USF Sport Management

May 23, 2009

2009-06-19T09:32:00.000-07:00

Who would have thought that a few little steps could signify so much?

Countless hours of tireless work, an infinite spectrum of irreplaceable memories and an overwhelming sense of accomplishment met in a synchronized crescendo on May 23, 2009 as Cohort 27 completed their graduation ceremony. It was a conscious goal that was set from the start – keep going, fight through it, find a way to get it done and make it to May 23, 2009. Completing such a challenging objective welcomes a flood of emotions that are best discovered through reflection, introspection and dialogue with the special group of people who forever will be `Cohort –mates’.

Looking back on my tenure at USF there are several dominant themes that come to mind. The first would be how quickly time passes by – although the program took 23 months to complete, it is eerie how fast the pages on the calendar seemed to be turning. It feels like we just started the program yesterday and somehow two years have passed. This serves for a broader life lesson of appreciating each moment and taking advantage of opportunities while you have them – because everything in life will at some point move forward.

Perhaps a less cognisant theme that was prevalent on May 23, 2009 was the general sentiment of growth. As students, individuals and professionals, we are all VERY different people from the group who walked into that orientation meeting on a foggy evening in July 2007. We had all entered from different walks of life – Tokyo, Taipei, Budapest, Montreal, Trinidad and Texas were just some of our starting points, but we all ended up together in San Francisco. There, in one of the most special cities in the world, we learned about an industry in textbooks and with our own hands. We absorbed our professors, studied with each other and worked with industry leaders. Ask anyone from our cohort and they would proudly tell you about their variety of experiences and how much they grew during their time at USF.

Lastly and most importantly, the dominating theme on May 23, 2009 was fun. I started out my USF Sport Management Blogs by writing about the benefits of working in this industry – chiefly that one can really enjoy and be passionate about their work. It was comforting and reassuring to see on our last day together that each person was equally (if not more) passionate about working in sports than when we started our Masters degree. This could easily be measured by the smile index on all of our faces.

And so, I bid you adieu with a proud heart and my head raised high. I have enjoyed writing these blogs as it has served as a great platform to share my experiences and hopefully encourage anyone interested that it is possible to start from nothing in the sports and make an impact right away. With that being said, it gives me great pleasure to introduce Brittany Merchant to continue the Sport Management blog. I know she is doing some incredible work and I really look forward to following her adventures in this roller coaster ride we call the professional sports industry.
One door closes and another opens. The end has no end.

- Cory Sterling, M.A Sport Management ‘09

Master's Project

2009-04-27T17:48:00.000-07:00

It’s been such a long time since my last blog-post, all I can do is present a sincere apology and move forward. Life as a Sport Management student has been quite busy and challenging over the past few weeks as my class, Cohort-27, is entering its final phase before graduation.

For the second-half of our program, students have a choice to take three elective classes (subjects of which are democratically chosen but the group as a whole) or one elective class and the Master’s Project in Sport Management. As an aspiring writer, slave to academia and curious student, it seemed only logical to embark on this educational endeavor.

According to the course syllabus, the “Master’s Project is the culminating experience for Sport Management students during their last semester in residence. Students propose, develop, and write a Master’s Project that demonstrates research skills and an integrated understanding of sport management.”

At this current juncture of time, my ‘MP’ is still incomplete and as a result, I can not paint a complete picture of what the entire experience is like. Instead, I can share some honest feelings I have about my final course as a USF Sport Management Grad student as I am in the midst of completing it.

I am very pleased that this final project is a total culmination of the different curricular experiences that each student has enjoyed individually. Part of what makes this field of study so unique is that although classmates all study the same courses and complete the same projects, they can easily tailor their efforts towards areas that practically apply to their own career or interests.

This description of Master’s Project topics explored by Cohort-27 students serves as a perfect testament to the diversity of our individual interests as students, and the wide-range of areas under the sport management umbrella:

• An assessment of the importance of parks & recreation and the specific offerings of P&R to the community of Los Banos, California by utilizing survey research and focus groups of stakeholders. The student is a member of the Los Banos City Council and is generating an understanding of what is most valuable to the community’s parks and recreation budget.
• An evaluation of the demand for Roller Soccer as a youth sport offered at local YMCAs and in physical education courses at school by utilizing multiple survey instruments and in-depth interviews. The student and her husband are the inventors of this game which is sweeping the globe, with World Cup tournaments held internationally every year. (http://www.rollersoccer.com/)
• A study of the sponsorship effectiveness at the Beijing Olympics utilizing survey research of Chinese residents and sophisticated data analysis techniques including ordered logic.
• An investigation into the differences of consumer behavior at baseball games in the Nippon Professional Baseball League and Major League Baseball through the distribution of mass surveys and a critical study of professional literature on the subject
• An in-depth analysis of several international soccer teams’ public relations departments. Through in-depth interviews and evaluation of overall departmental objectives and behavior, the student will compare each case to a ‘best-practice’ background, learning about global trends in the industry and the most effective means to carry out public relations for a professional team on the global stage.

Up to this point, my experience with the Master’s Project has been challenging, demanding and educational. I can’t offer my full perspective on the subject, as I am still in the midst of completing my work. Somehow, though, I still manage my treks to library with a smile on my face, with each step bringing me closer to completing a major assignment not to mention a multi-year project; a Masters degree.

Two Hats, One Experience

2009-03-10T16:46:00.000-07:00

Recently, I was fortunate enough to attend a lecture by Irwin Cotler, a member of Canadian parliament and former Canadian Minister of Justice. A gifted orator and bright mind, Mr. Cotler spoke for a little over an hour and exposed some of the contemporary issues confronting global human rights.

I’m confident that each member of the sold-out crowd in attendance were able to grasp something unique and personal from the lecture. Personally, the most important lesson I drew from the event was a point that Mr. Cotler made during the question and answer period. Someone asked about effective methods to prepare for an academic debate or discussion.

Mr. Cotler replied with a cute anecdote. He explained that during his tenure as a Law professor at McGill University, he would often tell his students to prepare for a mock trial. Right before the opening statements, he would stop the students and inform them that the case would continue as normal, except that they would be switching sides. For example, the students who had prepared their case as the prosecutors would now be presenting as the defense and vice-versa. Professor Cotler continued this exercise for years until one student fainted upon hearing of this sudden switch.

The simple lesson behind the law student’s role-reversal is that one should always have a full understanding of both sides of an issue before engaging it. It’s a simple, yet important and practical lesson that can be applied to all facets of an individual’s life.

As a sport management graduate student and sports industry professional, I was able to find a way to apply Irwin Cotler’s lesson to my experiences in Bay Area sports. For 19 months, I worked with the Oakland Raiders Internet and Media Relations Departments. During that tenure, I interacted with members of the media on a daily basis as a representative of the organization. Whether it was during press conferences at the team’s facility, open locker rooms following practice or drafting press releases, I learned how to interact with the media from the organization’s side. On game days, I had grown accustomed to meeting the media’s every needs and ensuring their game day experience was as positive as possible, lending a helping hand whenever needed.

Currently, I am helping out KGO (810am) radio covering the San Jose Sharks. I attend Sharks home games at HP Pavilion and interview players following the game, sending the audio bytes and a general summary script to the station. The audio clips and textual information go live on the air during the next morning’s broadcast.

Aside from an incredible opportunity and childhood dream job, this new opportunity places me on the other end of the media spectrum. I used to make a concerted effort to take care of the media, but suddenly find myself as one of them; picking up (instead of copying) game previews, statistics and up-to-the-minute news before heading up to the press box.

I was inspired by Mr. Cotler’s lecture to make the most of my new opportunity. Just as he spoke about learning as much as possible from an opposing position, I will look to take advantage of the next few months as a member of the media. Hopefully, throughout this experience, I will always keep Mr. Cotler’s interesting lesson in my mind and absorb as much as possible from my professional surroundings.

An Inspiring Story...

2009-02-22T11:05:00.000-08:00

Kim Stiefer Yngland was born on September 27, 1985 on a snowy morning in Oslo, Norway. He enjoyed a comfortable and healthy upbringing, chiefly centered around academics, sports and Norwegian folklore. Naturally, he excelled on the ski slopes but his heart always lay on the soccer field. Dreams and ambitions of walking on the pitch at Wembley Stadium, donning a number seven kit for the Luxembourg national squad (his mother is born in Luxembourg entitling him to potential citizenship) eternally lingered in his mind. It was his goal.

In an attempt to improve his less-than-adequate English speaking abilities, Kim set sail for the blue seas of America. In San Francisco, he pursued a Masters degree in Financial Analysis and graduated with honors at the top of his class. Any objective Kim set to his mind, he was able to achieve.

Naturally, our Norwegian friend grew comfortable with his San Francisco lifestyle, inhaling culture (and prawn burritos) at every possibility, never wasting a moment indoors. The weather in California is drastically warmer than his native land. A desirable climate coupled with a solid group of friends comfortably placed Kim in an environment he could easily call home.

Something changed.

That deep and burning desire to pursue what he called, “Iglesia Maradoniana” took control of his mind and body. Almost instantaneously, he understood that a return home was imminent and in a moment of pure decisiveness and confidence, Kim purchased a one way ticket to Oslo, packed his bags and said farewell to a life he dreamed of for so long.

“It was never a choice really,” Kim explained through a translator. “I had to go home and pursue my dream. When one looks back on their life, the worst feeling is to say you never went for it. So, I am.”

Upon arrival to Norway, Kim instantaneously signed with “HUK FK,” a third division, quarter-professional soccer club. If the team plays well enough, they could see promotion to the second division, opening up Yngland’s opportunities to be scouted by the Luxembourg nationals. He is off to Croatia for a team training session at the end of March and will start club play shortly after.

Warm memories of Ocean Beach and Divisadero Street have been replaced with cold mornings on Norwegian public transportation systems. Still, Kim is proud of his decision.

“I woke up one morning and realized that it’s never too late,” Yngland said in a stern tone. “We each control our actions, every single day. Once I learned that I was the only one stopping myself from achieving this life long dream, I decided to change it. My favorite American President was Teddy Roosevelt, an incredible, active individual and a natural leader. He once said, ‘Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.’ That spoke to me. Finally, I decided to pack up my life to pursue my dream. After all, you only live once.”

Kim’s dedication and determination inspired me. It helped me realize that an individual’s potential is infinite; anything can be accomplished with the appropriate attitude. Sadly, society creates a lot of obstacles that often blind us from recognizing this. Every now and then, it is important to stand back, open your eyes and realize how much can be done in a single day, month, year, life.

On the surface it seems ridiculous – a 23 year-old with the world at his fingertips abandons years of study (and the opportunity to live in San Francisco) to eventually play soccer for a country that he is not yet a citizen of.

Sure, it’s strange and a bit weird. But – it’s Kim’s dream. And - he is pursuing it. These two facts alone place Kim with an elite group of individuals who truly maximize their experience of being alive.

Theodore Roosevelt, wherever he is in heaven, must be smiling.

Separate Ways (World's Apart)

2009-01-31T15:38:00.001-08:00

In a drastic shift of scenery, culture and etiquette I now find myself in a complete different world of professional sports than I was in only weeks ago. Perhaps it was the immediate transition from one continent to another, one industry to the next that exposed so many differences and has revealed so many answers. Throughout the past three weeks, one conclusion has made itself unquestionably clear; working at the NFL Media Center in Tampa, Florida is about as far away as one can get from Seoul, Korea.

The Land of the Morning Calm is a quiet and majestic place, filled with beauty and shades of mystery. Understandably, part of its mystery lays in my inability to comprehend the language. Still, the professional etiquettes of Korean professionals are particularly polite and rooted in kindness and respect. One bows throughout salutations and exchanges business cards immediately when meeting a new co-worker or prospective client. Most importantly, Koreans will ensure that they act in a respectable manner, fearing an unintentional insult above all else. All conversations are mostly tranquil, divided by an equal set of give and take.

Then there is the Super Bowl, “Americas Game,” which is an entertainment anomaly in itself. Luckily, this is my second Super Bowl. As a result, I am not as star struck as I was last year, but I think working this game immediately after time in Asia has made a strong impact and has taught me a lot.

Here, we see the openness of the American sporting industry. Strolling through Radio Row, one can overhear a wide assortment of howls, laughter and screams. People are hugging each other, texting while talking and dressed to the nines. The NFL Network has televisions scattered all across the Tampa Convention Center providing coverage of every second of Super Bowl madness. Players are paraded in front of the media, asked questions for hours and followed like paparazzi.

A little bit different than Samsung Thunder’s “Free Hug” program that takes place after every home game, eh? It is truly overwhelming to see the blatant differences in sports through such a small time frame and large scale. The aspect I find most interesting about these differences is that each culture (and media culture for that matter), exists to naturally. In Seoul, the nature of a sporting event takes place in accordance with the country’s unique culture. Naturally, it is the same for Americans and the way they consume, celebrate and live with sports. Neither is better or worse, it is simply sporting cultural relativism.

As a disclaimer, I will acknowledge that this is not a truly fair comparison as the Super Bowl is a once-a-year extravaganza and this country’s highest touted event. On the flip side, it helps to observe and analyze extreme scenarios, as they can often expose differences the greatest.

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed pondering the subject of cultural differences in sports, most of which have been influenced by our trip to Korea. As a result, I will seek to explore some of these questions and themes in my Masters Project, hopefully learning a lot about the world of sports along the way.

Gamsa Hamnida...Hungu!

2009-01-18T04:39:00.000-08:00

Right now, it is Sunday night and our trip is sadly very close to coming to an end. We have just returned on a long bus ride from the Paeju English village where we played sports with Korean kids, ate dinner with Korean interns looking to practice English and watched a local B-Boy dance performance. The bus ride home provided an ideal opportunity for introspection and reflection of the previous experiences in Seoul…some of which I am happy to share with you.

I am not sure how effective it would be to write about every place we have visited over the course of our adventures in Korea, as our trip itinerary serves that helpful purpose. Nonetheless, for those curious, the following list has most of what we have done this trip. With every organization we have visited, we were greeted with the utmost respect and admiration, always by an extremely important and active representative of the organization who gave us a lovely gift and treated us to a scrumptious and high quality Korean meal.

Here we go….SK Wyverns baseball team, FC Seoul, 2002 World Cup Stadium, Samsung Training Facility, Samsung Thunders game, Samsung Hi-Clear Badminton team, NEST, 1988 Olympic Museum, Chosun Ilbo Newspaper (biggest in Korea), IB Sport Marketing, Blue House Tour (Korean version of America’s White House and Canada’s 24 Sussex Drive), Peter Kim, CG Media – VP Program Sales and the staff and students of the Physical Education Faculty at Kyung Hee University. Tomorrow, we have our final meeting with Puma Korea before heading to the airport. My jacket is filled with business cards from people at all these places who are very enthusiastic and supportive of our studies and eagerly encourage us (all USF SM students) to reach out and find a way to work with them in Korea.

On top of all of this has been the rapid pulse of a booming city. With free time, both collectively and individually, we found ways to connect to Seoul. Whether it was through the interesting bathing at a Jimjilbang, tasty sips of Soju with Korean students or touring local museums, we will all have left this city with a much greater understanding for the Korean people and first-hand experience with their generosity and pride.

Of course, as with anything in life, there will be more emotions that will flow from this trip once it is over. I already know I will soon talk about Jason, a student who has joined us for every leg of the trip. This week has been part of his internship for a Korean Sport Marketing firm and he has been doing a great job. Relatable as an aspiring sport management professional and appreciated for his everlasting help in explanations and translations, he has infused the trip with incredible character.

Lastly, on behalf of all the students from this class, I would like to thank Dr. Choi. All of our lectures have been interesting and thought provoking. The networks extended to us, not even to mention all of the local experiences, could never, ever have been achieved otherwise. We all know how much effort he has poured in to this and are extremely grateful.

I look forward to updating this blog with some after thoughts of the trip. Right now, for our last evening, I am about to join some friends in the lobby and visit the famous Noryangjin Market which is a 24-hour Fish Market…a bit late for raw fish but one last attempt to make the most of such unique surroundings.

Thanks for reading. For any questions about our trip to Korea or the USF Sport Management Program email me at ccsterling@usfca.edu.

Anyang Haseo...Ham-Samneda

2009-01-14T04:18:00.000-08:00

A wise friend of mine once told me that he loved the first 48 hours of traveling the most. The rationale behind this bold statement was the pure love of being in a totally foreign environment and living by perception and intuition alone.

I had kept this philosophy near my heart before embarking on this great journey with my fellow classmates. After 24 hours of what feels like the longest day I’ve ever roamed, I am filled with smiles, a deep respect for the country I visit and still vast curiosity.

Our day started early, before the rise of Seoul’s sun. Living in San Francisco, I forgot all about darkness, gloom and cold weather. It didn’t take long to remember what it is like and to be partially honest, (despite my devout pride in being Canadian) I’m sort of excited to forget.

Our group boarded the bus with visible breath at 8:00am and headed to SK Wyverns stadium in Inchon, a suburb of the capital. The bus was filled with an inquisitive aura. We had landed late the night before and had seen very little of Korea and had few interactions with it's people. Suddenly, we were on a bus headed to meet and great the front office staff of the 2007 and 2008 KBO Champions. No one knew what to expect, yet after the visit, no one was disappointed.

At first, we were given a tour of the stadium by the team’s equipment manager, which included photo sessions on the field and a 1993 Joe Carter-esque running of the bases by yours truly (*note – all Torontonian boys born after 1987 will do this if presented the opportunity). They had explained some of the stadium’s planned renovations, which were very creative and interesting. After toying around the team’s gym and batting cages we were escorted to a conference for they day’s first lecture on the professional sporting industry.

It was incredibly well prepared, intriguing and interesting. The presenter had outlined SK Wyverns progression since their inception in 2000, outlining different marketing decisions they made and the corresponding results. All of this information was presented in the background of the nature of Korean professional sports, which is extremely different than those in North America. Understanding the blueprint motivations for creating professional teams in Korea as well as learning the ownership structure of these teams served as a great stepping stone to understanding this foreign culture and industry.

After the informative lecture and helpful Q and A session, the staff of SK Wyverns treated us to a delicious traditional Korean meal. Kimchi, Bulgogi and Bimbimbap, oh my! It was so delicious and served as a great opportunity to digest the information we just learned through casual conversation and culinary experimentation.

A great start to what will be an incredible trip. I have to stop now, as the Seoul nightlife is calling my name but I do look forward to sharing new experiences as the trip goes on.

All the best from Seoul. Wish the rest of Cohort 27 was here to explore.

Excitement, Anticipation and Curiosity

2009-01-12T01:51:00.000-08:00

At the end of our Sport Marketing class, Professor Andrew Choi was delivering his final speech before distributing the course evaluation forms. While bidding his final farewell to the students, Dr. Choi openly asked our class how many students would be interested in potentially taking an international sport immersion class abroad. Around half of the class’s hands were in the air - some instantaneously and others gradually, but all in all, the unified group of raised arms signalled the first breath of life into a special endeavour.

Since that moment, Dr. Choi has poured in an incredible amount of effort into making our upcoming Global Sport Management Immersion Week a reality. There will be 11 of us taking off for Seoul, South Korea tomorrow (eight students from the San Francisco campus and three from Southern California) on what should be an educational and empirical adventure of a lifetime. Dr. Choi has worked relentlessly in creating the most beneficial itinerary for our class, one that blends our understanding of a foreign sporting industry with a new and exciting culture.

The aims of the course are laid out in the syllabus, which offer some insight into the objectives of the class. ..

Korea is one of only a handful of countries in the world which has hosted both the FIFA World Cup (2002) and the Summer Olympics (1988) – two of the largest sporting events in the world. Considering the small size and population base of the nation, the Korean sport industry has seen remarkable growth and success in modern history, generating top-10 performances in recent Olympics, massive followings in professional leagues, and elite status in grassroots programs in such sports as golf, baseball, and taekwondo.

This course aims to provide a sport-cultural immersion program in Korea to learn about the global perspectives in sport management. Topics include, but not be restricted to, international sporting events, state-of-the art sport venues, sport business practices, sport policies, sport media and broadcasting rights, sport management education, and student athletes in Korea. In addition, the course will provide ample opportunities to learn about the social, cultural, and historical aspects of Korea.

As a student, I couldn’t be more excited for a course and I know my peers share the exact same sentiment – otherwise they wouldn’t be doing it! The tasty foods, the historic sights and the interaction with local Koreans are all such exciting prospects. Not to mention a totally different and important perspective of the global sports scene. I’m confident we will all grow individually and collectively from this once-in-a-lifetime expedition.

Our flight leaves in less than 12 hours which means the anticipation continues to mount appropriately. Based on a promise made to all my friends in Cohort 27 who sadly can’t join us for this class, I’ve pledged to keep everyone up to date and informed by updating this blog on a consistent basis. I hope everyone has as much fun reading it as I will have writing it!

Lastly, although I look forward to thanking him in person tomorrow at Inchon airport, I want to express my gratitude to Dr. Choi for giving us the chance to participate in such an incredible opportunity. All of the students are so appreciative of his efforts. He’s worked furiously to make this happen and we all are extremely grateful and look forward to enjoying and learning about his country’s special culture.

Cohort 27 Accomplishments

2009-01-09T15:06:00.001-08:00

It took me a while to come up with my first entry for 2009. Originally, I had thought to string together a “Best of…” compilation to sum up the year in sports, but decided against it acknowledging there are so many other media sources that can provide more insightful coverage. At a brief loss for content and ideas, I confided in a dear friend, Raiders co-worker and USF Sport Management graduate in Will Kiss who provided sage advice.

The challenges of looking back on an entire year in hindsight and introspectively digesting are extremely difficult. Despite the rapid speed that time fleets at, 365 days fits quite nicely as a period of time to evaluate all one has strived for, accomplished and experienced.

For some reason, whenever I think about any personal achievements made since moving to the Bay Area, it all comes back to the orientation dinner in July, 2007. There are 35 strangers sitting in a room. They have no experience in an industry they so passionately love. They’re all willing to do anything to get in and ultimately love their jobs and careers.

It is incredible to see the progress we have made as a cohort one year and a half after starting the program. If I would have presented the following list of positions in the Bay Area sporting industry to our class at orientation, I don’t believe anyone would think it is possible. Well, it’s all true. Impossible is nothing.

The following is a partial list of positions held by students in Cohort 27 throughout the year of 2008. Many students have done additional internships at organizations not listed here. With such great progress in only one year, it seems as if the sky is the limit for 2009 and beyond.

As you will see the variety of organizations and positions our class is involved with spreads across all facets of professional, collegiate and other areas of the sporting industry. With the exception of very few, all of these positions were attained after starting the Sport Management Program.

(*Because I have not had the full disclosure of my classmates, no names are attached to the positions. If anyone wants their name attached to their title, kindly e-mail me and I would be happy to put it up)

Cohort 27, 2008

Organization: San Francisco Giants
Position: Baseball Operations Intern

Organization: 2008 US Open, USGA
Position: Championship Office Intern

Organization: Dunkshoot Magazine (Japan)
Position: International Basketball Scout

Organization: Mavericks Surf Ventures, Inc.
Position: Environmental Manager

Organization: Giants Enterprises
Position: Sales Coordinator

Organization: Stanford University
Position: Marketing Associate

Organization: Cal Athletics
Position: Assistant Director of ticket sales, Marketing

Organization: 42nd International Children’s Games
Position: Liaison to Honk Kong, China delegation

Organization: San Jose Earthquakes
Position: Corporate Accounts Manager

Organization: Comcast Spotlight
Position: Sports Sales

Organization: Roller Soccer World Cup 2008
Position: President of Organizing Committee

Organization: San Francisco 49ers
Position: Football Operations Intern

Organization: Decathlon Health Club
Position: Assistant Athletic Director

Organization: Emerald Bowl
Position: Media Services Coordinator

Organization: NFLPA
Position: Salary Cap/Arbitration Intern

...My City By The Bay

2008-12-05T11:23:00.000-08:00

In some sense, I feel guilty about it. Having written for weeks now and not paid the city of San Francisco due diligence is a sin. After all, it is the city that serves as the blueprint and the foundation for all of our experiences. To say that we, as students and citizens of the world are lucky to live in San Francisco is a complete understatement. It is a blessing and a gift, one that we are each proud of and seek to maximize on a daily basis.

It is a daunting task; don’t think it isn’t for a moment. What could one writer possible say about “The City By The Bay” that hasn’t been said or sung? There is obviously something majestic about a place that attracts the likes of Frank Sinatra, Jack Kerouac and Mark Twain. Instead of playing into typical clichés of “The City”, I choose to offer an individual perspective about what makes San Francisco such an incredible city to live in and an ideal backdrop to study and grow from.

When I moved to San Francisco in July 2007 (the start of Cohort 27), I was a tender 22-year-old Canadian who didn’t know a soul in the city. Soon after exploring the vast variety of museums, beaches and parks of ‘Frisco, I discovered that I was not alone in being alone. One of the most unique aspects of this city’s population which peaks just over 700,000 is that most of the people inhabiting its shores are young and were actually born in a different city or country.

Currently, I live with three individuals whom I did not know before moving here. One is from North Carolina, another from North Dakota and the other Germany. My friends who live close by share a flat made up of a Southern Californian, an Alaskan and a Norwegian. These are only two households of a city filled with twenty-something young adults.

Sounds unique? Welcome to life in San Francisco; a hotbed of youth, diversity and excitement. Part of what makes the community of San Francisco so tight knit and friendly is the city’s infrastructure. As opposed to a traditional American city’s layout (from my personal experiences) of long stretches of highway divided by strips of plazas (necessitating a personal automobile), San Francisco is crammed tightly together and driven by public transportation. With every street in the city filled to the max with houses, apartments and flats, the masses almost have no choice but to live in harmony.

Additionally, the resources for culture and healthy living in this city are abundant and easy to take advantage of. There are new museums and academic centers popping up around the city constantly. A good example of this is the new California Academy of Science (http://www.calacademy.org/) which serves as the typical San Franciscan establishment – environmentally friendly, innovative and educational. (A list of the city’s museums can be found here:

http://sanfrancisco.about.com/od/museums/tp/museumsinsanfrancisco.htm

Lastly, I would like to address perhaps my favourite aspect of San Francisco – the weather. Perhaps it is my cold Ontarian roots that relish in nice weather all year long (yes, I was utterly fascinated by fog when moving here) but not having to wear a toque, gloves or jacket all year long do make a difference. There are sports leagues that play soccer, basketball and football outdoors 12 months a year! Nice weather, coupled with a city filled with bike lanes and jogging trails also means that healthy activities are carried out and socially encouraged. A small city (as previously mentioned) promotes walking to destinations that are easily attainable. It has it all.

Briefly, I have charted some of my favourite reasons for living in the city of San Francisco. Please notice I did not mention anything about Alcatraz, Cable Cars or two spectacular bridges. Don’t worry, these classic landmarks aren’t going anywhere. I was just trying to portray the aspects of San Francisco that one can fall in love with as a resident, not a visitor. I hope I have been able to offer some unique insights of San Francisco. The city and everything I love about it, made it quite easy to write.

If you have any questions/comments about San Francisco or the USF Sport Management Master’s Program, feel free to write me at

cssterling@usfca.edu

P. S - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4QkTvK2OEw

Volunteer Opportunities : This is Your Life

2008-11-18T17:10:00.000-08:00

Nothing good comes easy.

This fundamental life-lesson that is especially prevalent in the world of Sport Management. For those who enter the industry without any connections and are forced to fend for themselves, there are two magical words that will become forever etched into their memories: volunteer opportunities.

The Bay Area is plentiful with chances to gain professional exposure. Between the five professional sports teams in the area, handful of NCAA athletic programs and traveling tournaments that find their way to this geographic region, one can be certain that if they want to get involved they can.

Volunteering opportunities are essentially like tryouts for a sports team. You’re never certain how many positions are available (if any, which is the majority of the case) and you never know too much about the talent you are going to be working with. Ultimately, one recognizes that the impression they leave from their one day of volunteering can serve (in a good or bad way, pending performance) as a reflection of a person’s personality, work ethic and attitude.

Bearing all of this in mind, I would like to share a story about my first experience with a volunteer opportunity....

It was a cold and foggy San Francisco morning and I awoke with much anticipation. I was about to meet up with a few of my classmates and volunteer for the San Francisco Giants Jr. Giants Annual Golf Tournament. Having started the USF Sport Management Program one week earlier, I was finally provided the chance to prove my worth.

It was a lot of fun as Giants baseball players, both former and current checked in to the course. Along with the ball players, there were a variety of Bay Area sports legends participating in the event that raised money for the Jr. Giants foundation.

My first job, working with my lovely classmate Nancy Pike, was to distribute bubble gum to all the participants before they teed off at our hole. Although the job sounds mundane, it was quite fun because you get to meet and greet each athlete and Giants executive staff as they approach your hole (this is where the whole audition aspect comes in to play).

Being a Canadian and new to the Bay Area sports heroes, I recognized only a handful of the athletes. One who stood out was Jim Plunkett, the Raiders quarterback who won two trophies and was named Super Bowl MVP. I handed him his gum in a courteous fashion and briefly introduced myself.

As the afternoon moved a long, so did our responsibilities and I was soon moved to a hole where I was distribute special pins. It was the same drill as before. After one group had hit their balls, the next approached and it happened to be Plunkett’s group. I handed all of the players their pins and politely asked how they were all doing. Soon after, “Plunk” made a remark to the group how I was moving up in the world as I had gone from giving out gum to pins. Of course, this mildly sarcastic comment was met with a burst of laughter and rosy cheeks on my behalf. The group played on and the afternoon quickly came to a close.

Upon reflection, I thought more and more about Plunkett’s comment and feel that it fits a much bigger picture about working volunteer opportunities. On the surface, distributing either bubble gum or a pin is not ideal, but if taken with the right attitude and direction, it can bear unlimited fruit.

I sometimes work with Jim Plunkett in the Raiders broadcasting department. Of course, he still has no absolutely no idea who I am. But, the exchange we shared, aside from teaching me a lesson, motivates me immensely to do accomplish something absolutely incredible and then find Jim Plunkett and make some witty remark about a moment he could never remember. Such are the motivations of life.

London Calling

2008-10-31T16:32:00.000-07:00

Last Tuesday I was fortunate enough to head overseas to London and help the NFL UK with the second annual International Series which was played at Wembley Stadium. For this week’s blog, I am going to share some of my insights and experiences from the trip.

The entire situation was unique and not like anything I’ve been exposed to before. Think about it – you’re working a sporting event for a league that doesn’t have a team in the entire continent. As a result, I feel that the enthusiasm and anticipation for the game inspired all those involved with the event to work harder and ensure their jobs were done to exceed normal standards.

Working with the Brits and other Europeans was a real blast and probably my favourite part of the whole week. After the Saints first media day (located at Arsenal FC’s Training Facility), I followed a co-worker back to the NFL UK office where he asked me to write an article for www.nfluk.com and this is the result : http://www.nfluk.com/news/culturalmix_231008.html

What’s really interesting of the whole experience was working in the organizations headquarters. Essentially, it is all one large open room where one can hear the noises and conversations of those around them. In an epiphinous moment, I suddenly found myself on the set of BBC’s “The Office” (before the American one)! I was working beside all of these Brits with lovely accents and was entirely lost for a moment before I remembered where I was and what I was doing.

During my brief tenure working for the NFL UK, I enjoyed a plethora of unique jobs and responsibilities. Without doubt, my favourite moment was interviewing some of the Saints players for NFL UK TV. Here is the interview:

http://www.nfluk.com/video/1?id=48

It was a bit challenging because I had no idea who I was interviewing before I spoke to the guys and, working for the Raiders, know little about players from the Saints! The inspiration for the questions regarding the terms, “pear shaped” and “bangers n mash” came from a jolly British cameraman who I conversed with for about 20 minutes and did not understand one word! I asked him to clarify what they meant and had a real laugh when he explained it (once again, barely comprehending his words) figuring the NFL players might enjoy it too.

The game itself was absolute ‘quality’ as the Brits would say. It was an entertaining game set in the perfect backdrop of Wembley Stadium and the British masses who were eager to feast on any regular season action they could get their hands on. An experience not soon to be forgotten!

As always, if anyone has any questions about the USF Sport Management Master’s Program, feel free to email me at cssterling@usfca.edu. Thanks for reading!

A Night To Remember

2008-10-02T13:01:00.000-07:00

Hello Sport Management world! My name is Cory Sterling and I will be contributing a personal blog for the University of San Francisco Sport Management Masters Program website. I joined Cohort 27 in July of 2007, making my tenure in the program just over a year long. It’s scary to think about, but time has breezed by so quickly.

I feel it would be fitting to start my first blog by recalling my first experience with the program, our orientation dinner. It was a special evening that remains vivid in my mind and secured in my memories.

How exciting it all was, entering a room full of people I would be spending the next two years with and not knowing a soul. There is something so unique about the innocence of initial introductions!

At the time, it seemed like we were a group of 30 strangers dressed “business casual”, making small talk over tender chicken breast. It didn’t take long for the ice to be broken and avenues for new friendships and professional connections to open up. I’ve been very lucky to meet and work with some fantastic people who I never would have known otherwise.

In hindsight, what amazes me most about my reflections of orientation dinner is the progression each individual in our cohort has made since that foggy July evening. If there was a map of the professional sporting industry (as massive and diverse it would be), our cohort has placed a flag on every corner of it.

Each individual has found a way to contribute to their niche in the sport management world, wherever that may be. The opportunities to get involved in the Bay Area are infinite and the results are promising.

Through all of our collective accomplishments, one theme unites us all: the USF Sport Management Program. All that we’ve done in the past 13 months and all that we will do in the future derive from our original starting point; the friendly small talk and that tender chicken breast.

Life as a Sport Management student is curious, challenging, intriguing and fun. It takes one through new experiences and scenarios never dreamed possible. It questions character and justly rewards effort and dedication. Most importantly, it is the only thing I would ever want to do.

Feel free to email me at cssterling@usfca.edu with any questions and concerns.

Vivindo La Vida Con Passion

2008-10-02T12:01:00.000-07:00

Ever since it’s creation in 1787, the personal alarm clock has controlled the lives of those who program it. Although its style, form and tones have adapted to modern society, its primary purpose – omitting audio wavelengths loud enough to awake a human from sleep - still remain the same.

Through a societal lens, the alarm clock finds itself in the unfortunate category of a despised necessity. As much as it is needed for the school and workforce to function, it is loathed because of its cognitive association with the end of sleep and start of a day filled with duties. In a recent survey, 81 percent of people polled answered that their favourite thing about their alarm clock was, “The Off Button.”

And then there are Sport Management Students.

Without question, one of the greatest benefits of being a Sport Management Graduate student and working in the professional sports industry is that it is so easy to love your job or studies. The root behind this simple equation lays in one critical factor: passion.

Most people who want to work in ‘sports’ do so because they’ve made the wise decision that they want to enjoy their career. In the American workforce, so much time (typically over 50+ hours) is spent at work that it is only logical to amalgamate one’s personal passions with occupation.

Close your eyes and keep them closed. Now, imagine…if WORK could be…fun?! That didn’t hurt too much did it?

The good news is that a personal career and work can be very enjoyable if it revolves around something an individual is passionate about. For those of us who really love sports, it is both logical and possible to enjoy work every single day.

To prove this point, I’ve put together a collection of quotes heard outside the capable and beautiful young professional students of Cohort 27’s classroom….

“Hey, I’ve got to work this weekend. The MLS Championship Game is in Washington, so I have to head out there tomorrow.”

“Girls, have you booked the hotel in Phoenix yet? I am sooo excited to work the Super Bowl on Sunday…”

“Dude, I won’t be able to meet up with you in the city tonight. The Dodgers are in town, and I have to work the game from behind home plate.”

“Come over this weekend for a going away celebration. I just found out I got the internship for the NFLPA and I’ll be moving to D.C for three months.”

“I was working the NCAA tournament in Southern California last weekend and got to watch the teams practice and sit courtside for the game.”

Holding nothing against used-car salesman, I am not confident we would hear the same sound bytes coming from outside their office.

The purpose of this exercise was simply to disprove the feared societal perception that “work” has to be mundane, draining and uninteresting. Conversely, studying a stimulating subject or working in a field that one is passionate about can easily lead to a career that is enjoyable and fun.

As Sport Management Master’s students, we’ve successfully shattered the contemporary myth that school and a career have to be a painful, drudging experience. Each time we step onto the field, into they gym or sit in the press box, we get that fortunate feeling of being passionate about our work and enjoying it too.

Consequently, those who study and work in professional sports represent that unique 19 percent of society who agreed that, “starting the work day” was their favourite thing about their alarm clock.