The Show down

A Trend Turned A Necessity

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 17:37:00 +0000

In the making of a social media lifestyle, no one could of predicted that this trend would lead to a major social communication make over for the sports industry. The takeover started with MySpace, then Facebook, and now, the most dominant of them all, Twitter. Twitter has single handedly taken over the sports world and how professional organizations and athletes communicate with its fans, how it shares promotional and or marketing strategies, and they even use this trend to share personal decisions and thoughts. Twitter has become the one stop shop for anyone who wants to communicate anything to anyone.

There is a good side and a bad side to this trend. The good side is that this trend gives fans and friends know what is going on in the heads of some of their favorite players and or teams. This is access to thoughts and decisions like no other because instead of waiting or never knowing what the typical athlete does on a daily basis, what they think about certain world news, or even there whereabouts, Twitter gives first hand access to all of these possible interest. In particular, take now retired NFL Safety Brian Dawkins who has recently tweeted his plan to retire instead of the traditional breaking news report that are usually reported by a reporter from an inside source. Via NFL.com, “Dawkins didn't announce the end of his career with a showy press conference. He said it all on Twitter:’ The Lord has blessed me to play in the NFL for 16 years. I would like to thank the Eagles & the Broncos 4 believing in me. I would like 2 thank all my teammates & Coaches that I have been blessed 2 go to battle with. Along with u, the fans 4 helping make my career 1 that i have enjoyed tremendously. In other words. I am announcing my retirement from the NFL,’ Dawkins wrote.” (http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d828858ab/article/brian-dawkins-will-be-remembered-for-leadership?module=HP11_headline_stack). This in itself is a true testimony on how serious Twitter has taken over the voices and actions of the past. Athletes can now speak for themselves, which is something that they never have had the casualty to do before.

Courtesy of NFL.com

But like most things, there is a bad side to anything with this big of a following. Twitter can also become a self-disrupting tool that portrays even the negative thoughts and or actions of a professional athlete or organization. Having a voice is great, but in the sports industry, its only really great when you have something to say that people agree with. Sharing negative thoughts about the government, world news, or even fans/teammates can cause a massive breakdown in image or perception of those who share such thoughts and ideas. Once the send button is pressed, that message can never be deleted in the minds of those who report and read it so being conscious of the potential problems that can follow is detrimental for anyone who uses or owns a Twitter account.

It is safe to say that Twitter is not going anywhere. Its presence is dominating and is only getting stronger by the tweet. It is a great tool for anyone who wants to connect with the masses but that connection can be cut short if the message paints a nasty perception of who a person is or claims to be.

The Bigger Picture

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 03:38:00 +0000

The National Football League has gone through so much grief and obstacles in the last year and a half. From the NFL lockout to the new collective bargaining agreement, the NFL has had to recommit its brand and image to fit the morals and social responsibilities it once had promised its fans, followers, and sponsors. This is not only a business commitment, but a financial one as well because of the affect of negative imagery through the eyes of those who spend their hard earned money. As if last’s offseason was not enough, this offseason has brought forth an even worse taste to those who follow and play the game of football.

St. Louis Rams newly acquired Defensive Coordinator Greg Williams, who was recently the Defensive Coordinator of the New Orleans Saints, has caused quite a stir within the league and its image due to his role in a “bounty” program within his years in the National Football League. The bounty program was a way for Greg Williams to motivate his defensive players to cause havoc on the football field by offering illegal financial rewards for big hits, interceptions, fumble recoveries, sacks, and the worse of these was causing injuries to the opposing teams players. This in itself is unethical and illegal by any league standards.

Greg Williams has single handily cause a huge black cloud to sit over the NFL shield, which is exactly what Commissioner Rodger Goodell aims to protect. This bounty program has cost Greg Williams his job, and even a potential ban from the NFL. Those who participated and/or knew of this program have also been punished. Head Coach Sean Payton, Assistant Head Coach Joe Vitt, and General Manager Randy Mueller have all been independently suspended and fined. The NFL clearly stated that any form of a bounty program are illegal and will not be tolerated by any means. And because of these rule violations, the NFL will suffer more than the names of those who were punished because it is the NFL who has to speak for the decisions its employees and executives make.

From a financial and branding standpoint, this has to hurt the NFL’s progress in rebuilding a trustworthy brand after last season’s lockout. Will the NFL lose money or fans? That is up for debate. But the game of football will be hurt because of the negative imagery that programs like this gives parents and young athletes who already had fears for their health.

Developing A Business Plan

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 03:09:00 +0000

In developing my own business plan, I have gained much knowledge from many business plan experts. Daymond John and David Gumpert are two experts that I have found to be very helpful when examining ways to improve my business plan. The two key ideas that both of these experts emphasized to extremely important are passion and effort. I plan to incorporate these two ideas into my business plan by using more passionate verbiage and making my passion seep through the ideas, research, and structure of my business plan. Daymond and David also emphasized the importance of preparation to go with passion. About.com stated, “One of the most powerful ways to support your passion is with proper planning” (Gregory, 2011). I know that with a great idea comes an even better preparation with all successful business plans.

Some changes that I have made in order to deliver these ideas were developing a better sense of how I promote and describe my ideas throughout the business plan. This change has made it easier for my ideas to flow out and build a more interesting business plan. Walt Goodridge of Website101.com relates to the idea of expressing passion in a business plan as he stated, “You need to become what I call a “Passionpreneur” and turn your passion into profit! “Passionpreneur” is a word I created to describe someone who has used his or her passion as the basis of a passion-centered business” (Goodridge, 2009). I really feel that Goodridge’s term “Passionpreneur” is exactly what Daymond and David see in their business decisions as well as what they look for when looking over a business plan.

I personally consider the company description and marketing strategy of a business plan to be the most important. Reason being, these two sections will tell the potential investors who, how, what, and why for all of their financial and marketing questions/concerns. Knowing the market and delivering a new or existing need and want are detrimental for any successful company. A great idea is only a waste of thought without knowing who will want and need the new service or product. Allbusiness.com states, “The most important part of the plan is where it says specifically what is going to happen. The core of a business plan is the collection of detailed dates, deadlines, responsibilities, and commitments” (Allbusiness.com, 2005). These reasons alone are why Daymond and David have become highly successful businessmen as well as experts in their respective field. I plan to continue to use expert knowledge in the development of my business plan because utilizing resources like these are easy to obtain and extremely helpful.

Resources:

Gregory, A. (2011). Is having a passion for business enough?. Retrieved from http://sbinformation.about.com/od/startingabusiness/a/passion-for-business.htm

Goodridge, W. (2009, Febuary). How to have passion for business: Do what you love as an entrepreneur. Retrieved from website101.com/home-business/how-passion-do-what-you-love-entrepreneur/

Allbusiness.com. (2005, March 9). What is most important in a business plan? what do i really have to cover?. Retrieved from http://www.allbusiness.com/business-planning-structures/business-plans/3505-1.html

The Experts View

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 02:40:00 +0000

In any business plan development, it is important to take notice and advice from those who review and fund business plans for a living. These people are often referred to as venture capitalist, angel investors, or simply, experts. Entrepreneur.com states, “These individuals look for companies that exhibit high-growth prospects, have a synergy with their own business or compete in an industry in which they have succeeded” (Entrepeneur.com, 2012). In examining two recognized experts, I found many similarities that are very beneficial to the development of a business plan and the ideas that follow it.

My first recognized expert, Daymond John, is the CEO and President of the clothing line FUBU. Daymond helped launch the clothing line in 1994, and shortly after 1998, FUBU hit $350 million dollars in revenue. Daymond now works on numerous venture projects as well as a keynote speaker for his business mind and experiences.

My second recognized expert is David E. Gumpert. David has had a wide range of business experiences ranging from co-founder of NetMarquee, an Internet marketing firm, to writing two highly read business books about business plans and business success guidelines. David has had constant success in his business ventures and practices.

Both Daymond and David have had great success in their business decisions, but both have two different roads to their victories. They know what it takes in order to not only succeed with a business plan, but to also build from that success in order to stay relevant and ahead of the curve. Passion and effort are two key components that both David and Daymond look for in a business plan. These traits are important because they will work as the backbone of an idea, whether good or bad. With passion and effort comes risk and taking chances. Most people, or better yet business plans do not attempt taking chances for the fear of failure. Both David and Daymond believe that chances have to be taken in order to accomplish a goal. Daymond for example took a serious chance that could have had himself and his mother living on the street if his passion was not standing strong behind his idea. “In need of start-up capital to keep up with demand, Daymond and his mother mortgaged the home they collectively owned for $100,000. Soon, the home was turned into a makeshift factory and office space.”(Boomdigital, 2012). Risk like these make great success stories when passion is the focus of why people take them.

According to David, acting on an effort is more important than simply planning. His quote, “Act, don’t plan” (Gumpert, 2003, paragraph 13) describes his view on why business plans are more than just a plotted list of ideas that may or may not turn into funding, but rather, actions are better fit for a cause and reaction in the pockets of potential investors.

Both of these experts share similar views but from different minds, which make their respected components of importance even more valuable when developing an effective and passionate business plan. Tim Berry’s “8 Factors That Make Good Business Plans” backs up these ideas with his seventh factor in the development of a business plan, “It gets people committed” (Berry, 2009). Commitment brings forth effort and effort can only be measure with passion and that is why these experts are outlined with success and their passion keeps them committed to helping others reach their dream.

(Youtube, 2008)

Citations

Entrepreneur.com. (2012). A guide to angel investors. Retrieved from http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/52742

Boomdigital. (2012). About daymond. Retrieved from http://daymondjohn.com/about/

Berry, T. (2009, Febuary 18). 8 factors that make a good business plan. Retrieved from http://timberry.bplans.com/2009/02/some-key-questions-on-business-plans.html

Youtube. (Editor) (2008). Fubu founder daymond john interview [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79a3nTDmeNo

Lin-Sanity or Insanity…

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 23:07:00 +0000

If you haven’t already heard, there is a new phenom in the sports industry named Jeremy Lin who plays point guard for the New York Knicks. Lin has recently taken the sports world by storm, or shall I say, the sports world has taken him by storm, with a lot of helpful winds from social media. Nicknames such as “Lin-sanity”, “Mr. Lin-credible”, and “Super Lin-tendo”, have grown from the depths of social media and into the platform of the sports industry. In most cases, this story would have been the talk of the town for a week or so, but with social media, there is no telling when or if this story will ever die down. Every sports channel, talk show, and radio personality brings this story up at least four times per show, which can begin to get overwhelming, at least for those living outside of Taiwan and New York.

Social media has two faces. The first face is obviously that of having a strong positive influence on how others perceive you and how you want to be recognized, both professionally and socially. The second face has to do with the negativity that can come from a social media presence, either self-inflicted or from an outside source. In Jeremy Lin’s case, too much attention can end up burning out his welcome to the hearts of sports fan within America. Similar to Tim Tebow and the whole Tebowmania movement, outside sources can sometimes overdo it and can cost them more than they help.

Social media has become a dangerous game of stardom roulette where being too famous can lead to becoming an annoyance to others. This is particularly sad for good guy athletes who do not ask for such attention. Tim Tebow was victim to this attention bug that bit him extremely hard and now has its teeth sunken into Jeremy Lin and the Lin-sanity movement.

And to make Jeremy’s social bug bite bigger, here are some of Jeremy’s social media outlets.

https://twitter.com/ - !/jlin7

http://www.facebook.com/jeremylin7

Also, Check out these links to learn more about Jeremy Lin and his rise within the sports world:

http://online.wsj.com/article/AP3ba67ee16b1a499a82d5f8cc193da96f.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/17/opinion/brooks-the-jeremy-lin-problem.html

References

Rosenburg, M. (Photographer). (2012). Tebow comparisons not fair to jeremy lin; he's much better story read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/michael_rosenberg/02/14/lin.tebow/index.html

From Rags To A Super Bowl...

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:25:00 +0000

It was only a few months ago that the state of the National Football League was in disarray and a cloud of confusion lured over the hearts of fans. But with the breakthrough of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and the first play from scrimmage, this season for NFL fans, players, and owners has been a true rollercoaster without much safety harnesses. And now, we can set our sails on the biggest game of the year, the Super Bowl.

Although every Super Bowl has its own drama and theme attached to its build up, this Super Bowl however, has a unique competitive make-up that the past could not have scripted itself. The New England Patriots and the New York Giants will be playing for the title this year and both share a familiar past in recent Super Bowl history. If you can recall in 2008, the New England Patriots were on their way to an undefeated season before they ran into the Giants in the Super Bowl and suffered the most important loss of their incredible season. And unlike most Super Bowl matchups, this rematch has an interesting tale behind it that will leave most fans forgetting about the devastating idea of never having a 2011 NFL season. Seems too good to be true, or perhaps it is an entertainment force of nature that knows how to capture the hearts and minds of its fans.

The NFL has done something that most companies, organizations, or corporations can ever imagine, and that is to damage their customer’s trust, only to later rebuild their product that was focused on reconnecting with their fans and television sponsors in order to bring forth a better and stronger product. This weeks Super Bowl will give proof to this because the league has brought this year’s Super Bowl to life within the fans and their football experiences. For example, this season alone has brought forth more Super Bowl sweepstakes and prize give-a-ways than the last three years combined. More sponsors have joined the NFL in hopes to ride the momentum train straight to top of the media and sports world. This is no longer a game played by great athletes; instead, this is a dynamic force of entertainment that most people find hard to resist. And come Sunday’s kickoff, this force will reach new levels of sports, media, and entertainment.

Check out this link below in order to learn more about this years Super Bowl:

http://www.nfl.com/superbowl/44

Lets Get Ready To Rumble...Maybe..

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 10:34:00 +0000

In a world of social media and constant media coverage, it shouldn’t seem unheard of to have a professional athlete call out another athlete in the way that Floyd Mayweather did Manny Pacquiao, but in this case, it caused a stir. Fans from all over the world have been waiting for some progress to a potential fight between the two superstars but for years, nothing has come of the so-called talks between the two sides. But now with Mayweather calling out Pacquiao personally, maybe things are turning for the best. Mayweather stated in a tweet, "Manny Pacquiao I'm calling you out let's fight May 5th and give the world what they want to see" (Rafael, 2012). This sounds like something that should have been done a long time ago but as we all sit in anticipation for this fight, we’ll take what we can get.

This potential fight does have some uncharacteristic built-ups that are not similar to main events of the past. For example, Pacquiao is a political representative for his country, well-liked athlete by nearly everyone because of his humbling personality and he is considered professional singer, depending on whom you ask. Now looking at Mayweather, he is bound for a jail sentence right after the potential fight due to a domestic violence charge, he has never lost a professional fight, to which his cocky persona shows that, and he is flashy and arrogant with his money, i.e. Money Mayweather. The two fighters are so different but that is what will draw the big ticket. “Mayweather has to make a fight happen by the end of May, as he’s going to prison on June 1. The judge actually postponed his jail time so Mayweather can go ahead and fight on May 5, a date he has saved up at the MGM grand for quite sometime now” (Gerakis, 2012).

The sports world wants this fight, but the boxing industry needs this fight because of its dying ratings and sponsorships. This fight would be the fight of many people’s lifetimes and would hopefully rejuvenate the boxing world one punch at a time.

(Courtesy of Youtube.com)

Sources:

Gerakis. (2012, January 21). Mayweather vs pacquiao – the phone call. Retrieved from http://sportige.com/mayweather-vs-pacquiao-the-phone-call/

Rafael, D. (2012, January 11). Mayweather calls out pacquiao for may. Retrieved from http://espn.go.com/boxing/story/_/id/7447532/floyd-mayweather-jr-calls-manny-pacquiao-5-fight

Youtube/ESPN. (Editor) (2012). Mayweather wants pacquiao on may 5, 2012 [Theater]. Available from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zBefj_yYIw&feature=related

Check out these other sources for more information about this potential fight:

http://www.opposingviews.com/i/sports/scratch-guerrero-mayweathers-list-plus-koncz-says-no-may-5-pac-floyd

http://sportige.com/mayweather-vs-pacquiao-the-phone-call/

http://www.badlefthook.com/2012/1/19/2719167/mayweather-vs-pacquiao-phone-conversation

Tough Coverage

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 03:19:00 +0000

Today’s media coverage in sports has become as powerful as the Supreme Court in regards to how players are judged, perceived, and liked. This in turn with the magnified social media practices can present numerous problems and/or benefits for teams, players, and executives. For example, take Tim Tebow and the massive coverage he gets in the media and how it alters peoples perception of him and his lifestyle. Too much media coverage has turned many fans sour and tired of hearing about him, outside of Denver and Florida of course. It is not like Tim wants this attention or needs it in order to be relevant, but whether wanted or not, media coverage holds the gavel to his perception on and off of the field.

Media coverage has become a scary truth to the power the media has on today’s athletes. Sure, some more than others only contribute to the perceptions they are casted under, but to a huge degree, anyone can turn into a bad guy as the microscope gets closer. Take a look at LeBron James and his “The Decision” announcement in leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Miami Heat. It was a media coverage gold mine for the sports industry, but a disaster for LeBron James and his brand. The coverage lead many fans to grow very angry with LeBron even though it was his decisions that lead to many fans turning sour.

This doesn’t just hold true to individual players , take a look at the sad events that have taken place at both Penn State University and Syracuse University. If not for the media coverage in the discovery of the child abuse charges at Penn State, there is a good chance that the scandals at Syracuse would not of presented themselves. This is never a happy or proud moment for our society as a whole, or a media coverage team, but it served useful nonetheless.

Sports in itself can build regular people into heros or villains. In accordance to sports, the media’s role in the development of either a hero or a zero is undoubtedly affective. This reason alone is why teams are now monitoring their players in a whole new light in order to secure their brand, players, and organizations. There is nowhere to hide in the media world, especially while players are still playing.

Stern's Affect Already Felt

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 03:35:00 +0000

I am not one to brag, but I must say, I told you so! In my last blog post “The Stern Affect”, I addressed the end of the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) current end to their lockout and how it may or may not affect the NBA moving forward. All of the rave in the past week in sports industry was that of excitement, fun, and finally, but as I mentioned in my previous post, there are more unknowns than known which brings more issues to question. So after only one week of coming to an agreement, there is already a problem that has many fans, players, and officials confused, angry, and searching for answers. But in my opinion, this is the tip of the iceberg and the real problems may be in the near future.

If you have recently watched any sports newscast, seen any sports related tweet, or visited a sports website, you have seen the new problem I am referring to with the new NBA agreement. For those who may not be aware, the NBA, or shall I say the Stern Affect, has recently vetoed the trade proposal of All-Star Point Guard Chris Paul to the Lakers because it was conflicting with the new CBA’s agreement of superstar players all heading to big markets. The proposed trade was approved by all teams involved but not by the rest of the league so Commissioner David Stern acted swiftly and denied the approval of the trade. This has become a huge problem not only for the players but more importantly for the NBA and its already shaken reputation.

So after all the excitement has calmed down, we see the Stern affect take place and damage what would have been considered one of the best backcourt tandems in the NBA. The players are now wondering what did they agree to because the last thing they wanted was more control in the hands of the Commissioner. The NBA now has to focus more attention on getting their public relations team on board with correcting the daunting image the NBA has now casted on its fans and players.

Now the next big question is what are the other changes that can take place since this agreement has been signed. From this standpoint thus far, the only good news is that there will be games played on Christmas day, but in hindsight, was it worth the balance of control? Either way, the ink has dried and the trade has been denied so let the games begin.

Check out these links below for more on the vetoed trade and other NBA news:

http://www.hoopsworld.com/chris-paul-veto-commisioner-power-or-collusion/

http://espn.go.com/espn/commentary/story/_/page/wilbon-111209/david-stern-nba-owners-look-vindictive-petty-veto-chris-paul-trade

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/09/sports/basketball/paul-set-to-join-lakers-as-part-of-3-team-deal.html

The Stern Affect

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 02:57:00 +0000

The state of the National Basketball Association (NBA) is still up in the air when looking at the potential affects of a potential collective bargaining agreement. The news broke out that an agreement has been reached among the Players Association and the NBA owners and yet, there has not been any ink used to solidify the deal in order to get the NBA season underway. Many fans, reporters, and even players have gotten ahead of themselves during this time of the agreement because there is still a lot to be addressed amongst the potential deal. For example, the exact terms of player development, the financial dollar affect on each team and market, and the lasting affect of a shortened season are all possible issues that will need to be addressed in order to feel a sense of relief.

The NBA and its players is historically a sensitive league with more egos than a fashionista slumber party. Commissioner David Stern arguably has the biggest ego within the sports industry but for good reason. During Sterns tenure as commissioner of the NBA, he has increased ticket sales, broadcasting deals, and even brought a professional standard to the players and team executives. However, during the lockout, David Stern has taken many punches on the chin for his ego and his hard nose bargaining tactics. But with that said, the numbers do not lie for Sterns affect on the NBA which brings into question, how will the new agreement differ from Sterns previous affect compared to now? I will be interesting to see if the new agreement will lift the bad images from Sterns shadow and worsen the overall product of the NBA, or in turn, better the product and worsen the image of David Stern?

Like the previous lockout from the National Football League, the real questions of the agreement and the affects have yet to be addressed even when the celebration has already started. All of these questions will be addressed when fans realize the changes as the season goes on but in some cases, the answers may come when its too late.

Who's Rights?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 04:14:00 +0000

Financial problems have not hid from many people, businesses, or even sports organizations during this tough economic time. But for the Los Angeles Dodgers, their problems only seem to manifest into bigger problems that will ultimately change their future for a long time. Throw in the world of media coverage and the positive and negative dimensions around it and you can have a disaster waiting to happen, or a disaster inside of another disaster. For example, team owner Frank McCourt filed for bankruptcy after not being able to pay the team’s players after losing half of his finances due to his recent divorce. So now, McCourt is ordered by the Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig to sell the team in order to uphold the leagues agreement with its players and other owners for the betterment of the league as a whole. And to make things worse, or for our entertainment, more interesting, in recent news, the Dodgers are in the process of suing FOX over the sale of the team’s media rights.

The Dodgers feel that FOX is interfering with the teams bidding process of the broadcasting rights. This in turn means that the Dodgers are under the impression that FOX is using the Dodgers brand in order to make profit before the team’s status and ownership is determined. The lawsuit filed against FOX states: “Fox's efforts to take possession of property of the [Dodgers] estate and to exercise control over such property violate the automatic stay...are affecting and will continue to affect the estate adversely, including the efforts of the [Dodgers] estate to evaluate, market and potentially dispose of its existing and future media rights,” However, FOX feels as though their right to move forward is listed in the initial contract agreement between the Dodgers and FOX. “This is just the latest chapter in the current owner's ongoing scheme to avoid honoring his contractual obligations” stated FOX Vice President of Communications Chris Bellitti. This lawsuit calls for an interesting conclusion after everything is said and done because the state of the franchise is literally up in the air. Media rights are especially important in this case because it has an affect on the team’s future, selling price of the team, and the future potential profits that can be generated through media and broadcasting agreements. The next owner will want to have a huge say on the media rights in order to set their own revenue streams which is why potentially intervening with the current deal can cause many problems in both the short and long term.

The lawsuit still has a lot of aspects that will be addressed as the case continues. Either way, it is a sad chapter in a historic franchise and its fans. In a sporting industry full of lockouts, holdouts, and scandals, this media rights and broadcasting issue stands in the way of a new future for the Los Angeles Dodgers. It is now more than just selling the franchise to the highest bidder because this issue will have to be resolved in order to efficiently get the right owner/owners the right deals for the buck. This just goes to show that media plays an important part of every franchise and their income statements.

Check out more articles below to get more information about this media rights issue:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203699404577042220194179562.html

http://www.myfoxla.com/dpp/sports/dodgers-sue-fox-over-sale-of-media-rights-20111116

http://articles.latimes.com/2011/nov/16/sports/la-sp-1117-mccourt-dodgers-fox-20111117

References:

Fox News. (2011, November 16). Dodgers sue fox over sale of media rights read more: http://www.myfoxla.com/dpp/sports/dodgers-sue-fox-over-sale-of-media-rights-20111116

Palank, J. (2011, November 16). Dodgers sue fox over sale of media rights . Retrieved from http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203699404577042220194179562.html

A Real Lose For the Sports Industy

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 03:48:00 +0000

In recent years, there has been much conflict, controversy, and debate in the world of sports. From sex, money, and drugs, to contract breaching, player lockouts, and morals/ethics practices. The sports industry has had its share of headliners in the past five years. There are many stories that stand out, but for the most part, many share similar characteristics to one another. However, the recent controversy surrounding Penn State University and now former Head Football Coach Joe Paterno has its own unique source of controversy, debate, and moral wrongdoings that will affect the sports industry as a whole legally, morally, and lawfully in both the college and professional level.

After a harsh week of questions and debate about the future of Penn State University, and its football program, the week ended with the end of a coaching legend that will now forever be tarnished. Two top-level university officials were also fired and the university was left seeking answers for all that has transpired from a series crimes taken place on its campus for decades. The story broke out after allegations started swirling about former assistant head coach Jerry Sandusky sexually abusing young boys while employed at Penn State University. A state grand jury report alleged that Sandusky has over forty charges of sexually abusing young men while at the University. On one account, then graduate assistant Michael McQueary witnessed Sandusky in the football showers fondling a young male. McQueary informed then Head Coach Joe Paterno about what he had seen. Coach Paterno went to the University’s Athletic Director Tim Curly who along with the University’s Senior Vice President Gary Schultz pretty much buried this information in order to save the University’s image, brand, and reputation. By not doing enough to save or prevent more incidents like this from occurring, Paterno, Schultz, and Curly all lost their jobs. Coach Paterno’s firing caused much debate and controversy. Following his firing, there were riots, vandalism crimes, and even a bomb threat for the team’s football game against Nebraska. Seems like these consequences can be attributed to a tort within the moral responsibilities of the University and its officials.

Unlike most sports controversies, this story turns your stomach and hits an emotional button of sympathy for the victims and another button disgust for the precautions and prevention methods not used by the adults in this story. There is no money scandal, illegal benefits, contract disputes, or banned drug use in this particular story, but it hits something harder than those controversial topics, the human rights of our youth and the affects they have within our sports world. Penn State has always been known as a prestigious university and with these shocking events now taking place, this university will now forever be tarnished by an ugly past that was never handled properly. As sports fans, it is easy to forget about the important things besides wins and losses, but in this case, no one wins, there is only loses to share for the University, its officials, and most importantly, the victims.

Check out these related articles to learn more about this sad story and its recent and long term affects:

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/bigten/story/2011-11-10/jerry-sandusky-investigation-victim-1-cover/51160950/1

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204190504577036924115215192.html

Pretty Pennies for Ugly Results

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 23:07:00 +0000

In today’s sports industry, image and reputation is sometimes just as expensive or as valuable as the cost of marketing for an entire year. How you say? Well for example, consider Tiger Woods who has been the most marketed and top grossing athlete in the world. After his reputation hit an all time low from his sexual encounters with numerous women while being married, most of Woods’s sponsors, endorsements, and marketing companies dropped him and his services. These companies understood the importance an image and reputation and how their trademarks could potentially be represented in his actions. Their brand and trademark was on the line with the reputation Woods developed, and in order to protect what these companies have built, it became an expensive and risky to continue to have Woods represent them and their trademarks.

We see these types of issues happening everywhere within the sports and business world. But in professional sports, playing within the league and/or team regulations in order to protect the brand and trademark is a must. There are more stipulations and rules that must be lived by in order to keep them from being suspended, fined, or even banned from the league. Protecting a leagues shield, property, or team logo comes first in the sports industry because their revenue is reliant on their reputation. Misusing a trademark can cause significant problems and potential income loss. And being that these leagues and professional teams draw so much attention and money, there are many potential trademark infringements suits due to outside businesses seeking to use these trademarks for illegal personal gain. “Trademark infringement occurs when one improperly uses another’s protected trademarks or uses a mark likely to cause confusion about the source of a product or service” (Conrad, 2006).

Courtesy of Americanhiphop.com

Back in June of 2011, the National Football League was made aware of a few of their athletes in a promotional campaign for a party featuring alcohol, adult movie stars, and a three-day event for an adult-themed expo in Miami Florida. These athletes were in full uniform on the promotions ad and their names were listed as attendees to the event. As you could image, this is not the image the NFL wanted to be represented with and with the illegal use of the NFL trademark, the NFL had a potential case on their hands that needed to be addressed and dealt with for the betterment of its brand, league, and its financial implications. After touching base with the players represented in this promotion, it became aware that none of these players authorized their names, team logos, or the NFL shield to be used for the promotion of any such event. The company that used these names and trademarks illegally now had many potential legal issues of their own.

In this situation, the NFL acted appropriated in the matter by discussing the situation with the players first, then finding out the remaining facts. All too often the players can be blamed and punished first, before they have a chance to explain their sides of the story. Professional athletes are walking trademarks and with social media today, it is pretty difficult to protect your name and image without being exposed for someone else’s own personal financial gain. Chicago Bears spokesman Jim Christman explained, "many times players themselves are unaware of the violation and companies simply pull images and make ads not realizing they are in violation" (ESPNChicago.com 2011). None of these players were disciplined, but their names will forever be connected to such illegal actions, which in this case, is more expensive then the actual punishment.

Protecting trademarks is not easy or cheap; just ask all of the companies that represented Tiger Woods or the sports industry’s public relations departments. These illegal actions are always a potential problem for the sports industry. Players, logos, and shields will always be protected at the highest cost in order to serve as a better image for the fans. So in conclusion, keeping and protecting a positive image and reputation is worth a pretty penny, but crossing these protected lines will cost an ugly dime that most should not be willing to pay.

Check out these articles to learn more about this trademark infringement:

http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/bills-nfl/nfl-wire/article455919.ece

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nfl/news/story?id=6664169

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jun/15/nfl-investigating-trademark-infringement/

References:

Conrad, M. (2006). The business of sports: A primer for journalist. New Jersey London: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

ESPNChicago.com. (2011, June 15). Nfl looks at risque ad. ESPN.cm, Retrieved from http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nfl/news/story?id=6664169

In depth with Dorian

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 03:33:00 +0000

Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive tackle Dorian Smith doesn’t shy away from hard work, tough decisions, and most recently, tough questions. But anyone at 6’2 265lbs probably wouldn’t be afraid of much either way. Growing up in Van Nuys California, Dorian’s outlook on life has always been to live for tomorrow all the while enjoy today, as long as he got a chance to play his favorite sport, baseball. But baseball was not in Dorian’s future, and that was ok with him since he took to the game of football so easily. In his senior year of high school, Dorian helped take his team to the football state championship and won. His journey after that is where his tough work and tough decision making formed. He first attended Alabama A&M, but decided that the university was not a good fit for him so he went to the College of The Desert Community College in order to gain another opportunity at a division-1 university. Dorian went on to earn a full ride at Oregon State University where he went on to gain two bowl game victories and First Team All Pac 10 awards. But after a brief stint with the Washington Redskins, Dorian found himself looking for his next opportunity to fulfill his dream of playing in the National Football League. Dorian earned a chance to play in the Canadian Football League for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers where he now resides as a top-notch defensive tackle.

In a recent interview with Dorian via over the phone, I had a chance to get some great insight on Dorian’s outlook on his past, future, and dreams. When asked him what motivated him the most in pursuing his dream, he simply responded by saying, “a better life”. I asked if he could please elaborate on his answer and he continued by stating, “my ultimate goal is to do what I love, all the while making a lot of money doing it.” Something I think anyone breathing would agree on. He went on to say that his dream is not just his, but his grandparents, mother, and friends dream for him. “I do this for everything I love, and it just so happens that I love money as well, hahaha”.

I continued the interview by asking Dorian when did he realize that playing professional football could become possible and he stated that he knew it was possible from his years in high school because he felt that no one could deny him of what he worked so hard for. “I work hard man, harder than most people I know because for every squat, bench, or cleans rep, it makes me that much more prepared for the next game.” But with all that said, I asked about the financial implications of being a professional athlete and what might be some of the huge misunderstandings. “We don’t make more than people think, well in Canada at least. For me, most of my money goes to prior school loans, car note, and wedding planning. So really, I live check to check. That’s why I work hard to get to the NFL so maybe I can be able to live a little more lavishly. And in Canada, the currency is a lot different too.” That led me to the next question of the different concerns within the international sports industry. “I wouldn’t say there are many concerns, but some of the issues are not being around family much. They can’t make it to many games. It would be cool to have more family out here to see me play but its kind of like college because all of my family was in California while I was in Oregon.”

After a quick hold as Dorian received a call from his agent, who lives in the United States, it lead me to my next question on his relationship with his agent. “Me and my agent are cool, I mean, since I’m in Canada, he doesn’t get any of my money which is good, but at the same time, we keep a good standing relationship so when an opportunity comes up in the NFL, he knows where I’m at physically and mentally. I like where I’m at right now because it keeps me hungry. My team is having a pretty good season and we still have a lot more football to play so it gives me a chance to keep improving. Sure there are challenges but that comes with any profession. I’m just glad I still have the opportunity to keep doing what I love.” Following that response, Dorian had to run to practice as they were preparing for a big game for first place. I thanked him for his time and wished him luck for the rest of the season, but before he hung up, he gave me some grief for not making the trip to go see him play yet. But we made a deal, one interview for one game visit so I guess I need to get my passport as soon as possible.

Knowing Dorian on a more personal level, I know that this interview was 100% genuine and honest. I have always respected his work ethic and desire to finish what he has started. His strong personality definitely stands out both on the field and off of it. And there is not a doubt in my mind that he will get another opportunity to play in the National Football league and do well. This was a great experience for me to learn more about my close friend, as well as gain more understating about the other professional leagues outside of the US

Turning Social Media Up A Notch...

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 02:51:00 +0000

In today's world, any and everything ends with your presence in social media. This is particularly true for businesses, industry leaders, and athletes. So capitalizing on every avenue of social media is more as important as remembering ones name because if your not involved in it, no one will care who you are.

For over three weeks, I followed every avenue of ESPN's Adam Schefter in order to observe is social media tendencies and presence. I found Adam's presence in the social media world to be hot and cold but with so much room for improvements. His name is known and his work is amazing, but there are other ways to dominate his presence within the industry. Check out this video and see what I came up with!

4th and Production Goals

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 00:29:00 +0000

In a down economy, some of the brightest minds are discovered by thinking outside of the box in order to not only survive, but to grow in the given circumstances. This is particularly true in the business world where the mighty dollar speaks the loudest in production. In the same light, the sports industry is all about the all mighty dollar, which is also affected drastically by a poor economy. But unlike daily expenses that are expendable for consumers in a down economy, the sports industry carries a different ball of attraction that can lure fans into spending their time and money on their favorite teams.

During this current time of a slow economy, many sports teams are doing whatever they can in order to stay afloat in production, as well as keep their fans entertained. By using more promotions, raffles, and even ticket financing, teams are taking advantage of every opportunity to make each game count on the income sheets.

Consistently bringing in regular and new fans is on every sports team’s priority list during this time. And when the economy picks back up, fans will not have to make as many money saving decisions but the way they are treated now by their favorite teams will most likely flow into their financial decisions later. So in turn, teams are now more cautious to their fans situations. There has been great efforts and results in bringing fans to games during this time, but there are some other ideas that can not only keep the loyal fans who attend regularly, but also, attract fans who are not consistent or have never even attended a sporting event.

I would consider that each team maximizes their profit by utilizing their biggest assets, their players. I believe that this has to be the biggest attraction tool for any sporting team in order to draw the interest of fans. Using the players in after game picture and autograph signings for fans who attended the game would only entice a fan to see the game as an investment and a great opportunity for a great experience. Sure, this probably wouldn’t be a great idea for the players who would rather go home immediately, but by putting a time window on the sessions, assigning 10-15 players per week to hold the signings, and allowing only one picture and/or autograph per fan per ticket would become very manageable for the players and team staff. Using former players as well would also serve to the benefit of this idea. This would generate sales in paraphernalia as well as work as a weekly public relations gold mine.

Another tool to utilize to attract fans would be the use of community sponsorships. For example, allowing local high school teams, community centers, and small businesses to participate in the pregame and halftime entertainment. By doing this, it will attract the family members, friends, and employees to the games in order to support their loved ones and/or co-workers. And given the fact that halftime and pregame entertainment is not aired on television, it only allows the friends, family, and employees to see and support by actually having to go to the game.

Tailgating is a huge part of every sporting event, and in some instances, it can cost teams money because fans are not spending as much money at concession stands. This is something that should not be taken away from fans due to its culture and experience of the game. I think it can be enhanced however to give fans a greater experience when attending games. By having teams throw tailgating parties for minimum 2 game ticket holders would persuade fans to purchase tickets in bundles, rather than single game purchases. Sponsoring the tailgating in a designated area where fans get to interact with team staff, former players, and cheerleaders all the while eating and drinking before the game would out do any personal tailgating experience. This would enhance the transactions from tailgating expenses to ticket purchases for fans that may see the idea of saving money by not purchasing their tailgating food and drink, but rather purchasing an extra ticket to another game in order to get a free tailgating experience.

The experience of every game, culture, and environment cannot be substituted with a couch, bar, or even a tailgating party. That said it has to be promoted accordingly so that fans can be guaranteed a unique experience each time they purchase a ticket. In a down economy, the dollar needs to have more value than just a purchasing tool; it has to also be a valued experience. Fans across America can relate to a passion that they are more willing to pay for, if and only if they are attracted with the right experiences from their purchases. All of the ideas above are geared towards increasing the experiences, all the while bringing more fans out to increase profit.

Here are two articles that will further explain how the economy has had an important affect on the sports industry:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27345396/ns/business-sports_biz/t/how-financial-crisis-will-hit-sports-industry/ - .TpI6178qIug

http://www.forbes.com/2008/12/18/sports-economy-recession-biz-sports_cx_tvr_1218sportsecon.html

http://www.frbatlanta.org/pubs/econsouth/econsouth_vol_11_no_3_sports_draw_fans.cfm

Fantasy Gone Real

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 01:35:00 +0000

In the past decade, there have been many changes and big stories within the sports industry. I believe that fantasy football has had the biggest impact in the sports world, as well as being the biggest story within the past decade. Reason being, fantasy football has had an impact in more than one area of the sports industry. It has affected the daily life of fans, the social connection from players’, and even major television networks. All of these impacts ultimately affect many other avenues of the sports industry, which in turn brings the biggest impact into play, the almighty dollar.

Fantasy football is about to become a billion dollar industry, which is worth more than some professional teams in any sport. Fantasy football is seen everywhere, commercials, websites, and many television networks have their own fantasy football shows. What other story in this decade can say that? Fantasy football is not a temporary sport fling, but rather, it is here to stay and grow within the industry as its own entity.

Fans are now tuning in to not only watch or support their favorite teams, but also the players they have drafted for their respective fantasy leagues. This gives a wider range in television ratings for more NFL teams and their networks. Fantasy football gives fans feel a sense of ownership and pride towards the league and its players. Fans are making big bucks, websites are profiting, and the fantasy realm is thriving. Recent studies have even pointed out the major affect that fantasy football has had in the everyday workplace that has a link to production and the economy. This is such a big story that has not only affected sports fans and the sports industry, but it has affected the country as a whole as well.

Its safe to say that in every professional sport, the amount of money invested, spent, and earned has gone up tremendously in comparison to years past. From lucrative player contracts, big dollar television deals, and higher ticket prices, the sports industry has been thriving in generating profit, while keeping fans from across the world entertained. And now, entertainment is no longer just sitting and watching, it has evolved into participating, analyzing, and benefiting. Fantasy football is the new era of entertainment and it is here to stay.

Check out these links below to see what the professionals are saying about Fantasy Football!

http://money.cnn.com/2005/12/07/technology/fantasysports_fortune_121205/index.htm

http://articles.businessinsider.com/2010-09-02/strategy/29979381_1_fantasy-football-paul-charchian-fantasy-sports-trade-association

For other great sports business stories, Watch this CNBC video, “The Biggest Plays in Sports Business”: http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?video=1368367744

Letting The Numbers Speak

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 19:15:00 +0000

In any negotiation, there has to be a foundation set that both parties respect and understand in order to reach a mutual benefit. Leverage, tactics, and ultimatums can also play a huge part, but in a smooth negotiation where livelihoods are in the mix, sometimes just being honest and upfront is the best way to keep the bread on your table. This can come as a surprise to some in the sports industry because there is a lot of big money moving around and even worse, bigger egos. But not all players, owners, and front offices are the same because not all negotiations hold the same intentions.

I recently had an opportunity to interview a personal friend of mine as well as an up and coming star from the Canadian Football League, Dorian Smith, who has just recently signed a 4-year contract extension with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Dorian was a First Team All Pac-12 defensive end back in 2008 and has spent the past three seasons with the Blue Bombers as a dominant defensive tackle. After holding his own in 2009 where he racked up 47 tackles and eight quarterback sacks, while also recovering one fumble, it was time to renegotiate the terms of Dorian’s contract before another team demanded his services elsewhere.

Courtesy of www.bluebombers.com

When asked about the most important aspects to his negotiation, Dorian suggested a few key foundations and aspects that helped keep both sides honest and conscious of what both parties’ request and ideas were. The first and most important was appreciation. He explained that this helped set the level of respect in order to carry on the negotiations so that both parties knew that they collectively wanted mutual benefits to work in both the short term and long term once a potential deal was reached.

The second aspect, which had to come directly after the appreciation, was now taking all of the people involved out of the negotiation. He explained that emotions and feelings do not pay the bills and that he wanted his statistics and contributions to the team to speak for his negotiating. A message that is hard to argue with is a message worth arguing, which is why hip hop artist Jay-Z said it best, “Men lie, women lie, numbers don’t!”

The third and final aspect Dorian touched on in his explanation of his contract extension was the using of leverage in order to tackle the biggest hurdle, his worth. He used the average amount of other players in the league that made more than he did at the same position, but with less statistical dominance as he in order to show exactly what he feels he deserved and why. He was setting himself up with a way to show his power within the negotiation by using key examples that only solidified his request as being one of the highest paid defensive tackles in the Canadian Football League.

In the end, Dorian was given the deal he wanted, and the team was happy they resigned their rising star defensive monster. But Dorian isn’t completely satisfied just yet. “I’m happy to be a Blue Bomber, but now its time to be a champion!”

Smith, D. (2011, Sept 13). Telephone interview.

Carter (Jay-Z), S. (2009). Kingdom Come [CD].

Winnipeg Blue Bombers, (2009). Winnipeg blue bombers roster. Retrieved from http://www.bluebombers.com/roster/show/id/2035

While Gaining One, We Lost Another...

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 03:08:00 +0000

With the NFL lockout over and the games back in action, you would assume that America's sports world is on the up and up. But, the NBA lockout has cast its shadow on the sports industry and it appears to have a bigger hill to climb. The NFL lockout was for the most part geared on how the league should split the big money pie of roughly $9million dollars in revenue. Whereas the NBA lockout is catered to figure out how to help generate revenue for nearly half of the leagues teams who suffer from financial loss. For example, take the Cavaliers who as recently as two years ago were generating high profit within a small market, of course with the help of LeBron James. But with the small market comes small interest for free agents, ie King James's departure to the sunny side of South Beach Florida, and other free agents who do not see any potential to better their chances to win a championship or market themselves effectively. There are other key differences that will affect the NBA lockout differently both financially and socially.

The biggest difference problem that can slow down the NBA lockout progression that the NFL did not have to worry about is the competition and opportunity the players have from other leagues such as overseas. Playing over seas has become one of the biggest targets for most players in the NBA. The best thing about playing overseas is the foreign owners and managements understanding of the NBA lockout and their cooperation with its progression. This gives players more options and the ability to leave their commitment from the teams overseas if and when the lockout ends. This can just be a band aid for players in order to stay in shape and relevant, but for the league, this can pose many problems. Injuries, contract leverage, and the foreign competition to keep the players overseas by paying more are all key factors that the NBA will have to deal with once the lockout ends. These factors will have many financial implications that are going to give players a bigger sense of entitlement if their demands within the lockout are not met.

Socially, the NBA has never really had a positive reputation from the players or the fans so with the lockout in full affect, this will only cast a darker shadow on their image. Commissioner David Stern has taken heat from players, fans, and even coaches for his dictatorship decisions and punishments. Today, while only a few weeks removed from the NFL lockout, the NFL has put up big bucks in marketing and fan appreciation campaigns in order to gain back the love and respect of its fans. There will be a similar course of action for the NBA once, or if, their lockout ends. And with a slogan like "The NBA Cares", there will be a whole lot of making up to do in order to prove how much.

To Be...Or Not to Be Over...

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 22:17:00 +0000

With the National Football League's recent end to a long 112 day lockout, comes more questions and concerns from fans, players, and the media. Is it really over? What was it all about? Who won? And will anything change? All these questions are legitimate questions that honestly may take a few months to get answered. Lets look at things from the fans side first. After months of big word reports and no signs of progress, can they really feel like they've accomplished anything? Their salaries don't change, their workloads stay the same, and the biggest change this may have on their financial lives are ticket prices possibly going up or down just to help compensate for the loss of ticket sales throughout the lockout. Many would agree that the NFL fan are losers in this whole ordeal and have gained nothing from the lockout. Gregg Rosenthal of NBC Sports Talk said it best in regards to the idea of the fans losing in this process, "The more you love the game, the more these last five months have been difficult to swallow." So for fans, the only thing that won't change is the promise that for the next ten years, a collective bargaining agreement will be in place to keep football out of a courtroom, but rather in between the white lines.
The players on the other hand have a different perspective. There has been many different views to the new collective bargaining agreement to which some em brass it, while others see no big changes. For example, a few rule changes have been implemented to help protect players from devastating injuries, but many players feel its also interfering with the nature of the game. Another big concern from many players is the power that the Commissioner Roger Goodell holds over disciplining the players. This was one issue that most players wanted to see changed within the new agreement but they're going to have to chalk this problem up as a loss and deal with Commissioner Goodell as the sole decision maker in player disciplinary sentencing. All of these concerns and ideas are legitimate and to some players, the new agreement can look half done.
As for the media, well lets just say they may have had the best time during the lockout. With social media's role in sports, it was like taking candy from a baby with all the great story leads from the lockout. Players, owners, and representatives from both sides fueled much of the lockout controversy by giving the media much to work with, both good and bad. There were more legal incidents, trash talking, and even whining. It is safe to say that the media came out as a definite winner because of all the material generated from the lockout, but it seems to only be the beginning of the other issues surrounding the aftermath of the new collective bargaining agreement.

Rosenthal, G. (2011, July 25). Winners, losers from the nfl lockout. Retrieved from http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/07/25/winners-losers-from-the-nfl-lockout/

John Wooden: On True Success | on TED.com

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 01:32:00 +0000

My choice for an inspirational speaker was a no-brainer. Coach John Wooden, who is arguably the most iconic and respected coaches of all time within any sport. Coach John Wooden passed away on June 4, 2010 but his reputation as a powerful speaker, coach, and human being will forever be remembered. His speech on success has touched me in more than on way. His passion for his craft, both as a coach and as a mentor to the people he worked with and for was and will, in my opinion, be unmatched. Coach Wooden is able to inspire his audiences by using true-life events along with poetry to touch the hearts of those listening. It is nearly impossible to ignore what Coach Wooden is saying because his passion speaks through his very words and knowledge.

Being that I am in the sports industry, this speech resonated on four levels; self-development, people development, success vs. balance, and lastly capitalizing on my passion for the betterment of others. Coach Wooden talks a lot about self-development and how if developed correctly, it will lead to the development of those around you. This is true, not only from his word, but also from the prior literature I have read while at Full Sail University. This specifically inspired me to watch how I carry my actions so that others can learn and grow from the things I do and not do for the overall purpose of developing as individuals and as a team. Coach Wooden uses a comparison, "reputation versus character" to illustrate the difference of how we are perceived and how we are inside. This was extremely beneficial because Coach Wooden expresses the importance that the two shouldn't be too far apart when comparing.

The other two key levels that I found insightful were success vs. balance, and capitalizing on my passion for the betterment of others. Coach Wooden spoke on the importance of balancing our lives in order to keep a clear picture of what success really is. He also emphasizes on how our passions, if used correctly, can and should in some way shape or form lead to an overall betterment of a team, family, and/or business. This entire speech was simply amazing! And although I have never met Coach Wooden, his words, passion, and humility brings everyone in as a life long friend and loved one. He was a great speaker, person, and coach, not just for basketball players, but also for people who may have forgotten about the things that really matter in this life. Thanks Coach!

TED, (2009). John Wooden on True Success [Theater]. Available from http://www.ted.com/talks/john_wooden_on_the_difference_between_winning_and_success.html

Lockout, or no lockout...that is the real question

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 04:21:00 +0000

So with every fan awaiting the next work in regards to the National Football Leagues (NFL) lockout, there are more questions than answers. Is it really lasting this long? What is it really about? Should I not order NFL Sunday ticket then? All of which are great and very valid questions that can not be answered because the information seems to be at a standstill. Fans everywhere are feeling less and less important to the overall picture of America's favorite sport. Collectively spending millions each year to support the teams that bring them happiness, disgust, or even tears, only to have them shunned out on the decisions being made that will have an effect on every fans life.

After this week, the NFL owners came to a vote to the new collective bargaining which would reinstate football once the players agree to it as well. Sounds like a simple formula for finally bring back the game we have all been waiting for but think again. Now that one side is good to go, that brings for the next question, what is going to happen with the players and why haven't they voted yet? Is the lockout over? Is it almost over? Do you even care about the opinions and questions of the fans? The simple fact that the only information given is useless information due to the missing information...confusing huh? But that is how it has been and will continue to be. But like American's, we will forgive once the whistles are blown again and the games are played.

It appears that the big picture was never about the fans. And with all the marketing and advertising the NFL spends each year to try and emphasis the importance of the fan, it now seems like wasted money and a pool full of lies. It will be interesting to see how much they plan to spend in the next few years to bring back that trust and if they were smart, they would of allocated a few millions in the new agreement to help rebuild the image they so thoroughly destroyed. Love and money never mixed before, so there is no surprises here. And since they are ultimately fighting over money that isn't made or earned yet, the fans should have more information, especially since its our money. I mean, we can't expect them to let us come to games for free or give free beer every 2nd quarter to make up for this rude awakening, but a little trust and a few signs of gratitude would be a great start.

Sport Lockouts and their Social Effects

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 00:32:00 +0000

Today’s sporting industry has changed exponentially in comparison to the industry of years past. Social and media responsibilities have altered the way the sports industry handles its businesses both internally and externally. With technology and social media, it is nearly impossible to complete a business deal or merger without the world knowing within the next twenty minutes. For example, an athlete signing a new contract, a team considering relocating to another state, or more importantly, a lockout of the league, is no longer an “in house” conversation. A lockout can be contributed by many sources. The usual driving force of a lockout is money and how it should be divided up amongst players, owners, and sponsors, which is called collective bargaining. There are four key sides that are most affected by lockouts and its social media outlets; Owners, players, economy, and fans. All four sides are vital to the sports industry. Without any piece, the industry can falter to nothing more than an overrated recess. And in the case of a lockout, all it takes is one of the four pieces not seeing eye to eye and it causes financial and social problems.
Social media has given the fans and the media the view that was never available before. Although a lockout is a nightmare to all parties involved, it is also a key contributor to the financial breakdown of the sports industry. So when accompanied by social media, it gives a better playing field for everyone to share their side of the matter and to save face. All four pieces to this puzzle need to be in sync and appreciated equally to avoid a lockout. Every major sport in the United States has had or is in a lockout. And with the industry’s continual growth financially and with the help of social media, you can almost bet that there will be plenty more lockouts as the money pie continues to bake. For the latest information about the NFL lockout, Click here