It's time to end an era.
After much thought, after much debate and after much of my own butt-kicking, I have decided to step down from Over the Monster and SB Nation as a whole.
This decision was not an easy one to make, and there's been plenty that has influenced this move. In the smack-dab middle of the summer, I was offered a job in Connecticut that I would have been a dummy not to take. Then, not even two months later, I was offered a sports writing job back in New Hampshire -- another situation where I would have kicked myself if I said no. That's what I'm doing now, but over the course of that time -- between learning new jobs and moving and all that "fun" stuff -- I've had little time for OTM.
At this point, if I can't give OTM my all, then I shouldn't give it anything. OTM has been my baby since February of 2005 and I've worked hard at making it as great as I could. At this point I'm not doing OTM justice and that just kills me.
I'm at a crossroads in my life and as badly as it hurts to back away, I have to do it. I'm the kind of guy that needs to give everything in my life 100 percent. Right now OTM isn't getting a huge percentage. Along with my new job (that I love), I'm living in a new city (if you can call it that) with a new relationship, a purchase of a house on the way and a non-profit foundation I've created that is getting off the ground and is extremely important to me.
So it's time for a change.
I'm not sure what the future of OTM is. The powers that be -- the head honchos of SB Nation -- are figuring that out as we speak. If I had control over it, I know exactly what I'd do, but right now it's out of my hands.
But do not worry: OTM will be as great as it ever was no matter what happens. Whether you continue to just see the same friendly faces or a couple of new names are tossed into the mix, OTM is great because it is in great hands from top to bottom.
I want you to know, though, something that I have said since the beginning: OTM is not great because of me or Ben or E or anyone else that writes for this site. OTM is great because of YOU, the readers. You, the community members, are the heartbeat of OTM. You are what makes this site go. Don't be foolish to think it's us; it's all on you guys and it's all on you to keep OTM as great as it possibly can be.
I've been doing OTM since February 22, 2005. That's nearly six years of Red Sox blogging at SB Nation. Previously to OTM, I started a Red Sox blog called "Red Sox Haven" and that's how it all started. I was just a kid then at 17 years old and now ... well, I'm still a kid. I'll always be a kid no matter how old I am and I hope you could all get that through my writing.
When it comes to the Red Sox, I still love the Red Sox, as I'm sure was never in doubt. But to be honest, something changed in my Red Sox fandom as a blogger. It's hard to put a finger on what that was. And it's also hard to put a finger on if it's good or not. But now I am no longer a Red Sox blogger and my fandom will change. To be honest, I think I will now be more of a "fan." I'm excited for that. I've missed that.
You may see me again. Who knows, right? I've come to learn in life that you never rule anything out because anything can happen. In the meantime, if you still want to see my writing, I'll be updating my resume site periodically -- www.randybooth.com. I don't know how often I'll update it, but I have a feeling I'll have the urges to do so once in a while. If you're ever in the Claremont, N.H./Windsor, Vt., area you can always pick up an Eagle Times, too -- that's my new day (more so night) job.
I've already thanked the head honchos at SBN. I've thanked the guys that work here. So now I want to thank you: thank you for everything you have ever done for OTM. Thanks for doing that one comment in that one Open Thread. Thanks for those 1,300 FanPosts. Thank you for reading and doing nothing more. Thank you for saying the words "Over the Monster" to a friend once. Thank you for all that. Thank you for making me smile. Thank you for making me laugh. Thank you for making my day(s). Thank you for being my Internet family. Thank you for doing it all.
Just thank you.
I will end this with something I've said a million different times on this blog and I hope is said until the day OTM ceases to exist:
Go Sox!
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