
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
It's "Miller Time" in Tiffin Ohio

Thursday, March 3, 2011
THE FUTURE TECHNOLOGY!
Let's face it....... technology is moving faster than we are. The implications behind this video say it all. Where sometimes we think we are making things easier by creating the latest and greatest electronic gizmo, we are actually just adding another tedious to-do on our long long list of hoops society says we must jump through.
Sports Communications is an industry that is forced to stay up-to-date faster and quicker than everyone else. The question is not how do I type a comma on the "Mactini". The real question is how do I access real time sports information while texting, listening to an MP3, and driving at the same time?
I envision the future of Sports Communication as a constant battle of trying to keep up to date with the latest technologies until our society reaches a breaking point. Once we are completely numb to flashing lights, 2-for-1 deals, and excess information at the click of the button we may witness people reverting back to simple print medians like newspapers and magazines for the simplicity and pure enjoyment of being able to focus on one thing at a time. Just like in sales, it is said that we are going back to where now direct sales is the most effective way of capturing a new client. being that we see hundreds of ads a day we are now more than ever accustomed to ignoring our surroundings and will tune out commercials more often than not. Sports Communication professionals must stay towards the front of the bell curve and continue to provide information where fans and buyers will be watching and listening. Is anyone even paying attention at this point?
City of Maricopa Seeks New Skate Park Grant

Thursday, February 24, 2011
GCU's First Taste of Victory this Season
Emily Miller
2/24/2011 9:29PM
It was a slow start for the 'Lopes who fell behind quickly against the Mesa State Mavericks at the GCU soccer Field in Phoenix, AZ on Thursday 2/24/11. The Mavericks took an early 4-0 lead within the first 6 minutes. Spirits were lifted in the home stands as Grand Canyon University put up three goals making it 4 to 3. Mesa State would only score one more goal in the second period, making it 5-3 at the half.
What started off as a slow no-action game, quickly changed as the 'Lopes and Mavericks entered the third period. The 'Lopes came back with a press type defense while Mesa State continued to run solid passing transitions.
Kyle Bailey revved up the sidelines by scoring back-to-back goals in the third. Mesa State responded with a pair themselves. The game turned into a classic barn burner as each team headed to the 4th with a chance for the BIG WIN.
Both teams were fighting for their first season win, Mesa State for their first program win. In weeks past both teams fell to #1 seed team C.W. Post and Pace University. Both teams are fairly young, GCU being only 4 years and Mesa State who is currently making their inaugural season run. Almost half of GCU’s roster is freshman and Mesa State is compiled of 100% freshman. Phoenix based team GCU also features 10 local athletes from the state of Arizona, most notable are the Hunter twins Richard and Andrew from Desert Mountain High school and Kyle Mason from Chaparral High School. Mesa State also features a player from the Phoenix area, starter Michael Giffin from Chandler High School.
The final period went back and forth which led these two evenly matched teams into an Over Time showdown at 10-10. The clock wound down as each team had multiple attempts in executing the final goal. With 40 seconds left freshman Carson Barton made the game winning goal making the final score 11 to 10 Grand Canyon University. Victory was sweet as GCU nailed down there first season win in over time.


About sports writing - This was my first experience writing about a live sporting event I attended by a given deadline. Many elements came into play as I participated in this assignment; Some of which made it a difficult project (IE difficult career).
1) Time of Game: I was able to complete my story by my deadline, but I also attended an evening game starting at 5:00pm. I would imagine that those late night NBA games ending after 10:30pm would make for a difficult deadline.
2) Media guides/ resources: Thanks to GCU I had some background information about the players. Mesa State however did not provide as much information. I also compiled the rosters and statistics from their past games so that I could interject important info into my piece.
3) Knowledge of sport: It helped that I coach and know the sport of lacrosse. It would be difficult writing about a sport that you are uncertain of the rules and terms commonly used.
4) Facility: It was difficult keeping track of who made each goal and assist from my vantage point in the small stands. Both team web sites do not post box scores immediately which makes tracking such stats difficult. Also, the home facility did not have any commentators or box office thus I was not always aware of which exact player scored/ assisted.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
2011 U15 Lacrosse Championship at Disney

PRESS RELEASE FROM USLACROSSE.ORG
BALTIMORE – US Lacrosse announced today that the US Lacrosse Under-15 National Championships, presented by Champion, and the Champion All American Showcase will return to ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The US Lacrosse U15 National Championships take place July 20-22 for girls and July 22-24 for boys as part of the ESPN RISE Games. The Champion Girls’ All American Showcase is July 17-19 and the Champion Boys’ All American Showcase is July 20-22.
"US Lacrosse is honored to take the lead in gathering the best national high school and U15 lacrosse players to compete on this great stage," said Beth Porreca, director of special events at US Lacrosse. "We are excited to host two Champion-sponsored events at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, as well as the top-notch talent that they will showcase."
The US Lacrosse U15 National Championships, presented by Champion, expand this year to begin with four regional championships. The Central, Northeast, Southeast and West Regionals, presented by Champion, will give teams opportunities to earn berths, higher seeds and registration discounts for the 32-team, bracket-format national championships. Registration for the regional and national championships is now open to all teams at www.uslacrosse.org/events.
2011 US Lacrosse U15 National Championships schedule:
West Regional Championship
— May 13-15 in Phoenix, Ariz., at the Reach 11 Sports Complex
Northeast Regional Championship
— May 20-22 in Amherst, Mass., at the University of Massachusetts
Central Regional Championship
— June 10-12 in Arlington, Texas, at the Patterson Sports Complex
Southeast Regional Championship
— June 17-19 in Raleigh, N.C., at the CASL Soccer Complex
The Champion All American Showcase, a US Lacrosse event, will feature select 2011 high school boys and girls US Lacrosse All-Americans competing on four teams. The boys’ championship game is scheduled to air on ESPNU and the girls’ championship is scheduled to air on ESPN3. Details on how high school lacrosse players are nominated and selected as US Lacrosse All-Americans can be found at www.uslacrosse.org/TopNav2Left/Players/HighSchool.aspx.
"As part of our commitment to growing the sport of lacrosse, it’s an honor to host the best high school players from across the country at the Champion All American Showcase," said Kevin Hall, president Champion Athleticwear. "We are excited to see these athletes display their talents on the field at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, the best amateur facility in the U.S. We look forward to an action-packed event with our US Lacrosse partners."
"We are thrilled to host our nation’s best lacrosse teen athletes who will learn, train, compete and take their games to the next level for the second year at the ESPN RISE Games. Our annual two-week-long Games will feature athletes from a variety of sports: football, basketball, baseball, softball track & field, field hockey and lacrosse," said James Brown, senior vice president, ESPN RISE.
For more information about the 2011 US Lacrosse events at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, please visit www.uslacrosse.org/events.
........ the full Press release can be found by visiting this site. http://www.uslacrosse.org/TopNav/NewsandMedia/PressReleases/USLReturnstoRISEGamesatDisney.aspx


Items included in Full Media Kit: media release, significant stats, fact sheet, a frequently asked questions page, a feature story, biographical sketches, and photos.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Fundraising and Recruiting = One In The Same?

The reality of the situation is that like every other industry, the sports industry is always looking for creative ways to make money too. Whether it is seeking sponsorships, donors, alumni funds, or profits from a car wash, sports aren't cheap lets face it. It takes a lot of cash to fuel any sports program no matter the age, location, or level.
At the present moment I face this same position working in youth sports. In order to field a functioning youth lacrosse team, I have been working at a gym to pay for coaches, fields, equipment, etc. Yes players are paying fees however the fees are not substantial enough to cover every start-up cost for an emerging youth sports business.
Some coaches at the colleg

College coaches may see such skill similarities within their jobs by using the talents gained from recruiting and applying them to fund-raising initiatives. Skills like; researching prospects, having constant communication with prospects, establishing personal relationships, and retaining interest are all steps in order to recruit a player to sign a letter of intent, or having a donor sign a check.
One thing is sure, having the ability to raise funds in necessary for every Sports Management Professional no matter if it is for my 6th-8th grade girls team, or the marketing manager of the Phoenix Suns.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
If Kobe Bryant Jumped Off A Cliff ...Would You?
LOOKS LIKE I AM GOING TO TURKEY FOR MY NEXT SUMMER VACATION!!! :)
If Kobe Bryant jumped off a cliff I am pretty sure there would a line of "die" hard fans who would follow him. That is how big his impact is on society. Bryant is among the elite and has had the ability to capitalize significantly on his athletic success by receiving millions of dollars in endorsement deals over the course of his career.
Please peruse this exhaustive list of as many Kobe Bryant Endorsements I could find; Adidas, Nike, Sprite, McDonalds, Spalding, Upper Deck, Ferraro, Nutella, Russell Corporation, Nintendo, Vitamin Water, Turkish Airlines, ESPN Magazine, Guitar Hero, FC Bareclona, Sina.com, contactmusic.com, Call of Duty video game, and more.
Despite his negative press in years past, despite the inevitable process of aging, despite the emergence of NBA kings like Lebron James, Kobe Bryant still has an estimated $16 million coming in annually from his endorsements alone.
Why on the planet would Turkish Airlines pursue an endorsement deal with Kobe Bryant? Since signing Kobe, "Turkish Airlines earned a $515 million profit in 2009. Compare that to AirTran, which earned $135 million profit in 2009, the highest revenue of any U.S. carrier. The only other U.S. airlines to even earn a profit in 2009 were Alaska, Southwest and JetBlue. Passenger traffic for Turkish Airlines is up 17.1 percent on the year so far this year. The airline has carried 26.9 million passengers from January through November. The company is also adding 42 new planes next year" (Rovell, 2010).
I can't quite figure out the pattern or Kobe Bryant's "Brand" however I can see the one similarity amongst all of these endorsement offers...... It is green, about 6.14 inches long, and spends ever to sweetly; even if it is spent on a really great publicist working overtime during a huge rape scandal.
Rovell, D. (2010, December 13). Kobe Bryant to Endorse Turkish Airlines. Retrieved February 10, 2011, from Sports Biz with Darren Rovell: http://www.cnbc.com/id/40641746/Kobe_Bryant_To_Endorse_Turkish_Airlines
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
But didn't you know?..... The world is actually flat!

Call it what you will, but globalization is among us. The world is now becoming flat.....
Wiki's Def. of Globalization: describes an ongoing process by which regional economies, societies, and cultures have become integrated through a globe-spanning network of communication and trade.
My Def. of Globalization: A process by which I can talk to anyone, purchase anything, and gain knowledge needed to make personal and business decisions at the click of a button.
Thanks to the digital platform like the computer, the internet, e-commerce, and the invisible airwaves among us, everyone on the planet must come to terms with the term Globalization. How does this "information age" impact me as a sports/ recreation professional?
1) I can maintain player records and information without ever having to use a pencil and paper.
2) I can track important details of my job like finances, payroll, accounting, etc. (software)
3) I can communicate with my parents via email and my players via Facebook... from my phone.
4) I can purchase the best equipment possible within my given budget (e-commerce)
5) I can provide a profile of my companies information for all to see (web pages)
As we can see in other sport organizations, there is now even specifically designed software for managers to organize data and locate information they need quicker. Example: Active Network Sports; "including online registration with integrated payment solutions, league and tournament management with schedules and real-time standings, volunteer and staff management to automatically identify and assign groups and tasks, facility management for usage and rentals, online fundraising to create, promote and track fundraising success, sports websites for self-publishing and content updates, and marketing services to drive awareness of sports programs and events" (www.activesports.com).
This is pretty amazing stuff!
WHO WANTS TO BUY THIS SOFTWARE FOR WILDFIRE LACROSSE??? ANY TAKERS?? :)
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
The Liza Koski Scholarship
Once a team always a team as evidenced by the vast amount of teammates who traveled from afar to remember and reunite in this time of hardship. Pictures of Liza playing lacrosse and memories of her vibrant tenacious spirit circulated the church. After the ceremony at a team lunch, smiles were exchanged as each teammate remembered miss crazy Liza and the contributions she made on and off the field during her 2 years with the Gilbert Lady Tigers.
Former teammate Kelley Miller on a quest to making a difference has began organizing a suicide prevention fundraiser through a partnership with the Lax4Life organization. Along with her current collegiate team, Kelley and Tiffin University plans to dedicate one of their games this season to raise funds for suicide prevention by selling bracelets and shirts.
Liza's former high school Assistant Coach Emily Miller, plans to instate an annual lacrosse scholarship in Liza's name for the youth sports organization Wildfire Lacrosse. Wildfire Lacrosse will grant annually the Liza Koski Scholarship to a child in financial need to subsidize the dues needed to participate in a lacrosse program. This scholarship is to keep Liza's spirit alive within the lacrosse community and to spread the love for the game that Liza once had.

Sunday, January 30, 2011
Did you say football? I thought you meant soccer.

I say tomato, you say toe-mah-toe. I say soccer while everyone else says football. It can get quite confusing don't you think? Soccer to an American is that game where each team runs around for a couple hours and only scores 2 points whereas soccer to everyone else is known as the glorious game of football. On the contrary when someone says football in America, we immediately think of tailgates, hog-skin leather, and large burly men tackling each other. OK now I am confused!!
The point is that American sports are different. In the states we revere football, basketball, baseball, and NASCAR. All of which were invented by individuals from North America. Soccer or "football" did not catch on until the 80's in the states. According to Amrit Doley, writer for Sportingo, " Soccer is the Emperor and Cricket the King; with basketball, baseball, rugby, hockey, volleyball and US football all making a Royal impact" (Doley, 2009). In his article he states the top ten most popular team sports are as follows; Football (soccer), Cricket, Basketball, Baseball, Rugby Union, Field Hockey, Volleyball, Ice Hockey, American Football, Rugby League. As an American that sounds bogus!! American Football is ranked 9th? No Way!!
It is apparent that there is a disconnect between America and the world around us when it comes to sports. We can see this by observing different types of newspapers from different parts of the world. Take for example the Arizona Republic paper (http://www.azcentral.com/sports/). Within the sports section there are stories about the upcoming Super bowl, Arizona State University basketball, the Phoenix Suns, and the Professional Golf Association. If you go to a similar section of the Liverpool Echo paper in England (http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/) you would find stories on football, cricket, rugby, and horse racing.
They layouts are very similar. On both sites a fan can access videos, blog links, buttons to twitter, etc. The strange thing is that the content is completely different. There are advertisements on the AZ Republic for a car dealership and a "mom's" networking group. On the Liverpool site there are advertisements for Sprint Wireless and a new European skin care system designed for women. Oddly enough both sites have advertisements designed to attract middle aged women.
While I say tomato and you say toe-ma-toe, I definitely say American football and you say football. While the aesthetics, advertisements, and functionality are the same for both sites, the content and sports coverage is completely different. Maybe I should start following Cricket. Who knows, it may be the next big sport in the US. :)
Doley, A. (2009, May 16). The world's Top 10 most popular team sports. Retrieved January 30, 2011, from Sportingo: http://www.sportingo.com/all-sports/a11587_worlds-top-most-popular-team-sports
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
"Turn out the Lights. The Party is Over" : A tribute to Don Meredith
" TURN OUT THE LIGHTS. THE PARTY IS OVER"!!
A Tribute to Don Meredith
Those words will forever be remembered as Don Meredith regularly exclaimed when he felt a Monday Night Football game was decided. Legendary Don Meredith would first become known for his exceptional NFL Dallas Cowboys quarter back performance (1960 - 1968) however he will forever be remembered for his catchy phrases and impact on Monday Night Football (1970-74 & 1977-83).
After his nine seasons with the Cowboys, 3 of which he was named to the Pro Bowl, Don Meredith would be selected by Roone Arledge's to work for the new NFL broadcasting show called "Monday Night Football". Meredith provided color commentary on the ABC program and was part of the program's original three-man broadcasting team. Together Gifford, Cossell, and Meredith created one of the longest running prime time commercial network television series ever, and one of the highest-rated, particularly among male viewers.
The MNF team created a stage for thousands to watch where witty Cossell would provide a play-by-play and Meredith would fill in the gaps with commentary. Meredith's role as NFL's first ever color commentator was the difference between a sport's game and a sport's production on television. MNF became a must-see program versus just another football game. Whereas before fans would just watch their respective teams, MNF became the game to watch every week. What made "Dandy Don" so special was that he was also a former NFL star. He knew the game and had experienced it from the other side; the playing field. Automatically his opinion's were accepted because viewers respected him for is athletic ability and positive history within the league.
The dynamic combination of a brilliant sports program plus an experienced color commentator forever changed the history of the National Football League. In 1970 when MNF aired, those individuals changed the idea of what a professional football game should be experienced like. To them a football game was not just a game. It was an opportunity to re-create the entertainment that once was written during the Golden Age of Sports. They now had the chance to speak opinions, paint pictures, and create ideas that writers used to be recognized for in the 1930's.
Before there was Pardon the Interruption and before there even was ESPN, there was Monday Night Football. The leading innovator on sports telecommunication. Thanks to MNF, people began to see the entertainment value of sports through the television. Not everyone had to get to the ball park to partake in the experience. Thanks to MNF, watching the game on the television became an experience.
Hat's off to a memorable history. In honor of Don Meredith let me respectively say, "Turn out the lights. The party is over". Thanks for being the first of many to glorify the game and increase viewership through that fancy box called the television. :)
Why I Want to be ..... My Own Boss; An Entrepreneur!!

Ever since I was young I have been a visionary of sorts. I have always questioned systems, theories, and the revered ideas of others. I have had a deep desire to be known for leaving this world with something I created. That is why I want to be..... My Own Boss; An Entrepreneur!!
To create something from nothing is the most fulfilling experience that I have ever encountered. To be a leader and have a unique vision that others follow is empowering and more fulfilling than any other 9 to 5 position I could fathom. My drive is not to make lots of money, or even to be famous. My drive is to put a mark on this world. My drive is to see the direct fruits of my own labor while creating new jobs and spreading my deepest passion onto others.
That passion I wish to share with others is my love for youth sports. I have witnessed firsthand the effects of youth sports participation and truly believe that there is a vast amount of benefits derived from such experiences. Sports participation parallels real life and serves as a metaphor for every humans day to day encounters. Themes and lessons like; you don't always win, communication is key, there is no I in team, and hard work pays off, can all be translated into real life. Kids may not be aware of this direct parallel but as they grow older, they can begin to see the lessons they once learned on the playing field being executed in the board room.
From the time I was a in kindergarten, I was playing sports. Basketball, volleyball, soccer, swim; you name it, I played it. My imagination ran wild and not only was I learning the techniques needed to compete, I was learning about a whole industry that would capture my heart from then on. Once I reached high school there were few sports I had never tried; girl's lacrosse being one of them. In an attempt to try something new, two friends and I started the first ever girl's lacrosse team at Gilbert High School in Gilbert Arizona. There were only 7 other high school teams at the time. Little did I know that this idea of entrepreneurship and starting something from nothing would resonate in me over and over again as I grew older. Starting this new team wouldn't be the first time that I created a sports event/ organization from infancy.
After high school I went on to playing lacrosse at Arizona State University on a full ride leadership scholarship. There I received my bachelors in Recreation Management/ Therapeutic Recreation. My original plan was to work with at-risk youth by giving them more opportunities to play organized sports. I had hundreds of ideas including non-profit organizations that could support this vision. All along the way I began coaching lacrosse and networking within the youth sports industry. During my undergraduate education I planned numerous tournaments, camps, and clinics for different organizations in Arizona, California, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. I was an athletic director for a youth sports organization called Desert StiX Lacrosse. I also was the head varsity coach of the Corona High School Aztecs. We even won the DII state championships in 2008!! I served as a Recreation Therapist Intern at the Richmond Virginia Veterans Hospital in 2009. There I orchestrated a 12 wheelchair sport camp and even introduced wheelchair lacrosse to my patients. That camp was one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life because not only was I utilizing my education but I had yet again created something NEW that involved sports and even lacrosse.
After coaching youth sports for five years it became ingrained in me that I would always be a coach. No matter what career path I went down, I always knew coaching would be a priority. The idea of coaching for a living crossed my mind several times so I began tossing around the idea of coaching college lacrosse. I found my way up the ranks to a player/coach position at Tiffin University in 2010. I was recruited for my coaching abilities and was also able to utilize my last year of NCAA athletic eligibility. At Tiffin I started my MBA in Sports Management and began to wrestle with the amount of opportunities within the industry I had grown to love. I considered working within adaptive sports, or even accepting an amazing opportunity of becoming a head coach at a University. At that point in my life, I had to make some big decisions. Throughout the process my burning desire to Be My Own Boss resonated and thus I turned down several of those jobs and decided to move back to Phoenix. My grand plan was to finally start my own business!
Thus Wildfire Lacrosse was born in late 2010 (www.wildfirelax.com). Starting my own youth lacrosse league was the ultimate way for me to begin utilizing my professional experiences and formal education. Many risks are involved in being your own boss and there are times where I think back to the other opportunities that had presented themselves. Although making a steady pay check sounds appealing, being an entrepreneur still seems to be more rewarding at this time in my life. It is a difficult aspiration to try and make something from nothing however I am appeasing my ingrained need to spread my passion and carry out my vision. :)