More great advice for students

The Sports PR Blog has a GREAT interview with Jim Loria, of the Sioux Falls Stampede today. Jim provides some GREAT advice for students aspiring to enter the sports industry job market, and be successful. Some of my favorite quotes:

"During my time in Washington, my Caps’ boss used to always preach to me that “I wouldn’t become ‘someone’ in my life until I totally understood how sales, marketing, community, promotions, special events, etc. , all intertwined and rely on each other to succeed!“"

"Spend time honing your writing and speaking skills without question. Learn how to get in front of larger groups, especially your peers, and speak. Communications is vital."

"On the flip side, you can have the most decorated resume in the world but if you can’t “smile”… “look someone in the eyes”… “effectively communicate”, than the resume is wasted. I don’t think I am off base by saying that with most employers today, your resume (or referral contact) can get you the interview, but it’s that first glimpse of you & the employer when you first meet that probably cinches half of the door opening up for you or staying closed. How you dress matters! Just like a meal at a restaurant. First time your eyes gaze on the look of the meal delivered by the wait staff member will make your taste buds ramp up or turn off."

What amazes me is that this advice is what SO many industry professionals share with up-and-comers, and yet, so many students seem to think they are above it, or that it's just a bunch of garbage.

A great quote from Jack Nicholas, that I usually put on my class syllabus: "I always practice as I intend to play." The point is, use your classes as a way to hone your skills for the real world. This means demonstrate a professional appearance and demeanor. Body language says a lot more than students realize, and when they sit in the classroom and look apathetic, doze, sit cross armed, those are subliminal messages that tell me they think they are better than this. They always say that in an interview or on the job, where it really "matters" they turn their game on. What they fail to realize is that behaviors frequently become habit, and you never know who might see you. In other words, there are some students I would gladly recommend for a job or internship, and others for which I would hesitate, based largely on their behavior in my classroom. How you practice translates to the big game. And in this industry, in this job market, students need to be more prepared than ever.

Sonny Vaccaro strikes again

My 6 loyal readers know how I feel about this topic, but here we go again...

The Sporting News is reporting today that Mississippi State University has retained the services of a lawyer that has experience dealing with other schools in times of crisis, pertaining to potential rules violations and NCAA inquiry.

Why?

Because Renardo Sydney is 6' 10", plays basketball, is under the advisement of Sonny Vaccaro and has committed to MSU, after previously making an oral commitment to USC. In the Sporting News report, Vaccaro "acknowledged that he gave the family $20,000 to help with the move (from Mississippi to California)."

On April 24th, I ranted about Vaccaro and this latest admit in The Sporting News sickens me even more. USC and UCLA allegedly rescinded offers to Sydney, because they claimed to be concerned about possible scrutiny into Sydney's story.

So, here we go again. Everyone knows Vaccaro is connected. The former shoe company executive just happens to have $20,000 lying around to help a kid and his family move halfway across the country? And there is nothing in it for him down the road? OK.

Vaccaro is not registered as an agent, but c'mon. Those of us around it know how basketball at this level works: The prominent and powerful AAU teams that circumvent regulation. The ways that runners work under the radar and launder money from different sources, not out of the goodness of their heart, to coincidentally help 6'10" teenagers who can shoot, but as an investment in a potentially greater windfall down the road.

Again, I understand maximizing opportunity, and I do not begrudge a teenager for taking the path that allows them to potentially change the lives financially of those closest to them, but I am first and foremost an educator, and reinforcing the concept that education is a red-headed step child compared to the glamour of fame, to impressionable, naive young people really gets to me.

And that is what is happening here. Again.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the percentage of American adults of all ages with a four-year bachelor's degree was estimated at 17.1 percent in a 2007 Census survey. And we all know what a great career you can typically have with a High School Diploma or GED on your wall. So, we stand by, and let people like Vaccaro continue to ride the wave of these promising, athletic children? And when their wave crashes, where are the Vaccaro's of the world? Certainly not with them. They are back out to sea looking for the next one.

Another nail in the coffin for education

I am an entrepreneur, a lifelong learner and an educator, so one would think that I would be in conflict when I read a story like the one in USA Today about high school basketball players skipping college to play professionally overseas until they are eligible for the NBA Draft. I am all for maximizing earning potential, and can certainly understand the appeal from the perspective of a young person, especially in the case where that opportunity could change things in their life that have been fundamental concerns I have never had to face (do we have enough money for groceries this week?).

And when the story has a happy ending (Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James), everyone wins. The fans win. The industry wins. The players are able to change the lives of many people.

But when I read a story like the one I just stumbled upon, I think about people like Ronnie Fields. Maybe you remember him... the high school teammate of Kevin Garnett who was dubbed "all-everything." He was declared academically ineligible at DePaul, where he signed a letter of intent, which stumps me. He declared for the CBA (not NBA) Draft, where he was selected #73 overall. How did he go from Mr. Basketball in high school, All-American, to the 73rd draft pick in a second rate league? He is now 32 years old, having jumped from league to league, with no NBA experience. He went undrafted in 1998 when he submitted his name into the NBA Draft pool.

So, Sonny Vaccaro is back at it again. What I would like to know is where this guy is when players he "consults" don't pan out? It seems like he just moves on, but how many Ronnie Fields players with similar stories have been left in the Vaccaro wake?

Around the time Ronnie Fields was leaving high school and testing the professional basketball waters, I was professionally involved with basketball, and very involved in marketing qualified players with no collegiate eligibility to overseas and minor league teams so I remember his story well. Over a decade later, he is still toiling in the CBA.

So Vaccaro is out there "consulting" and "advising" players to forgo any time in college. He calls it "purgatory" for exceptional players. The stigma he attaches to the concept of ANY educational experience sickens me.

For the minuscule percentage of players where this option is a logical one, there are undeniably droves more who unrealistically think it will work for them. What happens though, is that countless people, leaches, wanna-bes, hangers-on, hitch THEIR aspirations of an easy ride onto the star of a naive, wide-eyed 17-year old. And then the star dims. And the "friends" disappear, looking for the next sure thing to hitch a ride. It happens. I've seen it. Way too much.

So, I wish Jeremy Tyler all the possible happiness that could exist for him, as I would for any young person, with so much in front of them. I hope he finds years of success, but I also have no conflict when it comes to education. I hope he does not devalue it. Some day, he is going to need it. Basketball will end someday. If it ends abruptly, without the anticipated podium shot with David Stern and the riches that follow, what will he have left? A 10-year career bouncing around semi-pro leagues making $2000 a month? And when he is 40, and can't do that any longer, what is there for him? He can't get job coaching in high school or college, because he only has a high school diploma or GED. What then? Where are all of the "good friends" that once existed because there was promise and an easy ride? These are the stories that impact me. That is why I credit players for going to college, staying in school to exhaust their eligibility, and then moving on. I understand that that is not for everyone, but I shudder when I see the vultures and Vaccaros of the world "advising" players to make life-altering decisions that have no impact on their OWN lives. When lawyers and doctors and other professionals improperly advise their clients, they can be sued for malpractice. They have a stake in the things they tell other people to do. Vaccaro has no stake. If a kid works out, great. If not, oh well, not my problem.

It's despicable. Good luck Jeremy Tyler. And Ronnie Fields, wherever you are, hopefully your story will make people aware of the need for a balance with reality, and the urgency to create options and choices. Life is a long time, not just the length of a 10-year basketball career (if you are even that lucky).

Presentations and public speaking that works

Kudos Russell Scibetti for addressing the need for ALL members of our business community to become effective speakers... I require students throughout the semester to present, speak in class, etc. It's not necessarily about the material they are discussing, but the underlying attempt to have them learn how to be more comfortable speaking in front of a class, panel, audience, etc.

In addition to the "y'know what I'm sayin'?" and the "umm" pause phrases, street talk, slang, cliches and fast talking and low voices, and reading notes, so that all we see are the top of their heads, I tell them that this is their time. They are presenting. First, know your material. If you don't, nothing else will matter, no matter how witty you may be. Secondly, SLOW DOWN. It's not a race. If you need to collect your thoughts or think of the right word, a little silence is completely acceptable. There is no need to fill the void with "um" and"you know".

Make eye contact. Notes are great as a way to remind and keep on track, but DO NOT STAND AND READ THEM. That also brings me to the crutch otherwise known as PowerPoint. Don't create sides full of text that you read to your audience. If you need the slides that much, the audience does not need you! Use the slides as an enhancement, a backdrop, but not the main course.

We don't write good

What is it with writing skills? Why do I have the same problem every year with juniors and seniors? Of course, it's not everyone, but it is way more than it should be.

Technology has impacted us as professors in so many profound ways. It's a wonderful tool, but it is one of my biggest struggles. In teaching sports marketing, we talk about the impact of social networking sites, and their undeniable place in our profession. But what do they teach us to do? Take short cuts, abbreviate and write in incomplete sentences a means to be concise.

And the fall out is that it spills over into ALL writing. And students are dumbfounded when I hand a paper back and tell them to rewrite it.

What to do?