Facebook for Sports Fans . . . Only Sports Fans!

I’m on Facebook. I’d bet just about everyone reading this article is on Facebook. You know what I hate about Facebook? How about that “Timeline” thing? Why did they have to change everything? Oh, and just like many of you, I’ve got that handful of friends who are always having a battle over Facebook with their girlfriend or spouse – just annoying. How about the one that posted today “Time to clean the dishes, then make some iced tea.” Really? And, if I never see another post about farm games, or who’s playing Words with Friends, I’d be very happy.

Want an alternative? Well, thanks to Hatfield, Montgomery County resident Jonathan Ragus we have one exclusively for sports fans. No silly Fruit Ninja games. No personal dramas. No George Takei images. It’s just sports and only sports. This is a dream for the die-hard, passionate Philadelphia sports fan, and here’s the best part of FanJunkies – it looks and operates just like the “old” Facebook.

FanJunkies.net was launched in November of 2011 by 29-year old Ragus and currently has 388 members and growing daily.

“Last year we didn’t have the benefit of a full football or hockey season because from November to early February the site was running in beta mode. We didn’t fully launch it until early February of this year. We’re hoping that with a full football and hockey season in front of us, it will help drive FanJunkies into the thousands and tens of thousands,” Ragus said in an interview with me on Monday.

Ragus, who has lived most of his life in Ridgewood, the Queens section of New York, said his motivation to launch the site was generated by the

“whining and complaining from friends and other folks on Facebook about the fact me and some of my other friends were constantly posting sports updates on Facebook. Many didn’t want to see or read them. So, we started FanJunkies in order to create a little portal for people who just wanted to talk and post about sports without others complaining about it.”

To that end, the FanJunkies web site has individual groups for every imaginable team sub group you might care to join including MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL – even MMA, Pro Wrestling, NASCAR, NHRA and the Olympics. “We truly want to tailor this to the membership,” Ragus said.

When Ragus isn’t managing the Linux-based site and other sports-related web sites he started, some going back 13 years, he’s promoting and marketing the site from what he described as a “two-man operation” from his home.

Recently he initiated a “partnership” with sports bars anywhere in the U.S. At no cost to the establishment, any sports bar can get administrative rights to their own page on FanJunkies; design it with their logo; and, proceed to promote their events and activities. All Ragus asks for in return is, “help us promote the site to your customers. “

“I’m really interested in supporting local businesses. So, there is absolutely no money changing hands. They’re not paying us. We’re not paying them.  It’s a nice friendship and we’re going to give them fliers to distribute that promotes their bar and FanJunkies and a framed certificate that lets their customers know they’re a partner with us.”

Honestly what amazes me about Jonathan Ragus is the he has no formal or educational training in marketing, media communications or Information Technology. “No, I have no degree. I have two people to thank – two people that mentored me. My godfather who was involved in computers and application development showed me and taught me how do certain things and Dusty Garza who is a media guy from California who taught me and I worked with him on numerous on-line magazine start-ups.”

Philly sports fans, I’m here to tell you – if there was ever a social media site designed for the passionate, opinionated group that we are, it’s FanJunkies and New York native Ragus concurs:

“this if for sports fans across the U.S. It’s for sports fans in Canada. It’s for sports fans in Europe. It’s for sports fans in Asia. We’re trying to get into every sport known to man.”

And, Philly fans you’re now on notice. You’re in on the ground floor. Check it out. Join up . . . and oh, don’t forget to “friend” me.