On Wednesday, July 12th, members from Spotlight Community OrlandoMagicZone.com were on hand to share their experience and answer questions about the management of a successful community.

As one might imagine, they also had a bit to say about basketball.

[NOTE: The transcript has been edited for pacing, typing mistakes, wandering threads, and a well-timed comment by LetsGoMagic that might have erroniously let the casual reader to assume I was a Heat fan. You have been warned.]

Paul Gude: Hi, all.

bhnole: bhnole says "hi everyone"

Magic Webmaster: hey Paul

Paul Gude: So, is bhnole associated with the site?

bhnole: Just a poster only

Magic Webmaster: yes, one of our faithful contributors

Paul Gude: It's always great to have a regular user on board for these chats. Welcome, bhnole!

Magic Webmaster: I can probably chat until 1:45 your time...we are in a Summer League battle right now and I expect the game will end around then

Paul Gude: No problem, we can always end whenever you guys need to.

Magic Webmaster: I'm currently setup at the court...Magic and Bobcats just starting the second half. This is what I would call fun multi-tasking

Paul Gude: That's amazing. What are you using to chat? What kind of set-up do you have?

Magic Webmaster: I'm setup right next to the Bobcats bench, working on a laptop and have a direct network connection, which allows me to update the Web site from the court

bhnole: Bobcats have a nice summer league team. Kind like ours last year when Jameer and Dwight played.

Magic Webmaster: Adam_Magic...one of our Message Board all-time favorites

Adam_Magic: Hey Guys!

bhnole: Hiya Adam

Magic Webmaster: Feel free to fire away with any questions

bhnole: Any update on Ariza or Stevenson re-signing?

Magic Webmaster: I can tell you that Otis and our staff are still in negotiations with both Stevenson and Ariza, while looking at other players as well. I'm sure we'll here some more in the next couple of weeks.

Adam_Magic: cool, so is Rockchalk "magic webmaster"?

Magic Webmaster: yes Adam, this is "RockChalk Magic"

Paul Gude: Hi, davcivic!

bhnole: Hi Davcivic

davcivic: hello bhnole, what are qe talking about here now?

Paul Gude: We're here with Matthew Gardner aka "RockChalk Magic" whose handle for this chat is "Magic Webmaster."

Paul Gude: Matthew was just telling me how he's currently set up on the court with a laptop so that he can update the site from the game. Is this something that

Adam_Magic: not that i knew of

bhnole: First time I have seen a scheduled chat.

Magic Webmaster: No, this is the first time we've done live updates from Summer League and also the first time we've had a live video feed, courtesy of the hard work of our Orlando Magic staff and NBA TV Broadband

Adam_Magic: awesome, its working really well so far!

bhnole: Nice addition. Enjoying the game at the office

davcivic: I'm watching the game as I type, good job on that one, it is awesome

Magic Webmaster: We're definitely working out the kinks as the emerge, but it's been a fun addition to our growing web operations and something the fans are enjoying

Paul Gude: That's something else I should mention, the chat may be cut short today. Matthew is going to be leaving when the game ends.

Adam_Magic: just a shame JJ isn't playing!

Magic Webmaster: J.J. is here and he's in good spirits. He wants to be out there playing, but our staff is taking the cautious approach at the moment. As we all know, championships aren't won during the Summer League

bhnole: Is JJ practicing this week at all or sitting in on meetings?

Magic Webmaster: J.J. has been on the bench and with the team all week

davcivic: I don't have a problem with it, hoping he is 100% for th season

Adam_Magic: great to hear, I think he could be a great addition if the back is not a problem!

Paul Gude: Something sort of tied in with the constant innovation you've shown is the rapid growth of the forums themselves. Did it happen over time, or was it an overnight explosion?

Adam_Magic: it does peak around significant times i.e. the draft, trade deadline. but it has been a steady growth since January!

Magic Webmaster: I joined the Magic last October and made it my priority to enhance all of our Web content. And as we continue to grow and enter the 2006-07 season, I think our fans will be pleased with what we'll have to offer.

davcivic: We can definately see the new fans that come in as players are added to the team

bhnole: What Dav said is very true, Darko brought his fans and JJ brought a lot of Dukies to the boards. Arroyo has a big following too.

Paul Gude: It sounds like the Magic has really been supportive of your efforts. Were there any challenges you had to overcome when setting the boards up?

Magic Webmaster: When it comes to professional sports, my experience has told me that if you build it, they will come. And sure enough, it didn't take long for us to gather a solid following on our message boards. So not too many challenges so far

davcivic: Are we going to see more options in the forums? Like smiles, custom avatars and other functions from bigger forums

Adam_Magic: I think personal avatars would be a good addition!

Live or Die Magic: I'm one of us!

Adam_Magic: hey LOD!

LetsGoMagic: RockChalk sup!

Magic Webmaster: Hey guys

Live or Die Magic: I love this board...not sure what occupied all my free time before

SWS84: hi everyone

davcivic: I went to other forums before, car stuff etc, but being a Magic fan this was great, Found it by mistake, glad i did. My Boss' might not be too happy, but they don't know yet...lol

Live or Die Magic: At my job, I am the only Magic fan - and sports follower in general - so this OFFICIAL Magic board has been a great outlet for me.

Magic Webmaster: Just an update from the court...Magic playing much better in second half. Down by 12 in the closing minutes of third quarter, 73-61

Adam_Magic: how is Gortat playing?

bhnole: Has the team made any final decision on Gortat? Sentinel and ESPN has the team leaving him in Europe another year.

SWS84: Who went down with the knee injury?

Magic Webmaster: D'or Fischer went down with the knee injury...he's currently on the bench. And Gortat has been solid again...6-of-9 from the field...13 points

SWS84: Thanks, my connection is going in and out and I missed it

davcivic: Looking at the game we are coming back Diener is playing great, Gortat also

Live or Die Magic: Have they already booked his flight back to Europe?

Magic Webmaster: They are rather impressed with what they've seen so far. Gortat has definitely improved since he played for the Magic in Summer League last year. I don't know when we'll see him in an NBA uniform, but his time will come

Paul Gude: That's a great point. I'd imagine that being part of the Magic helps out a lot when it comes to bringing information to the community.

Magic Webmaster: yes, it's great being able to deliver cool things to our message board community, but we try not to be too involved. We let this be a true fan board and let them enjoy the forum

bhnole: Diener and Gortat are carrying the team. Walsh finally knocked down some wide open jumpers.

Live or Die Magic: Are the pieces in place for a training camp showdown next year between Gortat and Vazquez?

SWS84: Not taking away from his play, but Gortat needs to bulk up. The dude has energy, but he is getting pushed around down low

Magic Webmaster: Gortat vs. Vazquez...that could be interesting. End of three from Orlando...Bobcats 77, Magic 62

Adam_Magic: Out of interest how is Morrison playing?

davcivic: I had not seen him play before, but looking at the webcasts he looks really good.

bhnole: Morrison had a slow start playing better now.


Paul Gude: I'm guessing that everyone besides Matthew is a regular poster, is that correct?

Live or Die Magic: Paul, yes, looking at the list of chatters, you are conversing with the "regulars" and some of the more "prolific" posters.

Magic Webmaster: yeah...all these guys are great. LetsGoMagic is one of my trusty Moderators
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SWS84: I just found the board right before the draft. I have been posting regularly since.

Magic Webmaster: Yes, we are a Marc Acres and Fendi away from having a full roster

Live or Die Magic: True!

SWS84:

Live or Die Magic: I'd love to see a Jack Daniel "I believe, Do You?" right about now.

davcivic: We are probably the daily posters, I for one check in about 10 times every hour

Live or Die Magic: Marc must have heard you mention him.

bhnole: Hiya Marc,' bout time you got on

Live or Die Magic: Marc, we had just said that the "regulars" are all hear save for you and Fendi.

Magic Webmaster: BTW...keep listening to our Webcast. After this game, we're going to try and get Travis Diener, along with maybe Adam Morrison or Sean May on there with Dante and George

SWS84: Cooool!

Adam_Magic: I think the MB is awesome overall, we have some great banter and alot of talk about all things Magic. I think it is far better than any other Magic boards!

SWS84: As far as message boards go, it is a young board, but it seems to be up and coming

Paul Gude: What's it like moderating a fan site? You mention you like the boards to be for the fans. Does that mean you cut folks a lot of slack?

Magic Webmaster: Somewhat. Obviously we like to keep it clean, but we didn't try and censor fans just because they don't agree with the Magic or the decisions made by the team.

SWS84: Speaking of Acres...

bhnole: Missing our resident Aussie too.

LetsGoMagic: Magic down 15

davcivic: Except for maybe 3 or 4 members everyone is pretty tolerant to different ideas, and the Mods quickly fix any problems, I like it

Marc Acres 3:16: Stupid job is messing up my posting time!

Adam_Magic: I hate it when jobs do that!

LetsGoMagic: LOL your post time!

SWS84: Where are you priorities????

Marc Acres 3:16: My back kinda hurts too, anyone know how to fix a herniated disc?

bhnole: LOL, big needles to your spinal cord!

SWS84: rest JJ, lots of rest

Live or Die Magic: I'd like to second what our Webmaster just said about lack of censorship....he has done an awesome job with that! We can voice our "clean" opinions without fear of being edited even if we disagree with Management.

davcivic: my boss is gone for the day, I'm good to waste time right now...

Paul Gude: That's a great question. Do you see board traffic slow down at certain times a day, like when things such as work or sleep get in the way?

Live or Die Magic: We have posters literally all over the world! There is always someone on posting.

davcivic: there a sharp decline in posts after lunch, I guess people start working at that time

LetsGoMagic: I think Rockchalk is the one holding back, he needs to set his priorities right and start posting more

Marc Acres 3:16: RockChalk has been holding back, at this rate Dwights kids will be on the team before he hits 1000

Magic Webmaster: The boards tend to slow more when there's not much NBA or Magic action going on. This is prime time right now with the Draft and the Summer League. We've had more than 100 new additions to our board in the last two weeks.

Live or Die Magic: and 98 of those 100 additions were JJ fans.

Adam_Magic: The regulars stay strong though!

Magic Webmaster: Hey, I'm closing in on 100 posts. Stay tuned!

LetsGoMagic: all this Redick talk is killing me

Adam_Magic: I agree LGM!

Marc Acres 3:16: LOL! I am going to run home, tired of being at work, I'll jump back on then.

Live or Die Magic: See you Marc!

SWS84: later

bhnole: cya

bhnole: Rockchalk, any chance we will be able to do custom avatars?

Magic Webmaster: Yes, I'm definitely leaning that way. Once Summer League comes to a close, I'll more than likely enable custom avatars

bhnole: Excellent gets confusing sometimes when you have 5 guys with Coach Hill avatars

LetsGoMagic: Rockchalk are you in the Gym right now or in a office somewhere just curious

Magic Webmaster: I'm sitting right next to the Bobcat bench

SWS84: neat

Magic Webmaster: It's easier to be courtside, that way I can quickly update the Web site and keep an eye on our Webcast

LetsGoMagic: yeah thats nice. how many seconds delay is on the webcast to live play?

Magic Webmaster: It depends. Sometimes in only 15-20 seconds...other times I'm seeing the delay at around 2:00

Paul Gude: I have to say, if there's one take-away from this chat, it's "Get a laptop and post from where the action is." As far as Summer League goes, do you have any special events lined up for the next couple of months?

Magic Webmaster: Absolutely. And we may have live game updates during the regular season. Stay tuned!

bhnole: Has the team signed Travis to a contract for next year yet? I thought 2nd rounders only got one year deals.

Adam_Magic: do you know if any of the players ever check the message board?

LetsGoMagic: Rockchalk anyone you can get Dante to mention my screen name on webcast?

Magic Webmaster: I'll see what I can do. Dante and George both check out the message boards, so I'm sure if you mention something on there they'll bring it up on the air

LetsGoMagic: Ive never had my 15 minutes of fame yet

davcivic: Well guys, I have to go home now, and it's a 1:30hr drive home, so it was fun but I'll talk to you in the forums

Adam_Magic: see you dav!

bhnole: Cya Dav!

SWS84: take care

davcivic: bye

Adam_Magic: Paul, is there anything else you wanted to know about the MB?

Paul Gude: How many hours a day would you regular posters say you spend on the boards?

Adam_Magic: I would say most of the day to be honest haha, dont tell my boss!

Magic Webmaster: Thank you all for joining us and we appreciate your regular contributions to our boards and support of the Orlando Magic

SWS84: I check it regularly, in between homework and other errands.

Magic Webmaster: Well guys, I'm going to have to wrap this up. We got just a couple minutes left in the game and I'm going to have to get to work. Got to grab James Augustine so he can update his Summer League Blog and see if I can get a couple of players to get on the Webcast

bhnole: Thanks for the time RCM!, Good job with the site. Really enjoying it.

Paul Gude: Thanks, for taking the time to talk to us!