Internship Opportunity: Sports Tourism in Henrico County, Va.

This position is for a summer 2014 internship and is for academic credit for a graduate level student in Sports Leadership or Sports Management or a college level student rising junior or senior pursuing a degree in field relevant to internship: GPA 3.0 or better. Hiring selection and level is dependent on the qualification of the successful applicant and the needs of the County for this position.

This internship position will be assigned to the Sports Tourism section of the Henrico County Division of Recreation & Parks. Students will need to have:
- Considerable knowledge of social media, especially Twitter
- Marketing and media relations with a focus on sports
- Ability to assist in the planning and execution of special events and projects
- Ability to attend local and regional sports tournaments and tourism events that would require nights and weekend work
- Knowledge of summer outdoor sports like baseball, soccer and lacrosse
- Good verbal communication skills

Intern may help with:
- Communication efforts using social media such as Twitter.
- Research additional forms of electronic marketing for the Division to utilize
- Assist with taking photographs at Division sporting events and programs
- Coordination of sports summer leagues
- Assist with preparation of tournaments hosted in the County
- Work with Park Services in tournament preparation

Please click here for more details.

"Showtime: Turn Playing Surfaces into 3-D Video Boards"

From Athletic Business and Quince Imaging

Analysis by Jessalyn Stone in KIN 501

Quince Imaging is a company that provided a 3D video board display show for the Cleveland Cavaliers. The pregame show they designed for Cleveland was honoring the jersey retirement of Zyndrunas Ilguaskas. To create this “science of display” anywhere from 8-12 projectors are placed throughout the arena and used to project the video. Approximately 60 days before the final product is displayed the arena must be mapped out to figure out the location of the projectors and meet with the media department. A 3D CAD model of the court is built and used to create the video. The content of the video then lined up and rendered to create the final project. A few days before the presentation the projectors are installed and tested. Come show time literally the play button is pressed and all of the work is complete. This kind of technology can be used on basketball courts, ice, grass, turf and even on city buildings. The cost for these applications is based on the image area and ambient conditions.

From a marketing standpoint this kind of technology is the “up and coming” and the “new age” video displays. Having a team or University use this kind of projection for a video is still a new thing that not many places have been able to utilize and enjoy. If the team was given the opportunity to have a project like this displayed that can be used as a huge marketing ploy to their advantage. Because this is something so new and top of the line when it occurs it needs to be capitalized on and used in a manner that “sets the standard” for other teams or programs. Although this kind of program is expensive it is comparable to other special lighting and video projects. As a marketing professional it could even be used in a way that introduces it to your staff in hopes of using it and boosting your team or program. This course teaches us the different aspects of marketing and obviously video boards are just one aspect but it can be a very influential means of advertising. Being aware of new technologies and utilizing this kind of video boards can be very beneficial to a marketing department. In marketing you have to know the market that you are targeting and this kind of video board can be utilized on many different levels within the market. This kind of technology can be used on buildings, for presentations and for sporting events. These videos are relatively new and are created to be very unique to whatever specifically you are marketing and that can be very beneficial to the marketing department.

"DeSean Jackson Cut by Eagles Minutes After Report About Possible Gang Ties Is Published"

From The Wire

Analysis by Connor Cunningham in SRM 334 

For my current event I chose an article on DeSean Jackson and how he was released from the Eagles for possible gang relations. The article was on the website The Wire, and was written by Eric Levenson. The article discusses how the Eagles released DeSean Jackson mere minutes after a newspaper published a story that linked him to Los Angeles gang members. The story reported that Jackson had connection with L.A’s Crips gang. An associate of Jacksons form his rap label Jaccpot records was arrested for a gang related murder. The man was later acquitted of the murder charge, but this was still cause for concern for many. In 2012 there was another gang related murder near a building that one of Jackson’s family members owned. When police searched the place they found old receipts and gun permits of Jacksons. On top of this DeSean Jackson has been seen in several photos with one of the suspects from that murder, and is said to be flashing the Crips gang sign in these photos. This looks bad, although Jackson was never accused of any criminal wrongdoing. Eagles sources told NJ.com that, “a bad attitude, inconsistent work ethic, and missed meetings were the reason for his release”.

From a media/communications standpoint I believe Jackson was released because of gang ties. The Eagles were trying to trade him before the story went out, and once it was released it was the last straw for the Eagles. In 2013 DeSean Jackson hauled in 82 receptions for 1,332 yards and 9 TD’s. DeSean Jackson was 9th in the NFL in receiving yards in 2013. A guy like that doesn’t just get released over an attitude. There would have to be a team that would have traded for him? This may have been the thought a couple years ago but, ever since the murder by Aaron Hernandez many teams have stayed away from players that have character concerns, especially ones with reported gang ties. The media has had a field day with all of the allegations against DeSean Jackson. Many believe he is a bad teammate and what you would call a “cancer” to a locker-room, while others say he’s a guy who has a fiery attitude and is passionate about the game of football. The Eagles did not want to deal with Jackson, or the media attention that was coming with him.

Since his release DeSean Jackson has signed a contract to stay in the NFC East with the Washington Redskins. To relate it to our course, you have to look at the job the Redskins front office, coaches, and public relations department have ahead of them. How will they go about trying to fix the image many have of Jackson? Will they work at this or simply try to have people focus on his productivity on the field? As a Redskins fan my whole life I am ecstatic with the signing, and eager to see how this scenario plays out.

Internship/Part-Time Employee Opportunity: Shenandoah Valley Baseball and Softball Academy

Are you enthusiastic about sports, or sports marketing?

Are you sociable and enjoy working with kids, parents, teams and special events?

Are you steady and trustworthy?

The Shenandoah Valley Baseball and Softball Academy, located on South Main Street in Bridgewater, wants individuals, either interns or part time employees, who love sports and kids.  The Academy provides memberships to its baseball and softball indoor facility, lessons by some of the area's finest coaches, organizing and conducting leagues, and special events like camps, clinics, games, etc.

These individuals will help with some or all of the following duties:

·         Scheduling and greeting players for lessons

·         Being a great communicator to the players, coaches, and parents

·         Taking payments and ensuring accuracy of records

·         Documenting activity at the academy for management information

·         Updating content on Facebook and the website

·         Participate in planning, organizing and conducting the special events or leagues

·         Performing data entry of accounting, or statistics related to the games

·         Having fun and helping all of our customers enjoy a great experience

If you are seriously interested in this opportunity and meet these qualifications, check out our website. 

SVB-SA.com

Then call the Academy or email us for an application.

Phone: 540-828-3591
Email: info@svb-sa.com

Return your application to this email along with your resume, or mail it to:

SVB-SA
205 South Main Street
Bridgewater, VA 22812

We will be in touch if we agree that you are a great candidate.

"Tiger Woods has back surgery"

From ESPN.com

Analysis by John Kim in SRM 334

Throughout the past decade, Tiger Woods has emerged as the face of professional golf and has been considered one of the best players ever to play the game. In his career, Tiger Woods has a total of 79 PGA Tour wins, 14 of them being a major championship (About Tiger). In recent time, Tiger has recovered from the scandal that has happened in 2009. However, on April 1st, he posted on his twitter, “Sad to say I’m missing the Masters,” because of a back problem he has been having for the past few weeks (Harig, 2014). He had surgery on his back Monday and he is now currently going through rehabilitation; he is hoping to return sometime during the summer (Harig, 2014).

I believe that this article on Tiger Woods missing the Masters tournament this year is crucial in a media standpoint. The first name that would pop up on most people’s minds when talking about golf is Tiger Woods. He is the face of golf right now, and there are probably many people that watch the game of golf just to see Tiger Woods in action, especially in a major tournament. This article is also critical in a media standpoint because of the attention Tiger gets worldwide; on the ESPN website, he even has his own column named “Tiger Tracker.” I believe that the media covers Tiger Woods so much because he is probably the only interest to people that do not regularly watch golf. By promoting Tiger Woods and his status, it could spark up interest in golf and get more viewers to watch golf. Tiger Woods is the best advertising tool to attract the general public and now that he is not able to compete in this year’s Masters Tournament, it could possibly impact the ratings on television.

The article about Tiger Woods is relevant to our course in both broadcasting and relating with the audience. I believe that it was relevant to broadcasting because of the impact Tiger Woods brings to the game of golf. As I have stated, many viewers probably watch golf just because of Tiger Woods and when Tiger Woods is not playing, it could impact the viewings of the Masters Tournament, which is aired both on CBS and ESPN (Masters). I believe that it is also relevant to relating with the audience because in order for people to be interested, the article must attract the general public’s eye. If a player that is not as famous were to miss the Masters, it would probably not be as newsworthy as Tiger missing the Masters.

In conclusion, I believe that the media covering Tiger Woods as much as they do is necessary in order for the game of golf to grow in popularity. There will be a limit advertising Tiger Woods, but many people have started watching and even playing golf because of the way that Tiger Woods has played the game. If the media were to cover another player more than Tiger Woods, they would probably not be so successful in advertising and promoting the sport of golf.