Byline: Mike Bass Post staff reporter
As cyberspace continues shrinking the world, the Reds and Bengals know they have to keep broadening their thinking.
Neither of Cincinnati's major-league pro sports teams was exactly on the cutting edge of riding the information superhighway to a closer relationship with their fans. But that's changing, especially for the Reds.
The Reds are in the process of completing their Web site on the Internet. They had advertised it would be ready exactly one month ago, but is up and running on only a limited basis.
But baseball's first pro team did come out on Opening Day with its media guide on CD-ROM, believed to be the first of its kind in the sport.
''It's just something we felt would be valuable not only for the media,'' said Mike Ringering, Reds director of publications, ''but interesting and interactive for kids and people wanting to know more about the Cincinnati Reds.''
The Bengals, meanwhile, have no plans to build an independent Web site, but they are working with the NFL on developing their portion of its Web site, nfl.com, with the league's help.
''It's part of our way of living these days,'' said Bengals president Mike Brown. ''The young people are very acquainted with this kind of thing. We just have to learn more how to operate with it. It's to the advantage of the fans, the public, the player and the coaches.''
The idea is to build a better link to the fans, through statistics and information and e-mail and other interactivities.
Bengals marketing director Mike Hoffbauer was in New York on Wednesday for the league's Internet meetings. Hoffbauer said the NFL's site already has quality programming and information.
''I think it would benefit us if, say, every Wednesday or Thursday we have a chat session with one of our players or coaches,'' said Hoffbauer.
Ann Kirschner, vice president of NFL Interactive, said the philosophy is to make sure every team has a quality area for fans.
''Even if you're a fan of Team A, when it's playing Team B, you want to see information of both,'' she said. ''It's the philosophy of the league to make sure fans of each team are served.''
But other NFL teams do have the option of producing their own Web sites. The Jacksonville Jaguars' Web site (jaguars.com), in fact, was named one of the top 100 Web sites of any kind in 1996 by PC magazine. It features striking graphics and everything from a history of the franchise to trading cards.
The NFL site, nfl.com, is trying to expand, to be more comprehensive, to offer more video. Teams supplement the Web site, but their own sites can offer so much more, if they choose. Same for baseball.
When Ringering was looking at Web sites in building the Reds' (cincinnatireds.com), the two that particularly impressed him were the Los Angeles Dodgers' (dodgers.com) and the Atlanta Braves' (atlantabraves.com).
''The Dodgers have a couple of things we'll try, like live updates during our games,'' said Ringering. ''You'll be able to go on the Web site and find out what happened in the first inning and have a television image, a freeze frame, from the action.''
Ringering apologizes for the delays. The time of setting up the site with the help of Cincinnati's Gaeanet Design has taken longer than expected because he wants the site to be of the highest quality.
''They come back with designs and ideas, and if it's not what I want, they go back and do it again,'' Ringering said. ''When it's done, it will be fantastic - well worth the wait. And we're going to keep expanding like you wouldn't believe.''
The roster is available. So is a contest in which fans can choose players from the Reds and that day's opponent to earn points (and eventually prizes) for their performances. Updated and detailed stats should be available soon, as well as merchandise.
''Eventually, we'd like to have a Reds alumni section, where you can go in and look at the entire list of the 1,400 players who have appeared in a Cincinnati Reds uniform, click to that player, find his biography and career record and statistics,'' said Ringering. ''I also want a Big Red Machine page.
''But it takes time.''
Ringering credits Reds managing executive John Allen for approving the Web site and the CD-ROM last year. Abrams & Associates sales director Gary Schatz and president Ron Weigand are in the CD-ROM business, and they presented the idea to the Reds and the Bengals.
The Bengals passed for now, but the Reds said yes.
''We figured if we made it entertaining, added some video highlights, some games for kids, it would be marketable,'' said Schatz. ''That's one of baseball's things now - they want to reach the younger fans.''
Besides the media guide, there are video clips, a Mr. Red race, a trivia quiz and a ''Concentration'' game. Ringering said he and Schatz see this year as a learning experience, that the project will grow.
The CD-ROM has been on the market only a few weeks now. Schatz said 10,000 were produced, retailing at $19.95 each, but only about 80 have been sold.
Schatz said he and Weigand put up the money and that they need to sell about 2,500 to break even. After that they and the Reds will split the profits.
''We still expect to sell 5,000,'' said Schatz.
Text of fax box follows:
Big leagues on the Web
Some of the more notable NFL and Major League Baseball Web sites:
TEAM WEB ADDRESS
Jacksonville Jaguars www.jaguars.com
Dallas Cowboys www.dallascowboys.com
Kansas City Chiefs www.kcchiefs.com
Los Angeles Dodgers www.dodgers.com
Atlanta Braves www.atlantabraves.com
Florida Marlins www.flamarlins.com
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The Reds media guide on CD-ROM may be a first in pro sports
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