I Do Cool Shit.

I don't really know how to explain to people what I do for a living.  I plan events.  I'm in marketing.  Sometimes I do PR.  Branding?  Definitely.  The one thing I can say for certain is that I do a lot of cool shit.

I work really hard.  I often work long hours, live on airplanes, and deal with jerks.  There are many days that I have not the slightest clue why I stay in this industry.  

But I've also gotten to plan, experience, and take part in some of the coolest events in the world.  

Let's review:

• Sat court side at too many NBA games to count 
• Been on the field at the University of Alabama looking up at 102,000 fans
• Watched an NFL game on the sidelines with the team
• Led the event planning for the first ever Cheetos themed restaurant (which Mariah Carey attended)
• Been on ESPN (terrible hair day guys, that one I’m not proud of) 
• Took dancing lessons from Casper Smart
• Worked with the Commissioner of the NBA
• Played a prank on PJ Tucker
• Ate a $5,000 dinner at a steakhouse at The Wynn
• Flown private multiple times
• Planned a bowl game tailgate
• Stood beside Tiger Woods at the Waste Management Open
• Assisted the College Playoffs in planning their hospitality for the National Championship
• Attended Super Bowl media day behind the scenes
• Met Elton John by running directly into him in the basement of an arena
• Started tailgating at my alma mater
• Interviewed Randall Park 
• Planned the first ever State of the Suns 
• Published an article in the Sports Business Journal
• Worked alongside Brittney Griner and Diana Taurasi (two of the best to ever play) 
• Haven't paid for a ticket to a sporting event since 2010
• Led the planning for the first ever Wendy's college tailgate tour
• Written talking points for athletes, owners, and Presidents of teams
• Sat in John Elway's private suite at Mile High Stadium
• Engaged in some joke telling and witty banter with Joel McHale
• Executed the auction that helped to raise over $500,000 for my Alma Mater Athletic department  
• Put on a private event in a home that housed the 2007 NBA All star court 
• Traveled to Hawaii 3 times completely paid for by my company
• Exhanged emails with Troy freaking Aikman  
• Calmed down nervous NFL players before they took part in half time just for fun games  
• Executed the most successful WNBA All Star fan fest in league history (with truly the most talented group I’ve ever worked with)
• Had my photo(s) hung in an arena as part of the apparel Shop campaign  
• I have a WNBA championship ring  (with Diamonds, duh) 

...and the list goes on.

The things is - I often get so wrapped up in the work of it all, I rarely stop to take a look around at what I've had the honor of being involved in.  Recently I've made it a goal to stop at each event and take in the magnitude of what I've done (usually in conjunction with one bad ass team).  

As much as I often question this world I work in the older I get, I also don't know what I would ever do if I didn't get to check off my bucket list because of what I do.  

My challenge to you - take a look at your job and if even on the worst days you find a reason to smile, understand that you've found your fit.  And if you can't say that, for the love of everything short in life - get a new job! 

I Don't Work in Sports.

As you know because you diligently read my blog, I have a bit of an obsession with sports.  I grew up an athlete and dreamed of working in sports for my entire life.  And for 8 years of my career, I worked in sports.  

Now - I indirectly work in sports.  I do a lot of events that take place at sporting venues and with athletes, but I do not consider what I do working in sports.

And that's weird.  

Everyone looks at the sporting world with envy.  They see the glitz and glam world meant for consumers and they assume that's what working in that world is like.  They're not entirely wrong.  I got to do some really cool things because of my job in athletics.  I've been on the sidelines at incredible games.  Sat on the floor in $15,000 seats.  Worked with the commissioner of the NBA.  Flown private with the team.  Enjoyed $5,000 dinners.  And man, was it all everything you could ever dream of and more.  Some of my bucket list has been fulfilled purely because of my job.

But there's also a dark side to the industry.  I experienced the lowest of lows in my life because of how I was treated by individuals in that world.  I lost passion for the world that raised me.  And certainly my experience is not every experience.  I've got some friends and colleagues still in the business who have felt nothing but joy for working in sports.  For me, it was not worth enduring the misery.  So I left.  After a lot of thought, fear, and doubt, I got out.

So what's it like to leave the world of sports?  A lot of people who are contemplating leaving ask me, is it worth it?  Does it get better?  Do you miss it?  The answer is I miss it all the time.  And there are moments I wish I was still part of the nucleus of my passion.  However, I now get to enjoy sports as a fan.  I get to go to games and debate the good and bad - without a stake in the game.  I don't have any rules that define what I talk about, what I say, I'm just a bitter 49er fan like the rest of you.

I now work for a marketing agency.  I work on big brands.  I still engage with celebrities and athletes.  I still plan some one of a kind events.  I get to check off my bucket list.  I travel a lot.  

Not working in sports has taught me that it's eerily similar to working in sports.  Granted, I don't work in a formal environment.  I'm not ever going to be in corporate America.  At my agency I have a less strict dress code than I did in sports.  The hours are more flexible.  I still travel to a lot of the big sporting events and am sitting at the big games.

Maybe I'll go back to sports one day.  Maybe I'll break into writing.  Maybe I'll go into entertainment.  I don't know what my future holds because I've stopped holding myself to this strict plan.  I go where I'm happy, where I'm learning, and where I'm passionate about the job.  Focus less on what you think you should be doing, what you planned for your whole life, and start listening to what gets you up and excited in the morning.  

Who cares if you worked in your dream industry if what you do isn't your dream.  Listen less to those calling what you do glamorous and listen more to what you define as the dream job.

Who I am.

A lot of people don't care about sports.  They don't have an interest.  And that's ok.  It's the people that say sports don't have value that are dead wrong.  The people that just see a game that truly are ignorant. 

 Sports have taught me more about life than anything I've learned anywhere else.  Sports have taught me discipline.  They have taught me passion.  Sports have taught me how to fail and succeed.  Sports have taught me that life is unfair.  They have taught me how to be knocked down to my lowest point and to come back ten times stronger.  I am a leader and a teammate because of sports.  Sports gave me family.  Sports truly define who I am and I am forever grateful for all that they have given me.

Growing up I was often unsure of who I was.  But in sports, I was always my best.  On the track or on the soccer field - I was confident, committed, and engaged.  I always knew I was the best, I worked the hardest, and I was present in creating a future.  Even when I got to college - at a D1 school - when I was among 100 other people who were also the best - I never doubted myself. 

Being part of a team - being accountable to my team, my coaches, myself - instilled in me a work ethic that is unrivaled.  It created in me a need to excel, a comradery that bonded me to my teammates as family, and ensured I could never give up because it meant letting these people down.

As an adult (ish) in the working world - my experiences in sports have carried into my success in business.  I wholeheartedly believe that if you put me against a candidate who was not involved in sports - I am 100% of the time a better choice.  I am dedicated, passionate, loyal, and I know how to problem solve, fail, and make a comeback better than most. 

A lot of people don't understand the importance of sports.  And to that - I say - of course you don't, you're not part of this team.  Unless you've lived this life - it doesn't make sense to you.  But make no mistake - whether you believe in it or not - sports are powerful.  The skills they provide, the warriors they build - they're real. 

Sports have defined my life and who I am more than anything else I've experienced.  The people affecting me the most are my fellow teammates, coaches, and other athletes in this world.  I am who I am because of Athletics and I am forever grateful for that.

Business Games

I love sports.  Sports have been my business for the past 7 years and my passion for as long as I can remember.  I feel a sense of loyalty to the teams and players that I support - I am emotionally attached to the wins and losses as well as how we play the game.  Sports teach you how to be your best and they give fans a sense of ownership.  But at the end of the day - sports are a business. 

The NBA, NFL, MLB - they're the parent company to each team within their organization.  And each team is responsible for creating a successful product.  That product is winning games.  You win games - you sell seats.  When the seats are full, the media sells, concessions sell, gear sells, and so forth.  At the end of the day - winning is what matters.  When you're not winning, its a lot harder to fill seats, garner media interest, and ultimately turn a profit.

So what am I getting at?  I'm trying to show you super fans who yell and scream and curse your teams/players/owners for their lack of loyalty to you/your city that you can cause a ruckus all you want - loyalty in the sports business is to winning.  Nothing else.  I feel your pain.  I went into mourning when Brian Wilson went to the Dodgers.  I hate on the Niners to this day for letting Alex Smith go and going with Kap (although seriously they should listen to me about that after this season...) - but I also understand that what we fans feel - is not what these executives feel. 

Team owners/executives have numbers to produce.  They must produce wins and sell tickets and reach financial goals.  So while you and I are focusing on winning too - we also feel emotionally invested in players.  We love the guy in the community and the rookie who leaves it all on the court.  But to the team - these players are replaceable. They're part of the puzzle until they don't fit.  And then they're plucked off the bus and given a ticket elsewhere.  It's harsh.  It's cold.  It's business.

I've watched it happen.  I've seen the roll call on the bus for the guys who were on their way to a game in Chicago but are now being asked to clear out their lockers and move to a new city.  I've gotten the phone calls threating death to owners, cursing out salespeople, burning of the jerseys and posting it online.  Fans are loyal, emotional, and the lifeblood of the organization.  Certainly without fans - there's no team.  But I'll be really honest with you - if you think your opinions on player deals, playing time, or coaching choices matter - you should put your beer down and go home.  They need you to buy tickets but at the end of the day, with or without you the organization will go on.  Maybe to a new city, but it will go on.

I realize this post is probably a little depressing - but life is tough - I just want to keep it real with you.  But with all of that knowledge being dropped - I want you to know - I'm still just as crazy passionate as you are about my teams.  And even knowing all the behind the scenes of it - I'm still just as irrational as you are when my favorite player gets sent away.  Sure, sports are a business, but they're also my heart.

Ball is Life

I've spent the majority of my career in sports.  Granted, I'm only 31 so that's not necessarily saying I'm some 30 year veteran of the business - but I do have a strong idea of what this world is like.   Of course, every organization, every University, and every agency are very different.  I dare only speak to my personal experiences as I know they're vastly different from those of my peers.

Whenever I tell people I work in sports, there's this immediate "how cool" "what a dream" reaction.  It's often assumed that I make a lot of money, I'm at all the coolest events sitting courtside at every game.  People immediately ask which players I've dated and which ones I party with.  The world of sports is seen as a 24/7 party.  It's all glitz and glamour and the good life.

The truth?  It can be.  But it's not big salaries, I'm not sitting on the sidelines at every game, I certainly would never date an athlete I work with and I will leave a bar I see them walk into.  It's long hours, hands on labor, little appreciation, cutthroat often sexist environments, and it's one of the hardest industries to break into and excel in.  And yet, it's also exciting, and its challenging and it's a playground for creativity and passion.  I've cursed it, sworn I'd get out, and yet I still can't completely leave it.

To make it in this world you have to be willing to start at the bottom and I'm talking the very bottom.  You have to be willing to do manual labor, work 16-20 hours straight and do all of this for minimum wage or even school credit.  You have to work really hard, without complaint, and you have to be open to feedback.  Have patience.  Realize you aren't making six figures for a really long time, if ever.  And you're not in a world where someone is going to tell you how much you're appreciated.  It's a world where the staff is replaceable.  So you've got to think strategically.  You've got to constantly build relationships, learn from everyone you can, and trust very few. 

But as cut throat as this world is, I've met some of my best friends in this world.  I've grown personally and professionally in this world and I'm not sure I'd have done so had I not been in sports.  I've sat courtside and on the sidelines at some momentous games.  I've worked side by side with some of the greatest athletes and coaches in the game.  I've drank $1,500 wine and eaten a $10,000 dinner.  I've flown on the team plane.  I've gotten to pursue my dreams and been given incredible responsibility.  And that's why I can't give this world up. 

In my new role, I'm not 100%  centered on sports.  I'm sports and product marketing and music and everything in between.  And that's scary.  But it's also exciting.  It's a whole new ball game if you will - and I'm the rookie in this world.  But I think at the end of the day, that only makes me a stronger competitor when (or if) I choose to go back to sports full time.  It's an opportunity to have something I've only heard about: a work life balance (I'm unclear on the details of this).  And it's a position I'm a little uncomfortable going into, which makes it a position I should absolutely take. 

The world of sports is glamourous.  But it's also really ugly.  And really cut throat.  Half the time, I didn't know who we were playing or even the name of every player.  You're not a fan when you're in that world.  You're in a business.  And you're an employee in a world expected to increase profit for that business.  Certainly, be passionate, don't ever lose your love for the game, but be warned - it's like taking the mask of Mickey - you see the world in a whole new light.  And sometimes it's princess castles and light shows, and sometimes it's tantrums and back stabbing.  Quite frankly, you're either made for the sports world, or your not. 

Personally, I live for this life.  If I didn't, I wouldn't still be so scared to walk away.  We joke that ball is life in this world.  But I'm not sure its really a joke.

The San Francisco 49ers

I was born a Niners fan.  My family of athletes doesn't believe in raising their children to make their own sports loyalty decisions.  We tell you who to support when you come out of the womb and you get on board or you find a new family.  It's been done this way since cavemen and I plan to force the same loyalties on my children.

To me, the San Francisco 49ers have meant loyalty, tradition and excellence above all.  They stand for winning, sportsmanship, teamwork and class.  I grew up in awe of Steve Young, Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Dwight Clark - legends in their field.  Whether we won a ring or not - I was proud to wear red and gold. 

In recent years, the organization has lost its way.  Now before you claim I am merely bitter because we are 1-12, understand that you're wrong.  There's a reason we can't keep a coach, players, or even staff.  There's a reason the Niners were named the worst organization in sports.  And there's a reason that our past coaches and players thrive on other teams and within other organizations.

When it's not coaching and its not your players - it's ownership.  Success starts at the top.  It takes a good leader to make the right decisions and put the right people into the puzzle to make it all fit.  And right now - we have a really poor leader.  Don't believe me?  Let's talk. 

Jim Harbaugh - he was 43-19-1 with the 49ers.  He was a leader in the locker room - certainly overly passionate but he knew what he was doing.  He's considered one of the most successful coaches in franchise history.  Since Jim Harbaugh left we have won I believe 6 of the last 28 games.  Jim is now at Michigan - a team ranked consistently top 10 since he took over.

Patrick Willis.  Patrick Willis spent his entire 8 year career as a 49er as one of the best to play the game.  7x Pro bowl, NFL defensive rookie of the year, 5x first team all pro - and the list goes on.  He retired from the game rather than stay with the organization.  Certainly we can talk about his injuries and his heart wasn't in it - but I still place some of the blame on the Niners for not making it a place he loved being anymore.  **To be fair - I am in love with Patrick Willis so basically nothing he does is wrong in my eyes. 

Do we even go into our draft picks of late?  I'm no expert but what in the hell is Trent Baalke thinking when he goes into a draft?  Is he throwing darts?  Drawing cards?  GUESSING?  I honestly want to know what happens in that war room.  And I want to know if the rest of the ops team is in support or just as confused as us fans are?  All I know for sure is since 2011 when Baalke became the permanent GM - I've not been impressed.  And that 2011 season that the experts credit to his turnaround?  I credit that to a Jim Harbaugh coaching regime.  Because ok - Aldon Smith was great for a hot minute and so was Kapernick - but can we please look at how both of those draft picks have ended up?  Aldon Smith is a nightmare and does not represent what a 49er player stands for (fitting he's a Raider now) and Kap quite honestly can't hang when the pressure is on and he needs to learn to focus on football during the season instead of his poorly misguided political views (don't vote, don't talk).  Sure he had some brief success but when the rest of the league caught on to his style of play, he began to falter.  He has brief moments of stardom, but again, at the end of the day - you can't rely on Kapernick to get the job done.

From a business standpoint - because sports are a business - Jed York is doing a pretty good job.  He built a stadium that caters to the tech billionaires and draws big shows.  Whether people come to the game or not - he collects on the season tickets and sponsorships.  The concerts, shows, and corporate events are booking up the off season because he built himself an expensive fancy stadium (although close look, it's got some tech and layout issues but I digress).  At the end of the day - the 49ers probably aren't hurting for money.  And realistically, that's probably part of the reason Jed is willing to take risks with the football end of the business.  If you're still going to be rich AF whether you win or lose, might as well take a few liberties with your decisions.  Sports teams are often hobbies to rich owners, not their livelihood.

So now here we are - it's 2016.  We've had two more head coaches (I'm thinking we get a third for the next season), numerous off the field player incidents, and we are 1-12.  I can't name half the players on our team and there's no hope of a comeback in the foreseeable future.

It's a start with getting rid of Trent Baalke but then I want to see the York's go (far less likely but I want to believe the latest rumors).  I want to see big changes and to restore what this organization used to stand for.  No more losing, no more behavioral issues, no more focusing on taking the team out of San Francisco.  This is an organization that's 70 years old.  And for a good 60+ of those years being a Niner fan came with immense pride in what that logo stood for.  Sports are supposed to be fun and to encourage loyalty.  Right now - the only thing this franchise brings to the table is a fancy stadium for the Silicon Valley rich kids.  It's cool you can order a beer with an app, but who's at the game to buy that beer?  NOBODY (see what I did there?).

Jed York, give us our team back.  I will always be a fan, I will always love my Niners.  There's no other team for me.  But I want to feel proud of that loyalty again.  I want to wear my gear and remember the tradition, respect, class and excellence it stands for.  I am forever faithful, make that mean something again.

**If you're not a Niner fan and you say anything bad about my team, you're dead to me and I'll fight you. 

***My version of fighting is to throw glitter in your eye. (Except that time in AZ where me and my cousin almost fought some Cardinals fans, but really, that was the vodka's fault and I'm really sorry I almost got us into World War 3...anywhoo!)

Even Year Magic

Fair warning: if you're not a San Francisco Giants fan, you may not like this post.  But if you're into sports and believing in the impossible, this is the blog for you.

A little history.  I'm a born and bred Giants fan.  Since I was born my parents had been part of a group of friends who bought season tickets.  I grew up at Candlestick and graduated to AT&T Park (then Pac Bell Park) when it opened in 2000.  I associate the Giants with my childhood, my family and a huge part of my passion for sports.  The organization is synonymous with class, winning, and fun.  And that's what sports are at their core.  I truly believe the San Francisco Giants are the best business in sports and AT&T Park is the most beautiful ballpark in the game. 

Even year magic.  To me, its the magic that leads a team everyone counted out - to win three rings in 5 years.  A team who hadn't won a championship since 1954, who hadn't even made the playoffs in 7 years - to win its first even year ring in 5 games.  It's an unexplainable passion, drive, and will to win.  It's what makes sports great.  Even year magic is what we mean in sports when we say on any given day anyone can win.  And although our even year magic came to a halt in 2016 - I still believe in it.  I still believe 2018 will feel special.  I still believe in the organization that taught us to believe in the impossible.

I'm nostalgic.  I'll talk about 2010, 2012, and 2014 on my death bed.  My great grandkids are going to talk about how senile and repetitive I am and they wont be wrong.  In case you're not a fan - I'm going to walk you through even year magic.  And if you are a fan - enjoy, I know you feel the same excitement I do every time someone brings up our Giants and even year baseball.

2010

Recap: It all started in 2010.  It was our 53rd year in San Francisco and it was the first time we made the playoffs since 2003.  We started the season strong - and then came August.  August was rough.  We ended August 13-15 and thus began what would be known as bay area torture that continues to consume us today.  September rolled around and we staged a hard fought comeback - finishing 18-26 and a playoff berth.  The first game of the NLDS Tim Lincecum set a postseason franchise strikeout record at 14 and we won 1-0, finishing the series in victory on October 11th.  Next up - the Phillies for the NLCS.  The Phillies were heavily favored and were seeking their third pennant in a row. And then game 1 and Cody Ross happened.  Two home runs and some insane pitching by Timmy and we stole game 1 by one run.  Philly answered strong with a huge win for game 2 and the Giants took game 3.  After a back and forth battle - the Giants took the pennant in Game 6.  Now onto the World Series.  The Texas Rangers had just won their first pennant but the Giants were on a high.  Game 1 saw an 11-7 Giants easy win.  Games 2-5 were pure pitching duels - thankfully with a San Francisco Giants 3-1 win in Texas. 

Favorite players from 2010: Cody Ross became one of my all time favorites this year.  I met him at an event in 2015 and was completely star struck.  Giants fans you'll be happy to know he's a genuinely cool guy who loves the Giants organization.  Tim Linceum was a pitching animal.  He's now not part of the organization and has had his struggles but he will forever be a Giants great.  Brian Wilson.  We fell in love - that is all.  #FearTheBeard

Favorite Moment from 2010: NLCS. Cody Ross. 2 home runs.  I'm certain this needs no further explanation.

2010 Fun Facts:

• First championships since moving the team to San Francisco
• First world series championship for the city and county of San Francisco

2012

Recap: So 2012 was a good year for us.  We ended the season 97-68 and 1st in the NL West.  But don't let that fool you because the post season was full of torture.  The division series saw us overcome a 2-0 deficit and then the NLCS gave us real magic with overcoming the St. Louis Cardinals who were at a 3-0 series advantage.  To be clear - that means we overcame SIX elimination games to get to the World Series.  Yes, SIX.  Only one other team has done that in baseball and not since 1985. Fear not though because we swept the Detroit Tigers in the World Series to make up for all of the early postseason torture.  Now a sweep is also misleading.  The Detroit Tigers were heavily favored over our boys in orange.  And we couldn't have done it without Pablo Sandoval (I hate that fat Panda - not so good now are ya jerk?) and his three game 1 homers.  Not to mention the continuous talent of our bullpen.  They only allowed 6 runs in 4 games - the lowest total for a world series since 1966.  2012 yet again taught us that when you push the Giants to the impossible - they not only meet your challenge, they exceed it.

Favorite Players from 2012: I hate saying this because his true colors have shown he's not a true Giant - but Pablo was a 2012 great.  He was my favorite 2012 Giant and I hate that.  Marco Scutaro and that late 10th inning hit that would cause the game 4 winning run of the NLCS.  He earned that NLCS MVP Award and truly gave us the momentum that is even year magic.

Favorite Moment of 2010: Hunter Pence and that speech.  Read it, remember it.  We were facing elimination from the Reds and Pence changed the game:

"Get in here, everyone get in here... look into each other eyes... now! Look into each others eyes, I want one more day with you, it's the most fun, the best team I have ever been on, and no matter what happens we must not give in, we owe it to each other, play for each other. I need one more day with you guys, I need to see what [Ryan] Theriot will wear tomorrow, I want to play defense behind Vogelsong because he's never been to the playoffs... play for each other not yourself, win each moment, win each inning, it's all we have left."

2012 Fun Facts:

• Scutaro tied an LCS record with 14 hits in the NLCS
• In Game 1 of the 2012 World Series, Pablo Sandoval tied a World Series record by hitting three home runs in one game, two of them against starting pitcher, Justin Verlander the reigning 2011 winner of the AL Cy Young, the AL Pitching Triple Crown, and the AL MVP

2014

Recap: 2014 was more eventful.  We finished in second place in the NL West and had to defeat the Pirates for a chance at the playoffs (which spoiler alert, we did).  Onto the NLDS where in game 1 Jake Peavy didn't allow a hit until the bottom of the 5th inning.  Game 2 lasted 18 inning before the Giants secured its 10th consecutive post season win.  The Nationals took game 3, the Giants game 4 and advanced to the NLCS.  The NLCS saw the Giants victorious in 5 and Travis Ishikawa was the star of the series as the first NLCS player in history to send his team to the World Series on a walk off homerun.  And now - the 2014 World Series.  Truly bay area torture at its finest this series went 7 games.  All seemed like we may have a repeat of 2012 with a game one 7-1 Giants victory.  But game 2 saw a Royals 7-2 victory and proved they came to play.  the rest o the series was a back and forth high scoring battle leading up to game 7 which ended in a Giants 3-2 victory.  Stars of the series?  Madison Bumgarner and the Giants pitching crew.  2014 is truly where we saw the continuous magic that is Madison Bumgarner.

Favorite Players from2014: Madison Bumgarner.  There is truly no even year magic without this man.  He's ben the WS MVP, NLCS MVP, 2x Silver Slugger, Willie Mac Award winner, Babe Ruth Award winner, Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year, and he's got 3 rings with the Giants. 

Favorite Moment from 2014: Timmy's no hitter, the 16th no hitter in organization history.  I love Timmy, he was a huge part of this era of Giants baseball.  It was his second of his career and against the Padres, which I loved to see.

2014 Fun Facts:

• Bumgarner himself extended his postseason scoreless streak on the road to a new MLB record 32  2⁄3 innings, and took over the Giants record for postseason wins with 6. (WS Game 1)
• Incredibly only three days after making 117 pitches in shutting out the Royals in Game 5, Bumgarner pitched 5 innings of scoreless relief making 68 pitches and not walking a batter. He broke the record set by Curt Schiling for the most innings pitched in a single postseason

Now I couldn't be a true even year believer without thanking Bruce Bochy.  Bochy is the best in the game.  We would not have won 3 in 5 without his leadership.  His decision making, his leadership style, the fact that he commands respect from the best in the game - make him a legend.  And I never want to lose him. Ever.

  Lastly, even year magic is the 2010, 2012, and 2014 teams because I've never seen a dugout have more fun than watching the Giants those seasons.  Seeing the team joke around, smile laugh and truly enjoy baseball is what I love.  It reminds me of being a little kid and feeling invincible.  It reminds me of what sports mean to me in my soul.  It reminds me that at the end of the day - when you believe in magic - you can do anything.  Including three world series in five years.  And although we didn't continue in 2016 - I am so grateful for this team for teaching me to believe in magic.

The NFL

The No Fun League.  Never has there been a more true description of the NFL.  Personally, I rarely pay attention to the NFL anymore.  A large reason is probably that my team has gone to shambles due to ineffective ownership - and part of that is because the league has taken a lot of the fun out of the game.  Here's why:

1. The NFL is inconsistent: Penalties, fines, suspensions, punishments - they highly vary for players and teams.  There are supposedly standards for everything and of course there is a sliding scale for severity - but it seems the more visible the player or the more visible the issue is in the media - the heavier punishment.  Sometimes there isn't a punishment until people speak up and the NFL say oh ok I guess we should do something, people are mad.
2. The NFL only cares about the NFL: Until fans, players, and the general public start to push back against the league for issue at the forefront (aka profits suffer), the league does nothing.  Take domestic violence; not until very recently has the NFL changed a policy that for years didn't take it seriously.  Concussions; only recently has the NFL invested in and taken concussions seriously.  And that's only because of the prevalence of suicide and neurological issues from past players in the media.
3. The NFL got rid of Celebrations: Sure, can celebrations be taken too far and become unsportsmanlike?  Yea, maybe.  But in 99% of cases, it's part of the fanfare of the game.  I love TD celebrations and seeing the excitement a big play gives a team.  Maybe I missed something, but this is just stupid.
4. Quarterbacks get preferential treatment: I'm all for protecting the safety of the QB, he's absolutely vulnerable.  But haven't we gone a little too far?  I miss the glory days where QB's were the baddest players out there because they had to focus on getting the play off and avoiding hits. 
5. There's probably only about 10 minutes of actual football in a game: Between media timeouts, stopping for penalties, and everything else that goes into putting a game on - there's little actual football anymore.  The momentum just isn't the same these days.  and now, with all the controversy and protests, there's even less football.  I want to hear about the game.  I want to listen to real breakdown of plays. 

Those are my Top 5.  There's about 100 other reasons I'm just not a fan of the NFL right now, but the more I talk about it, the more frustrated I get.  If you know me, you know I'm a football girl.  I've spent a lot of my career in the college football arena and been lucky enough to have some incredible NFL experiences (including some dating of a player or two, but alas, that's for another time).  But this season, I'm not a fan.  I'm taking my talents to college football and committing myself to supporting the passion that represents.  Sure, the NCAA has its own issues but I tend to feel pretty positively about them overall.  Football is truly the best sport out there and I hate to watch Roger Goodell and the NFL ruin it at the elite level.

What do you think?  Are you still a fan?  Talk to me.  It's painful, but together, we can support each other.

The Roster - An Introduction

Everything in my life revolves around sports.  You can relate any situation in life to sports.  Sports and life are both competitions, there are winners and losers, you have to train to succeed, and you have to play by the rules or risk a penalty.  Dating is the ultimate sport.  You gotta recruit (meet people), you gotta have tryouts (get to know your recruits), there's cuts (Step up or step aside gentlemen), there's franchise players (we're talking MVP good), contract negotiations (your needs/wants from the other person), it's a system built on strategy.  And if you don't play the game right, you will not have a winning team.  Everybody wants a championship team.  Nobody wants to be the 2008 Detroit Lions (0-16).  I don't care who you are or what your thoughts are on sports, winning is everything in life, and winning in love, is the Super Bowl of life. 

The Roster is the ultimate way to use the principles of sports in love.  A strong roster ensures a strong love life and keeps you sane throughout the dating process; but only if you follow the rules and work a good strategy on and off the playing field.  Much like an NBA team, the roster has a starting five.  These are the best players on your team with number one being the team captain.  Also just like in sports, you need a second string, or some players on the bench that are there for you when you need them.  These are your three bench players.  That puts you at a team of eight.  Any more than eight and you're fielding a less than talented team.  It's like having the dream team playing for you and then calling up the local high school and asking if a few of their kids would like to pinch hit in a world series game.  You don't sacrifice quality.  You may have less players at times in order to preserve the quality, but you need to have a minimum of three in play or the roster becomes ineffective.  Less is not more ladies and gentleman, less is less, less is what got you to where you are today.  Less does not win you a championship ring. 

So why a roster?  Well, why do women spend so much time talking about men?  Seriously, I want to know (most likely because we are taught that if you're single, there's something wrong with you).  Don't get me wrong, I love men.  They're great to look at (Nobody actually knows what happens in Criminal Minds, we just know that for the better part of an hour we will get to watch Shemar Moore be gorgeous) and some men even have great things to say (You're right BAE, the Giants pitching lineup is a lost cause right now), but am I the only woman that wants to slap 85% of the women I talk to today?  I completely understand why he doesn't want you, you have nothing to offer to the relationship because you only talk about him.  Have you not heard of shoes?  Football?  Baseball? Happy Hour?  There are so many shiny objects, delicious drinks, and shoe stores that I've never even seen.  Stop obsessing about what he thinks, what his words mean, and why he hasn't called you.  If he wants to see you, he will.  If he wants to call you, he will.  If not, he won't.  And in the end if all you did was spend your time worrying, analyzing, and talking about him, you won't have anything to be more happy about when it doesn't work out (because you're crazy).  I can't remember most of the men I spent time worrying hours on end about, but I can tell you what shoes I wore to Delta Gamma spring formal in 2005 (gold strappy Steve Maddens), who won the 2010 world series (GIANTS!), when the super bowl is this year (February 5, 2017), and how much the big bottle of Patron costs at BevMo ($79.99).  The purpose of the roster, is to prevent you from becoming a crazy obsessive person by shifting your focus and dividing it up amongst your team.   I guarantee you, your Facebook stalking, your praying he will text you, and your accidental run ins at his gym are getting you no place but in court for a restraining order.  Simply wanting something is not enough, Joe Montana didn't wake up in the morning and think, I want to win the Super Bowl and it's done, he developed a plan, he trained, and he molded his whole life to achieve that goal.  In order to get your number one, you need to do the same.  Think of this as spring training for your life, let's see if you can make the big leagues.  And as always, there's no crying in baseball.

College Football - Checking In

Well here we are team - a month into the college football season and what a season its been so far!  There have been so many big upsets and week four did not disappoint.  I thought now that we've seen enough teams compete in some legitimate games it was time to break down where we are at and what I think about the season to come.

Top 25

Please review the top 25 as of September 25th.  Link here: http://collegefootball.ap.org/poll

All caught up?  Great.  Let's bullet point some takeaways.

• Alabama still reigns #1 which really doesn't surprise anyone
• I'm also in agreement with Ohio State at No. 2 right now
• Stanford needs to regroup.  That game was too close for comfort and should not have been so challenging.  They're young though and if you look at the depth of their talent, they could get scary good next season.
• Wisconsin came in HOT this week.  At 4-0 with a win against Michigan State don't sleep on this team currently at No. 8.  I'm excited to see how they fare against Michigan this weekend
• Texas A&M at No. 9 is a toss up for me.  They could be a sleeper and they could fizzle.  I need to see a better test than Arkansas to form a better opinion
• Georgia doesn't deserve Top 25.  If you think any differently you're drunk.
• Ole Miss had a big win, just demolished Georgia - but I'm not sure I agree with a 7 spot jump.  Georgia is plagued with injuries and doesn't belong in the Top 25 so while it was a blowout game, was it really against a big team?
• TCU is always one of those teams who's really strong and one big win away from being something special.  I love watching them continue to be competitive
• Realistically there was very little movement in the top so nothing too crazy to report
• Houston at 6 is great and all but have you looked at their remaining schedule?  No real big games coming up.  Not sure they have enough challenges to lift them much higher.
• The longhorns are MY TEAM.  At 22 we had that BIG early win in one of the best games in the history of the program but the remainder of the schedule isn't super competitive.  We should win most all - but finishing at the top 5 isn't in the cards this year.  I'll tell you though, Charlie Strong is HUGE for this program.  Excited to see where we go!

Next Week and Beyond: What the experts are saying vs. What I'm saying

Experts

• Early predictions show an Alabama vs. Michigan championship.
• Other teams at the top are Ohio State, Louisville, Stanford, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Washington, and Houston.
• Michigan beats Wisconsin this week
• Stanford beats Washington
• Clemson over Louisville

Me

• The biggest question is who can challenge Alabama?  I don't want to see an Alabama Ohio State championship.  In fact, I'd love to see both out entirely.
• Wisconsin had a huge game but with two tough games coming up - can they hang on?  If they can, the momentum is huge and they could have a shot at it all.  If not - they'll drop back to good but not great.
• Florida State is irrelevant.  In general they're inconsistent and I'm not willing to put much behind them.
• Ole Miss let's get real - you had a big win but you blew it in two big games against two top 5 teams.  I don't see them making it top 5 but they might land top 10.
• Bless Oklahoma's heart but ya'll aren't doing much in 2016. (Irv if you're reading this I love you please don't hate me)
• Ignore LSU entirely.
• Stanford will beat Washington but really needs to work on its passing game
• I think Michigan will beat Wisconsin but I want to see Wisconsin win.  They have the potential and the momentum but Michigan is hot right now
• I'll disagree with the experts and go Louisville.  Their offense is too good.

Final Thoughts

It's early.  Not AP Poll preseason irrelevant rankings early - but still plenty of time to make or break a season.  I'd love to see Alabama challenged soon but I don't think they'll have much real competition until Texas A&M - and that's still weeks away.  Now that we are in the thick of Fall I vow to include more college breakdown and thoughts. And if you thought I would do this for the NFL, sad to say - it won't happen.  The NFL is dead to me right now.  But we'll get into that later.  In the meantime - talk to me about your college predictions and what you're hoping for.  With all the upsets and unexpected injuries so far - its a heck of a time to be a college football fan!