A Conversation with Thomas G. Mercadante - The Founder of thesportsking.com - Cleveland's Sports Website.
09.17.01
By Sherry Gavanditti
Crain's Cleveland Business

In sports - especially in Cleveland - it's not who you know; it's who knows the score.
Thanks to thesportsking.com - Cleveland's Sports Websites creator, Thomas G. Mercadante, anyone with access to the World Wide Web can now get the lowdown on all their favorite Cleveland area sports teams anytime. And Internet users seem to be taking advantage of the site's information.

"Throughout the month of August, more than a million people checked into the site, which offers local high school, college and professional scores, information and webcast events."

"The site maintains constant updates, news and sports insight for loyal fans 24/7, " Mr. Mercadante said.

As founder and president since 1998 of the site's parent company, Zodante Inc., a small advertising firm based in North Royalton, Ohio, Mr. Mercadante said his 17 years of experience in sales, marketing, public relations and promotions has helped to fuel the site.

The site celebrated its first birthday Sept. 5. Mr. Mercadante said his confidence in the site has been bolstered knowing he has invested up to $100,000 of his own savings to the project from its inception.

Mr. Mercadante, a 1984 graduate of Ohio University where he studied telecommunications and marketing, said he is confident that thesportsking.com web site will continue to grow, with such regional talent as Fox 8's Tony Rizzo teaming up with site editor Matt Loede as on-air cyber-talents, along with Bill Tilton from The News Herald in Lake County and Mr. and Mrs. Ed "Doc" Daugherty. Ed is known as "The Sports Expert" and his wife "The Knowledgeable Nurse", offers the female perspective. The site also features several other entertaining columnists from around the country.

The site has three full-time employees in addition to Mercadante and Loede; two sales representatives and an assistant. It also has dozens of part-time contributing employees including writer/reporters, on-air talent, out-of-state correspondents, a web designer, consultants and interns.

From the Broadview Heights studios of CM-D Inc., where "THE TONY RIZZO WEB SHOW" is broadcast daily on the Net, Mr. Mercadante recently answered these questions:

Q: What compelled you to create the site?
A: "I've always loved sports. I played football, wrestling, and baseball during school. Even now, I follow all kinds of sports. So, after dropping off a friend past midnight in September 1999, I tried to find out the score of an important Tribe game, but all the radio and TV stations had concluded their broadcasts. I checked the Internet for a story or at least the final score, with no luck." So I said to myself, "There should be a Cleveland sports web site".

Q: How would you like your site to be perceived?
A: "Fast, accurate, entertaining, and unique".

Q: What is the site worth?
A: "It's very hard to say considering our rapid growth and future franchising potential".

Q: Startup and operation costs?
A: "Under $100,000 for the first year. I've learned to be very industrious when it comes to cost-to-task spending. I've also gotten a lot of favors from many good people who believe in me and this project".

Q: What do you expect to do with the site during the next 5 years?
A: "The sky is the limit depending on the success of the franchising element in our business plan. I am very optimistic for a very successful future".

Q: What are your long-term goals for the site?
A: "To continue to provide the latest, most accurate and entertaining coverage of Northeast Ohio sports utilizing the latest emerging technology (WEBTV programming, Wireless access etc.), offering the most informative and enjoyable experience possible. Eventually, through franchising to other cities, we wish to become the USA Today of sports on the Internet".