The Sportsnista '95

Out With The Old And In With The New?

noreply@blogger.com (About Me:) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 01:12:00 +0000

Even when you thought the sports world couldn’t get any better with the return of basketball season…it did! Could it be that Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul and Dwight Howard maybe playing on the same team? This potential trade created such chaos throughout the sports industry. It was describe as a classic Michael Jordan, Scotty Pippen and Dennis Rodman Chicago Bulls dream team. These three players working together defiantly had many teams scared of the opening season tip off on Christmas Day. However, no need to fear, the story ended as soon as it began.

The NBA CommissionerDavid Stern halted the deal due to the fact that the New Orleans Hornets wouldn’t have received a fair deal with the trade. If your wondering why the NBA has such a major hand in this trade its because they purchase the team a year ago when the Hornets was having financial difficulties during a tough economic time in Louisiana. Therefore, the owners of the Hornets wanted more for their star player Chris Paul and in the end the Lakers did not receive that dream team. Currently, Paul is head to the Clippers, which is another dramatic situation in itself. It is well known that the Lakers fans are a little salty that they lost Chris Paul to the Clippers. As for Dwight Howard, he is begin sought by various other teams such as the Nets, Knicks and yes the Lakers. However, the Orlando Magic is doing, as much as they can to ensure they will not lose their star player.

So with all the drama going on, one must wonder where is the happiness in all of this? Well, for players like Lamar Odom who took the trade a little hard, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. He was traded to the Dallas Maverick, which the franchise seems to be very pleased to have Lamar. As a sports fan, I was excited to see all the back and forth of the Chris Paul trade. The NBA came back with a bang like the lockout had never existed. This is what sports is all about, keeping the fans on edge and making risky decision all in the name of entertainment. See you at tip off and Happy Holiday Days!

-The Sportsnista ‘95

Picture Reference:

iStockphoto. (2011). Happy Birthday. Retrieved December 15, 2011 from http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-illustration-10006706-happy-basketball.php

Roberts, B. (2011). Los Angeles Lakers’ Super Trio: What Are the Implications of a Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, Chris Paul Super Team? Retrieved December 15, 2011 from http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ycn-10620883

Buzz of the Week: The NBA Returns

noreply@blogger.com (About Me:) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 18:59:00 +0000

The floodgates open this pass weekend via the social media networks as news spread about the NBA owners and players possibly reaching an agreement. As we all know, the lockout began back in July and it has been a back and forth ordeal ever since. Many athletes were even ready or had already signed contracts to play overseas. Which I might add was paying a substantial amount of money. Nevertheless, the players are allowed to enter the facilities starting December 1. Along with free agency negotiation and the start of training camps scheduled for December 9. Therefore time is very important for all the loose ends to be tied up before anyone changes their minds.

While the executives are squaring away the paperwork, the coaches and staff are gathering for many free agents meetings that are being conducted as we speak. A free agent is a term used when a player whose contract has expired and who has recently "qualifying offer" from his current club or other clubs, which provides a salary level predetermined by the collective bargaining agreement. Hence, the reason that free agent deals will not be official until December 9^th because the CBA has not yet been stamped for approval. However, according to SBNation come December 25, the NBA is planning a tentative showed down of electrifying games that includes match up between the Los Angeles Lakers vs. the Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks along with three more games being added.

Personally, like many other sports fans, I am truly excited, happy, over zealous about the return of the NBA. I try to keep my personally feelings about the issue hidden and try to have a bias mind. However, if the lockout would’ve reached the year 2012, I wasn't going to be happy camper. Among other supported fans who probably would've lost respect for the players and clubs. Of course it wasn’t a question that stubbornness with a mixture of hardball was the ingredients of the prolonging of this agreement. However, we all glad that they were able to finally reach an agreement and get back to the real focus at hand. The fans and good old fashion game of basketball, let the games begin.

-The Sportsnista ‘95

Picture References:

Mysanantonio.com. (2011). Texas A&M's NCAA Championship. Retrieved November 30, 2011 from http://www.mysanantonio.com/slideshows/sports/slideshow/Texas-A-M-s-NCAA-championship-14372.php#photo-922968

Richard. (2011). Referism: breaking the chains. Retrieved November 20, 2011 from http://eureferendum.blogspot.com/2011/05/referism-breaking-chains.html

What Really Matters When Writing a Business Plan?

noreply@blogger.com (About Me:) — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 05:41:00 +0000

For the past few months, I have been working on a potential business plan as part of my requirement for my educational program. This has truly been an exhausting, rigorous but very insightful process. Many entrepreneurs have taken for granted the importance of writing a business plan. I will boldly confess that I was one of those individuals, if it wasn’t for enrolling into the Sports Management program at Full Sail University. I probably would’ve never researched or written an entire business plan. It was like a light bulb instantly went off in my head. Therefore, I feel its only right for me to share with you some of my views on the important matters of writing a business plan that will hopefully attract investors. Now, I don’t have the accomplishments or experiences such as experts Daymond John or Mark Cuban as of yet. However, I do represent a vast percentage of students and future entrepreneurs that will eventually have to take on this difficult task. So, take my advice as things to expect during this process and please conduct other research as well as.

What Really Matters…

The Who?

Investors want to read a clear detailed explanation about the purpose of the company. Therefore, the plan should have a section for the company’s description and industry analysis. Which includes a clear mission or vision statement, describes the target audience and the key competitors in that industry. Often times, countless individuals fail to thoroughly explain to investors how they will specifically target this market (Small Business BC, 2011). If investors are confuse by the jargon or see that the target market is not consistent in the business plan. Then it’s going to be perceived that you don’t know the direction of your company brand and you didn’t research the industry. The goal is to always give investors a clear understanding of your company.

The What:

This section defines the type of product or service the company will render. In addition, it is very important that all possible distribution channels are listed as well as how and why these channels will assist in reaching the target market to generate brand identity and sales.

The When:

During one of my courses, I was so focus on getting the financials and marketing strategy together that I completely overlooked the developmental date. This section is not just to reveal the projected launch or opening day of the company. Its letting investors know all about the things you have accomplished. For example, acquiring any type of intellectual properties, purchasing any property and especially the city and state the company will reside. Basically, anything that has been done prior to the submission of the business plan that will help the investors to see that you have put forth time and effort in the company establishment instead of waiting for their financial backing.

The How:

This part of the business plan can be difficult because the main goal is to explain how you’re going to generate sale and any other sources of funding. Therefore, a marketing strategy should be included, along with financial projection such as, start-up cost, marketing, sales and etc. These financial projections should allow the investors to see what your expenses are, when the company will generate money and hopefully an opportunity see a return on their investment sooner if the company should do well.

All these factors listed above are what I had to take into consideration after reviewing the advice from my experts. Therefore, I had to do some major changes to ensure that potential investors could visualize in their heads what my company does and how we made money. Like Daymond Johnson said, a business plan “is like a roadmap, personalized just for you, that is going to guide you from where you are now, to where you want to be.” In addition I had to make some adjustments to the financial projections of my plans. To demonstrate the growth of the company in a certain amount of years and even giving investors a quick return on their investments. Please do not forget to conduct additional research; sba.gov is a great starting point. See you at the top!

-The Sportnista ‘95

Picture Reference:

Ozkan, E. (n.d.) What Is A Business Plan? Retrieved November 18, 2011 from http://siteboat.com/what-is-a-business-plan-business-development-series-2/

Planini. (2011). Why Business Planning Is So Important? Retrieved November 18, 2011 from http://www.planini.com/2011/10/why-business-planning-is-so-important/

The Business Plan:

noreply@blogger.com (About Me:) — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 00:25:00 +0000

So you want to own your business? If the answer is yes, here are some questions for you to think about.

1. What is the purpose of your business?

2. Are there any investors? If so, how will they benefit?

3. How fast will the company generate profit?

4. Do you know the industry and your competitors?

5. What are the long and short terms risks and opportunities?

Unfortunately, these are not the only questions one must think about when creating a business. If you have never stopped and thought about any of the questions above, then you maybe a long way of forming your own business because these are components of writing a business plan. There are literally thousands on top of thousands of entrepreneurs including myself that have to take the crucial step in writing a business plan that will hopefully attract investors like bees to a honey comb tree. This important and in depth plan paints a picture of what a business will do for the public and its plans to generate revenue. In the words of Daymond John, a business plan “is like a roadmap, personalized just for you, that is going to guide you from where you are now, to where you want to be.”

For those of you who are unaware of Daymond John’s accolades, he is the founder and owner of the brand For Us By Us (FUBU), starred in the ABC series Shark Tank, and a corporate branding consultant. (Forbes) In addition, many people approach John for advice and to invest in their company. He stresses to entrepreneurs the importance of a having a good business plan that has the "financial breakdown, analysis of the market, description of the business, products and services" (John, 2010). John’s view these factors as essential aspect of the plan. Because it allow potential investors to see that the individual can articulate their business ideas and conducted research to show how the business will benefit the investors.

A couple of years ago, the owner of the Dallas Maverick the NBA, Mark Cuban revealed that he was looking for new business venture and if any entrepreneurs had great business plans, to post it on his blog, blog Maverick. Mark Cuban is well known to be apart of many business ventures; for example, he has the Landmark Theatres and is chairman of HDNet. Therefore, Mark knew exactly what he was looking in a profitable business. Some of the rules were that the plans must show how the business can "break even within 60 days and profitable in 90 days. Also, that the product or services will sell more than what it cost to produce it" (blog Maverick, 2009). Therefore Cuban’s view is ensuring that the plan demonstrates the potential growth of the business financially and to the market.

Daymond John’s and Mark Cuban’s views regarding business plan are similar, emphasizing that the content of the business plan must be able to clearly convey the entire purpose of the business and more importantly how will it make investors money. Its well known that every business plan will not be perfect; however, the plan should give a projection that is going to persuade someone to invest in the business. Here is a website (sba.gov) suggested by Daymond John that can help with the business plan process. Therefore, go off and began writing your plan, never know, you maybe the next Daymond John or Mark Cuban.

Best wishes,

-The Sportsnista ‘95

Picture References:

Bplans. (2011). What Makes A Successful Business Plan. Retrieved October 29, 2011 from http://upandrunning.bplans.com/2011/10/03/what-makes-a-successful-business-plan/

Burgess, L. (2008). Mark Cuban Insider Trading. Retrieved October 28, 2011 from http://www.wealthdaily.com/articles/mark+cuban-insider-trading/2036

Sports Cause-Related Campaigns

noreply@blogger.com (About Me:) — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 19:35:00 +0000

Flashing lights, fancy cars and more money to last a lifetime. These are the things people associate with being a professional athlete. For many athletes this statement is true, being the next best player and making as much money as possible is their sole purpose. However, I have noticed over the pass few years several sports leagues and players have been participating and sponsoring various cause related campaigns. In hopes not only to change this stigma but also bring awareness to the issues that are affecting our communities. It’s not rare to see the National Football League participating in community service events. Just a couple of months ago, the league expressed their remembrance of 9/11 by wearing special gear during the games. This month kicks off breast cancer awareness month; therefore the NFL Crucial Catch campaign in partnership with the American Cancer Society. This campaign is more than wearing pink gear but a method to raise awareness and money in support of getting early examination and continuing the research to find a cure for this deadly disease. Therefore, throughout the month fans can purchase auction apparel from www.NFL.com/auction worn by players and other merchandise apparel to assist in the prevention and spread of this deadly disease.

The National Basketball Association is also known for their dedication to making a better environment for children in the community. Therefore, the NBA Cares: Community Caravan has turned into more than just a campaign but a commit to reach over 10,000 schools and community-based organization by engaging with 15 million fans through the year of 2012. The teams throughout the NBA are participating in several events that touch on many topics and even programs that parents can enroll their children. The programs are geared to education, encouraging students of the importance of reading. Also health and wellness is a key topic that informs kids on the importance of exercising and the benefits to their mental and physical growth. Through hands on service events across the U.S., the NBA is making it a mission to contribute to the improvement of children lives by demonstrating that being an athlete is not all about fame and money but serving others and making a difference in the community.

We have seen both the NFL and NBA go through ups and down of a lockout; however, its still rewarding to see through and during the disagreements that caused related events are still apart of the sports industry agenda. There are so many individuals that are influenced by professional athletes and one would only wish that many would mimic the positive attributes that they do for the community. The NFL and NBA are not the only two leagues that have cause-related campaigns and programs. Major League Baseball has the Strike 3 Foundation along with many athletes creating their personal campaigns and foundations all for the purpose of changing this world for the better. A wise person once said, “the best way to be remembered is by serving others.”

-The Sportsnista ‘95

Picture References:

http://www.nba.com/home/caravan/

http://www.nfl.com/pink

Online-shirt stores. (2008) Make Money Selling T Shirts. Retrieved October 16, 2011 from http://www

Is Silence Really Golden?

noreply@blogger.com (About Me:) — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 16:51:00 +0000

After a long evening out with family and friends, I decided to catch up on some scores from Sunday’s football games. As I watched the highlights and the latest sports news, I had a certain peculiar feeling come over me. “Something is missing,” were the words that echoed through my head. As the sport anchor switched to different stories, the feeling became more intense. It wasn’t until I logged onto Twitter and scrolled across a story retweet about a comment NBA player Carmelo Anthony had made that the missing piece. Literally hit me like a hammer hitting a nail on its head the NBA Lockout.

According to Bleacherreport.com, Carmelo quoted lyrics from one of his favorite song that he felt describe his generation and fellow athletes’ position on the lockout and injustice in America. “My generation: Athletes today are scared to make Muhammad Ali-type statements,” stated Carmelo. I am usually in tuned to the latest updates on any major sports news. Unfortunately, the NBA lockout has a different approach and atmosphere regarding the coverage of their issues. When the NFL had its lockout, the players, owners, and members of the national football league players association were hitting the media with their concerns and status of the agreement at least everyday. The same cannot be said about the NBA lockout, one of the reasons the players are not saying anything is because there is an apparent gag order that prohibits players to discuss the legalities of the agreement. The union wants to contain the amount of information flow that is being delivered to the media. Another reason some players are not being active as football players is because some have other means of income. For example, Deron Williams and Kobe Bryant among other players have been offered a substantial amount of money to play overseas until the lockout is lifted. For football players, there were not many alternatives that were going to paying $3 million dollars. Therefore, a sense of urgency was necessary because the longer an agreement was not reach, the longer the players went without being paid.

This led me to believe that for some players being silent has been a golden opportunity for their professional career during the lockout. Of course there are many players who have not been afforded the chance to play overseas. For instance, Delonte West of the Boston Celtics was recently hired at a furniture store, which is really usual. However, due to his criminal record, Delonte is not allowed to travel outside the country. On the other hand, other players are choosing to take this time to be productive and give back to the community. Stephen Curry of the Golden Warriors decided to finish up his psychology degree. While other players are conducting basketball campus and working with their foundations. Nevertheless, however the players are spending their time, they should defiantly make more of an effort to insure that their opinions as well as their voices are being heard. If not for themselves, than for the millions of fans. Malcolm X said it the best, “If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything.”

-The Sportsnista ‘95

Photo Reference:
1389Blog-Counterjihad. (2011). Bill C-51: Immediate Threat to Free Speech and Free Press on the Internet in Canada. Retrieved from http://1389blog.com/category/media/art-design/graphic-arts/

The NFL Will Never Forget!

noreply@blogger.com (About Me:) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 23:03:00 +0000

This pass Sunday not only marked the opening of the National Football Leagues regular season, but also the 10^th anniversary of 9-11. All across this great country, millions of Americans held ceremonies and attended visuals. As well as the unveiling of the 9-11 memorial at Ground Zero dedicated to the victims and heroes killed on that tragic day. It was truly a day of reflection and more importantly, a time for remembrance.

A couple of week’s prior, the NFL’s sponsor Reebok sent out special gear for the players to wear on opening day. The purpose of the gear was not to premiere any new apparel or solicit consumers. Instead, Reebok’s intention was to give the players an opportunity to pay tribute to the victims of 9-11. The only problem was, the company sent the items without getting approval from the NFL. This created a major commotion among the industry because many allegations were arising that the league was going to fined players for wearing the uniform before authorization. Many would agree that, sometimes rules are made to be broken for the right cause and that is exactly what some of the players were going to do. According to USATODAY, Lance Briggs was ready and willing to accept any fine that came along with wearing the 9-11 gear. “Reebok did a great job on these gloves and shoes…looks like I’m getting fined this week. Lol!” tweeted Briggs. However, there was no need for anyone to whip out their checkbooks the league made a statement that no fines would be issue for wearing the patriotic apparel. As long as the gear is from a licensed NFL sponsor.

It’s my belief that the NFL had no intention of penalizing anyone; they have been known to create special gear to show their support for many good causes. For example, last season the league participated in Breast Cancer Awareness Month by having a huge campaign. Players wore pink cleats, gloves and helmets decals, in addition to the coaches and the sideline staff sporting pink caps and t-shirts. Also, there were games balls with pink ribbons and a pink goal post padding in the end zone (NFL, 2010). The campaign proven to be a success in raising over $80,000 that was donated; there is aspect of the league that isn’t all about making money or thinking of the next best marketing scheme. Football is known to be the American sport. Therefore, it wasn’t a surprise to me when the players proudly stepped onto the field wearing their red, white and blue. It was the NFL way to show the American people and the world that they will NEVER FORGET the victims and heroes of 9-11.

-The Sportsnista

Picture Reference:

Monty, C. (2011). WTF. NFL Players to Face Fines for Wearing Commemorative 9/11 Gear. Retrieved from http://www.blippitt.com/wtf-nfl-players-to-face-fines-for-wearing-commemorative-911-gear-photos/

Weasel Zippers. (2011). NFL May Fine Players for Wearing 9/11 Tribute Gear. Retrieved from http://weaselzippers.us/2011/09/09/nfl-may-fine-players-for-wearing-911-tribute-gear/

New Collegiate Uniforms

noreply@blogger.com (About Me:) — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 19:43:00 +0000

Last week kicked off the official season of college football. The social media networks were buzzing with tweets and posts of fans talking trash and giving their predictions of whose team will be number one despite some key player’s suspensions. However, all of the traditional pre-game commotion went to a screeching halt once the teams hit the field and we notice a major change to the player’s uniforms. Georgia’s Bulldogs, Maryland’s Terps, Oregon State’s Ducks and Boise State’s Broncos are just a few teams that unveiled their new look created by Nike and it’s competitor Under Armour. These new uniforms cause such excitement that it became a trending topic on twitter within minutes. Of course there were mixed reviews regarding who had the worse and best uniforms. Along with critics waiting to see how well the uniforms protected the players during the game. For whatever the reason may have been in deciding to change the uniforms. It certainly made an impression that had many glued to the television whether they were sports fans or not.

Which is what sports marketing is all about, using sports teams to promote various products as well as the advertising of a sport event to the public in order to increase participation. According to Business Insider, “since the uniforms hit the TV screens on Sunday night, Under Armour’s search volume on Google had risen 60 percent over their average for the previous month,” (2011). Although they still have a very long way to go in surpassing Nike. The University of Maryland uniforms demonstrates that Under Armour has the skills to produce quality product that can compete along side top companies in the industry. Like stated before, there were mixed reviews as to the best and the worse uniforms. Regardless if people liked the uniforms or not, they made a statement and received massive attention. For instance, the Maryland’s Terps decided to market or rather incorporate the state colors. Some individuals complain that it resemble a medieval character while coach Randy Edsall defended the uniforms by stating the uniforms represents their “Maryland pride, letting everyone know that we are playing for everyone in the state.” I don’t know about anyone one else, ugly or not, including the patriotic symbol of a state flag is genius in my book. However, no matter how fashionable the uniforms look, in the end, it all comes down to the winner of the game.

-The Sportnista ‘95

Picture Reference:

Brilliant, J. (2011). Under Armour Terrapins Pride Uniforms & Cleats. Retrieved from http://counterkicks.com/2011/09/06/under-armour-maryland-terrapins-pride-uniforms-cleats/

Smith, S. (2011). Nike Pro Combat Uniforms: 10 College Teams Get Fashion Maker. Retrieved from http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31751_162-20015332-10391697.html

ACCESS DENIED!!!

noreply@blogger.com (About Me:) — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 19:39:00 +0000

Less than four weeks away marks the official start of football Sunday. Many sports fans will be gathered around the television with friends and wonderful food as if it was a Super Bowl party. Especially after the threat of possibly not having a football season, fans are going to be pulling out all of the stops to make it a memorable season. Although fans are excited about the upcoming season, there are still some concerns that could put a damper on these parties. According to CBS SPORTS.com, blackout games are still a problem and there are not going away. Blackout is a term that is associated with broadcasting or televising a certain sport event or program. Each franchise has a certain amount of tickets to sell in order for their market (city) to see the game. If those tickets are not sold by a particular time (72 hours), the game will not be televised for no one to see from a certain point (75 mile radius). However, this depends on if the game is broadcasted on a Sunday. If the game is nationally televised on a cable network, then the game is blackout to customers in that affected markets.

The National Football League which many critics say these procedures hurts teams has set these guidelines. For example, the Jacksonville Jaguars who are no strangers to blackout games experienced all but one regular season game blackout in 2009. This broadcasting issue is very serious and can drastically affect the revenue of the league as well as franchises. Therefore, during that same season, the NFL tried to soften the blackout policy by providing free online access of the blackout games, which are available after the game has been played. Another decision was to not subject red zone to blackouts, this affects individuals with particular cable services. After the lockout, the league allowed all teams like the Jaguars to use 10,000 complementary tickets for preseason games to get to the blackout number because of the short selling season following the lockout. Once the official season begins the policy will no longer be in effect. However, there have been some whispers about the NFL allowing clubs to cover seats to avoid TV blackouts. Of course there are pros and a cons for this change but the league has made this kind of exception for variety of teams. The pro in this decision would allow for the teams who are struggling to sells tickets the ability to showcase their players talent in hopes of increasing ticket sales. The downfall might affect personal seat license holders and highly discounted tickets with season ticket holders.

There is no win-win situation about the issue of blackout games. In my opinion it is more than just the league concerns in dealing with this issue. It is really up to the owners and team’s marketing department to create ways in soliciting fans to come to games. Even though other can see the game in different cities, it still hurts the view rating of the broadcasting networks. Which eventually affects the revenue of the franchise and the players. Therefore, teams need to research what exactly it is that stops consumers for purchasing tickets and work around the those issues. In the beginning they may suffer a little revenue loss but nothing worse than not having a seat purchase at all.

-The Sportsnista

Picture Reference:

Free-extras.com. Jacksonville Jaguars Stadium Pictures and Images. Retrieved August 25, 2011 from http://free-extras.com/images/jacksonville_jaguars_stadium-9171.htm

Livesportsgamesonline.com. Watch Live Sports Games Online Including Pay Per View Events and More. Retrieved August 25, 2011 from http://www.livesportsgamesonline.com/

Breach of Duty-Referees Betting?

noreply@blogger.com (About Me:) — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 15:20:00 +0000

A referee is defined as an official who watches a game or match closely to ensure that the rules are adhered to and (in some sports) to arbitrate on matters arising from the play. Their ruling or “calling” plays such a vital role in the sports industry to the point of determining whether a team wins or lose a game and more importantly, a championship. Therefore, the million-dollar question is: while the officials are watching the players, who are watching the officials? Apparently no one, of course there is the National Basketball Referees Association. However, there have been some issues that even the NBRA have missed over the years. One of the main concerns that have been slightly swept under the rug is referee participating in betting or being paid to throw games. It is well known that this type of behavior is going on. However, it wasn’t until the Tim Donaghy incident in 2007 that the dusk hidden under the rug was revealed.

It was discovered that Donaghy a 10-year veteran referee for the National Basketball Association, provided inside information to illegal gamblers and mobsters about the condition of certain players and the tendencies of referees who were officiating games (Baldassari, 2011). After an investigation was conducted, Tim Donaghy actually pleaded guilty to the charges and later sentenced to 15 months in federal prison. This scandal left many people weary, especially those in the NBA about the hidden agendas of referees. During a court filing, Donaghy exposed how much of a liability this issue could be to the industry. He stated that the league was using referees to boost ticket sales and television ratings. In particularly the 2002-playoff series between the Lakers and the Kings, it was alleged that some referees that Donaghy knew were going to make the playoff a seven series game (Lavin, 2008). Although there has never been any evidences to prove this allegations. This type of accusations can push an already unstable relationship between athletes and officials to the edge.

After the scandal, there were indeed some changes that a few may say affected the players more than the referees. “Respect the game,” is a new policy that the NBA has implemented. Under this new rule, players in no shape or form can verbally or physically disrespect or show unsportsmanlike conduct towards an official after a referee has made a particular call. The policy is designed to keep players emotions in check on the court, which has given many referees the opportunity to call fouls. The players were livid about the new policy because they feel as if the game is emotional and it is difficult to compose their facial and body gestures. The referees also experience a few changes such as, the NBRA giving more training on the serious of gambling. Nothing as drastic has the players received. Which makes one wonder if the NBA put the referees "above the law?"

I am well aware that not every official is corrupt, but it only takes one bad apple to spoil the whole bunch. It is my belief that all leagues need to take a close look at the calls and activities of referees. The executives are always scrutinizing every wrong move player’s make, which in my opinion allows referees to have the opportunity to facilitate this type of behavior without being caught. By everyone observing which player is selling their jersey or taking more from scouts. They’re missing illegal activity right under their nose. This type of behavior can lead to many issues for the leagues. For instances, championships could be given to the wrong team. When too many fouls are called, this brings an intense atmosphere on the court among athlete, official, and fan that could lead to violence. Let’s not forget that it’s breaking the law. There are so many rules and regulations that players have to comply with; in addition to hefty fines attached if they violated those rules. It is time that referees have a similar polices as the players. I'm not saying this would completely abolish the problem. However, it will show the public and players that the league does not consider the referee to be above the law. If the league doesn’t take this issue more seriously, there will be many more Donaghy cases to come.

-The Sportsnista '95

Picture Reference:

Gambling 911. (2011). Tim Donaghy. Retrieved from http://www.google.com/imgres?q=tim+donaghy&um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1071&bih=587&tbm=isch&tbnid=_AddB_dg8tGlsM:&imgrefurl=http://www.gambling911.com/basketball-odds/disgraced-gambling-ref-tim-donaghy-appear-vegas-insider-radio-051211.html&docid=KdgAjPfVyZ4WHM&w=400&h=300&ei=xNpPTrHdF4-ctwew4dGgBw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=493&vpy=232&dur=693&hovh=155&hovw=206&tx=147&ty=61&page=1&tbnh=121&tbnw=161&start=0&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:9,s:0

Native Americans. Retrieved from http://ed101.bu.edu/StudentDoc/current/ED101fa09/mtivey/Incorrect%202.html

NCAA Athletes Have No Publicity Rights

noreply@blogger.com (About Me:) — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 15:11:00 +0000

It’s a feeling that some of us can relate to, whether you currently play a sport or played while in high school or college. The feeling of wearing a jersey with your name and number printed across the back brings a sense of pride and joy to an athlete. However, picture an athlete such as Tim Tebow, whose name and football jersey which were one of the top selling jersey in college history. A jersey so popular that according to Dave Curtis, a writer for the Orlando Sentinel, he helped make the University of Florida the number 3 school for merchandising in the U.S. So how much money did Tebow receive from the selling or licensing of his name and jersey? Well, he received nothing, not even a penny.

Many people fail to realize that athletes cannot receive any form of revenue from a company that has permission to use their brand identity. The NCAA “bylaws provide that institutions may give third parties permission to use a student athlete’s name, photo, and so on, as long as all money is paid to the member institution and not the student,” (Conrad, 2006). This has been a major controversy in the collegiate industry. Some players like Tim Tebow felt comfortable about the situation stating that it’s not all about the money. However, there are a few individuals in the collegiate industry that feel the opposite.

A couple of years ago, former college quarterback Sam Keller, along with others athletes were suing the NCAA and Electronics Arts, Inc. better known as EA for apparently using, without compensation, the images of former student-athletes (Burchart, 2011). Some of the violations Keller believe the company made were deprivation of Rights of Publicity, breach of contract and unreasonable restraint just to name a few. At the time NCAA and EA didn’t have a response to the lawsuit. However, Darren Rovell of CNBC reported on USATODAY.com that a California District Court judge recently denied EA motion to dismiss the combined case. It is possible that the result of this trial may cost EA over $1 billion dollars if the judge rules that the company violated those player’s rights.

It is my belief that the NCAA will never change their bylaws to allow athletes to receive some type of compensation for their brand identity. I also believe that this is one of the reasons players are selling their jerseys. For just a moment, put yourself in their shoes. There are several companies making millions of your name alone and you are forbidden to receive any type of profit. Now, I can understand an athlete’s point of view; however, I do not agree with an athlete violating a NCAA rule. Unfortunately, this is the agreement an athlete signed up for when becoming a NCAA player. Therefore, until the rules change, they need to follow the rules and eventually the opportunity will arise for them to receive the monetary benefits when or if they make it to the professional level.

-The Sportnista ‘95

Additional Source & Picture References:

Conrad, M. (2006). The Business of Sports. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.

Custom Jerseys.com. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.customjerseysshop.com/goods-2251-Indianapolis+Colts+blank+jersey%3Ano+name+no+number+Authentic+blue+Jersey.html

No Rights Reserved. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.norightsreserved.org/

Paradigm Thrift. (2010). Just Say No. Retrieved August 4, 2011 from http://paradigmthrift.blogspot.com/2010_02_01_archive.html

Industry Interview with Kristy Sampson

noreply@blogger.com (About Me:) — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 02:09:00 +0000

The summer times are one of the biggest seasons for the Amateur Athletic Union organization, especially for the basketball department. There are over 21 tournaments that are held between girls and boys basketball each summer. While working at the annual AAU and NCAA boy’s basketball tournament located at the ESPN World Wide of Sports in Orlando, Florida. I had the opportunity to sit down with Kristy Sampson, one of the Sports Manager and who is also over girl’s basketball at AAU. The interview was conducted during a hectic evening and we experienced some interruption because Kristy was one of the main individuals in charge of assisting participants in the tournament office. Some of these individuals range from team’s coaches, parents, and even college coaches. According to Ian Guerin a writer for the SunNews.com, “AAU tournaments give players the exposure they may not have during the school season. This allows college coaches on tight budgets to see players from around the country at once” (2011). Therefore, I expected there to be many interruption during our interview, which was all right with me because I wanted to conduct the interview during the time she was in the moment. I wanted to observe her tone, demeanor, and how she handles difficult situations. I believe this environment opened up the floor for many examples and allowed us to engage more regarding the sports industry.

My first impression of Kristy was that she has this powerful demeanor about herself that said, “Gender does not hinder my ability to do my job.” Which is one of the reasons why I selected to interview her; it is well known that it is hard for women to break through in the sports industry. Women must eat or be eaten, and Kristy Sampson is a prime example of an individual that has not allowed the stereotypical views to get in her way of being successful. I began the interview by asking Kristy the typical first question, “How did you start your career in the sports industry?” Before she answered the question, she simple stated with a smile, “I am doing exactly what I always wanted to do, and that is work within the basketball industry.” After that disclaimer, she went on to reveal that her career flourished after completing an internship during her senior year at Webber University at the AAU. After that internship, there were no positions available at the organization; therefore she decided to take a job with Parks and Recreation in Lake Wales, Florida. However, not even a year later AAU called to offer Kristy a position as sports managers. Ever since that day, nearly 11 years ago, since has been making her way around the organization from organizing the Junior Olympics games, baseball, and to her heart and soul girl’s basketball. “I have made my way around this organization, but I believe that is one of the keys in succeeding. The ability of not being afraid to try new things and you never know those new things sometimes may lead you to your dream job.” stated Kristy.

Those words opened up the floor for my next question regarding the advantages and disadvantages of being a woman in the sports industry. Kristy believed that women being apart of this male dominate industry and actually being successful, opens up so many doors for other women. The disadvantages that woman face, and not just in the sports industry, but in life. Women have to work a little harder, and sometimes no matter how much experience they may have in the industry, it sometimes is never enough. Therefore, women must over come those obstacles and keep going. “Too many women commiserate on a loss,” Hallman says. Her strategy in failure is to spend a short time thinking about the lessons, then immediately turn to something that makes her feel good” (Jones, 2011). On that note, I felt it was only right to ask, “What are some of your favorite motivational or inspirational quotes?” “Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody’s going to know whether you did it or not by Oprah Winfery and if you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude- Maya Angelou,” stated Kristy. Theses quotes reflect the advice she would give to any individual that not only desires to enter into the sports industry, but any industry. “I strongly believe that future prospective in this industry have to be two steps ahead of everybody else. Never cut corners because you will be cheating yourself and miss out on some important information,” explained Kristy. I also asked her inquiring questions “Do you think individuals who never played sports will be successful in the sports industry?” For example, some sports agents and top sports executives have not played a single sport in high school or college. However, according to Kristy, she thinks that a person passionate and dedicate and of course research are elements that will make anyone successful in this industry. “As long as they research the in and out of the industry, I believe they will be just as successful as someone who played sports for many years,” explained Kristy.

At the conclusion of the interview, Kristy made sure to advise me of how important it is to be a hard worker and the importance of networking while interning. “If I had to do things all over again, I would not change a single thing. I made it a point to leave a lasting impression which I believe can lead individuals to receiving many job offers,” assured Kristy. She also stated that when she is looking to hire someone, their work ethics as well as their personality plays an essential part in being hire. This is one advice from the interview that I will take with me through out my journey in the sports industry. I thrive on being that individual that allows my personality to shine through and be that person my co-workers and boss remember as that employee who got the job done and with a positive attitude. Another thing that the interview taught me was the importance of paying attention to detail and being knowledgeable about aspects of the industry. The interview was such a great motivator and inspiring for me because it proves that woman can make it in this industry and be very successful.

Reference:

Active.com (2011). Many successful women say sports teaches valuable lessons. Retrieved July 29, 2011 from http://www.active.com/fitness/Articles/Many_successful_women_say_sports_teaches_valuable_lessons.htm

Guerin, Ian. (2011). NCAA, Coaches Laud Big Shots Basketball. Retrieved July 28, 2011 from http://www.thesunnews.com/2011/07/09/2268301/ncaa-coaches-laud-big-shots.html

Social Media Analysis of Amateur Athletic Union

noreply@blogger.com (About Me:) — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 04:51:00 +0000

Social media tools such as, Twitter and Facebook have taken over the world! As I continue on this wonderful journey on my summer internship at the Amateur Athletic Union known as AAU. We have also tapped into using social media to allow our participants, fans, and sponsors to keep up with the latest sports events. Therefore, here is a presentation of how I believe social media has enhance the business of AAU.

-The Sportsnista '95

Sports Still Draws Fans Despite Recession?

noreply@blogger.com (About Me:) — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 05:05:00 +0000

If you didn't know, ever since the beginning of the year. I have been attending a wonderful university in Orlando, Florida called Full Sail University. For this month class, Sports Management and Operations. I had the pleasure of reading and article by Charles Davidson title "Sports Still Draws Fans Despite Recession." Here's a video of my personal thoughts on the article as wells as my suggestions to facilities managers on how to increase revenue in today's recession.

Enjoy!

-The Sportsnista '95

Biggest Play in Sports Biz:Tiger Woods Falls from Grace

noreply@blogger.com (About Me:) — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 23:58:00 +0000

In the Beginning…

Tiger Woods has been swinging his way on to the golf scene since the age of 2. No one would have imaged that the little boy that premiered on the Mike Douglas Show, would become one of the greatest golfers of our time at the age of 35. Through out Tiger’s career, he has won over “95 tournaments, 71 of those on the PGA Tour with the second Masters victory in 2001, becoming the first ever to hold all four professional major championships at the same time” (Tiger Woods, 2011). In 2007, Tiger’s skills had proven that he could generate huge endorsements as well as major revenue. In that particular year, he was the first athlete in history stated by Forbes.com to have banked $100 million in one year. Yes, it is fair to say that Tiger Woods was a force to be reckoning with, “when you’re on the golf course, you’re the boss,” stated Earl Woods. Tiger truly had a certain demeanor and genuine innocence about him and there was no one like him. Tiger was an athlete that brought respect and dignity to the game of golf; his fans adore him, while his competitors dreamed of being him. So how did Tiger go from being one of the top golfer’s in the country to headlining one of the biggest sports scandals of the decade?

The Downfall:

Late morning on November 29, 2009, police were called to Tiger Wood’s residence in Windermere, Florida for a car accident involving the pro golfer. When officers arrived at the scene, Wood’s wife Elin who apparently rescued him from the accident and which Tiger suffered minor injuries greeted them. Later that week rumors surfaced that the couple had an argument which may have caused the accident, regarding Tiger possibly having an affair. After the police department closed their case regarding the accident, there were a few women that came forward stating they had affairs with the pro golfer. Within two weeks there were a total of 9 women that declared they had relationships with Tiger Woods while he was married to his wife. Some people would say, “alright, another athlete that had an affair with several women, it happens all the time.” Well this time, there was a major price to pay and Tiger Woods felt all the consequence of his actions which caused him to not only lose his family, but also affected his career.

The Aftermath:

The Tiger Woods scandal was one of the biggest downfalls of the decade in my book. Tiger came from winning multiple championships and being the highest paid golfer’s to being shunned by his family, colleagues, fans and advertisers. A year later Tiger is still trying to revive his career and personal life after the scandal. He hasn’t won a single trophy, his wife filed for divorce, and Tiger ended up losing some major endorsements. These endorsements included Accenture, AT&T, and Gatorade. It has been reported by CNBC that Woods could lose between $23 and 30 million dollars in endorsements, due to his marital infidelity scandal. The loss of money was one aspect of the consequences Woods had to suffer due to his choices, but he soon faced more. After much pressure the golfer held a press conference publicly revealing some of his personal issues that caused him to make the choices he did.

Final Thoughts:

Many people fail to realize that by Tiger Woods having an innocent image and “good guy” persona, this able him to operate a successful foundation that benefit over millions of youth which was also funding by one of the companies that dropped him. It was such a blow to the sports industry when the Tiger’s scandal hit the media. However, it goes to show that everyone is not perfect.

-The Sportsnista '95

Reference:

Pictures:

Sports Video Daily. Oct 6, 1978-Tiger Woods appears on The Mike Douglas Show. Retrieved July 10, 2011 from http://www.sportsvideodaily.com/wp/index.php/2010/10/06/oct-6-1978-tiger-woods-appears-on-the-mike-douglas-show/

Tonic Gossip. (2009). Tiger Woods Face Womanizer Scandal. Retrieved July 10, 2011 from http://tonicgossip.com/2009/12/10/where-in-the-world-is-tiger-woods/tiger-woods-2-250906/

The Negotiations: From an Athlete to an Actor

noreply@blogger.com (About Me:) — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 00:37:00 +0000

The Back Story:
We have seen it many times before from athletes such as recently retired basketball player Shaquille O’Neil to former football players Jim Brown and Dwayne Johnson, athletes turning actors. Whether it’s making a small appears on a television show or a major role on the big screen. Athletes are making the transition into film not just because of the money, but for some of them it has been a long time dream coming true. When I sat down with a close friend of mine who has been in the film industry since the age of twenty. Nyjo Brennen an actor, film producer, songwriter, model, director, singer, and multimedia journalist. From the beautiful country of the Bahamas was raised in West Palm Beach, Florida and graduated from Florida A&M University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Broadcast Journalism. Some of Nyjo’s passed works includes his first documentary titled “Exodus To Beauty” with Co-Producer Courtney Sims. The documentary revealed the airbrushing, dieting, and hard work of the modeling industry. It featured supermodel Jada Collins and a slew of other talents in the industry. He has also starred in the 2006 TV pilot My Brother’s Keeper, where he played the character of Dallas Wright. Along with making his first director debut on the Florida Bureau of HIV/AIDS Awareness film titled “Voices: Love Exchange.” This film replaced the older version of sexual awareness videos throughout Florida and some courses in New York. As of today, Nyjo Brennen will be receiving a Masters of Science degree in Entertainment Business at Full Sail University. While working on producing and starring in several projects such as, Season 3 of My Brother’s Keepers and Talking with the Taxman About Poetry both created by Lamont Pierre.

The Crossover:

How does an athlete’s affiliation and status come into play in negotiating a deal for a film?

Nyjo: Well, we treat an athlete the same way we would any other celebrity, just because this individual is known for running a football or dunking a basketball. Doesn’t mean he or she isn’t good for the role. There is already a stigma attached to athletes; therefore, people are going to tune into see if this person can really act. With this understanding, during negotiations the athlete must recognize that this isn’t a one-man show; you are just one person in this entire cast. There are many actors including myself who premiere in films and have negotiated what is called deferred payment. Basically, when the film makes money that is when you make money. In many cases an athlete’s affiliation and status will come into play especially when figuring out how much money they would be paid. However, that depends on the financial budget of the film.

There are times when executives have reached out to athletes because they want names, endorsements, and fan base that comes with an athlete being in their film. Then players will have a good opportunity in receiving a good deal because they are bringing more revenue to the table. On the other hand, there are times when a player auditions and offered a role which signifies their crossed over into the acting world. Therefore, they are might receive the same treatment as a regular actor. For instance, if Chad Ocho Cinco stars in an independent film that the cast members signed a contract of defer payment. He doesn’t receive special treatment because he is Ocho Cinco and gets paid before everyone else-it’s not going to happen like that!

What advice would you give an athlete to prepare for a negotiating meeting in the film industry?

Nyjo: Athletes shouldn’t be too passive or aggressive. During negotiations athletes should used their affiliation and status to portray that he or she is passionate and assertive about the film. As far as the money goes, my advice to an athlete to receive the most bang for their buck, is to ensure that they are invested in the film. For example, if the player as no experience in the industry, they can negotiate in becoming an executive producer. The difference between a producer and an executive producer is that a producer is in charge of pre-production, production, and post-production. An executive producer is when a person gives money to produce the project. By athletes being an executive producer, it makes the process easier for them to transition into the film industry.

It was such a pleasure to interview Nyjo, I learned a lot about the film industry from him. As we were bringing the interview to a close, he left me with a food for thought. “Your acting is only going to be as good as the person that stretches you.” Similar to a coach and teammates, the director and the cast are individuals who are there to assist and guide each other for the benefit and success of the film. It is important to receive the best deal as possible, but remember that building a business relationship will last a lifetime.

The Sportsnista '95

References:

Gordonshumway. (2003). The Game Plan: A Primer. Retrieved June 19, 2011 from http://ladiesdotdotdot.wordpress.com/2008/01/23/the-game-plan-a-primer/

The 700 Club. (2011). Jada Collins: The Truth About Beauty. Retrieved June 18, 2011 from http://www.cbn.com/700club/features/amazing/Jada_Collins040508.aspx

MASCOTS: Just a Costume or Apart of the Game?

noreply@blogger.com (About Me:) — Sat, 21 May 2011 19:14:00 +0000

Real Sports: Mascots

Mascots are defined and used for many things, whether it’s a person, animal, or object. They are thought to bring luck or a representation of a school, professional sports team, or brand name. Team’s mascots often take the form of the school’s logo and nickname. In addition, the sports world utilized mascots as marketing tools to generate revenue, fan recognition, as well as community service. As a sports fan, I never paid mascots any attention. I always saw them as entertainment for the children and over the top sports fans. However, that’s until I watched a mini documentary on HBO's Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel that I realize the seriousness and dedication that goes into being a mascot.

They’re not the average person that is trained to wear a Chuck E. Cheese costume. Many college and professional sports teams’ mascots attend boot camp to learn how to walk and deal with their emotion especially when faced with hateful fans. Some people would think that attending boot camp is going a little bit overboard. However, various popular mascots, some on the Forbes.com's list of America's Top Sports Mascots generate a six-figure salary. According to CNN Money, baseball mascots don't make much. Starting salaries might be $25,000 plus benefits, and often entail a day job in the marketing office. Only the most exceptional entertainers, working for far-sighted teams, earn six figures. Such mascots like Dave Raymond, who stated that teams have mascots, but only about half employ them full-time. Raymond for 16 years was the Phillie Phanatic, one of the best-known and best-paid mascots. I was also amazed at the fact that some mascots actually hired agents because in today’s sports world. They’re no longer cheerleaders, but have become full-fledged entertainers.

It was interesting to discover the amount of money that an individual is being paid to jump around in a costume for hours. Those were my initials thought before examining the risks of being in the mascot industry. For instance, being able to avoid dehydration from the hot costume and potential injury. In addition to many public appearances and goodwill requirements that come along with the being the face of the brand. Mascots are truly one of many aspects of a sports franchise that people recognize a particular team for. Individuals may not remember the team’s name or the players; however, they will remember whether team is the Eagles, Saints, or Bulls. Therefore, mascots are apart of the game, better yet; it is one of fans favorite part of coming to the game because there is something for each member of the family.

-The Sportsnista '95

Photo: Manny. (2009). Funny and strange mascot costumes. Retrieved May 21, 2011 from http://mydisguises.com/2009/05/18/funny-and-strange-mascot-costumes/

Pay to Play?

noreply@blogger.com (About Me:) — Mon, 09 May 2011 00:35:00 +0000

For years there have been controversies regarding the fact that college athletes are not paid to play, contributes to the many scandals of players taking money from outside sources.
While watching the NFL Draft, commentators listed various stories of schools and players that lost their titles and personal awards. An article entitled The Right Way to Compensate College Athletes, discussed the events of Reggie Bush losing his Heisman award and view points about players rightful compensation. The author Patrick Rishe explained that, athletes are reward enough by getting paid in the terms of cost savings on tuition and fees. A valid point that many people would agree upon when hearing college athletes complain about not getting paid. However, it is when Rishe stated that the bulk of the revenue generates from college athletics such as, ticket sales and media revenue is due to the school’s brand not individual student-athletes. I disagree with that statement, it’s my opinion that there are numerous colleges that have become prominent and increased their enrollment rate on the coat tails of elite athletes.

For example, ESPN’s films 30 for 30 did a documentary called The U that told a story of the 1980’s University of Miami’s football team and how they’re success increased enrollment, brought attention, and popularity to the city of Miami. In addition, the football players were so prominent from their accomplishment on the field that NFL players were looking to the young players to get them into exclusive entertainment spots. The documentary made it evident that even back in the 80’s, Universities were making a killing off their sports programs. Even then, players were complaining about the compensation they were not receiving. I believe it was Michael Irving that broke down how much money the football program brought to the University and players were not seeing even a dime of it. As of today, nothing has change; according to Nation Blue who analyzed a break down of SEC football financial information did by Forbes. Many universities are generated millions of dollars and sometimes I can't help but wonder, "can the players just get a little piece of the pie?"

I am not, and I repeat, am not an advocate for players breaking any rules of the NCAA. However, while pursing my undergraduate studies I know the struggles of a college student. Not having enough money to purchase food, clothes, or even to go to the movies with friends-picture this type of lifestyle for four years! Some of these athletes decide not to live like that; behind the scene there are players who have children and family members riding on their opportunity of making it to the league. These are the situation many athletes are in, some play sports for a big time school to be exposed to a different type of environment. However, the fact reminds that they have other expenses and no matter how many examples of the repercussion have been before them (Michigan's Fab FIVE story); players are still going to participate in the illegal act. I am not saying pay the players the same as professional; however, the league should invest more time in figuring out ways to reduce the enticement of players seeking outside sources.

-The Sportsnista '95

Photo:

Mr. Ringleader. (2011). Right decision, wrong decision road sign. Retrieved May 8, 2011 from http://hrringleader.com/2010/05/28/right-and-wrong-what-do-you-think/right-decision-wrong-decision-road-sign-3/

TED.com-Caroline Casey: Looking Past Limits

noreply@blogger.com (About Me:) — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 00:26:00 +0000

“When I was seventeen, I wanted to be a biker chick, race car driver, a cow girl and Mogalie from the Jungle Book.” These were the dreams of Caroline Casey, a former global management consultant turned social entrepreneur. As I watched her speech via TED.com I had to admit that her dreams were very interesting, until she explained why. “All of those things consisted of being FREE, feeling the wind in your hair and just living,” she stated. However, Caroline would soon discover that life does not always go as planned and some obstacles take us down path that we were never supposed to go. A path that crushes those innocent dreams that sometimes we’ll never see come to fruition.

Caroline had her first experience with this on her seventeen birthday when taking a family trip to the eye doctor. Her parents made it seem as if she was going there to support her vision impaired sister, but little did Caroline know that it would be her that needed the support. While the doctor examined her eyes, he asked Caroline what she was doing for her birthday? She excitedly explained to him how she would be practicing to get her driver license. An awkward silence fell over the room as the doctor revealed to Caroline that she was and has been legally blind since birth. Caroline described how a huge lump was in her chest; as I paused, I thought how could she have gone seventeen years without realizing she couldn’t see? Then I realized that ability and potential were the core values that Caroline’s parents embedded into her headed since she was a child. There were no labels and especially no special schooling; she grew up with the belief that she could see. “It’s amazing how far belief can take you,” Caroline stated. Well, from that point on she was on a mission not to be labeled as an individual with a “disability.” Therefore, for the next eleven years Caroline was able to work in different fields and graduate from college without people discovering that she was vision impaired.

However, this was no easy task; as soon as one career got to the point where she had to ask for help, it was on to the next one. Asking for help was one of her greatest fears because she would have to admit that she was different. After finally finding her niche in the financial world, Caroline found herself at a place she had dreaded would come one day. Her vision was decreasing to the point where she couldn’t see anything, not even a glare of light. Once she was forced to see an eye specialist, Caroline received more than just a diagnosis on her eyes but also on her life. There she discovered that she no longer had the belief that her parents instilled in her as a child. She suddenly felt that she had believed in the wrong thing by pretending to be someone she was not. As she took a normal run around the park to clear her head, filled with frustration she found herself hitting her head trying to figure out how to be different and what to do next with her life. She finally came to the realization that the business world was not her calling, but what could she do? “It blew up in my head, and bashed in my heart! I am going to be Magolie from the Jungle Book.” Believe it on not, that is exactly what Caroline did. She flew to India and became an elephant handler; during her six thousand mile journey across India she raised money to support individuals to received catalytic surgery. She is now a personal motivational speaker and the CEO of Kanchi an organization that is geared towards helping society deal with disable people in the work place. The company is named after her elephant, because she said that disability is like an elephant in the room.

Many may be wondering how I am inspired by this wonderful and interesting story. Well, like Caroline I too was living a life that I wasn’t suppose to; trying to be perfect in a career that brought me no sense of freedom or joy. I too experienced the explosion in my head and bashing of passion in my heart when I decided to purse a career in sports management. I admitted to myself that is was time for a change. Caroline’s story reminded me of my potential to succeed and ability to never give up until I see my dreams come true.

-The Sportsnista '95

Who's really calling the shots?

noreply@blogger.com (About Me:) — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 00:57:00 +0000

If the NFL lockout wasn’t already feeling like an episode of as the world turns, a twist was added when the NFLPA declared a decertification nearly a month ago. This has been followed by a drastic change when the organization “redirected web surfers from nflpa.org or nflplayers.com to www.NFLlockout.com" stated USA Today. What is the NFLPA exactly? Well, I am glad you asked; it stands for the National Football League Players Association. This organization plays a major part in making the NFL a powerhouse business. Around the 1950’s football players wanted an increase in pay along with other requests, so they asked the formal general manager Creighton Miller to help them obtain these entreats from the league. His assistance was needed because at the time, players had no one looking out for their rights; similarly, the player’s demands triggered some of the same events that the league is experiencing today. However, the players and the NFL were able to reach an agreement and the NFL union (NFLPA) was formed.

Still to this day, down to this very minute the NFLPA is experiencing déjà vu from the 1950’s. However, the end to this story is yet to be revealed. As I stated before, the NFLPA plays an important role in making major decisions of whether these negotiations will go left or right. For example, by the association declaring decertification they are no longer a union and according to NBC Sports, the organization cannot represent the players during any filing or suspensions. Before the decertification, the owners made a decision to lock the players out of the facilities; therefore players are have been forced to workout by other means. Therefore, the decertification allows players to file individual antitrust suits and request an injunction that would hopefully force the league to continue to operate as normal. The NFLPA influences are also affecting the upcoming NFL draft. If the decertification and website change was not enough, the player’s association along with some of the players is trying to convince college prospects of this year’s draft to boycott the event. According to Schefter, the player’s association “has gone so far as to consider placing the players on another competing network to do post-pick interviews though no final decision has been made.” Therefore, ESPN and the NFL Networks will not have the opportunity to interview the players, which will probably cause a fluctuation towards their television ratings on draft day. In addition to other companies that bank on using these rookies such as Cam Newton to be the face for their company products will be losing out on revenue as well as new consumers.

The NFLPA has since dissolved and does not have any authority over the soon to be professional athletes; however, the association’s actions and commitment over the years has proven that the organization is determined to fight for player’s rights in receiving equal compensation for their hard work on the field. I believe that the NFLPA are very much aware of the effects that their decisions have on the different affliction to the NFL. Unfortunately sports fans, all we can do is hope that the NFLPA and the owners will come to their senses and stand up for what is right.

As always, see you in September?

-The Sportsnista ‘95

Reference:

Photo:

Brown, L. (2011). NFLPA using threat of future decertification to keep agents in check. Retrieved April 6, 2011 from http://larrybrownsports.com/football/nflpa-using-threat-of-future-decertification-to-keep-agents-in-check/58586

Who will reap the benefits of the NFL Lockout? Someone.

noreply@blogger.com (About Me:) — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 19:07:00 +0000

It’s no secret that the National Football League is struggling with the possible reality of a lockout for the 2011-2012 seasons. So, when news came of the owners and the player’s labor union not reaching an agreement before the extended deadline of March 11, as a fan, I felt more nervous than shocked. Many questions ran through my mind as to what I would watch in replace of professional football? I must admit that nothing came to mind! Like Daniel Roberts a writer for CNN Money.com stated, "The biggest losers in an NFL lockout? Everyone." As I allowed his statement to resonate, I began to ponder and a new perspective came into mind. Although many individuals, sponsors, and organizations associated with the NFL will feel the harsh ripple effects of a lockout; the flip side of things, will allow quite a few other sports organizations to benefit from the NFL disputes.

Now pardon my embellished thinking, but if the lockout does in fact extend to the opening of football season. It would not be a surprise to see college football being played on Saturdays and Sundays. Of course, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) would have to figure out the guidelines to accommodate the extra day. However, one league’s loss is another league’s gain; the increase in financial profit and viewer ratings being shifted to college sports programs would make up for the major transition. Other leagues such as, the MLB, NHL, and NBA would also reap the benefits of the lockout by gaining additional fans and viewer, which would ultimately lead to a financial gain for them as well. The NFL produces billions of dollars each year; therefore, with the possibility of no football season that money will undoubtedly shift to the other leagues. Like I stated before, these are my exaggerating thoughts on how other sports organization could capitalize and benefit from the NFL’s disagreements.

In my opinion, I want to and do tend to believe that the owners and the players will come to agreement before the start of the football season (crossing my fingers). There is just too much at stake for them not to reach an agreement. If not, I hope other sports organizations are plotting on ways to take advantage of the money the NFL will be missing out on. Until then…see you in September?

-The Sportsnista ‘95

A word to the W.I.S.E.

noreply@blogger.com (About Me:) — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 03:32:00 +0000

One day last week, while reading up on the latest news on the NBA trades; I came across some interesting information that was posted on one of my personal learning networks. Nonetheless, the owner and blogger Russell Scibetti of the Business of Sports, informed his readers of an upcoming award ceremony being held by an organization called women in sports and events (W.I.S.E.), The annual ceremony is being held this summer in New York City on June 8. According to the Business of Sports, W.I.S.E. “Is a top resource for female sports business professionals, organizing meetings, events and mentoring programs designed to support the career development of their members”(Scibetti,2011). This event is a great networking opportunity for women like myself who wish to enter the sports industry. A wise woman once said, “Luck has nothing to do with it, because I have spent many, many hours, countless hours, on the court working for my one moment in time, not knowing when it would come” (Women Sports Foundation, 2008). So, by the time I finished reading the article, I too understood that woman, as I spent countless hours searching for flights to attend the event.

Similar to many new comers entering the sports industry, I have no idea when the golden opportunity will present it’s self. However, I do know that with preparation and positioning myself at the right place, and at the right time; it will increase my chances of getting that dream job. It is well known that women still have a long way to go before being considered equals in this male dominated industry. In spite of the industries limited female voices, I advised the future W.I.S.E. to follow the words of the late great Florence Griffith Joyner; “I know what I have to do, and I’m going to do whatever it takes. If I do it, I’ll come out a winner, and it doesn’t matter what anyone else does”(Women Sports Foundation, 2008).

See you at the TOP!

-The Sportsnista ‘95

SUPER BOWL XVL: Race vs. Class?

noreply@blogger.com (About Me:) — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 16:57:00 +0000

Last Sunday, I along with millions of Americans gathered around the television to watch Super Bowl XVL. Any sports fan understands the excitement and chaos that goes into this major event. Every aspect of the game is picked apart and dissected, from the numerous interviews conducted with the players and coaches during the pre-game show. All the way down to the field just before the coin toss. People are waiting with anticipation to see who will be crowned the next champion. However, if paid close attention, one would hear more than just the sound of “black & yellow” playing throughout the stadium. See pass the fans wearing the weird cheese shaped hat and discover a story unfolding right before our very eyes.

“I’m excited about the game this Sunday because it celebrates something very unusual in sport, and that is race and class.” This was stated by talk show host Tavis Smiley when interviewing former football player turned sports analyst Rod Woodson a few nights before the Super Bowl. He stated on one side of the field, there stood Mike Tomlin, head coach of the Steelers, the youngest, and first African American head coach to bring two teams to the Super Bowl. Many viewers just saw a man with headphones on preparing to call plays. While others saw a historic moment being made because not long ago, men of ethnic background were not even considered candidates. For the head coach position until the Rooney rule was implemented in 2003. Therefore, for any upcoming “Mike Tomlin’s”, more was on the line than just winning the Lombardi trophy. His presence made a statement that minority coaches are equally talented as any other race when given the opportunity.

On the other side of the field, less than 60 yards away gathered not just a team, but also a community ready for battle. According to the Green Bay Packers, they compare there entrance into the sports industry to the story of “David & Goliath. There were many obstacles this franchise faced, but with the love and pride of the citizens of Green Bay, Wisconsin. The team still managed to win 11 championship titles (before winning the Super Bowl) against other franchise team who has wealthier owners and reside in cities twice their sizes. This story is a prime example of what being the underdog is all about, when the opponent is bigger than you, it’s using what you have to persevere.

Every Super Bowl game has a story behind it. At the end, there can only be one winner; however, the message of self-determination and strength will never be lost. Even though its not being discussed over ESPN, people will remember the African American coach who prove to posses the skills and technique to lead a team to the championship. While the citizens of a small town, demonstrated through their love and passion, they too can beat the odds and win (which they did). Therefore, when peeled back the layers of fame and fortune that comes along with the Super Bowl, one would see that its not just a game, but a movement.

-The Sportsnista ‘95