iPickem was developed as an open, easy to use platform for hosting custom sports pick’em tournaments.  We view our site as a service, not a destination.  Pick’em tournaments shouldn’t just be fun to play, but also to set up and manage.
 
An Open Platform - iPickem was designed to be expanded.  Not only can you set up pick’em tournaments with the games you want, if there is an interest, you can hold tournaments outside of the traditional sports of football, basketball and baseball.  For example, you and your friends could hold mixed martial arts matches or college lacrosse.
 
Easy to Use - No matter how much time and effort is put into setting up a pick’em tournament, if it isn’t easy for users to play, they won’t.  And setting up and managing a pick’em tournament can be a very cumbersome process, especially if you do it manually.  By providing a web interface, and constantly working to refine our site, we hope to build the most intuitive pick’em available.  To do that, we listen to our users.  Your feedback matters to us.
 
Web Service- Most other pick’em sites out there look to create a place for people to come and spend time.  As a result, many online community/social network site owners are leery about setting up pick’em tournaments on these sites.  You worked hard to build a strong community and we get that.  We’re not interested in the providing the platform for the trash talk, etc.  You own that, and you keep that.  In the future, we hope to refine our service to allow even more customization and integration with our site.
 
 
Fun - Having run pick’em tournaments in the past, we know how much work they can be.  With iPickem, we have set up a system that leverages all of the other tournaments going on to make setting up and managing tournaments easier.  You’ll seldom find yourself doing the whole thing from scratch, which means more time for you to be a part of the fun.
 
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Allan (aka baldeagle) is the owner of the Southern Miss fan online community Eaglepost.net.  After upgrading the message board software, he was unable to find a solid add on or modification that would allow him to continue holding the very popular pick’em tournaments he was holding on his site.  The idea was hatched to develop one himself.  To do that he reached out via Twitter and connected with Rob (aka UltraRob).  Together they formed iPickem Partners.
 
Allan is a huge sports fan.  He lives in Arkansas, but is an avid traveler and spends very little time there.  The best way to find him is on Twitter at http://twitter.com/baldeagle.
 
 
Rob (aka UltraRob) is a Colorado native.  He has been active in the outdoors since he was a little kid.  He has been competing on bikes for almost 20 years.  He prefers mountain biking racing but also does ultra distance bike races on the road.  In addition he hikes and skis.
 
Rob blogs at his cycling and outdoor price comparison site, UltraRob.com.  The best way to find him is on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ultrarob.
 
 
It should be obvious that we have big plans for iPickem and we’re glad you’ve come to be a part of it.  To get the most up-to-date information on the site and to provide feedback, follow us at http://twitter.com/ipickem.