Prep Talk

New blog look, new comment format for new season (UPDATE Aug. 9)

You have probably noticed that the format for commenting on the blog has changed.

It is part of a massive Web transition we have begun over the last few weeks, and there are still components we are revising and updating. We know things are different than what you've been used to, but all of the changes are an attempt to enhance our Web site and your experience here. There will be more tweaks and improvements coming as we get closer to the high school season, so stay tuned.

For blog commenting, you do have to jump through some hoops by registering with us, then you'll be able to comment on the blogs again as you always have.

It's part of The News' effort to clean up the overall commentary on our Web site -- which had become unruly, unappealing and unproductive when it came to the comments being posted on news stories in the main area of buffalonews.com.

Here's a news story about the new commenting format; here is editor Margaret Sullivan on the change.

I'm proud to say that while we've had hiccups here and there, the majority of commenting by Prep Talk Nation has been productive as we've tried to cultivate a responsible online high school sports community here.

As I wrote when Prep Talk surpassed 3 million hits: "Thanks to everyone out there. We appreciate you -- not only for visiting -- but for your comments, insights, pregame analysis, on-site live reports, postgame wrapups, critiques, rants, praises, debates and all other input regarding Western New York high school sports."

After registering, if you comment outside the blog area on the main Web site, your name and hometown will appear with your comment.

Thanks for you patience with the new formats of what we're doing online. If you have any issues or concerns, as always, feel free to email me (kmcshea@buffnews.com is also linked on my byline at the bottom).

Speaking of patience -- it's only 11 days until the first day of practice for football and most other high school fall sports. 

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Here are some links to popular posts where discussion has already started for the 2010-11 school year: 

Football 2010: Talk about the season.

Boys basketball 2010-11: Help build (and talk about) the schedule.

Best of the decade: You make the call.

Obviously these are not as easy to find as they were with the old format, but we're working on having our new high school home page have all the key links -- again, please be patient and stay tuned. 

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Update (Monday, Aug. 9): We have comments. There are some on this post (click the link at the bottom) and Milt Latimer is fittingly the first commenter in the new format at the football page (linked above).

I've added comments today so I know it works -- and yes, I went through the same verification process anyone has to go through. 

One thing that is a little confusing that hopefully I can clear up, because I had problems with it myself.

When you look immediately under the football post (linked above), you'll see all the previous comments that have been made -- that's previous to our Web switchover. When you click "comment" a new page pops up and you'll see the new ones (just like on this page). This two-page format is something our Web team is looking into. Thanks again for your patience.

---Keith McShea

buffalonews.com/highschool     facebook.com/preptalkblog     twitter.com/bufnewspreptalk

Prep Talk passes 3 million hits

We're not the monster that is the Sabres Edge, but what's a few million hits between fellow blogs?

Prep Talk became the third Buffalo News blog to surpass the 3 million page view mark Wednesday evening. We're pretty sure it happened at some point during our live chat.

Sabres Edge hit 6 million views in mid-April and is closing in on 7 million, while the BillBoard blog is over 4 million.

There have been more than 1,400 posts and more than 20,000 comments on the high school sports blog since it was launched in September 2007 (six months after the Sabres and Bills). Prep Talk is one of the 23 blogs available at buffalonews.com, and is one of eight produced by The News' Sports department.

So, THANKS to everyone out there. We appreciate you -- not only for visiting -- but for your comments, insights, pregame analysis, on-site live reports, postgame wrapups, critiques, rants, praises, debates and all other input regarding Western New York high school sports.

What did I forget in that little list? Tell me in the comment space below! :-)

---Keith McShea

buffalonews.com/highschool     facebook.com/preptalkblog     twitter.com/bufnewspreptalk

Follow Prep Talk on Twitter

If you listen closely, you might be able to hear it: Prep Talk is tweeting.

Fans of Western New York high school sports will now be able to follow The Buffalo News' Prep Talk blog on Twitter -- our name is "bufnewspreptalk." In Web-land that's twitter.com/bufnewspreptalk.

We'll provide updates in high school sports news as well as links to coverage at buffalonews.com or here on the blog.

Part of our plan is to provide updates of high school football scores on Fridays and Saturdays -- so you'll be able to get all the scores on your phone. And if we're out at a game, we'll get our tweet on and let you know what's going on.

Please be patient. We just did our first tinyurl and it was very strange. It may take us a while to get the hang of it. 

---Keith McShea

Tune in (and type in) on Scrimmage Saturday

I'm resting up today for Scrimmage Saturday.

I've been analyzing the schedule of games you've helped us put together with hopes of getting to as many sites and seeing as many teams as I can. This is a first, so we'll see how it goes.

We also might try out some tricks that involve the World Wide Net Web, like posting videos from the road directly to our new PrepTalkTV page at YouTube. 

If you're out at a scrimmage, we want to get your take on the action, so be sure to type your way to our comments section.

Should be a fun day as we get a good look at several of this year's teams -- can you believe 2009 high school football is just a week away?

---Keith McShea

Live chat June 2

Tonight's live chat will be something of a Western New York High School SportsCenter.

As soon as I finish writing my story about the Section VI girls lacrosse championship tripleheader, I'll be online where the discussion will have plenty of fields to play on: in addition to those girls lacrosse finals, there are semifinals in boys lacrosse, quarterfinals in softball and the first game of the Georgetown Cup in baseball.

We should get started around 10:30 p.m. (because my story for Wednesday's paper has to be finished by then).

There should also be some baseball talk as the finals have been set - check out the link at the right for posts where you can make your picks and discuss the finals. There is also a place for softball and lacrosse comments as well.

If you won't be online for the chat, feel free to ask some questions you'd like to see addressed in the comments section.

Same policy for afterwards -- got a comment on what was discussed? Just add it below.

---Keith McShea

Live chat May 27

We'll have a live chat right here at 10 tonight, where we'll talk about anything and everything in high school sports.

There is surely to be a lot of bracket talk, and I'll provide live updates of scores we get called into the office. Check out the links at the right for posts where you can make your picks and discuss the tournaments for baseball, softball and boys and girls lacrosse.

If you won't be around for the chat, feel free to ask some questions you'd like to see addressed in the comments section.

Same policy for afterwards -- got a comment on what was discussed? Just add it below.

---Keith McShea

Wildly busy Wednesday

Off the top of my head, I can't remember a Wednesday that had this much meaningful high school action going on, especially for the spring.

Check out our high school scoreboard, which has results on the All High and Monsignor Martin track championships, the Section VI boys tennis championships, the Monsignor Martin softball and girls lacrosse championships, and a ton of other action in other sports including some top-ranked teams going at it in baseball and softball.

Whew. We'll have stories on the track meets in Thursday's paper along with some additional coverage here on the blog. There will also be a meaty-portioned High School Extra with the big events.

And if you saw any of Wednesday's action, let us know.

---Keith McShea

High school ... water polo? (and what a Web site!)

Here's a link to the story (and a photo) in which Williamsville North grad Josie Cordero was annouced as co-coach of the year in water polo for her region, which I mentioned in today's Prep Talk column.

A few google searches researching water polo in California brought me to the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section site, which is pretty mind-blowing for a high school sports governing body's Web site, especially compared to what we have here in New York.

Check out all the information in various sports, right down to PDFs of every league's standings and all-stars. WOW.

California is one of the best states in the nation for high school talent -- Southern California in particular is one of the top regions in the country -- so obviously there is intense participation and interest in high school sports. But it's a credit to the organization overseeing all of the action that such a comprehensive site pulls it all together.

---Keith McShea

Live chat tonight at 10

The quarterfinal matchups for the Section VI boys basketball tournament will be set after tomorrow night's action, which makes our weekly live chat at the perfect time.

Visit here Wednesday at 10 p.m. to discuss the prequarterfinal hoop games as well as anything else on your mind in high school sports.

Of course, any questions on high school sports are in bounds. If you can't make it, feel free to throw a question in the comments space below.

Here's a look at our previous live chats of Winter 2009: Feb. 18, Feb. 11, Feb. 4, Jan. 28, Jan. 21 and Jan. 14.  

---Keith McShea

Monday morning point guard: Hoops, wrestling, Facebook

It was a busy weekend for sports (and this blog), so here's what you need to know as you try to stiff-arm the Monday blahs:

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With the Manhattan Cup playoffs and sectional basketball tournaments starting the next three days, we've got a post for every hoop fan.

Each post includes a schedule and a poll -- so if your team is playing basketball this week, you can vote for them.

Scroll down to check them out or take the shortcuts here:

For boys: Manhattan Cup, AA, A1, A2, B1, B2, C and D.  

For girls: AA, A1, A2, B1, B2, C and D.  

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Our All-WNY 50th anniversary boys basketball series continued with our All-1970s team, which is being discussed on our usual follow-up "How'd we do?" blog.  

News Sports Reporter Mark Gaughan liked the depth of the 1970s team so much, he did some trash-talking by saying the third team from the 1970s could beat the first teams from the 1990s or 2000s.  

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Most wrestling representatives for the state championships Friday and Saturday were determined at the Section VI meets this past weekend, but there are more to come in the next few days.

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Prep Talk Nation has been officially recognized -- it's a Facebook group.

---Keith McShea