A look Inside the Sports Industry

New Orleans Saints Wiretapping Allegations

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 22:51:00 +0000

The New Orleans Saints are back in the spotlight this week, now being accused of allowing general manager Mickey Loomis to listen to opposing coaches. This would mean that the New Orleans Saints willingly set up a wiretapping system that would benefit the team. If wiretapping laws were broken this could put the team and Mickey Loomis in a bad place. The Saints are claiming that this is not true at this point, but if this did happen the team would be violating state and federal laws in addition to violating NFL rules.

The Louisiana state police and the FBI are looking into the issue and want the public to be aware of the situation. Right now the focus is finding out if the allegations are true. The wiretapping system was supposedly set up in 2000. They set it up so the former general manager Randy Mueller would be able to hear his own team’s coaches. When Randy Mueller’s role was passed onto Mickey Loomis in 2002 the wires were apparently switched. With the switched system Mickey Loomis was able to listen to opposing teams coaches. He was also able to feed this information to the Saints coaches and allow them to listen. Mickey was able to do this all from his desk with an earpiece and a small control under his desk. The system was disabled in 2005 after hurricane Katrina.

When Mickey Loomis heard the allegations he immediately denied any involvement. This week he sent out a statement that said he has a setup in office that allows him to access league issued stats. The earpiece he uses in his office is used to listen to the radio broadcast while he watches the television broadcast. At this point there is an investigation. The Louisiana state police and the FBI are searching to find the truth. It may be to late to prosecute if they are found guilty since the time limit is 5 years. The team could face conspiracy charges however. Mickey Loomis is in the spotlight for this scandal, but if this did occur there were numerous people on the team involved.

Mickey Loomis and the New Orleans Saints have a lot of bad press right now surrounding the team. They have denied allegations before and have been found guilty. I have shared with you the facts of this new scandal and I personally think that this is a possibility. There is enough evidence that this was brought to public knowledge. If this is true it may be a very long rough patch for the New Orleans Saints team. I hope that this is not true and the integrity of the game is important to the Saints. Cheating is no way to win the game that we all love. It should be about dedication and hard work.

New Orleans Saints Bounty Program

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 17:41:00 +0000

Currently the NFL has been dealing with the New Orleans Saints Bounty Program. The New Orleans Saints have been warned several times about stopping the program, but in the end they continued with the program and are facing major consequences. This has been one of the largest and most controversial issues in the history of the NFL.

The investigation began in 2010 when there were allegations that the Saints defensive players were targeting Kurt Warner and Brett Favre. After the allegations, each of the players were interviewed. Most claimed that there was no such program, but there was one that admitted to the bounty program. He later retracted his statement leaving the NFL with no case, but the investigation was reopened in the end of the 2011 season when the NFL received the evidence they needed. There was confirmation from a player and recordings from Gregg Williams in which he names specific players and where to strike them. There are no numbers in the recording, but the NFL had built a strong enough case to pursue the culprits.

The bounty program was funded by the players and went as high as $50,000 dollars. This program gave players an incentive for taking players out of the game and having them carted off. This was encouraging the defensive players to make sure they hit hard and played aggressive, and the program targeted various specific players. Currently the NFL is setting new rules and standards to prevent injuries and meanwhile there are teams with bounty programs. I think that players should play aggressive, but not with the intent to ruin another athletes career.

Recently, Roger Goodell decided on a punishment. He knew that he had to set precedence so that he could stop these programs before they got out of hand. In the end, defensive coach Gregg Williams was suspended indefinitely. Coach Sean Payton lost his job for a year without pay, and General manager Mickey Loomis is suspended for six games. Assistant head coach Joe Vitt is out for eight games. Vitt and Loomis begin their suspensions after the pre-season, which means that they can both participate in the draft choices and the preseason training. The organization was fined $500,000 and they lost second round pick for this and next years draft. There are an additional 27 players that may be penalized as well. These penalties have a lot to do with the lack of cooperation in the beginning of the investigation.

I hope that this case sends a message to all 32 NFL teams. The players should play aggressive, but not with the intent to injure others. No one wants to have their career ended if it’s not necessary. Coaches should be able to hype their team, but they should do it with general analogies. There shouldn’t be specific names mentioned and injuries that are being aimed for. Rodger Goodell set the right precedence in this case, and he has shown that player safety is a big deal to the league.

Peyton Manning's Future

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 18:44:00 +0000

The 2011 season has come to an end. Now it’s time to look forward to next season with the combine, free agency and the draft approaching quickly. One player that has been mentioned several times is Peyton Manning. Peyton Manning has finally recovered and his role in next season is questionable at this point. He has many decisions to make going forward. Will he choose to retire, play with the Indianapolis Colts or will he choose to play with another team.

Peyton Manning was injured last season. He has had four procedures so far to try and restore function in his neck. He has gone through extensive therapy and has worked hard for a chance to come back to the game he loves. In December he wanted to prove to the Colts that he could play. He wanted to play the last two games of the season only taking snaps in the red zone. This is where the Colts really struggled this year and Peyton knew that he could help. In order to convince the coaches that he could play he did a fast paced workout in front of them. Coaches said that Payton Manning was able to throw accurate passes even though he seemed fatigued. Peyton Manning was denied playing time because the team trainer felt he was not ready to play. Many asked why he would want to play the two final games of the season. I think that he wanted to end the season with hope for the fans in Indianapolis.

When the season came to an end the big question was what was going to happen to Peyton Manning. The Colts owner Jim Isray took his time making a decision about Peyton Manning. Then he announced that Peyton Manning would be welcome to join the Colts if he had a restructured contract. Jim Isray knows Peyton Manning is an icon in Indianapolis. He will always be an important part of the history of the team.

At this point Peyton has to decide what he is going to do. Peyton Manning is healing well and at this point doctors are saying that Peyton will be able to play if he chooses to. So will he retire, play for the colts or go to another team. If Peyton Manning were to retire he would be able to retire healthy. He would also walk away knowing that he was an important part of the Indianapolis Colts organization and one of the greatest quarterbacks in history. If Peyton Manning chooses to stay with the Indianapolis Colts he will have a long road ahead of him. The Colts had a rough season this year and it won’t be an easy fix. It will take time to make the team what it was. Peyton Manning’s last option is to be traded. This would give him a chance to win a few more championships if he was placed on the right team. I honestly think that Peyton should retire healthy and make a career in coaching. He is a great leader and would be very influential in the coaching arena. I wish Peyton Manning the best in his future. I know that this is a hard decision. Time will tell what Peyton Manning decides.

Super Bowl Advertising

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 17:26:00 +0000

Super Bowl XLVI is a match up between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots. The Super Bowl attracts a large audience every year. Last year there were a record 111 million people who tuned in to watch the game. Most tuned in to see the match up and then there are those that want to see the commercials. Every year advertisers spend a large amount of money to ensure they get a spot during the Super Bowl.

So what do you need to get a commercial spot during the Super Bowl? Well you need 3.5 million dollars. That is the going price this year. This is a 59 percent increase from the 2.2 million dollars in 2001. Those advertisers willing to pay the 3.5 million dollars can expect for at least 111 million viewers to see their advertisements. This was the amount of viewers that tuned in last year and it is expected to increase this year. There are 96 commercials that will air during the Super Bowl. Every spot will be filled, as advertisers are willing to put up this money.

NBC is airing the Super Bowl this year. They were able to sell 70 spots by Thanksgiving. The reason that these spots sell so quickly is because this is actually a deal for advertisers. This is because of the cost per mille (CPM). This is a metric system that advertisers use to determine their spending for the amount of people that tune in. If 111 million people tune in and the advertising cost is 3.5 million this means the CPM is 31 dollars. A television show has a CPM of 35 dollars or higher. This means that Super Bowl advertising will continue to increase in price because they know advertisers already spend this money on other events. This years big advertisers are Anheuser-Busch, PepsiCo and General Motors. Anheuser-Busch is spending 239.1 million dollars on advertising. Pepsi is spending 174 million and General Motors is spending 82.8 million.

Commercials during the Super Bowl are expensive, but they are valuable to advertisers because they know the large audience they are reaching. This years Super Bowl will be shown in 180 countries and territories and in 30 different languages. The Super Bowl will feature a good matchup between two teams that played not that long ago. I hope that advertisers see an increase in viewers and will continue to provide creative commercials that attract a larger audience to the game of football.

Visa You and Ten Super Bowl Promotion

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 16:30:00 +0000

The Super Bowl is quickly approaching. Many people will watch the Super Bowl from home. Then there will be those fans that get to experience the Super Bowl. This year Visa did a promotion that gave one lucky fan the chance to experience the Super Bowl with 10 friends. The sweepstakes is called You and 10. This sweepstakes goes beyond just tickets to the Super Bowl it offers an exclusive experience. Visa signed on with the NFL so that they could offer their cardholders promotions that would allow them to be part of game. This promotion is just one of the many opportunities Visa offers their cardholders when it comes to the NFL. This post is going to share the details of the Visa You and ten Super Bowl promotion and explain why this promotion was such a success this year.

Visa is currently the official payment service of the NFL. Visa has had a relationship with the NFL since 1995. This sponsorship deal allows Visa to give back to their cardholders. The You plus 10 Super Bowl promotion allows the winning fan to choose ten friends to accompany them on the ultimate experience that leads to the Super Bowl. The trip itself is five days and four nights. It includes airfare, hotel accommodations, admission to an NFL party, a meal with an NFL player and a visa gift card. Visa has brought the ultimate NFL experience to life. In order to be entered you must own a Visa credit card. The card must be used between September 8 and December 27. If Visa cardholders do not wish to make a purchase they can mail a request to be entered into the promotion. This promotion shows just how involved Visa is when it comes to offering benefits to their cardholders. Visa has showed how great a sponsorship can be when you team up with the NFL.

The success of this promotion came from the advertising that Visa used. Visa created a character named Ned. Then they used his story to show just what the promotion involved. Ned is a normal guy that swipes his Visa card to buy cereal and milk at a convenient store. After he makes the purchase with his credit card he is contacted letting him know that he won tickets for himself and ten friends to attend the Super Bowl in Indianapolis. This is when it gets interesting. Ned starts contacting friends and family to invite them to join him. Each section of the story shows who Ned invites to join him. He chooses ten people including the store clerk and his grandma. The story then ends with Ned sharing his experience with friends and family at the Super Bowl. This whole story was put into commercials each strategically played during games allowing people to see Ned’s story. If you have not seen the story I have included the full Youtube video at the bottom. This story allows fans to imagine that could become the next Ned. This is an experience that any NFL fan would want to be a part of.

In addition to the commercials Visa issued webisodes. The webisodes offer a deeper look into Ned’s friends and their love for the game of football. Visa even incorporated social media. Visa wanted to be sure that cardholders knew about this once in a lifetime exclusive experience. They also wanted their cardholders to be involved with the brand. Facebook was used to display information regarding the sweepstakes. It also featured the You plus ten draft. This allowed people to select the ten people they would bring if they were selected to win the promotion. They were able to interact with fans on Facebook by offering a response to their picks and by allowing people to participate in polls. YouTube offered fans a chance to relive and capture Ned’s story. Twitter was the third social media site used. This was used to offer people tickets to regular season games. Which was a promotion used all year long by Visa. It also promoted the You plus ten promotion by encouraging fans to get involved with the mobile application. This application featured the You and ten draft that was also featured on Facebook.

Visa has managed to make their sponsorship with the NFL go far. They know that fans want to be part of the game and they make this happen through promotions. Visa allows their cardholders to win tickets all season long. Then they added the You and ten sweepstakes which just takes the stakes that much higher. What fan wouldn’t want to be a part of this promotion? Visa has shown the importance of a sponsorship when it comes to offering exclusive benefits. Visa will not only be able to reward cardholders, but this promotion will help earn them more cardholders. I love that Visa works hard to gain the most out of their sponsorship with the NFL. I also like the advertising they used to promote the sweepstakes. They were able to create a story that could be relatable to anyone. They were able to use all the right channels and get this promotion to be the success that it has become. I chose to write about this sponsorship because I think it is one of the most highlighted promotions this year. The Super Bowl is in two weeks and the winner of this promotion will be living an experience that will never be forgotten.

The Victory in Denver

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 14:33:00 +0000

The Denver Broncos drafted Tim Tebow in the first round of the NFL Draft. Most people questioned what Tim Tebow would be able to do when he reached the NFL. Tebow had to fight to get a starting position, but was not given the starting position until week 7 of this year. The Denver Broncos started with a 1 and 4 record before they put Tim Tebow in the game. Tebow was able to turn things around for the Broncos. He led the team to win seven of their next eight games. The Denver Broncos ended the season with an 8-8 record. Most people at this point started noticing that Tim Tebow was a quarterback to look at. He was not passing as much as other quarterbacks, but he was still winning games. He was inspiring his team. Everyone played better when Tim Tebow was on the field.

When the Broncos moved onto the playoffs they were matched against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers had a season record of 12-4. When it came down to game time is was Pittsburgh that dominated the first quarter. This didn’t last for long. The Broncos were able to build a lead that left the score 20-6 at half time. The second quarter was very productive for both Tim Tebow and the Broncos as they scored all 20 points and held the Steelers to no points. Eddie Royal had an important 30-yard catch that led to a touchdown. The second half brought new surprises, as the Steelers were able to tie the game.

The game then moved into overtime. There are new overtime rules for the playoffs this year. You can no longer score a field goal to win in over time. The team either has to score a touchdown or the other team will get a chance to score. The Denver Broncos won the coin toss and they elected to receive the ball. The Broncos knew that they wanted a touchdown to win the game. The first play of overtime Tim Tebow dropped back in a play action fake and threw the ball to Demaryius Thomas. Thomas caught the ball while on the run and went 80 yards for the winning touchdown. Overtime was over in 11 minutes.

This was the Denver Broncos first playoff win since the 2005 season. You could see that the Denver Broncos wanted to win this game. During the game Tim Tebow was able to throw for 316 passing yards. He made 10 passes in the game. This means on average he threw for 31.6 yards. Those people that question Tim Tebow’s passing they need to look at these statistics. I mean sure he could throw more passes, but he can throw for long yards as he showed this game. Either way this team wins games whether you think Tim Tebow has a part or not. During the game there were four passes to Demaryius Thomas who had 204 yards during the game. Ben Roethlisberger threw for 289 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He was suffering through his ankle injury most of the game. Isaac Redman had 121 yards rushing for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

This game was an incredible game to watch. Tim Tebow became the player to talk about. Following the game there were 9,420 tweets per second commenting on Tim Tebow. This set a record for the most tweets per second. There were over one million total tweets that commented on Tebow. Tim Tebow has been getting more media attention every success he gets. This win has led him to more attention than he has ever seen before. The Denver Broncos team played well as a whole. Everyone on that team played hard and did their part to get the win. Ultimately they were able to prove that they have what it takes win in the playoffs. Next week the Denver Broncos play the New England Patriots. This will be a tough game for the team since they have lost to the Patriots before. It will be a game worth watching.

NFL Combine

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 01:00:00 +0000

The NFL Scouting Combine started in 1982. The purpose was to learn more about the health and fitness of the top draft picks. This four-day event allows the nations top college prospects to show off their skills in front of all 32 teams. The NFL Combine is invite only and can accommodate up to 335 players. This means not everyone that is drafted is invited to the NFL Combine. Those individuals that are invited get the chance to not only show off their skills, but in addition they gain a lot of media exposure. The NFL Combine has got to the point where it is too big in my opinion. This post is going to show you just how big the NFL Combine has become.

The NFL Combine started as a private event that had no media coverage. It was only open to scouts, coaches, and invited players. In 2004 the NFL Network began their taping inside the dome. They first used taped coverage to air on the NFL Network. Now in 2011 viewers see more than 30 hours of live coverage. Television audiences have grown because of the new exposure. Last year the NFL Combine had 5.24 million viewers, which set a record for the NFL Combine. The NFL Draft is similar to the NFL Combine in that it started as a private event. Now the draft is a televised event that just this past year had an audience of 32.9 million viewers. This is a lot more than the combine, but I think it’s important to note that the draft is in prime time. A few more years and the NFL Combine may have just as many viewers as the draft.

Every year the NFL Combine attracts a larger number of media personnel. In 2011 the NFL set a record with 715 media credentials for the NFL Combine. This is an increase from the 628 media passes handed out the year before. The real question is when will the media credentials be capped off? I think media exposure is important in this case, but it must be a little overwhelming with so many media personnel. Seth Wickersham a writer for ESPN magazine wrote, “I never felt more like a parasite than at the NFL Combine.” At the combine all reporters have to wait out in the conventions center lobby. The real action occurs in the dome where only the NFL Network can tape. The media waits outside for players and coaches to pass. There hope is to get individual questions answered before the press conference. Seth Wickersham said that people would walk by and the media would huddle around anyone who looked like they were involved with the NFL.

I can’t imagine going to an event where over 700 people huddle around me. I understand that it’s important for these players to get exposure, but I just can’t see the need for that many media credentials. The NFL Combine used to be about proving yourself on the field in front of the teams. Now they have added the media on the outside, which in my opinion is so big, that is becoming a distraction. Imagine just how much time it takes to get through the lobby when there are 700 people standing there. I want to know just who qualifies for a media credential. At this point the event is a successful televised event that allows the NFL to make money in the off-season. I don’t see a problem with the fact that it’s televised. I just can’t see the need for all the media that is involved. I think the NFL needs to be stricter when it comes to giving out media credentials.

Former NFL Players Sue the NFL and Riddell

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 17:33:00 +0000

More than 125 former NFL players are suing the league and Riddell. Riddell has been the official helmet brand of the NFL since 1989. The players are suing because they feel that the league and Riddell concealed the dangerous effects of concussions from them. The players claim that the NFL knew about these harmful risks since the 1920s. This case is important because many former players are suffering from the effects of the concussions. The former players don’t want the current players to end up in the same situation. This blog post is going to tell you the facts behind this case between the NFL, Riddell and the former NFL players.

The NFL knew in 1928 that concussions have long-term effects. This knowledge was brought to the table when dementia pugilistica was discovered. Dementia pugilistica was also known as punch drunk. This disorder was first discovered in boxers. Boxers suffered from slowed movement, confusion, speech problems and tremors due to repeated hits to the head. This disorder was renamed chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in 1996. This was initially only found in boxers, but later was found in athletes involved in football, soccer and wrestling.

The NFL did a study in 1994 on concussions and their effects on the players. The Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Committee established by the NFL conducted the research. The research was published in 2004 stating that there was no evidence of worsening injury or chronic long-term effects. They also found that players could safely return to play the same day that the concussion occurred. They said that this would not lead to consequences. These results told the players that concussions would not lead to harmful effects. How could the NFL say this is true when they knew about the effects that boxers were experiencing? Then they went ahead and told players to return to play after they had a concussion. This alone is the worst thing they could have told the players. They weren’t able to heal and this is what has lead to the long-term effects the players are suffering.

Now that you know about the study I want to share with you the facts about CTE. CTE has been found in 93 percent of former NFL players studied by the Boston University School of Medicine. CTE is similar to Alzheimer’s in that they have the same effects. In regards to this case it’s important that you see how it’s prevented. This will show that the NFL was not only wrong about the chronic long term effects, but that they were wrong about the timing in regards to playing after a concussion. In order to prevent CTE recovery time is an important part. Current research shows that players should stay out of play for a minimum of five days. There should be a graduated increase in activity this ensures that the players’ injury heals. Some players may need more than five days. It is important that sports medicine professionals look over athletes after a concussion to ensure that they are healing properly. They can also assist in ensuring that athletes have the proper recovery time. Another suggestion made to prevent CTE is to reduce full contact practices and change helmets. The new CBA addressed the number of full contact practices. The helmets need to be looked over and the NFL needs to find a helmet that offers the highest safety to the players. As of now CTE has no treatment. In the past this disease has not been detected until the player has been deceased.

In 2010 the NFL changed their mind regarding the study and they issued a warning to players that concussions could lead to memory loss, CTE and dementia. If this is the case former NFL players were not informed of the effects that concussions would have on them. Only current players were informed on the effects when this warning came out. Former players and the public were kept in the dark regarding the matter. When the NFL found the link between concussion and their effects it was their duty to change the rules in order to protect the players. They also should have warned the former players. The fact that they didn’t led to injuries and deaths in former players.

The current lawsuit just moved into litigation. The players have three goals in this suit. The first goal is to ensure that current players are protected so that they don’t end up in the same position. The second goal is to set up medical care for the players that have these symptoms so that they can get help as long as they need it. The last goal is to get compensation for the lack of information regarding concussions. Most of these players are unable to work due to their condition. They need help financing the costs associated with their conditions.

The NFL on the other hand claims that the players knew that there were risks when they chose to play the game. They said that there was no misconduct or liability on the part of the NFL. The NFL says that player safety has always been important and they are not responsible for injuries. They have assumed the risk by choosing to play football. The NFL also claims that the players knew the effects of concussions. As far as Riddell is concerned they are just as responsible when it comes to not informing players about the effects of concussions. They should have known all along as the distributor of helmets. Riddell has declined to speak in regards to the litigation. Both Riddell and the NFL are responsible under tort law because they were involved in the act of selling and distributing a product that had inadequate warnings. Both are responsible in making this right. Former players deserve to be compensated for the inadequate warnings.

"Who Dat!"

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 01:52:00 +0000

This week I had the chance to learn about intellectual property. Intellectual property has four major areas including copyrights, trademarks, patents and trade secrets. Trademark infringement is an issue in the sports industry. One incident that occurred last year involved the New Orleans Saints. The NFL sent out cease and desist orders to tee shirt shops in New Orleans for printing “Who Dat” on tee shirts. This is all because the NFL felt that these local tee shirt companies had taken the New Orleans Saints phrase “Who Dat” without permission.
The Saints chant “Who dat say dey gonna beat dem saints” is used within the New Orleans area in support of their New Orleans Saints football team. This chant was shortened to “Who Dat” so that it could be printed on merchandise. This phrase is now used on many tee shirts that are associated with Saints and the NFL. The NFL felt that tee shirt companies should not be able to use the phrase as its trademark infringement. The community felt that they owned the phrase since it was a signature to the community. On the other hand two brothers from New Orleans, Sal and Steve Monistere, claim that they own the rights to the phrase since Steve produced the chant in 1983. They also own a tee shirt shop in New Orleans called WhoDat Incorporated. So who really owned the phrase “Who Dat?” This was the question that no one knew the answer to.

The NFL worked aggressively to protect the league and the Saints; however, they ended up having to retreat. The fans of New Orleans were outraged about the whole situation. They felt that the NFL was attacking the community to get more money. The NFL responded by writing a letter telling the city that the NFL did not own the rights to the phrase, the leur-de-lis symbol or the team colors. The NFL told the small tee shirt companies they could not print the “Who Dat” with any reference to the Saints or the NFL without specific trademark agreements. This was to protect the team and to ensure that the Saints trademarks were protected.

I personally think that the NFL went in fighting to protect the New Orleans Saints. The trademark, colors and phrases all work together to provide an image for the team. I know that the community is a large part of the New Orleans Saints. They should be able to see the value in the team trademarks. The NFL was attacked because they were portrayed as the bully taking something from a city that had already lost so much. I feel like the community was trying to keep the tradition alive. If the NFL had went in as a protector of the team rather than just sending out cease and desist orders things might have happened differently.

Operations Manager

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 02:17:00 +0000

I had the opportunity to interview Robert (Marshall) Palmer. Robert started his career at the Amway Arena and was promoted twice which led him to his current position as Operations Manager. He is responsible for the new Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. The venue is home to Orlando Magic, the Orlando Predators and next year there will be a hockey team added to the venue. The Amway Center also holds concerts and ice shows. The venue was opened in 2010 to replace the old Amway Arena. The new Amway Center is 875,000 feet and features one of the largest high definition scoreboards in a NBA facility.

When I researched Operation Managers the responsibilities were varied based on the facility. Common responsibilities included budget and logistics management. I selected Robert Palmer because I knew that this job varied and I wanted to see the perspective of someone in the position. The first question I asked Robert Palmer was about his responsibilities at the Amway Center. He said that he was in charge of the physical building. He helped with the completion of the set up for all events that occurred in the arena. Robert said he hired a sub-contract crew that would come into help him prepare the venue. For example if the Amway Center has a basketball game on Saturday night and then has a concert on Sunday, Robert would need to change out the court and set up the stage. He said that a typical change takes about eight hours. When I asked Robert about the budget he said that he has no part in that. His position is based around the building only. He said that the budget for the venue is taken care of by the Operations Division Manager. Robert also told me that Orlando Magic had employees that worked for the team that took care of the revenue.

The next question I asked Robert was about the requirements for his position. He said the most important requirement was safety training. He said that things happen and as the Operations Manager you need to tell the staff what to do. Fire safety training is a must. Robert Palmer also said that I should have knowledge of maintenance. He said he is responsible for fixing things. If something breaks during the event it has to be fixed and fast. Robert told me that once there was a basketball game and the shot clock fell. He said that this was something he needed to be replaced and fast. He said that if the game had been televised nationally he would have had to pay one thousand dollars for every minute that television was held up. Robert said that he prevents these problems by checking equipment at least three times before the game. Some things will happen, but Robert Palmer makes sure that he avoids as many problems as possible. One last requirement he said that they look for is a degree in sports. The Amway Center is based around Orlando Magic. All the other events just supplement the revenue coming to the venue. He said that the sports background makes the Operations Manager more knowledgeable when it comes to the industry and how it works.

The next topic that Robert Palmer and I discussed was the rewards and challenges of his position. He said that there are many rewards. The first would be the building. The Amway Center as I mentioned before is a state of the art venue. He said that he could not ask for a better place to work. The Amway Center allows him to work in a place that at the moment is one of the most technological advanced arenas in the country. The second reward he said would be his back stage passes. He said that he usually sees the players and artists long before they perform. After he got done telling me the people he met he pulled out a shoebox. Inside were backstage passes from every concert he was part of. It was so great to see the pride that he took in his role. His third and final reward was just the experience of being within the sports and entertainment industry.

Robert Palmer then moved onto the challenges. He said that he could think of two. The first being stress. He said that sometimes the venue would give him six hours to change the venue over when he knew it took eight hours. He said that he learned to stay calm. He would just have to find extra men and if he knew this wasn’t possible he would just tell the venue that it couldn’t be done. An example he gave was the Guns n Roses concert. They ended up playing long past their set time. Robert said they left around 3 in the morning. They had five hours to set a stage for an event the next day. Robert knew he couldn’t get extra men at that point so everyone worked hard and they ended up having to modify the original plan. He said it worked out, but sometimes things don’t work out. The venue just has to be prepared to make last minute changes. The second challenge is the long hours. Robert said that there are not many vacations and he usually only gets one day off a week. The position requires at least fifty hours a week.

Robert Palmer knew a lot about the venue and about the industry. I asked him if he could give me advice about entering the industry. He said that I should keep networking. An informal interview is the best way to make contacts he told me. He said that the more people I meet the better off I will be. He said I should want people to know my name if nothing else when I meet them. It will help when I apply for a job because the employer will see the name on the top of the resume first. This impacts the choices made for who gets hired and who doesn’t. He said that I should also get out and be involved in the industry. Find an internship where I can have multiple roles. The more well rounded you are the more options you have. He said from his experience once you get in it then becomes easier. Most companies will promote within before they go looking for someone. He also suggested volunteering. It shows that I am willing to go out of my way to be part of the industry. I have to sell myself and prove that this is the industry that I want to be in.

The final and most important question I asked was how do you measure your success within your career? He had to think about this one. He said that the first way he measures his success is by the events. He said that the NBA Finals were held twice at the venue. These events took extra preparation since there was national coverage. Everything had to go perfect. Any mistakes would result in fines to the venue. Robert said that the finals were a large responsibility for him and they both ended up successful. The second way he would measure his success is through his crew. He said that he looks for people that are going to work hard. He tries to give everyone the benefit of the doubt, but it doesn’t always work out. He makes sure that his crew is the best because they represent the venue and him. His success is their success.

Overall my interview with Robert Palmer was a success. I went in thinking his job was one thing and learned that his job was very different. Robert makes sure that the venue is set and ready to go when events occur. I know that his role is important, however, I also know that it is not the role for me. Now that I have seen Robert Palmers side I know and understand his role. I know that this will help me when I get a career in the industry. I plan to keep learning about various careers within the industry. I want to be the best person that I can be. Like Robert Palmer said I have to sell myself to get a career in the industry.

Cam Newton's Social Media Presence

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 17:57:00 +0000

Cam Newton as most of you know is one of the most successful rookie quarterbacks. He steps up every week and works hard. This week I had the chance to look at Cam Newton’s social media presence. The video below will give you some more insight into Cam Newton’s career and it will also show you my analysis on his social media presence.

Creative Techniques to Attract Fans

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 03:27:00 +0000

The current economy in the United States is affecting all Americans. The most recent recession according to the National Bureau of Economic Research started on December 1, 2007 and ended in June 2009. The recession is said to have ended because economic activity increased for two quarters. Even though this is true Americans are still suffering and are unable to spend money like before. This is affecting the sports industry. Some teams have had to shut down while others have to get creative to make sales. I am going to first discuss the current situation for many sports teams, then I will discuss some methods used by teams to increase sales, and finally I will give you my thoughts on what I would do to increase productivity during these tough times.

With the current economic condition many sports teams are suffering. Minor leagues have had to shut down. The Arena Football League was shut down in 2009. This was a 22-year-old league that was lost due to the loss in spending. Minor league hockey suffered as seasons were cut short and teams were lost. Some college teams were able to get through the economic downturn, but others had to make cuts. Louisiana had a lack in funds that caused the tennis team to be cut. Nascar also suffered due to the economy. They said that there loss was due to a lack in consumer confidence, a rise in unemployment, and an increase in fuel and food costs. The International Speedway Corporation (ISC) proved that this was a problem. The ISC owns 13 tracks including the Daytona International Speedway. In 2009 food and merchandise spending fell 34 percent and ticket sales dropped 16 percent. The National Football League also took a hit. Stadiums have to sell their tickets in order for games to appear on television. The Jacksonville Jaguars had a hard time selling tickets and were actually predicting to have all eight home games blacked out.

With the economy not improving sports teams had to get creative. They needed to find a way to attract fans. Teams have tried various methods. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers offered a flexible payment plan. The Atlanta Falcons presented a similar six-month payment plan. The New Orleans Saints went as far as a layaway option. Major League Baseball was able to keep positive income through their technology. This supplemented losses that came from the game. College teams got creative in finding new ways to keep ticket sales. The University of Florida chose not to increase their ticket prices in 2009. They said they wanted to reward the fans for their loyalty to the team. Arizona State University created the Devil Domain. They wanted to create an ultimate fan experience. The Devil Domain included a website, rewards program, screensavers, and discounts. Fans were able to get involved and save money. The University of Wisconsin had a unique way of getting their athletes and campus involved. Student athletes spent the first few weeks of school making appearances around campus. They wanted the students to be social and let the student athletes know they are students just like everyone else on campus. This helps the University of Wisconsin fill the stands with students that felt a connection with the team. In addition to the appearances the school also does a point system. The point system allows students to earn points for events that they attend. These points are added up and at the end of the year prizes are distributed.

In addition to creative marketing techniques teams have other factors to consider when they want to increase revenue. When people choose to attend games they are interested in watching successful teams. Teams with losing records have a harder time selling tickets than those teams that have winning records. Teams are able to change their record and fan base by recruiting new players. New athletes have proved to improve ticket sales. Miami Heats attendance was increased with the addition of LeBron James and Chris Bosh. In 2010 they had 17,885 fans, which ranked them 11^th. In 2011 they were able to attract 19,612 fans, which brought them all the way up to 2^nd in the ranks. This was also successful for Chicago Sky who was able to increase ticket sales by 28.9 percent in 2011. Sylvia Fowles, Epiphanny Prince and Courtney Vandersloot made the difference in sales.

As a current student planning to enter the sports industry I have gave a lot of thought to how to make sports profitable during the current economic crisis. I think that the most important part is the fan experience. The fan wants to be part of the team and they expect a certain experience when they come to a game. Part of my fan experience would be meeting the players. The fans should be connected with the team on a personal level. Having a website is important for the fans as well. The website should allow fans to stay update with team information and allow the fans to enter for special promotions. I want to give out coupons for merchandise and food. This will make the cost inside the venue less for the fans. Ticket prices are a large factor in bringing fans to the game. I want to make tickets affordable and offer payment options for fans. I also want to have certain games where fans can have special discounts on tickets. In order to get new fans I want to have a college night and a grade school night. I recently went to a football game at The University of Central Florida. I received a free ticket as a promotion to local colleges in the area. I went and had a good time. Now I want to return for another game because of the experience that I had. By offering a grade school and college night students would be able to have the same experience. They are the future ticket holders.

Sports teams have suffered during this economic downturn. Some teams have had to shut down while others have been able to push through. The sports industry has to get creative to ensure that fans are involved in the game. There are teams that offer flexible payment plans and others that offer the ultimate fan experience. Some teams have paid extra to receive players that will bring fans to the stadium. I think that teams should combine various promotions and find a plan that best supports the fan base. If we can support the fans during this tough economy the fans will stick around. Fan loyalty is the ultimate goal for any sports team. Creating new promotional techniques will only improve the success of the sports industry.

Fantasy Football

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 18:01:00 +0000

Over the last decade fantasy football has become a growing source of entertainment. Fantasy football allows users to become general managers of their own team. Each owner is able to manage and coach games based around NFL players. Fantasy football started in 1962 and since then has grown to 32 million people in the United States and Canada. Fantasy football has evolved to become one of the most well known fantasy sports over the last decade. In this post I will discuss when and how fantasy football started, current fantasy football information and why this is important.

Bill Winkenbach started a fantasy golf league in the 1950s. Golf was the first sport to have a fantasy league. Owners in this league would draft a team of professional golfers. At the end of the week the owner with the lowest score would win. This was before computers so all fantasy owners would sit down with paper and a pen and keep track of the league. You may be asking what does this have to do with football well it was the golf fantasy league that led Bill Winkenbach, Scott Stirling and Bill Tunnell to create the first fantasy football league in 1962. Bill Winkenbach was the part owner of the Oakland Raiders. He saw the potential for a league that involved football. He teamed up with Scott Stirling the Oakland Tribune columnist and Bill Tunnell public relations for the Oakland Raiders. The first fantasy team they created was called the GOPPL. This was an acronym for the Greater Oakland Professional Pigskin Prognostics League. They were able to get others involved. Drafts were held throughout the Oakland area as people continued to keep track of leagues independently.

Once the software was developed and the Internet was available fantasy football become an instant hit. Fantasy football owners were able to have teams and do little work in comparison to before. They no longer had to track their scores since the computer would automatically do the work for them. Today fantasy football owners spend about 50 minutes each week setting up their teams. They make sure that they have studied the opponent and have a good chance of winning with the players they have on their team. Fantasy Football is bigger than ever before. The current number of users in the United States and Canada has reached 32 million. The average user is male and between the age of 18 and 49. Women’s interest has grown to 31 percent. The average owner makes between 60 and 100 thousand. This is important because advertisers see the potential to make money based on these demographics. Some of the more popular sponsors include Coors Light, Ford and Best Buy. They know exactly how to make money off this growing source of entertainment.

Fantasy football is a free source of entertainment for NFL fans. Some leagues do offer cash prizes and require a fee to create a team. The most popular is the free leagues that offer public and private managed teams. Public leagues allow owners to compete with people from around the world. Private leagues allow users to play against friends. In private leagues you can customize the rules, the roster size and the scoring system. In the private league there is also the selection of a commissioner. The commissioner is in charge of overseeing all the leagues rules, scoring and trades. Fantasy League draft requires the owners to be up to date with individual player statistics. Owners are able to trade at any point and they can also pick up free agents. ESPN and NFL are just two of the many that offer weekly reports for fantasy owners. They let you know who will have a good performance and who may not perform as well. They also keep fantasy owners up to date with injuries.

People play fantasy football across the globe. Fantasy football is important because it attracts more people to the sport. Fans are able to be part of the game. Fantasy football owners don’t like just one team anymore. They may have a favorite team, but on the side they are cheering for players on other teams. Since fans now have to watch multiple games television broadcasts are reaching a larger audience. DIRECTV offers the red zone channel and they offer NFL Sunday ticket. Both of these options cost extra, but they become necessary when trying to manage a fantasy football team. I have my own fantasy football team that I work on day in and day out. I am consistently reading trying to stay up to date on players and schedules. I am more involved in the sport of football than ever before. I am able to see what it’s like to manage a team. I like that fantasy football owners are involved and make football more attractive than it already is.

The future of fantasy football and the NFL will grow based on the interest from fans. Fantasy football creator Bill Winkenbach probably never imagined how big his fantasy sports idea would get. He was able to see what no one else saw. He knew that fans wanted to be more than fans. The fans wanted to be involved in the game that they were passionate about. Fantasy sports make this possible for fans. You can be a manager, commissioner, and a coach. The best part is people take an interest in individual players. Players are drafted to preform and to become a leader in the fantasy league. With more people taking an interest in fantasy football the future seems bright.

Mike Oldakowski

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 16:29:00 +0000

This blog so far has been focused on sharing sports news from around the NFL. This post is different in that I am going to talk about an individual that works in the sports industry. I have been exploring various careers within the sports industry. One position that I took an interest in was Athletic Director. I like that the position allows you to be involved with multiple sports for one school. To find out more about the career I was able to shadow and interview Mike Oldakowski. Mike Oldakowski is the Athletic Director for University High School. As the Athletic Director he is responsible for all sports functions that involve University High School. In this post I will first discuss the responsibilities of the job and then I will discuss the benefits and challenges that come with this career.

Mike Oldakowski has various responsibilities that he has to perform on a continuing basis. He is in control of the budget for coaches, equipment, team travel and facility use. Mike Oldakowski decides which coaches he will work with and how much they will get paid based on their sport. When selecting coaches he said he looks for mutual benefit. He wants the coach and the school to benefit from their skills. He does this by making sure that he selects qualified and respected coaches. Depending on the coach this means that he could pay more then he planned in order to get a better value. Mike Oldakowski said his challenge is making sure that he stays within the budget. He has lost great coaches that wouldn’t settle based on the budget. When it comes to equipment Mike Oldakowski has a budget on what he can spend per year. This means that not every team gets new equipment every year. Mike Oldakowski said that he works on a rotating basis making sure that each team gets the proper equipment. This can be changed if there is a safety concern or an immediate need by a specific team. He is looking out for the best interest of all the athletic teams.

Team travel is an additional part of the budget. Teams require transportation to games. Mike Oldakowski is in charge of making sure that all teams have transportation. In addition he is responsible for making sure that rules get followed when it comes to transportation. He said that coaches are unable to drive students to and from games. This is a rule that is for the protection of the coach and the student. Facility use is a demanding part of the position. Mike is in charge of making sure that his teams have practice and game locations. He needs to make sure that nothing is being double booked. He makes sure that the fields are prepared and kept up. In addition the facilities are rented. Currently the Pop Warner Youth Football League uses University High School for their Saturday football games. He is responsible for the rental on the day of the event. He said he comes in on Saturdays to make sure that everything is prepared and executed properly. He needs to protect the school, field, and equipment. With all of this budgeting Mike Oldakowski is constantly involved in negotiation. He has to look at each situation and find the mutual benefit. He represents the school and he needs to have their best interest at heart, which he does.

Being an Athletic Director comes with both benefits and challenges. On one hand they are a leader in the athletic community and on the other hand they are responsible for any issues that occur within the athletic department. Athletic Directors have the benefit of working with both coaches and players to achieve success. They serve as leaders for the school and the community. They directly contribute to every team and their success. Challenges can include the mediation of disputes, academic eligibility, and rule and budget changes. Any disputes that occur between athletes and coaches or coaches and parents become the athletic directors concern. Mike Oldakowski would be responsible to mediate these issues. He said that he has to separate the people from the problem in every situation. When these disputes happen Mike Oldakowski usually knows the parties involved. He makes sure that he takes a step back and analyzes the problem. He still focuses on making sure that both parties benefit, but this isn’t always possible. He has to make a decision that will result in a positive outcome. Academic eligibility is a huge concern for high school athletic directors. Mike Oldakowski said that his students’ success academically is very important. They want students to have good grades so that they can go to college. Mike Oldakowski is always working with his athletes to be sure they keep their grades up. An additional challenge is rule and budget changes. Rules are consistently changing and Mike Oldakowski is responsible for knowing about all changes. He has to stay on top of all sports and their rules. This takes time and dedication on his part. Budget changes cause many changes. This may mean that a team doesn’t get new uniforms. The athletic director can’t predict budget changes, but they are expected to be able to respond. They need to be able to spend money wisely.

Mike Oldakowski showed me that being an Athletic Director can be rewarding and demanding. He showed me what his tasks are on a daily basis. He works hard everyday to make sure that he does his job to the best of his ability. Now that you have read this maybe you are considering a career in this field or maybe not. I am still unsure myself. I do know that I have an appreciation for all the hard work that goes into this career.

NFL Week One

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 16:07:00 +0000

The NFL football season began this week. With less time to prepare many anticipated what the first game of the season would bring. There were both highs and lows for teams across the league. There were three players that stuck out due to their performance in week one. The first was Cam Newton and his first game with the Carolina Panthers. Second, Sebastian Janikowski kicked a field goal that would ultimately be the three points that gives the Oakland Raiders a win. Lastly Tom Brady came into week one ready for the fast pace offense that would lead his team to a victory over the Miami Dolphins.

Cam Newton played his first game for Carolina Panthers on Sunday. Many critics were unsure of what Cam Newton could produce. He came out Sunday ready to preform and made an impressive debut. Cam Newton broke Peyton Manning’s record for the most yards in the first game. Peyton had 300 yards his first game and Cam Newton threw an impressive 422 yards. Cam Newton completed 24 of 37 passes for two touchdowns and one interception. He helped his team score on the ground and showed he is a dual threat. Cam Newton certainly remains a work in progress as a passer, but he gave the NFL an indication of what he is capable of. The Carolina Panthers have to be excited that their number one draft pick may give the team the advantage they need to become a winning team.

Sebastian Janikowski also broke records week one of this NFL season. Janikowski kicked a 62-yard field goal that tied the record for the longest in the NFL. Sebastian Janikowski said that he was a little disappointed that it just made it over the upright. During pregame practice Janikowski kicked a 70-yard field goal. He should not be disappointed. The Oakland Raiders came away with a win that was only possible with the 62-yard completion by Sebastian Janikowski. As far as the future is concerned Janikowski has three goals for his career. He wants to be in the league for ten years, break or tie the record for field goals, and he wants to win a super bowl. Janikowski has 12 years in the league and this weekend tied for the breaking field goal. Sebastian will now be working to help the Oakland Raiders win a super bowl making his final goal complete.

Tom Brady threw a team record of 517 yards. Brady is the 11^th quarterback to throw for at least 500 yards in one game. He completed 32 of 48 passes for four touchdowns. The most impressive being the touchdown pass to wide receiver Wes Welker for 99 yards. The one downfall to Brady’s performance was his interception that ended the 358-pass streak. The team as a whole broke an NFL record for most yards in one game totaling 622 yards.

No one knew what to expect going into week one. The lockout caused rookies like Cam Newton to have little time to prepare. Cam Newton had an explosive first game in the NFL. He still has a lot of work to do in the preparation for next weeks game against Green Bay. Sebastian Janikowski showed his promise as he kicked a record tying 62-yard field goal. Tom Brady is a number one quarterback in the eyes of most, but who would have predicted the first game of the season Brady would break the record for passing yards. These are only some of the highlights from week one. Some teams need a lot of work before coming out for week two. The 2011 season is sure to be one for the record books based on week one of this season.

Michael Vick's New Contract

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 16:08:00 +0000

September 12 marks the start of a new NFL football season. The NFL is starting to cut their rosters to 80 players in preparation for the start of the season. Michael Vick has recently signed a six-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles. The contract allocates 100 million dollars over the six year time period. This contract however is set up so that Vick may actually receive the 100 million, but the chances are limited. If you have never taken a look at NFL contracts they are complex. Michael Vicks contract is no different. I will break down this contract by year to explain exactly what Michael Vick must do to make this contract the most valuable.

In 2011 Vick will receive 20 million dollars. The first fifteen days of his contract Vick will receive a seven million dollar signing bonus and a three million dollar roster bonus. This is not bad for the first fifteen days of any contract. Michael Vick will earn a ten million dollar salary in 2011. This brings us back to the 20 million dollars he is to receive total. The total amount is guaranteed.

In 2012 Michael Vick is guaranteed 12.5 million dollars. In 2013 if Michael Vick becomes injured he will receive three million dollars and the contract becomes void. Michael Vicks salary if he plays the 2013 season will be 16.4 million. If Michael Vick wins a Super Bowl in 2011 or 2012 he will receive an additional three million to his salary.

Michael Vick will receive a salary of 12.5 million in 2014. The contract also gives Vick a March signing bonus of three million. The March signing bonus encourages the Philadelphia Eagles to make decisions in March rather than in August. In 2014 Michael Vick can increase the value of his contract by 500 thousand for a NFC Championship, one million for one Super Bowl win, and two and a half million for two Super Bowls. This is based on the 2011 through 2013 seasons. The best way for Vick to maximize his earnings is to win the Super Bowl. This is beneficial to the fans because Michael Vick has to work hard in order to receive a high value contract.

In 2015 Michael Vick will receive 14.5 million for his salary. He will also receive a March signing bonus of two million. The final year of the contract is void if Michael Vick takes 35 percent of the teams snaps in any year of the contract. There is a pretty good chance this will happen. As a result this contract would be a five year 80 million dollar contract. By advertising a six year one million dollar contract the agent and player look good. Michael Vick has control of what he makes. He needs to work hard and take the Philadelphia Eagles Franchise to the Super Bowl.

In addition Michael Vick has been given the rights to the luxury suite. The luxury suite has an annual value of 165 thousand. The Philadelphia Eagles gave him this in exchange for appearances on Eagles television, website, radio, and at team events. They were unable to just give Michael Vick the luxury suite because it would result in a cap violation. By adding the stipulation they are able to give Vick the rights to the luxury suite.

Michael Vicks contract is only guaranteed the first two years. He needs to make the Philadelphia Eagles a winning franchise. He has the power to make this contract an 80 million dollar deal. With the season just around the corner it is time for players like Michael Vick to be sure he is fully prepared. This season the Philadelphia Eagles have added many new players from the free agency including Nnamdi Asomughi, Steve Smith, and Ronnie Brown. This is just a few of the players added by this franchise. Michael Vick needs to make sure that the team is up to speed. The Philadelphia Eagles and Michael Vick both want this 2011 season to bring them a Super Bowl Championship.

John Wooden

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 15:15:00 +0000

Who has been an inspiration to you? This week I took a look at TED.com. TED is a website that allows viewers to see performances and talks for free. The objective is to spread ideas. John Wooden is one of the many speakers that have multiple talks on TED. One speech that really hit home was John Wooden's speech on success. John Wooden is an important part of what sports is today. ESPN has named John Wooden the best coach among all sports. He has been praised as a player, coach and a speaker.

John Wooden attended Perdue University in Pennsylvania. He played basketball and was known for being fearless and having astounding speed. After graduation Wooden was offered a spot on the Boston Celtics. He declined this offer to become a teacher. After becoming a teacher he began to coach sports. John Wooden went on to become to the UCLA Bruins coach in 1948. When he started they were considered the weakest team in the division. John Wooden led the team to an undefeated perfect season in 1964. It was the same year that the Bruins were successful is winning the NCAA championship. John Wooden went on to win many championships. He was the first person to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as both a player and a coach.

John Wooden has many achievements that should be honored, but I think that the most important is his role as leader. He was a leader through his teaching and coaching. He showed his teams values and taught them life lessons. In his speech Coach John Wooden talked about his definition of success and he also showed the importance of values and life lessons. John Wooden created his own definition of success that he used as a teacher and coach. He said, “Peace of mind attained only through self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to do the best of which you're capable.” John Wooden knew that not every player was capable of the same success. He wanted his players to play to the best of their ability and to continue to improve. Wooden wanted his players to have the highest level of success.

He wanted his players to be successful on and off the court. To do this he told his players that school needed to come first since they were there to get an education. Second came basketball and social activities followed. This was important because he taught his players values. This was continued in his rules as a coach. John Wooden had three important rules that no one broke. The first was being on time. He expected his players to be on time and in return his players knew they were never going to be held over. Second the players were not allowed to use profanity. This would get them a place on the bench or thrown out of practice. He also didn’t want players criticizing teammates. John Wooden wanted his team to be successful.

Coach John Wooden’s speech on success showed the impact he had as a coach, teacher and a speaker. John Wooden is an inspiration. He has shown a true understanding of success. His players worked hard and were able to achieve their individual level of success. John Wooden is a legend that will forever be remembered.

Florida Citrus Sports

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 14:54:00 +0000

Can you think of an organization near you that benefits your community? I am currently getting my Masters degree here in Central Florida. I have been researching organizations that benefit the community through sports. Florida Citrus Sports is an organization that gives back to the community and benefits the economy.

Florida Citrus Sports is a nonprofit organization located in Orlando Florida. This organization is continually giving back to the community. They give numerous charitable contributions to improve the lives, health and education of children through athletics. Their primary fundraiser is the Florida Citrus Sports Mini Open. This event allows participants to play mini gold, enjoy great food and beverages, and also participate in the silent auction. The September 2010 event took place at Hawaiian Rumble Adventure Golf on International Drive. There were 288 members that participated in the event. This event generated 48,965 dollars to the Florida Citrus MVPS Foundation. This foundation focuses on youth athletics and academics in the community. This is just one event that they put on. Florida Citrus Sports also sponsors other events and organizations throughout the year in order to benefit the Central Florida community.

Florida Citrus Sports also gives back by boosting the economy. They host four signature events including the Capital One Bowl, the Champs Sports Bowl, the Orlando Citrus Parade and the OUC Half Marathon and 5K. Florida Citrus Sports generates 105,145,243 dollars in economic activity for Central Florida. Over 80 percent of the money spent in Central Florida is a result of the bowl games. The majority comes from non-local spectators. The events hosted by Florida Citrus Sports generated approximately 7.7 million dollars in revenue for restaurants. Theme park sales totaled 3.1 million dollars from bowl viewers. This resulted in 9.3 million dollars of new tax revenue for Orange County and the state of Florida. As a result of theses events jobs were also created.

This organization shows the importance of sports for communities. Sporting events generate money into the economy, create jobs and help support local charities. I have recently become a member of Florida Citrus Sports. I plan on helping with events, so that when I get my career in sports I can have the positive results this organization has. The fact that this organization strives to benefit the community makes me feel good to be a part of the 1000 members supporting this organization.

If you are interested in this organization click here for more information.

Day 119 of the NFL Lockout

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 03:13:00 +0000

It is crucial that the lockout ends this week in order to have a full preseason. The players need to go to training camp in order to ensure a full NFL season. Rookies could lose a year of playing time if they don’t get enough practice time in with the team. So how do players help prepare during a lockout? Well they work on individual skill and meet with fellow teammates. If players can do their job then when the lockout ends the focus can be on the team.

There are many players right now that are taking this time to make themselves better. I want to first bring up Cam Newton. He was the number one draft pick for the Carolina Panthers. Cam Newton is currently in Bradenton Florida working on his game. He knows that the NFL is a major step and he wants to be prepared. Cam Newton is showing his fans the dedication and heart that it takes to become a great quarterback in the NFL.

Cam Newton is not the only one working on his game. Eli Manning first met with fellow teammates at Hoboken High School. He was joined by ten fellow teammates. They used this time to work on passing drills. Eli Manning has recently led his fellow teammates to Bergan Catholic High School in Oradell, New Jersey for a second meeting. He wants to get the team together to work on additional drills. Manning commented on the meeting saying, “It's not great work, but it's better than doing nothing." Eli Manning expressed the importance of the workouts when it comes to rookies. He wants them to meet the team so that when the lockout does end they can utilize their time wisely.

There are many other players working on their game including Demarcus Ware, Jordan Palmer, Julio Jones, Matt Ryan and many others. All these players want to improve their individual skill. This will lead to team success during training camp. We can only hope that an agreement is made soon and players are able to show their talent.

NFL Lockout

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 03:17:00 +0000

What happens if there is no 2011 NFL season? Depending on whether you’re an owner, player, or fan this will affect everyone different. I know that I am ready to get the season underway. Many of you are aware of the lockout, but some of you may not know all the factors that are being discussed. I went through numerous sites and have put together the timeline and purpose of the 2011 lockout.

It all started on March 8, 2006. The National Football League Players Association also known as the NFLPA proposed an extension to the current collective bargaining agreement (CBA). This extension was granted for six years. A collective bargaining agreement is a contract between owners and players that covers working conditions. When this contract expires if a new agreement cannot be negotiated then everything stops. If the owners initiate the work stoppage than a lockout is enforced. There was a stipulation added to the 2006 CBA that allowed owners to get out of the contract early. Making the agreement effective until 2010. In May of 2008 the owners exercised their right and opted out of the agreement. They said that revenue was changing and that players were getting the largest portion of the leagues revenue. 2010 marked the start of the final season under the CBA. The NFL began the season without a salary cap and with restrictions on player movement within the league.

March 12, 2011 the lockout officially began. The players filed a lawsuit for the lockout to be lifted. Brady v. NFL was held in front of Judge Nelson. Judge Nelson ordered mandatory mediation on April 1. She sided with the players and lifted the lockout on April 25th. By April 29th the lockout was reinstated. This granted the owners a temporary stay.

At this point the players and owners are meeting to try to work out a new collective bargaining agreement. They are working on the details at this point. They need to address rookie salaries. They also need to adjust the revenue share that is given to players. This will most likely result in a decrease in pay for players because of the economy. They also need to work out the projected 18 game season rather than the standard 16 games. The most important thing is player’s safety. Lets face it we would not have the NFL without players. I don’t think there is a need for 18 games. Sixteen games works and allows players to still preform in the playoffs. By adding two more games not only are they putting the players at bigger risk, but they are jeopardizing the effort that goes into playoffs. Two more games will only make the game wear on the players. Why mess with something that works? As far as revenue is concerned the economy is affecting everyone. The NFL is no different. The owners are seeing a decrease in revenue. This includes a decrease in ticket sales and products. They need to take some money and invest in stadiums. The players need to be willing to adjust their share of the revenue based on the economic downturn. I have read that potentially the players could receive 48 percent of the revenue. That would be a decrease, but that’s still a large percentage of the revenue. Rookie salaries need to be based on the overall percentage the players get. I think every player adds value. How they add value is important. Retired players also play a role. They are fighting for a better pension and health benefits.

Recently players and owners have addressed the media. They are all optimistic about the season. The players and owners are negotiating. They realize that if this season is going to happen they need to come to an agreement soon. The urgency is there. I am hopeful that the agreement will come in time for a full season.

Pat Tillman's Leadership On and Off the Field

noreply@blogger.com (Brittany) — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 12:48:00 +0000

What makes a leader? Is it accomplishments, influence, attitude or even more? I believe it is all this and more. Pat Tillman rearranged his priorities. He based his decisions on passion. He is a leader on and off the field.

Pat Tillman’s football career…

Pat Tillman has been an inspiration. He was known for his academic accomplishments while attending Arizona State University. He was a leader on the field. He led Arizona State in an undefeated season in 1997. This led to the team to the Rose Bowl. He won the Pac-10 defensive player of the year. He was well known for his hard hits. He was able to knock people right off their feet.

This continued when he moved to the Arizona Cardinals. While there he recorded a record number of tackles in 2000. He also showed his loyalty in 2001 when he chose to stay at Arizona rather than accepting the offer from the Saint Louis Rams. The story doesn’t end here. Pat Tillman did more than play the game. I love the game of football and the leadership that comes into place. Players fight to be the best. Pat Tillman is no different. He gave me a whole new perspective on leadership. I know that if I played football for the NFL I would not give it up for anything. Tillman rearranged his priorities and saw what was truly important to him. I can only hope to be this admirable.

Off the field…

Pat Tillman lived a normal life. The September 11^th attacks would cause him to change his life. He gave up a 3.6 million dollar contract with the Arizona Cardinals to enlist in the army for a three-year commitment. His grandfather fought in Pearl Harbor and he questioned what he had done. He said that he realized how insignificant his role was.

I would consider his role in the NFL important. He was not only a leader during the game, but he was always giving back. He gave back to many charities including the March or Dimes and the Boys and Girls Club in Arizona. By enlisting he set an example that reached people everywhere. Beyond that he showed his dedication to his country. This is the least selfless thing that Tillman could have done.

How many people would give up their dream? He had a career in football and no doubt about it had plenty of talent. His potential will remain in question.

The Legacy…

He said that he would come back to the game after he returned home. That never happened. He was killed on April 22, 2004 in Afghanistan.

His death is hard for me. He had so much life to live. Nothing says influence and leadership like Pat Tillman. He has shown America talent and dedication. I aspire to have the influence that Pat Tillman has had on this country. Pat Tillman has left a legacy through his story on and off the field.

Pat Tillman’s family set up the Pat Tillman Foundation. This foundation was set up to honor Pat Tillman and his legacy. The mission of the Pat Tillman Foundation is to invest in veterans and their families through education and community. They want to instill Pat Tillman’s values in others. They are essentially creating more leaders.

Pat Tillman has influenced people through his passion. He has shown America talent and dedication. He is a noble person with a huge heart. I know that he will always be a role model and an influence on my life. His legacy will live on.