Statsporn

Awards ceremonies, a journalist from The Guardian told me earlier this week, are very important if you win, but if you don't then they clearly have no credibility. So it is with anything to do with the internet and statistics, but nonetheless I feel honour-bound to report to you that Line and Length is apparently the fourth most influential sports blog in Britain, according to Wikio, a no-doubt very discerning website.

I'm behind SoccerLens, Arseblog and F1 Fanatic. The Corridor and King Cricket, two of my favourite blogs, are at No 9 and No 11 respectively in a good list for cricket. How does Wikio rate influence? Apparently it's to do with the number of links you get from other websites (in which case, thanks to those of you who did - keep linking) but I'd like to think that part of it is to do with the head honchos at the ICC, ECB and other world governing bodies making it part of their breakfast reading material and quivering.

Comments

[Pablo]

Congratulations, Patrick. Well deserved success.
I will suggest that a part of it relies on the possibility to interact with the owner of the blog and even to disagree, through the comments. This can sound obvious, but it is truly uncommon for the owner of a blog with the relevance of this one to take the time to read and respond to posts.
At the same time, let me join Oscar the Grouch on his support for Andre Nel and his typing therapy. Is there any way to lure KP into posting here too?

[Humphrey B Bear]

Gday Pat

In my official capacity as a Fun Loving Old Bear, I really require your blog to keep my humour.

As you know, my run in with the NSWCA in '74, and the unfortunate incident with Lenny Pascoe at Bankstown 2 years later had left me a little grumpy.

Still, there's always scotch and honey, the ponies and Line & Length. Although I'm mute, I know my spoken words about cricket would almost exactly mirror your own, albeit I would be more inclined to profanity.

Keep up the good work Pat. As delicious as you look - you are one sapien who would be perfectly safe 'round at my cave during a barbie, no matter how many Chivas & Capilanos I had under the waistcoat. Well, you and Bart Cummings.

Seeya Pat.

[Will Luke]

This will sound bitter and twisted, but Wikio's marketing techniques are irritating at best, and dirty at worst. They email me once a month, without fail, in spite of me telling to go shaft themselves.

All these ranking sites are pretty pointless. It's not only the number of sites on which you are linked, but their own weird judgement on how "important" those sites are.

But well done anyway, Patrick! Yours is a blog of beauty and the ICC can be heard shaking and trembling with their morning coffees

[Oscar the Grouch]

Patrick - Andre is, as always, stunningly quick and incredibly accurate - credit is due. Don't you ever quit, big guy, you and the mystery of KP's astonishing humility are the saviours of cricketing journalism.

[J Rod]

Great to see the little guys like King cricket getting a gig in this list.

Even if he does win a new award every week.

[David Hinchliffe harrowdrive.com]

Congrats those cricket blog fans are tough to please.

[Rusty]

congrats - I think. Not the most salubrious crowd to be nudging shoulders with, but at least you're up near the front of the pack with a bit of head space.

I thought the King should be a bit higher, though. I find myself going there more often, to escape from the madding Indian crowd.

[Mr A Nel]

What about me Kidd?

You ungrateful a*sehole.

See how many of your precious links you get without my help. The only reason I lower myself to comment at all is as a showcase for my legions of Englander fans. That and the fact that typing and origami are part of my therapy.