Legal But Still To Young

Recently the topic of age has resurfaced in the NBA world. Commissioner Adam Silver has voiced his opinion multiple times about the current age minimum for young men to enter the draft. Currently the age requirement is 19. I have never felt like this was an appropriate age and agree strongly with the commissioner to change it. He believes the new age should be 20. This idea has been on the table for a long time, however the NBA has had a hard time making a final decision.

A recent article by CBS Sports stated "If the age limit actually weeds out the players who don't really belong in the NBA and you avoid situations like Leon Smith back in the late 90's, then it does help create a better product of player for the NBA to market and employ. However, it's not that simple and many people believe it's unethical to limit the possibility of the work force based simply on the age of the person."

Changing the age could possibly make the draft less appealing to players who do not truly want to play. One topic that is not being emphasized is the education of these young men. It would be a good idea to project the impact of furthering education before being drafted to ensure players have a plan to fall back on once their time for playing basketball is over. A more positive outlook projection would make it easier to put this idea into action.

Check out this article by CBS Sports to see what else was discussed Age Limit for Draft Eligibility  

Can They Do It?

The start of the season has been far from easy for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Many fans we excited to hear that their beloved player, Lebron James, was returning back to Cleveland. Unfortunately they have not exactly lived up to their expectations. With a current record of 9-7, they have managed to slowly but surely push through the season. One could say many were depending on Lebron James to lead them to an undefeated season. It is quite obvious that things are different. Although there is good chemistry with the team, it still has not had the outcome that many wanted to see. However, there is still time to turn things around. They could potentially switch things up and improve their record and image as a good team.

It is very difficult to paint a pretty picture for the fans in terms of articles, tv and other forms of media. One must be very wise when choosing verbiage that will not deter the current fan base. There are still faithful fans who have not lost hope, but there are also others searching for a reason as to why they should remain optimistic. Media is one of the primary was to control the fan base. That is why, when working in PR for a team performing poorly, one must be clever with the different things that are put in the atmosphere.

Student Clubs to Careers

Over the course of this class, I have had the opportunity to complete volunteer hours with a great organization. I chose to volunteer with the Sport Marketing Association at Queens University. When most students go to athletic events, they have a good time but never think much of it after the fact. By working with SMA I was able to plan and coordinate ways for the game to run smoothly and make it the best experience for the students. I was able to be hands on with decision making about promotional activities and items, game scripts, as well as event planning. This organization works very closely with the athletes, students, and athletic departments.

Working with SMA taught me many valuable lessons that I will continue to use. No matter how much planning is done prior to an event, there will always be something unexpected that arises. This organization taught ways to plan and handle unexpected changes during athletic events. It also taught me how to step away from my own thoughts and opinions and consider what the people truly want. To be truly successful in reaching a target audience it is important to incorporate what they consider important and valuable. Lastly it taught me get people's attention by way of creative writing on flyers, emails, and other ways of communication.

Hands Up Don't Shoot

When most people see athletes, they do not  take into account their potential views on society. All they care about is how they will perform on the field. Recently there has been a great deal of turmoil within Ferguson, Missouri. In lieu of Officer Wilson being acquitted for the shooting of Michael Brown, players on the St. Louis Rams felt they should show their opposition.

Jared Cook, Tavon Austin, Kenny Britt, Steadman Bailey, and Chris Givens all stood together with their hands up, imitating the "hands up, don't shoot" pose. It is nice to see athletes supporting different movements taking place in the world. However, there may be some backlash for their actions. They did not inform the coach or anyone else of their intentions prior to the game. This can impact the organization negatively and may even cause possible consequences for the players. As a professional athlete, although they are citizens too, it is not widely accepted when they give their input on issues of the world. The Rams organization will most likely have to issue a statement to explain the players actions as well as what may take place in the future.

'Hands up don't shoot'