This Business Insider video provides insights on why The New York Knicks Are So Expensive ( valued at $3.6 billion) given that they have had a very poor performance on the basketball court in many years. Plus, the video also talks about the different NBA markets, TV deals, and TV market sizes etc.
Category: sports
Shoe Dog
Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of NIKE by Phil Knight was a book on my Book bucket list for 2019.
I wrote then “When I went to college, I wanted to work for one company after graduation and it was Nike. This was one of the reasons why I studied abroad in Amsterdam, The Netherlands which was very close to Hilversum where Nike’s European headquarters was located. At that point, I had planned to either get an internship or a field visit to it’s Hilversum office. Neither happened but Nike has always fascinated me. When I heard about this book, I was overjoyed and wanted to read it ever since. “
I really enjoyed reading Shoe Dog. One of the best memoir’s I’ve read. I loved reading about Phil’s journey of starting Blue Ribbon which later became Nike. There are so many gems inside the book-the high’s/low’s of starting a company, sacrifices made, cultural challenges, among others. I could go on and on about the book but I rather you read it for yourself. Enjoy the read.
The Sixth Man: A Memoir
Just found out that Andre Iguodala, the sixth man of the NBA champions Golden State Warriors has a book “The Sixth Man” coming out on June 25, 2019.
Andre Iguodala is one of my favorite NBA players and I have followed him over the years. I took a keen interest in his tech investments and The Players Technology Summit. Iguodala partnered with Bloomberg on the creation of The Players Technology Summit which convenes top executives and leaders in the technology, venture capital and sports communities to exchange ideas and share expertise in an educational and empowering forum. He was also instrumental in creating the National Basketball Players Association’s first NBPA Technology Summit held in 2016.
I’m really looking forward to reading “The Sixth Man.”
The story I waited 14 years for
After finishing college, I wanted to work for one company: Nike.
Nike always fascinated me. It was a company that was innovative, cool, and easily recognizable. Back then, I frequently checked Nike’s careers page to see if I qualified for any of the jobs out there. I had done research and found that Nike’s European headquarters was located in Hilversum, The Netherlands and visited Hilversum during my study abroad at Amsterdam. I just wanted to get closer to the brand.
In the memoir “Shoe Dog” by the creator of Nike, Phil Knight reveals the back story of how he started the company and where it is now. Learning about how Phil came up with the shoe idea, his world tour, family dynamics, his track coach at Oregon (Bill Bowerman) among other gems is deeply insightful and humbling. I am still reading the book and anxiously waiting to finish it. This is the story that I was waiting for years to read.
Thanks, Phil for writing the memoir.
My next read: Shoe Dog
Believe
Dear AI,
You came and changed the game.
After that, it was never the same.
You were talked about everywhere.
It felt like you just came out of nowhere.
You were an enigma to some but inspiration to many.
You were hated by some but loved by many.
You were a pioneer in so many ways.
Authentic and original no matter what anyone says.
This generation has much to thank you for.
The impact and legacy is what they remember you for.
You are relevant today more than ever.
There will always be so many questions but you are the real Answer.
When Magic Johnson reached The 7th Floor
Magic Johnson talks about the excitement of getting to the 7th floor after cleaning all the floors below that. The 7th floor is where the CEO’s office was. He would spend hours there and pretend he was the CEO. He even acted like he had an assistant and would imitate requesting coffee and donuts over the intercom. He was sixteen then.
The 7th floor.
Magic’s advice: If you don’t dream it, you cannot become it.
Listen to the whole interview here.
Magic Johnson Talks Business
Magic Johnson talks business and shares insights on his first deals, his relationship with the then Lakers owner-Jerry Buss, what he wants his legacy to be among many things. Lots of wisdom, knowledge and experiences shared by Magic Johnson.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fi1EkU9XB4E]
The Mamba Mentality: How I Play
Being a huge fan of Kobe Bryant, I can’t wait to get this book The Mamba Mentality: How I Play.
The book’s Amazon page goes like this:
The first book from the basketball superstar Kobe Bryant―a lavish, deep dive inside the mind of one of the most revered athletes of all time. In the wake of his retirement from professional basketball, Kobe “The Black Mamba” Bryant has decided to share his vast knowledge and understanding of the game to take readers on an unprecedented journey to the core of the legendary “Mamba mentality……”
Looking forward to reading this book to get insight, knowledge and wisdom on how to be excellent at a particular craft.
France wins the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia
France beat Croatia 4-2 in the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia to lift the coveted FIFA World Cup.
France exuded brilliant team work, near perfect execution and solid composure to beat Croatia. Analysis of France’s dominance are abound after their victory. According to ESPN’s Stats & Information Group, with an average age of 25.4 years (weighted by minutes played), this was the youngest World Cup-winning team since at least 1966. What a feat. Many records have been broken in this World Cup and it has been an electric month of football matches.
France earned its rightful place in World Cup history with a phenomenal showcase of football excellence. Kudos to the French team. The World Cup is yours and you are the champions for the next 4 years. Cheers.
The World Cup
I love the World Cup. I strongly believe that no other sport brings so much of the world together as the World Cup does. It was noted on FIFA’s website that “The in-home television coverage of the competition reached over 3.2 billion people around the world, or 46.4 per cent of the global population, based on viewers watching a minimum of over one minute of coverage. This represents an eight per cent rise on the number of viewers recorded during the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™.”
Football is such a beautiful sport that brings viewers from every corner of the world. “When you consider the increasingly fragmented media environment, where people face ever more choice in terms of the platform, place and time of their viewing selection, these results show that the FIFA World Cup remains a compelling spectacle for viewers around the world,” said Jérôme Valcke, FIFA Secretary General.
France, Belgium, Croatia and England remain in the 2018 FIFA World Cup. We’ll find out on July 15 of the ultimate winner of the World Cup. It has been a wonderful month of world wide celebrations (Jun 14, 2018 – Jul 15, 2018) and it definitely got us talking football everywhere we went. Until the next World Cup, let us enjoy the Semi-finals (July 10-11), Third place playoff (July 14) and Finals game (July 15).
Best commercials of FIFA World Cup Russia 2018
We saw many advertisements during the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018. Some of the ones that I really liked are:
Seven Bucks
He had seven bucks in his pocket when he was cut from Calgary Stampeders, Canadian Football League. Thus, Dwayne Johnson “The Rock” named his production company, his advertising agency among others: 7 bucks. He keeps the hard times in front of his mind which helps him to go into these big moments with a different perspective. Additionally what has worked for him is that he keeps his back against the wall and knows that the only way to go then is forward.
With the Los Angeles Lakers, “The Rock” also shared two secrets to his success-things that have worked for him. He said you got to be the hardest workers in the room and can’t mess the opportunity up. Words of wisdom from one of the most successful actors and producers of our generation.
On Twitter, The Rock shared “Thank you @Lakers owner @jeanieBuss & @MagicJohnson for having me speak to the team. I don’t have all the answers for success, but I can always share what it takes to get there. #GeniusTalks #Part1“
The Shaq Endorsement
Wheaties wanted Shaq to be on the cover after he won his first championship with the Los Angeles Lakers. He declined.
Wheaties wanted Shaq to be on the cover after he won his second championship with the Los Angeles Lakers. He declined.
Then Shaq told his people to call Frosted Flakes or Fruit Loops and he would be happy to be on the cover of that. He turned down Wheaties because he never ate it so he said he can’t do it.
Shaq says of his brand deals “People look at them as endorsements. I look at them as partnerships.” He added “I’m very picky. If I’m not in tuned to the product, if I don’t like the product I won’t do it.”
Superstar athletes have global influence, persuasive power and wider reach. Influencer marketing is popular than ever and their impact on consumer behavior is profound. A Forbes article cited “authenticity is the key to capture the heart of today’s consumer.” The same article also cited that “PepsiCo Gatorade and FRS refuse to hire celebrities who have never used their products or don’t like them. FRS in fact, requires each to have a true, authentic story behind their passion for the FRS products.” Endorsing products that the athletes actually use not only creates more trust among their target audience, it also tremendously benefits the brand. Authenticity is the way to go.
Wouldn’t it be nice when athletes actually use the products they endorse? How often does Beyonce drink Pepsi or LeBron eats McDonalds? Whose responsibility is to inform the consumer about the not so healthy benefits of frequently drinking Pepsi or eating at McDonalds? Or should we just leave all the decision making to consumers because ultimately in a capitalist society all they want is better choices?
Getting to know Maria Sharapova
Maria Sharapova (@MariaSharapova) is one of the best tennis players in the world. She is the winner of five Grand Slam titles (two at the French Open and one each at the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and US Open) and an Olympic silver medalist.
I visited Tim Ferris’s website and really enjoyed listening to his interview with Maria Sharapova. I highly recommend listening to this podcast to understand who Maria Sharapova is besides just being a tennis player. I have a new found respect and admiration for her now after listening to the podcast. I’m now interested to read her book Unstoppable: My Life So Far.
What type of seagull are you?
What type of seagull are you? Are you like Jonathan Livington seagull or a regular seagull?
I listened to the beautifully narrated audio version of Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach on YouTube. The 45 minute audio recording tells the story of Jonathan Livingston Seagull who yearns to fly and not stay content with the daily activity of finding food like the other gulls. He is passionate about flying so much that he is removed from his flock. Independently he keeps flying and learning different ways to control his flight and speed. He is unconventional, driven and has a bigger purpose to live for.
Having now listened to the story of Jonathan Livingston Seagull, I could understand why Kobe Bryant recommended the book when speaking to the LA Chargers, football team based in the Greater Los Angeles Area. Kobe has been obsessed with greatness and focused on achieving his goals no matter the cost. At times, his teammates probably did not understand his obsession to perfecting his craft, the sacrifices he made to become the best that he could be. Kobe identified himself as Jonathan Livingston Seagull who wanted to be the perfect craftsman and went above and beyond to become who he is.
A highly recommended read. The book starts with To the real Jonathan Seagull, who lives within us all.
The Book Kobe Recommended
Being a huge fan of Kobe Bryant, the now retired NBA player, I have read tons of articles, blogs and watched a lot of videos on him. He is quite the athlete with plenty of videos and blogs talking about his obsession with greatness, relentless work ethic and winning mentality.
Recently, I watched a video of Kobe delivering a welcome speech to the LA Chargers. In that video, he mentions a book Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach and discusses the content from it. I have started reading the book to figure out why Kobe recommended it.
Kicking it with Bharat Khawas, Nepali football player
Bharat Khawas was appointed as captain of Nepal U-22 national team for the AFC U-22 Cup Group D Qualifiers which were held at Dasharath Stadium, Kathmandu from June 16-June 24. In the AFC U-22 Cup Group D Qualifiers, Bharat scored 1 goal and had 3 assists. Due to his growing popularity in football, Bharat Khawas has been nominated for the NSJF Pulsar Popular player of the year award. Nepal Sports Journalists Forum (NSJF) is organizing its annual NSJF sports awards on July 4 in Kathmandu.
I recently caught up with Bharat Khawas at Himalayan Java to talk about the beautiful game of football, his passion for the game and other things.
Nirmal: When did you first fell in love with the game of football?
Bharat: I got into the game because of my dad who was a huge football fan. I have been playing football for about 14 years now. I joined the ANFA Academy before I was 10. I have played in three different clubs so far and recently with Nepal U-22 national team.
Nirmal: Who is your favorite player in the world? Which team do you follow?
Bharat: My favorite player is Didier Drogba. My favorite team is Chelsea. Although I do like watching Barcelona games due to the times the games are shown I do not get to see that many matches.
Nirmal: What are your personal and team goals in the national team?
Bharat: My personal goal is to be known as a tough striker in South Asia. I would like to say that would be my motto. My team goal would be to lead Nepal to the Asian Cup and also help the country to be South Asia champions.
Nirmal: What are some of the challenges for Nepal to compete successfully in international matches?
Bharat: I definitely believe that we need more international experience. We need more warm matches as well as friendly matches. I think ANFA and Nepal’s government are doing what they can to get the players more international experience. They were working to get us more international experience before the AFC U-22 Cup Group D Qualifiers also.
Also I do want to say that ANFA is very necessary for the development of football in Nepal. ANFA is like home to me and I’m very thankful to them.
Nirmal: What can fans do to be more supportive of football in Nepal?
Bharat: I think fans can create pages and websites supporting players. I think goalnepal.com has been doing a good job profiling the players and giving them a platform. If fans can somehow promote the players in any way they can, I think that would be great.
Nirmal: What do you enjoy doing besides playing football?
Bharat: Usually I’m around people who love to talk about football but in my free time I go swimming or do weight training.
It was good to catch up with Bharat and talk about football in Nepal. I wish him all the best and hopes he gets the Pulsar Player of the year award. But besides the award itself, I think the bigger joy for me comes from the fact that football is definitely getting bigger in Nepal and a humble and talented Bharat Khawas is there to lead our young squad.
By the way, there are eight categories in the sports awards; Pulsar Player of the year, Pulsar Best Player (Male), Pulsar Best Player (Female), Best Coach, Best Young player, Best Para Athlete, Lifetime Achievement Award, Special award and Popular player of the year. The best player of the year male & female will get one Pulsar motorbike each while other winners in each category will receive Rs 30,000.
To vote for Bharat Khawas, type pulsar BK and send it to 3131. You can also dial 1605 and follow instructions to vote Khawas.
Media's influence on perception of athletes
I love watching sports. How the media presents a certain sport and its athletes certainly influences its viewers on how they perceive the two. As an avid basketball fan, I love watching the NBA and NCAA games. Recently I watched The Crossover: Genealogy of one of Basketball’s Most Vicious Moves on The New York Times website.
It’s a nice clip that talks about one of basketball’s most revered moves: the crossover. However it only shows a handful of athletes who used that move in NBA games. There are thousands of players who use that move and some even better than the players discussed in the video. The video only talks about the move in the context of NBA games. So my point is that the media influences us in thinking that only a few handful basketball players are really good in crossovers when in fact there are so many players who are equally good or better.