The Internet is a godsend for schmucks like me who somehow earned a degree from the University of Dayton despite having lived for four (or six or, what the heck, eight) years in a beer-and-whatever-induced fog.

The point is, I got the degree. And the university got my heart – at least the part of it that’s devoted to higher education and hoops (not in that order).

As for the Internet … well, it’s the perfect means by which you follow your heart even when your middle-aged butt is planted 270 miles away in the suburban shadows of Pittsburgh. I may have left UD, but it never left me. And surfing the Web is one of the best ways I know to keep in touch.

A few years back, that’s exactly what I was doing when I came across John Huston’s wonderful site largely devoted to the Flyers’ basketball recruiting efforts. It’s what I was doing when I discovered the old Flyer Hoops site, and one devoted to the Atlantic 10, and the live broadcasts on WHIO (hooray!), and many, many others devoted in one way or another to college roundball and Dayton.

And, of course, it’s what I was doing six years ago when I first came across the fledgling UDPride.com – for my money, the finest of them all. From day one, it was attractively designed, painstakingly maintained, chock-full of information, comprehensive (coverage of nearly all UD sports), and blessed with a wonderful group of message board moderators and posters who were at once witty, opinionated, argumentative, articulate, knowledgeable, and downright insane. I dig them all – even the ones who give me indigestion.

You see, we’re all in this for the love of the game; more specifically, for our love of the Flyers.

The best part is that the Internet brings us all of this for free.

But as you all know, UDPride didn’t materialize out of thin air. It costs a pretty penny to operate this site, and the costs are borne by a precious few. But subscription fees are a pain to so many of us, and that’s why we’ve seen a number of sites and message boards bite the dust. Online advertising is limited, and the sites that continue on do so largely because they’re labors of love for those who produce, maintain and – out of their own pockets – finance them.

Now, before you start to twitch and spasm, know this: The LAST thing UDPride is going to do is charge a subscription fee. Chris Rieman and his fine crew (The Fly pompously accepts the modifier “fine” on his own behalf) are dedicated to providing you the best forum on UD hoops anywhere within cyberspace.

For free.

But – bet you knew there was a “but” in here – UDPride has launched launch an optional new feature that will require a donation. The Web crew is calling it Pride Plus, the place to find information on everything from coaching strategy to the recruiting wars to league scuttlebutt. Part gossip, part informed speculation, part source-based fact, Pride Plus will give you news and views you won’t get anywhere else.

Pride Plus offerings also will include:
· Extra photos from games and on-campus events.
· Updates from informal discussions with coaches, administrators and players.
· Additional stories not posted on the home page.
· Staff updates and “private” discussions of hot topics.
· Promotions, complimentary tickets (if available), directions to events.
· Discounted UDPride merchandise (still a work in progress).
· A complete schedule of UD happenings.
· Informal get-togethers with the UDPride staff.
· Heck, we’ll even engage in rumor mongering.

So, about those donations? Well, a $49 contribution gets you a one-year Pride Plus membership ($89 for two years; $119 for three – UDPride is in its seventh season so it’s not going anywhere). And because nothing else about UDPride changes, consider the Pride Plus option the best way to thank the more than 600 registered site users for their help in defraying operational costs. And that’s exactly where your donation goes – to cover expenses in making UDPride a reality, from the home page to the message board to Pride Plus.

Again, those of you who do NOT sign up won’t notice a thing, because there will be no decrease in coverage. Everything you’ve seen previously at UDPride will remain unchanged. This staff doesn’t believe in arm-twisting – it makes it too difficult to hoist beer mugs. So if you don’t want to contribute, don’t. You won’t miss a thing.

But for those who do pony up a little jing, we’ll make Pride Plus sing.

OK, scratch poetry from The Fly’s repertoire. But for what it’s worth, I mean what I say. I’m a charter Pride Plus member, but hardly a shill. I’m writing this primarily because I like what Chris and his crew do, and I felt like I should pay them back a tad for what they’ve given me – lots of entertainment and good, solid information.

You see, the UDPride staff has worked hard to develop contacts within the UD Athletic Department and elsewhere. Beyond that, this staff includes skilled online journalists whose credentials extend from computer technology to mass media; from sports administration to business management. All of those skills, already applied to the other elements of the newly designed site, will come to bear in providing you expanded Flyer news at Pride Plus.

So, enjoy UDPride for what it is – an online newspaper devoted exclusively to University of Dayton athletics, with an array of sports reports, photos, graphics, power ratings, links and message board banter. But consider, too, tapping into Pride Plus, where a little bit of money will go a long way while helping secure UDPride’s long-term viability as the Internet’s best source of Flyer news.

You can join Pride Plus from the home page or by clicking here. Batter up and thanks for listening!