LAWild.com Partners With Rivals.com Network, BringsNew Outdoors Element to Stickiest Sports Site...

Sports/Outdoor Editors, Hi-Tech Writers

SEATTLE--(BW SportsWire)--June 13, 2000

LAWild.com (www.lawild.com), dedicated to backcountry recreation and activities in the Greater Los Angeles area and surrounding portions of Southern California, announced today it is now an affiliate

"LAWild.com appeals to enthusiasts who want to explore the limits of one of the most diverse backcountry-recreation areas in the country," Martin said. "They see the backcountry not only as a personal proving ground, but as a place to seek peace of mind." Langton added, "We are focusing mainly, but not exclusively, on hiking and mountain biking with lively articles, trail finder info, book reviews, events and hot topics. We also provide a forum for people to share their experiences and views on our message boards, thereby creating a virtual community of like-minded outdoor adventurers."

In addition to the editorial features offered on the site will be a gallery of outdoor photography from the best hiking and biking trails throughout Southern California.

Martin, a journalist and editor with 20 years of print experience -- including stints at the Orange County Register, Los Angeles Daily News and Los Angeles Herald Examiner -- is now assistant news editor at Electronic Media and a free-lance writer based in Los Angeles. He has hiked extensively in the local San Gabriel Mountains, and is versed in the high country of Glacier, Grand Teton, Olympic, Zion and Rocky Mountain national parks. Canoeing and rafting are also among his favorite pastimes.

Langton has been a mountain-bike journalist and advocate for more than 13 years. He edited Mountain Biking magazine and co-authored "Riding the Santa Monica Mountains Best Trails." The Newbury Park, Calif., cyclist has been a mountain-bike instructor since 1988 and is a founding member of the Concerned Off-Road Bicyclists Association. He currently works as gear editor at Men's Fitness magazine.

"Joining Rivals.com is a great opportunity for us," Martin said. "Its vast network affiliations and powerful publishing tools enable us to easily create a seamless site for outdoor enthusiasts that delivers high-quality outdoors coverage and community."

Brett Pauly, national outdoor network editor for Rivals.com, said LAWild.com is an ideal addition to Rivals.com's 25 outdoor Web sites and is the first to target the natural riches of a major metropolitan area. "Rich and Mark are very strong writers and energetic adventurers," Pauly said. "Their experience and knowledge of their respective activities is among the best in the country. Their content is an entertaining and informative resource for Los Angeles-area recreationists."

Based in Seattle, Rivals.com is a leading infrastructure services company that aggregates hundreds of Web site communities in one network. The Rivals.com network consists of hundreds of team and affinity channels, with more than 700 writers and experts who deliver leading in-depth team and player coverage. The proprietary Rivals.com technology allows publishers to input their expert commentary and news information without having to program or design the site. The Rivals.com business model enables Rivals.com to add new sites with little added cost. Investors include Hummer Winblad Venture Partners (www.humwin.com), Intel Corporation (www.intel.com), News Corp.'s News Digital Media (NYSE:NWS), producer of FOX Sports Online (www.foxsports.com), The Phoenix Partners (www.phoenixvc.com) and SOFTBANK Capital Partners (www.sbcp.com).