With more and more accessibility and exposure in the sports world there is going to be more jobs opening up in the sports world. There be more jobs in sports management, sports marketing, sports communication, and more professional athlete jobs. Pay is steadily increasing as more and more professional athlete rake in more than 100 million dollar deals. With my love for sports I want to have a job that surrounds me with sports. I would like to become a professional soccer player, but if all else fails I would love to either be a sports agent or a general manager for a soccer team. I think I could be very effective as a sports agent because I am a good negotiator. I also think I could be a good general manager because I think I am a good judge of character and talent. Since I broke my leg this year, I was given a medical red shirt year, so I can stay an extra year and try to get my MBA from Fordham University. This was a blessing in disguise for me because it allows me to get a 5th year totally paid for. This is going to help me in the business world when it comes to landing a job in the sports management or sports marketing fields.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
My Future
In the next couple of years I can see myself either being a professional soccer player or I could see myself being a sports agent. Everything I want to do involves sports. So in order to get a concept on what I want to do I interviewed my brother. My brother is currently a professional soccer player in the MLS. In the interview my brother told me that if I want to pursue a profession in professional soccer I have to stand out from the rest; I have to train harder and longer than everyone else. He also said I have to be persistent, hard working and consistent in order in get a leg up in the business. In my next interview I talked to my brother’s agent. As I backup plan I want to become a lawyer so I can become a sports agent. ....told me that in law school I should concentrate on contractual law because most of his business uses contracts and using people skills to negotiate. The skills that he said that were most used in his is people skills and the ability to persuade people. He also stressed that being a sports agent is not a stress free profession; it takes a lot of passion and a lot of business savvy.
After taking to my brother's agent I interviewed another agent, Gordon Smith. He was a professional athlete at one time and when he retired he became a sports agent. Mainly working in soccer in England he quickly became a prominent figure in the United Kingdom. He gave me some pointers saying that "it is not a prerequisite to have a law degree, but it is a big help." And also that it takes to sign clients, but once you do and build a strong reputation, it becomes easier.
After taking to my brother's agent I interviewed another agent, Gordon Smith. He was a professional athlete at one time and when he retired he became a sports agent. Mainly working in soccer in England he quickly became a prominent figure in the United Kingdom. He gave me some pointers saying that "it is not a prerequisite to have a law degree, but it is a big help." And also that it takes to sign clients, but once you do and build a strong reputation, it becomes easier.
Direct TV and thier Competitors
With all the cotroversy looming over Direct TV's virtual takeover of out of region coverage of MLB with its MLB Extra Inning, NFL's NFL Sunday Ticket, and Nascar's Hotpass it has not been thouroughly looked into. Direct TV is actually doing every real sports fan a very big favor because they are helping the fans to keep in touch with their favorite team even though they might not be located near where there faviortite team is playing. Take for example, I am a Dallas Cowboys fan, but i live in New York City and i never get to see the cowboys play unless they are playing the New York Giants. With Direct TV's NFL Sunday ticket i can get every Dallas Cowboys game in HD. Direct TV does not only cator to the NFL fans it also has deals for NCAA football, NCAA basketball, Nascar, MLS, and the NBA. Direct TV is not only for fans of just one team, it can also be used for people that have intersts in fantasty sporting. So whatever your sport is, Direct TV has a package that will keep you in touch with your favorite team.
With the recent development of Direct TV's packages bundleing sports coverage outside certain regions thier have been certain arguemnts that Direct TV is creating a monopoly on watching sporting events outside specific regions. Sky Sports in the United Kingdom allows you to switch from local and other sporting events from all over the UK without any extra payment. Thier is no special dish that is required and no special packages that is required to be ordered. People in the United States are making a fuss about paying extra for extra coverage of sporting events outside thier own region.
Direct TV had to already drop thier exclusive coverage of Thursday night coverage of NFL. People that did not sign up for Direct TV's package were not allowed to even watch the game. Eventally the NFL pulled the exclusive coverage of the Thursday night game because too many of NFL fans were complaining about having to pay an extra $200 to $300 to install and buy the Direct TV's coverage of the NFL.
With the recent development of Direct TV's packages bundleing sports coverage outside certain regions thier have been certain arguemnts that Direct TV is creating a monopoly on watching sporting events outside specific regions. Sky Sports in the United Kingdom allows you to switch from local and other sporting events from all over the UK without any extra payment. Thier is no special dish that is required and no special packages that is required to be ordered. People in the United States are making a fuss about paying extra for extra coverage of sporting events outside thier own region.
Direct TV had to already drop thier exclusive coverage of Thursday night coverage of NFL. People that did not sign up for Direct TV's package were not allowed to even watch the game. Eventally the NFL pulled the exclusive coverage of the Thursday night game because too many of NFL fans were complaining about having to pay an extra $200 to $300 to install and buy the Direct TV's coverage of the NFL.
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Jobs on Apple
After reading Steve Jobs "Thoughts on Music" I found his opinion on music very thought provoking. Jobs makes it very clear that it is not the fault of Apple that for their being DRM's on music bought on apple store online. He also says that it is not the fault of apple for their being illegally downloaded music because it is basically the fault of the “big four” music companies: Universal, Sony BMG, Warner and EMI. After doing a study Apple found out about 3% of songs on ipods are songs bought from the apple store, so that is at 22 out of 1000 songs. He says it is the fault of the record companies themselves because they are selling 90% of all music without DRM's and that is how is mostly gets downloaded illegally.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Becoming an Entrepreneur
Like I said in my earlier posts I have always wanted to start a real estate company. I wanted to do start this company with my brothers. In trying to figure out what my brothers and I wanted to do we sat down and thought through our options and chose real estate. We already have three properties and we have already started to save up money collectively so that when we all graduate from college we will be able to start our company. I am planning on trying to get my real estate license in the next couple of years. I think that Fordham has provided me a good foundation for my career aspirations. I am going to try to get my graduate degree in finance so I can take care of the finances in the company.
My Wonderful Spring Break with US Airways
At this time of the year college students all over the country plan to either go somewhere exotic where they can drink and get wild or they just go home and try to regroup their life. I am the latter of the two. So it all started Friday when I was scheduled to fly home on US Airways from LaGuardia to Louisville at 6 p.m. Well once I got there all was going well until it turned 6 and our plane was still not there. So one of the ladies working at the desk went on the loudspeaker and said that our plane was going to be late and she assured us that it was coming. After 5 minutes had passed she came back on and said that our plane was taking off from Delaware in 5 minutes and should get there within the next hour and a half. I sat there dumbfounded thinking about how our plane could be so late since our plane was suppose to leave at 6. Well after that hour and a half passes our plane finally got there and we were on our way and finally landed in Louisville at 11 to 11:30 p.m. I know what you are thinking, "that’s not so bad", but just wait it gets a lot worse.
So after a week of clearing my head in 60 to 70 degree weather in Louisville (which is a change from the -20 that I had previously experienced in New York City) it was time to go back to school the following Friday. After packing up and saying bye to my family I got an automated phone call saying that my plane was canceled and that I had to call US Airways toll free line to reschedule a new flight. After taking down the number I called it and it was busy. Annoyed I called every minute for the next 30 minutes and I finally go through. When the phone call went through they said, "due to the high volume of calls it was going to be 45 minutes before the next agent would be able to assist me. " So I waited, and waited. After 45 minutes of listening to probably the dullest music ever produced, I finally got through to an agent. She rescheduled my flight for later on that night at 6. So, that wasn't so bad, I would be back in New York by the end of the night to take care of my dog that was staying at a friends. Once I got to the airport the line was 30 to 40 people long; so, I waited once again. After about an hour of waiting, I finally got to the kiosk where after I swiped my credit card and showed my id the agent said she didn't see me on the flight. Supposedly I was never booked for that flight (A.K.A. the agent lied on the phone to me). After begging and pleading to her that I did talk to an agent on the phone and she assured me that I was on the flight the lady at the kiosk put me on a flight into Pittsburg where I would have a 30 minute layover before leaving on a flight to New York. So, I took my ticket and proceeded to the gate. After pretty mush getting stripped searched because I guess I was the "random search" I went to the gate only to find that the flight was delayed an hour. I went up to the desk to talk to the agent at the gate and she told me that most likely that the flight to New York from Pittsburg would be delayed because all the flight into the northeast that day were being delayed. So, I waited. After that hour went by, guess what? They delayed my flight another hour. After consulting with my family I decided that if I did miss my flight into New York I would probably get on a flight either that night or the next morning, so I decided to wait out that hour. Well after that hour came and went they decided that they were just going to cancel both flights. So I called my family and told them I wasn't going to be able to get out tonight and that I was going to need to get picked up after I picked up my luggage and rebooked my flight. So I went to the ticketing counter and tried to reschedule and the lady told me that everything going out Saturday was already booked up and that the only thing that was going out was at 6 a.m. on Sunday morning. I asked her, "Is that a direct flight?" she assured me that it was and I would be in New York by 8 a.m. So, it was time to get my luggage which was suppose to be at luggage pick up. After waiting 30 minutes because they didn't know where my bags where I finally got them back. So I went home and waited to Sunday morning.
So Sunday comes and I wake up at the a** crack of dawn to catch this flight. So I walked into the airport half asleep at 5 a.m. What do you know the ticket lady from Friday night lied to me, my flight is not direct. It stops in Philadelphia and then connects to New York. Well that’s not so bad. Hardly having my eyes open I check in and get my ticket. Here we go again, I guess it is just bad luck for me, I get another random search, WONDERFUL. After feeling very violated I get to the gate only to find that the flight had been canceled yet again. After walking out and talking to the lady at the kiosk again she scheduled me for a flight on Monday morning at 8 a.m. Then I went and got my bags and went home even madder then ever.
Monday morning comes and I get to the airport check in and got my ticket. But, guess what I didn't get searched this time (my lucky day). And you know what the flight was on time so I got on the flight and was in New York at 8 a.m. I got off the flight and went to go pick up my bags. OH but, guess what, everyone else got there bags, but who? ME
Now it is Tuesday and I am still waiting for my luggage.
So after a week of clearing my head in 60 to 70 degree weather in Louisville (which is a change from the -20 that I had previously experienced in New York City) it was time to go back to school the following Friday. After packing up and saying bye to my family I got an automated phone call saying that my plane was canceled and that I had to call US Airways toll free line to reschedule a new flight. After taking down the number I called it and it was busy. Annoyed I called every minute for the next 30 minutes and I finally go through. When the phone call went through they said, "due to the high volume of calls it was going to be 45 minutes before the next agent would be able to assist me. " So I waited, and waited. After 45 minutes of listening to probably the dullest music ever produced, I finally got through to an agent. She rescheduled my flight for later on that night at 6. So, that wasn't so bad, I would be back in New York by the end of the night to take care of my dog that was staying at a friends. Once I got to the airport the line was 30 to 40 people long; so, I waited once again. After about an hour of waiting, I finally got to the kiosk where after I swiped my credit card and showed my id the agent said she didn't see me on the flight. Supposedly I was never booked for that flight (A.K.A. the agent lied on the phone to me). After begging and pleading to her that I did talk to an agent on the phone and she assured me that I was on the flight the lady at the kiosk put me on a flight into Pittsburg where I would have a 30 minute layover before leaving on a flight to New York. So, I took my ticket and proceeded to the gate. After pretty mush getting stripped searched because I guess I was the "random search" I went to the gate only to find that the flight was delayed an hour. I went up to the desk to talk to the agent at the gate and she told me that most likely that the flight to New York from Pittsburg would be delayed because all the flight into the northeast that day were being delayed. So, I waited. After that hour went by, guess what? They delayed my flight another hour. After consulting with my family I decided that if I did miss my flight into New York I would probably get on a flight either that night or the next morning, so I decided to wait out that hour. Well after that hour came and went they decided that they were just going to cancel both flights. So I called my family and told them I wasn't going to be able to get out tonight and that I was going to need to get picked up after I picked up my luggage and rebooked my flight. So I went to the ticketing counter and tried to reschedule and the lady told me that everything going out Saturday was already booked up and that the only thing that was going out was at 6 a.m. on Sunday morning. I asked her, "Is that a direct flight?" she assured me that it was and I would be in New York by 8 a.m. So, it was time to get my luggage which was suppose to be at luggage pick up. After waiting 30 minutes because they didn't know where my bags where I finally got them back. So I went home and waited to Sunday morning.
So Sunday comes and I wake up at the a** crack of dawn to catch this flight. So I walked into the airport half asleep at 5 a.m. What do you know the ticket lady from Friday night lied to me, my flight is not direct. It stops in Philadelphia and then connects to New York. Well that’s not so bad. Hardly having my eyes open I check in and get my ticket. Here we go again, I guess it is just bad luck for me, I get another random search, WONDERFUL. After feeling very violated I get to the gate only to find that the flight had been canceled yet again. After walking out and talking to the lady at the kiosk again she scheduled me for a flight on Monday morning at 8 a.m. Then I went and got my bags and went home even madder then ever.
Monday morning comes and I get to the airport check in and got my ticket. But, guess what I didn't get searched this time (my lucky day). And you know what the flight was on time so I got on the flight and was in New York at 8 a.m. I got off the flight and went to go pick up my bags. OH but, guess what, everyone else got there bags, but who? ME
Now it is Tuesday and I am still waiting for my luggage.
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
My Music Life
Music plays a big part in my life. When I was younger and didn’t use the computer a lot I would buy cassette tapes then when compact disks came into play I bought those too. But, when napster came on to the scene I stopped buying cd’s and started downloading full cd’s in the matter of an hour or so. I didn’t realize that what I was doing was stealing until the napster got taken to court. After finding out that it was cheating I started buying my music. But, now I find it difficult not to download some music through the peer sharing networks all together because i-tunes does not always have the songs that I am looking for.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)