Being that my Top Ten’s and other columns have been well received and well like by many readers, and that their popularity is growing, I figured that a way to get more people reading my stuff would be to enter into agreements with other sports sites to have them post my stuff as well. So, in an effort to get my stuff out there to as many people as possible, I have done exactly that. Now, it has gotten to a point where I am now officially under contract with another sports site, who are, unfortunately, a rival of 49ersparadise for visitors and traffic.

As I entered into this contract, I dreaded the fact that although I had just opened doors in front of me for potential success, I may have slammed one behind me, leaving my beloved 49ersparadise readers out in the harsh cold of cyberspace. Luckily for me, for you, and for everyone, the person running 49ersparadise is a stand up guy who has to be the most accommodating and professional Webmaster I have ever had the privilege of working with.

(That’s right, Mr. Bryan Hersh, here is where you get your long overdue, and well deserved props my man.)

Upon hearing the news that I would have to limit my submission to this rival site and that site alone, I started to really panic. But luckily the bosses over at the other site are pretty cool too, so they said I could continue to submit to 49ersparadise, but there was a catch.

Uh oh… the proverbial catch….

(What could they want? My first born to be named after them? An appendage?)

They asked that I provide a tag and a link back to that rival site on my Top Ten’s or any other column that I write and would like to submit to BOTH sites. So, from now on, you will see a disclaimer or a notice at the bottom of some of my articles that reads something like this…

“Content also provided to *******.***”

So, again I had reason to panic, because Bryan had been accommodating on my news that I was under contract with a rival site now, but to allow me to provide a link back to their site on all of my most popular columns would be a different story. Or so I thought. Again, and as per usual, Bryan came to the party with kind words and a helping hand, saying things to me like he would oblige to these small details rather than lose my contributions all together.

(Amidst all this new mumbo-jumbo, Bryan still found an opportunity to compliment old Zimmy… what a guy.)

Bryan told me that he appreciated what I have done for 49ersparadise and he didn’t want to see me go. That made me feel like a million bucks, but to be quite honest, it was I who did NOT want to see me go more than he.

You see, little does Bryan know that it is I who appreciates more than anyone what 49ersparadise has done for ME.

(Background story alert! Background story alert!)

You see, I started this sports writing adventure of mine back in ’99 with simple ramblings I put out on a 49ers message board I visited. Before I knew it, the Webmaster was emailing me asking for me to become a regular contributor to his website.

(Apparently he had a thing for lame jokes and run on sentences… wait a minute… so do all of you!)

Well, I was more than ecstatic about becoming a published (albeit electronically) writer, so I jumped at the chance. Things went along fine until that site went up in smoke, and along with it, went my sports writing career, if you can call it that.

Then one day a Mr. Bryan Hersh of 49ersparadise came knocking at my inbox.

We had been in contact before regarding a possible agreement, but it didn’t pan out, but this time it was different. Bryan offered me the chance to have my very own “Corner” on 49ersparadise, an honor only bestowed upon the likes of Sydney Mayhew until then. Bryan gave me a voice and a medium when I didn’t have one, and to be honest, didn’t really feel like expressing it. And for that, friends, I am forever indebted.

He told me to start up with the Top Ten’s and take it from there… And look where it has taken me? It has taken me to heights of exposure I never thought I would reach, and it has helped shape me into the writer, sports fan, and person I am today. Wow, that is a lot to thank a Webbie for, now isn’t it?

So, the long and short of it is, you will now see a little link to a competing website on my Top Ten’s that are found at 49ersparadise, and we all can thank Bryan for that. If he didn’t want it, we wouldn’t even be having this discussion right now. Thanks again B…

But before I wrap this up, let me just mention to all of you out there that just because I am under contract with another sports site, that doesn’t mean that you won’t be able to find original content from SuperZim on and exclusive to 49ersparadise. Check the “Sounding Off” feature, and look for columns and other ramblings by yours truly that will be exclusive to 49ersparadise.cjb.net.

So, as I tell all the friendly people who email me to talk football or to tell me how out of my mind crazy I am… “You just keep on reading em, and I’ll keep on writin em…”

Until Next Time…

Note: If you want to contact Zim for any reason, be sure to email his NEW address at superzim@49ersparadise.cjb.net

Editors Notes: by Bryan Hersh Of course it would only be fitting for me to chime in here.

It was quite some time ago that I first contacted Zim to bring his Top Ten’s to 49ers Paradise. I had been an avid reader for quite some time, and was looking to expand the corner sections, so I thought ‘who better>’. Unfortunately at the time, Zim did not have the luxury to post his articles wherever he wished, and of course my not knowing that, opened me up to quite an assertive email from his ‘boss’.

It was soon after that Zim became unhappy with where he was. Thankfully, he remembered my interest in bringing him aboard and contacted me. I was all to happy to accommodate him to the site. I new he was dedicated, I loved his work - it seemed to be a match made in heaven.

I immediately got to work in designing Zim’s Corner which would run along side of Syd’s Corner, which had already been established. It didn’t take long for Zim’s articles to make an impact on readers of 49ers Paradise. To this day, I receive emails complimenting me on the staff at this site, and really am thrilled with every contribution.

This past week, when Zim alerted me that he may have to leave 49ers Paradise, I admittedly felt crushed. His contributions to the site, as you have undoubtedly seen are great, and there was no way I was going to let him go that easily. I too have been tempted by the thought of posting my content across the net. Sites like hardrocksports.com, lovefootball.com, profootballnews.net, thenflforum.com and many others have all been blessed with my content. Sfillustrated.com also tried to recruit me to design their site. It was fun while it lasted, but my time, I realized was better spent on improving Paradise than on showcasing my talent across the net. So I knew where Zim was coming from when he approached me with the chance of having his articles syndicated.

I took a look at the facts, and took maybe a whole five seconds to realize that a simple link, even to rival site, providing they would agree to some rewording of that link, was certainly worth giving if it meant keeping Zim around. And so, we all win. I keep a great writer and friend as a part of 49ers Paradise. Zim gets his articles syndicated, and all of you get to keep reading the latest from Zim at 49ers Paradise. It’s a small sacrifice to make, and I’m happy Zim will continue working with the rest of us at 49ers Paradise, in making this site, the best there is.