New Media

In this post, you will see three picture that I captured using my camera. These pictures were taken to be used on a new media platform, specifically a Twitter Post, Facebook Status, and a Website. The sports business I wanted to reflect and focus on is basketball.

This is a photo of my friend Lou hanging on the rim after a huge dunk. I really wanted to get a cool action shot and this is what I was able to get. I think this would work best on a website as a main panel image. Dunks are arguably the most exciting play in basketball so having this as a website main panel image could make the page look quite inviting and interesting. I think this black and white image paired with some bright vibrant writing could be truly eye-popping for viewers on a website.

This is another picture of Lou standing beneath the rim. I really liked this angle and how the Nike shirt really ties in to the basketball approach I took. I was able to mess around with depth of field, which can really make a picture substanially better. I think with the autumn coloring and the emblazioned word, Higher, on Lou's shirt, this picture looks pretty interesting and colorful. I would use this on Facebook, whether it be a post, status, or profile picture. I feel like someone scrolling down the home page would stop to check this out, especially fans of basketball. 

This last picture is of a pair of my shoes, which Lou happened to have been wearing when he dunked in that first picture. These are phenomenal basketball and running shoes known as Ziglites. I think this could draw people in simply because of the contrast between black and purple and the comparative tone between the shoes and the berries. I can see this picture on Twitter, with several hashtags like #Zig, #Reebok, #anklebreakers, and other various phrases. In fact, Victor Cruz of the New York Giants holds contents on Tuesdays to see who has the best shoes. These would work perfectly on that. 

Traditional Media

Here you will see three pictures of media rights being portrayed through three traditional media examples. In this case, the examples are TV Broadcast, Radio Broadcast, and Licensed Clothing/Merchandise. The TV Broadcast example is of DirecTV's NFL Sunday Ticket and their NFL Red Zone channel. The Radio Broadcast example is showing the FM channel, 101.9 WFAN, or The Fan. This is a New York radio station that gives news and updates on several New York based sports teams. The Licensed Clothing/Merchandise example is of my phenomenally comfortable New York Giants slippers and my limited edition New York Giants Metallic Football. Also, the penny is heads up so hopefully you all get some good luck. 

Eastbay Magazine

A good example of a media platform used by different leagues and teams to have revenue generation.

Thoughts On The Draft

The 2013 NFL Draft is on the horizon and mock drafts are flying through every where. Do not be alarmed, this will not be another mock draft to look at. This is more like my thoughts and feelings on the draft and some of the picks. First off, being a Giants fan, I would like to talk about our first pick. Looking at the team, we certainly need some help. We signed a tight end that I never even heard of to replace Martellus Bennett. We signed a solid back up linebacker to fill the whole left by Chase Blackburn, a polished veteran of our defense. Our cornerbacks that we drafted in the first round of the draft in recent years have turned out to be injury prone and horribly inconsistent. The NASCAR package where the Giants utilize four defensive ends on a single play was not as effective last season. What I am trying to say is, we need help. Last year, we drafted David Wilson, allowing us to get rid of our overrated back, Ahmad Bradshaw this season. Our Receivers are set up well with Nicks on the outside when he decides to be healthy, Cruz on the opposite side as well as the slot whenever he decides to sign a contract, and our second pick last year, Rueben Randle, sharing time with our other receivers, like Domenik Hixon. Our line is still pretty strong but if we were to use our second or third pick on the line, I would be impressed and happy with that decision. Even with the departure of the money lover, Osi Umenyiora, we are still strong on the defensive line. That leaves the linebackers. Keith Rivers was a solid pick up last year and Kiwanuka has skill but is not as efficient as you would want a linebacker to be. I think Alex Ogletree from Georgia should be, and will be our first pick. He is a strong linebacker with great footwork and a solid work ethic. I am excited to see where we go and hopefully the staff knows what places to strengthen and what players will be best to do so. I still think we should have released a corner in order to make cap space to pick up Nmandi Asomoughma(Sorry if I spelt it wrong) or at least one of the other corners that were available. Instead, we got rid of key players and picked up people that I would not consider to be brand names. I don't mean to hate on the Giants, but come on, you have cap space, use it. Enough about the Giants, let us talk about the rest of the top picks. I think Matt Barkley will go in the late first round, maybe by means of a trade for a team that did not want to take him earlier in the round. I believe Geno Smith will be the first quarterback taken due to his impressive skill set. Also, Tyron Mathieu is a player that a team will take a chance on. He can have a ton of upside if he focuses on football and growth. I am excited to see the draft and excited to see who goes where. By the way, isn't nice to read something about the draft does not include the name Manti Te'o? Oh wait, I just said it didn't I? Well, he'll go in the first too.

Is It Draft Time Yet?

The date is March 26, 2013, and that means football fans only have to wait one more month to witness the 2013 NFL Draft. With all the talk of there being no great quarterbacks, a linebacker who received all the attention due to a hoax, and a cornerback who was suspended by his team, this draft looks to be an exciting one. It officially starts on April 25 with the coveted first-rounders. Being a football fan among you many fans out there, I know we are getting impatient to see how free agency finishes and what teams will draft certain standout players. I know this is a controversial statement due to all the fallout created, but I have to admit, I would not mind it if the New York Giants selected Manti Te'o. I am with all the Te'o supporters when I say this, the hoax is over now and this Hawaiian born linebacker from Notre Dame can play and play well. Although the critics are right, this hoax was ridiculous and he should have played much better at the BCS.
Let us get back to the draft...
I went to the 2012 NFL Draft and I have to admit, it was a lot of fun. As a football fan, nothing is much better than being at such a surprisingly high stake event with fans of the same team and, of course, fans of your biggest rival that you may have to heckle. It is much like being at a game and is truly an experience to behold. If you have not been to one, I would tell you that you should consider it. If you have, then certainly go again. Although it is a steep price, it is worth it.

For information on the Draft, please visit the NFL's official site or simply click here.

Free Agency: Betrayal and New Homes

I love the first huge part of the NFL offseason, free agency. This is the chance for teams and players to search for new talent and new homes, respectively. So far, free agency has been anything but disappointing. Cullen Jenkins to the New York Giants, Percy Harvin to the Seahawks, Anquan Boldin to the 49ers, David Garrard to the Jets, and that only scratches the surface. In truth, free agency and the deals to be made has not even officially started. All pre-signings will be official later today. Some players still on the clock include Greg Jennings, Paul Kruger, Mike Wallace, Dwight Freeney, Wes Welker, and Reggie Bush, just to name a few. This is truly a year where teams can increase some depth in places they need to as well as have a chance to pick up a superstar, if the cap space is available. It will be interesting to see what happens from here. I have to hope the Giants will be able to resign the players we have that may test free agency.

Stop the Flop!

So, I assume anyone that has ever watched any modern sports has seen what is called, a flop. In case you have never seen in it, or have have no idea it is called a flop, a flop is when a player acts like he got fouled by another player on order to manipulate the referees into calling a foul. For example, in basketball, a player can dribble the ball and lightly make contact with a player and then somehow just fall to the ground. The refs will see this and think the other player pushed the ball carrier leading to a blocking foul. It has become overly prevalent in the NBA to the point where the commissioner, David Stern, has focused his attention toward it and will be handing out fines and penalties to players that try to do it. Referees have also been told to keenly observe the game even more than they already do. In all actuality, if you want to see some pro flopping, just watch any soccer game. Literally, every five minutes of regulation time will include several flops made my players. In all reality though, it has become such a large part of the game. In fact, there are many players that are known to be extremely good at it. Will flopping ever stop? In all honesty, no it will never stop. It has become a big part of basketball and has been a big part of soccer since the dawn of time. The act of drawing a foul by means of acting has almost become an art. Unfortunately refs are big fans of art.

Sports and Love, A True Romance

My first memory of sports, or at least the earliest thing I can remember, involved a man that could fly. Granted, this man never needed wings to fly, or a propeller for that manner. He wore the number 23 patched on to a vivid red and black jersey, the name Jordan blazed across the back. He was around 6'6" yet when he jumped, skyscrapers looked up to him. From that first moment, that very first dunk, I fell in love. My father introduced me to Michael Jordan via television screen. From there, I started to watch other basketball games and eventually baseball and football. Watching men and women exchange blood, tears, and sweat for victory was, for myself, a victory. Those are the roots from which my romance with sports began.
After all this time since being that age, which I believe was age 3, my love for sports has only grown with me. Nowadays, I love talking about sports with anyone that will listen and am open ears for anyone who wishes to talk to me. With the way things are now, sports news and information is literally at the tips of all our fingers. Taking advantage of that, I wish to post some of the top news articles out there and explain my feelings, ideas, and opinions on each. With so many professional reporters, sports analysts, and talk show hosts explaining their side and thoughts on a topic, sometimes it interesting to hear from the fans and the everyday people that cry or smile to the sports figures they love. So, if you have a love for sports and all the big headlines that arise from the dramatic situations as well as the triumphant ones, this is the blog for you.