Voting Changes for NBA All-Star Game are Needed

By: Micah Sokolsky

The starters have been announced and the 2014 NBA All-Star Game is only a few weeks away; February 16th to be exact.  The fans have spoken and voted to see their favorite players participate in the mid-season classic:  a game filled with dunks, alley-oops, fast breaks, and zero defense always provides entertainment for the viewing audience.  Who doesn't want to watch Blake Griffin jump over everybody or LeBron James soar to the hoop and have every player on the floor watch it happen?  Unlike in baseball, the NBA All-Star Game is for the entertainment of the fans and players alike, and has no real value.  Win or lose, everyone has a great time.

Guard the Post: The first step in the next stage of college sports has arrived

It has been over four months since Northwestern football players wore "#APU" wristbands, joining players from Georgia and Georgia Tech. APU stands for "All Players United" and is a movement inspired by vocal current athletes and the National College Players Association President Ramogi Huma. This was the first large scale, nationwide statement on National Television by student-athletes demanding to be heard. Everyone asked, "What is next?" Well, here we are.

Under Further Review: Northwestern Football Takes a Stand

"Nothing about us without us." - Eli Wolff at the Sport For Social Change Conference on Oct. 25, 2013.

Yesterday, in the midst of Super Bowl XLVIII media day in New York, something that can have much more of an impact on sports as we know it was happening in Chicago. Northwestern's football team took a historic step forward with the help of National College Player's Association president, Ramogi Huma. According to a report from ESPN investigative reporter Tom Farrey, Huma filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board on behalf of the Northwestern football players led by quarterback Kain Colter. The result could have an unprecedented college sports and the rights of college athletes.

Media Coverage of Sherman Worth Around $5 million

SI.com

The following post is a guest post from Drexel Sport Management junior Alan Liang.

Erin Andrews’ face said it all. Following the NFC Championship Game, Andrews got the “privilege” of interviewing Richard Sherman after his play ultimately ended the game. I’m sure she was shocked as much as the rest of America of what Sherman had just said. Andrews asked Sherman to take her through the last play of the game. Sherman’s response, “Well I’m the best corner in the game. When you try me with a sorry receiver like Crabtree that’s the result you gonna get. Don’t you ever talk about me.”

Super Bowl: The Weather Denies Record Ticket Prices

   

Maybe the price of a ticket to this years Super Bowl at Met Life Stadium will not be as unaffordable to the average sports fan in America as first reported. Well that is unless you are still willing to dish out $1,500 for a nosebleed seat where the players look like ants running around on the field.

 

So maybe the prices are not as astronomical on the resale market, as many people once predicted at a price of about $3,000, but we can all thank the Super Bowl selection committee for the decision to play in this outdoor stadium. The reason for the dramatic decrease in price is due to the frigid weather expected in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

The Drexel Connection: Patrick Gallagher

This week the Drexel Connection spotlights Patrick Gallagher. Patrick is currently the Athletic Administration and Business Operations Assistant with the Drexel Athletic Department. Patrick is a graduate student (2nd Year) at Drexel University and also serves as the graduate advisor for the Sport Management Student Union on the Advisory Board. Prior to launching a professional career in higher education, he spent seven years in New York City cultivating his skills as a leader in media sales and consulting for a mid-size advertising firm representing large global corporations. However, like many of us might have to face in the future, Patrick reached a point in his life where he was not pleased with the direction he was headed and decided to make a change.

Becoming a Professional MVP: Help Me Help You

As athletes, we all want to perform at our best when it comes to game time; and so we strive to be as ready as possible through tireless hours of practice and preparation. One specific area of preparation that is rarely talked about amongst the average fan but is an understood necessity between coaches and athletes to be on the same page relates to their time spent in the film room. 

Sixers and Devils are "All In"

In the world of sports, there are certain categories that can be controversial. Some of these include alcohol for college sports and tobacco companies for really any sports. Finally, gambling is always a debated topic when it comes to successful sponsorship deals. While some professional teams have partnerships in the gambling sector, no team had a partnership with an online gaming company, that is until earlier this month. In early January, the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils announced a partnership with Partypoker.com making it the first ever partnership in sports with an online gaming company.

General Body Meeting - Sportsbiz Jeopardy

SMTSU Networking Night and Landmark Fundraiser

Full 90: Madrid rated top revenue-generator by Deloitte Football Money League; 9th year running

Real Madrid sits atop Deloitte’s Football Money League for the ninth year in a row with €518.9 million in revenue last season. The Football Money report lists the top 20 revenue generating clubs worldwide as it examines three forms of revenue: broadcasting, commercial, and matchday. This 17^th edition of Football Money features clubs from England (6), Italy (4), Germany (4), Spain (3), Turkey (2), and France (1). Yes I said, Turkey. The Money League is considered to be the “most contemporary and reliable analysis of the clubs’ relative financial performance” and is composed by Deloitte’s Sports Business Group.

Water Cooler Talk: UFC in 2014

If you think about the UFC and the best fighters in the sport usually three names come to mind: Anderson Silva, George St. Pierre, and Jon Jones.  These three fighters are usually the three names of who fans and commentators toss out for best pound for pound fighters.  Silva has recently lost two fights in a row and broken his leg in half.  Who knows when he will be able to fight again and if he will ever be able to compete at the level he used to.  St. Pierre decided to vacate his belt and give up fighting for a while.  Jones has not fought since September and has postponed his fight three times against Glover Teixeira.  With these three stars futures in doubt, I have come up with a few suggestions for what the UFC should do to continue its strong brand.   

Under Armour: Making Big Moves

Under Armour has been clawing its way into the sporting goods industry for almost two decades now. They may finally be making moves that will solidify their well built brand. The big news of late was the historic signing of Notre Dame within the past week. Signing Notre Dame is the equivalent of getting to check mate in chess. Notre Dame football is big business. They are the second most valuable college football team in the country behind the University of Texas. In a Forbes article written by Monte Burke, University Vice President and Director of Athletics Jack Swarbrick said that “the largest financial commitment ever made by a brand to a university.”. In 2008 the University of Michigan signed an $8.2 million annual cash and equipment deal which was the largest ever. This deal could very well be upwards of $100 million total. You can read more about this major deal in Alexa Fontanella’s article for The Sports Complex.

Get Ready for alot of Richard Sherman

Richard Sherman has become the next big thing in the NFL both on the field and off.

Prior to his post-game rant, I noticed Richard Sherman in a couple of different commercials. It seems as if his popularity has risen in the minds of companies as well as fans. Sherman is the new athlete in the new episode of the Beats commercial.

For those of you who have not yet seen the new commercial it starts off with Sherman in the locker room surrounded by reporters asking him questions about his rough upbringing and questionable decisions. Sherman answers each question until they cut a little too deep to where he puts the beats headphones on and tunes everyone away.

Guard the Post: The 5 questions you should be asking your boss, but probably are not

This information was taken from an article on LifeHacker titled "8 Questions That Will Improve Your Relationship with Your Boss." The full article can be found here.

As a student trying to break into the very competitive sport industry, it is vital to take advantage of any and all connections and networks at your disposal. Although it is true that as a student most bosses give wiggle room in terms of any mistakes and utilize them as learning opportunities, it is also true that a lot of people will look at your as a lowly intern or co-op. By asking these simple questions throughout the time you are employed will aid in your growth in the company and hopefully in the industry.

The Sports Biz Report - Episode 2.8 - NFL Head Coaching Changes

Guard the Post: Steaks and Sportsbiz, what else do you need?

Peyton Manning is maybe the most brilliant football mind of our generation. With that being said, he is notorious for his activity at the line of scrimmage; consistently calling audibles and motions is part of his game. This past weekend, Manning opened a "Pandora's box" that no one working in the Sports Business could have seen coming.

Under Further Review: Colin Kaepernick and Beats

Colin Kaepernick is a polarizing athlete. It could be because of his tattoos, his playing style, the combination of his position and race, or his overt confidence in the handling of his haters. Personally, I see no reason to hate. He has overcome great adversity to become who he is, and I feel that some may see his confidence as being brash. No matter which way you slice it, though, Kaepernick has quarterbacked the San Francisco 49ers to another NFC Championship game (the Niners travel to Seattle to take on the Seahawks on Sunday at 6:30 p.m.).

Although the commercial has been out for a little while now, I feel like Kaepernick's Beats commercial does a great job of summing up who he is.

Innovation Is Key: Under Armour and Notre Dame Join Forces

    

Under Armour is taking over the world of college sports. Although this statement may not be completely accurate, the company sure is making major deals to compete with fellow competitors Nike and Adidas. The company endorses top athletes such as Michael Phelps, Tom Brady, Lindsey Vonn, and Cam Newton, as well as becoming the official apparel provider to the up and coming National Lacrosse League. However, most recently Under Armour has shown much interest in college football by providing Auburn's uniforms in the national championship game and most recently signing a $100 million dollar equipment deal with Notre Dame.

“60 Minutes” on Alex Rodriguez and Anthony Bosch

The following guest post titled "60 Minutes on Alex Rodriguez and Anthony Bosch" is written by junior Drexel sport management student Alan Liang.

abcnews.com

So Yankee fans, how are you feeling about Alex Rodriguez’s 10 year $275 million signing back in 2007? Major League Baseball has announced that Rodriguez will be suspended for the entire 2014 season including the post-season cutting the original 211 game suspension. As some of you know Rodriguez was on Anthony Bosch’s Biogenesis report that came out during the 2013 season where 14 players including Rodriguez were suspended.  Rodriguez was the only one who was going to fight it and therefore finished out the season.

SMTSU General Body Meeting on Thursday

Full 90: Winter Wonderland in Qatar?

On Wednesday FIFA’s general secretary, Jerome Valcke, reported to a French radio station that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will not be held during the usual months of June and July. Instead, due to extreme summer heat in Qatar, the 2022 tournament will take place in the winter. Valcke admits that he believes the tournament will take place between November 15th and January 15th at the latest. “If you play between November 15 and the end of December that’s the time when the weather conditions are best, when you can play in temperatures equivalent to a warm spring season in Europe.” Sepp Blatter, president of FIFA, has since told the media that Valcke’s comments are not conclusive, rather they are the personal opinion of Valcke.

Best Athletes of 2013

Basketball:

The best player in the NBA is clearly LeBron James. After winning back-to-back MVP’s and NBA Championships it seems almost impossible to not label LeBron as the best player in 2013. In the 2012-2013 season, LeBron averaged 26.8 points, 8 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game. This year he is averaging 25.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game. Almost remarkable numbers from a player at his position, but we have all come to expect that from LeBron.

On the women’s side I’d have to say the best player of 2013 was Candace Parker. Parker was the 2013 MVP of the WNBA, so it is hard to really argue that she wasn’t the best player in her league. Parker averaged just below 18 points per game with 8.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists. In the playoffs, Parker averaged 25.7 points per game with 8.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists.  Although Maya Moore also had a great season, Candace was able to edge her out in the race to be MVP, which earns her my pick as the best WNBA player of 2013.

The Sports Biz Report - Episode 2.7 - Blackouts & the NFL Playoffs

Water Cooler Talk: Top 5 Sports Pictures of 2013

 

It is always fun to look back at the past year and remember all of the great moments in sports.  We enjoyed seeing new champions, records being broken and amazing games and plays.  Most of these moments are captured in unforgettable pictures.  These pictures help us to immortalize certain athletes, teams and plays.  In no particular order, I am going to show you my top five favorite pictures from 2013.

Playoff Potential: The End of the BCS era, and the Potential of an Extended NFL Playoff.

The BCS’s Last Hurrah.

With a sad salute farewell we say goodbye to the Bowl Championship Series (BCS). R.I.P. BCS, 1998-2014. You and your shenanigans will be missed. The death of the BCS is paving the way for something, that if you know how television contracts work, that will glue more eyeballs to more television screens across the country. More viewers mean more money for all parties involved with the newly named College Football Playoffs (the NCAA is very creative). 

Under Further Review: Phillies Extend TV Deal with Comcast

In 2014, there is no greater flex of the muscle for a Major League Baseball team than the size of their local television contract. The New York Yankees set the bar high with the creation of their very own network in the YES Network. Then this past year, the Los Angeles Dodgers inked a massive deal with Fox Sports for a reported 25 years and $8.5 billion. And that was coming out of bankruptcy (Dodgers get to keep $6 billion under the court agreement) and a new ownership group. The Seattle Mariners and Root Sports set a very solid number for the mid-market teams at $115 million per year.

This time it was the Philadelphia Phillies' turn to step up to the plate and negotiate their local television home run. By the initial looks of it, they may have hit this one out of the park.

Top 5 Drexel Athletics Moments of 2013

With a new year comes new goals, new hopes, new dreams, and most of all, the clean slate to do it. With a new year also comes looking back at the previous year to assess what went wrong and what went right, what we can do differently and what should continue. Drexel is never looked upon as a powerhouse in the realm of collegiate athletics, but the school certainly fields teams across the board that should not be taken lightly. The team with perhaps the largest following at Drexel -- the men's basketball team -- had an uncharacteristically down year in 2013, but the rest of the athletic department was right there behind them to pick them up and make 2013 a tremendous year in Drexel athletics.

Here are the top five moments in Drexel athletics in 2013:

Midseason Check Up: Orange and Black

Back on Track

      Since the firing of former head coach Peter Laviolette after an 0-3 start to the season, the Flyers and new head coach have worked through early season struggles.  They now find themselves with a winning record at 21-17-4, good for second place, only to the Penguins (BOO), in the Metropolitan Division , and 7th place in the Eastern Conference.  Just recently the Flyers ended and started the New Year out west, where they went 4-1 collecting 8 of a possible 10 points, huge.  Tomorrow in Newark, NJ the Flyers finish up their 6 game road streak with a nationally televised game on NBCSN.  A win could catapult them to 5th place in the Eastern Conference.  What has been most noticeable about the Flyers since their putrid start is their never dieing spirit to battle to the end of the game.  We have seen that spirit before in Flyers teams, especially during the improbable Stanley Cup run in the 2011 Playoffs.  This kind of desire to win is fueling the Flyers ascendance up the Eastern Conference Standings as we enter the second half of the NHL season.   

Full Court Press: The Best Moments in Sports in 2013

The Year 2013 was one riddled with both ups and downs in the sports world. We saw 365 days of overcoming adversity, broken records, hard work, pride, drama, disappointments, victories, and defeats. The following pictures and videos depict 10 of the most influential and shocking moments in sports during the last year. 

Feeding the Soul: Displaying Courage when Most Vulnerable

Violent, barbaric, and disgraceful, are three adjectives often used to describe Mixed Martial Arts. Many people believe that MMA is not a sport, rather an excuse to beat the crap out of someone. These people argue that MMA displays the militaristic and non-classy characteristics of our society.

The Sports Complex: 2013 in Review

2013 was an incredible year for both Drexel SMTSU and The Sports Complex. Below is a few statistics and notable accomplishments and moments for TSC during 2013.

State of the Student Union: SMTSU Adds Three Officers

As 2013 turns to 2014 and we put our New Year's resolutions into action, the Sport Management Student Union is also striving to get better. To begin 2014, the SMTSU has added three new officers to join Kevin Rossi (President), Kevin Murray (Vice President), Lindrit Shkodra (Treasurer), Mike Proska (Secretary), and Greg Monforte (Director of Marketing and Outreach).

The SMTSU would like to welcome Matt Puzio, Alexa Fontanella, and Bennett Schiff to their new positions as officers.

Guard the Post: Sochi 2014 is on the horizon

7 years ago, Sochi, Russia was granted the 2014 Winter Olympic games. At that time, Russia needed the attention that comes with hosting the biggest sporting event in the world. In hindsight, the attention may have been a little bit more than the Russo's were looking for. Anti-gay legislation, money problems, political unrest with the United States and other world powers, threats of terrorist attacks, and bombings in other Russian cities, just to name a few.