GCU's First Taste of Victory this Season

GCU's First Taste of Victory in 2011
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.

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

National Championship — July 20-24 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., at ESPN Wide World of Sports 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.

Fundraising and Recruiting = One In The Same?

Sometimes people are under the impression that everyone in the sports industry is making lots of money. Parents sometimes believe youth sports organizations are pocketing every cent, some college students think that athletic departments have bottomless funds for recruiting, and some fans believe that their ticket sale alone is what feeds the athlete they admire.

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 collegiate level are facing this battle everyday. A big part of their job may in fact be trying to recruit and train a team while simultaneously finding the funds to do so. In an odd way it may appear to be a counterproductive position, working on raising funds to again work some more at recruiting and fielding a team.

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.

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

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?? :)

The Liza Koski Scholarship

In Loving Memory of Liza Koski

(November 27, 1989 - January 27, 2011)

Her dad said , "she was never happier than when she was playing lacrosse". A statement that would strike the hearts of so many after hearing about her death. Elizabeth Megan Koski, age 21 died January 27th through an act of desperation nobody will ever understand; suicide. The news spread quickly as the Gilbert community rallied to come together in remembrance of Liza.

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.

For more information regarding the Liza Koski Scholarship, please email Emily Miller at Emily@Wildfirelax.com.