Some claim a career should be chosen based on preference as opposed to what is the least difficult or the biggest moneymaker, and one Miami University alumnus has taken that advice to heart.
Ryan McKillen, a 2005 accounting graduate, is trying to make a living by simply discussing sports with other fans. He has created a new Web site, FanBash.com, dedicated to sports lists.
"You can't avoid lists," McKillen said. "There are sports lists everywhere. There's something polarizing about it. I wanted to build a tool so anyone can create a list and have their voice heard."
McKillen launched the Web site only two weeks ago and says it has already received several thousand hits.
"When people think of sports lists, I want people to think of FanBash," McKillen said. "I want it to be synonymous with sports lists, like Google is with search engines."
While McKillen has created many of the list topics for users to discuss, anyone can contribute to the site.
"Anybody can create a list," McKillen said. "If you create (a list), you don't own it, everybody can give their input."
Users are allowed to rank and edit lists on a wide range of sports topics as they wish.
Ryan's brother Matt, currently a Miami junior, also contributes to the Web site.
"The idea behind the site is, you're arguing with your buddy at the bar," Matt said. "And you see these lists of who's the best or worst. We wanted to let people do what they do every day (discussing sports) on the site."
Lists currently on the site range from classic to entertaining. Users can give their input on the "Greatest athlete of all-time" to the "Ugliest athlete that should be grateful they are rich."
One of the newest lists is titled, "Miami University's Greatest Claims to Athletic Fame." RedHawk fans can argue whether the pride of Oxford is the Cradle of Coaches nickname, Ben Roethlisberger connection or 2007-08 season for Miami's ice hockey team.
While McKillen only works on the site part-time, he hopes to eventually devote all his time to the site. He also plans to expand the site to entertainment, movie and television lists in the future.
Senior sports fan Zac Rollins likes the concept of the website.
"Lists are totally overblown (by the sports media) but I'm drawn to them like a deer in the headlights," Rollins said. "You have SportsCenter's Top Ten every night. They compare apples and oranges every night and (FanBash) is a great outlet on it. The more people get on it the more entertaining it'll get."
The premise of the website intrigues junior Eric Bracht.
"Sports lists are probably one of the best things to argue as a sports fan," Bracht said. "To create a forum for sports fans to argue-it is pretty cool."
Rollins said the site mimics conversations he has with his friends.
"(My friends) and I argue about who's better all the time and this could be a great outlet," Rollins said.
Both Bracht and Rollins said the interactive nature of the site is appealing.
"One of the highlights is that you can add to the list," Rollins said. "The list is malleable and you can add to it. It's a forum for serious sports fans."
Just in case college students don't have a strong enough procrastination tool in Facebook.com, they may enjoy not doing work while on FanBash as well.
"It's definitely a site that I could waste a lot of time at," said senior Chris Dow.
FanBash isn't the only site of its kind. Another site, Rankopedia.com, also offers users the ability to rank lists about a wide range of topics, but that hasn't stopped the McKillen brothers from launching FanBash.
"(Rankopedia) is a similar concept," Matt said. "It's more difficult to use and not as user-centered or friendly. You can't add photos or videos (like users can on FanBash) … we view it as competition, we don't see it as a threat."
Fans interested in adding their input on Miami's greatest athletic claim to fame can visit the list at http://fanbash.com/mu.
