Lance Armstrong---In case you would like to know the numbers on Lance Armstrong, they are pretty staggering all across the board.
His foundation since 1997 has raised $470 million and has helped over 2.5 million people get free services for their post cancer treatment.
On the personal side, Armstrong makes north of $10 million dollars per year from speeches and his endorsement deals with 11 sponsors. Now how those sponsors react to the recent events of the past few days remain to be seen. As expected, one of his key sponsors Nike, is sticking with him, but it is expected also that some of his other key sponsors will probably pull the plug.
Just a few of his sponsors, all powerful companies like Oakley, Radio Shack, Trek and Michelob Ultra. It didn't take long for people to choose sides and almost every poll conducted is split, on how people feel about Armstrong. Of course they would be much more anti, if it weren't for his work with cancer and raising money to fight it.
We are a nation that forgives easily, actually Armstrong in the long run might come out of this stronger than he is at present, but there will be some pain along the way.
Pay To Play---I have been saying for quite sometime that around 2020, I personally think that you will no longer see high school sports. Everything on that level will be private club sports and you will not see athletics in high schools as we know them today.
To back up my opinion around the country you are starting to see more "pay to play" every year. The average cost involved in "pay to play" nationwide is anywhere from $75.00-$100 per sport. With this economy as bad as it has ever been in everyone's lifetime, that is a big hurdle for many families and that is why nationwide there is a 14 percent decline in high school students playing sports.
One district in Ohio starting this fall will be charging each athlete some really hight costs. If a student wants to participate in these sports they will pay-----Cross Country $521.00, Golf $715.00, Football $783.00 and if they dare to play tennis, the cost will be $933.00. Gee, I hope if a student is a multi sports athlete they at least get a discount.
Despite my last sentence's attempt at humor, this is not a funny situation. Independent study after study tells us that exercise and participation in sports for students in high school, makes them a better student and makes them more prepared for the future.
You can dispute this all you want, but once again it is all about the money. The business side of sports goes all the way down to grade school, so we just better get use to it and we as well, are all going to feel the pain when it comes to lack of physical education and fitness.
NFL---Business wise the NFL continues to dominate. Ad space on all games is sold out for this year and new sponsors are scrambling to get into the market place alongside the old stand-bys.
Just one quick example, for Sunday Night Football on NBC, a 30 second ad is valued at $540,000. The average viewership last year of Sunday Night Football was 21.5 million fans per each Sunday. That comes out to be roughly $25.00 a sponsor is spending on each viewer. Now that if you ask me is a bargain, a real bargain.
NBA---In 1988, Micky Arison bought the Miami Heat for $32 million. The estimated value of the Heat after winning the NBA title this past season is $457 million. Since LeBron has arrived, the value of the team has increased by 23 percent.
At the same time, since James left the Cleveland Cavs, their estimated value has dropped by 26 percent, to a value of $355 million.
Most of the time in professional sports, if you get the right super star you are going to have to pay outrageous sums, but you often will get an outrageous gain. Knock LeBron all you want, but the guy is moving the needle right now more than anyone in sports.
Social Media---My good friend and colleague at CSNNW.com, Chris Haynes continually compliments me on my use of social media and the fact that despite I am an old man, I have not resisted it, but instead embraced social media. Thanks, I think Chris.
But, speaking of social media and its power, when the recent baseball all-star game was in Kansas City in July, the always progressive politicos of Kansas City set up their own social media "war room" to help promote the city and answer questions from visitors. It was a huge success, so much so that three businesses have indicated they were so impressed, they plan on moving a division or their entire company to Kansas City.
As much as it is easy to resist social media, if you want your business, or your employment to succeed, you better learn it and get use to using it. Technology should never be ignored, even when it comes to sports, so Chris, even though I am old, I am going to continue to learn everything I can about social media and how it can help me business wise.
Please if you get a chance and as you know, I appreciate it so much, read my other blogs on CSNNW.com
http://www.csnnw.com/pages/golf
http://www.csnnw.com/pages/ncaabasketball
Also, if you need help with public speaking/presenting or if you would like a great speaker for an event, lunch or dinner engagement, please contact us http://gregcrawfordspeaks.weebly.com and we can for sure help.
Finally, but equally important, if you really want to improve your life, business skills and sports business, then it is simple. Just read, "Marketing Outrageously, Redux" by Jon Spoelstra. I recommend this book to everyone and 100 percent, people come back and say thank you, wish I would have read this book sooner.
emails to crawscorner@gmail.com or twitter @wchoops
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Greg Crawford On Sports Biz, Edition 3
Thanks for all the great feedback on me writing this sports business column. It is great to have so many readers and I love doing this and also love hearing from all of you.
It is also very rewarding to hear from many of you, who went out and bought Jon Spoelstra's book, "Marketing Outrageously, Redux". of which I highly recommend not only for people interested in sports business, but for anyone in business, or anyone who just plain wants to improve your life. It is fun to recommend something that people really appreciate, which helps people either personally or professionally, so get out there and buy the book if you have not already.
Not A Pioneer---There is no league at present that is as popular or has as much power as the National Football League. They have done so many things correctly, but when it comes right down to it, the game sells itself. (How is that coming from a basketball guy, who could care less about the NFL games).
As much as I don't care who wins and loses NFL games, I do pay attention to the business model, especially because of its success. What baffles me presently about the NFL is that the league is going through a lockout/strike with their officials. How in the world can this happen, even though I think the regular officials will be back come regular season. Actually who can blame them from not wanting to be on the field in these horrid exhibition games.
A league with this kind of resources should never worry about paying their officials, outside of the fact if they asked for $1 million per game, which obviously is not the case. NFL officials work hard, as do officials in all sports and for them to not have a contract in a wildly financially successful league is a "shame on you NFL". Take care of your people, it is a basic fact in American business.
And while I am at it, shame on Shannon Eastin. She is scheduled to work the Thursday night, August 9th game, Green Bay at San Diego. By doing so she will be the first woman to ever officiate an NFL game. But does this really count? For years, many top women officials have been held back and have deserved better, but to make this out as some people have done that she is a pioneer is crazy. The circumstances she is doing this under do not qualify Shannon to become a pioneer, in any way shape or form. She is taking someone's place and if not for a lockout, she would not be working in the NFL. Plus, I do not like the fact that Shannon has also been doing interviews. The NFL should have never made her available.
Yes, by now the NFL should have had more than one woman official, but in no way under these circumstances and also the fact many who know much more about this than I do, tell me Shannon Eastin is in no way ready to officiate in the NFL, as compared to many other women football officials around the country.
Sorry if I offended any women in my rant, but ask the women I work with and they will tell you about my total respect for women in the work place. This just happens to be the wrong time for the NFL to move on something that has been way too long in coming.
Pageviews---Why are we still the greatest country and will be forever? It is our people and it is our technology and the development of new ways to connect. Actually in the next five years, mark my words, your website and you twitter handle will be on your driver's license and will be as big a part of your name as your middle initial. Twitter has done so much to promote sports, but we still love our sports websites. So much that we continue to see every major sports website evolve frequently, trying to get better.
Shameless plug, I know, I am awful, but speaking of change, just today, my golf blog for CSNNW.com got much better, just because it is part of a new sparkling golf page that Comcast SportsNet launched this morning. www.csnnw.com/pages/golf
Of course I have a long way to go to catch the pageviews of the Olympics page by NBC. After the first week in London, the NBC web page, received over 1 billion views. Comparison, in the 2008 Olympics from Beijing, NBC had just under 1 billion views for the entire Olympics.
Lesson here, ladies and gentlemen, keep your websites fresh and websites are not going away for a long time to come.
Coaching Pay----College football is here and the list of highest paid coaches in college football is always available, of course usually as I have found out quickly over the years, only for public schools, for private schools the information is hard to attain.
So here is the public list of top three highest paid coaches, along with what the most colorful coach in the Pac-12, Chip Kelly makes. All figures are yearly and can vary slightly.
1. Mack Brown, Texas----$5.1 million
2. Nick Saban, Alabama---$4.8 million
3. Bob Stoops, Oklahoma---$4.075 million
Out of the top 20 highest paid coaches at public universities, Chip Kelly ranks 13th. $2.8 million. It is estimated at USC, a private institution, Lane Kiffin is making $4 million.
Overdue---I have talked a little about the success of the NFL earlier, every third grader can tell you the NFL is successful actually, but what about football expansion in the United States.
A great brand of football is the Canadian Football League. I think it is time for the CFL business model to expand back to the United States, especially in some areas where it is almost certain there will never be any NFL team for a long time to come. And where am I thinking? Portland, Oregon, San Antonio, Sacramento and Syracuse. And yes, I do know this was tried in 1993 and 94, but that was different time and different media world. So much time is available to broadcast on many different networks, this would be an easy sell in my mind.
The Canadian game is fast paced and exciting, Americans love that style and I think they would embrace the game in total. Football fans are starved for more, but it takes an established league and format like the CFL to succeed.
What do you think? Since this is a sports biz column, would you be an investor if asked, even for $100.00 in a Canadian Football League team? Let us know in the comment section below.
Emails welcome to crawscorner@gmail.com and twitter @wchoops
Please feel free to read my other blogs on college basketball and golf at CSNNW.com
www.csnnw.com/pages/golf and www.csnnw.com/pages/ncaabasketball
Finally today, little less than 2 months left to take advantage of our huge discounted offers for Crawford Speaks, with our senior consultant Brian Wheeler. Please contact us at gregorycrawfordspeaks@gmail.com and visit our website to find out more, http://gregcrawfordspeaks.weebly.com
It is also very rewarding to hear from many of you, who went out and bought Jon Spoelstra's book, "Marketing Outrageously, Redux". of which I highly recommend not only for people interested in sports business, but for anyone in business, or anyone who just plain wants to improve your life. It is fun to recommend something that people really appreciate, which helps people either personally or professionally, so get out there and buy the book if you have not already.
Not A Pioneer---There is no league at present that is as popular or has as much power as the National Football League. They have done so many things correctly, but when it comes right down to it, the game sells itself. (How is that coming from a basketball guy, who could care less about the NFL games).
As much as I don't care who wins and loses NFL games, I do pay attention to the business model, especially because of its success. What baffles me presently about the NFL is that the league is going through a lockout/strike with their officials. How in the world can this happen, even though I think the regular officials will be back come regular season. Actually who can blame them from not wanting to be on the field in these horrid exhibition games.
A league with this kind of resources should never worry about paying their officials, outside of the fact if they asked for $1 million per game, which obviously is not the case. NFL officials work hard, as do officials in all sports and for them to not have a contract in a wildly financially successful league is a "shame on you NFL". Take care of your people, it is a basic fact in American business.
And while I am at it, shame on Shannon Eastin. She is scheduled to work the Thursday night, August 9th game, Green Bay at San Diego. By doing so she will be the first woman to ever officiate an NFL game. But does this really count? For years, many top women officials have been held back and have deserved better, but to make this out as some people have done that she is a pioneer is crazy. The circumstances she is doing this under do not qualify Shannon to become a pioneer, in any way shape or form. She is taking someone's place and if not for a lockout, she would not be working in the NFL. Plus, I do not like the fact that Shannon has also been doing interviews. The NFL should have never made her available.
Yes, by now the NFL should have had more than one woman official, but in no way under these circumstances and also the fact many who know much more about this than I do, tell me Shannon Eastin is in no way ready to officiate in the NFL, as compared to many other women football officials around the country.
Sorry if I offended any women in my rant, but ask the women I work with and they will tell you about my total respect for women in the work place. This just happens to be the wrong time for the NFL to move on something that has been way too long in coming.
Pageviews---Why are we still the greatest country and will be forever? It is our people and it is our technology and the development of new ways to connect. Actually in the next five years, mark my words, your website and you twitter handle will be on your driver's license and will be as big a part of your name as your middle initial. Twitter has done so much to promote sports, but we still love our sports websites. So much that we continue to see every major sports website evolve frequently, trying to get better.
Shameless plug, I know, I am awful, but speaking of change, just today, my golf blog for CSNNW.com got much better, just because it is part of a new sparkling golf page that Comcast SportsNet launched this morning. www.csnnw.com/pages/golf
Of course I have a long way to go to catch the pageviews of the Olympics page by NBC. After the first week in London, the NBC web page, received over 1 billion views. Comparison, in the 2008 Olympics from Beijing, NBC had just under 1 billion views for the entire Olympics.
Lesson here, ladies and gentlemen, keep your websites fresh and websites are not going away for a long time to come.
Coaching Pay----College football is here and the list of highest paid coaches in college football is always available, of course usually as I have found out quickly over the years, only for public schools, for private schools the information is hard to attain.
So here is the public list of top three highest paid coaches, along with what the most colorful coach in the Pac-12, Chip Kelly makes. All figures are yearly and can vary slightly.
1. Mack Brown, Texas----$5.1 million
2. Nick Saban, Alabama---$4.8 million
3. Bob Stoops, Oklahoma---$4.075 million
Out of the top 20 highest paid coaches at public universities, Chip Kelly ranks 13th. $2.8 million. It is estimated at USC, a private institution, Lane Kiffin is making $4 million.
Overdue---I have talked a little about the success of the NFL earlier, every third grader can tell you the NFL is successful actually, but what about football expansion in the United States.
A great brand of football is the Canadian Football League. I think it is time for the CFL business model to expand back to the United States, especially in some areas where it is almost certain there will never be any NFL team for a long time to come. And where am I thinking? Portland, Oregon, San Antonio, Sacramento and Syracuse. And yes, I do know this was tried in 1993 and 94, but that was different time and different media world. So much time is available to broadcast on many different networks, this would be an easy sell in my mind.
The Canadian game is fast paced and exciting, Americans love that style and I think they would embrace the game in total. Football fans are starved for more, but it takes an established league and format like the CFL to succeed.
What do you think? Since this is a sports biz column, would you be an investor if asked, even for $100.00 in a Canadian Football League team? Let us know in the comment section below.
Emails welcome to crawscorner@gmail.com and twitter @wchoops
Please feel free to read my other blogs on college basketball and golf at CSNNW.com
www.csnnw.com/pages/golf and www.csnnw.com/pages/ncaabasketball
Finally today, little less than 2 months left to take advantage of our huge discounted offers for Crawford Speaks, with our senior consultant Brian Wheeler. Please contact us at gregorycrawfordspeaks@gmail.com and visit our website to find out more, http://gregcrawfordspeaks.weebly.com
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Greg Crawford On Sports Biz, Edition 2
Thanks for the all the great feedback from my first sports business column last Sunday. I am kind of shocked by the large number of readers the column of July 22nd achieved, so thank you and hoping this will continue to get bigger and better every Sunday from now on out. Here we go for this week and please as always let me know what you think.
Proctor and Gamble---As we see more and more advertising each and everyday when it comes to sports, occasionally we are going to see someone hit a home run with their ad campaign. Proctor and Gamble has done just that with their "Thank You Moms Campaign" they are tying into their Olympic sponsorship.
The program is geared towards highlighting the contributions of moms around the world and it is working. Proctor and Gamble also stepped up and gave all 800 moms of U.S. Olympians and Paralympians, a $1,000 stipend to help offset their costs of traveling to London to see their sons and daughters.
Proctor and Gamble has 22 brands, their annual sales worldwide exceed 1 billion dollars. As to being an Olympic sponsor, they have signed on through 2020, which means they will be sponsoring three summer games and two winter games. It is estimated that an Olympic sponsors pays 25 million per four year period to the International Olympic Committee, for the use of the Olympic logo on all products. Because of the outside the box thinking here of Proctor and Gamble, it would certainly appear they will come out a big winner and congrats to them, for creating a sponsorship storyline that is working and is unique.
Penn State---The horrific crimes at Penn State, will no doubt hurt the school for years image wise, but the financial impact is going to sting as well. Not only the 60 million fine levied by the NCAA, but also the fact for the next four years, the Big Ten has announced that the share of the league's bowl money that would have normally gone to Penn State, will instead be donated to charity. It is estimated that amount of money will be close to 13 million. Penn State closed out the last fiscal year with a surplus of 31 million in their athletic budget, so they can afford a little bit of a hit financially. Of course, money means nothing in the overall picture here. I might also add, once again the NCAA missed the mark here, there are so many innocent people that are going to feel the effects of this, who had nothing to do with the crimes and will suffer greatly because of other people's actions. Go after the criminals, always, which did not seem to be on the minds of the NCAA when they handed down their penalties.
Parking Meters---The city of San Francisco, who over the years has often been late to the party when making decisions, once again has lived up to its reputation. It seems they are just now figuring out how successful the San Francisco Giants are, both on the field and from a business standpoint. Starting soon, the city will be putting in new parking meters around AT&T ballpark, which will be in operation seven days a week and you will have to plug the meter until 10:00 pm. It is estimated to use these meters it will cost a person $7.00 per hour. And to think, the city just now figured out this cash cow?
Erin Andrews---Perhaps I will get my man card taken away for this one, but is Erin Andrews really worth the estimated 5 million dollars per year that Fox will be paying her, as she left ESPN to join Fox this past June. I know, I know, it is all about eye candy in some cases, but quite frankly, Erin Andrews is not that good, she often struggles with her reports and she has a horrible voice. Of course, there are lots of people in this country who are horribly overpaid and she joins the list.
TNT---With the NBA schedule just announced, it is interesting to note who will be making the most appearances on the network this coming season. Appearing 10 times will be the Heat, Knicks and Thunder. The Lakers and Clippers get nine appearances and the Mavericks and Celts eight. Overall TNT will televise 52 regular season games. Of course many of the choices were simple, but the Knicks 10 times? I don't care if it is the largest city, just does not make sense to put that pathetic team on 10 times. Then again, who can argue with the success of TNT when it comes to televising the NBA. For the last four years, their ratings for NBA games have been up each year dramatically and last year was their most productive year ever, as per ratings and viewership.
Pac-12 Network---The Pac-12 got off to slow start, when it came to putting their new TV network together, but you have to give them big plaudits for the people they hired as play by play announcers for football. Three veteran people in the broadcast booth, who are extremely talented, Kevin Calabro, Dave Fleming and Ted Robinson. Of course one person missing is the great Barry Tompkins, how you can leave him out is beyond me, he is the voice of the Pac-12/Pac-10/Pac-8. Also, I would have hoped the Pac-12 would have at least approached Keith Jackson about doing a game or two. How great would that have been.
It is also nice to see that Brooke Olzendam will be doing sideline reporting for the Pac-12 network. Brooke left Comcast SportsNet before I arrived on the scene, but I thought she was so talented and of course, the pain she went through recently, having her husband die in a hotel workout room after the couple was only married for 10 days, has to be something no one should ever have to go through. So congrats Brooke.
Jon Spoelstra----I get asked all the time by young people and now with this horrific economy, all ages, "how can I get in the sports business". And of course, I give them one stock answer, go out and buy every book that Jon Spoeslstra has ever written. His latest, "Marketing Outrageously, Redux", has been a huge hit, going into its third year since first being published. Not only for sports people, anyone who wants to improve their life, should read Jon's books, they will improve your life both professionally and personally and the proof is in the pudding, so many I have said this too, have comeback and thanked me for the great recommendation.
Please take a look at my other columns and blogs, www.csnnw.com/pages/golf and www.csnnw.com/pages/ncaabasketball and let me know what you think.
emails to crawscorner@gmail.com and twitter @wchoops
NOTE: If you are looking to improve yourself as a public speaker/presenter either in your professional or person life or both, please contact me at http://gregcrawfordspeaks.weebly.com or gregorycrawfordspeaks@gmail.com. Not only myself, but Brian Wheeler, voice of the Portland Trail Blazers is our senior consultant, we are here to help and Brian is available to speak at any event you have, dinner, conference or lunch and can deliver a great message to your group. 25 percent off all services through the month of September, act now and thank you.
Proctor and Gamble---As we see more and more advertising each and everyday when it comes to sports, occasionally we are going to see someone hit a home run with their ad campaign. Proctor and Gamble has done just that with their "Thank You Moms Campaign" they are tying into their Olympic sponsorship.
The program is geared towards highlighting the contributions of moms around the world and it is working. Proctor and Gamble also stepped up and gave all 800 moms of U.S. Olympians and Paralympians, a $1,000 stipend to help offset their costs of traveling to London to see their sons and daughters.
Proctor and Gamble has 22 brands, their annual sales worldwide exceed 1 billion dollars. As to being an Olympic sponsor, they have signed on through 2020, which means they will be sponsoring three summer games and two winter games. It is estimated that an Olympic sponsors pays 25 million per four year period to the International Olympic Committee, for the use of the Olympic logo on all products. Because of the outside the box thinking here of Proctor and Gamble, it would certainly appear they will come out a big winner and congrats to them, for creating a sponsorship storyline that is working and is unique.
Penn State---The horrific crimes at Penn State, will no doubt hurt the school for years image wise, but the financial impact is going to sting as well. Not only the 60 million fine levied by the NCAA, but also the fact for the next four years, the Big Ten has announced that the share of the league's bowl money that would have normally gone to Penn State, will instead be donated to charity. It is estimated that amount of money will be close to 13 million. Penn State closed out the last fiscal year with a surplus of 31 million in their athletic budget, so they can afford a little bit of a hit financially. Of course, money means nothing in the overall picture here. I might also add, once again the NCAA missed the mark here, there are so many innocent people that are going to feel the effects of this, who had nothing to do with the crimes and will suffer greatly because of other people's actions. Go after the criminals, always, which did not seem to be on the minds of the NCAA when they handed down their penalties.
Parking Meters---The city of San Francisco, who over the years has often been late to the party when making decisions, once again has lived up to its reputation. It seems they are just now figuring out how successful the San Francisco Giants are, both on the field and from a business standpoint. Starting soon, the city will be putting in new parking meters around AT&T ballpark, which will be in operation seven days a week and you will have to plug the meter until 10:00 pm. It is estimated to use these meters it will cost a person $7.00 per hour. And to think, the city just now figured out this cash cow?
Erin Andrews---Perhaps I will get my man card taken away for this one, but is Erin Andrews really worth the estimated 5 million dollars per year that Fox will be paying her, as she left ESPN to join Fox this past June. I know, I know, it is all about eye candy in some cases, but quite frankly, Erin Andrews is not that good, she often struggles with her reports and she has a horrible voice. Of course, there are lots of people in this country who are horribly overpaid and she joins the list.
TNT---With the NBA schedule just announced, it is interesting to note who will be making the most appearances on the network this coming season. Appearing 10 times will be the Heat, Knicks and Thunder. The Lakers and Clippers get nine appearances and the Mavericks and Celts eight. Overall TNT will televise 52 regular season games. Of course many of the choices were simple, but the Knicks 10 times? I don't care if it is the largest city, just does not make sense to put that pathetic team on 10 times. Then again, who can argue with the success of TNT when it comes to televising the NBA. For the last four years, their ratings for NBA games have been up each year dramatically and last year was their most productive year ever, as per ratings and viewership.
Pac-12 Network---The Pac-12 got off to slow start, when it came to putting their new TV network together, but you have to give them big plaudits for the people they hired as play by play announcers for football. Three veteran people in the broadcast booth, who are extremely talented, Kevin Calabro, Dave Fleming and Ted Robinson. Of course one person missing is the great Barry Tompkins, how you can leave him out is beyond me, he is the voice of the Pac-12/Pac-10/Pac-8. Also, I would have hoped the Pac-12 would have at least approached Keith Jackson about doing a game or two. How great would that have been.
It is also nice to see that Brooke Olzendam will be doing sideline reporting for the Pac-12 network. Brooke left Comcast SportsNet before I arrived on the scene, but I thought she was so talented and of course, the pain she went through recently, having her husband die in a hotel workout room after the couple was only married for 10 days, has to be something no one should ever have to go through. So congrats Brooke.
Jon Spoelstra----I get asked all the time by young people and now with this horrific economy, all ages, "how can I get in the sports business". And of course, I give them one stock answer, go out and buy every book that Jon Spoeslstra has ever written. His latest, "Marketing Outrageously, Redux", has been a huge hit, going into its third year since first being published. Not only for sports people, anyone who wants to improve their life, should read Jon's books, they will improve your life both professionally and personally and the proof is in the pudding, so many I have said this too, have comeback and thanked me for the great recommendation.
Please take a look at my other columns and blogs, www.csnnw.com/pages/golf and www.csnnw.com/pages/ncaabasketball and let me know what you think.
emails to crawscorner@gmail.com and twitter @wchoops
NOTE: If you are looking to improve yourself as a public speaker/presenter either in your professional or person life or both, please contact me at http://gregcrawfordspeaks.weebly.com or gregorycrawfordspeaks@gmail.com. Not only myself, but Brian Wheeler, voice of the Portland Trail Blazers is our senior consultant, we are here to help and Brian is available to speak at any event you have, dinner, conference or lunch and can deliver a great message to your group. 25 percent off all services through the month of September, act now and thank you.
Saturday, July 28, 2012
craw's corner: Greg Crawford On Sports Biz, Edition 1
craw's corner: Greg Crawford On Sports Biz, Edition 1: Well, here goes with my first edition of Greg Crawford On Sports Biz. Ever since I was a young person, I have been fascinated with Sports ...
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Greg Crawford On Sports Biz, Edition 1
Well, here goes with my first edition of Greg Crawford On Sports Biz.
Ever since I was a young person, I have been fascinated with Sports Business. It now has evolved into my favorite thing in sports, followed closely by basketball and golf. Of course, this does not mean the end of Crawford's Clubhouse and Crawford's Court on CSNNW.com. Greg Crawford On Sports Business column will come out every Sunday and I hope you enjoy the little tidbits.
A book that I read at least every month, yes over and over and get so much out of, "Marketing Outrageously, Redux" by Jon Spoelstra will also be featured in this column, with excerpts each Sunday. If you love life, love sports, want to become a better person, better business person or just love good reading, you must get Jon's book, it is absolutely marvelous. So here we go and I hope you enjoy, if not, just ignore each time I send this out and I will not be offended in the least. Thank you,
Franchises---Really interesting last week when Forbes magazine came out with their 50 most valuable sports franchises. We sometimes forget that sports is universal, just not contained to the United States, so it is not shocking that the two most valuable sports franchises come from the world of soccer. 1) Manchester United, worth 2.33 billion and 2) Real Madrid, worth 1.88 billion.
The most important part of the 50 is the fact that all 32 NFL teams were in the top 50. It is totally amazing what the NFL has done with their game and its popularity. And despite the recent huge sale of the LA Dodgers, the Yankees still retain the top spot in baseball when it comes to value.
Not surprising that the there are no MLS or NHL teams in the top 50. Also not surprising is that the highest ranked NBA team is the Lakers, coming in at 35th. Unless your the Sacramento Kings, it pays, despite the economic woes of California to have a professional sports franchise in California. You buy it and it grows, not just a small amount, but huge over time.
North Dakota---Obviously, North Dakota is serious about joining the Big Sky Conference. They have just gone out and signed a deal with Front Row Marketing Services to sell their sports sponsorships. Front Row in one of the best and largest companies in the world when it comes to sports sponsorships.
North Dakota has a nice athletic department and in joining the Big Sky, that is a big boost for them and for the Big Sky. Of course it still seems odd to me that the Big Sky continues with the name Big Sky, it just does not fit the league anymore when you have teams in California, Arizona, Utah, Washington, Oregon and North Dakota. With the recent unveiling of the league's new logo, what a golden opportunity was missed to rebrand the entire league, with a new name. Big Sky should be out and write me with your suggestions, what should be in. Thank you.
Jamie Zaninovich---If Zaninovich leaves as Commissioner of the West Coast Conference to become the new athletic director at Stanford, it will be a big loss for the WCC. Zaninovich has done wonderful job of moving the league forward since taking over in 2009, especially bringing in the new teams, BYU and of course Pacific in 2014. Basketball drives the bus in the WCC and it appears to be thriving, with this coming season, predicted to be one of the most competitive of all time.
Of course, the big blank on the Zaninovich's record if he leaves will be the fact he could not convince enough people to bring Seattle into the WCC. I know a little about sports, mainly cause I am old, but for Seattle U., not to be in the WCC is totally sad. The school's profile fits perfectly with the WCC and why would you ever not want the the 14th largest TV market to be part of your league. I guess Stockton, California was a better choice.
So if Zaninovich does leave, I love to offer free advice. The WCC should go after Torre Chisholm, who has done a wonderful job, which is not an easy job, as the athletic director at Portland State.
Anthony Davis---To no one's surprise the number one draft choice in the 2012 NBA draft, has signed a multi-year deal with Nike. Nike gets almost every top athlete in the world, as we all know. What I did learn this week, was surprising to me, Nike is responsible for sales of 96 percent of the basketball sports shoe market worldwide. No matter how you cut it, that is power and sports business dominance at the highest level.
Marketing Outrageously, Redux---In case you have not read this book by Jon Spoelstra, you must, no matter what your interest in life or your profession. Each Sunday, will give you just a little excerpt, which I really hope causes you to read the book.
If you wish to ramp up revenue, here are some thoughts from Spoelstra on sales, the salesperson and the sales manager all working together for the same results.
"The toughest part of a sales call is not making the sale, but everything leading up to it. Making the appointment, juggling the schedule and preparing the material".
"The sales manager should do all of the following things, for the same reason the company president or marketing director should do them", go on calls with sales people and constant communication.
1. Work with sales people, it reenforces why the sales manager is there, to raise revenues.
2. It tells the sales people how important revenue is to the company.
3. It keep the sales manager in touch with the market.
4. It stimulates the creation of new ideas.
5. It generates sales.
Emails to crawscorner@gmail.com and twitter at wchoops.
NOTE: If you are looking to improve you public speaking or presentations, either professionally or personally, please contact us gregorycrawfordspeaks@gmail.com. If you mention you saw this on Greg Crawford On Sports Business, automatic 20 percent off of our fees. Thanks.
Ever since I was a young person, I have been fascinated with Sports Business. It now has evolved into my favorite thing in sports, followed closely by basketball and golf. Of course, this does not mean the end of Crawford's Clubhouse and Crawford's Court on CSNNW.com. Greg Crawford On Sports Business column will come out every Sunday and I hope you enjoy the little tidbits.
A book that I read at least every month, yes over and over and get so much out of, "Marketing Outrageously, Redux" by Jon Spoelstra will also be featured in this column, with excerpts each Sunday. If you love life, love sports, want to become a better person, better business person or just love good reading, you must get Jon's book, it is absolutely marvelous. So here we go and I hope you enjoy, if not, just ignore each time I send this out and I will not be offended in the least. Thank you,
Franchises---Really interesting last week when Forbes magazine came out with their 50 most valuable sports franchises. We sometimes forget that sports is universal, just not contained to the United States, so it is not shocking that the two most valuable sports franchises come from the world of soccer. 1) Manchester United, worth 2.33 billion and 2) Real Madrid, worth 1.88 billion.
The most important part of the 50 is the fact that all 32 NFL teams were in the top 50. It is totally amazing what the NFL has done with their game and its popularity. And despite the recent huge sale of the LA Dodgers, the Yankees still retain the top spot in baseball when it comes to value.
Not surprising that the there are no MLS or NHL teams in the top 50. Also not surprising is that the highest ranked NBA team is the Lakers, coming in at 35th. Unless your the Sacramento Kings, it pays, despite the economic woes of California to have a professional sports franchise in California. You buy it and it grows, not just a small amount, but huge over time.
North Dakota---Obviously, North Dakota is serious about joining the Big Sky Conference. They have just gone out and signed a deal with Front Row Marketing Services to sell their sports sponsorships. Front Row in one of the best and largest companies in the world when it comes to sports sponsorships.
North Dakota has a nice athletic department and in joining the Big Sky, that is a big boost for them and for the Big Sky. Of course it still seems odd to me that the Big Sky continues with the name Big Sky, it just does not fit the league anymore when you have teams in California, Arizona, Utah, Washington, Oregon and North Dakota. With the recent unveiling of the league's new logo, what a golden opportunity was missed to rebrand the entire league, with a new name. Big Sky should be out and write me with your suggestions, what should be in. Thank you.
Jamie Zaninovich---If Zaninovich leaves as Commissioner of the West Coast Conference to become the new athletic director at Stanford, it will be a big loss for the WCC. Zaninovich has done wonderful job of moving the league forward since taking over in 2009, especially bringing in the new teams, BYU and of course Pacific in 2014. Basketball drives the bus in the WCC and it appears to be thriving, with this coming season, predicted to be one of the most competitive of all time.
Of course, the big blank on the Zaninovich's record if he leaves will be the fact he could not convince enough people to bring Seattle into the WCC. I know a little about sports, mainly cause I am old, but for Seattle U., not to be in the WCC is totally sad. The school's profile fits perfectly with the WCC and why would you ever not want the the 14th largest TV market to be part of your league. I guess Stockton, California was a better choice.
So if Zaninovich does leave, I love to offer free advice. The WCC should go after Torre Chisholm, who has done a wonderful job, which is not an easy job, as the athletic director at Portland State.
Anthony Davis---To no one's surprise the number one draft choice in the 2012 NBA draft, has signed a multi-year deal with Nike. Nike gets almost every top athlete in the world, as we all know. What I did learn this week, was surprising to me, Nike is responsible for sales of 96 percent of the basketball sports shoe market worldwide. No matter how you cut it, that is power and sports business dominance at the highest level.
Marketing Outrageously, Redux---In case you have not read this book by Jon Spoelstra, you must, no matter what your interest in life or your profession. Each Sunday, will give you just a little excerpt, which I really hope causes you to read the book.
If you wish to ramp up revenue, here are some thoughts from Spoelstra on sales, the salesperson and the sales manager all working together for the same results.
"The toughest part of a sales call is not making the sale, but everything leading up to it. Making the appointment, juggling the schedule and preparing the material".
"The sales manager should do all of the following things, for the same reason the company president or marketing director should do them", go on calls with sales people and constant communication.
1. Work with sales people, it reenforces why the sales manager is there, to raise revenues.
2. It tells the sales people how important revenue is to the company.
3. It keep the sales manager in touch with the market.
4. It stimulates the creation of new ideas.
5. It generates sales.
Emails to crawscorner@gmail.com and twitter at wchoops.
NOTE: If you are looking to improve you public speaking or presentations, either professionally or personally, please contact us gregorycrawfordspeaks@gmail.com. If you mention you saw this on Greg Crawford On Sports Business, automatic 20 percent off of our fees. Thanks.
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Small College Basketball Coverage, Coming Soon
I write this on the address, in which I first started writing a blog, but have not written one here for sometime. I have some interesting and exciting news, which I wish to share with you.
Starting this fall, I will be creating a website which will be dedicated to covering at this time eight teams and hopefully, once I connect with one more basketball team and its coach, it will be nine teams, which will include eight teams from the metro area and Oregon Tech.
Of course it might seem funny to some that I would do eight metro teams and Oregon Tech, but since I have started writing I have a huge following in Klamath Falls, so I appreciate it very much and that is why they will be included in this basketball website.
I also want to make perfectly that this is in no way an effort to interfere with with the school's athletic website or any coverage the teams receive from other media locally or regionally. I am just a basketball fan and I love "Small College Basketball", so I would hope everyone would endorse what I will be doing, as I will take a different approach and it will be lots of fun, informative and in-depth.
The teams I will be covering for sure are Multnomah University, Concordia, Warner Pacific, Portland Bible, Lewis and Clark, Pacific (Forest Grove) Clackamas Community College and Oregon Tech. Once I am able to make contact with people, I might be adding another NWAACC school.
And since the question has been asked, no, I am not leaving CSNNW.com. I will continue to write Crawford's Court and Crawford's Clubhouse, hopefully for a long period to come.
As for this web address, starting this weekend, I will be writing a sports business blog, which I will be going in-depth into the business of sports, both locally, regionally and nationally, which is kind of exciting to say the least.
If you have any questions please get back to me, crawscorner@gmail.com or twitter @wchoops and most important always, thanks for being loyal readers, you have no idea how much I appreciate you.
Friday, March 23, 2012
A Big Huge Thank You
Basketball season is just about over, of course I will continue to cover the NCAA tournament for CSNNW.com, www.csnnw.com/pages/ncaabasketball/ all the way through the final four, but it is time to say thank you to many people and I am sure I might leave somebody out, who have been there from the beginning for Craw's Corner, but I do need to mention many people. And little did I think I would be writing a blog post on March 23rd with a pile of snow on the ground in Oregon.
Many of you have asked if I will be writing about "small college" basketball next year on this blog and the answer is a big fat YES, but I am not stopping there, as we are gearing up to have a major website that directly talks about small college basketball, if that is even a good term to use. Until basketball starts again for me in September, I will be writing on Crawscorner about various subjects in sports.
So here is a big huge thank you and please would love to hear back from you always. Most importantly, I want to thank all of you who read this blog, the amount might surprise you and I am proud of that fact and appreciate all of you for making it something that you want to read and special.
1. Danny Miles and Bobby Thompson--- They always get back to me, congrats on wonderful year at OIT and another national championship. Danny Miles, basketball hall of fame soon.
2. Curt Bickley---Coach at Multnomah University, class act and very supportive of my work, always willing to help me anyway possible.
3. Brad Barbarick and Larry Black---Two basketball people who always have time for everyone and do such an outstanding job at Concordia with their program, Brad the head coach and Larry the assistant. Thanks also to Andy Jobanek for his big help when I attend Concordia games.
4. Clif Wegner---Head coach at Clackamas Community College, I have known Clif for over 30 years and even when I officiated games for him, he always treated me with so much respect. Clif was one of the first people who stepped up to help me and get the word out on my blog, I am forever grateful.
5. Cody Harrod---SID at Warner Pacific, great person, does such fine work and big help to me.
6. Brady Bergeson and Jamie Stevens---Two rising stars in the coaching business, who it has been a pleasure to communicate with and one day I can say I know those guys, when they are named national coach of the year.
7. Chris Maples----OIT president, nothing but class once again, great supporter of my work and education is in great hands at OIT.
8. Klamath Falls---To everyone of you in K-Falls who constantly read my blog and allow me to send it to you, both for Crawscorner and CSNNW.com, thank you.
9. Blake Timm and Tim Cleary----SID and head coach at Pacific, what wonderful people and Blake you are big time in the SID world, tireless worker and great person.
10. Mark Warkentien---Mark is big time, heck if you are an executive with the New York Knicks, you are big, but he always takes time to write to me and read my blogs. Mark, thank you.
11. Terry Durham---One of my closest friend who has been there with me through thick and thin, who gives so much of himself to other people and never asks anything in return.
12. Mike Trimboli, Marv French, Gordon Kiyokawa, Bob Senseman, Russ Vandehey, Steve Scott, Mitch Copp, Bruce Hubbard, Lanny Bennett, Mike Noonan---Friends everyone should be honored to have, I am humbled each day by these great and awesome people. If everyone had friends like these, the world would be a much better place.
13. Gordon Kiyokawa---He gets mentioned twice, after all he is a terrific business partner, Kiyokawa Crawford Sports Management. But more important he is a wonderful human being, who cares so much about other people and just think, I am lucky enough to know him, let alone be in business with him.
14. Tim Marsh---This blog would not exist if it were not for Tim. He set it up, I have known Tim for over 40 years and he does nothing but help people and asks nothing in return. Always there in tough times.
15. Mike Lund and Andy McClouskey---Both at Portland State and both big time supporters of this blog. You guys are awesome and thanks to you forever and thanks for the great friendship. Never forgotten.
16. Dave Haglund---The new commissioner of the GNAC, formerly of the CCC, big help and awesome work he does.
17. Jon Reed and Kevin McCarthy---Both run superior blogs, but always promote mine, thank you guys always.
18. Chris Haynes, Dwight Jaynes, Terry Gierke, Dale Scott, Dr. Steve Brenner---Thanks for your great support in life and Chris and Dwight, you are wonderful colleagues at CSNNW.com
19. Dr. Dan Beeson, Mike Smithey and John Melonas--They have never forgotten my wonderful parents and our days of much fun in College. Thank you for always thinking of me and my family.
20. Jim Jorgensen---A great, wonderful friend for 32 years and the King of Sacramento Sports.
21.Jack Garrsion and Jon Spoelstra---Such wonderful friends, who were there in tough times, the true sign of friends, thanks to both of you.
22. Dan Belluomini, Jim Clair,Jonathan Heins, Mark Sanchez, Phil Beard, Jim Simms, Ron Callan, Tom Hewitt, Ryan Orton, Ivan Kafoury, Rob Closs, Gavin Amato, Steve Brandon,Ken Kuzmaak---Wonderful friends and wonderful supporters of my writing and big help always. Thank you always and not forgotten.
21. Last but most important always, I am so lucky to have had off the charts parents and a great sister. Some people are not as fortunate, I hit the jackpot with all three.
If I forgot someone, anyone who knows me, it was not intentional and I will correct it. Also, if you are traveling to Eugene in the near future, great new place, "Inn At The 5th", which just happens to be managed by Raandi Ward, wife of Tom Ward, legendary sporstcaster at KVAL and a supporter of mine.
And do not forget for all you medical care, Adventist Medical Center is superb. I am lucky to work there in the Cancer Unit and I work with superior medical people and it is the true definition of teamwork.
emails always welcome, crawscorner@gmail.com or on twitter bark at me on @wchoops
This is not going away, it is just going to get better with the new website and your continued support.
Many of you have asked if I will be writing about "small college" basketball next year on this blog and the answer is a big fat YES, but I am not stopping there, as we are gearing up to have a major website that directly talks about small college basketball, if that is even a good term to use. Until basketball starts again for me in September, I will be writing on Crawscorner about various subjects in sports.
So here is a big huge thank you and please would love to hear back from you always. Most importantly, I want to thank all of you who read this blog, the amount might surprise you and I am proud of that fact and appreciate all of you for making it something that you want to read and special.
1. Danny Miles and Bobby Thompson--- They always get back to me, congrats on wonderful year at OIT and another national championship. Danny Miles, basketball hall of fame soon.
2. Curt Bickley---Coach at Multnomah University, class act and very supportive of my work, always willing to help me anyway possible.
3. Brad Barbarick and Larry Black---Two basketball people who always have time for everyone and do such an outstanding job at Concordia with their program, Brad the head coach and Larry the assistant. Thanks also to Andy Jobanek for his big help when I attend Concordia games.
4. Clif Wegner---Head coach at Clackamas Community College, I have known Clif for over 30 years and even when I officiated games for him, he always treated me with so much respect. Clif was one of the first people who stepped up to help me and get the word out on my blog, I am forever grateful.
5. Cody Harrod---SID at Warner Pacific, great person, does such fine work and big help to me.
6. Brady Bergeson and Jamie Stevens---Two rising stars in the coaching business, who it has been a pleasure to communicate with and one day I can say I know those guys, when they are named national coach of the year.
7. Chris Maples----OIT president, nothing but class once again, great supporter of my work and education is in great hands at OIT.
8. Klamath Falls---To everyone of you in K-Falls who constantly read my blog and allow me to send it to you, both for Crawscorner and CSNNW.com, thank you.
9. Blake Timm and Tim Cleary----SID and head coach at Pacific, what wonderful people and Blake you are big time in the SID world, tireless worker and great person.
10. Mark Warkentien---Mark is big time, heck if you are an executive with the New York Knicks, you are big, but he always takes time to write to me and read my blogs. Mark, thank you.
11. Terry Durham---One of my closest friend who has been there with me through thick and thin, who gives so much of himself to other people and never asks anything in return.
12. Mike Trimboli, Marv French, Gordon Kiyokawa, Bob Senseman, Russ Vandehey, Steve Scott, Mitch Copp, Bruce Hubbard, Lanny Bennett, Mike Noonan---Friends everyone should be honored to have, I am humbled each day by these great and awesome people. If everyone had friends like these, the world would be a much better place.
13. Gordon Kiyokawa---He gets mentioned twice, after all he is a terrific business partner, Kiyokawa Crawford Sports Management. But more important he is a wonderful human being, who cares so much about other people and just think, I am lucky enough to know him, let alone be in business with him.
14. Tim Marsh---This blog would not exist if it were not for Tim. He set it up, I have known Tim for over 40 years and he does nothing but help people and asks nothing in return. Always there in tough times.
15. Mike Lund and Andy McClouskey---Both at Portland State and both big time supporters of this blog. You guys are awesome and thanks to you forever and thanks for the great friendship. Never forgotten.
16. Dave Haglund---The new commissioner of the GNAC, formerly of the CCC, big help and awesome work he does.
17. Jon Reed and Kevin McCarthy---Both run superior blogs, but always promote mine, thank you guys always.
18. Chris Haynes, Dwight Jaynes, Terry Gierke, Dale Scott, Dr. Steve Brenner---Thanks for your great support in life and Chris and Dwight, you are wonderful colleagues at CSNNW.com
19. Dr. Dan Beeson, Mike Smithey and John Melonas--They have never forgotten my wonderful parents and our days of much fun in College. Thank you for always thinking of me and my family.
20. Jim Jorgensen---A great, wonderful friend for 32 years and the King of Sacramento Sports.
21.Jack Garrsion and Jon Spoelstra---Such wonderful friends, who were there in tough times, the true sign of friends, thanks to both of you.
22. Dan Belluomini, Jim Clair,Jonathan Heins, Mark Sanchez, Phil Beard, Jim Simms, Ron Callan, Tom Hewitt, Ryan Orton, Ivan Kafoury, Rob Closs, Gavin Amato, Steve Brandon,Ken Kuzmaak---Wonderful friends and wonderful supporters of my writing and big help always. Thank you always and not forgotten.
21. Last but most important always, I am so lucky to have had off the charts parents and a great sister. Some people are not as fortunate, I hit the jackpot with all three.
If I forgot someone, anyone who knows me, it was not intentional and I will correct it. Also, if you are traveling to Eugene in the near future, great new place, "Inn At The 5th", which just happens to be managed by Raandi Ward, wife of Tom Ward, legendary sporstcaster at KVAL and a supporter of mine.
And do not forget for all you medical care, Adventist Medical Center is superb. I am lucky to work there in the Cancer Unit and I work with superior medical people and it is the true definition of teamwork.
emails always welcome, crawscorner@gmail.com or on twitter bark at me on @wchoops
This is not going away, it is just going to get better with the new website and your continued support.
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