:08 AM EDT reply actions

Don't know what I'd do without OTF

You’ve built a great community of writers, readers and “opinionators.” And the GDT’s are a great way for us out-of-towners to keep in touch with other Predheads. A well deserved honor, congratulations!

by Griz-ATL on Oct 6, 2011 1:42 PM EDT reply actions

Congrats Dirk & the Gang!

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by Carl Putnam on Oct 6, 2011 2:02 PM EDT reply actions

Congrats Dirk...

…on a well deserved honor. OTF is THE preeminent source for all Preds news and information. You guys coverage is fantastic, and greatly appreciated by this Preds fan…thanks for all you do!

by NashCub on Oct 6, 2011 3:24 PM EDT reply actions

Don't know if anyone has seen this yet, but...

an article on the “most influential” hockey writers mentions how important the blogs are, with a shout out to our very own OtF.

http://bostinnovation.com/2011/10/04/klout-wars-hockey-best-writers/

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by CAustin on Oct 6, 2011 3:52 PM EDT reply actions

Nice stuff

But in full disclosure, Ryan runs SB Nation’s Boston Bruins blog, so I’m not surprised to see the SBN.

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Managing Editor of On the Forecheck, SB Nation's blog covering the Nashville Predators, and founder of HockeyGearHQ, a site devoted to hockey equipment and accessories.

by Dirk Hoag on Oct 6, 2011 5:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Seriously

SB Nation desrves a nod for top notch architecture and scale but, Dirk, your content and moderation is a standout.

Kudos my man. Keep it comin’.

by Marcus Newman on Oct 6, 2011 9:46 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Congratulations!!

This is so well-deserved. Congratulations!! I was filling out my SBN survey the other day and when it asked some question of what I liked most, I said that it was the quality of the information as well as the sense of family on here. Once I realized that, I asked my boyfriend if it was weird that I thought of it like a family. Weird or not, that’s what I feel and what I entered as I always love reading the “family bickering” in comments and on GDTs.

Thank you for everything Dirk (And the rest of the OTF crew)! You’ve definitely impacted this fan’s life!

by ILovethe#6CannonFire on Oct 7, 2011 4:17 AM EDT reply actions