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Subject: Former Microsoft Exec. buys SmallWorld Posted by: Rocket Roger - [178571015] Thu, May 17, 08:35 NEW YORK (Reuters) - Vulcan Ventures, an investment fund run by Microsoft Corp. (NasdaqNM:MSFT - news) co-founder Paul Allen, said on Thursday that it was buying Small World Media, operator of sports' games Website (http://www.smallworld.com), a move that will help boost its sporting properties. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Vulcan will wrap the assets of assets of Small World Media into sports media company The Sporting News, which Vulcan bought just over a year ago. Small World's founder and chief executive, Mark Jacobstein, will become vice president and general manager for fantasy sports of The Sporting News. The Sporting World's Fantasy Sports Division, under Jacobstein's leadership will continue to develop and maintain licensed fantasy sports games in baseball, football, basketball, hockey, auto-racing, soccer and golf, Vulcan said. The division will operate from Small World's New York offices, it said. Allen, who bought the Seattle Seahawks football team in June 1997 and the Portland Trail Blazers basketball team in 1988, quit running Microsoft's day-to-day operations in the early 1980s to battle Hodgkin's disease. The billionaire stepped down from Microsoft board of directors last year. He now heads Vulcan, which has put money into a number of growing number of high-tech and media companies. | ||||||
| 22 | allhair allstars Sustainer ID: 455222012 Thu, May 17, 10:24 | Like Microsoft hasn't already taken over enough of my existence already!! Now they've really got a stranglehold! | |||||
| 23 | Perm Dude Leader ID: 582521316 Thu, May 17, 10:47 |
Very funny, AA! In order to trade, you'll now have to download the new Microsoft FantasyTeamView 2.0, from www.microsoft.com/ This new version eliminates the bug in the old version which allowed anyone to just come in your front door and whack you on the side of the head if you had FTV and Outlook open at the same time. pd | |||||
| 24 | Janitor ID: 2123168 Thu, May 17, 10:50 | I'm hoping this Microsoft move parlays into better prizes. How about an X-Box for all top 100 finishers? | |||||
| 25 | E'ville Leader ID: 29017810 Thu, May 17, 10:58 | More than likely Shawn Kemp autograph pics. or an opportunity to coach the Blazers. | |||||
| 26 | Makisupa ID: 11458179 Thu, May 17, 11:04 |
What a nice new pop-up, thanks SW! We are pleased to announce that Small World has been acquired by The Sporting News, the "go to" source for today's real sports fan. What does this mean for you? You'll now have access to more insightful sports information to make your fantasy experience that much more enjoyable and rewarding. Of course, many of you are familiar with The Sporting News, America's first and longest-published sports magazine. You may not know that The Sporting News, owned by Paul Allen's Vulcan Ventures, also has the largest sports-talk radio network in the U.S, with over 400 stations nationwide, and one of the best sports web sites in the world. We think you'll agree that our Small World has just gotten a little bit bigger and quite a bit better! | |||||
| 28 | JeffG Donor ID: 40451227 Thu, May 17, 11:10 |
Well, no more panicing about SW going down mid season. Vulcan Ventures? Is this their CEO? 
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| 29 | Pilewort Donor ID: 44243198 Thu, May 17, 11:11 |
possible raminfications: no more King Richard sneak peeks. A consistent pricing scheme. No chance of a Guru-run fantasy game. Pay to play games only. Ichiro up $1000000 the first day the MS programmers get to NY. MediumWorld? Hell! More like M-16s at the front door of MegaWorld, precluding any chance of repeat walk-in visit. Maybe Paul Allen will put Guru on retainer. Then again, maybe he'll shut down this site with a stack of court orders that would choke F. Lee Bailey. Maybe both. These could be the best of times, the worst of times. | |||||
| 30 | Irish ID: 51253115 Thu, May 17, 11:14 | Let's hope we have found our new money train !!! | |||||
| 31 | Balrog Leader ID: 18135710 Thu, May 17, 11:18 |
I heard a rumor that SW games would still be free under Allen, but that they will be bundled with Windows XP, so you'll have to shell out $150 for the upgrade. Oh and Mac users will not be able to play at all! :) | |||||
| 32 | Pilewort Donor ID: 44243198 Thu, May 17, 11:21 | lol balrog...but you'll be able to get it free with Netscape. Wait...oh, yeah, Geo. W won the election. | |||||
| 33 | KKB, Guru Jr. ID: 51521713 Thu, May 17, 11:22 |
WAIT, WAIT, WAIT! Vulcan Ventures IS NOT part of Microsoft. It never has been and it never will be. Vulcan Ventures is a Venture Capitalist firm established by Paul Allen to infuse money into established "wired" comapnies that need it and look to benefit from it. You can read their Invetment Criteria here. The Experience Music Project is a music museum that Paul Allen created in Seattle to honor musicians, originally it was Seattle native Jimi Hendrix, and he had famed architect Frank Gehry create the amazing building. So SW is not being bought, nor run, by Microsoft. It's being bought by Paul Allen and Vulcan Ventures. There is a very key distinction. I think this is a good move, however there are questions that come from the situation. We'll just have to wait and see what the answers are. | |||||
| 34 | Pilewort Donor ID: 44243198 Thu, May 17, 11:24 |
exactly KKB. And Paul Allen still has a very very big stake in the future of MS. So technical you are right, in the real business world you are wrong. | |||||
| 35 | Guru ID: 330592710 Thu, May 17, 11:25 | Perhaps they will now be able to stop that Borg trading... | |||||
| 36 | biliruben Sustainer ID: 3502218 Thu, May 17, 11:43 |
"Amazing" is not exactly how most of us in Seattle characterizing the EMP. It has been dubbed "Paul Allen's Revenge" by some, in order to get back at the city for not voting for his last big project - a downtown park. Personally, I think the building is, um..., interesting. | |||||
| 37 | KKB, Guru Jr. ID: 51521713 Thu, May 17, 11:53 |
Pilewort, if that's true, then why don't the Blazers play in "Microsoft Arena"? And why didn't the Seahawks play in the "Microsoft Kingdome"? What about the "Microsoft Experience Music Project". If Microsoft is truly involved in what Paul Allen is doing, then they're missing out on a ton of advertising opportunity. Or could it be that Paul Allen has so much money that he can actually do with it what he wants, exclusive of Microsoft? Sure Allen has a stake in Microsoft, but Microsoft is not going anywhere anytime soon. You do realize that Allen has, as of Feb, over $9-Billion in MSFT stock, right? At almost 140-million shares, with the stock price going up a mere 17-cents today, he's made $23.8M just today. Anyhow, the point is that Allen doesn't have to tie anything he does anymore to MSFT and it's shown by him selling MSFT stock all the time. Sure, the money comes from his selling of MSFT stock, but that's about the extent of the tie to MSFT. MSFT is not dependent upon it and neither is Allen. Allen's Vulcan Ventures is his way of doing what he wants to do, independently. | |||||
| 38 | OSU Rules Sustainer ID: 15372315 Thu, May 17, 12:03 | Maybe it is coincidence, but I received my prize notification for SW Hoops today. I am especially curious about what will be in my SW Prize Package now. | |||||
| 39 | Perm Dude Leader ID: 582521316 Thu, May 17, 12:08 | Maybe Don Mathis! | |||||
| 40 | Puck Bunny ID: 524121712 Thu, May 17, 12:12 | No more Sports Illustrated pop-ups! | |||||
| 41 | Pistol Pete ID: 2041038 Thu, May 17, 12:34 | Wrong, Guru! To stop the Borg they would have to be owned by "Klingon Ventures"! We'll know for sure if it's Vulcan owned when the "Cannot find server" page says something like, "it is not logical to view this page....". Klingon owned server problems would be met with a page saying something like "hock ock wock hock ock..." ; ) | |||||
| 42 | katietx ID: 35319156 Thu, May 17, 12:42 |
Hi guys...i'm from the golf boards. This is indeed good news. We have had some probs in trades showing up on teams we are not working on! Maybe this will fix? Also, trying to access SW from cable or DSL is a total nighmare. I can access from my ancient dial up at work faster than at home! Go figure!!! | |||||
| 43 | Catfish Sustainer ID: 71158811 Thu, May 17, 12:51 | The Vulcan mind meld replaces the Randro pitcher meld ... | |||||
| 44 | Guru ID: 330592710 Thu, May 17, 14:21 | Actually, upon further reflection, it would probably take "Species 8472 Ventures" to stop the Borg... | |||||
| 45 | The Bandwagon ID: 254501115 Thu, May 17, 15:45 | Yes!!! I can smell my 5 grand!!! | |||||
| 46 | Species Donor ID: 304521510 Thu, May 17, 15:45 |
Hey! I don't get the joke, but it has to be at my expense! ;-) | |||||
| 47 | Mattinglyinthehall ID: 1832399 Thu, May 17, 15:50 |
Star Trek reference, Species. Not directed at you. SPecies 8472 (as The Borg had named them) were the only race they failed to assimilate. In their case, resistance was not by any means, futile. Live long and prosper. -MITH | |||||
| 48 | Species Donor ID: 304521510 Thu, May 17, 15:52 | Mattingly - thanks. That makes it much funnier! ;-) | |||||
| 49 | Paul Allen Leader ID: 54420321 Thu, May 17, 16:03 |
I am pleased to introduce myself to this community of fantasy sports enthusiasts! I have been "lurking" here (as you say) for some time, and it is in part this window on Small World that convinced me that this was an enterprise worth investing in. My philosophy has always been that having a core of enthusiastic and committed customers is the cornerstone to a successful business. While I know you all have questions as to where we will take Small World going forward, please be reassured that we will not lose sight of the "Gurupies" as a microcosm of our crucial customer base. Any steps we take will be done with an eye toward making you all even more committed than you already are. I look forward to participating from time to time in the discussions that are fomented at this excellent site. I am also hoping that the Guru will quickly become a member of our extended family. Good luck to all on Super Friday! | |||||
| 50 | Mattinglyinthehall ID: 1832399 Thu, May 17, 16:07 | Thank you for the acknowledgement Mr' Allen! If that's not encouraging, I don't know what is. | |||||
| 51 | allhair allstars Sustainer ID: 172283016 Thu, May 17, 16:11 |
Guru, That sounds like opportunity a-knockin'! Thanks for dropping by Paul. Hope you can find time in your busy schedule to visit from time to time. And look! Already a "Leader"! Good Job! | |||||
| 52 | allhair allstars Sustainer ID: 172283016 Thu, May 17, 16:12 | Pond Scum!! | |||||
| 53 | JeffG Donor ID: 40451227 Thu, May 17, 16:12 | Pond Scum, you should have changed your gurupie ID before impersonating Paul Allen. | |||||
| 54 | slosh23 ID: 112191215 Thu, May 17, 16:13 | Hook, Line, and 'Pond'Sinker... | |||||
| 55 | Mattinglyinthehall ID: 1832399 Thu, May 17, 16:15 | AA, how'd you figure that out? They're 7 digit numbers for sake! | |||||
| 56 | Mattinglyinthehall ID: 1832399 Thu, May 17, 16:16 | I feel like a | |||||
| 57 | JeffG Donor ID: 40451227 Thu, May 17, 16:17 | MITH: Just type the id number in the thread filter looking for all threads containing that text. | |||||
| 58 | Paul Allen Leader ID: 54420321 Thu, May 17, 16:17 |
I would like to apologize to Pond Scum who has been nice enough to have us over for dinner at his home tonight. I didn't mean to get him in trouble, but I wanted to send a message to you all. I have known for a while that he is a fan of these boards and, given recent events, I couldn't resist posting. Sorry for the confusion! | |||||
| 59 | Mattinglyinthehall ID: 1832399 Thu, May 17, 16:20 | Ahhh. AA probably could have convinced me he (she?) was a casino card counter. | |||||
| 60 | RSF, Guru Jr ID: 47426118 Thu, May 17, 16:20 |
So Pond Scum is really Paul Allen? Sweeeet! And from his Leader tag, he appears to have investments into RotoGuru.Com as well. :-) | |||||
| 61 | Paul Allen Leader ID: 54420321 Thu, May 17, 16:20 | BTW, the reason I am with Pond Scum tonight is to celebrate his birthday. Please join me in wishing him a prosperous and happy one! | |||||
| 62 | Mattinglyinthehall ID: 1832399 Thu, May 17, 16:26 | I've got your happy birthday right here buddy... | |||||
| 63 | slosh23 ID: 112191215 Thu, May 17, 16:29 | Dinner at 2:30 in the afternoon? ; ) | |||||
| 64 | The Left Wings ID: 2131321 Thu, May 17, 18:10 |
If SW is owned by billionaire, it'd better be free. It's really good news though. JeffG, that eyebrow twitch freaked me out. You ! Live long and prosper. | |||||
| 65 | KevinL Donor ID: 10417811 Thu, May 17, 18:46 | Billionaires don't get to be billionaires by giving stuff away for free. Any venture capitalist who bought it must have been convinced there's money to be made. | |||||
| 66 | JeffG Donor ID: 2444220 Thu, May 17, 20:43 | Left Wing: I didn't even realize the eyebrow twitched, it was just the first Spock JPEG I found after doing a search. LOL. | |||||
| 67 | allhair allstars Sustainer ID: 8259112 Thu, May 17, 21:30 |
Pond Scum, Happy Birthday to you! Even after you momentarily snookered me with that now defunct post! :) Make sure to say "hey" to Paulie for me. | |||||
| 68 | Species ID: 27382815 Thu, May 17, 22:38 | TLW/Jeff G - I didn't know Spock had the original "People's Eyebrow"! hahahahhahaha | |||||
| 69 | Makisupa Donor ID: 19133810 Fri, May 18, 03:26 |
From paulallen.com: LOS ANGELES – May 16, 2001 – At the Interactive Sports West conference today, Vulcan Ventures announced it will acquire New York-based Small World Media, a leading provider of fantasy sports games and operator of smallworld.com. The assets of Small World Media will become part of The Sporting News (TSN), a leading US sports media company and publisher of the weekly magazine, various books, radio and other Web content. Small World’s founder and CEO, Mark Jacobstein, will remain with the company and serve as vice president, general manager fantasy sports of The Sporting News. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The Web’s top fantasy sports site, smallworld.com consistently ranks as one of the most used sites on the Internet according to Media Metrix, with the average time spent per visitor exceeding 145 minutes in February 2001. “Smallworld.com is a favored site for millions of fantasy sports players,” said Jim Nuckols, CEO of The Sporting News. “Through integration of our existing fantasy sports content, we will now offer a more robust gaming experience while strengthening our customer relationships. We also see these gaming communities as an attractive audience and brand extension opportunity for advertisers from our radio network, magazine, and Web site. And, fantasy sports applications are an important component of our strategy to address new environments such as iTV and wireless.” The Fantasy Sports Division, under the leadership of Jacobstein, will continue to develop and maintain licensed fantasy sports games in baseball, football, basketball, hockey, auto-racing, soccer and golf. The division will continue to operate from Small World’s existing facility in New York. According to Harris Interactive, there are an estimated 30 million people in the US who participate in fantasy sports, with the number continuing to grow as they encourage friends to participate. “Our universe already includes over 2.6 million members who have registered to play free fantasy sports games online,” said Jacobstein. “We have remarkable loyalty among our players – passionate, competitive and Web-savvy consumers – and teaming with The Sporting News will be an outstanding match for everyone. Our customers will now be able to leverage additional content and services, such as TSN’s Fantasy Yearbooks in football and baseball, making the experience that much more interesting and fun.” | |||||
| 70 | CanEHdian Pride ID: 426351415 Fri, May 18, 13:07 |
"with the average time spent per visitor exceeding 145 minutes in February 2001." I think that this stat is a little misleading considering half of that time is used waiting for pages to load. Oh well, sounds like good news but I have a feeling there will be some kind of fee. | |||||
| 71 | Bob Whittsit ID: 26224814 Fri, May 18, 13:20 |
nah, there will probably not be fees. Paul owns so many other internet ventures through Vulcan that he will probably just use the large traffic and user time in smallworld to generate ads and ad revenue for his other much larger media investments. he's a sports fanatic, so it was a personal and not financial decision. | |||||
| 72 | azdbacker ID: 51392423 Tue, May 22, 16:33 | BUTT - for Ref. Been on vacation, bud? | |||||
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