Support The Mid-Majority
The Mid-Majority isn't your average college basketball blog. It's about the 251 teams from 24 conferences that play in the shadows of Division I, all striving for the chance to make their marks in March. It's about winning, but it's about losing too. It's about love, joy, human frailty, sacrifice and struggle and the strength to continue. It's about the inevitable end of the season. It's also about crazy dreams that sometimes come true, and what happens after "Happily Ever After."
Well, that's what TMM aspires to be, anyway; it occasionally makes good on those promises. But what really sets this site apart is that it does not serve as a filter for a televised basketball experience; we have spent our winters traveling to every corner of Hoops Nation since that first 100 Games Project in 2004-05. We've averaged over 100 attended games every year. The road is our purpose and destiny, and there is no point in doing this any other way.
We have secured the $15,500 necessary to finish Season 6. We're now working on raising $6,000 that will be the readers' segment of the Season 7 (2010-11) budget. If you believe in The Mid-Majority enough to support it, it will remain in existence. With your help, we will continue our ongoing expedition, our exploration into the hidden soul of college basketball.
We also realize that this kind of assistance should represent a transaction, not a handout. You should get something out of the deal too. As such, we offer a wide array of goods and services in return for your support.
The Bally Club $6.00
You can be a card-carrying citizen of Hoops Nation with the Bally Club card, which will give you an individually-numbered, personalized, wallet-sized and laminated list of all of the teams we cover, organized by conference. Membership also includes exclusive Bally cartoons and games, as well as access to our exclusive message boards, where you can chat about small-college hoops without the unwashed hordes of ACC fans bothering you. More information here.
Basketball State $19.99
Our sister site has "too much college basketball"; like that's a bad thing. Data, news, deep archives and online tools for serious fans, as well as those who have to find new and interesting things to say about hoops on a regular basis (like bloggers, SID's and columnists). Charts, graphs, diagrams and grids, all updated daily so you can get your geek on. And don't forget about the Tournament Wiz, which gives you answers to just about any bracket-related question you might have. Give the code BALLY to get two dollars off. Go there now.
Sports Bubble Blues book $20.00
A collection of writings from the turbulent 2008-09 college basketball season, which saw Kyle travel over 26,000 miles to 109 games, get fired, fight with sports blogs, file for divorce, contract bizarre health problems, and find redemption in the perfect glass of horchata (which is not the stuff pictured on the cover). It's available from Amazon.com, but your direct purchase benefits the site. Price includes shipping. More information here.
Donations
If you've already gone all Pokemon on our site offerings, like seeing thermometers fill up, or simply insist on selfless giving, we can't afford to stop you. You can use PayPal to donate. Please note if your donation is meant to be anonymous.
Other Ways To Help
Not just us, per se. There are others who have come across our paths who deserve your support as well.
Kyle co-wrote two more books during the summer of 2009. One is called I Don't Mind Hitting Bottom, I Just Hate Dragging, the inspiring comeback story of current Kennesaw State head coach Tony Ingle. It's out now, and you can order in in paperback direct from the publisher here. The other is titled Sole Purpose: Shoes of Hope from the Feet of a Samaritan by Samaritan's Feet founder Emmanuel "Manny" Ohonme. It will be available nationwide this winter.
Finally, please consider purchasing a "Bally Revolution" T-Shirt. It was designed by Threadless legend, Made With Awesome co-founder and long-time TMM co-conspirator Roni Lagin to celebrate the theme of Season 6, "Everything's Different Now." It's an image inspired by change and upheaval, but also by the questions left in their aftermath.
The shirt is available in men's and women's sizes at Spreadshirt.com for $23.00. All proceeds of the Season 6 t-shirt will benefit the Peru Children's Charity, which works to improve the lives of youngsters in a country with one of the most shocking income disparities in the developed world -- 51% of the nation's wealth is distributed to the top 20%, and the average annual income nationwide is around $2,500 US. (That's one thick Red Line.) All profits from the Mid-Merchandise Store during the season will be donated to PCC as well. Buy the Season 6 shirt here.
