Small Town Heart, Big City Dreams

A Sales Lesson Learned... Or Not!

noreply@blogger.com (Stephanie Orpurt-Ross) — Sun, 29 Jul 2012 16:56:00 +0000

Over the past month there’s been word circulating around my small community about a college student going door-to-door selling children’s books. For me, the idea of selling door-to-door seems like a nightmare-almost as bad as collections! So naturally I had some sympathy for him, especially because I knew that the word around town was not entirely positive. However, this sympathy quickly faded when I had my own encounter with the infamous salesman. It didn’t take long for me to understand what others were saying.

So what was his tactic and why didn’t it work?

Persistence or Harassment? There’s a fine line between the two and to many potential customers this salesman crossed it. While I only had one visit from him, others were not so lucky and had to fend him off multiple times. Yes, many people will cut you off even before you give your sales pitch and tell you they’re simply “not interested”. Others will listen politely and still say “not interested”. So what is the appropriate amount of “no’s” before you just as politely say “thank you for your time and walk away?”

As a consumer I would say twice… As a salesperson I would say third time’s a charm? I can’t speak for others but I probably said no at least 10 times in every way I knew possible and he still did not stop. This probably had the opposite effect he was hoping for because I didn’t come to my senses and buy from him. In fact, it ruined any chance for me to purchase anything from him in the future.

Too Much Personal Information? The second mistake was the fact that he was asking information about not just my family but my neighbors as well. It wouldn’t have taken much research for him to find that the area has been plagued with theft and break-ins. Considering he comes from out-of-state and no one in the area is familiar with him, I adamantly refused to answer his questions about who had kids or grandkids, does anyone live here, are there any empty nesters on the road, etc. I can only hope that a red light would be raised and my neighbors would do the same.

Peer Pressure? At one point he brought out a list of families who supposedly purchased from him, asking me if I knew them. Yes, I can see how this may work on my children who still have to have whatever is “cool” at the moment but as an adult, if I don’t need or want it, I’m not buying it.

Personal Payment? While I didn’t buy anything I’ve heard that those who have were asked to write a check to the salesman and not the company he is selling for. While I am sure he doesn’t make the guidelines for payment, I would still be wary of giving any of my personal information to a door-to-door salesman without some verification of who he is and works for.

If I had some advice or recommendations for the college student or the company he is working for it would be this:

Listen! Don’t ruin the opportunity for a potential customer by coming off as pushy or harassing. There are multiple reason why a customer will say no-financial, not interested, product isn’t relevant. But ignoring what they are telling you is no way to build a long-lasting relationship. The person who said no today may say yes tomorrow. But, if they are turned off by your tactics the first time you failed before you even rang the doorbell the second time.

Options! Perhaps in this situation, the company could have provided the salesman with some tools to allow the customers to research the product on their own. The company could easily provide their salespeople with business cards, brochures, or fliers and give customers who initially say “no” or “not interested” another option. If they choose to order online, give customers the opportunity to enter the salesperson’s name so they receive credit and a more secure way to make payment. This in turn may eliminate the image of a company who displays a harassing sales tactic. I for one would’ve gladly taken information and looked it over later but the only option given to me was buy now!

Change! Companies and salespeople need to be sensitive to the changing world. Consumers today aren’t accustomed to the door-to-door approach making them a little more skeptical to strangers who come selling at their home. Remember, in most cases you are an unwelcome guest and you are the one who has to work to gain the customer’s trust.

Research! Know the area you are going into and your target market. If you know that an area is currently experiencing a rise in theft, be more sensitive in the questions you are asking and if you are told no then don’t push. Don’t ask for personal information or information about others they may know. As a single mom, I wouldn’t be keen on sharing information or want my neighbor to share information to a perfect stranger. It’s unfortunate but in today’s world, revealing that a person is elderly, living alone, has kids these ages, etc. is not safe anywhere and we all need to look out for each other.

Well, this is just a tidbit of my adventure with a poor college student knocking on the wrong door! What have your door-to-door sales encounters been like? Do you think the technique is successful or unsuccessful?

Image From: jmtalkback.com

The Power of Social Media

noreply@blogger.com (Stephanie Orpurt-Ross) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:11:00 +0000

http://www.breakingalltherurals.com/2011/ten-social-media-tips/

The increasing number of celebrities rising from the amount of negative attention they receive continues to raise the question, what legacies will we be leaving behind and what kind of control do we have over it? While we have become programmed to expect the media to overhype situations both negative and positive, can we make changes to their power through social media? Can we put an end to the rise of popularity through negative actions or does social media simply increase the issue.

For example, I recently came across the Washington Post article, Pearls Before Breakfast, about violinist, Joshua Bell. Although the article was written in 2007, it is making a “come back” with links being shared across Facebook. Placed strategically at the busiest time and in one of the busiest spots at a train station in Washington, DC, Bell played one of the most difficult pieces of classical music. As the experiment was intended to show, the majority of the people going in and out of the station did not take the time to stop and appreciate this once in a lifetime performance. Most weren’t even aware of what or who they were passing by, children, who were intrigued by Bell, weren’t encouraged to listen and explore their curiosity, and those who did stop were drawn away by other priorities. We’ve all been there, in a hurry, running late, and stopping for any distraction will put us even further behind. We know the difficulty of explaining to your boss, “I’m late because there was this amazing violinist and I just had to stop and listen?”

The greatest thing about social media is like this article, we are able to share in an experience without actually being there. We watch the video on YouTube, pass it along to our friends on Facebook, and comment on how unbelievable it is that no one has the time to “stop and smell the roses anymore.” On the other hand, social media has become a source of news that spreads like wildfire and with the good comes the bad. Someone read it on so and so’s status then it must be true right?

As the “owners” of social media, we have the choice of what to share and the news we spread. While it is in the human nature to be drawn to disaster and drama, we all look for signs of hope as well. Within the last year we’ve seen the fall of Charlie Sheen, the rise of Tim Tebow, the fall of Whitney Houston, and the rise of Jeremy Lin all through social media. While we may not be able to stop the negative stories from being shared on social media, we can be hopeful that they are the shortest lived. The Charlie Sheen and Whitney Houston stories will fade but we will continue to hear Joshua Bell’s story from that one day in the Washington, DC subway for a time to come.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/04/AR2007040401721.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnOPu0_YWhw

Getting the Most Out of an Internship

noreply@blogger.com (Stephanie Orpurt-Ross) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 03:11:00 +0000

hotspotatl.com

For the past month I have been interning with the Akron Aeros, learning the ins and outs to getting a minor league baseball team prepared for the upcoming season. Many may not see the value in an internship especially with the stereotypical idea of interns being there simply to fetch coffee. At first I admit that I viewed it as a necessary evil to entering a career in the sports or entertainment field. From week one though, I have found that it is much more than that.

There are two key ingredients to what I would call a successful, meaningful internship. It starts with an organization whose management and employees are willing to not just teach but give responsibility. It is just as important for an employer to find value in an internship as it is for the student. The Congressional Management Foundation, focused on improving congressional operations and citizen engagement wrote an article, Keys to a Successful Internship Program. This article provides universal tips that any organization, regardless of their industry, could use to develop their own program. Their advice for managing a successful program is:

1. Develop a clear purpose

2. Create a formal orientation and training program

3. Provide clear guidance and structure

4. Balance interns’ administrative duties with more substantive work

Specifics for how to accomplish each of these key elements can be found in the complete article.

Second, just as it is important for an organization to be willing to teach, it is important for an intern to be enthusiastic about learning. The most important advice I received when starting my internship was that it was up to me how much I get out of it. An internship is not just about what you learned from books or in class, but making connections and sucking as much knowledge as possible from the professionals you are working with. Regardless of if the internship is paid or unpaid, it is an opportunity to gain professional skills while determining what aspects of an industry or job a student wants to pursue.

So as my journey as a graduate student is coming to an end, I am finding out that growth does not stop here. The experience and knowledge I am gaining from my internship is the result of not only an organization willing to teach but also the opportunity for continuous learning.

Find Internship Opportunities

Super Bowl XLVI-Business Planning at Its Best

noreply@blogger.com (Stephanie Orpurt-Ross) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:35:00 +0000

http://jakesdtvblog.blogspot.com/2011/02/indianapolis-super-bowl-logo-revealed.html

This week I came across an article in Sport Travel magazine. While the cover story of the January 2012 issue is not directly related to creating business plans, it does bring to home why it is so important to set goals, make action plans, and gain an understanding of the business. Just as the owners of Growthink try to help their customers realize, the approaches by the NFL and city of Indianapolis on improving the Super Bowl experience are based on the key principals of why planning is important. This is being said, to me, it was a perfect example of why business plans are necessary-not only for start-up but also in times of growth or restructuring.

The article goes in depth at how the NFL has looked at it’s past Super Bowls, what worked good well and what didn’t work at all. The most interesting part to me was what this year’s host city, Indianapolis, has done to ramp up the customer experience with not only Super Bowl XLVI but also future events in mind as well. The NFL created a customer service approach to improve on training volunteers and event staff, spreading out representatives both outside and inside the stadium to direct fans, and for the first time opening the Super Bowl Media Day to 8,000 fans.

Indianapolis itself however, has transformed downtown into a Super Bowl Village. Host committee chairman, Mark Miles, said, “We looked at our assets and tried to be objective about our strengths and weaknesses.” Knowing the weather in Indiana could be unpredictable and somewhat unpleasant in early February, they still chose to take their compact, walkable “downtown atmosphere and assets and turn it into something that Super Bowl visitors and residents of Indiana could embrace and enjoy.” Outside of the Super Bowl, changes made downtown and expansions to key areas such as the Indianapolis Convention Center will attract companies and organizers looking for the next place to hold their event.

What Indianapolis has done that many cities have not, is realize that they need to play to their city’s strengths, make their offerings unique, and think towards the future. They have an understanding of their competition, market, and the need to push the bar just a little higher. All of these are the same components that go into making a successful business plan and are pieces that I will take with me as I journey into the business world. From Growthink's emphasis on using business plans as a resource in creating strategies to the NFL and Indianapolis's approach in understanding their market and the need for change, it is without doubt that I will use their experience while developing my own ideas and forming them into business plans in the future.

Related Links:

http://www.sportstravelmagazine.com/

http://visitindy.com/

http://www.icclos.com/

http://www.nfl.com/

To Plan or Not To Plan, That Is the Question

noreply@blogger.com (Stephanie Orpurt-Ross) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 03:55:00 +0000

So you have a great idea for a business, but now how do you make that vision reality? Many experts say the first step when considering starting any business is to create a plan. However, others believe it is really only a necessary evil to gain financing and investors.

As the popular NBC show, Americas Great Next Restaurant, has proven to us, a business plan can help both a company and potential investors to understand all aspects of their operations prior to opening. The show’s primary investors, Bobby Flay, equally famous for his celebrity chef status as Steve Ells is for his Chipotle restaurants, are no strangers to identifying talent and opportunity. They are not just looking at if a restaurant can turn a profit but also the person behind the idea and their ability to successfully develop a concept.

A business plan can help a company to identify weaknesses in areas such as: leadership and market feasibility as well as strengths such as: competitive environment and growth opportunities. In a sense, it can help to determine if the idea you believe to be unique and great is truly worth pursuing. It also gives you an opportunity to make adjustments and correct mistakes that can often result from under-planning.

The owners of the consulting firm, Growthink, have been helping entrepreneurs “successfully start, grow, and/or exit their companies” since 1999. Co-founded by Dave Lavinsky and Jay Turo, Growthink’s business plans have been featured in magazines such as Fortune, Businessweek, and Forbes. The company not only provides services focusing on finding and securing investors but also “developing a strategic road map”. They help their clients to set goals, make action plans, and gain a complete understanding of their business. Probably the best summary supporting why a business plan is a good idea is their list of 20 Reasons Why You Need A Business Plan.

The NBA Is Back and Ready For Action

noreply@blogger.com (Stephanie Orpurt-Ross) — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 17:46:00 +0000

image from basketballwallpapers.com

It’s back! Wait, was it missing? With the end of the MLB season and winter meetings, mayhem of the NFL, and always exciting college sports, I barely had time to really miss it. But yes, if you are a basketball fan, you most definitely noticed that the NBA season just hasn’t been the same. Well, more like it has been nonexistent. Never fear, the NBA players and owners finally came to an agreement ending what seemed like a never-ending lockout.

Now, with training camps underway, trade rumors flying, and the preseason set to go the countdown is on as the first day of the NBA season approaches. Only fourteen days until the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks tip-off noon Christmas Day at Madison Square Gardens, the perfect gift for anyone that may have actually missed watching the sport.

Unlike the NFL lockout, basketball fans didn’t seem as committed to the cause of either side of the argument. Evan Bretzman’s article on The Sport Hole explains the difference between the NFL and NBA lockouts in humorous terms that anyone who has dated can relate to. While fans of the NFL “would have been crushed if the NFL had decided to cancel the season”, many of the same fans though they enjoy watching the NBA, were indifferent about the season or lack there of.

Bretzman compares football to “a long-term girlfriend that you’ve shared some great times with, matured with, and learned to love…It’s the girl you take to Thanksgiving dinner.” Losing that relationship is like losing a family member or best friend. “The NBA, on the other hand, is more like the girl you see out sometimes and hook up with but have no intention of actually dating.”

Regardless of your relationship with sports, basketball is here and ready to take back it’s fans. With a shortened 66 game season and grueling schedule, it will prove to be interesting to see if the quality of play holds up to what fans have come to expect from the NBA. Personally, I hope the upcoming season brings some much needed promise to a city plagued by the “Factory of Sadness” otherwise known as the Cleveland Browns.

Related Links:

http://www.nba.com/

http://espn.go.com/nba/

http://thesporthole.com/explaining-the-nfl-and-nba-lockouts-in-relationship-terms/

The Cleveland Indians Snow Days "Snopening" Soon

noreply@blogger.com (Stephanie Orpurt-Ross) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 02:49:00 +0000

Image from ClevelandIndians.mlb.com

The leaves are gone, temperatures have turned cold, and snow has fallen which means it’s time again for the Cleveland Indians to transform Progressive Field from “baseball park to winter playground” (Grayshock). After a mere four weeks of hard work, this MLB team is bringing much needed life to a city that tends to go dark during the rough winter months.

The Indians Snow Days is a winter festival for friends and families to enjoy the off-season and make memories in a unique way. Last year it was reported that just over 50,000 fans attended the 2010 Snow Days event. Experiencing the success they were anticipating, the Indians are hoping for even better results in their second year. Returning will be The Batterhorn, a 200 foot, 8-lane tubing hill, The Frozen Mile, “an ice skating track around the outfield and the first non-symmetrical ice skating path in the United States” (Indians.com), and The Rookie Rink,, a smaller rink for beginner skaters to practice in center field.

New this year will be The Frozen Diamond, a regulation sized ice skating rink covering the infield. For baseball fans this may be hard to swallow but three main events are already planned to draw in a different breed of fans. “The Frozen Diamond Face-Off” includes a High School Hockey Tournament spanning three days in December, a January 5^th competition between local high school rivals, St. Edward and St. Ignatius, and a January 15^th faceoff between Ohio State and Michigan Universities.

For those not wanting to brave the elements, not to worry, there is an indoor Kidsland and “Warming Area” featuring arts and crafts, baseball and holiday activities, video games, televisions showing movies and sporting events, and visits from “Santa Slider”, the beloved Indians mascot.

“Snoepening” day is Friday, November 25 and runs until January 16. Tickets range from $5.00 for those just coming to watch the fun to $100 for a family pack (2 Adults, 2 Children). Group tickets and private buyout days are also available.

http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/cle/fan_forum/snowdays.jsp#home

http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2011/11/indians_snow_days_opens_this_f.html

http://www.cleveland.com/wfny/index.ssf/2011/01/indians_close_doors_on_first_e.html

Sponsorship and Fund Raising In Your Community

noreply@blogger.com (Stephanie Orpurt-Ross) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 01:50:00 +0000

Picture From: www.dojiggy.com

Over the last couple of months I’ve been working a great deal with fundraising for our school and community youth leagues. The economy has made it even more difficult to not only maintain the costs of operating these education and youth sports programs but also continue to see positive results in fund raising. While we have seen an increase in profits, most organizations in our region have not. Much of our success can be attributed to the support of our community and the hard work and dedication of our volunteers but that can only carry an organization so far. Realizing this, we have been attempting to find new, creative opportunities with more options and diversity in our fund raising.

While many of the education and youth leagues are still only considering sales from catalogs to sub sandwiches as fund raising methods, many forget the idea of looking to local business to help support their cause as sponsors. Yes, we see names of businesses on the back of t-shirts or signs in the outfield of summer youth leagues, but what about the rest of the year and what are the businesses getting out of sponsorship? In an interview with Full Sail University, Kathy Kopacz, sports marketing consultant in the sports industry for more than 20 years, gave these recommendations for obtaining successful sponsorship: Make sure that the goals and objectives of your organization is in line with your potential sponsor, look at the sponsorship as a partnership, and follow-up and deliver results. Although this may be more directed to the larger sports industry, some points can be taken away to help in smaller organizations as well.

For example, because sponsors of community organizations will most likely be on the local level, it may not be as important to show statistics or financial results from sponsorship but appeal to the business’s sense of pride in supporting something bigger. Local businesses are usually aware of the benefits of sponsoring the communities they provide services to. If the business is supporting a youth sports team, give them a game schedule with a special invitation to attend and send pictures and updates of the team’s season highlights. For school events, have students write thank you letters or make a poster to sign. Many times, all that is needed to gain and retain sponsorship is the simple acknowledgement of appreciation.

As the economy continues to hit families, organizations, and businesses hard, it will become even more important to ensure that the investment being made by sponsors is found to be worthwhile. The question is, is your organization looking for unique, creative, and different ideas to present to your community and potential sponsors?

How To Get Sponsors For Your Event

Dicks Sporting Goods Sponsorship Request

How to Get Sponsors to Support A Walk-A-Thon or Other Fundraising Event

Cheerleading: From Youth Sport to Professional Marketing Strategy

noreply@blogger.com (Stephanie Orpurt-Ross) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 02:18:00 +0000

www.graphicshunt.com

The topic of whether cheerleading should be considered a sport has been debated for years and there is still no clear winner. However, there is no arguing the influence cheerleaders have on their peers and their ability to bring in revenue from youth to professional levels.

I began cheerleading when I entered Junior High and I admit, initially it was the typical stereotype of girls jumping around, waving pom-poms and wearing pleated skirts. That all changed as I entered High School and a group of professional cheerleading coaches and choreographers were hired to work with our squads and get us competition ready. All of a sudden we were doing more than standing on the sidelines cheering. We were becoming athletes as opposed to “Barbie dolls”. We were running laps, building muscles, learning how to tumble, doing stunts, practicing for hours everyday and gaining respect and popularity. Cheerleading now required year-round dedication because of our support in many sports and competitions as well as acting as a continuous role model and maintaining academic performance.

As cheerleaders transform into athletes, their ability to set trends among their peers becomes a greater asset to companies who want to market to girls, especially ages 7 to 17. According to a 2007 study done by Active Marketing Group, 3.3 million Americans will participate in cheerleading, 1.3 million will cheer more than 60 days, and Pop Warner has seen a 20% increase in cheer participation. In addition, the 5,400 cheerleading and dance squads make up 45% of total participation in the organization. (Active Network) These statistics are only in the Pee Wee through High School age range and do not include the major influence cheerleading has on colleges and universities of all sizes nationwide. While colleges may not see as big a revenue from their cheerleading programs as youth or professional, they are stirring the biggest controversy with the attempt at making cheerleading a Title IV sport.

On the professional level, the role of a cheerleader is much different than in youth and college. Cheerleaders are primarily a marketing tool for professional sports teams and an additional source of publicity and revenue. The Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders are just as recognizable as the football team they represent. Appearances for the top professional cheerleaders ranges from $100-$500 per hour per cheerleader and they work closely with marketing and community relations teams to attract fans and new sponsorship. Although professional teams are reluctant to put a specific number on the value that cheerleading brings to their organization, it is obviously enough to keep the program running.

Regardless of if you consider cheerleading a sport, it is undeniable that it is “big business”. From youth to professional levels, the marketing opportunities for companies targeting girls and tweens to football and basketball teams appealing to men and women, the possibilities are endless.

http://www.activenetworkrewards.com/Assets/AMG+2009/Cheerleading.pdf

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=drehs/040316

http://www.cnbc.com/id/41291516/The_NFL_s_10_Best_Cheerleading_Squads

Women in Sports Media: We've Come A Long Way

noreply@blogger.com (Stephanie Orpurt-Ross) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 03:26:00 +0000

Picture from: womeninsports.weebly.com

The topic of women in sports has been debated over the years and though progressing slowly, gender equality in sports media has come a long way. Earlier this year National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association (NSSA) held its first Women in Sports Media Issues Forum discussing issues women in media dealt with in the past and are sometimes experiencing in the present. Among the panelists were Lesley Visser (CBS Sports), Katy Brown (KATU-TV, Portland, OR), Jenni Carlson (Daily Oklahoman, Oklahoma City, OK), and Mary Jo Perino (WLEX-TV, Lexington, KY).

As Ms. Visser explained, she has been in the sports industry for 35 years and believes that compared to the past, “we have taken great strides”. She began as the Boston Globe’s first woman to cover the NFL. The credentials given by the NFL specifically stated no women or children in the press box. She described it as “already being defeated. You have the assignment but you don’t have the right to do the job.” Today, women receive equal access as their male counterparts and while “you have to earn respect” (Visser), it is a different era where the “new generation of players are used to girls and sports coexisting” (Perino).

While there are definitely still obstacles to overcome, it can be said that this is only because as Ms. Brown describes, “we are different… Going to practice and there are 20 reporters and you are the only woman, obviously you stand out and over time coaches and players know who you are”. And if you can overcome the obstacle of being different, then there are often great rewards and opportunities as a result.

There is no doubt that the members on this panel have paved the way for generations of women aspiring for a career in sports media. While issues may still exist and there will always be skeptics, women have taken great strides in gaining respect and proving their ability to be leaders in the sports industry.

Watch the full discussion at:

http://nssafame.com/2011/06/03/women-in-sports-media-issues-forum/

http://sportsjournalism.org/sports-media-news/panel-women-sports-journalists-still-face-many-challenges/

http://www.sportstvjobs.com/resources/fa-women-in-sports-tv-female-sportscasters.html

Sports Unions 2011: The Year of the Lock-Outs

noreply@blogger.com (Stephanie Orpurt-Ross) — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 14:40:00 +0000

Picture Courtsey of Creative Unions.org

“Professional sports have always been big business. And just as in many other industries throughout history, athletes' labor unions came about as a quest for fair treatment from owners who wanted to retain as much control as possible” (Daidone). Since the formation of the first players’ association, the sports industry has evolved tremendously. From the increase of media and corporate sponsorship to the unbelievable rise in players’ salaries, the question is often raised is it getting out of control?

2011 began with the question of whether the NFL Superbowl would be the last game we would see this year and is headed for an ending of uncertainty in the NBA. The last NFL strikes were in 1987 and 1982 as players fought for revenue sharing for TV and better free agency rights. The 2011 conflict raised issues of revenue and salaries, game schedule, rookie wage scale, and benefits for retired players. After 127-days team owners agreed to end the 2011 lockout and approve a 10-year-deal. The NFL was able to salvage their season with little impact on the preseason, surrounding economy, and reputation in the eyes of their fans.

The NBA, however, is facing a different challenge. As we approach the four-month mark of the NBA lockout, they risk losing more than the preseason or regular season. As fans grow more and more impatient with the unresolved conflict, they are becoming less forgiving especially in an economy where job loss is still a looming threat for everyone. Were we in a booming economy, fans may be more apt to stand by the players or owners but as it stands, it is hard to be sympathetic to millionaires who on the surface don’t seem to be making the same sacrifices of the people buying tickets.

Now, as the 2011 World Series approaches and the MLB season comes to an end, their collective bargaining agreement is on the table as well. Although little media attention has been drawn, as of yet, it appears that the MLB wants to keep things quiet. With no salary cap in place, the MLB has the highest payroll in professional sports and it is continuing to rise. According to baseball commissioner, Bud Selig, “discussions on a new collective bargaining agreement have been very constructive and he sees no timetable for getting a deal done” (Associated Press).

The fact of the matter is, regardless of which sport we are looking at, the 2011 season has been a true test to fans. They are after all, the ones paying the price as economy and jobs are threatened with the loss of games, ticket prices soar, and the rewards for fans appear to be dwindling. While regardless of the sport there will always be the die hard football, basketball, or baseball fan, many have already begun to question when enough is enough.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/7086176/bud-selig-no-timetable-mlb-labor-agreement

http://lakersblog.latimes.com/lakersblog/2011/10/nba-lockout-fans.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/23/nba-lockout-2011-training-camp-preseason_n_978329.html

Player Likeness and Intellectual Property Rights

noreply@blogger.com (Stephanie Orpurt-Ross) — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 18:07:00 +0000

The Electronic Arts (EA) Company is no stranger to lawsuits filed by both college and professional athletes claiming the use of their likeness without permission. The EA Sports label produces games such as Madden NFL, NCAA Football, and NCAA Basketball. EA claims that their games are expressive works of art and it is within their first amendment rights to create players with similar characteristics as celebrity athletes while the opposing side argues that “When doing a venture strictly for commercial profit, that’s not the First Amendment. That’s just taking a guy’s basic identity and using it to make a profit” (Radd).

Court rulings appear to be inconsistent in their support of EA’s argument that the use of players based on appearance and stats without use of their names is a right of free expression. The latest lawsuit filed by Ryan Hart accusing EA of using his likeness in their NCAA Football game was dismissed in favor of EA although a previous case filed by Nebraska quarterback, Samuel Keller resulted in favor of Keller. “A range of U.S. states have devised legislation aimed at preventing unauthorized commercial use of an individual’s name or likeness giving that person an exclusive right to license the use of the identity for commercial purposes” (Caslon). What complicates the matter with college athletes is the fact that they sign-off on their commercial rights when permitting the NCAA to use their images to promote the organization. The questions that may be argued are whether EA’s agreement with the NCAA resulting in promotion or profit, and is the use of their likeness defendable under intellectual property rights? On the opposing side, does the First Amendment protect EA’s use of their identity as a matter of creative expression?

“Intellectual property is intangible property that is the result of creativity, such as patents, trademarks, and copyrights” (Williams). One of the biggest issues facing an athlete is protecting their image. Athletes, whether professional or amateur, should be careful in signing-off on rights for use of their image. While the use of their likeness are protected under various intellectual property laws, such as trademarks or branding, once they sign a contract, it becomes more difficult to defend. In the case of the NCAA and EA, it is clear that both organizations are making a profit at the expense of the athlete. If the athletes are signing a contract with the NCAA to use images strictly for promotional purposes, the right thing would be to compensate them in some way.

The Supreme Court’s ruling in the June 2011 case, Brown, Governor or California vs. Entertainment Merchants Association, supports EA’s argument that video games are a form of creative expression. Regardless, any sports fan who plays an EA Sports game can identify players with or without the use of their names, so at what point does the claim of creative expression become nothing more than a way to hide behind the First Amendment? It appears at this point, the decision is still up to a divided court system to make the decision if EA’s protection under the First Amendment overrules the rights of athletes to control and protect the use of their image.

EA Has A First Amendment Right To Depict Real College Football Players, Judge Rules

Intellectual Property for Athletes

Caslon Analytics Intellectual Property

Lawsuit could bring NCAA financials to light

Electronic Arts Denied Request for Dismissal in Player Likeness Lawsuit

Madden Lawsuit From Jim Brown Dismissed

One NCAA Player Likeness Lawsuit Ends in EA’s Favor

Society’s Pressure: How It Affects Sports Biggest Stories

noreply@blogger.com (Stephanie Orpurt-Ross) — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 21:57:00 +0000

Image From: quiltville.blogspot.com

Over the past decade, the sports industry has seen its fair share of memorable stories, which makes naming just one as being the “biggest” story in sports seem impossible. From 53 of the 120 universities in the NCAA committing major violations to the record-setting salary deals and prize winnings of athletes such as Alex Rodriguez and Tiger Woods, no sport, professional or amateur was immune to controversy. With the end of baseball’s regular season coming near, the steroids era of Major League Baseball when players were believed to be using performance-enhancing drugs is also brought to mind.

Maybe the story that will forever remain unchanged in the sports industry is society’s increasing pressure and competition for athletes, teams, and leagues to provide bigger and better results and entertainment than in the past. Alex Rodriguez, for example, denied using performance-enhancing drugs in his 2007, 60 Minutes interview, but later admitted to using steroids while playing for the Texas Rangers. His reasoning was the increased pressure to perform. Is this an acceptable excuse for breaking the rules? Of course not, but at what point do we as a society also take responsibility? Let’s face it. Fans want to see their team win. They want to know that the athletes being paid these enormous salaries are earning it, and owners want to know that there will be packed houses and return on investment. But, is the pressure to hit harder, throw faster, jump higher, and perform better so strong that athletes need that extra boost to excite the crowds? Have we created an industry where it is no longer about natural talent? Has the desire to break records, win medals, or be the best over-taken the youthful desire to just be a part of the game and made it impossible to meet expectations?

President George W. Bush once said, “Steroids are bad for sports, they’re bad for players, they’re bad for young people who hold athletes up as role models.” From high school, college, Olympic, and professional athletes, the use of performance-enhancing drugs has plagued the U.S. sports history. As long as there is pressure whether it is to reach a personal goal or to meet the pressures of one of the most competitive industries, there will be new drugs and new challenges to face. The question is, will the biggest stories of the next decade be the controversial, rule-breaking scandals, or will society finally say enough and change their expectations to one of non-acceptance. Will we say it doesn’t matter how great an athlete you are, how many games you win, records you break, or medals you earn there are no second chances, no suspensions, you simply lose?

Getting to Yes-Separating the People From the Problem

noreply@blogger.com (Stephanie Orpurt-Ross) — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 02:25:00 +0000

Image from http://www.hobo-bonobo.co.uk/newsdesk/news-07-2007.htm

Negotiation within any industry is a tricky business but when emotions and the human aspects of the process are involved, it becomes an even more complex maze to navigate. Roger Fisher and William Ury, authors of the international bestseller, Getting to Yes, tell us of the importance of separating people from the problem to successfully move forward in negotiations. I recently had the opportunity to speak with Vice President of Business Development at SoilPros and Associates and former Marketing and Promotions Representative at CBS Radio, Jay Stevens, about his experience learning to separate emotions and people from the issues at hand in negotiation.

Mr. Stevens brought up an excellent point that often when negotiations come to a stalemate, it not only takes remembering that the person we are working with is just that, a person, but also creativity to move past whatever is holding things up. He shared with me a story about a time when he was working with a client whose previous salesperson had created a negative relationship. This was a major client that the company needed to regain trust and business with. As Mr. Stevens pointed out, they both had objectives. His was just to have a conversation with the client while the client wanted to do everything they could to avoid it. After all traditional means to contact the client were attempted, Mr. Stevens found an Indiana Jones bullwhip at a flea market over the weekend. He stopped by the client’s office, laid the bullwhip on the client’s desk and bent over. This was a bold move, but as Mr. Stevens put it, he had a choice, push back as hard as the client was and see who would be the first to break, or find some humility and recognize he needed to just fall on the sword and make it happen. Mr. Stevens knew the real issue was not with the company and keeping that in mind found a way, though unconventional, to open negotiations again, regaining the client’s trust and business.

I also asked Mr. Stevens what advice he had for someone who is new to negotiations. He offered that it is important to remember to not confuse business with friendship. That you will work with some people you like and some that you don’t like but in the end, it is all about making the best deal (on both yours and the client’s part).

“You'll do a lot of business and it will be a real pleasure, business lunches, golf outings, baseball games, you name it. You give them a good price and they give you the business....until someone comes along with better box seats, or a bigger steak, or a lower price, and you're 'good friend and business associate isn't returning your calls anymore because he's jumped to a bigger fish. You'll be frustrated over all the time and effort you put in to developing the relationship only to see it washed away over (literally) two cents. You thought they were your friend!! What happened!? Turns out they weren't really your "friend" after all. They viewed you as a "supplier" and nothing else.”

You have to remove the personal emotion involved and remember that when you are in a negotiation, you have an objective. The person sitting across from you has an objective. The goal is to build a relationship with people so that they see you as a ‘partner’, never just a ‘supplier’ so that ‘two cents cheaper’ isn’t worth the savings. (Jay Stevens)

http://www.ted.com/speakers/william_ury.html

http://www.soilpros.com/

http://www.cbsradio.com/index.html

Soccer: The New U.S. Quick Fix

noreply@blogger.com (Stephanie Orpurt-Ross) — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 03:20:00 +0000

www.syracuse.com

The success of the 2011 U.S. Women’s Soccer Team has sparked an increased interest in a sport that in other countries is as big as “American Football”. However, no one can really pinpoint why professional soccer hasn’t caught on in popularity in the U.S. and why each year it continues to take a backseat to other major sports. CBSSports.com columnist, Ray Ratto, answers this question with, “Soccer as an event has made it. Soccer as a sport…not quite so much” (cbssports.com). As a culture of quick fixes, we will invest a couple of hours to watch an event where the best of the best compete and are guaranteed to be entertained. But, it will take more than a quick fix like the one we saw at the Women’s World Cup to gain a permanent audience.

While Major League Soccer (MLS) and Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) have had difficulty capturing the attention of the majority of the U.S., youth soccer has found a way to hold its own. Formed in 1974 with a little over 100,00 registered players, the U.S. Youth Soccer Association reported in 2010 growth of more than 3,000,000 registered youth players between the ages of five and nineteen. The organization’s objective, “The Game for All Kids”, is to provide a “fun, safe, and healthy game for ALL KIDS…big kids, little kids, short kids, young kids, older kids…kids who want to play for one season, kids who want to play for twenty seasons, kids who play strictly for fun, and kids who want to compete at the highest level possible” (U.S. Youth Soccer). They offer programs ranging from regional, state, and national tournaments to a development program designed to form a national team to compete internationally. They also introduce soccer into communities that do not yet have a league through Soccer Across America as well as TOPSoccer, a training program intended to give children with disabilities the opportunity to learn and play the sport.

The unanswered question remains, what will it take for soccer to advance to the next level in professional sports? How will the MLS and WPS turn those 3,000,000 youth soccer athletes, their parents, their family, and their friends into more than short-term fans? While 2011 may not be the year that changes it all, each year of small growth brings the U.S. that much closer to making the international sport of football more than a must-see event.

http://www.cbssports.com/columns/story/15330305/face-the-facts-soccer-has-found-its-niche-in-us

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/763489-soccers-popularity-in-america-still-likely-unaffected-by-wwc-win

http://detroit.sbnation.com/2011/7/17/2275146/womens-world-cup-2011-usa-mls-detroit

Coaching For Success

noreply@blogger.com (Stephanie Orpurt-Ross) — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 06:06:00 +0000

“Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit. We are all the same in this notion: The potential for greatness lives within each of us.”

Wilma Rudolph

It was a cold, snowy afternoon when their story began to unfold and the first crack of a bat was heard at the ball fields this season. With a young team, only ten players, and for most, the first year of kid pitch, the coaches knew there was a tough road ahead. Practices started and no matter the unpredictable northeast weather, snow, rain, or shine, the team could be seen catching or hitting balls. As games began, their dedication and determination continued. And throughout the entire season, they practiced hard, gave it their all in every game, and never once stopped believing that they could and would win the next one. When I asked one of the players on the team, what do you like most about playing baseball this year, his eyes lit up, he got a big smile, and he said “everything”.

The questions many coaches in youth sports should ask themselves are what determines greatness and success and how do they guide their players to grow into not just better players but people too. As Rutgers Youth Sports Research Council at the State University of New Jersey describes, there are two extremes when it comes to the topic of winning. The first is the belief that winning is unimportant in youth sports and the other is that winning is the only thing. The ideal is to find a medium between these two extremes because the essence of sport is, after all, striving to win (Feigley). When asked about what defines success, Jerry Saxion, youth baseball coach with the Southington Baseball Organization, had this to say:

“Success is about how you take losing and even more about how you act when you win. It is not about beating the other team, it is about executing and playing the best you can. You aren’t winning or losing to the other team, it is about winning or losing to yourselves. If you do not play to the best of you ability and win on the scoreboard, you actually lose to yourself and the same is true if you play the best you can and lose on the scoreboard, you win. So when I say winning, it is not a score on paper or on a board, it is the accomplishment and knowing you did the best you could as a team.”

Most of all coaches of organized youth teams should keep in mind that they have the choice to be a positive or negative influence on their players. Coaches need to remember that the lessons their players learn from them or the examples of how they act will be lessons players will remember their entire life and although players often do not understand why a coach has them run or do a certain drill now, later in life many realize the real meaning and how it not only made them a better player but a better person (Saxion).

Inspirational Story

Bear’s Motivational Baseball: The Father’s Eyes

http://www.infosports.com/baseball/arch/1511.htm

Earn Community Grants For Your Team Through Responsible Sports/Liberty Mutual

http://responsiblesports.com/community_grants/community_grants_closed.aspx

Resources:

http://youthsports.rutgers.edu/resources/general-interest/the-role-of-winning-in-youth-sports

Sarah Kay-Embrace Life and Inspire Others

noreply@blogger.com (Stephanie Orpurt-Ross) — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 03:31:00 +0000

If you have not visited the website TED.com, it is well worth the browse to find inspiring stories and “ideas worth spreading”. Its’ two annual conferences “bring together the world’s most fascinating thinkers and doers, who are challenged to give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes or less” (TED.com). Many of these performances are made available for free on TED.com.

One speech that I found particularly inspiring was by Sarah Kay at the March 2011 conference in Long Beach, California. Sarah Kay is a spoken word poet from New York City who began performing at the age of 14 years old at the Bowery Poetry Club. She has since competed in national poetry competitions, appeared on the HBO Def Poetry Jam, and performed internationally. She is also a published author as well as founder and co-director of Project V.O.I.C.E. (Vocal Outreach Into Creative Expression), a “national movement that celebrates and inspires youth self-expression through Spoken Word Poetry” (project-voice.net).

As Kay describes, “Spoken Word Poetry is the art of performance poetry. I tell people it involves creating poetry that just doesn’t want to sit on paper. That something about it demands it be heard out loud or witnessed in person.” Kay begins her talk with, If I Should Have a Daughter, an original poem that makes evident the influence that her own parents had on her outlook and passion for life. The message she conveys is that life should be embraced and no matter what gets thrown at you and what struggles are faced, you don’t need to be discouraged. Life is a continuous lesson and the challenges you encounter make you who you are.

Later in her talk Kay divides her “spoken word journey” into three steps. The first, was when she said, “I can do this!” The second, when she said, “I will continue”. Finally the third was when she realized she could write poems that infused the work she was doing with her own experiences. Kay uses poetry to work through what she doesn’t understand while at the same time using her knowledge and experiences or “backpack full of everywhere else that she’s been” (Ted.com).

In her work to entertain, educate, and inspire, Kay encourages students to let down their guard, be open to the world around them, share their stories and learn from each other’s experiences. In this huge world where it is easy to feel alone, “spoken word teaches that if you have the ability to express yourself and the courage to present those stories and opinions, you could be rewarded with a room full of your peers or your community who will listen” (Ted.com). Personally, Kay has reminded me that we have to continue to grow, explore, take risks, and challenge ourselves in order to truly experience life and inspire others.

http://www.ted.com/pages/about

http://www.kaysarahsera.com/

http://www.project-voice.net/

Inspiration Is Just Around the Circle

noreply@blogger.com (Stephanie Orpurt-Ross) — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 22:41:00 +0000

Images By Plain Dealer Photography Staff

What does a small town girl from Ohio do for fun? After a weekend of being inspired by the sites, sounds, and most of all people of New York City, I had to remind myself that inspiration is found around any corner no matter how big or small. Cleveland is by no means a NYC and in comparison I would describe it as having small-city charm with big potential. Of course our Sports teams struggle and are the continuing punch line to jokes but there is a creative, artistic side of the city that is understated and often unrecognized.

Culture and arts are displayed every year, as communities and local organizations come together in an artistic presentation of talent, which I experienced for the first time in 2010. This year marked the 22^nd annual Parade the Circle event presented by the Cleveland Museum of Art and University Circle Inc. Each year is a different theme-last year was A Door Opens-celebrating doorways as the means of cultural exchange while this year was Voices Among Voices. As Positively Cleveland described, Parade the Circle “celebrates the diverse cultures of the citizens who comprise our city”. Handmade costumes, colorful floats, stilt walkers, puppets, dancers, and musicians entertain visitors to Wade Oval while sponsors provide activities around Circle Village such as creating a colorful instrument at the Cleveland Institute of Music booth or making shadow puppet creatures with the Cleveland Institute of Art.

If artistic expression is not for you, maybe you would have enjoyed a little music instead? While the hometown Cleveland Indians were struggling against the New York Yankees, fans were going country at the Indians Music Festival held on Saturday at Progressive Field. Featuring star of The Voice and CMA male vocalist of the year, Blake Shelton, and Grammy award-winner, Brad Paisley to name a few, the music fest had concert goers remembering why Cleveland Rocks!

http://www.universitycircle.org/userfiles/file/Parade2011_booklet_web.pdf

http://www.universitycircle.org/uci.aspx?page=122

http://positivelycleveland.wordpress.com/2010/06/01/what’s-in-store-for-parade-the-circle-2010/

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2011/06/cleveland_indians_first_music.html

Developing Your Professional Network in Public Relations

noreply@blogger.com (Stephanie Orpurt-Ross) — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 02:33:00 +0000

Having a strong interest in public, media, and community relations, I have been researching some of the best professional associations in the industry. At the top of the list and a leader in the public relations field is the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). Chartered in 1947, PRSA is the world’s largest organization for public relations professionals and currently has more than 21,000 members. (PRSA.org)

PRSA offers three major benefits: Learning, Intelligence, and Networking. With a section dedicated to Entertainment and Sports, PRSA is a valuable resource offering “great opportunities to connect with peers who understand your issues and are willing to share solutions”. (PRSA.org) PRSA offers networking opportunities through industry conferences and professional development programs and they have the only industry accreditation program (Accredited in Public Relations Program). In addition, PRSA keeps you up to date on industry information through daily news updates and blogs as well as a career advice library and job mentoring. PRSA’s job center also allows job seekers to post resumes, search jobs, and view average salary information.

There are several membership options with annual dues ranging from $60 for current graduate students to $225 for professionals with two or more years of public relations experience. While much of the information online can be accessed without a membership, there are benefits such as free professional development, preferred pricing on seminars, workshops, and boot camps, and a database of case studies and other various research available only to members.

Colleges and students also have the option of joining the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA). The PRSSA is made up of over 10,000 students and advisers in 300 plus Chapters in the United States and Argentina. (PRSSA.org) PRSSA helps students to launch their career in Public Relations through connections to internships, competitions, scholarships, news, and social media such as Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube. Also included in the PRSSA membership is access to the PRSA job center.

PRSA and PRSSA have proven to be valuable resources to professionals of all levels. While I have not yet become a member, I am considering suggesting that my university start a chapter. Doug Hicks, Senior Vice President of Marketing Communications for D.C. United, spoke to students at the PRSSA 2010 National Conference Professional Development session, “Creating a Career in Entertainment and Sports”. He said it best when he advised, “Find something you love and find out how to make it your career.” If public relations and communication is your passion, joining PRSA and PRSSA is a good start to developing your professional network.

http://www.prsa.org/AboutPRSA/

http://www.prssa.org/about/

http://www.prssa.org/forum/article.aspx?issueid=176&id=699&utm_campaign=PRSASearch&utm_source=PRSAWebsite&utm_medium=SSearch&utm_term=Sports

Walk, Run, Stand...In the Fight Against Cancer

noreply@blogger.com (Stephanie Orpurt-Ross) — Mon, 16 May 2011 21:00:00 +0000

Angels for Hope at the 2011 Relay for Life in Niles, Ohio

With Spring in full swing, so are the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life fundraisers. What began in 1985 when Dr. Gordy Klatt ran/walked around a track for 24 hours, now boasts more than 3.5 million people in 5,000 communities helping to raise money all with the common goal of finding a cure for cancer. This year, I had a very personal reason to participate. My father and grandfather both lost their battle with cancer in 2010. As the importance of further research hit even closer to home, I began to realize there are very few people who can say they have not been affected by cancer. Whether you are part of the community, a caregiver, friend, or family member walking side-by-side a person facing cancer (or a survivor of the disease) you must feel the impact of their amazing aptitude for hope and strength.

While communities across the United States are holding Relay for Life and other events, the sports and entertainment industries are also contributing in their own way. As part of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure initiative, the Major League Baseball organization is “Going To Bat Against Breast Cancer” once again with its 2011 Honorary Bat Girl Contest. Honorees stories were shared on MLB.com and one winner per MLB team was chosen. One of those honorees, Beth Ann Vanek, is from my hometown and will be representing the Cleveland Indians at an upcoming game. Beth Ann’s story reminds us all that we don’t have to fit a certain mold to be a cancer patient. Young or old, healthy lifestyle or not, we are all at risk.

In addition, more and more celebrities are also beginning to endorse cancer research. Many are doing this through an organization called Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C). SU2C is a program of the Entertainment Industry Foundation united to raise funds and stimulate cancer research by “bringing together the best and the brightest in the cancer community, encouraging collaboration instead of competition” (SU2C.com). Started in 2007 by a group of women profoundly affected by cancer, they began using the resources of the media and entertainment industries in the fight against the disease. Celebrities and organizations joined together in a 2010 in an overwhelming show of support of SU2C. Their stories, backstage footage, and the entire show can be found at http://www.standup2cancer.org/sutv.

The fact is cancer is fast becoming the leading cause of death worldwide. Whether it is walking an hour in a community relay, sponsoring a team, or simply taking the time to share your story and promote awareness, get involved, make a difference, and become a part of something big.

http://www.tribtoday.com/page/content.detail/id/556792/Mom-chosen-as-Indians-bat-girl.html

http://www.eifoundation.org/

http://www.standup2cancer.org/

http://www.cancer.org/index

http://ww5.komen.org/

Women Playing Soft...I Mean Baseball?

noreply@blogger.com (Stephanie Orpurt-Ross) — Thu, 05 May 2011 03:34:00 +0000

Mark Duncan/Associated Press

Anyone who has seen the movie, A League of Their Own, knows the story of the All American Girls Professional Baseball League, the first nationally recognized women’s league started in 1943. Although disbanded in 1954, the league gave over 600 women the opportunity to play professional baseball and still inspires female athletes today. While the league began with a mix of softball and baseball rules, eventually underhand pitching and larger balls gave way to the “male” version of overhand pitching and smaller balls.

Today, women such as Justine Siegal are following in the footsteps of these great women and inspiring the next generation of ballplayers. Siegal’s professional history includes becoming the first female, first base coach of a men’s professional baseball team in 2009 and the first female college baseball coach from 2007-2010. Adding to her firsts for women, Siegal found herself pitching at the Indians, Athletics, Cardinals, Astros, and Mets Spring training camps this year impressing coaches and players alike with her talent and skill. (Swain, NY Times)

While these are great accomplishments, Siegel is doing much more outside of the professional arena. As Founder and Executive Director of Baseball for All, Siegal states, “If we tell girls they can’t play baseball, what else will they believe they can’t do? But better yet, if we tell a girl that she can play baseball, what else will she believe that she can do?” Siegal began her quest for girls to be accepted in the sport of baseball at the age of 13 with a coach who didn’t believe girls should play the sport. Her determination kept her playing with the boys through high school and in men’s leagues. Today through her non-profit organization, Siegel encourages the belief that baseball is for everyone regardless of race or gender. She “envisions a day when girls will have the same opportunities as boys to compete in baseball at every level of play.” Currently, Baseball for All holds the country’s only girls baseball tournament, offers national clinics and an International Baseball Academy. They also sponsor All-Star Teams and participate in the World Children’s Baseball Fair.

So where is the future of girls baseball headed? Are we closer to seeing a new generation of the All American Girls Professional Baseball League? With role models like Justine Siegal, one never knows! I for one would buy a ticket to see women play a little baseball!

Support the Throw Like A Girl Documentary

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/throwlikeagirl/re-launch-of-throw-like-a-girl-a-feature-length-do

http://baseballforall.lockerdome.com/p/HOME(D)

http://www.athleticsnation.com/2011/5/4/2152108/justine-siegal-launches-baseball-for-all-first-online-sports-network

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/22/sports/baseball/22pitcher.html?_r=1

Talent, Commitment, or the Spotlight-What is Most Valuable To Your Community?

noreply@blogger.com (Stephanie Orpurt-Ross) — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 04:06:00 +0000

image courtesy of mlb sluggers

While watching the latest 60 Minutes story highlighting Albert Pujols, first baseman of the St. Louis Cardinals, I began to wonder, what makes not just a professional baseball player but other sports and entertainment professionals more valuable? Is value based on talent alone, commitment to the community, or is it how popular they become in the media?

For Baseball fans young and old, Spring means more than flowers blooming and birds chirping. It is the first little league practice as the snow is still falling, the first pop-up caught in the outfield, or the crack of a bat as the first ball of the major league season is hit. Every year, boys and girls, take to their community fields with dreams of becoming just like their favorite professional ball player. Players like Pujols, believed by many to be one of the greatest ball players in the league today. His talent for the sport speaks for itself. He’s “never hit below .300, never had less than 30 homeruns, and never less than 100 RBI’s, not to mention he hit his 400^th Home Run in August of 2010” (60 Minutes Overtime).

When evaluating a player, stats are crucial, but communities should expect professional baseball organizations to look beyond what a player does on the field. Do they volunteer their time, give back in more ways than just donating money, is their character one that represents the organization and community? Pujols, for example, is not only committed to being a great ball-player, but also dedicated to improving lives of those living with Downs Syndrome in the St. Louis area and those struggling to survive in his childhood home of the Dominican Republic. In 2008 Pujols received the Roberto Clemente Award for the work he did through the Pujols Family Foundation and had this to say, “At the end of the day, when all is said and done playing this game, it doesn’t matter what you did in the field, it’s what you do off the field and the lives you touch off the field.”

So, if Pujols has the professional drive and talent and a strong commitment within the community, why then is he not among the top 20 highest paid players in the Major Leagues? Could it be that he doesn’t insist on being in the spotlight. That he doesn’t take opportunities like giving his 400^th homerun bat to a boy with cancer and make it a media spectacle? While this trait helps him to be well respected, does the lack of media attention diminish his potential star quality?

With his contract pending, the Cardinals have to decide what Pujols is truly worth, what is most valuable to them. Do they only look at his statistics and talent or do they look beyond that to what he offers both on and off the field?

http://www.pujolsfamilyfoundation.org/

http://www.jockbio.com/Bios/Pujols/Pujols_bio.html

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504803_162-20052250-10391709.html?tag=contentMain;contentBody

The NFL and Your Community: Are They Giving As Much As They Are Taking?

noreply@blogger.com (Stephanie Orpurt-Ross) — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 17:43:00 +0000

To start on a positive note, for charitable organizations, it is business as usual as the NFL awards $1 million in grants to 90 players charities. Sports Illustrated reported in a recent article that in spite of the current lock-out, the NFL continued its commitment to supporting charitable organizations. Unfortunately, this may be the only positive press the NFL has received since the lock-out began March 11.

Football, whether you like it or not, is an undeniable part of American life. I was reminded of how much an impact it can have as I sat with my brother-in-law and nephew at a pre-season Steelers game. I remember getting to our seats surrounded by season ticket holders. They were like a huge family, everyone seemed to know everyone else, and though the atmosphere was tame compared to a regular season game, there was magic you couldn’t experience anywhere else. The kind you wish you could bottle up and take with you and make every experience that amazing.

David Jacober said it best in his recent article, Impact Of NFL Lockout Goes Way Beyond Just Football, no matter who you are from a Wall-street executive to a factory worker, “Football has become what religious structures used to be-a place where families and comrades can flock together for a few hours a weekend, and sometimes with total strangers to form a community around their team.” I found this connection in the least expected way. On a flight from Los Angeles to Cleveland, a man and his two grandsons were seated behind me. The boys were decked out in Steelers gear. Their grandfather was flying them for the weekend just to see a game at Heinz Field. It makes me wonder, what other sport would bring a man, especially in today’s economy, to not only purchase tickets to a game, but everything from plane tickets and hotel to food and souvenirs?

Surprisingly, news has been fairly quiet regarding the dispute between owners and players, mainly because it is off-season. The closer we get to football season, the less hope fans will have that there will indeed be a 2011 season. Even if the lock-out hasn’t affected the cities and communities that house NFL teams yet, if a solution is not found, the future looks bleak. “Anytime you take a $9 billion enterprise out of the economy, it is going to have some serious ripple effects.” (Jacober) Imagine a football town like Pittsburgh that clearly thrives on revenue brought in each season. How can a financial loss that huge be made up? The answer is, it can’t.

We all know that football will live on, but between the lost community spirit and financial gains what will the true effect of a non-existent 2011 NFL season have really? Will the league and players lose as much as they are taking from your favorite city? I guess only time will tell!

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/football/nfl/04/05/charities.ap/index.html

http://www.thefanhub.com/738/elsewhere/nfl/impact-of-nfl-lockout-goes-way-beyond-just-football.html

Behind Small Town Heart, Big City Dreams

noreply@blogger.com (Stephanie Orpurt-Ross) — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 04:34:00 +0000

Everyone whether a little league coach, high school drama queen, big time movie director, Grammy award winner, or professional athlete, has a unique story. We all come from different walks of life-some from small towns, others from big cities, but most from somewhere in between. Some have happened upon amazing opportunities while others have overcome struggles to pursue their passions.

Through the Small Town Heart, Big City Dreams Blog, I hope to share some of these stories and show how not only communities but individuals and businesses-no matter the size, can inspire the growth of creativity, entertainment, and sports while developing a positive image.

Hope You Enjoy! Stephanie