It is the last three days of my college lacrosse career. It has creeped up on me so quickly I haven't even had time to really process the fact I just completed my last practice, last warm up, last drills, and last cheers on the beautiful green grass at Paradiso Sport Complex. It is a bitter sweet moment in my life. Bitter in the fact these last two games are all I have left as a DII athlete. But sweet, because I am ready to start the next chapter of my life. This moment in time makes me wonder if I have fulfilled my purpose to the team and if I have given it my all these past three years here as a Dragon. Did I reach my fullest potential? That is a question I believe no one can truly answer when evaluating themselves. I made mistakes, like most do, I had my off days where I didn't want to "show up" and play. Though in the end id like to say I gave it my all and these next two games I am going out with a bang.
Though my body is physically ready to be done haha, mentally I will always be ready to play some LAX. This game has defined who I am as a person. It has helped shape my life and brought me to be the young woman I am today. Without lacrosse I wouldn't have been given the opportunity to attend a university out of state, along with meeting some of the most amazing ladies I have had the honor of playing with. I will miss my teammates, especially my fellow graduate class of 2013. We have been through thick and thin together and my heart aches at the idea of not being able to play along side these talented ladies again. Though distance may separate us, we will forever remain as a team and bonded together through our trials. I am proud to be a Lady Dragon despite our record, because in the end it always boiled down to one thing, and that was playing the game with my heart.
So long Tiffin University & FSU!
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
The Rock Prevailed (FB)
It was a
hard fought battle against the Rock.
The dragons started out strong with a goal right out of the gate, but
Slipper Rock answered back with 3.
Though the hard work and consistent effort by the Dragons fell short and
they were trumped 17-10. Katie Clarke,
freshmen mid fielder, dominated the draw controls with fifteen, but it wasn’t
enough to keep the ball on the attacking end.
The game
boiled down to caused turn over’s. The
Dragons fell back into their own ways with a total of 27 turnovers to their 13
that really hurt the team. Freshmen
goalie Jessica Bombard had an outstanding game with 20 saves to add to her
total current career of 206 saves, making her one of the top 10 goal keepers in DII
for this 2012 season.
With two
games left Lady TU LAX really wants to end strong, especially the seniors who
will not be returning next year. Heather
Denaro, Anna Tong, Elyse Braun, & Kelley Miller will not be returning next
season, all of whom are starters.
“It’s my
last year playing lacrosse at this level.
Its bitter sweet in the sense my body is ready to call it quits, but
mentally I am ready to go and don’t want it to be over haha. I will miss my teammates and wish them the
best of luck in the future and I’ll be cheering them on from the stands.” Senior Anna Tong stated on the bus ride back
home from PA.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Advertising: How Much is to Much?
Commercialization is the act of exploiting or making know for
a financial gain. It is seen very commonly in sporing arenas. In my opinion, as soon as the advertisements distract me (the fan) form the game being held, that is when it effects my experience. As soon as I, for some reason, crave that bean burrito, my attention and focus is not about the game it is about leaving the game to get food. Now, if the stadium conveniently has a Taco Bell then my purchase would remain profitable for the sporting venue. However, at what point do our brains stop absorbing the advertising we see and in turn just zone it out making it not as effective to the marketers?
Studies show, that on average we see 3,000 ads per day. Though it is not exactly determined how much of those advertisements really influence our buying power, they affect us in another way. The most powerful effect of advertising is just to create a good feeling about a product by surrounding it with other things that we like. This is called affective conditioning and it is proven most effective when we don't realize that it is happening. Why would advertisers want us to be happy and not more in tune with what they are trying to sell? The feelings we have are often a good marker of what is safe to do and what is likely to turn out well. If we have to make a choice, and one of the options just feels good to us, then we are likely to go with the one that feels good, aka purchase.
**More info at http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/ulterior-motives/201008/what-does-advertising-do
Friday, April 20, 2012
Losing Streak Finally Over! (FB)
 |
| Sophomore Elyse Braun in a action shot with the ball |
After ten
consecutive loses the dragons finally pull out a win against Alma. TU wasted
little time turning up the offense, enjoying a 27-8 shot advantage in the first
half and scoring 12 straight unanswered goals to close out the first half.
Overall TU held a 41-15 shot total and a 52-31 advantage in ground balls. They
also forced 24 Alma turnovers, including 16 in the first half. Nine different athletes scored goals making
it a 21-3 victory over the Scotts.
The Dragons look to bring the heat this coming Tuesday
against the competitive Slippery Rock of Pennsylvania. Last year’s match was a cold one and
consisted to two lighting delays that made the match last an extra 45min. Unfortunately, TU Lady LAX got beat by the
Rock 18 to 7. This year however, the
Dragons are coming off a solid win and are looking to keep the streak going and
stick it to the Rock.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
What I have Learned
One of my more favorable aspects of the class was getting to create and design my own sponsorship proposal. Though most individual projects are usually stressful and time consuming, I actually took my time in making sure I created every aspect of the project that was needed, and even three weeks before it was due! I learned a lot about this class through the textbooks that were used. The materials really simplified the language and gave examples that helped me to understand the content.
All in all, this class was rather enjoyable despite the overwhelming amounts of work needed to be done outside of the classroom, but then again that is a hybrid class for you. I loved how everything was hands on and not as much of a lecture. There were always discussion being held in class and the assignments really forced you to get your hands dirty in the field of Sports MKT & Writing. LETS JUST HOPE I CAN PULL OUT A =)
Monday, April 9, 2012
Stadium Naming Rights
Despite the original naming
rights of Fenway Park in 1912, it is more widely believed that naming major
sporting arenas begun in 1926 when William Wrigley, the chewing gum
entrepreneur and owner of the Chicago Cubs, named his team's stadium
"Wrigley Field." Naming
rights are a financial transaction where a corporation or other entity purchases
the right to name a facility, typically for a defined period of time. The duration of these purchases can last
anywhere from three to twenty years depending upon the contract.
 |
| University of PHX Stadium Home of AZ Cardinals |
Being a native of
Arizona I remember all too well the bidding war that took place in 2006 when
the multipurpose football stadium in Glendale (home of the Cardinal NFL team) had
officially been built. The University of Phoenix acquired the naming rights in September 2006, shortly after the
stadium had opened under the name Cardinals Stadium. The naming
rights contract totals $154.5 million over the course of 20 years. Over those twenty years the stadium played/will
play host to Super Bowl XLII and Super Bowl 2015, WrestleMania XXVI and the 2011
BCS National Championship Game.
Each event can draw crowds up to 63,000+ people who all will see University
of Phoenix logo as the premier sponsor for that stadium.
 |
| Notre Dame Football Stadium |
With what seems like a win win for both the stadium operators
and sponsoring company, why is it not all large stadiums such as Michigan and Notre Dame
participate in naming right contracts and cash in on the dough? Sports Business Daily states Notre Dame could
gain $6M per year from corporate stadium naming rights, while Michigan and Ohio
State could command more than $2M per year.
So what’s stopping these institutions from cashing in? Sports Business Daily reports, “Notre Dame
Senior Associate AD John Heisler said unless there is a “radical change in
philosophy” among the university’s administration, the uncluttered look at
Notre Dame Stadium will endure. “It’s not a conversation anyone spends a lot of
time thinking about,” he said. “In many respects our stadium is a
non-commercial zone.” Univ. of Michigan Associate AD for Media Relations
Bruce Madej said the estimates for Michigan Stadium naming rights did not
surprise him, but he added the brand equity in the stadium is more important to
the school. “The Michigan name and the branding of the University of Michigan
is of utmost importance and we want that name to be recognized as the leader in
athletics and academics,” he said. “We want to stay as collegiate as possible.””
Essentially it boils
down to tradition and brand recognition.
Though lots of money is generated and lost through these multimillion
dollar contracts, is it really worth it in the end? I think yes.
If the two parties can come to a collaboration where both end up happy,
then why not.
**More INFO @ http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com
Saturday, April 7, 2012
It’s All About the Right State of Mind (FB)
With five consecutive games on the road, it certainly has
shown on the drained lady dragons. Long
drives and late nights mixed with a nine game losing streak, is sure to take
not only a physical toll, but mental strain on any athlete. Stepping off of a bus after 4 hours on the
road and being expected to play hard for 60min is challenging for any away
team. There is no doubt that a large
cheering section, custom warm up music and the familiarity of one’s own field
gets a team pumped for their game. But
what about the traveling team? How do
they get amped for games? The Dragons
are spicing up their routine to help get them mentally into game mode as soon
as they step off that bus.
 |
| "Remember the Titans" sports film |
First and for most within an hour of arrival time, the
players have to wake up and are not allowed to lie down. I personally applaud anyone who can even fall
asleep on the dragon bus, but this ensures that that each athlete is wide awake
and not groggy when they arrive. Secondly,
if they play a movie on the way to the game, it can only be motivational films (mostly
sports related). Movies that have
violence, lots of swearing and derogatory content tend to put people in a weird
state of mind, make them upset or uneasy.
By playing only motivational films, it puts the team in a positive mood
before game time. Thirdly, before
exiting the bus our coach always gives a motivational speech to help get us in
the right state of mind.
It is pivotal that everyone is on the same page and focused
prior to exiting the bus. If there is a
teammate who is semi awake or upset, it can throw off the whole momentum and
pre game warm-up of the team, which could result in a poor first half to a
game. The lady Dragons are hoping with
these new implementations it will better ensure the readiness of the team to
come out of the gate strong.
Friday, April 6, 2012
Phelps Scandal
 |
| Phelps wearing his Olympic medals |
According to Kellogg Phelps had broken the morals clause they had held him to. A morals clause is a provision in a contract or official document that prohibits certain behavior in a person's private life. They deal with behavior such as sexual acts and drug use. They were commonly used in the contract between actors/actresses and film studios to uphold the public image sought to be portrayed by the studio. Morals clauses are included today in certain contracts of public figures, such as athletes, actors/actresses, and others. In other words Kellogg saw pot smoking as bad publicity for their comany and did't want to be affiliated with Phelps. Why is it however Speedo remained faithful to their beloved star?
 |
| Phelps Speedo advertisement |
Sunday, April 1, 2012
8 Losses and Counting (FB)
What may be
the longest losing streak this team has ever seen, the Lady Dragons are still
keeping their heads up. “It’s not the
fact that we don’t have the skills, because we have the skills and talent we
need to win, we are just lacking that want and power within us to want to
win. We aren’t confidant,” Coach Colleen
Dixon stated after the 8th loss at Edinboro. Being a senior on this team and practicing
with my girl’s every day, I know what we are missing and it is confidence. We have so many talented players and we will
be up at half thinking that we have the big W, then one person makes a simple
mistake and our momentum is shot and we crawl into a hole that is too deep to
get out of. We have shifted gears and
with eight more games left and a week to recoup after this long streak of disaster,
we are expecting to bounce back. The
captains have helped changed the tone of practices by helping to boost the confidence
of the freshmen and underclassmen who have become discouraged, along with coach
Dixon is spending ample amounts of time on the areas we need the most improvement. The team is finally coming together as one
and we are all on the same page and hungry for a win. We will see the fire unleashed from the
Dragons this Wednesday April 4th away at Indiana Tec.
Is Mike Veeck Crazy or Genius?
 |
| Mike Veeck |
Minor league
owner and consultant to a number of professional baseball teams, Mike Veeck is considered
a legend in his promotional tactics of getting fans to the ball park. He hired
a dog & pig to deliver baseballs to the umpire, a Roman Catholic nun to
give massages, and locked fans out of the stadium to set an all-time attendance
record for fewest people at a game. Hands down one of my favorite ideas that came
out of Veeck’s brain was hiring mimes
to reenact the instant replays. This
didn’t go over well at all with the baseball fans. They were so heated at the lack of instant
replays on the big screen, they began to throw hot dogs at the mimes. Though this “promotion” drove fans nuts and
even cause so agitation, the ball park sold out of hot dogs. So it poses this question, is Mike Veeck
crazy or a genius? Not all of his
schemes have been successful, but I find that his creativeness is brilliant. Veeck is trying to sell the fan experience by
thinking out side of the box. He is purposefully
trying to get under the fans skin, get them out of their comfort zone. Though some may not react to this in a
positive manner (throwing hot dogs), I bet everyone who was at that game will
remember it for the rest of their lives and that is what sells tickets. Creating memories that people can attach on to
and that will get them back in those seats for more “bizarre”
moments/entertainment.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Spring Break Down South (FB)
While most college
students spend their spring break at a beach relaxing, getting tan and partying,
TU Lady LAX was working hard in Savannah Georgia. With 6:00am conditioning and late night
practices in bug infested swamps, these ladies were determined to reap havoc on
the south. Unfortunately, the hard work
did not pay off and the dragons fell short against SCAD and St. Michaels College on Tuesday and Thursday evening. Though both games were a close match, the team
took some valuable lessons from the losses and hopes to implement new
strategies for the next four games on the road.
 |
| Half the team in a shop at the river walk |
Despite the upset of loosing during spring break, TU LAX still managed to have fun in the beautiful city of Savannah. With bright sunny weather and clear sky's it was hard to stay disappointed about the looses for too long. The team got to explore the river walk and
shops, eat some fine sea food and managed to go to the beach for a day. The long 12 hour bus ride brought the team
together and hopefully it can be used to their advantage on the field in upcoming games.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
First Victory of the Season! (FB)
 |
| Freshmen goalie Jessica Bombard making a save |
Tiffin University picked up
its first win of the season, defeating Tennessee Wesleyan 12-11 on a chilly night
at Frost Kalnow Stadium.
Tiffin showed improvement from its first
game of the season, cutting down its turnovers and battling back from a narrow
halftime deficit to get the win. TU had a rough first 10 minutes, falling
behind 4-1 before ripping off five consecutive goals to take a 6-4 lead with
9:09 to play.
“In the locker room prior to
warming up, coach [Colleen Dixon] really emphasized the importance of trying to
cut our mistakes in half. Those caused
turnovers really hurt us in the first game. So as a team we held one another
accountable to eliminate the little errors,” defensive player Heather Denaro
was quoted saying after the game.
The Dragons certainly prevailed and were able to run the clock out over the final 2:54 while maintaining a one goal lead. Lady TU LAX looks forward to playing the competitively ranked Mercyhurst College at home in two days.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Home Opener (FB)
Tiffin University picked up right where they left off
last year on a fiery streak with new coach Colleen Dixon. Dixon joined the Dragons last year and
brought a new team structure and dynamics that proved successful in her first
season with a 7 and 9 record, just shy of .500.
Starting mid fielder Alexandria Quast was the Division II leader in goals per
game in 2011 and scored 8 goals in the Dragons' season opener with Shepherd
University. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough, as TU
fell 19-14 to the Rams to open the 2012 women's lacrosse season 0-1.
The turnovers gave Shepherd a big shot differential, as they held a 45-25 shot advantage. Shepherd also won the ground ball battle 36-29 in the physical contest which saw 91 total foul calls.
Tiffin held a 5-3 lead midway through the first half, but the turnovers led to a 7-2 Rams run over the next 15:00 as Shepherd held a 10-7 lead at the half. TU cut down the turnovers in the second half and kept the game close, cutting the score to 16-14 with 4:35 to play, but could get no closer as the Rams tacked on three more goals to put the game away in the closing minutes.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Strategies for Ticket Sales
So you’ve finally reached the big time and are working for a
pro sports team. Your only objective/job is to sell tickets (marketing) and
make you’re franchise the green stuff.
In the textbook “Developing Successful Sport Marketing Plans, “ it poses this question, “would you rather sell
10,000 tickets at $2 each or 1,000 at $20 each?” This is a tricky question in the fact most
pro sports franchises, I would imagine, shoot for sold out home games every
time. I think what it boils down to is
who that team is playing. If it is rival
games say the Heat Vs. Calvs or Dallas Vs. Houston, obviously a lot of people would
be looking to attend those games so the demand would be high. When demand is high for any service or
product it is an indication that that company can and should raise the prices. If the game is lower key and hasn’t had a
great turn out in the past, then one can gage that and perhaps sell tickets at
a lower price to give more of an incentive to customers to attend that game.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Lax-4-Life (FB)
Lax-4-Life was started in spring 2009 by members of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Association after teams were confronted with the prospect of life after suicide. When resources were not available they asked "What can we do?" Lax-4-Life was the answer.
In the spring of 2010 they took the campaign nationally throughout NCAA Division II womens lacrosse. They had over 2/3 of teams participate in close to 50 designated games throughout the season. As a result over 1,000 t-shirts were sold. These profits along with donations collected during the games resulted in $17,000 being raised for the Allyson Rose Green Foundation.
This year Lax-4-Life decided they wanted to do even more. To really make a difference they have invited Division I and Division III to join the cause. This seasons LAX-4-LIFE games will take place during the last week of March and the first week of April.
They are currently in the process of creating a non-profit organization, LAX-4-LIFE Inc. Through their 501C# organization, it is their hope that they can raise suicide prevention awareness on college campuses throughout the country. Understanding the pressures of student athletes are under before they come to college as well as while on campus, they feel a program like this is long overdue.
**More info at http://www.lax-4-life.org
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Mentally Tough (FB)
Being an athlete isn't just
about the physicality and conditioning of your body to be better and stronger than
the opposing team/opponent. It also involves
training your mind to be mentally tough. It takes a lot to be a part of
competitive events and sports. With yelling fans, coaches harping down your back
and teammates depending on you, how do you maintain a steady and focused
attitude that allows for peak performance? What is being mentally tough exactly
and how do you develop it? Dr. David Yukelson of Penn State University examines
these questions and has developed the answer that all athletes should consider
before any competition or workout.
What is mental toughness? Mental toughness is having the natural or
developed psychological edge that enables you to: cope better than your
opponents with many demands that are placed on you as a performer (competition,
training, lifestyle). A key component of mental toughness is learning how to
condition your mind to think confidently and be able to overcome
frustration/self critical negativity. Personally for me as soon as a coach or
teammate points out my mistakes I have made, I immediately shut down and begin
to dwell on those mistakes in my mind and begin to psyche myself out as a
player. In order to prevent this from happening and develop mental toughness
Yukelson lists six steps athletes should consider preparing themselves mentally
before competitions or workouts.
1. Mental toughness starts
with the right attitude and state of
mind (know what your core confidence is all about) -Confidence comes in
knowing you are prepared and having an unshakable belief in your abilities to
reach intended goals.
2. Program your mind for success ahead of time with positive
affirmation and expectations -Expect the best from yourself; affirm what you
are going to do to be successful -Confident goal oriented statements starting
with “I will, I can, I am going to…” -Focus on the things you want to occur,
other than things that might go wrong -Visualize yourself performing
(confident, energized, full focus)
3. Routinize your behaviors: develop a systematic pre-performance
routine that clicks on desired mental emotional state of mind (practice,
pre-game, competition).
4. Poise and composure: Learn how to let go of mistakes quickly if
things do not go the way you want. -Don’t allow frustration to undermine your
confidence/focus
5. Take control of negative self talk: Reframe “stinking thinking”
into positive task oriented suggestions.
6. Look at failure as a stepping stone for future achievement.
-Champions approach to overcome adversity: Play to win as opposed to fear of
making mistakes -He missed 9000 shots, missed 26 game winning shots, lost 300
games –Michael Jordan, NBA 6 time world champion “I failed over and over, that
is why I succeed.” Be a difference maker, step up and have a peak performance
when it matters most.
Being mentally tough isn’t a
cake walk; in fact it takes a lot of internal strength and focus to maintain
the right state of mind. By examining these steps and applying them to your
life it can help individual’s confidence and allow for peak mental performance.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Product Life Cycle of a LAX Stick
 |
| STX Wooden Stick |
Lacrosse comes from a rich history
of being one of the first sports ever played on American soil. Invented and played by the Native Americans,
the equipment used in LAX consists of a stick in order to control a small ball that
is passed among team members. The lacrosse stick holds significance to the
Native American way of life, including religious beliefs. As one can only imagine with the growth of
the sport, the lacrosse stick has come a long way from its original form carved
of wood, using animal tendon or vines to form a basket at one end. The game
continued to be played with wooden sticks until the latter 20th century.
 |
| STX 1970s Composite Stick |
Taking a look at STX,
leaders/innovators of women’s lacrosse equipment, they were among the first to
mass produce wooden sticks for play. As
the game began to become more popular, along with advancements in safety, STX
produced one of the first composite heads to fit on a wooden handle in the 70s. The introduction of this new innovation began
to slowly emerge then boomed in the growth period as players began to notice a
significant change in their performance.
The transition from the traditional wooden stick to composite quickly
transformed the game of lacrosse forever.
The new composite sticks were
definitely a cash cow for producers, even at the maturity stage of their life
cycle players still invested because, at the time, they were the best product
for lacrosse in the market. STX still continues
to invest in new materials and technologies to enhance the equipment of the game.
 |
| STX Xen |
In today’s game, sticks are
made of synthetic materials for durability and easier handling. According to
SimplyLacrosse.com, today's lacrosse sticks are made of an aluminum pole with
plastic forming the netted head. These materials, as well as materials such as
titanium and graphite, are designed to lighten lacrosse sticks, making them
simpler to control during game play.
Depending upon the player’s position can determine on the type of stick
someone can get, however it is usually based upon preference.
To say the least, the sport
of lacrosse is still in its growth cycle and along with that the equipment and
products are continually being changed and enhanced. In other words, the company with the newest
and effective designs and technologies will turn the most product sales.
**Facts obtained from the following sources:
Sunday, February 12, 2012
5 Foods TU LAX is Eating (FB)
With grueling workouts and the continual strain put on these LAXERS bodies, it is important to replenish with nourishing foods that will always keep them at the top of their game. Taking a look at various health and nutritional web sites I have found the top 5 foods most nutritionists recommend for all athletes. The Lady Dragons are now implementing these foods into their everyday diets.
Whole grain food such as cereal, bagels, pasta, and bread give good, long-lasting energy to the whole body. As the most important food group, athletes should eat many whole grain carbohydrates before an event.
2. Peanut butter:
Peanut butter is a good source of protein and essential fats, and it is easy to carry and eat on the go. Other protein sources will work as well, such as lean meat or dairy; the important thing is to get adequate protein before and after a work out. Protein helps the body in maintaining aerobic metabolism instead of anaerobic metabolism, which prevents the body from taking protein from lean tissue. Adequate protein speeds recovery and helps in actual performance situations.
3. Fresh fruits and Vegetables:
Fresh produce is a great way to get vitamins and minerals that help the body function as normal. They are usually fat-free and contain lots of energy for the body to use during exercise. Some fruits, such as bananas, contain potassium, a mineral that regulates water levels in the body and stabilizes muscle contraction. Low potassium levels can lead to muscle cramps and fatigue, so eating potassium-rich foods is a good idea. However, it is important to regulate potassium intake, because too much too quickly can lead to a heart attack. Athletes should take in 435 milligrams of potassium for every hour they exercise. While potassium does not aid in actual performance, it speeds recovery and should be considered as one of the most important supplements to an exercise program.
4. Calcium-Rich Foods:
Foods such as cheese, yogurt, and milk contain necessary calcium, which creates strong bones and protects athletes from injury. These dairy products are also a good source of protein, but they should be eaten well before an event, as they take some time to process. If the body does not tolerate dairy well, supplements should be included to ensure that athletes receive the recommended daily intake of 1000 milligrams. As an example, a cup of skim milk provides about 300 milligrams of calcium.
5. Fiber-Rich Foods:
Fiber is the nutritional component that keeps athletes full and regulates the digestive tract. Many of the foods already mentioned include fiber, but it is important for coaches to know which foods help athletes regulate fiber levels. Examples of fiber-rich foods include whole grains, apples, berries, almonds, and legumes. A simple way to determine the necessary amount of fiber is to add 5 to the athlete's age. For example, a 10-year-old athlete needs about 15 grams of fiber daily. After the age of 15, athletes need 20-25 grams of fiber a day.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Super Bowl Hype
With the hype of the super
bowl slowly dwindling down from last night, the commercials and advertisements
still linger strongly in the air. As we all know it wouldn't be
a Super Bowl without the 15 to 30sec commercial productions that cost
more money to make than most even earn in their lifetime. With a
large viewing audience of around 90 million, this is every
marketers dream to create that advertisement that can be gawked at by
audiences from around the globe. However, this year there seems to be
some mixed reviews on the commercials and whether they were
note worthy at all. Of course, it was going to be difficult for
Chrysler to out shine themselves from last year’s empowering message on the
the city of Detroit, but Clint Eastwood? Granted an amazing actor
and very deep prominent voice, I honestly didn't know if
the commercial was supposed to be serious or comedic. BUT this is beside the
point, I want to discuss other forms of advertising that were showcased during
the SB that may or may not have gone unnoticed by viewers.
Some
interesting observations I made about last night’s game. Both players were sponsored by Reebok. The Reebok logo was plastered on all of the players jerseys,
however the shoes and accessories the players had worn were by different
brands, predominately Nike. I am not
sure how player sponsorships work, but apparently they are allowed
to wear other brands other than Reebok. If I were
to take a guess I think that Reebok is the official sponsor of the NFL and all
teams wear Reebok jerseys, but footwear, gloves, sweatbands ect. can be up to
the player? (not sure). Also,
Toyota must have shelled out a lot of money to have their name on the half time
report commentators table. It is a
safe to say that the vast majority of commercials/advertisements were
cars. There was
Fiat commercials, Kia Optima, al lot of Chevy, and of course Chrysler.
Also, NBC being the network/channel the game was on didn't hesitate
to plaster their, what I like to call, rainbow orange slice logo everywhere.
They advertised upcoming TV programs, along with their
sports network and just NBC in general. If the camera angel was just
right you could see Verizon flash on the electronic boards throughout the
stadium. Finally, those classic green Gatorade cups and water
bottles were being used by the players and coaches.
 |
| 2012 Super Bowl Halftime Show |
Though
this blog is predominately on the advertising I want to conclude with my
thoughts on the half time show. IT BLEW
MY MIND! Though
the actually performers, Madonna cough cough, could have done without; the
overall entertainment value was spectacular. The show/camera positions/network went off without a hitch in my
opinion. A lot of
organization and event planning went into this production and it was on
point. Perhaps
one of the more entertaining half time shows. The usage of fiber optic lights (moving floor) was brilliant and I
bet we will see the usage of more digital stuff such as that in the upcoming
opening ceremonies for the Olympic games.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Count Down!! (FB)
Lacrosse season is officially underway. With only one month till the first home game,
the lady LAX team is gearing up for game time.
First week back to school there was no “settling in” to the new semester
for these athletes, they were up and at um at 5:45am hitting the paint with sprints and
conditioning. This year the Dragons are focusing
on stick skills and conditioning. With
only one sub to relieve a player it is pivotal that this team is going to be in
top cardio shape to play 60min long games.
With 2 weeks into the AM practices and conditioning the
Dragons are coming along. There are
going to be six new faces out there on the field, 5 freshmen and 1 sophomore. These ladies have brought much needed stick
skills that will help the team move the ball quickly up and down the
field. Unfortunately, with the loss of
6’2 center Taylor DeMaio, these ladies will have to work extra hard to get the
ball of the draw. For those that are not
familiar with the sport of lacrosse, the attached video is an example of a
typical face off/draw control at the beginning of each game and after every
goal that is scored.
If the Dragons get
the face off there shouldn’t be any problems on the attack side of the game as
long as the offense can keep moving the ball quickly. With two weeks in, the offense has yet to
really connect with one another. There
are new additions (players) to this end of the field and a new “set up” if you
will that the ladies are working on.
With only a few weeks left let’s hope they can find the flow.
As for the defense, I have no real comments other than they
need to MOVE THEIR FEET. There are a lot of
power houses on D, very aggressive girls that will be a fighting force of
terror if their reaction time can improve.
I am not a defensive player, so I give those ladies props. D in lacrosse is very similar to basketball,
it requires a lot of fast foot work and nice low body positioning on the
attacking team. With 4 more weeks to practice
I am hoping the D can step it up and become a wall of fury that opposing teams
will fear when stepping onto that field.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Benefits of a Blog
Though most Blogs never get read, they can be very beneficial
to the Blogger. Blogging can enhance writing skills. With continual
posts on topics I enjoy, it enables me to be creative in what I write without any
restrictions or guidelines.
I get to voice my opinion and people can choose to agree or not. Also, blogging hones my researching skills
and broadens my knowledge on topics I might not be so familiar with. From a business standpoint, blogging is a
free tool used for advertising and it is an excellent way to get a product and
or company name out there.
If ever given the opportunity to work as a “pro blogger” for
a sports fan page, I would take into consideration what I as a sports fan would
want to read. Though focusing on scores
and pre season workouts is entertaining, as a reader I want to read the scoop
and 411 on behind the scenes. I want to
know about the players, what they are doing, what perks they get, and how they psych themselves up before a game. Fans want to
feel close to the players and if given a blogging job I would try my best to do
just that.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
My Sports Autobiography
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