Building Brand Ambassadors

I think it is safe to say that most sports fans have a favorite team. There is one team they pick to like above all the rest. This could come from a family history, home town, or maybe even color scheme (for the women out there). Regardless of the reason or how we pick our team, one thing remains the same: we cheer for them!

I personally have my favorite teams. The teams that I would never turn my back on. I love sports (hence why I work in this industry). I also feel that I have a strong connection with the sports community. However, there are still many fans out there that are more loyal than I. Those fans that eat, sleep, and breath their favorite team. They wake up on game day thinking about the matchup that will take place later that day. These are the types of fans every team wants and strives to have. These fans are what I like to call Brand Ambassadors.  

Brand Ambassadors are the fans that will go to bat for your team. They will defend you and stand by your side no matter the number of Ls at the end of a season. Their personal identity is so engrained in the brand, they cannot define themselves without it. The challenge is how do you create or build this type of fan base?

Creating Brand Ambassadors takes more than just customer satisfaction. Customer satisfaction is like a resume; it gets you in the door. The next step is customer retention. You have to get the fans to keep coming back for more. This will lead to customer loyalty. Customer loyalty is the last step before a fan becomes a brand ambassador. This is the stage where fans begin to choose your brand on a consistent basis above all others. A comparison in the fast food world would be the choice between McDonald’s and Burger King. A customer loyalist of McDonald’s would choose them over Burger King every single time. 

The jump from customer loyalist to brand ambassador is a difficult one to make, hence why there are far fewer brand ambassadors than customer loyalists. To build a brand ambassador, it takes embedding the team into the lives of its fans. Georgia Tech did this very well when they released their football video series called The Process. This was an online video released every Friday for 7 weeks leading up to the first game of the season. The series followed student athletes showing a different aspect of their lives each week from practice, to the weight room, and to the classroom. The brand ambassadors waited all week for Friday when the new episode would be released. This video series was not designed to bring in new fans, but to give the already loyal fans something more. It merged the lives of the fan and athlete. Episode 1 of The Process can be watched below. 

Athlete Traits In The Workplace

We all have our favorite athletes. Those players who just seem to always get the job done in some of the most trying circumstances. They make no excuses for themselves even when it seems their back is against a wall. They find a way to get a "W" for their team no matter what it takes. With most fans, infatuation is where this fan-player relationship stops. I am here to challenge you to embrace the admirable traits of your beloved athletes and incorporate them into your work routine.

What many people don't realize or acknowledge, it the ability to learn from the sports stars they look up to. Peyton Manning doesn't display qualities that are unique to just football players. Below I have a compiled a list of athlete qualities that can be harnessed and turned into productivity in the workplace environment.

1. Athletes know how to work in a team environment. They know how to put their team's best interest above their own. Sometimes this means they must perform a role that may not necessarily be their favorite or the one that gets the most praise. They still do this anyways.

2. Athletes practice a skill over and over until it is perfected. They know that if they work at something long enough, it will be mastered. They also don't accept anything under mastery. If TOny Gonzalez catches 9 out of 10 passes, he is going to work harder to make sure next time it is 10 out of 10.

3. Athletes know when to take direction from others. Sometimes even the greatest players have to take a step back and follow others. David Ortiz isn't going to jump into a race car and tell Jeff Gordon he doesn't need his advice because he knows what he's doing. We are all put into situations where we need to let others who are more experienced in that field hold the reigns.

4. Athletes also know when they need to step up and make a "big play". Leaders know when their team is down and needs a pick-me-up. They accept and handle the pressure of big situations with grace.

5. Athletes know they have to put the work in when nobody is watching in order to reach the success they desire on game day. They know there is no way to cheat the system. The only way to get where they want to go is by putting in the long hours day in and day out and by trusting the system.

These are just a few athlete traits that directly translate into a positive workplace environment. They can be vital tools for you to use in your office on a daily basis, and can certainly enhance the environment in favorable manner. Whether you are interviewing for a new job or simply wanting to improve upon the one you already hold, try taking a look at your favorite athlete and incorporating their character traits into your daily life.

Sports Community Embraces Boston

All have heard of the tragedy that struck out country two days ago in Boston, Mass. The hysteria that the bombs caused on the city and families, friends, and runners of The Boston Marathon is close to incomparable. This incident has left many people questioning humanity. Is human nature really evil at the core?

It is very easy to look at this situation and fixate on the negative. The media shows replay after replay of runners and spectators screaming and frantically scrambling for their lives. In the midst of these replays though, we also see fellow victims running around to help others. We see volunteer medics wheeling in patient after patient as fast as they possibly can. We see prayer groups and moments of silence being held across the country for everyone involved. The sports community is also embracing the city of Boston. The chicago tribune released the following graphic just one day after the trafic incident.

What does this mean for the sport of running? Hopefully we will not see a decrease in the amount of athletes who participate in organized runs but the exact opposite. Hopefully more people will continue to run in honor of those who no longer can. 

April Fools Day Sports Edition

On April 1st, everyone thinks they are the world's best jokester. Google blows up with searches of "world's best pranks" and "Best pranks to pull on my friends or coworkers". It is inevitable that somebody will get their feelings hurt and somebody will take a prank way too far. This idea is no different in the sports world.

In fact, some of the best pranks are pulled by teammates. Below, rookie Cleveland Cavalier Dion Waiters opens the door to his SUV only to find an avalanche of a buttery, salty snack. This must be what happens when veterans get bored. Needless to say, that is going to be one expensive detail.

April Fools Day pranks don't stop with just players. The media, coaches, and employees get in on the action too. The San Francisco 49ers pulled a very public joke on head coach Jim Harbaugh when they updated the website about Jim's new clothing line. Upon first glance, the story looked like any other story published on the team's main page. With further reading, you realize it is nothing more than a well thought out, harmless prank on the coach. This joke is definitely one of my favorites of all time. Part of the story is displayed below. 

What isn't a April Fools joke is the New York Yankees appearance on Opening Day today. Earlier today, the Yankees were defeated by their rival, the Boston Red Sox. Missing from the lineup was Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, and Mark Teixeira among others. All in all, this is the best line up the Yankees could come up with today. 

Is the Yankees loss to the Red Sox in Yankee stadium on Opening Day a forecast of how the month of April is going to look for the Yankees? Only time will tell, and only time will heal the injuries of players they desperately need. 

LBJ: Accepted or Rejected?

With rumors circling about LeBron James' thoughts of returning to Cleveland after the 2013-2014 season, the Heat's road game against the Cavaliers couldn't come at a poor appropriate time. Since LeBron left the team back in 2010, every return trip back to Quicken Loans Arena has been filled with boos and chants such as "Traitor". This will be the first time he has returned wearing a ring on his finger.

Everyone begs for the answer to the question of whether tonight's welcoming will be different for the reigning champ. With these new rumors, will fans be excited to find out the truth or will they bash him even harder for trying to return to the team he betrayed? It's impossible to know the answer to any of these questions until game time. So in preparation, I have included a list of some of the best LeBron James hate posters. Hopefully the Cleveland fans won't let us down and will display some even better ones tonight at 7:00pm.

When Will The Fire Run Out Of Heat?

     Last night, many tuned into ESPN to see the fate of the Heat unfold. Various emotions were felt when Lebron James hit a jumper with 10 seconds left to secure the victory for the Heat. This triumph increased the Heat's winning streak to 23 straight games. This is now the second longest winning streak in NBA history. 

     Now that the streak is only 10 games away from tying the all-time one set by the Lakers, much of the attention is focused not on how long the streak will be, but who will be the team to cool off the Heat. It is not likely that the Heat will encounter any trouble with their next four opponents: Cleveland, Detroit, Charlotte, and Orlando when these four teams have the four worst records in the East. On top of that, 8 of their next 11 games are against opponents with losing records. Who is the most likely to kill the streak before it reaches the 32 game mark? That would be the San Antonio Spurs. These two teams will match up in San Antonio on March 31st, which will be game 30 if the streak is still alive. Coming from a fan of OKC and Kevin Durant, I would love nothing more than my birthday present on the 31st to include a L in the result column for the Heat. 

     That being said, I have to give credit where credit is due. This team sure has put on a show for not only NBA fans but sport fans in general. The increased revenue from ticket sales and apparel is escalating with every game. It is not an easy feat to even come close to breaking records. With the triple threat of Shane Battier, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade on defense alone it is easy to see why the streak has continued for so long. I send my good luck wishes to the Heat as well as my nightly prayers of domination to Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili. May your knowledge and experience outweigh the youthful athleticism of the Miami Heat. 

Unbound Sport Superstitions

Competition, athleticism, and pride are just a few things that follow sports everywhere. There is one other aspect that is not only experienced by the players themselves but also the fans. This one word takes fandom to a whole new level. This separates the normal fans from the diehard. The one simple word that causes people to not wash their socks for months. Superstition.

It is known that fans will do anything and everything in their will power to help their team win. If this means leaving the volume on the television at a certain number or not taking a bathroom break for 4 hours while the game is on, they will do it without hesitation. Even companies and the media have caught on to this trend. Bud Light, one of the NFL's official sponsors has jumped on the superstition train with their "It's only weird if it doesn't work" commercial which can be seen below.

However, fans are not the only people partaking in these beliefs. Some of the most strange habits and actions come from the athletes themselves. Listed below are just a few of the strangest superstitions I have ever heard of by professional athletes.

#1. Turk Wendell, Major League Baseball

Turk was an unconventional pitcher in the Majors from 1993-2004. Most people don't know anything about Turk's performance over the 7 seasons. What they do know is how crazy his superstitions were for every game. If Turk was on the mound, you best bet that he had four pieces of black licorice in his mouth. At the end of every inning he would hurdle the baseline, spit out the licorice, brush his teeth, and replace it at the beginning of the next inning in order to leap back over the baseline to start the next inning. Wendell even went as far to make sure all numbers in his contract end in 99, his jersey number of choice. 

#2. Jason Terry, NBA- Atlanta Hawks 

Terry and one of his college teammates always wore their jersey shorts to sleep the night before. That may be a little odd to some, but in the world of sports that is borderline "normal". When Terry made it to the League with the Hawks, he took this mild superstition to another level when he started wearing the shorts of the next day's opponent. This obviously required many good relationships with people at 30 teams. When he played against the Heat in the 2006 finals, he couldn't find any team shorts so he wore the Mavericks instead. Terry's superstition with shorts was not his only apparel delusion. He also wore knee high socks...five pairs of knee high socks at one time while he played. 

Women Making History in a Man's World

     Danica Patrick. When most people hear her name they think of the super sexual Go Daddy commercials that air on television. If I had to guess, most people remember the Go Daddy name more than the athlete's. I am sure Go Daddy has no problem with this whatsoever. If they didn't know before the commercial aired, most people can infer that she is some sort of race car driver. What a lot of people don't know is that she is making history within the sport industry.

     There are few sports where women compete directly with males under the same rules and during the same event. Most often there are separate leagues for each gender. People have and will continue to compare the men's and women's leagues to each other. The typical stereotype is that men always have been and always will be the superior athletic sex. Men are always considered the dominate gender. Because of this, people also generalize that men's sports are more entertaining than women's. Danica is now forcing people to reconsider these stereotypes.

     On Sunday, February 17th, Danica Patrick made history when she became the first woman in history to win the poll in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. What made this feat even more impressive was she qualified first for the famous Daytona 500. The top qualifying spot for this particular race for a woman previous to Patrick was 18th. Danica beat out 44 other drivers, all male, to grab the top spot.


 

     What does this mean for women in sports? Danica is proving that not only can women battle with men in the same competition, but they can be extremely successful while doing so. She may be carrying on the same theme of portraying women in sports in a sexual manner; however, she is also reinforcing the fact that she is more than just a pretty face. She is an athlete who deserves recognition and credit where it is due. She is forcing people to reconsider the female role in athletics.

Harlem Shake

The Harlem Shake has made its way down south from New York and taken the UGA camus by storm. Even the swim team has joined in on the action. Check out their underwater rendition!

February: Black History (and Future) Month

     For as long as I can remember, February has always been known as Black History Month. I am more than happy to say that all of our professional sports in the United States are fully integrated. Jackie Robinson would be proud to see what today's baseball culture looks like. Even though we have come a long way since Mr. Robinson made his debut in 1947, there is still much work to be done.

 
  Certain racial groups are profiled and stereotyped to play certain positions. African Americans are typically thought of as your wide receiver or your running back in football while Caucasians are thought to be better at the quarter back position. This theme is reinforced through media coverage of games. It is not uncommon during live coverage of games to hear an announcer say "That was a smart play" or "To play this position you have to be very smart" when referring to a white quarterback. It is also not uncommon to hear an announcer say "What an athletic play" or "He sure is fast" when referring to a black running back or wide receiver. 

    The problem does not just stop with players. The issue continues up the ladder to coaches as well as General Managers. There are only 3 African American head coaches in the NFL and only 5 managers in the MLB. There are no majority owners in the NFL or MLB. This a trend that needs to be addressed and stopped. We say that these sports are fully integrated when in reality there is still a long road ahead. Until a young boy of any race can have realistic dreams of whatever career in sports they want, we will not have fully integrated sports. 

Superbowl = Super {Power} Surge

     As I am sure you all know, last night was the Superbowl. Before the game even started, anyone who knows anything about football knew what the majority of coverage outside of the game was going to entail: the Harbaugh brothers. This was the first Superbowl featuring brothers as opposing head coaches. What people were not expecting was a power outage at the beginning of the third quarter.

   
     The Superdome was constructed over thirty years ago with major reconstruction after hurricane Katrina. This outdated facility lost power and delayed the Superbowl for thirty minutes. This will likely hurt the city's bid to host future championships as well as solidifies the trend of hosting major events in the newest stadiums around.

    What does this say for the city of Atlanta? I think it proves that if Atlanta fans and residents want to see a Superbowl or any other major championship game played in this great city, a new stadium must be in the plans for the future. Arthur Blank knew this truth before the blackout on Sunday night. With talks of LA wanting a NFL team and a team owner who is pushing for a new stadium, if Georgians want to see the Falcons stay in their home state, it is inevitable for the city to build a new home for the team. 

College Hockey: No Lockouts Allowed

      Many NHL fans were left disappointed when October came and went along with the start of the 2012-2013 NHL Hockey season. Here in Atlanta, fans are not exactly recognized as being the most dedicated. This is obvious with the departure of the Atlanta Thrashers to Canada making it the only city to lose a major sport team twice. Even with the relocation of the Thrashers and an extended lockout, one thing remained for these fans to hold on to: college hockey.

   
     This past weekend was the Savannah Tire Hockey Classic held in Savannah, GA. The tournament consisted of four ACHA Division III Hockey teams including University of Georgia, University of Florida, Georgia Tech, and Florida State University. Over 10,000 fans were in attendance for the two day event. ACHA hockey does not allow for scholarships or any additional funds to support the players. Each player must pay to be allowed to represent their team and wear their schools' jersey. 

    Although hockey is not a typical southern sport, there was a great turnout this weekend to watch these young kids play hockey. It is great to see such a large crowd gather to cheer on a sport that seems to be "dying" in this region of the country.