It’s everybody’s dream: make a living as a sports fan. It’s exactly what Kukla’s Korner founder Paul Kukla does. The site takes you on a journey of a man searching for the latest in hockey news. OK, maybe it isn’t that deep, but what Kukla’s Korner does is provide the most up-to-date hockey news from around the US and Canada. His site went from a regular fan blog to 12 million hits per month. Hockey fans weren’t the only ones that were impressed by Kukla’s work, NHL.com signed him up as a contributor.

Biz of Hockey had a chance to chat with Paul Kukla:

Matthew Coller:

How did you come up with the idea to start Kukla's Korner? What were you doing before?

Paul Kukla:

I started Kukla's Korner after a friend suggested I start blogging about the CBA lockout since hockey fans in Detroit were not receiving much news on the status of the lockout. It was as simple as that, no five year business plan, just dove in head first and began providing information to readers. Before I started blogging, I was selling air time to advertisers for a major radio station in Detroit.

MC:

How did you get hooked up with NHL.com?

PK:

Out of blue, I received an email from them about four months after I started the blog. I made sure it was real, answered their request to see if I was interested in doing a weekly blog for them and the rest is history.

MC:

I've heard you say that you don't consider yourself a journalist, why not? Do you consider your resident bloggers journalists?

PK:

In my opinion, you have to have the training/schooling to be considered a journalist. I've witnessed the real journalists work and believe me, I am not one of them. I am just a hockey fan who happens to write about the sport I love. I consider it the perfect job and hope to continue to do what I do until I decide to stop.
The folks who have their own blogs at Kukla's Korner are first off hockey fans. Some have more talent than others when it comes to writing and one blogger may actually have a writing background, but I won't divulge who it is. Let the readers decide.

MC:
That’s right, you have quite a few contributors to your site, talk about their role in running a blog full time.

PK

It is very simple, they write when they want to write. Some do more writing than others, most have a regular job or attend school, so at times it is difficult for them to find the time to get into their blog. I don't edit their posts, don't tell them what or what not to write, but did give them some guidelines when they first came on board.
The bloggers really do not do any of the running of the website. I had an assistant for some time, but then a baby was due, then born, so hopefully next season, the assistant can assist again, but I sure do miss her now.

MC:

Do you think bloggers should be allowed in locker rooms and press boxes?

PK:

I feel it is a decision that should be made on the team level. There should be a set of rules for bloggers and if that criteria is met, then they should be welcomed in the locker room. But I find many of the bloggers really do not have a desire to enter the locker room. They are happy with just writing about the team, the sport or anything they want to write about.

MC:

What types of things have you done to expand Kukla's Korner from a simple blog to a legitimate news source? How did you achieve visibility?

PK:

What I have done from the start of my blogging career is the same I do today. I provide hockey fans the news I feel they would want to read about. All I do is point out the news to them, then they decide if they wish to 'read on' as I say. If it is considered a legitimate news source, that is fine with me, but I am not making the news. All I am doing is pointing it out or in simple terms making it easier for hockey fans to find.

MC:
The NHLPA is somewhat of a mess right now with no true leader, do you think Donald Fehr is the answer to all their problems?

PK:

Who knows. All I do know is the players want their fair slice of the pie and Donald Fehr is one person who may be able to get it for them. Hopefully the right choice is made and we all can move on. Our game does not need this type of issue to turn into a problem every year or so.

MC:

If you were negotiating the next CBA for the NHL owners what would be your No. 1 priority? What about the NHLPA?

PK:

I really don't follow all the negotiation talk, who wants what, etc. I try to focus on the game played on the ice, not in a boardroom.

MC:
You and I are huge hockey guys. My entire life it's always been: you're either a hockey person or not. That's clearly changing with boosts in ratings despite being on Versus. Does the growth of the game affect the way you choose news stories?

PK:

Not at all. The people who follow Kukla's Korner are mostly die-hard hockey fans. What numbers Versus does produce has no influence on those types of fans and therefore I don't view how Versus is looked at in the least bit.
MC:
I know you're a Detroit fan, they can't make it three trips to the cup in a row, right?

PK:

Yep. San Jose has had real problems with the Wings this season and there are matchup issues they must figure out to win this series. After that, it would be either Chicago or Vancouver and I give the Wings a very fair chance at winning that series too.

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