We launched Fight For The Top about two and a half months ago (one third of the time, I've been on top), and it's turned into a fun little Facebook Application. Like all our products thus far, it grew to where it is organically. No ads, marketing or publicity.

Today that changes. We asked ESPN's ad group to create a banner ad for it, and the ad went into rotation today on ESPN.com.

Let's hope it brings in some new challengers.

Fight For The Top Ain't Yet Another Facecebook Application Where You Pick Winners.

It's so much better than that. And we launched it yesterday. For more information, check out Dary's post about it.

One of the completely new bits of functionality on the new and improved Fan Profiles app is the addition of Groups. Like minded fans of whatever can now join forces under the same group and discuss whatever it is that they fancy.

Whether you're a fan of the Raiders Nation, Cowboys Nation, the Red Sox or Yankees, or you love fantasy games, poker, or bass fishing, there is a place for you in Fan Profile Groups. And the beauty of it is, if there isn't then you can go ahead and create your own.

I'm a huge Dodger fan so I had to be the first to create that group. If you bleed blue too then you should check it out and join up.

Here are some of the ins and outs of groups...

Currently, there are two types of groups:

1) Public - anyone can join

2) Private - you must request and invite or receive an invite from the group admin.

All groups are viewable by anyone but you must be a member in order to contribute to a group.

The functionality included with a group from the regular member's point of view is:

1) the ability to post a photo

2) tag a photo that you uploaded

3) comment on the Comment Wall

4) comment on any photo in the group

There will be additional fun things added to groups but that's pretty much it as a member at the moment. If you are the admin of a group, meaning you are the person that started the group, then you can do quite a bit more.

Being an admin is pretty fun actually. You get to do a number of things that distinguishes if from other groups. As a group admin, you can:

1) upload a group logo

2) set the theme for the group

3) tag the group with meaningful words which in turn makes it easier for other fans to find your group

4) you get to moderate all the content that is contributed by all the members. For example, if a member of the group posts something that just doesn't belong then you can delete it. In my Dodgers group a Giants fan thought he was all sneaky and joined up and posted some nonsense about the Giants. I deleted the comment because this just wasn't the place for a Giants troll to make his statement. As the admin I am also able to invite others to join (via their Fan Profile user name or personal email address)

5) Admins can message all the members of the group.

6) Blocking. Oh yeah, that Giants fan is now blocked from my Dodger group. Since the group is open for anyone to join, I have a little control over keeping people out that are just out to ruin it.

Give it a try! Look for a group that suits you or, even better, start your own! And if you have any feedback or thoughts on what you'd like to see added to the groups functionality, then post a comment and let us know.

I'm going to keep this short and sweet since it's 3 something in the morning PT time but we just re-launched Fan Profiles! We've been working on it for the past few months and this is just the beginning but it feels great to finally have it out there.

Check it out and sign up for your own account here: http://sportsnation.espn.go.com

A more in-depth look at what this launch entailed is coming soon.

Today marks the completion of our most recent, month-long Facebook project "Fight for the Top". The game itself is quite ingenious. While the notion of a pick 'em style game isn't new, the notion of a punishing pick 'em style game is (to me at least). The basic premise of the game is "Don't guess wrong", because if you do your entire streak is reset. Imagine if this game had been out for the past couple years. You'd built a streak of say 423 games right in-a-row by picking only majorly major favorites. You look at the matchups for opening weekend College Football last September. "Michigan at home vs App St.? Please. No brainer." And on Sunday you're on par with Gene Parmesan who just signed up 15 minutes ago. That's the beauty of the game. It is ruthless. So pick all the 1s vs 16s in the first round of next year's March Madness. I dare you. One year that pick is gonna break your heart.

And speaking of streaks, after watching video of the 03/04 Arsenal squad, "The Invincibles", who went undefeated in 49 straight games, I wish I'd gotten into soccer earlier. I've played my entire life, but it was never on TV save for the World Cup and (ahem) the MLS. But watching highlights of that squad - the artistry of Henry, the brilliance of Pires, the wall-like nature of Lehmann - it was like nothing I've ever seen. They were just so FAST! And wildly inventive. Try and track down a highlight from the first game of that 03/04 season against Southampton and watch Pires' 3rd goal of that match. About 5 yards outside the box a deflection is coming to him. He sneaks a peek at the keeper and sees he's maybe 6 or 7 yards off the line. So of course he one-times a 20-yard chip over the keeper's outstretched arms into the back of the net. Such a ridiculous goal. Pires in his prime was one of the all-time greats.

Keep an eye out for Fight for the Top early next week!

In conclusion,

FIGHT FOR THE TOP!

FIGHT!