[Redrum]

... is that the editorial staffs of the Bootleg and Cardinal Report can't possibly know everything and,  in the case of both sites,  most times simply aren't connected enough to develop some of the really good stories lurking out there.  Stanford football has a corps of football mavens and recruitniks who regularly break stories otherwise unavailable to the unconnected.  The more active a message board is,  the greater likelihood that something only some insiders know will find its way to us normal mortals.  Also helps to have a corps of ex-players and knowledgeable people to provide reality checks when posters opinionizing just gets too obtuse.  Cardinal report lacks that half of the game no matter how good the editorial staff and how hard they work.

I think the vast difference between the Bootleg open board and the subscription board proves that people absolutely will pay.  But the community here proves people don't have to.

[Redrum]

... is that the editorial staffs of the Bootleg and Cardinal Report can't possibly know everything and,  in the case of both sites,  most times simply aren't connected enough to develop some of the really good stories lurking out there.  Stanford football has a corps of football mavens and recruitniks who regularly break stories otherwise unavailable to the unconnected.  The more active a message board is,  the greater likelihood that something only some insiders know will find its way to us normal mortals.  Also helps to have a corps of ex-players and knowledgeable people to provide reality checks when posters opinionizing just gets too obtuse.  Cardinal report lacks that half of the game no matter how good the editorial staff and how hard they work.

I think the vast difference between the Bootleg open board and the subscription board proves that people absolutely will pay.  But the community here proves people don't have to.