Craw's Sports Biz 59 Seconds

By Greg Crawford, sports biz insider @crawssportsbiz

Who is your pick as the most powerful person in sports business in 2013 and any people to watch in 2014 in the sports business world? Please either comment, or email me at crawscorner@gmail .com

Greg Crawford is the sports business, golf and college basketball insider for CSNNW.com and Comcast SportsNet

Craw's Sports Biz 59 Seconds

By Greg Crawford, sports biz insider @crawssportsbiz and @wchoops

Please read Craw's Sports Business Weekend, on CSNNW.com today, www.csnnw.com/blog/crawfords-court

Greg Crawford is the sports business insider for CSNNW.com and can be reached at crawscorner@gmail.com or GregCrawford@csnnw.com

Craw's Sports Biz 59 Seconds

By Greg Crawford, Sports Biz Insider, @crawssportsbiz and @wchoops

It should be no surprise that Nike leads the shoe competition in the NBA. Currently 278 players wear Nike, the closest competition is Adidas with 71. The most popular Nike shoe worn by players is the 2013 Nike Hyperdunk, worn at present by 80 players.

Greg Crawford covers sports biz, college basketball and golf for CSNNW.com and is also a regular panelist on Talkin' Ducks basketball, which will debut in 2014 on January 6th at 8:00 p.m. You can email Greg at gregorycrawfordspeaks@gmail.com or GregCrawford@csnnw.com

Family First

When I watch interviews of professional athletes I always smile at the athlete who thank their family.  After all, if not for a supportive family many of them would not be where they are today.  Families support young athletes financially, with transportation, equipment, moral support, and other countless ways.  Family is the single most important factor in a young athlete’s life.

We as coaches need to keep this in mind.  Often we look at Holiday Break, Spring Break, and Summer Vacations as time to get in an extra practice, another tournament, or camps.  These are all good things to have as options for young athletes, but we need to make them just that, options.  We need to draw a line between making a child choose between their family and their team

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 I have been on all sides of this equation.  I have been the athlete, the coach, and the parent.  By far the toughest role I have played is that of the parent.  Because of that, I have tried to make significant changes as a coach.  My son came home from a team meeting and informed me of the team calendar.  They had a full schedule for Spring Break as well as most of the summer.  I had already planned family vacations for Spring Break as well as a few things in the summer.  I was conflicted.  I have always told my son he needs to be dedicated to his sports.  But if I cancelled the trips, would I as a parent be choosing sports over family?  Would missing one or two practices and maybe a game make or break my son’s career?  In the end, I stepped in as a father, and we went on vacation

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My son went on to have a fabulous year in sports.  His playing time was never jeopardized by going on vacation.  He missed very little in fact.  At the end of that year I asked him what the highlight of his year was.  He told me he had two.  The first was the Spring Break vacation we took, and the second was a tournament he went to with his team.

I discovered my son had balance.  We found a good balance with his sports and his family.  As a coach I want balance from my athletes.  A balance between the team and their family.  I see the significance for having extra practices and tournament during breaks.  Not only do they make the athletes better, but it also gives kids something to do other than just sit at home playing dreadful video games.  But in my emails to parents about my expectations during breaks, I always have a preference.  The preference being family comes first.

A Chinese Proverb says “A family in harmony will prosper in everything.”  Coaches, please keep this in mind as we think about what we demand of time.  If an athlete has balance with sports and family, harmony in both will be achieved. 

Craw's Sports Biz 59 Seconds

By Greg Crawford, sports biz insider @crawssportsbiz

It is 10 days until the BCS Championship game between Auburn and Florida State and just over 5,000 tickets are left for the game. At an average price of the $419, this is almost assured the cheapest price to see any major bowl game in the last five years. Pasadena awaits this game, but probably not with a full house.

Greg Crawford covers college basketball, golf and sports business for CSNNW.com. www.csnnw.com/blog/crawfords-court

Craw's Sports Biz 59 Seconds

By Greg Crawford, sports biz insider @crawssportsbiz

Were the sleeved jerseys all NBA teams wore on Christmas Day a big hit? You would have to say yes, not even based on any sales figures as of yet, but based on the fact as of this morning, over 1,000 articles were written about the jerseys. Free marketing is a very good price.

Greg Crawford covers college basketball, golf and sports biz for CSNNW.com and every Sunday you can read Craw's Sports Business Weekend at www.csnnw.com/blog/crawfords-court

To email Greg, crawscorner@gmail.com

Craw's Sports Biz 59 Seconds

By Greg Crawford, Sports Biz Insider @wchoops and @crawssportsbiz

Rumblings are about that a new NBA TV deal could be struck as soon as February and it might be for $1.7 billion, which would get the attention of everyone. Stand by. It would take affect in 2016-17.

To read more of Greg Crawford on basketball, golf and sports biz, CSNNW.com Crawford's Court and Crawford's Clubhouse, www.csnnw.com/blog/crawfords-court and www.csnnw.com/blog/crawfords-clubhouse