It’s exhausting to consider that the web site previously often called Ravens24x7.com and now Russell Road Report, has been round for simply over 20 years. We’ll be protecting our twenty first season of Ravens soccer. That blows my thoughts.

Again in early 2002, after listening to WNST’s Nestor Aparicio learn Ravens-related emails of mine on air, a long-time pal of mine reached out to me questioning why I used to be freely giving considerate content material to another person. He requested, “Why not host a radio present of your personal?”

I had no on-air expertise. Apart from, I reasoned, “there’s loads of native sports activities discuss in Baltimore and I already had a full-time job.” So why hassle? As I assumed then and nonetheless say immediately when acceptable, “the juice isn’t well worth the squeeze.”

So, time glided by.

Occasionally I might nonetheless submit an e mail that I hoped could be worthy sufficient to share on air and when my pal would hear it learn aloud, he’d remind me that I used to be giving content material away. I didn’t thoughts. The truth that it was worthy sufficient to share was satisfying sufficient for me.

Till it wasn’t…

Quick-forward to the summer time of 2002.

I used to be down in Ocean Metropolis, Maryland and I occurred to be on the boardwalk for a morning stroll. Seeing the ocean and the odor of the boards was and nonetheless is my most popular technique to initially greet the house of so many household holidays and unimaginable reminiscences which can be etched indelibly upon my thoughts. On the time, I felt the necessity to clear my thoughts, to unwind and embrace the little getaway. I can’t recall why I used to be alone throughout that stroll, however fortunately I used to be.

I finished on the Dough Curler for some breakfast, which was and nonetheless is positioned on the boardwalk at third Road. Accompanying me was that morning’s version of The Solar. And as was my regular routine, the primary part that I reached for was Sports activities. It was early August, and the Ravens have been within the midst of coaching camp. So, I poured via the pages to compensate for camp developments. There wasn’t a single sentence written in regards to the Ravens. Not one!

Agitated, I assumed to myself, “I wish to learn one thing in regards to the Ravens, 24/7!” After which the lightbulb went on. That very same pal of mine who recommended that I do a radio present was additionally an internet site designer. And it obtained me to considering, “What if as a substitute of a radio present, I ask my pal to assist me construct an internet site – an internet site that I wished to name, Ravens 24/7?”

Quickly thereafter, I began jotting ideas down on a Dough Curler serviette. Earlier than I even knew what it was, I used to be basically making a primitive website map and the tough thought of a brand and tagline – “for individuals who bleed purple”! I had this picture of talons choking the air out of a soccer, one dripping of purple blood. The artist captured my imaginative and prescient for the emblem higher than I even thought he would.

The web site was a go. And the method to construct it was off and operating.

Again then, the phrase “weblog” wasn’t even a part of widespread vernacular. I had no thought what it took to construct an internet site. What I do recall is that then, the method was far more concerned than I anticipated. However I didn’t thoughts. On the time I used to be working for Boeing Capital and as a result of airline fallout following 9/11, debt score businesses knowledgeable the dad or mum firm, The Boeing Firm, that taking up extra debt would decrease their debt score and set off hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in curiosity expense. Our subsidiary leveraged debt for revenue. So, it got here as no shock that our operation could be placed on maintain and that we’d must dealer any offers we made.

Working in an govt suite on Pratt Road, my boss in Lengthy Seaside, CA and the closest worker in Manhattan, I immediately had time on my arms – time that I might put money into constructing out the location, whereas Boeing paid me to journey out the debt score storm.

It was far too formidable to count on the launch of Ravens 24/7 to happen in time for the 2002 season. I assumed the most effective method could be to get it proper, make it tight after which launch simply earlier than coaching camp of 2003. And that’s what we did.

Whereas getting ready for the launch, we encountered a scary second. I discovered {that a} web site’s URL couldn’t have a slash. Due to this fact, Ravens 24/7 wasn’t doable. After I went to purchase the area Ravens247.com, it was gone. My coronary heart sunk. Did another person beat me to the punch? It was recommended that we use Ravens24x7.com as a substitute. And so, we did. A few years later, Ravens247.com turned out there. So, I purchased it as nicely and set it up in order that Ravens247.com would redirect to Ravens24x7.com.

Methodically the location got here collectively. I had hoped that we might launch on July 1, 2003. It’s an vital fiscal date, simple to recollect, plus, it’s my Mother’s birthday. However that date got here and went. As did the subsequent day, my son’s birthday, July 2nd. The launch occurred on July third.

We didn’t have a lot in the way in which of competitors so far as fan websites have been involved. These have been the times earlier than Baltimore Beatdown and Ebony Chook. These have been the times earlier than social media and podcasts. Nobody was reporting on and opining in regards to the Ravens from a fan’s perspective. And so, I wrote, and I wrote and I attempted to essentially leverage the fan-centricity of our method. In some ways, I wished to offer a web based expertise to Ravens protection the way in which that WNST did on the time, on radio.

There was no platform out there to advertise Ravens24x7.com. It needed to be viral – a real grassroots method relying closely on word-of-mouth; relying closely upon others like me who bleed purple.

(Within the subsequent phase of “The Beginning of RSR”, I’ll clarify how what Ravens24x7.com obtained a carry from a couple of stunning sources.)