About.com Sports Careers

Economy focus at college sports forum

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 23:51:14 +0000

The economy's impact on college sports budgets will be a hot topic at the IMG Intercollegiate Athletics Forum in New York City on December 9 and 10.

The event is sponsored by SportsBusiness Journal, SportsBusiness Journal and IMG. Former National Football League Pro Bowl Quarterback Archie Manning will participate in a one-on-one interview.

Panel discussions will cover sports budgets in the current economy, driving revenue through new media, college television deals, maximizing facility revenues, and corporate partnerships and sponsorship agreements.

The forum should be of interest to anyone in a college sports career or anyone interested in moving into college sports.

Economy focus at college sports forum originally appeared on About.com Sports Careers on Sunday, November 1st, 2009 at 23:51:14.

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Motorsports conference set for Las Vegas

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 23:48:33 +0000

If you're interested in advancing in a sports career focusing on auto racing, or getting your foot in the door, the Motorsports Marketing Forum could provide some opportunities.

For that matter, if you're interested in sports marketing, the forum also could be useful.

Hosted by SportsBusiness Journal and SportsBusiness Daily, the Motorsports Marketing Forum will be held on December 1 and 2 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

SportsBusiness Journal said the forum will allow participants to hear from officials from top corporate sponsors, teams, and leagues. They will talk about marketing plans in the current difficult economy. Hundreds of officials are expected to attend.

Motorsports conference set for Las Vegas originally appeared on About.com Sports Careers on Sunday, November 1st, 2009 at 23:48:33.

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Internet sports coverage one focus of conference

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 23:45:49 +0000

I recently was talking with a friend about the dramatic changes to sports web sites in the last few years, with many of them adding more video and offering fun features that may mix video, graphics, and print.

Newspaper sports sections often led the way on visual type features and I think the same type of trend is occurring on sports web sites, offering fans information in an entertaining fashion. Of course if you work in this field, it's important to keep thinking ahead and staying on top of new trends.

Some industry leaders will discuss their thoughts at the Fantasy Sports Association Sports Media and Technology Conference on November 12 and 13 in New York. �Fantasy sports have become a big part of many of the leading sports sites. The event is sponsored by SportsBusiness Journal, SportsBusiness Daily, and the Fantasy Sports Association.

According to information about this year's program, it will feature a media power panel which will include leaders in broadcast, cable, and online space.� In addition, participants will have the opportunity to hear from those who are leading the way in wireless distribution, social media, and fantasy sports.

�According to SportsBusiness Journal, the event is expected to draw more than 400 of the industry's top executives from broadcast and cable networks, online properties, professional leagues and teams, media members, as well as technology and service providers.

Internet sports coverage one focus of conference originally appeared on About.com Sports Careers on Sunday, November 1st, 2009 at 23:45:49.

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Ideas on Staying at Your Best

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 23:57:55 +0000

If you're working in a sports career, you often will hear friends suggest they wish they were in your shoes. While it's true most people employed in sports careers find their work enjoyable, the positions still face the same challenges of other jobs.

Typically sports career jobs include very busy periods that require employees to be at their best. For instance, if you're an athletic director, the time before the busy fall season can become taxing. Sports information directors may face tough stretches before deadlines for media guides. It is important to be able to be at your best during these times.

Recently, many people employed in sports careers have faced the added challenge of performing top-level work with a smaller staff. A September survey by Watson Wyatt/WorldatWork revealed the layoffs brought on by the economic decline have brought a sharp decline in morale in remaining employees. With these ideas in mind, I did some research and used my own experience to suggest some ideas for increasing productivity and dealing with stressful times at work.

Ideas on Staying at Your Best originally appeared on About.com Sports Careers on Sunday, October 25th, 2009 at 23:57:55.

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Sports Professionals Expect Increased World Cup Interest

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 23:54:46 +0000

Top sports executives expect increased U.S. interest in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, as compared to the 2006 World Cup.

In an October survey of sports owners and top executives in the Turnkey Sports Poll, 43.66% of participants predicted at least a slight interest increase in soccer's top event, while 44.37% predicted the same level of interest.

In the same poll, 57.39% of the poll participants predicted at least slightly higher television ratings in the United States for the 2010 event.

Sports Professionals Expect Increased World Cup Interest originally appeared on About.com Sports Careers on Sunday, October 25th, 2009 at 23:54:46.

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Exposure of Sports Presents Great Charity Opportunities

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 23:52:28 +0000

I noticed many of the Cincinnati Bengals players have continued to wear the pink armbands they unveiled a few weeks ago for breast cancer awareness.

Also the Ben-Gals cheerleading squad also wore pink shirts during the Bengals' October 25 win against the Chicago Bears. These efforts have followed pink bats used on Mother's Day in baseball. In the sport I follow, Churchill Downs featured pink saddlecloths and reins during this year's Kentucky Oaks, a top race for three-year-old fillies.

Professional sports teams have conducted food drives and toy drives at their stadium or arena gates. Nearly every league and team features charitable efforts.

I think this type of work is important in sports. It's a great opportunity to raise awareness while creating a connection with fans. In turn, I think the opportunity to work with on these types of projects are another reason that sports careers often include a high level of job satisfaction.

Exposure of Sports Presents Great Charity Opportunities originally appeared on About.com Sports Careers on Sunday, October 25th, 2009 at 23:52:28.

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First BCS Poll Released, I'm Pulling for a Mess

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 01:16:03 +0000

With the release of the first Bowl Championship Series ratings released on October 19, I have begun to pull for the same thing I pull for every year: a complete BCS meltdown.

I favor a college football playoff so each year I root for a scenario that will so outrage fans, boosters, media, coaches, and anyone else that has any pull; that the system will be changed.

At this point, some undefeated seasons by Boise State and the University of Cincinnati seem like they could provide such scenarios. Cincinnati is a BCS school, so if the system would select a one-loss team over the Bearcats, their fans would be very upset. If a one-loss team from the SEC or Big 12 sits home while the Bearcats, from a Big East Conference that is perceived to be a step below those two conferences, those fans would be upset.

Championships should be decided on the field. As far as I'm concerned, college football's championship is still "mythical."

First BCS Poll Released, I'm Pulling for a Mess originally appeared on About.com Sports Careers on Monday, October 19th, 2009 at 01:16:03.

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San Diego State Offers More than Sun

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 01:01:52 +0000

A few years after college I enjoyed a vacation in San Diego. I recall thinking every day there, weather wise, was what I would consider perfect by my Lexington, Kentucky standards.

So I would advise anyone who is thinking about attending college in San Diego to do so right away! Just kidding, but San Diego State does offer an attractive sports MBA.

Like other schools that offer a sports MBA, such a degree has the added benefit of versatility should a graduate one day decide to move out of sports management into a more general business field.

San Diego State also boasts an accelerated 18-month program and has partnered with the San Diego Padres. It certainly is an attractive program and I'm pretty sure you won't have to deal with any snow during your year-and-a-half there.

San Diego State Offers More than Sun originally appeared on About.com Sports Careers on Monday, October 19th, 2009 at 01:01:52.

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Difficult to Watch Top Athletes Struggle with Routine Plays

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:59:35 +0000

Apparent mental struggles for a couple of professional athletes reminded me of the importance of the sports psychology field.

The Cincinnati Bengals were forced to release their long snapper Brad St. Louis after the veteran consistently snapped high on field goal and extra point attempts. In the National League Championship Series, the throwing issues of Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Chase Utley have become an issue.

I've seen other athletes go through this and I've always thought it would be a very difficult thing to try to work through.

While the sports psychology field involves more than working with such specific cases, it has always interested me how top athletes can suddenly develop apparent mental struggles when it comes to execution. I should point out, that sometimes these problems turn out to be physical in nature and that could be the case with either of these athletes.

As I don't know much about this field, I posted a very general introduction with links to more information on graduate programs in this field. I plan to do some research and profile some of the top schools that offer this type of study.

Difficult to Watch Top Athletes Struggle with Routine Plays originally appeared on About.com Sports Careers on Monday, October 19th, 2009 at 00:59:35.

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Sports Broadcasts Require Plenty of Teamwork

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:40:43 +0000

While I have always been more interested in covering sports through the print medium, I do admire the teamwork involved in broadcasting a sporting event to a national audience.

There are so many different people working together to make the broadcast successful: from producers and directors, to various technicians, to camera operators, to the on-air talent, to many others. All need to be on top of their game.

With my experience in horse racing, I have seen first-hand the tremendous amount of work hours required to put on a day of racing broadcast. Just keeping track of all the players is difficult, from identifying and filming horses during the week to have footage handy, to being aware of the numerous different players on raceday: owners, trainers, and jockeys. After all, none of the people or horses are wearing nametags.

Cameramen and technicians have to haul their equipment over long distances during hot weather, cold weather, and rain. It really is something to see.

For what it's worth, I have recently ventured into some video work of my own, using a small hand-held flip camera to produce Internet video. The days of a single media concentration appear to be over.

If all of this sounds like it may interest you, I've provided a general overview of the many jobs available in the sports broadcast media.

Sports Broadcasts Require Plenty of Teamwork originally appeared on About.com Sports Careers on Tuesday, October 13th, 2009 at 00:40:43.

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