There are an infinite number of websites where fans can go for the latest news and analysis of the sports world.
What’s more unusual it a site run for teens that features content created by teens.
That’s where Glencoe’s Alex Goldberg enters the arena.
After launching less than two years ago, Goldberg, 15, has seen his The Up Dawg website, billed as “The Underage Sports Journal for Students of the Game,” gain traction online. Today, there are more than 20 contributors “staff” delivering perspectives on sports topics, with more than a 1,000 articles written by contributors for more than 70 groups on different teams, according to Goldberg.
The Up Dawg allows readers to get opinions on all sports at both a league level, as well as content on specific teams and fantasy sports delivered by teenagers from around the country.
“At first I wanted a place for myself to post content, as I wanted to be on TV and talk sports because everyone thinks they are qualified to talk sports,” ed Goldberg, a sophomore at Deerfield’s Rochelle Zell Jewish High School. “I wanted to create an outlet for kids who may not have the opportunity to do that probably because of their age.”
Goldberg, who ionately follows the Bears and the Bulls, launched his site in the spring of 2020 as the coronavirus pandemic halted sports action. But despite the quite period, he sensed an opportunity was still there.
“People still have that ion for sports,” he said.
At the start, Goldberg frequently wrote articles, churning out opinions every other day. At the time, he sought out fellow teenagers from all over the country to write articles.
The idea took hold as Goldberg quickly developed a network of other sports fans anxious to write, mostly using Instagram.
“Everyone always wants to talk about sports and a lot of kids want to post content,” he said.
Those contributors include Highland Park High School junior Jacob Altman, who writes once or twice a week on fantasy football.
He has never met Goldberg in person, instead they communicate over Instagram and Zoom. Altman ires Goldberg’s vision for the site.
“The way it is designed is amazing and there is clearly a lot of work put into it and anything can go on there and write an article about anything they want as long as they are under 22,” Altman said.
Besides the opportunity to offer analysis, Altman sees other future benefits, including possibly setting the foundation for a career in sports.
“It is definitely on my mind but I know it is a field that is difficult to get into, but this will be a really good thing for college applications,” he said.
While the Up Dawg was the brainchild of Goldberg, the site istration is now a group effort as it continued to run last summer when he went to camp for several weeks.
“I definitely feel proud that people spend so much time on something I made and have a ion for the website,” he said.
Moreover, The Up Dawg has reached a level of following where merchandise such as T-shirts and hats are being sold.
“I like running my own business and seeing it grow,” Goldberg said.
He has cut back on writing articles and is currently down to every other week, but he likes to comment on other articles and hopes additional growth is forthcoming.
“I think it can be big and there aren’t any limits to it and once more people , we can looking at adding more features to the site,” he said.
Whatever the future may be, Goldberg is happy with what he has created.
“It has led to some opportunities to talk to some people,” Goldberg noted. “It is great that has grown at this volume.”
Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelance reporter.
