National Blogging League

Originally posted on my Sporting News blog on October 6, 2007. The theme of the post is directly related to SN. Enjoy.

This is the brand new National Blogging League that we all are going to play here on SN: Now the rules:

-Any member can post a blog about any topic they choose.

-A blogger has to meet criteria for replying back to members on their own blogs within the rules.

-A blogger has four days(four downs) to initiate replies to his entry. They have to have at least one reply, or they could be flagged for it for not getting that first one. A blogger can go for it on the fourth day, but will turn his entire blog over to the SN community or staff should he not convert with at least one reply. They can punt the entry away to avoid the loss of their own blog.

-A blogger has to get at least 3 replies from other members to avoid having to punt his entry away to the staff. If after only one or two replies, they can opt to punt it away on the fourth day. They can go for a third reply on the fourth day from the exact time it was posted, but they will not turn their entire blog over. Instead, they will just turn their entry over because of at least getting one reply to avoid SN claiming their blog.

-A blogger has three total timeouts(Sorry, we can't reward you with three for one half of the replies, then three more for the others) per entry. A timeout has to posted in their reply meaning that they have one more day to reply back to comments left on that entry after a timeout. However, they cannot post back-to-back timeouts without at least one reply back to comments between those timeouts. That will be a penalty if they attempt to call back-to-back timeouts without replying at least once between them.

-Should their blog get 6 other member success replies(meaning they reward or agree with you for the work done) within the four days, then it will have scored well with the SN Staff. Any other comments after No. 6 is extra points to impress the community and SN Staff.

-Should their blog get 3 other member success replies(meaning they reward or agree with you for the work done) within the four days, then they can at least get on the scoreboard with a kick try. This means they can convert what would be simular to a field goal in football. Should they opt to "kick" it, then a fourth "other" reply would be needed within one day of the last reply time given.
Note: Other means a reply from one member. Three replies means from three different members.

-Should the blogger score with at least 3 success replies(meaning they reward or agree with you for the work done) and makes his own kick, then he will kick off to the opposing member to start their own possession. Should that blog be a strong success(meaning six member replies or more), then the kick by that blogger will result in a touchback by the receiving member. If it is 4-5 replies in that four day period, then the receiving member can return it. Should that member get six replies or more in one day, then it is what would be a touchdown in football. Anything more than six replies is extra points to impress the staff and community.

-Should a member miss the "field goal" attempt by not getting the fourth reply by the fourth day, then it will be considered a missed kick or score. The opposing member will then get their blog to where they only have to get 3 replies to score big for the SN staff. In other words, three replies by the opposing member results in touchdown-type score that will go over well to impress the community and SN Staff.

-If a blogger doesn't feel they can call their own blogs, then they can hire an Offensive Coordinator to try and initiate the required amount of replies to score.

-If a member feels that they don't know how to reply to a blog with a disagreement, then they can hire a Defensive Coordinator to call the right comment for them.

-If you are replying and respectfully disagree with a blog without getting a penalty and get six replies to your posted comment in agreement, then you will have scored a defensive touchdown. That reply will score you big points with the community and SN Staff. A blogger can turn it over to an opposing member disagreement by having the topic in his favor(In other words, more agreeing replies backing his comment up). If it is more than six, then it is a defensive touchdown.

-A sack can be recorded after a quick disagreeing and respectful first reply to that blog. This means that the blogger is already one reply behind that member.

In general, not much defense is expected because a member can disagree with a blogger, but still commend him for the job done in creating the topic or debate at hand. If it is a reply without rewarding, then that puts the blogger on his heels.

-NFL rules are in effect for this league meaning:

1. Sudden death rules are in effect for overtime. The away team will call the toss, and the winner of the coin toss has the option of receiving or kicking it away. The first team that scores will win. Each blogger is given two extra timeouts in overtime.

2. A blogger has two Replay Challenges they can use. They can challenge replies, disagreements, or penalties in this game unlike in the NFL. Should they lose the challenge, they will be charged with a timeout. Should the ruling be reversed, then they will not be assessed a timeout.

3. A member has two challenges they can use. They can challenge a blogger's reply to their own blog, a blog entry, or a penalty given to a blog entry or blogger reply. Should they lose the challenge, they will be charged with a timeout. Should the ruling be reversed, then they will not be assessed a timeout.

4. Any challenge under two hours before the required replies deadline of four days is up can only be challenged by the reply booth or blog referees.
Note: Should the referee not reply within one day of his decision on that challenge, then the play will be upheld and a timeout will be charged to the challenging member.

Here is a list of blog penalties that will be handed out. In other words, when you see a yellow flag or penalty on a blog entry from now on, then that means the person behind that blog or member that has left a reply has been assessed one or more of these penalties:

Personal Fouls(These are worth .15 deduction off your highest rating between participation, performance, and community):
Note: The result of those penalties is an automatic first ban. In other words, the blogger will have four bans to correct his/her problems. The blogger can punt his time away after third ban should he/she feel that they cannot go on any longer without committing another personal foul penalty. If the penalty occurs on fourth ban, they are permanently banned from blogging!

Roughing the Blogger: When a member has an abusive or inappropiate reply to a particular blog.

Roughing the Commentor: When a member or blogger has an abusive or inappropiate reply to a particular blog.

Unsportsmanlike Conduct: Anyone who writes a blog or reply that is unsportsmanlike.

Late Hit: This happens after the blog entry has been posted during the four days the blogger has to initiate replies, then a member leaves a very abusive and/or inappropiate remark. They will be flagged for a late hit in the form of an abusive and/or inappropiate remark.

Reply-masking: A member who intentionally pulls down another blogger right in front of them in order to cause trouble.

Offensive Blog Interference: A member who goes off-topic in a blog while others do not in an attempt to interfere with everyone.

Defensive Blog Interference: A member who gets caught going off-topic while in defense of the offensive member who initially committed the penalty in an attempt to interfere with everyone. Unfortunately, this is not a "spot" foul, but it is penalty to interfere with everyone other than the offensive poster on his blog!

Taunting: Any blogger or member that replies that is taunting in their blog entry or replies.

Illegal Chop Block: An illegal block of a member from replying by doing so without him being able to respond. In other words, you blocking him off then replying as if he was there!

Illegal Block in the Back on a return reply: A blogger blocking a member who disagrees with his entry or someone replying, but doesn't give him any chance to reply back when the blogger comments as to why he disagrees.

Fair Reply Interference: When a member posts a blog entry and interferes with anyone that leaves a reply whether they agree or disagree. A person could delete a blog entry with the comments still present, but be flagged for interference because of others not being able to properly "return" a reply to the topic.

The .10 deduction penalties(These penalties are not personal fouls, so no ban can be placed with these penalties unless they are excessive):

Holding: A blogger or member that "holds" their own blog up with a long entry with no content that says anything. A member who replies can be flagged for this if their reply does the same thing on a blog topic.

Intentional Grounding: A blogger who purposely throws away a blog entry whether it is good or bad because they feel they should post something. Should a blogger try to post something from their own end zone, then it would mean a .20 deduction from your highest rating. Should it occur ten minutes after they realize that they shouldn't have posted it, then it is a loss of entry which means a ban would be implemented. If it occurs on third down, you can punt your time on SN away. If it occurs on fourth down, you turn your blog over on bans to SN!

Tripping: Basically a member who is "tripping out" about a blog entry for virtually no reason. An example is someone getting too excited or wired in his/her reply when it is unnecessary which can get you a flag because of "tripping out".

The .05 deduction penalties(These penalties are not personal fouls, so no ban can be placed with these penalties unless they are excessive):

False Start: Anyone who starts a blog too early that is false or has no facts to backup their opinions with in an editorial format.

Offsides: A member who replies to a blogger too early by stepping into the neutral zone to do so.

Delay of Post: This is for a blogger who does not reply back to comments on their own blog from others. You only have a certain amount of time to reply back, and failing to do so results in a penalty.

Illegal Shift: A blogger or member replying who "shifts" away from talking about the topic he is posting about in that entry.

Illegal Use of the Blog: This is an automatic first ban(if first penalty, it will be treated as a personal foul) if flagged for this penalty. This includes spamming, profanity, etc.

Excessive timeouts: A member using more timeouts than they are allowed in regards to replying to their own blogs. A member replying to a blog can use too many timeouts on that entry as well.

Defensive holding: This is an automatic first ban(if first penalty, it will be treated as a personal foul) if flagged for this penalty. Same as offensive holding accept the penalty is committed by the member replying to that particular blog.

Illegal Substitution: Anyone who illegally has someone substituting a member to write your blog. This could also mean a penalty for anyone who has someone reply to a blog illegally on their behalf. This does include a member who chooses to write a reply or blog in the form of another ID.

Failure to Report Eligibility: Any blogger or member replying who fails to report another writing on their behalf.

Illegal Forward Pass: A blogger or a member replying that steps over the line when talking about the topic at hand.

Second Forward Pass: A blogger who crossed over the line twice in the same entry.

Forward Pass First Touched By Receiver Who Went Out of Bounds: This is when a blogger or member replying first steps out of bounds with an abusive or inappropiate post before anyone else replies to that entry.

More than 11 comments in the blog before replying: A blogger who fails to acknowledge his comments after 11 replies are left. If more than 11 replies are left before the blogger replies back, it is a penalty.

Incidental Reply-masking: One who incidentally replies to the blogger while they are looking, but realizes that he either has to reword his reply or delete it all together.

Ineligible Blogger Down Field: This is when a blogger on third ban chooses to punt his time away, and another member will leave much too early before punting it. In other words, if he is a close friend, and you are leaving before he kicks his time away on SN, you will be flagged for this penalty. This just makes you look guilty for leaving early which is why this is strongly enforced!

Members can suggest rule and penalty changes at any time! They will be discussed further in detail before going into effect.

Also, all members must follow the Bloggers Drug Administration Policy(BDAP) at all times. Drug testing will be taking place at Sporting News Disease & Wellness Clinic(SNDWC). The insurance plan for bloggers will be posted soon.

Posted in: blog, blogger, blogs, humor, National Blogging League, National Football League, Parody

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