Twenty year old Michael Beasley was the second overall pick in the 2008 NBA draft. In August, Beasley, who plays for the Miami Heat and finished his rookie season as Miami's second-leading scorer behind Dwayne Wade, checked himself into a Houston rehabilitation facility to seek help for psychological issues and apparent drug use.
While it is hard to imagine someone throwing away this amazing opportunity, it has become a much too familiar scenario for younger athletes who are placed in positions with money, power and fame. The whirlwind learning experience of professional athletics can either provide a trajectory for maturity and success or can be a quick decent into personal and professional ruin.
In the case of Michael Beasley, was it possible to predict he would have a hard time handling the pressures that suddenly appeared when he hit the jackpot by being such a hot commodity in the draft? In 2009 Beasley was fined multiple times for violations of team policy and right before rehab he posted disturbing comments and a photo that indicated possible drug use. Just a few years earlier he was an amazing high school star, but he attended six high schools in four different states. As a psychotherapist, I wonder if some of these events could have contributed to feelings of instability. If Michael came to see me as a psychotherapy client, I would keep this history in mind.
As someone who counsels young athletes in a variety of sports, my concern peaked as I read Michael's story. The following is an open letter to Michael Beasley and any other young athlete who chooses to make the transition to professional athletics.
Dear Michael:
I don't believe that you want to throw away this opportunity. I think you love basketball and want all the benefits that come with success. Your tattoo of a large basketball on your left shoulder surrounded by the text, "married to the game" is an example of your close identity with the sport.
With this in mind, I offer you the following ten steps. These steps are not only essential for your success and longevity as a pro basketball player, but will aide your development into the man you can become beyond the sport.
Ten Steps For Professional Success:
1) Recognize The Opportunity You Have Been Given
You've completed the athletic pre-requisites to play professional basketball, racking up impressive awards and setting records both in high school and in your year at Kansas State. You're now in the enviable position to challenge yourself and hone your skills as you compete against the greatest players in the game.
You've come this far, now honor your hard work, dreams, and talent and do what it takes to put drugs/alcohol to rest so you can get on with the gift you offer to the game. You need to act quickly, though, because time won't wait for you and there are lots of young talented players and veterans looking for a window to get their shot on a team.
This window of opportunity won't remain open for long. Miami Heat President, Pat Riley recently said, "I'm not going to forgive anybody's transgressions just merely because they are 20 years old." Can you blame him? Miami Heat is paying you 4ml. plus a year. Remind me again where else you can collect this type of coin as a college drop-out? The good news is basketball is what you love and are emotionally connected to--take your shot Michael.
2) Have The Courage To Confront Your Fears
Psychotherapy is a great and confidential place to sort out and face the emotional demons you carry from the past that may be presenting stumbling blocks to your success in the present. The franchise, management, your teammates and fans are not your enemies. Identify and explore the stumbling blocks you create or have brought from your past into your present. Drugs and alcohol are great distractions which numb you from your fears. Numbing is also the fastest way to extinguish your potential for beneficial growth.
Check out ex NFL super star quarterback, Warren Moon's new book, "Never Give Up On Your Dreams." Moon is the only player ever inducted into both the Pro Football and Canadian Football hall of fame. As a seven year old he lost his father to alcoholism and became man of the house caring for his mother and six sisters throughout his life. In his football journey he fought coaches who tried to dissuade him from becoming a quarterback because, at the time, it was believed a black man didn't have what it took to lead an offense. Moon became a well respected and winning quarterback in spite of death threats, racist taunts and the prejudice that he endured throughout his career.
Moon didn't let his fears, resentments or burdens prevent him from reaching his professional dreams. In his book he credits his decision to go into psychotherapy with bringing clarity to his life. You might want to try this.
3) Create A Real Support Team - Versus A Coat Tail Posse
You have one foot on the big stage and people are eager to go along for a ride on your coat tails. Hanging out with people who encourage you to take risks that can damage your public/professional image isn't the support that will help build your future. Your athletic talent and competitive success has given you this opportunity. Surround yourself with mentors and friends who also have earned their way to success.People that have earned their success can give you advice and support to help you cultivate your career. If you happen to be an anti-establishment kind of guy you will wield more influence in making changes in your industry by first bringing positive attention to yourself.
4) Be A Team Player
In high school and college you can be the big fish in a smaller pool of talent. Currently, you are a newbie in the biggest, strongest, most competitive environment of your sport. You need to build up your competency in this new arena. Develop relationships and credibility with your teammates and prove to yourself that you are worthy of transitioning into this new role. Be a team player. Your sphere of influence is representative of the franchise, the management and the sport of basketball. Teammates depend on your committed preparation and involvement to succeed on the court.
If you don't fit into the team culture of this franchise, make yourself attractive to other teams. Management takes note of the assets players bring on board. Examples of doing your job include: scoring points, making assists, good defense, works hard in season and off season, adds positive image and energy to the franchise, gets along with co-workers (teammates).
5) Develop A Professional Game Plan On And Off The Court
It's useful to realize no one owes you anything and you are not a finished product. You are at the beginning of your career. Players aren't drafted as high as you unless scouts and coaches recognize ability and potential. That's your value card.You have abundant access to resources through your agent and through the franchise.Use these valuable resources to develop a professional plan for yourself on and off the court.
Accept where you are in this moment. Know what obstacles you are creating and what obstacles are coming from outside of yourself both on and off the court. Find the best physical trainer, nutritionist and sport psychology consultant to work with. Make sure the people you hire to be a part of your personal team are people who can advise you and who are willing to confront you when they feel you are slipping off the track of your goals. Sit down with each of them and map out your professional needs. It is best to have a pre-season, in-season, and post-season plan. All these can be modified to adjust for unforseen needs that arise.
Even with a wildly successful sports career, you will retire from basketball a young man. In your off seasons begin lining up opportunities to talk with players in a variety of sports who have transitioned into business after their playing days. Being 20 years old it's hard to think this far ahead, but if you begin your research now you will have a better understanding of the value of your position as a player.
6) Don't Feed The Media
You have already made a few slip-ups with some things you have said to the media: "I'm 20 you can't expect me to be 30. I am going to make mistakes, do dumb stuff and learn. How mature you want me to be?" Mature or not, do not create the opportunity for negative press. When speaking to the media, remember that what you say will follow you. Even in the heat of the moment, you always need to be thinking about the image that you want to present about yourself and your team. If you whine about the team and your teammates the media will be more than happy to take this and spin it to entertain their audience.
You will do well to not take the things that the media writes about you personally. The media's job is to sell information and stories. Save your story for the auto-biography you are entitled to write at the conclusion of your career. At the completion of your career you will be in a position to articulate your message to fans and upcoming players who can learn from your professional journey.
7) Take Risks That Benefit Not Derail You
This section may seem a bit harsh, but at 20 years old your brain is not yet fully developed. The last part of the brain to develop are the frontal lobes, which govern the area of risk taking and awareness of consequences. This works for you and against you. Smart risk taking on the court is exciting and can pay off. Poor risk taking on and off the court can leave you by the side of the road without a job. Avoid becoming an asterisk in professional sports. What do you envision on your epitaph as a player? "He had great potential but due to immaturity succumbed to the pull of temptation and threw it all away." Or "He had a messy beginning but developed into a player who impacted the game, the fans, and realized his potential as a player."
8) Charity: Do Things For Other People
This may feel like a stretch for you right now, but think about the ways your position as a player enables you to inspire and offer hope to others through your acts. The NBA has multiple opportunities for you to associate your name with charities and causes that give purpose to your life. Talk to other players or participate in activities with them and find out how being involved in this way has helped enrich their lives. At some point it will dawn on you that the game of basketball and what is represents is much bigger than you.
9) Watch Out For Relapse
Once you complete your rehab program stay on track and take care of yourself. This includes not beating yourself up emotionally or lashing out at others when things don't go the way you plan. It also includes ongoing help and support through things like psychotherapy, 12 step meetings and talking with others who have been through what you've been through. It sounds like you've gotten a good start during your rehab program. Stay alert to the signs and symptoms of relapse. Increases in your frustration level, belief that everyone is against you, resentment, misdirected aggressiveness, impatience, cockiness, self-pity, focusing more on what is wrong in your environment instead of what you can do to change or succeed within it are all warning signs of relapse and should be heeded.
10) Develop A Vision Of Where You Want To Be In The Next 3-5 Years
This needn't be set in stone, but create a vision as to your goals as a player and beyond. Then make sure that every decision you make fits with that vision. If the decision doesn't advance the steps towards your short and long term vision/goals, reconsider acting on that decision. Develop an array of safety values that give you time to think before acting.
These Ten Steps are suggestions for you to move forward in your career. Change will not come easily, although I believe making the effort to change will bring you more reward than you can imagine. It is essential that you make a total commitment and do the work you need both personally and professionally. If you skip out on the work and don't give yourself every opportunity to succeed - there's a good chance you will fail. It took time to build your playing skills it will take time to build your professional life. You've arrived this far and I hope you make the choices that provide the best avenues for you to discover how good a player you can become.
As of this writing, Beasley after a month long stay in a Houston rehab center has rejoined the Miami Heat and is taking part in the voluntary off season work-outs.
*This article and additional information can be found on www.accessathletes.com
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
John Gilchrist - Professional Ascent
Part 2 and 3 of John Gilchrist's growth and reinvention of himself as a contender for
a player's position in the N.B.A. is now available to read on Access Athletes
www.accessathletes.com
John is currently playing for the Adelaide 36er's in the National Basketball
League (N.B.L.) in Australia. The 36er's are one of the most winning teams in the history of the league.
a player's position in the N.B.A. is now available to read on Access Athletes
www.accessathletes.com
John is currently playing for the Adelaide 36er's in the National Basketball
League (N.B.L.) in Australia. The 36er's are one of the most winning teams in the history of the league.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Passion for Professional Success
In 2004, John Gilchrist was on a roll. He helped lead the Maryland Terrapins to win the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament, the school's first ACC Championship in 20 years.In the tournament final against Duke, Gilchrist proved he thrives under the pressure of big moments, as he lead the Terps back from a 12-point deficit with less than five minutes left in the game. At the end of the game, Gilchrist was unanimously named the ACC Tournament MVP. NBA scouts were clamoring about his ability and his draft stock was very high.
Gilchrist decided not to cash in on his famous ACC performance and put his NBA dreams on hold. In 2005, when Gilchrist returned to College Park, the Terps were ranked top 15 in the nation, but they closed out their regular season, 7-9 in the conference. Although the team made it to the ACC Tournament, they lost in the first round. After the team's poor showing, John Gilchrist's opportunity to be drafted for the NBA began to dim. Gilchrist chose to leave Maryland at the end of his junior year and gamble on being drafted into the NBA. Despite having the physical tools of a solid NBA point guard with matching skills and athleticism, Gilchrist was not drafted.
John Gilchrist demonstrated that he had NBA talent in his college play. He discovered, though that talent brings the athlete into the game and gives him a forum to play, but to take it to the next level-the professional level-requires more than physical skills and the desire to win.
Recently, I had the opportunity to talk with John Gilchrist. This interview is a look at where he is today in his professional basketball career and why he continues to be motivated and passionate about reaching his goal of playing in the NBA.
This is the first installment of a three part interview with Gilchrist.
Part 1: The Journey
SZ: At what age did you realize your passion to play/compete in basketball?
JG: I started playing in the little leagues. My father put me in the game when I was about five. My dad was my coach the first five years and made it serious from an early age. When I was nine or ten, my dad passed the coaching role onto other people. He wanted me to get used to being coached by other people. He stayed involved in my career by overseeing what the coaches were doing. My dad picked out all the places for me to play and provided guidance until I got to college.
SZ: As a kid, who were the athletic role models you looked up to? What qualities, work ethic, style of play, skills or emotions on the court did they have that attracted you to them as role models?
JG: Basically just the guys that were from my area in Virginia. In my area, we don't have a professional basketball team. When you look at the sports page, the best high school teams are the ones that the kids tend to follow and go to the games. Some of the best players that came out of my area are like, Alonzo Mourning; he graduated from a high school about 10 minutes from my high school. He was a local hero. He worked hard and played hard. Allen Iverson's high school was about 25 minutes away and we'd travel to watch his games.
On a professional level, I didn't have a specific role model, but I watched Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan...the typical players. I never saw these guys play in person, but when I got a little older, I got the opportunity to meet Michael Jordan working at one of his basketball camps when I was in college. It was awesome. At the time, I didn't notice all the attributes as far as how good a team they were [Chicago Bulls], until I got older and began to understand the game in a different light. When I was younger, I just liked the highlights and the shots they made.
Michael Jordan is still the best guard and the best basketball player that ever played. He was a great role model, but I grew up watching and idolizing the players that laid the path that were from this area. At the time, meeting the local stars was a big as meeting Michael Jordan. Meeting Michael Jordan was definitely an experience because I knew that the average person wouldn't get that opportunity. It was great. He's definitely an icon for what he's done for the game period.
SZ: When did you or a coach/parent recognize that you had enough talent to take your game to the next level and compete in the NBA? Was there a particular moment that you or someone else recognized this? Or did you come to this conclusion through a series of events?
JG: Basically I have been pushed in that direction, as funny as this sounds, for a long time. it's been kind of hard and it's still a little difficult at times-things not flowing as smoothly as people had expected. Like a lot of people, including my family and people around me had always expected it. I was good in junior high school and in high school and had the skills then. Everyone asks me when I'm home where have I been playing? People ask why haven't we seen you in the NBA? I tell them I've been playing in Europe and here and there in the minor leagues. I kind of down play it. It's still a goal [to play in the NBA] that is burning inside of me.
SZ: John when was the shift for you away from people saying, you have talent, to actually owning your talent and committing to the work that has to be done to become a professional basketball player?
JG: I had a lot of pressure on me even in high school. That's when it began and it basically has forced me to grow up quicker. People hold me at a different level. I make a mistake and you know what I mean it's so magnified. It's been like that for awhile. As time goes along, I have learned to better manage it. It really helps me out with my job because it helps me to realize that I never looked at myself as anything special compared to anyone else. So it's like in order to be successful, you can't do what everyone else does when people are watching you. That was the hardest thing for me to accept.
I'll be 25 this month. This year has definitely been like a process that's helped me mature because I took some time away from playing overseas. I came back home and was able to be a part of my community. I volunteered for a lot of different programs around here. I volunteered at my church and I assistant coached a high school team. Anytime anyone calls me and asks me to come over and talk to kids I do, because I've been home. But it really affected me in a sense because before it was all about me. I wanted to be as good as I could be and that was that. I never fully understood the magnitude of the effect that I had on other people. This year through volunteering it dawned on me that people look up to me as I looked up to the local stars as a kid.
Before I used to hear people say, "John do this or John do that," but I didn't realize how when you're put in a certain position you can't do the things that everyone else is doing. It used to be confusing to me when I was in college. I put on glasses for a lot of things. I didn't really understand. An example is if the whole campus is at a party and I go to the party the next day all these people are like, "he was at a party."
SZ: So if you went to a party with five friends and were messing around and something happens, the focus is on you for messing around and being at the party, not the others.
JG: Right. I didn't understand it. But you learn from those mistakes. Sometimes it doesn't dawn on people until it hits home, you know.
SZ: Did you feel you had distractions that you weren't prepared for mentally and socially in 2004 when you were projected to be an NBA lottery pick if you entered the draft?
JG: Definitely, because there was a lot circulating. On a personal note, everyone was trying to position themselves to get closer and get something from me. I was hearing stuff that was going on around. People were telling me about what people were doing back home.
SZ: People were setting up to freeload off you and your success.
JG: Definitely. The thing about it was it was kind of inevitable. I kind of invited it. Like I said before, like all those athletes that I was used to seeing did it like that. All the guys from here that used to say what they were going to do with their money. When I interviewed with the NBA teams and said that, they thought I was crazy. I just thought this is what you do-take care of your family, take care of your friends, and that was that.
You know it was like I kind of felt that a lot of people weren't doing what they were supposed to be doing on their own because they were waiting around to see what I was going to do. They thought they were going to work for my business.
SZ: People around you weren't focusing on your growth as an athlete. They were focusing on your growth from what they could get from you in terms of the monetary rewards that come with participating at that level?
JG: Right, exactly. For them it kind of worked hand in hand. The better that you do with growth as an athlete, you will be able to be more successful and make more money. But the thing about it is that I felt my maturity was the main thing because no one will really tell me the truth. It's always been like that. If I had a good game but got in trouble at school it didn't make a difference as long as I played sports.
SZ: Did the teachers let you slip by in school because of your basketball success?
JG: Right, it's always been like that. I feel like a lot of athletes come up that way. You get used to the treatment.
Part 2: The Lessons and Part 3: Alerted and Prepared follows John's journey and growth as a professional basketball player. Part 2 & 3 will be published on Access Athletes www.accessathletes.com in the following weeks.
I would like to thank John Gilchrist for taking the time out of his busy schedule to do this lengthy, up close and personal interview. Many thanks to Matthew Allinson, Founder & C.E.O. for creating this opportunity.
Gilchrist decided not to cash in on his famous ACC performance and put his NBA dreams on hold. In 2005, when Gilchrist returned to College Park, the Terps were ranked top 15 in the nation, but they closed out their regular season, 7-9 in the conference. Although the team made it to the ACC Tournament, they lost in the first round. After the team's poor showing, John Gilchrist's opportunity to be drafted for the NBA began to dim. Gilchrist chose to leave Maryland at the end of his junior year and gamble on being drafted into the NBA. Despite having the physical tools of a solid NBA point guard with matching skills and athleticism, Gilchrist was not drafted.
John Gilchrist demonstrated that he had NBA talent in his college play. He discovered, though that talent brings the athlete into the game and gives him a forum to play, but to take it to the next level-the professional level-requires more than physical skills and the desire to win.
Recently, I had the opportunity to talk with John Gilchrist. This interview is a look at where he is today in his professional basketball career and why he continues to be motivated and passionate about reaching his goal of playing in the NBA.
This is the first installment of a three part interview with Gilchrist.
Part 1: The Journey
SZ: At what age did you realize your passion to play/compete in basketball?
JG: I started playing in the little leagues. My father put me in the game when I was about five. My dad was my coach the first five years and made it serious from an early age. When I was nine or ten, my dad passed the coaching role onto other people. He wanted me to get used to being coached by other people. He stayed involved in my career by overseeing what the coaches were doing. My dad picked out all the places for me to play and provided guidance until I got to college.
SZ: As a kid, who were the athletic role models you looked up to? What qualities, work ethic, style of play, skills or emotions on the court did they have that attracted you to them as role models?
JG: Basically just the guys that were from my area in Virginia. In my area, we don't have a professional basketball team. When you look at the sports page, the best high school teams are the ones that the kids tend to follow and go to the games. Some of the best players that came out of my area are like, Alonzo Mourning; he graduated from a high school about 10 minutes from my high school. He was a local hero. He worked hard and played hard. Allen Iverson's high school was about 25 minutes away and we'd travel to watch his games.
On a professional level, I didn't have a specific role model, but I watched Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan...the typical players. I never saw these guys play in person, but when I got a little older, I got the opportunity to meet Michael Jordan working at one of his basketball camps when I was in college. It was awesome. At the time, I didn't notice all the attributes as far as how good a team they were [Chicago Bulls], until I got older and began to understand the game in a different light. When I was younger, I just liked the highlights and the shots they made.
Michael Jordan is still the best guard and the best basketball player that ever played. He was a great role model, but I grew up watching and idolizing the players that laid the path that were from this area. At the time, meeting the local stars was a big as meeting Michael Jordan. Meeting Michael Jordan was definitely an experience because I knew that the average person wouldn't get that opportunity. It was great. He's definitely an icon for what he's done for the game period.
SZ: When did you or a coach/parent recognize that you had enough talent to take your game to the next level and compete in the NBA? Was there a particular moment that you or someone else recognized this? Or did you come to this conclusion through a series of events?
JG: Basically I have been pushed in that direction, as funny as this sounds, for a long time. it's been kind of hard and it's still a little difficult at times-things not flowing as smoothly as people had expected. Like a lot of people, including my family and people around me had always expected it. I was good in junior high school and in high school and had the skills then. Everyone asks me when I'm home where have I been playing? People ask why haven't we seen you in the NBA? I tell them I've been playing in Europe and here and there in the minor leagues. I kind of down play it. It's still a goal [to play in the NBA] that is burning inside of me.
SZ: John when was the shift for you away from people saying, you have talent, to actually owning your talent and committing to the work that has to be done to become a professional basketball player?
JG: I had a lot of pressure on me even in high school. That's when it began and it basically has forced me to grow up quicker. People hold me at a different level. I make a mistake and you know what I mean it's so magnified. It's been like that for awhile. As time goes along, I have learned to better manage it. It really helps me out with my job because it helps me to realize that I never looked at myself as anything special compared to anyone else. So it's like in order to be successful, you can't do what everyone else does when people are watching you. That was the hardest thing for me to accept.
I'll be 25 this month. This year has definitely been like a process that's helped me mature because I took some time away from playing overseas. I came back home and was able to be a part of my community. I volunteered for a lot of different programs around here. I volunteered at my church and I assistant coached a high school team. Anytime anyone calls me and asks me to come over and talk to kids I do, because I've been home. But it really affected me in a sense because before it was all about me. I wanted to be as good as I could be and that was that. I never fully understood the magnitude of the effect that I had on other people. This year through volunteering it dawned on me that people look up to me as I looked up to the local stars as a kid.
Before I used to hear people say, "John do this or John do that," but I didn't realize how when you're put in a certain position you can't do the things that everyone else is doing. It used to be confusing to me when I was in college. I put on glasses for a lot of things. I didn't really understand. An example is if the whole campus is at a party and I go to the party the next day all these people are like, "he was at a party."
SZ: So if you went to a party with five friends and were messing around and something happens, the focus is on you for messing around and being at the party, not the others.
JG: Right. I didn't understand it. But you learn from those mistakes. Sometimes it doesn't dawn on people until it hits home, you know.
SZ: Did you feel you had distractions that you weren't prepared for mentally and socially in 2004 when you were projected to be an NBA lottery pick if you entered the draft?
JG: Definitely, because there was a lot circulating. On a personal note, everyone was trying to position themselves to get closer and get something from me. I was hearing stuff that was going on around. People were telling me about what people were doing back home.
SZ: People were setting up to freeload off you and your success.
JG: Definitely. The thing about it was it was kind of inevitable. I kind of invited it. Like I said before, like all those athletes that I was used to seeing did it like that. All the guys from here that used to say what they were going to do with their money. When I interviewed with the NBA teams and said that, they thought I was crazy. I just thought this is what you do-take care of your family, take care of your friends, and that was that.
You know it was like I kind of felt that a lot of people weren't doing what they were supposed to be doing on their own because they were waiting around to see what I was going to do. They thought they were going to work for my business.
SZ: People around you weren't focusing on your growth as an athlete. They were focusing on your growth from what they could get from you in terms of the monetary rewards that come with participating at that level?
JG: Right, exactly. For them it kind of worked hand in hand. The better that you do with growth as an athlete, you will be able to be more successful and make more money. But the thing about it is that I felt my maturity was the main thing because no one will really tell me the truth. It's always been like that. If I had a good game but got in trouble at school it didn't make a difference as long as I played sports.
SZ: Did the teachers let you slip by in school because of your basketball success?
JG: Right, it's always been like that. I feel like a lot of athletes come up that way. You get used to the treatment.
Part 2: The Lessons and Part 3: Alerted and Prepared follows John's journey and growth as a professional basketball player. Part 2 & 3 will be published on Access Athletes www.accessathletes.com in the following weeks.
I would like to thank John Gilchrist for taking the time out of his busy schedule to do this lengthy, up close and personal interview. Many thanks to Matthew Allinson, Founder & C.E.O. for creating this opportunity.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Access Athletes
Access Athletes is a social and professional platform for athletes and the sports community. Access Athletes offers its members - athletes, (high school, college, and professional) sports professionals, the media, business, and sports fans - valuable tools, information and networking opportunities. Most notably, Access Athletes features "The Real Athlete Blog," which is an exclusive informational source dedicated to athletes. "The Real Athlete Blog" provides articles from qualified sports industry professionals about an athlete's performance, everyday life, and post-athletic career.
Interview with Matthew Allinson-Founder and C.E.O.
www.accessathletes.com
www.accessathletes.com/blog
SZ: Matthew your academic history includes, Penn State U. with a double major in Labor Studies and Industrial Relations and Psychology; a Fulbright Scholarship in Jamaica; and Ohio State U., Moritz College of Law where you obtained your J.D. with a concentration in Labor, Intellectual Property and Sports Entertainment Law. Where along the line were you inspired to create Access Athletes and what was your inspiration?
Matt: Since middle school, I had aspired to become a sports agent. When I was growing up, my Dad and I would discuss all the latest news from the sports section of The Baltimore Sun. Often the conversation would center on the legal woes and poor decisions made by many athletes. I could never understand how someone who had everything going for them could throw it all away in a heartbeat. As a competitive athlete, I not only wanted to start helping athletes, but also felt that I had a duty to do so. So, I came up with a plan to attend law school and eventually become a sports agent. This way, I would have the necessary background to counsel athletes on how to avoid certain pitfalls and assist them in developing successful careers.
Along the way, I worked for the NFL Players Association and a few well-known sports agents. It seems as though I was on the fast-track to becoming an agent until my last year of law school. In the spring of 2007, I was at the gym working out with a buddy and the idea to create a website for athletes came to me. After collaborating with my business partner at the time, we decided to file for an LLC and then launch a website, AccessAthletes.com. The website was developed while I was studying for the bar exam that summer. I would not recommend that anyone undertake such an ambitious endeavor (especially since my girlfriend almost broke up with me). Looking back, it was definitely not a well-planned decision on my part, but I have no regrets and I'm thankful for my naivety at the time and the ability to bear down to get the job done.
In the fall of 2007, Access Athletes was officially launched. I ended up putting my goal of becoming an agent on hold to pursue my new venture, as well as gain invaluable experience working as a full-time labor attorney with a major entertainment union in Washington, D.C.
Access Athletes has afforded me the opportunity to establish my own niche in the sports industry as a trusted athlete educator. Every day, I am able to live out my dream of assisting athletes with their athletic careers, whether it involves the college recruiting process, referring them to sports professionals and specialists, or simply helping them navigate through personal matters. It is a very fulfilling experience, especially since I am doing what I love to do. This is my passion and I wouldn't trade it for anything.
SZ: In what unique ways is your audience able to utilize and benefit from the social/professional platform that is provided on this website?
Matt: As it stands right now, Access Athletes is unique in that it caters to athletes of all levels-high school, college, and professional-and provides them with access to top-notch educational resources and all the major players in the sports industry that they need to interact with to forge a balanced career.
The existing networking framework allows our members to create a profile that displays their vital information and establish relationships with various individuals in the sports industry to advance their careers. Our featured members must go through a verification process to validate their identities before they are given access to the community. This way, our members can be assured that they will have a legitimate networking experience with credible individuals. The networking platform was also designed to be NCAA-compliant and afford all the high school and collegiate athlete members who use our service a safe networking experience.
As a complement to the social and professional networking platform, "The Real Athlete Blog" (Real Content for Real Athletes), serves as the website's exclusive educational resource. The blog was created to assist athletes by providing them guidance, information, and access to services to improve their athletic performances and lives. One way we accomplish this is by doing the "Athlete Chat" series," in which we conduct interviews with a wide-range of athletes and ask them questions that shed light on an athlete's career. We utilize the insight of athletes and their experiences to educate other athletes on topics that are relevant to having a successful career, anything from being recruited to moving overseas to play professional ball. We have several other popular columns that cater to athletes, including, The Athlete Weekly Rundown, Sports Business Review, and Trusted Athlete Educator. We also cover sports professionals in our Interview with a Sports Professional series. At the end of the day, we live up to our mantra of "Access is Key" and offer exclusive content from top athletes and qualified sports professionals that you can't find anywhere else on the web.
* Note: Access Athletes provided an exclusive interview with Calvin Borel, the Kentucky Derby winning jockey, days after his victory ride on Mine That Bird.
SZ: Are athletes, coaches etc. able to request specific topical information? If so, are you finding surprises as to the topics that are being requested? What are some of the unique topics asked about? Not "x" but pg." :-)
Matt: It's funny that you asked this question. I usually receive questions from athletes and sports professionals via e-mail on a whole host of topics. We just recently launched two new features on "The Real Athlete Blog" that allow people to request information in a more organized fashion. The first one-"Ask Access Athletes" - allows a blog visitor to pose any question that they would like answered about the sports industry. When we receive an inquiry, we will research it and get back to you as soon as we can.
The second feature is called, "Ask the Expert." I'm very excited about this new program. It will feature qualified experts from the sports industry who will answer questions from our readers. All the reader needs to do is to submit a question in the form provided on the "Ask the Expert" section whenever an expert is on the "hot seat" fielding questions. At the end of the week, we will post the questions and answers in the "Ask the Expert" column. This feature will further solidify the educational focus of the site and offer athletes and other readers a chance to pick the brains of the experts.
To answer your question though, I wouldn't say I'm ever surprised about the topics that are requested. They really run the gamut from information about camps, to NCAA eligibility and compliance, to assistance with the agent selection process. There is no rhyme or reason. I have received a myriad of questions from athletes at all different levels pertaining to both on and off-the-field topics.
Recently, one former professional athlete asked me questions pertaining to producing a documentary, generating buzz, and securing a distribution deal. I also had a top prep athlete ask me to help him with his search to transfer to another prep school. Admittedly, this request has taken a great deal of research and our main interest is assisting the athlete in finding a school where he can thrive both academically and athletically.
SZ: How do you envision Access Athletes expanding its offerings in the future?
Matt: In the near future, we will be launching a community application that will take the social networking platform to the next level. This application will be the crux of our business model and will lay the foundation for the website to eventually become a full-service platform. We will also be opening an educational arm of the website that will offer athletes abundant resources, seminars, and other career-enriching opportunities. This will further reinforce our role as the trusted athlete educator, building upon the tremendous success we have experienced with "The Real Athlete Blog" as an educational tool. Without giving away too much more, we will also launch a consulting wing that will specialize in assisting athletes and other members of the sports industry with their business ventures. Stay tuned for some hot new features and applications just around the corner!
SZ: What are the fun, frivolous elements for your audience interacting through Access Athletes?
Matt: Networking with individuals who share similar interests is naturally a fun activity, especially when they can help contribute to advancing your career. In terms of specific features, the frivolous elements include messaging other members, creating discussions by commenting on the blogs, or just showcasing your accomplishments for more exposure with the major players in the sports industry, whether it is other athletes or sports professionals.
SZ: Do you have any favorite motivational stories, tips or quotes that guide you?
Matt: I have always read a ton of motivational books and compiled new inspirational quotes to keep me heading in a positive direction as I make my ascent to the top of the sports industry.
There is one particular story that stands out as my most motivational moment to date. During my freshman year at Penn State, I had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hear the legendary Joe Paterno speak and meet him afterward. I was so inspired by his speech that I wrote down a list of quotes from the speech when I got home, making sure that I reproduced them verbatim. Since JoePa's speech, I have always kept this list of memorable quotes up on my wall and it has served as extra motivation to keep pushing myself to new levels. I will leave you with my favorite quote uttered by JoePa that night. It embodies the spirit of Access Athletes and everything I have accomplished up until this point and plan to accomplish in the near future. "If you never have the courage to try, you won't succeed. You have to have confidence. 'I will do this.'
Matt- thank you for taking the time for this interview. You are well on your way to creating a significant niche in the sports world!
Interview with Matthew Allinson-Founder and C.E.O.
www.accessathletes.com
www.accessathletes.com/blog
SZ: Matthew your academic history includes, Penn State U. with a double major in Labor Studies and Industrial Relations and Psychology; a Fulbright Scholarship in Jamaica; and Ohio State U., Moritz College of Law where you obtained your J.D. with a concentration in Labor, Intellectual Property and Sports Entertainment Law. Where along the line were you inspired to create Access Athletes and what was your inspiration?
Matt: Since middle school, I had aspired to become a sports agent. When I was growing up, my Dad and I would discuss all the latest news from the sports section of The Baltimore Sun. Often the conversation would center on the legal woes and poor decisions made by many athletes. I could never understand how someone who had everything going for them could throw it all away in a heartbeat. As a competitive athlete, I not only wanted to start helping athletes, but also felt that I had a duty to do so. So, I came up with a plan to attend law school and eventually become a sports agent. This way, I would have the necessary background to counsel athletes on how to avoid certain pitfalls and assist them in developing successful careers.
Along the way, I worked for the NFL Players Association and a few well-known sports agents. It seems as though I was on the fast-track to becoming an agent until my last year of law school. In the spring of 2007, I was at the gym working out with a buddy and the idea to create a website for athletes came to me. After collaborating with my business partner at the time, we decided to file for an LLC and then launch a website, AccessAthletes.com. The website was developed while I was studying for the bar exam that summer. I would not recommend that anyone undertake such an ambitious endeavor (especially since my girlfriend almost broke up with me). Looking back, it was definitely not a well-planned decision on my part, but I have no regrets and I'm thankful for my naivety at the time and the ability to bear down to get the job done.
In the fall of 2007, Access Athletes was officially launched. I ended up putting my goal of becoming an agent on hold to pursue my new venture, as well as gain invaluable experience working as a full-time labor attorney with a major entertainment union in Washington, D.C.
Access Athletes has afforded me the opportunity to establish my own niche in the sports industry as a trusted athlete educator. Every day, I am able to live out my dream of assisting athletes with their athletic careers, whether it involves the college recruiting process, referring them to sports professionals and specialists, or simply helping them navigate through personal matters. It is a very fulfilling experience, especially since I am doing what I love to do. This is my passion and I wouldn't trade it for anything.
SZ: In what unique ways is your audience able to utilize and benefit from the social/professional platform that is provided on this website?
Matt: As it stands right now, Access Athletes is unique in that it caters to athletes of all levels-high school, college, and professional-and provides them with access to top-notch educational resources and all the major players in the sports industry that they need to interact with to forge a balanced career.
The existing networking framework allows our members to create a profile that displays their vital information and establish relationships with various individuals in the sports industry to advance their careers. Our featured members must go through a verification process to validate their identities before they are given access to the community. This way, our members can be assured that they will have a legitimate networking experience with credible individuals. The networking platform was also designed to be NCAA-compliant and afford all the high school and collegiate athlete members who use our service a safe networking experience.
As a complement to the social and professional networking platform, "The Real Athlete Blog" (Real Content for Real Athletes), serves as the website's exclusive educational resource. The blog was created to assist athletes by providing them guidance, information, and access to services to improve their athletic performances and lives. One way we accomplish this is by doing the "Athlete Chat" series," in which we conduct interviews with a wide-range of athletes and ask them questions that shed light on an athlete's career. We utilize the insight of athletes and their experiences to educate other athletes on topics that are relevant to having a successful career, anything from being recruited to moving overseas to play professional ball. We have several other popular columns that cater to athletes, including, The Athlete Weekly Rundown, Sports Business Review, and Trusted Athlete Educator. We also cover sports professionals in our Interview with a Sports Professional series. At the end of the day, we live up to our mantra of "Access is Key" and offer exclusive content from top athletes and qualified sports professionals that you can't find anywhere else on the web.
* Note: Access Athletes provided an exclusive interview with Calvin Borel, the Kentucky Derby winning jockey, days after his victory ride on Mine That Bird.
SZ: Are athletes, coaches etc. able to request specific topical information? If so, are you finding surprises as to the topics that are being requested? What are some of the unique topics asked about? Not "x" but pg." :-)
Matt: It's funny that you asked this question. I usually receive questions from athletes and sports professionals via e-mail on a whole host of topics. We just recently launched two new features on "The Real Athlete Blog" that allow people to request information in a more organized fashion. The first one-"Ask Access Athletes" - allows a blog visitor to pose any question that they would like answered about the sports industry. When we receive an inquiry, we will research it and get back to you as soon as we can.
The second feature is called, "Ask the Expert." I'm very excited about this new program. It will feature qualified experts from the sports industry who will answer questions from our readers. All the reader needs to do is to submit a question in the form provided on the "Ask the Expert" section whenever an expert is on the "hot seat" fielding questions. At the end of the week, we will post the questions and answers in the "Ask the Expert" column. This feature will further solidify the educational focus of the site and offer athletes and other readers a chance to pick the brains of the experts.
To answer your question though, I wouldn't say I'm ever surprised about the topics that are requested. They really run the gamut from information about camps, to NCAA eligibility and compliance, to assistance with the agent selection process. There is no rhyme or reason. I have received a myriad of questions from athletes at all different levels pertaining to both on and off-the-field topics.
Recently, one former professional athlete asked me questions pertaining to producing a documentary, generating buzz, and securing a distribution deal. I also had a top prep athlete ask me to help him with his search to transfer to another prep school. Admittedly, this request has taken a great deal of research and our main interest is assisting the athlete in finding a school where he can thrive both academically and athletically.
SZ: How do you envision Access Athletes expanding its offerings in the future?
Matt: In the near future, we will be launching a community application that will take the social networking platform to the next level. This application will be the crux of our business model and will lay the foundation for the website to eventually become a full-service platform. We will also be opening an educational arm of the website that will offer athletes abundant resources, seminars, and other career-enriching opportunities. This will further reinforce our role as the trusted athlete educator, building upon the tremendous success we have experienced with "The Real Athlete Blog" as an educational tool. Without giving away too much more, we will also launch a consulting wing that will specialize in assisting athletes and other members of the sports industry with their business ventures. Stay tuned for some hot new features and applications just around the corner!
SZ: What are the fun, frivolous elements for your audience interacting through Access Athletes?
Matt: Networking with individuals who share similar interests is naturally a fun activity, especially when they can help contribute to advancing your career. In terms of specific features, the frivolous elements include messaging other members, creating discussions by commenting on the blogs, or just showcasing your accomplishments for more exposure with the major players in the sports industry, whether it is other athletes or sports professionals.
SZ: Do you have any favorite motivational stories, tips or quotes that guide you?
Matt: I have always read a ton of motivational books and compiled new inspirational quotes to keep me heading in a positive direction as I make my ascent to the top of the sports industry.
There is one particular story that stands out as my most motivational moment to date. During my freshman year at Penn State, I had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hear the legendary Joe Paterno speak and meet him afterward. I was so inspired by his speech that I wrote down a list of quotes from the speech when I got home, making sure that I reproduced them verbatim. Since JoePa's speech, I have always kept this list of memorable quotes up on my wall and it has served as extra motivation to keep pushing myself to new levels. I will leave you with my favorite quote uttered by JoePa that night. It embodies the spirit of Access Athletes and everything I have accomplished up until this point and plan to accomplish in the near future. "If you never have the courage to try, you won't succeed. You have to have confidence. 'I will do this.'
Matt- thank you for taking the time for this interview. You are well on your way to creating a significant niche in the sports world!
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Player/Coach/Team-Mates
How does an athlete go about building a solid relationship with his/her coach and team-mates?
The relationship between a player, coach and team members is give and take. There are a host of qualities that you, as a player, can bring to the table for a solid relationship in a team setting.
Fill out the "unofficial" self-reflective questionnaire provided below. No one is peering over your shoulder or checking out your replies so be honest with yourself. This way, you will see the ways in which you are on the road to building a solid team relationship and in ways you can improve.
Qualities For Building A Solid Relationship With Your Coach and Team-Mates Awareness
Questionnaire.
(circle the number at the end of the response that most closely resembles your behavior and reactions).
Personal Responsibility: To engage and strive for a high level of success is a decision you make each day. The knowledge an athlete achieves regarding focus, commitment to a program, and participation with a positive attitude are frequently learned qualities. In good situations, these qualities can also be groomed with guidance from coaches.
1. How do you show up mentally and physicall for practices?
a) As I change into my workout clothes or uniform I begin to focus on the mental/physical
routines which help me become mentally and physically ready to engage in a worthwhile
practice. (3)
b) When we meet as a team and the coach discusses goals for the practice, it takes me awhile
to tune in and become fully present. I am slow to warm-up and get with the program,
both mentally and physically. (2)
c) I frequently meander into practices late. I often need a teammate or coach to fill me in
on what the schedule is for the practice. I don't like knowing the details ahead of time. I
stay interested by not knowing what is next. (1)
Managing Emotions: In Control of Self: During the course of the season, many events happen
on and off the field that have the potential to be disruptive.
2) How do you manage your emotions when life distractions occur?
a) I've developed skills to let go of negative thoughts and redirect my energies towards the
positive aspects of challenging situations. I know that even when there are many
potential negative pitfalls to focus on in certain situations there are also pieces I can
manage by maintaining a positive perspective. (3)
b) When I experience low energy days because because of distractions (school,
relationship conflicts, etc.), I can become irritable with myself and others, which
affects the quality of my games, practices and overall performance. (2)
c) Small incidences and inconveniences often set me off emotionally and ruin practices.
Sometimes my funk lasts for days. Once I get off track emotionally, I don't have the
tools or patience to shift the negative roller coaster, until things go my way again. (1)
Dependability: I make a commitment to myself and the success of the team by setting and achieving goals that improve my athletic skills.
3) How dependable are you as a team player?
a) I've earned a reputation for quality performances (not perfect, but consistent). I know
my consistancy is due to the extra time I put into my preparation. My coaches and
team-mates are confident that I will be ready to perform in a clutch situation. I don't
always succeed, but I am known to give full effort and show up confident. (3)
b) My dependability as a player comes and goes. I attend all the practices, buy don't
put in any extra time or effort unless it's a big game. (2)
c) When I don't feel inspired to go to the gym, or practices aren't required, I allow
myself to slide. Relying on my natural talent has always been my good fortune. (1)
Communication: Team dynamics are often complex. It is not unusual for a coach and player
to have misunderstandings and miscommunication during the course of a season.
4) When conflicts arise between the coach and myself or another player.....
a) I am able to step back and think out my part of the conflict. Sometimes I seek out
counsel from a trusted team-mate to gain perspective. After I think about the issue
and my part in it, I decide the next action step. Frequently, I can let the issue go, or
I make time to meet with the coach or player to discuss how we can resolve the
the issue amicably. (3)
b) I ignore problems and usually wait them out until they disappear. Often I sit on
on my feelings and it makes me moody for days. (2)
c) I whine to the coach about the other player and make it the coaches problem to
resolve the issue. Or if I have a conflict with the coach, I whine to my team-mates
until they are tired of listening to me. (1)
Value: Value and character are meaningful qualities you contribute to the team experience.
5) In what ways do you bring value to the team environment?
a) I am a role player. I understand the importance of everyone's contribution within
the team dynamic. Even though I prefer the status of "star" (get in line who
doesn't), I have no problem getting the ball into the hands of a team-mate who
is in a position to score. (3)
b) I know my assigned role on the team and the expectations of my position as a
player, but I'm often not happy with the role. Sometimes I don't put out as much
effort as I can because I don't feel my value is recognized. (2)
c) I'm not really clear about my role on the team and in what ways my emotional
energy has an influence. I just enjoy playing. (1)
Respect: Respect includes respect for the team, the players, the coach and your
opponents.
6) How does respect fit into your playing experience?
a) I understand the big picture of sports and my responsibility as an athlete to be
prepared for all the challenges of playing on a team. Sometimes the coach will
make choices I don't agree with, or a team-mate will do something I am not happy
with, but it is a part of the team culture and I respect it. Even the flaws. (3)
b) I respect most of the coaches and most of the players, but I can't/don't like and get
along with everyone all the time. (2)
c) I respect my coach and team-mates, but refuse to buy into respecting my
opponents. Although I know some of my opponents are well-established players
with proven athletic competence, an attitude of disrespect for my opponent serves
as motivation for me. (1)
Score: Tally up the numbers from your selected replies.
Score: (18-13) Your relationship with your coach and team-mates is probably working
well for you. You show up ready to compete and know that there will always be
issues, challenges and situations that need to be worked out. Sometimes things
don't fall in your favor and you don't have a melt down. When opportunities arise
you are prepared and ready to respond. The coach and your team-mates will
notice these qualities in you. He/she will recognize your maturity, dependability
and value as a player and team leader.
Score: (12-7) Take a look at the 2's and 1's you checked off the list. Do you have ideas as
to how you can work to improve in these areas? Sometimes coaches and/or team-
mates would benefit by improving certain areas as well, but this is about you and
what you can do to move your athletic involvement forward on a good note to
reach a higher level.
Score: (6 or less) OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!! Get some support and ideas so you can improve your
situation. If everyone is wrong but you, you have a tough road ahead. If you are
in a high school setting, see if you can find some sport psychology books about
team participation and mental skills. There are many, many great books for
this topic available online. If you are in a college setting, you can go the book
route and/or check in with a sports counselor through the athletic department
or counseling department. Make sure the counselor has sport psychology
training and knowledge.
Hope you had some fun thinking about the questions. No-ones perfect - nor is there a need to be
but there is always room for improvement!
The relationship between a player, coach and team members is give and take. There are a host of qualities that you, as a player, can bring to the table for a solid relationship in a team setting.
Fill out the "unofficial" self-reflective questionnaire provided below. No one is peering over your shoulder or checking out your replies so be honest with yourself. This way, you will see the ways in which you are on the road to building a solid team relationship and in ways you can improve.
Qualities For Building A Solid Relationship With Your Coach and Team-Mates Awareness
Questionnaire.
(circle the number at the end of the response that most closely resembles your behavior and reactions).
Personal Responsibility: To engage and strive for a high level of success is a decision you make each day. The knowledge an athlete achieves regarding focus, commitment to a program, and participation with a positive attitude are frequently learned qualities. In good situations, these qualities can also be groomed with guidance from coaches.
1. How do you show up mentally and physicall for practices?
a) As I change into my workout clothes or uniform I begin to focus on the mental/physical
routines which help me become mentally and physically ready to engage in a worthwhile
practice. (3)
b) When we meet as a team and the coach discusses goals for the practice, it takes me awhile
to tune in and become fully present. I am slow to warm-up and get with the program,
both mentally and physically. (2)
c) I frequently meander into practices late. I often need a teammate or coach to fill me in
on what the schedule is for the practice. I don't like knowing the details ahead of time. I
stay interested by not knowing what is next. (1)
Managing Emotions: In Control of Self: During the course of the season, many events happen
on and off the field that have the potential to be disruptive.
2) How do you manage your emotions when life distractions occur?
a) I've developed skills to let go of negative thoughts and redirect my energies towards the
positive aspects of challenging situations. I know that even when there are many
potential negative pitfalls to focus on in certain situations there are also pieces I can
manage by maintaining a positive perspective. (3)
b) When I experience low energy days because because of distractions (school,
relationship conflicts, etc.), I can become irritable with myself and others, which
affects the quality of my games, practices and overall performance. (2)
c) Small incidences and inconveniences often set me off emotionally and ruin practices.
Sometimes my funk lasts for days. Once I get off track emotionally, I don't have the
tools or patience to shift the negative roller coaster, until things go my way again. (1)
Dependability: I make a commitment to myself and the success of the team by setting and achieving goals that improve my athletic skills.
3) How dependable are you as a team player?
a) I've earned a reputation for quality performances (not perfect, but consistent). I know
my consistancy is due to the extra time I put into my preparation. My coaches and
team-mates are confident that I will be ready to perform in a clutch situation. I don't
always succeed, but I am known to give full effort and show up confident. (3)
b) My dependability as a player comes and goes. I attend all the practices, buy don't
put in any extra time or effort unless it's a big game. (2)
c) When I don't feel inspired to go to the gym, or practices aren't required, I allow
myself to slide. Relying on my natural talent has always been my good fortune. (1)
Communication: Team dynamics are often complex. It is not unusual for a coach and player
to have misunderstandings and miscommunication during the course of a season.
4) When conflicts arise between the coach and myself or another player.....
a) I am able to step back and think out my part of the conflict. Sometimes I seek out
counsel from a trusted team-mate to gain perspective. After I think about the issue
and my part in it, I decide the next action step. Frequently, I can let the issue go, or
I make time to meet with the coach or player to discuss how we can resolve the
the issue amicably. (3)
b) I ignore problems and usually wait them out until they disappear. Often I sit on
on my feelings and it makes me moody for days. (2)
c) I whine to the coach about the other player and make it the coaches problem to
resolve the issue. Or if I have a conflict with the coach, I whine to my team-mates
until they are tired of listening to me. (1)
Value: Value and character are meaningful qualities you contribute to the team experience.
5) In what ways do you bring value to the team environment?
a) I am a role player. I understand the importance of everyone's contribution within
the team dynamic. Even though I prefer the status of "star" (get in line who
doesn't), I have no problem getting the ball into the hands of a team-mate who
is in a position to score. (3)
b) I know my assigned role on the team and the expectations of my position as a
player, but I'm often not happy with the role. Sometimes I don't put out as much
effort as I can because I don't feel my value is recognized. (2)
c) I'm not really clear about my role on the team and in what ways my emotional
energy has an influence. I just enjoy playing. (1)
Respect: Respect includes respect for the team, the players, the coach and your
opponents.
6) How does respect fit into your playing experience?
a) I understand the big picture of sports and my responsibility as an athlete to be
prepared for all the challenges of playing on a team. Sometimes the coach will
make choices I don't agree with, or a team-mate will do something I am not happy
with, but it is a part of the team culture and I respect it. Even the flaws. (3)
b) I respect most of the coaches and most of the players, but I can't/don't like and get
along with everyone all the time. (2)
c) I respect my coach and team-mates, but refuse to buy into respecting my
opponents. Although I know some of my opponents are well-established players
with proven athletic competence, an attitude of disrespect for my opponent serves
as motivation for me. (1)
Score: Tally up the numbers from your selected replies.
Score: (18-13) Your relationship with your coach and team-mates is probably working
well for you. You show up ready to compete and know that there will always be
issues, challenges and situations that need to be worked out. Sometimes things
don't fall in your favor and you don't have a melt down. When opportunities arise
you are prepared and ready to respond. The coach and your team-mates will
notice these qualities in you. He/she will recognize your maturity, dependability
and value as a player and team leader.
Score: (12-7) Take a look at the 2's and 1's you checked off the list. Do you have ideas as
to how you can work to improve in these areas? Sometimes coaches and/or team-
mates would benefit by improving certain areas as well, but this is about you and
what you can do to move your athletic involvement forward on a good note to
reach a higher level.
Score: (6 or less) OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!! Get some support and ideas so you can improve your
situation. If everyone is wrong but you, you have a tough road ahead. If you are
in a high school setting, see if you can find some sport psychology books about
team participation and mental skills. There are many, many great books for
this topic available online. If you are in a college setting, you can go the book
route and/or check in with a sports counselor through the athletic department
or counseling department. Make sure the counselor has sport psychology
training and knowledge.
Hope you had some fun thinking about the questions. No-ones perfect - nor is there a need to be
but there is always room for improvement!
Monday, March 30, 2009
Mulligans
Some say you can go home again. Others say you can't. Either way it will always be different due to time passing. Life moves forward. This past weekend U.C.L.A. threw a Women's Tennis Reunion
and I choose to go home again to visit my Bruin past and see what's new in the present.
It's refreshing how many things have changed for the better. Attending a d-1 school is a journey of
balancing academics, sport, work-outs, training, travel and engaging in the college life...it's a 24/7
task. U.C.L.A. has the most amazing facilities, services, and athlete support. This school is
"getting it right" for their athletes!
It was incredibly refreshing to see the changes and fun playing again with players of the past and present. Congratulations Stella! It was a wonderful weekend.
Goooooooooooooo Bruins!
and I choose to go home again to visit my Bruin past and see what's new in the present.
It's refreshing how many things have changed for the better. Attending a d-1 school is a journey of
balancing academics, sport, work-outs, training, travel and engaging in the college life...it's a 24/7
task. U.C.L.A. has the most amazing facilities, services, and athlete support. This school is
"getting it right" for their athletes!
It was incredibly refreshing to see the changes and fun playing again with players of the past and present. Congratulations Stella! It was a wonderful weekend.
Goooooooooooooo Bruins!
Monday, March 16, 2009
Desert Fun
Many thanks to the W.T.A. for producing hospitality for a wonderful reunion at Indian Wells for past tour players. The venue was a perfect setting for past player's to reconnect, network, watch amazing tennis from a luxury suite and enjoy the magical desert surroundings. Such a pleasure to attend and chat with player's who forged the way for the incredible generation of fresh athletic players we watch today. The game keeps moving forward.
Peachy, Terry many thanks for all the FUN!
Peachy, Terry many thanks for all the FUN!
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Little Yim - Marketing Athletic Talent
Little Yim is a financial investment company and offers the world's first stock market of "professional athlete's." Public investors buy stock in professional athletes listed on the Little Yim stock market. The athletes receive the investment proceeds to improve the quality of their
training and to cover the costs of travel, entry fees and other expenses.
Interview with Cindy Yim - Founder and CEO of Little Yim
http://www.littleyim.com/
sz: Cindy the Little Yim business concept is easy to understand and a cool idea. You're giving investors an opportunity to purchase shares in young "undiscovered" professionals. What is the screening process an athlete goes through prior to becoming listed for sponsorship through Little Yim?
cy: Thanks Susan, I really appreciate the chance to chat with you.
There is a lot of young talent out there. Athletes have worked hard just to get to the point of competing at the pro level. You see these athletes sweating hard training on the court and competing their hearts out in matches. It is too bad if these athletes can't pay for travel expenses or hire coaches and fitness trainers. Money problems cause a significant amount of stress on top of the enormous pressure that athletes already feel.
So I say we take away the money problem! :-)
We focus on supporting a group of high performance athletes who are already professional and will be playing in tournaments. Our selection process is based on an athlete's strong past performance at the junior, collegiate or professional level. Many of these athletes have obtained a high junior ranking, and have competed in high-level national and collegiate tournaments.
A lot of people want to be professional athletes and we want to help athletes realize their dreams. We wish that we could help everyone. But we have to limit our program to a select
group of athletes in order to provide investors with a small return on their investment.
sz: How do athletes learn about your company? Do you scout different sports and initiate contact with the athletes? Or do the athletes find you?
cy: We love it when athletes find us. Athletes often come to our site when they do online searches for athletic sponsorships and funding. Having our website pop up when you Google
"athletic sponsorships" helps us. The other way we get in touch with athletes is through athlete management firms and sports academies. Corporate sponsorships at professional tournaments
introduce our company to athletes there. We were a corporate sponsor at the SAP Open, Bank of the West Classic and East West Bank Classic presented by Herbalife.
We want to bring on athletes from different sports and expect to increase our efforts in initiating contact with athletes. Initially, we focused on tennis but have now branched out to many other sports.
sz: Do investors receive a prospectus? If so what content is included such as background information of past and present athletic results, current training programs, coaching staff, and upcoming event schedules?
cy: Investors are able to review the details of the sponsorship contract in terms of the tournaments included in the sponsorship contract, and information about the tournaments such as the prize money offered to athletes. We want to provide investors with as much information about the athlete as possible. From the athlete's past performance, to their coaches and training programs, it will all be there for investors. It is important for us to make sure that investors get all the information they need to make an informed decision knowing the athlete's ability, tournament plans and goals.
Since this is sports, we also want to make it fun for investors and give athletes the opportunity
to showcase their personality. In their profile, athletes talk about cool stuff like their favorite music and interests. Russ Marchewka, a beach volleyball player, indicated that beer is one among his many interests like ping pong and real estate investments. I think that's funny and interesting information that you aren't always going to see.
sz: What are the most interesting aspects of running your business?
cy: There are so many interesting aspects to running my business. I would have to say that the concept itself is the most interesting part. Getting to implement something new and work on the market design is really fun. it is just that a stock market of people is a very different idea. I feel like it's a chance to create something that can make a lasting contribution.
What's interesting about running my business is that I am utilizing the fun and excitement that sports fans have always experienced to provide athletes with funds. Fans like seeing how athletes do at tournaments. Not knowing whether an athlete will win the match or finish in the top sport in competitions makes it exciting for viewers. Now, all that excitement that fans feel from watching athletes can be used to encourage them to invest in athletes. They can make a difference in the athletes that they follow and in the sport itself.
The other interesting aspect is that my business blends sports and economics, which seem like totally unrelated fields. There have been economic studies on sports and athlete performances, but not so much the creation of new markets to provide services directly to athletes. I really like economics so it is fantastic that I can use economics to work with athletes and support them in their training and development.
sz: Cindy, you are an athlete and played in college on the Princeton junior varsity tennis team.
What athletic experience at Princeton or other athletic experiences in your life influenced the development of this business idea?
cy: As an athlete, I have encountered some disheartening moments whether it is not playing well in a match or losing in the early round of a tournament. There is so much focus on performance on-court and it is not easy to bounce back after a bad match to play your best in the following tournament.
Professional athletes probably experience this on a magnified scale. Their performance at competitons determines their career and how many ranking points and prize money they will earn. Their expenses are much higher than mine with the need to travel consistently on a global basis. Knowing that athletes have a lot to worry about in trying to play their best, I thought that it could be helpful for them if they did not have to worry about funding.
I have found that playing tennis is a great way to meet other people. when you all like the same thing, there is an endless amount to talk about. Princeton's junior varsity tennis team had a bunch of people involved in different activities and studying different majors, many of them whom I ended up never taking the same course with. I most likely would not have met these people if it weren't for the fact that we played tennis together. The opportunity for fans to invest in athletes is also a way for fans to get to know professional athletes. The funding that fans provide is most helpful to athletes. But what about having all kinds of people from all over the world visit an athlete's website and read an athlete's blog to get the latest update? So far, the media has been the only way for athletes and fans to connect. That's why I put links to an athlete's website and blog so that fans can see how their athletes are doing.
sz: Do you have any favorite motivational stories, tips or quotes that guide you?
cy: The Olympics provide me with some of the most motivational stories. Athletes competing in the Olympic Games have come very far in order to qualify to represent their country in one of the world's great sporting events. These athletes made a lot of sacrifices along the way and fully committed themselves toward attaining their dream. It is not possible to be lazy and get to that level. Their training is intense and the adversity they face is challenging.
From the recent 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, I had read about a track and field athlete who developed painful blisters in her mouth and around parts of her face in early 2008. Doctors had rcommended that she not train and compete for several months. She knew that she would not be able to perform her best in Bejing if she did this. Despite what she described as feeling great pain, she still trained just as hard to make sure that she gave her fastest race when the moment came. In training, she would bite on a paper cup that she put in her mouth to order to ease the pain she was experiencing. This is true determination and shows tremendous perseverance through times when unfortunate events occur.
My hope is that my company can help the little guys with big dreams.
sz: The Little Yim website is so well designed and easy to use and understand. I look forward to checking back with you in a year to see how the business has grown as you continue to offer young professionals a chance to make it into the spotlight of their sports!
training and to cover the costs of travel, entry fees and other expenses.
Interview with Cindy Yim - Founder and CEO of Little Yim
http://www.littleyim.com/
sz: Cindy the Little Yim business concept is easy to understand and a cool idea. You're giving investors an opportunity to purchase shares in young "undiscovered" professionals. What is the screening process an athlete goes through prior to becoming listed for sponsorship through Little Yim?
cy: Thanks Susan, I really appreciate the chance to chat with you.
There is a lot of young talent out there. Athletes have worked hard just to get to the point of competing at the pro level. You see these athletes sweating hard training on the court and competing their hearts out in matches. It is too bad if these athletes can't pay for travel expenses or hire coaches and fitness trainers. Money problems cause a significant amount of stress on top of the enormous pressure that athletes already feel.
So I say we take away the money problem! :-)
We focus on supporting a group of high performance athletes who are already professional and will be playing in tournaments. Our selection process is based on an athlete's strong past performance at the junior, collegiate or professional level. Many of these athletes have obtained a high junior ranking, and have competed in high-level national and collegiate tournaments.
A lot of people want to be professional athletes and we want to help athletes realize their dreams. We wish that we could help everyone. But we have to limit our program to a select
group of athletes in order to provide investors with a small return on their investment.
sz: How do athletes learn about your company? Do you scout different sports and initiate contact with the athletes? Or do the athletes find you?
cy: We love it when athletes find us. Athletes often come to our site when they do online searches for athletic sponsorships and funding. Having our website pop up when you Google
"athletic sponsorships" helps us. The other way we get in touch with athletes is through athlete management firms and sports academies. Corporate sponsorships at professional tournaments
introduce our company to athletes there. We were a corporate sponsor at the SAP Open, Bank of the West Classic and East West Bank Classic presented by Herbalife.
We want to bring on athletes from different sports and expect to increase our efforts in initiating contact with athletes. Initially, we focused on tennis but have now branched out to many other sports.
sz: Do investors receive a prospectus? If so what content is included such as background information of past and present athletic results, current training programs, coaching staff, and upcoming event schedules?
cy: Investors are able to review the details of the sponsorship contract in terms of the tournaments included in the sponsorship contract, and information about the tournaments such as the prize money offered to athletes. We want to provide investors with as much information about the athlete as possible. From the athlete's past performance, to their coaches and training programs, it will all be there for investors. It is important for us to make sure that investors get all the information they need to make an informed decision knowing the athlete's ability, tournament plans and goals.
Since this is sports, we also want to make it fun for investors and give athletes the opportunity
to showcase their personality. In their profile, athletes talk about cool stuff like their favorite music and interests. Russ Marchewka, a beach volleyball player, indicated that beer is one among his many interests like ping pong and real estate investments. I think that's funny and interesting information that you aren't always going to see.
sz: What are the most interesting aspects of running your business?
cy: There are so many interesting aspects to running my business. I would have to say that the concept itself is the most interesting part. Getting to implement something new and work on the market design is really fun. it is just that a stock market of people is a very different idea. I feel like it's a chance to create something that can make a lasting contribution.
What's interesting about running my business is that I am utilizing the fun and excitement that sports fans have always experienced to provide athletes with funds. Fans like seeing how athletes do at tournaments. Not knowing whether an athlete will win the match or finish in the top sport in competitions makes it exciting for viewers. Now, all that excitement that fans feel from watching athletes can be used to encourage them to invest in athletes. They can make a difference in the athletes that they follow and in the sport itself.
The other interesting aspect is that my business blends sports and economics, which seem like totally unrelated fields. There have been economic studies on sports and athlete performances, but not so much the creation of new markets to provide services directly to athletes. I really like economics so it is fantastic that I can use economics to work with athletes and support them in their training and development.
sz: Cindy, you are an athlete and played in college on the Princeton junior varsity tennis team.
What athletic experience at Princeton or other athletic experiences in your life influenced the development of this business idea?
cy: As an athlete, I have encountered some disheartening moments whether it is not playing well in a match or losing in the early round of a tournament. There is so much focus on performance on-court and it is not easy to bounce back after a bad match to play your best in the following tournament.
Professional athletes probably experience this on a magnified scale. Their performance at competitons determines their career and how many ranking points and prize money they will earn. Their expenses are much higher than mine with the need to travel consistently on a global basis. Knowing that athletes have a lot to worry about in trying to play their best, I thought that it could be helpful for them if they did not have to worry about funding.
I have found that playing tennis is a great way to meet other people. when you all like the same thing, there is an endless amount to talk about. Princeton's junior varsity tennis team had a bunch of people involved in different activities and studying different majors, many of them whom I ended up never taking the same course with. I most likely would not have met these people if it weren't for the fact that we played tennis together. The opportunity for fans to invest in athletes is also a way for fans to get to know professional athletes. The funding that fans provide is most helpful to athletes. But what about having all kinds of people from all over the world visit an athlete's website and read an athlete's blog to get the latest update? So far, the media has been the only way for athletes and fans to connect. That's why I put links to an athlete's website and blog so that fans can see how their athletes are doing.
sz: Do you have any favorite motivational stories, tips or quotes that guide you?
cy: The Olympics provide me with some of the most motivational stories. Athletes competing in the Olympic Games have come very far in order to qualify to represent their country in one of the world's great sporting events. These athletes made a lot of sacrifices along the way and fully committed themselves toward attaining their dream. It is not possible to be lazy and get to that level. Their training is intense and the adversity they face is challenging.
From the recent 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, I had read about a track and field athlete who developed painful blisters in her mouth and around parts of her face in early 2008. Doctors had rcommended that she not train and compete for several months. She knew that she would not be able to perform her best in Bejing if she did this. Despite what she described as feeling great pain, she still trained just as hard to make sure that she gave her fastest race when the moment came. In training, she would bite on a paper cup that she put in her mouth to order to ease the pain she was experiencing. This is true determination and shows tremendous perseverance through times when unfortunate events occur.
My hope is that my company can help the little guys with big dreams.
sz: The Little Yim website is so well designed and easy to use and understand. I look forward to checking back with you in a year to see how the business has grown as you continue to offer young professionals a chance to make it into the spotlight of their sports!
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