The Future of Sport Communication

Throughout the course, we have seen the extensive strides and growth that have occurred in sports media and communication.  We started out with having no coverage of sports at all.  Then there were the developments of the radio and newspaper.  Then television came along and completely changed the way sports were covered.  With the developments of the radio, newspaper, and television, a career in sports media became more apparent and important.  Once we thought that sports coverage had reached its peak with cable television, the Internet was founded and once again completely changed the coverage and media outlets for sports.  Will it stop there?  Doubt it.

Stemming from the Internet, there have been new ways for teams, leagues, players, and coaches to connect to the outside world and their fans.  Twitter and other social networks as allowed for the insiders (players, coaches, etc.) to relay their message to the outsiders (fans, media, etc.).  This allows for sports fans to feel a sense of intimacy with their favorite athletes and teams.  On the other side, the players get to make sure their message gets out the way that they want it.  They don’t have to worry about a news reporter misconstruing their words and relaying the wrong message.  Therefore, in the future, I can see the internet being used to conduct interviews or conferences of coaches and players.  I can also see it as a device for players and teams to be able to relay messages to the world.  The internet will continue to grow and I believe be the main source of sports coverage.  This is a way for fans to get information inexpensively and can avoid sitting through commercials and interruptions.  The Internet will continue to grow and build in the infrastructure of streaming live videos.      

Technology alone will continue to grow in the sports industry and the way sport is covered.  In the next few years, we will no longer see sports reporters and journalists carrying about pen and paper.  The pen and paper will dissolve in the sports communication careers and profession.  It will all be done with technology devices.  We have already seen the growth of technology devices finding their way to sports communication.  It has been seen as quicker, more reliable, and efficient in many ways.  Reporters and journalists will practically be able to have their stories written before they even leave the event.  

Even though the Internet has and I believe will become the number one source for fans to catch highlights, news, and information regarding certain sporting events and news, the television will still be a major outlet for sport communication.  Leagues and teams will continue to look into developing and managing their own media companies.  For example, the aspects and characteristics of a network like the NFL network will continue to be seen throughout other leagues and even teams.  This will result in more games being broadcasted as well as more insider or behind-the-scene capabilities for fans.  

I am hopeful that with all the growth that will continue within sport communication, that we can see more media outlets directed toward women sports.  There is definitely room for growth in this area.  People may be uninterested in this now, but it is due to the lack of connection and outlets that people have to women’s sports.  I believe that this will be an area in which sport communication will grow in the next few years.  

Ann Arbor in need of a skatepark

City: Ann Arbor,MI 

Most knowledgeable or appropriate person to prepare the grant application: The Foundation Group called Friends of the Ann Arbor Skatepark.  The actual person that should prepare the grant is Scott Rosencrans, with the help of Diana Kern.  Scott is a former Chair of the Park Advisory Commission and has been on several City commissions, committees, and task forces that have worked on community improvement projects.  Diana, who is the co-chairman of Ann Arbor skatepark fundraising, has been in real-estate where she has overseen multi-million dollar projects.   

Recreation opportunities: Ann Arbor has around 100 city parks, but only 1 has a skating area and that area is only temporary during the summer time.  A majority of the parks have basketball courts and tennis courts, while a few have softball fields and soccer fields.  Only 5 have pools.   

At-risk-youths: kids are skating in the streets or traveling further from home or their neighborhoods to find somewhere to skate.  It is creating dangerous situations for young kids.  Also, obesity is a national risk, and skateboarding provides an activity for children.  A safe place to perform this activity is needed however in the city. Also, the youth can be fined up to $100 by skating on certain city property.   

Median household income: $26,712

The names/distance of nearby skateparks: Buhr Park in Ann Arbor but it is only a temporary skatepark and it is poorly put together with having only a few pre-fabricated ramps scattered around an empty ice rink.   

Qualifications of Applicant

1. Does the Applicant oversee any other programs or activities? 

        Yes, Diana currently does and Scott use to.  

If yes, please describe them.

Scott use to be involved with programs and projects that prevented sports and recreastion facilities from being closed.  

Diana also oversees NEW's ResourceConnect® program.  This program is a nonprofit program that is the community's first stop for assistance with management issues.

2. Who oversees the Applicant's budget?

Diana oversees the budget for the Friends of Ann Arbor skatepark foundation.  

3. Please provide an estimated total cost of the skatepark: 

$800,000-$1,000,000 

4. Please provide a breakdown of the total cost of the skatepark, divided into major categories, such as building materials, equipment, design expenses, etc.:

-30,000 sq. ft: $220,000

-Design: $30,000

-Elevation and Technical documents: $30,000

- Construction: $400,000

-Equipment: $98,000

-Materials: $150,000

5. Does the above cost include a land purchase? If so, how much did the land cost? If the land was donated, who provided it?

The land cost $220,000

6. How much money has been raised for this project? 

$436,000

7. Provide a breakdown of where existing funds have come from.

Grants: $341,000

Donations: $70,000

Fundraising: $25,000

8. Provide a total for additional funds you anticipate (other grants, donations, fundraising income):

$425,000

9. Provide a breakdown of the additional funds you anticipate (source of funds and amount each will contribute):

Grants: $125,000

Donations: $200,000

Fundraising: $100,000

10. Median Household Income in vicinity of proposed project (required), with source of data (Census 2010 from www.census.gov is recommended):

$26,712

11. Please provide any other statistics about "at-risk" youth in the region:

-Obesity

-Safe recreation areas

-Fines

-Skateboard safety

12. Please describe any local laws or bans on skateboarding in public. (Approximately 100 words or less.)

There is an anti-skateboarding ordinance on the campus of the University of Michigan.  There is also a $50-$100 fine for those skateboarding in areas that are off limits.  Since there is no skatepark, the city has become a skatepark.  

13. What is your total annual municipal budget?

$76,345,552

14. What is your annual parks-and-recreation department budget?

       $3,545,819

15. Where are the three nearest existing skateparks, both public and private? Please provide the name of the city and state the skatepark is located in, as well as the distance from your proposed skatepark.

                  a. Buhr Park Ann Arbor, MI (temporary skatepark) Distance (miles): 0

                  b. Riley Skate Park  Farmington Hills, MI Distance (miles): 20

                  c. Skate Zone Belleville, MI Distance (miles): 10

The foundation group that has been formed to build a skatepark in Ann Arbor has been working very hard to make this happen.  They have done everything from asking for grants, applying for grants, requesting donations, and issuing several fundraising events.  They have almost finalized the actual plan for the park, however, they are yet to reach the amount of money that they need.  For more information or interest in getting involved or donating, please visit: http://a2skatepark.org/

Honoring Steve Jobs and Al Davis

I think it is appropriate to show some appreciation for two people who changed the sport industry and communication industry.  As we have discovered, sports and communication go hand in hand.  Lets take a minute to think about where sports and communication would be today had it not been for Apple co-founder Steve Jobs and Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis, both who passed away this month.  These two men are very well respected in their subjective fields of service, Jobs in the communication world and Davis in the sports world.

Steve Jobs was a visionary, and due to his vision of technology, he has changed the communication world.  Jobs pioneered the concept from items such as the personal computer, clicking images with a mouse, the iPad, iPhone, and iPod.  These are all products are used on a daily basis, and are essentials to many businesses.  They have also changed the way that we receive and use digital technology.  I recently ran into an old friend and college teammate, who is currently an assistant basketball coach at Thomas Moore University.  I saw she had an iPhone and I asked her how she liked it.  She responded by saying that she loved it and she has everything that she needs on it.  She was explaining that she has a recruiting application and it can track her calls to recruits, notes on what they talked about, the length of the call, the number of times she called the same recruit, and information about the recruit.  She said at any time, no matter where she is, she is able to relay this information to the head coach.  This is just one small example of how the iPhone is used in the sports industry and its impact on how we store and relay information. 

Just like Steve Jobs set the foundation for Apple, Al Davis set the foundation for the NFL.  Davis started out as being the Oakland Raiders coach in 1963, and three years later became commissioner of the AFL.  After talks about merging the NFL and AFL, Davis resigned as commissioner and went back to the Raiders organization.  Davis then became sole owner of the Raiders and soon had absolute power in the front office.  In 1976, Davis won his first Super Bowl with John Madden as the coach.  When the AFL and the NFL merged in 1970, the Raiders were looked at as a powerhouse in the NFL because Davis had a reputation of getting the right players who followed his criteria and instilling a competitive attitude in them.  Off the football field, Davis is remembered for breaking barriers, when he broke both race and gender barriers by hiring the first African-American coach, Art Shell, and the first Hispanic-American coach, Tom Flores.  Al Davis also hired a woman to the executive front office, Amy Trask.  Davis will go down in history in the NFL as an icon due to all of his achievements on and off the field.  It takes a special man to be the defining force in a single franchise for more than 30 years.

Steve Jobs and Al Davis will be greatly missed in their respected companies, but their impact and legacy that they are leaving behind will have them living on for many more years.          

Being a Sports Reporter

There are a few things that can hinder and facilitate the ability for a sport reporter to meet deadlines.  The time of the game or event can either hinder or facilitate the ability for sport reporter to meet deadlines.  If the game or event is held in the evening, such as a Friday night football game, it can be very difficult and stressful to meet the deadline.  Once the game is over, the job of the reporter isn’t over.  They usually meet with coaches or players to get quotes, and then they have to head back to the office and put all their notes together to form a story.  However, if the time of the game is held in the morning or early afternoon, the reporter is given plenty of time to meet the deadline for that night.  They are able to take their time talking to coaches and players, and they also have plenty of time to go through their notes and be thorough in their story.  Also, the availability of resources such as coaches, players, or other personnel that are needed to complete the story can hinder or facilitate the sports reporters’ ability to meet the deadline.  Sometimes it can be very difficult to reach the people that you need to speak too.  However, sometimes the people you need to speak too are very easy to reach and more than willing to give you the information that you need to complete your story.  Also, access to the Internet or technology devices can hinder or facilitate the reporter as well.  If the reporter is scheduled to cover a game that is a few hours from work, then they need to have access to some sort of technology in order to get their story in on time.  For example, a Friday night football game that is held 2 hours away is going to be very difficult for them to get back and write the story on time.  Therefore, the access to technology could help speed the process and allow them to complete their story before the deadline. 

I had no issue with reaching my deadline, and I feel like this had a lot to do with the simplicity of the game and the time of the game.  The game did not obtain a lot of crazy plays or occurrences.  Also, softball is a slow pace game.  Therefore, it was easy to keep the notes and highlights of the game.  So when I went back to write my story, I was able to easily follow my notes and understand everything that I had written down.  The slow pace of the game allowed me time to be thorough in my notes, and therefore, there was no confusion.  Also, the time of the game made it easy for me to meet my deadline.  The game started at 1:00pm and ended at about 3:00pm.  I had an hour drive back home, which gave me about 6-7 hours to complete my story.  This allowed for plenty of time to sit down and put my story together.  The type of information that I needed to put my story together was fairly simple.  I took notes from the game that highlighted the main points of the game and possible turning points.  I then talked to the head coach of ODU to receive a quote to put into my story.  Also, I used the tournament program, which had the rosters of both teams.  Therefore, I could put names in my story.  The overall experience of acting as a sports reporter really helped me appreciate what the do and the time it can take to put together one story. 

Softball: ODU vs. Toledo University

The Ohio State Softball team hosts every year the Ohio Collegiate Charity Classic, which is a breast cancer fundraising softball tournament.   All benefits from the tournament are donated to the Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research at the Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute.  There are fifteen collegiate teams that participate in this tournament. 

At 1:00pm on October 8, 2011, the Ohio Dominican Panthers took on the Rockets from the University of Toledo.  Ohio Dominican was the visiting team on the scoreboard.  ODU started freshman pitcher Brandis Fishel.  The first inning was a struggle for both teams offensively after both teams when three up and three down.  Ohio Dominican received their first hit in the game by sophomore Rebehka Lucas.  However, ODU could not capitalize on their first hit like Toledo did.  Toledo got their first hit of the game in the bottom of the 2^nd inning by Lindsey Tobias, who ended up scoring that same inning on a two out base hit by Brooke Gates.  At the end of the second inning, Toledo was leading 1-0.  It was a pitcher’s duel the next two innings as both pitchers shut down the offenses.  However, in the 5^th inning, Ohio Dominican was able to put together some hits.  Ohio Dominican led off the 5^th inning with a walk.  The runner was then sacrificed over to second base and in scoring position.  With two outs, ODU hit a soft line drive to right field, scoring the run from second base.  The score going into the bottom of the 5^th was 1-1.  Going into the bottom of the 5^th, Ohio Dominican brought in freshman pitcher Kelsey Seeds.  Seeds was able to shut down the Toledo offense in the 5^th and 6^th inning but struggled in the 7^th.  Toledo led off the bottom of the seventh with a base hit up the middle.  The runner then stole second base to put herself in scoring position and a chance to become the game winning run.  The next hitter popped up.  With one out Toledo hit another base hit up the middle, and the runners were held at first and third base with only one out.  Ohio Dominican then intentionally walked the next batter to create a force out at every base.  Toledo is feeling pretty confident at this point.  However, the worse case scenario for Toledo happens.  The next batter hits into a game ending double play to the third baseman.  It was the game ending play even though the score was tied 1-1.  With a tournament like this and a set schedule for games, there was no time for extra innings.  Therefore, the game ended in a 1-1 tie, but it was a very competitive and hard fought game by both teams, especially the pitching and defense.  Coach Vanlandingham, the head softball coach at ODU, stated, "I thought today went really well.  Saw some good things, and saw some things we need to work on.  But I think we will be just fine this year once we get back our one pitcher in the Spring and our freshman catcher.  Our freshman catcher could really be a huge asset to this team.  I think we will be ready to compete come Spring time."            

Ohio State Players Suspended...Again!

Ohio State is in trouble with the NCAA once again.  Just today it was announced that three players were suspended for taking too much cash for too little of work during their summer jobs.  Two of the players have already been suspended for the first five games of this season for accepting cash and free tattoos.  Running back Daniel Herron and wide receiver DeVier Posey, along with offensive lineman Marcus Hall, have been suspended for the Nebraska game. 

Nebraska is only one of the biggest games of the season since they are new in the Big Ten Conference and currently ranked No. 14 in the nation.  This could have been a huge game for the Buckeyes.  Daniel Herron and DeVier Posey were expected to return for this game.  They could have tremendously helped a struggling Ohio State offense.  Gene Smith made a statement about the recent suspensions.  He emphasized that there is no systematic problem within Ohio State, but this has strictly fallen on the faults of the players and the booster member responsible for paying them. 

My question is: When is enough, enough?  Since the beginning of Ohio State’s troubles, there has been no light at the end of the tunnel thus far.  Things and other issues keep surfacing to the public and media.  This last suspension, which was announced today, came out of no where.  No one saw this coming.  All Ohio State fans were excited to get these players back in action and help a struggling Buckeyes team.  With the second suspension of Herron and Posey, why do they deserve to come back at all?  They have let their team, coaches, university, and fans down over and over again.  They have contributed in destroying the reputation of Ohio State University, Ohio State football, their coaches, and the city itself.  They have given people more reason to hate Ohio State and say bad things about them.  The road just keeps getting bumpier and bumpier for Ohio State, their football program, and Athletic Department.  It will be interesting to see how they bounce back from this and deal with these new findings.  Eventually they have to understand that sometimes suspensions just aren’t enough.  If Posey and Herron come back and start or play over other players who have kept the integrity of the program alive, what does that tell us as the fans and the other players who have worked week after week to get their chance to shine.  I have no problem with Herron and Posey being reinstated, but I think at this point, I would have a problem with them jumping right in and playing.  I think they need to prove themselves and earn their spot, and I do not think that can happen in one week’s worth of practice.  I will be anxious to see how this all plays out.  First year head coach, Luke Fickle, not only has the tough job of trying to get the Buckeyes back on track, but he has to make decisions regarding suspended players.       

To see Gene Smith's Address on the Allegations click on the provided link: http://blip.tv/theozonedotnet/gene-smith-addresses-additional-allegations-5610680

Media Release

Media Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: October 2, 2011

Media Contact: John Jackson

640-355-2785

jjackson@gmail.com

Indianapolis Colts trying to avoid 0-4 start on Monday Night Football

Indianapolis Colts will be playing on Monday Night Football against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers October 3, 2011.  Indianapolis is trying to prevent a 0-4 start, which hasn’t occurred since 1998.  The Colts have won the past two games that they have played on Monday Night Football.

Indianapolis is trying to avoid this 0-4 start without star quarterback, Payton Manning.  Also, current starter, Kerry Collins, is now dealing with concussion symptoms.  Therefore, Curtis Painter will get to start his very first NFL game on Monday Night Football.   

Indianapolis’s head coach says that the team has made improvements over the past few games, but they still have a lot of work to do.  The Colts do have a lot of work to do considering they rank 28^th in the NFL in points, 29^th in total offense, and 27^th in passing. 

The Buccaneers currently have a record of 2-1, and are tied at the top of the NFC South with New Orleans.  Quarterback Josh Freeman and wide receiver Mike Williams will do their best to try to hand the Colts another loss and stay atop of the NFC South.            

The game will be televised on ESPN at 8:30, pregame starting at 7:30.  Tickets are on sale at Ticketmaster, as well as both official websites for the Indianapolis Colts and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.### 

Included in this Media Release Kit would be:

-Stats from the first 3 games for the Colts

-Stats from the first 3 games for the Buccaneers

-Last week’s stats for both teams

-Injury report for both teams

-History of the two teams

-Time and location of the game

-An action photo

-More information on quarterback Payton Manning and his expected return

The Importance of Staying Connected with Alumni

This past weekend, was alumni weekend at Ohio Dominican University.  They had alumni events all weekend that included a Hall of Fame banquet dinner, football game, and tailgating.  Also, I had my softball alumni game and get together.  It was a filled weekend with lots of old college friends and teammates.  It got me thinking about the importance of keeping alumni connected.  There are a few reasons why it is important to me.  The first is that it shows the strong relationship and impact that the program or university has had on a person.  In regards to sports, playing sports in college can realy help shape a person and teach them life long lessons.  It helps a person form certain qualities that can be used throughout their career in the business world.  The program does a lot for a person, but the person also does a lot for the program.  They dedicate four years to the program and give it everything they have.  That is one reason why I feel it is so important to have events such as alumni weekend and alumni games.  It is a way of showing appreciation to what that person has put into a program.  Also, it gives a chance for old friends to reunite, reminisce on old memories, and catch up on new things.   

Also, I thought it also fit in well with last week's topic of fundraising.  Alumni are important in the aspect of fundraising for teams and even university's.  The university and sport programs do so much for a person.  This gives them a chance to give back and show their appreciation to what they have done for them.  Keeping alumni connected and involved will benefit both sides.  It helps keep the alumni feeling as if they are still very much appreciated and involved in the university’s mission.  The university also benefits because they are receiving the money or other things from the alumni to better the university.  Without the help from alumni, many schools or universities would struggle to develop and grow.  Therefore, alumni are an important factor to any growing program or university.       

Fundraising and Recruiting: They really do have a lot of similarities!

As I first read the title of this article, I was intrigued on how the authors were going to discuss the similarities of fundraising and recruiting.  I never really associated the two as having many connections with each other until I read this article.  The first similarity, “Pool of Prospects”, is probably the most obvious connection that is so apparent it can easily be over looked.  Fundraising is almost recruiting in itself.  Many types of fundraising require some sort of recruiting, whether it is recruiting volunteers to help or people to participate in the fundraising.  Just like high school players are potential prospects to recruit, every individual in the world is a potential prospect to be part of the fundraising experience.  Another similarity just as obvious as this one is comes down to communication.  Both fundraising and recruiting require a great deal of communication.  Communication can occur through e-mail, telephone, face-to-face or mail.  Coaches communicate with prospect athletes just as coaches should communicate with potential fundraising volunteers or participants.  Communication is important in both aspects.  Communicating is a way to show the prospects that they are wanted, valued, and important to the task ahead.  This is true in both recruiting and fundraising.     

Also, I found it interesting how the authors associated fundraising and recruiting through prospect qualifications.  The qualifications for recruits may be different than those you look for in a fundraising prospect, but the idea that both prospects need to possess certain qualities or qualification relates the two ideas.  These qualities or qualifications make certain that the recruit can impact the program just like the fundraising prospect can impact the fundraising event any way possible and in a positive manner.                    

Lastly, I would like to comment on the everlasting relationship that can come from recruiting and fundraising.  Through recruiting, coaches can form relationships with athletes, other coaches, and parents.  These relationships sometimes can carry on for many years and can benefit all parties involved.  This goes the same for those who are involved in fundraising.  Not only do the coaches and the program benefit from donors and fundraising, but those donating and volunteering also can benefit from the experience.  Through fundraising, many relationships are formed and built, and these relationships can last a long time while benefitting everyone.         

Chris Paul's Endorsement Deals

Chris Paul is the starting point guard for the New Orleans Hornets, an NBA Western Conference team.  He is the face of the franchise and a beloved player and person in the New Orleans community.  He may not be the biggest name in the NBA, but he is a very popular NBA star among many fans and is one of the most well respected point guards to play in the league today.  Due to his influence and dedication in the New Orleans community and his avid skills on the court, Chris is a prime target for endorsement deals. 

Chris has endorsement deals with the Brand Jordan, Right Guard, Nike, Upper Deck and Powerade Ion 4.  Paul has also been on the cover of the video game NBA 2K8.  It is said that Michael Jordan himself picks the players that he feels would best represent his brand.  Therefore, for Chris Paul to be representing the Brand Jordan says a lot about his basketball skills and who he is as a person off the court.  For someone like Michael Jordan to pick him shows the respect that Jordan has for Paul.  Paul has his own shoe through the Michael Jordan brand, and it is called the Jordan CP3II.  Obviously the Brand Jordan is highly relatable to basketball and the NBA.  It only makes sense for someone like Chris Paul, who is a respected and outstanding basketball player, to represent a brand like Jordan.  Right Guard deodorant felt that Chris Paul was the perfect candidate to represent their product.  They felt that he could lead the resurgence of the product.  “Mr. Gubitz said he hoped the relationship with Mr. Paul, 23, and the brand's new status as the NBA's official deodorant would help it rebuild "locker room credibility" among younger men, something he said has likely slipped in recent years as an ownership change has scaled back the brand's advertising and sponsorships” (Mullman, 2008, para. 4).  Right Guard feels that Chris is respected around the league, community, and even world, which makes him a great pick to advertise their product.            

There are also several events that Paul has taken part in or organized.  In his hometown, he created the CP3 Partnership in concurrence with The West-Salem Foundation to support certain charities.  These charities included Habitat for Humanity, Make-A-Wish Foundation, and Feed the Children organization.  He also launched, along with his family, the “West-Salem Weekend”.  It was a four day event that included a concert by Ludacris, a dedication of a new learning center, games with special needs children, collected food for the poor, hosted a dinner party, ran a youth basketball camp, and a pro-am bowling tournament, that included players like Lebron James and Dwayne Wade.  Paul also took his charitable duties to the streets of New Orleans.  He took initiative to help with the Katrina disaster by helping out in the community.  He also donated food and bicycles to the less privileged.  

Visit Chris Paul’s Official Website: http://www.chrispaul3.com     

Reference:

Mullman, J. (2008). Right Guard Thinks Chris Paul Is Right Man for Endorsement Deal. Retrieved September 20, 2011 from http://adage.com/article/news/guard-thinks-chris-paul-man-endorsement-deal/127679/

The Olympic Games

In the Beijing Olympic Games, it was difficult at times for journalists, reporters, and media to gain easy access into the games.  With the rules and regulations in China, sometimes it became very difficult for journalists to report the games.  China had a great luxurious media center for reporters to work, watch the games, and have a place to relax and enjoy their time.  However, in order to enjoy these luxuries, they must past rigorous security, get a visa, and credentials.  This was difficult for some smaller area journalists.  I believe that the London games will be easier for reporters to report.  There will be less pressure on the reporters to accommodate and adjust to the British politics and regulations, than it was for them in China.  London officials have already stated that they will take a more laid-back but secure approach to the Games, which will be completely different from the strict and tight security of the Beijing Games.    

A challenge for the London Games and the media comes with the time difference.  When it came to the games in Beijing, the morning time for Beijing was prime time for those where in the United States.  Therefore, Americans were able to watch the events live and a majority of the major events were held in the morning in Beijing.  For example, Michael Phelps swam most of his meets in the morning, which allowed for Americans to tune in live.  For the Olympic Games in London, the time difference does not benefit the United States.  What would be prime time here in the United States, would be the middle of the night for the Games in London.  Therefore, a lot of tape-delayed events will have to be played in the United States.  The last time they had a lot of tape-delayed events on television were the Sydney Games, with a 15 hour time difference.  NBC saw its ratings drop unexpectedly low do to this conflict.  The media thought that the audience would not care if it were tape-delayed or live.  Therefore, they were not concerned about it.  However, when they saw their ratings drop in the Sydney Games, they realized it might make a difference.  The London Games will again test how American networks televise the Games.  With all the media outlets that are available now and a year from now, it will be difficult for tape-delayed televised events to gain a large audience.  For example, someone can wake up in the morning and find the results of all the events online.  Or they can even watch the events online live, rather than wait for the tape-delayed version.  This will be a huge challenge for London and the United States to coordinate the difference in time.  Also, we have to think of how the journalists and reporters are affected.  Their deadline for articles and news reports will be at odd times when they are in London.  Like stated before, prime time for the United States is the middle of the night in London.  It will be very interesting to see how U.S. journalists and reporters react and adapt to this.  We may see journalists and reporters report more on inside stories rather than the highlights of the events themselves.  We will see in a year the approach that American reporters and journalists take on the 2012 Olympic Games. 

Visit the Official Site of the 2012 London Olympic Games: www.london2012.com/

Technology in Sports

Technological advances and the inventions of new technology devices have greatly impacted the professional sports world.  Information Technology is one area that has drastically grown in sports, and has changed the way sports managers and organizations function.  The use of the Internet, World Wide Web, and computer software has become a necessity in order to compete in the sport industry.  We have seen how these advances have impacted the media and sports communication industry.  They have created outlets and avenues for fans to stay connected with their favorite athletes, teams, or sport.  The media coverage as we know it today would not be where it is had it not been for the advances in technology. 

Technology is also being used to improve the actual game of sports.  It is used to improve the game for fans, coaches, athletes, and game officials.  An advance in stadium developments and high definition television has allowed fans to be able to better enjoy their experiences of the game and stay connected to the game in all aspects.  Digital technology has helped players and coaches improve in their profession by developing tools that generate an in depth analysis of specific areas.  Also, game officials are able to use instant replay videos and wireless technology to improve their calls on the field.

The Internet is the most widely used information technological device that has been created.  It is not only used by the every day American, but businesses, corporations, leagues, conferences, and committees all use the Internet to gain vital information and stay connected.  For example, the National Football Association’s regional offices are linked together through a single network, which allows them to communicate cheaply and effectively.  Also, professional sports teams and organizations all have websites that help in marketing and merchandise sales along with supplying viewers with information, news, and media broadcasting options.  Also the internet can provide fans with merchandise and easy ways to get their team gear. 

I must comment on the technology advances in sports arenas and stadiums.  The new stadiums are being built as state-of-the-art facilities.  They have the newest and best technology that is currently on the market.  Take the Dallas Cowboys Stadium for example.  In this stadium, technology allows fans to email photos, find lost children and stolen equipment, receive wireless coupons, and enjoy the 2,800 television monitors throughout the stadium.  Also, the stadium holds one of the largest video boards in any professional stadium with a 60 yard long digital screen.  Almost all advertisements throughout the stadium are controlled and displayed digitally.  We can also look at the new Yankee Stadium.  I can only imagine what the facilities and arenas will look like for the 2012 Olympic Games.  The Olympics always seem to fascinate me when it comes to the facilities and technology used.  China really had some great facilities and awesome stadiums that they had built for when the Olympics were held there. 

Other technological devices that have impacted sports include ESPN’s GameCast and K-Zone, on the field cameras, instant replay, the Hawk-Eye system used in tennis, and digital video technology such as the Dartfish system.  I could go on and on about the impact of technology and sports, and the new devices out there that have contributed to the growth and development of sports.  I am anxious to see what comes next in technology development for the sports industry.   

Newspaper Comparison: The Australian v. USA Today

The international newspaper that I took a look at was The Australian.  The Australian is the biggest-selling national newspaper in Australia.  It is a daily newspaper that covers everything from national news to world news to business and sports.  The American paper that I looked at was USA Today.  The USA Today is a national American daily newspaper that is one of the largest national newspapers in the United States.  I wanted to compare two very similar newspapers in their respected countries in order to get a good comparison of the news covered, what links were provided, and the type of advertising that is apparent.      

I was pleasantly surprised that both national newspapers had 9/11 news as soon as the webpage opened up.  I was not surprised the USA Today was covering a story about 9/11 but I was a little surprised that The Australian was.  The headline for the USA Today story about 9/11 was “9/11: How do we tell this story?” and The Australian’s headline story was “US hunts three over 9/11 plot.”  Even though these are two totally different stories, they are similar in the fact that they are both about 9/11.  This goes to show that 9/11 not only had and has an affect on the United States, but it has affected the entire world.  Some other news on the top of the homepage for The Australian was news regarding asylum-seekers immigrating into the country, Wall Streets struggle, and a cricket milestone by Shaun Marsh.  Other USA Today news that made the top of the website’s homepage included terror suspects and more 9/11 topics, updates on college football games, and unemployment issues for the United States.      

Next, I took a look at each newspapers sports section.  As I have learned, different countries seem to have different sports that are popular.  This would reflect in what the different newspapers cover in their sports section.  The Australian covered sports like Australian football, cricket, and rugby, while the USA Today was covering college and professional football, baseball, NASCAR, and MMA fighting.  When I took a look at The Australian, I felt completely out of my realm while trying to read up on their sports stories.  There was one article that I could not tell what sport it was about after looking at the picture.  So I continued to read the entire article and still had no idea what sport it was talking about.  After some research, I found out that it was Australian football.  I was unable to distinguish this from the article itself because it is not a sport, team, or area that I am familiar with.  Comparing the two sports websites from these national newspapers, I found a lot of differences.  Not only were the sports covered very different, but the entire set-up was different as well.  The Australian consisted of just articles after articles to read.  The USA Today, however, had articles, scores from every game in every sport being played today, photos galleries, and videos.  I found one similar sport covered on both websites, and that was The U.S. Open.  However, on the USA Today the U.S. Open was a headline, while on The Australian it was at the bottom of the page. 

 

I felt that most of the links provided on both The Australian’s website and The USA Today’s website were fairly similar.  They both provided links to sports, business, health, news, travel, weather, and a few others.  I also really did not come across any huge differences in advertisements.  Both websites had similar advertisements regarding to hotels, insurance, and cars.  These were different in the sense they were not the same hotels, insurances, or cars, but the idea of the advertisements were pretty much the same.

Both of these newspapers had their similarities and differences.  However, they both were formed to capture the attention and interest of their targets.  I felt that both newspapers were successful in doing this.  Just by gazing and glancing at The Australian, I have a better understanding and awareness at their interests in sports and what is important news in their country.   

Don Meredith Memorial

Don Meredith is most remembered for his impact on the game of football, both as a player and as a broadcaster.  Meredith played in the NFL for the Dallas Cowboys from 1960-1968.  After the NFL, he became part of the original broadcasters for Monday Night Football, along with Howard Cosell and Keith Jackson, who was later replaced by Frank Gifford.  During his broadcasting years, Meredith was known for his humor and wit along just having fun doing his job.  Fred Gaulli, producer of Monday Night Football for many years, says "Don played that perfect foil to Cosell," Gaudelli said. "He was the first guy to bring irreverence to the booth. He didn't demean the broadcast, but he didn't make it church, he didn't take the game as gospel. He brought a fun aspect to the thing. Frank Gifford kind of did it a serious way, and Don let it be known that it didn't have to be one prototype"(Pucine, 2010, para. 6).  Meredith was able to take a new approach to broadcasting by showing that it doesn’t have to be a grueling job, but it can be fun and there is no right or wrong way to do it.  Everyone can put their own personality into broadcasting and sport communication professions.  Sport communication is about putting your own twist to ideas and styles.  This is what Meredith did when he broadcasted games. 

    

Meredith was part of the Monday Night Football crew for 12 seasons.  He helped make Monday Night Football what it is today.  He helped it grow and become a special event for football fans and the NFL.  Former Cowboys executive Gil Brandt said, "Monday Night Football was extremely beneficial to him and pro football because I think Monday Night Football with the three of those people really opened up new avenues to a TV viewer to pro football"(Watkins, 2010, para. 5).  This statement emphasizes the importance that Meredith not only had on broadcasting, but the entire NFL as an entity.  He helped the idea of broadcasting grow along with the NFL.  His impact, along with Howard Cosell and Frank Gifford, was beyond what they could have imagined when they first started.  Meredith was able to impact not only football fans but an entire sport.  We will always be thankful for what Meredith did for the sport of football, the NFL and the profession of broadcasting.  It is only fitting to end this memorial in the words of Don Meredith himself: “Turn out the lights, the party's over."       

References:

Watkins, C. (2010). Cowboys remember Don Meredith fondly. Retrieved September 2, 2011 from ESPNDallas.com. 
Pucine, D. (2010). Don Meredith, who infused ‘Monday Night Football’ with humor for 12 seasons, dies at 72. Retrieved September 2, 2011 from Los Angeles Times at http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-don-meredith-20101207,0,4648552.story