Todd Helton: Hall of Famer

 

So this is Adam's take on Todd Helton's Hall of Fame case, but what do you think?  Let us know by leaving a comment below, and then answering the poll at the top of the blog. 

No player from the Colorado Rockies has ever been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, but Todd Helton certainly has the strongest case yet. Helton’s numbers speak for themselves and they speak volumes to the great professional that he was throughout his 17 year career in Colorado. With career numbers such as .316 batting average, .414 on-base percentage, .539 slugging percentage, and a .996 fielding percentage along with three Gold Gloves, five straight All-Star appearances, and a batting title, Helton seems to be a clear cut choice for the Hall of Fame.

The main knock against Todd Helton for the Hall of Fame is that he has played his entire career at Coors Field and the friendly hitting confines that come with it. This argument shows a small amount of merit after a full analysis of averages and other statistics. Todd's away numbers come in at .291 batting average, .392 on-base percentage, and .481 slugging percentage. These numbers are not to be overlooked. They prove that he was still a solid ballplayer on the road.

In addition, although Helton did play his entire career in Colorado, he certainly didn't play every game there and the other stadiums in the NL West aren't quite the hitters' paradise that Coors Field is. In fact, the Dodgers, Giants, and Padres ballparks are all known as prominent pitchers parks. Another factor that helps Helton's case is the Humidor that was installed in the park in 2002 to hold/store the game baseballs in order to keep them moist. This was done so the baseballs would not carry as far when hit. All this being said, hitting always has and always will come down to putting the bat on the ball and Todd Helton proved throughout his 17 year career that he was quite skilled at doing so.    

Todd Helton is the best player that the Rockies organization has ever had and he deserves to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame. If a Rockies player is to ever get into the Hall it should certainly be the "Toddfather". When you think about the Colorado franchise the first name that comes to mind is always Todd Helton. He played a crucial role in their 2007 playoff run and helped guide the team to its only World Series appearance in franchise history.

Another important factor that is bound to play into the decisions of the voters is that Helton has never been linked to PED’s. Helton is not a first ballot Hall of Famer by any stretch but yet again not many people are, as only 7 players have gotten into the Hall in their first year of eligibility in the last 10 years, and these include the likes of Cal Ripken, Jr. and Tony Gwynn. With that being said, I do believe that Helton should eventually get the 75% of votes that are necessary to be enshrined in Cooperstown.

So Adam gave his take on Todd Helton's Hall of Fame case, but what do you think?  Let us know by leaving a comment below, and then answering the poll at the top of the blog.  And check back later in the week to see an opposing view.

Blogger Roundtable: NFL in London?

Will the NFL Have a London-based franchise by the end of the decade (2020)?  We gave our thoughts, so now it's your turn.  Answer our poll at the top of the blog and then leave a comment at the bottom of this post explaining why. 

In last week's edition of Blogger Roundtable, our newest Sports Business Society bloggers argued over who was the best commissioner in sports.  Two of the panelists chose Roger Goodell, citing among other factors, the National Football League's success in international markets (particularly London). 

Then on the September 17, SBS Skyped with alumnus Hussain Naqi, SVP of  Fan Engagement for the Jacksonville Jaguars.  Naqi has been charged with marketing and branding the team in the UK.  Naqi was able to provide a great deal of incite into the potential NFL market, although he dismissed the possibility of his Jaguars making a permanent move across the Atlantic.


And now the possibility of a London-based franchise has received more media attention than ever before.  ESPN has launched a series of articles on the issue, including Greg Garber's "More Than Just A Nice Place To Visit".  Here's what Garber had to say:

The good news for the skeptics? Players, coaches and staff of the four teams get to jump on a plane afterward and return home. But what if they didn't? What if there were a franchise in London? What financial, logistical and competitive challenges would have to be overcome?  

It's time to start asking these questions, folks, because it's going to happen. Yes, with some serious thrust from commissioner Roger Goodell and a league with a powerful hunger to increase its revenue streams, it's quite likely there soon will be an NFL team in London.

In a separate piece on ESPN, Kristi Dosh examines a variety of legal concerns that arise from a full-time London team.  Tax laws, working visas, as well as competition and free movement labor laws could get in the way of the desires of the NFL's business and marketing brass.

But could legal or other logistical challenges (such as travel) really get in the way of the most powerful sports league in the history of the world?  Or will Roger Goodell and the NFL break down any barriers that stand in the way of their expansionary goals?  That was the question we asked our bloggers and E-Board members this time around:

Will the NFL have a London-based franchise by the end of the decade (2020)?

Adam Malz (Featured Blogger)- Yes

 Yes, I believe that the by the end of the decade an NFL franchise will call London home. This is going to happen eventually, regardless of whether fans or players think it is right. Owners and the League are pushing for it because of the fact that it opens up a brand new and tremendously large area of revenue, as the domestic market is peaking. There are still a lot of obstacles and kinks that will need to be worked out, which is why I’m thinking towards the end of the decade. But I think it is certainly in our near future.

Gabe Cassillo (SBS VP of Magazine)- NO

While the NFL has the ambition and no doubt the resources to make a move to the UK happen (eventually) I think it highly unlikely such a move would take place by the end of this decade. Fans often cite fairly trivial "issues" that would impact such a move. Travel, time differences, culture, lack of fan base, etc. In reality, the time frame seems too aggressive. For a league experiencing continual growth, I question whether the 32 owners would be in favor of taking the risk by adding a team based in London. If I was a betting man, yes, I agree that one day the NFL will have teams overseas. Do I think that day will be by 2020? Not at all.

John Zakour (Featured Blogger)- Yes

In both articles, Garber and Dosh discuss a litany of problems that an NFL team in London would face. Tax codes, food, jet lag, logistical issues, would all have to be ironed out. But they're just minor issues. If Goodell wills a NFL team in London, it will be so. Roger Goodell won't let these triflings stop him from realizing his dream of a truly international, intercontinental NFL. It wouldn't surprise me if we have a foreign Super Bowl in the near future, which would precede a London team. Goodell wants this, against all reason, and he will find a way to make it happen.

Jon Levitan (Featured Blogger)- Yes

The NFL will eventually put a team in London. The league almost always gets what it wants, and clearly wants to have a team.  With two games being played there this year, the only question is when a team will eventually be placed across the pond. I would say that a team will be there by 2020, and I would also guess that that team will be the Jaguars. The market of Jacksonville just isn’t big enough to support a franchise that isn’t firmly entrenched there. That much is already clear, by the fact that the Jags will play a game in London for the next four years, which will be far more lucrative for them than their normal home games. By the end of those four years, the team may very well have a solid following overseas, and hopefully a better product to put on display. Although the league may want to place an expansion team London, as Garber’s article showed, I think the Jaguars will lobby heavily to be relocated.

Jesse Sherman (SBS Director of  Operations) - NO

Word on the street is that an NFL team in London is imminent. We've seen some successful trips to Wembley in the past few years. But that being said, I don't see a London-based franchise emerging before 2020. The current NFL CBA runs through 2020 and some labor laws between the US and London differ significantly enough to raise doubt in my mind. I don't think it will happen.. yet.

Matthew Hakimian (Featured Blogger)- Yes

One of Roger Goodell's main priorities since he came into power as the commissioner in 2006 has been to innovate the National Football League in all facets of the game, both on and off the field. We all know that he is one of the main proponents of an NFL team permanently relocating to London and it's looking more plausible each year. The most likely team to move to the UK would have to be the Jacksonville Jaguars as the team is scheduled to be featured in a game overseas through the 2016 season.  With one of the league's lowest fan bases, and faced with yearly difficulties with local television blackouts, it makes way too much sense to move the struggling Jags to London.

Will the NFL Have a London-based franchise by the end of the decade (2020)?  We gave our thoughts, so now it's your turn.  Answer our poll at the top of the blog and then leave a comment at the bottom of this post explaining why. 

Event Preview: Three Questions With Brian Friedman ('95)

On Friday, September 27, the Cornell Sports Business Society is pleased to be hosting Brian Friedman ('95).  Friedman is currently in his fourth year as the Chief Financial Officer for the New York Jets.

Friedman is responsible for all financial planning and daily accounting operations for the team, financial oversight of the team's interest in MetLife Stadium and all internal and external reporting to the NFL and various other agencies. Additionally, he oversees information technology and practice facility operations.

Prior to joining the Jets, Friedman was the chief financial officer of Blissworld, LLC, the owner and operation of Bliss spas and seller of a full line of retail skin care products. At Bliss, he was responsible for all financial operations.

Before joining Bliss, he was the senior director of finance for the Columbia House Company and prior to that held several finance roles of increasing responsibility at Polo Ralph Lauren. Friedman began his career at Price Waterhouse and is a certified public accountant.

Friedman graduated from CALS, majoring in AEM, and has an MBA from Columbia University.

 In preparation for our event with Brian, we conducted a 3Q interview that would help preview the content that will be covered on Tuesday.


(1) What do you find to be the most fulfilling part of your job in your fourth season as the Jets' Chief Financial Officer?

In a word – Sunday. The most fulfilling part of my job is being part of an organization that millions of people are so passionate about. Seeing all the work show up on Sunday’s is a great feeling. Whether it is fan experience at the game or advertisements during the post-game show, being in a role that touches every part of the business, when that business is football, is just fantastic.

(2) What is it like to be involved with the planning of the first ever cold weather Super Bowl?

It is a tremendous experience to see how an event of this magnitude takes shape. The number of people involved with planning and executing a Super Bowl is unbelievable. The necessity to imagine every unimaginable scenario and plan for it is something to witness. When indoors your biggest issue is to make sure the lights stay on, with our stadium the list of potential issues is endless.  

(3) Friday will be your first-ever event with the Cornell Sports Business Society. What are some of your objectives in engaging Cornell students who may be interested in careers in sports and/or finance?

My goal is simple – to try and leverage my experience to help current students achieve their career goals. I am very fortunate that I get to work in a job that I have a passion for in an industry that I have always been interested in. My experiences at Cornell had a huge impact on my life and gave me a foundation to achieve many things throughout my career.

BONUS:  What do you miss most about your days at Cornell?

I miss the freedom, the camaraderie, spending every day with lifelong friends who are now spread all across the country. During my summer job before my senior year, my boss told me to enjoy Cornell because life is like one giant final exam. Truer words were never said – enjoy the time here.

Brian will be speaking to the Cornell Sports Business Society in person on Friday, September 27th. Please join us in Ives 105 at 4:30. For more information, check out the event on Facebook.

 We hope you can make it!

Fans First?

The Kansas City Royals and the Houston Astros are two baseball teams with completely different strategies. While the Astros are on pace to have the worst record in baseball for the third straight season, the Royals are attempting to make the post-season for the first time since 1985. The Royals this year alone increased their pay roll from just above 60 million to closer to 80 million while the Astros decreased their payroll from an early season payroll to 26 million to closer to 15 million at season’s end as it has traded or released all but one of its players making more than one million dollars in salary.

Based on the numbers provided by Forbes the difference in operating income between the Astros and the Royals this year will be roughly 80 million dollars with the Astros making nearly 100 million and the Royals closer to 20. The Royals seemingly want to win now and rather make less money to make the fans happy in comparison to the Astros who seemingly want to make money now and promise to spend the money to win the in future. As a fan you obviously want your team to win as often as possible, but does an owner owe it to the fans to run the team like a fan or like a business?


This question is nearly impossible to answer and there is no better place to see how these differing strategies exist than in Los Angeles. Since Donald Sterling bought the Los Angeles Clippers in 1981, the Clippers have fewer playoff berths than the Los Angeles Lakers have NBA titles.


The Lakers were never afraid
 to pay stars like Magic Johnson
 and Kobe Bryant.

The Lakers pay the luxury tax almost every year; the Clippers have never paid once in franchise history. The Clippers actually got money from the luxury tax system every year. The Clippers became one of the NBA’s most profitable teams despite being a constant laughing stock of the league. In the eyes of Donald Sterling, if he was making money, which he obviously was in the Los Angeles TV market, then there was no need to spend excessive money on free agents.

The Lakers on the other hand were signing players to some of the largest contracts in NBA history as winning came first. Whether it was making Magic the first million dollar a year NBA player or making Shaq the richest free agent or in 2013-4 Kobe the second 30 million dollar a year man in the NBA, the Lakers have never been scared of spending money to remain a competitive team.

There is a reason why LA has a lot more Lakers fans then Clippers fans. It’s the same reason that the Clippers have a lot more fans now than they had 3 years ago before the Chris Paul trade. Fans love winning. Owners often value profits margins over winning percentage.

Do I blame Jim Crane, the Astros’ owner, for maximizing profits this year by putting a putrid baseball team on the field on a day-to-day basis? Absolutely not. The Astros are not close to being a playoff team and having one or two high priced veterans may have saved the Astros from having the worst record in baseball, but instead without them they got some of their younger players some extra playing time and better draft pick. 



At the same time if he was unwilling to spend to push the team over the hump much like David Glass was this off-season with the Royals it would be a completely different story. Sports ownership is a business and often fans forget that. As much as you want to blame Jim Crane for not spending on his team to make it competitive this year, he is truly committed to rebuilding the team. Fans should only blame the owner when they refuse to take the last step to go from perennial playoff team to contender or from fringe playoff team to full-blown playoff team as Donald Sterling has recently done with the Clippers by paying two guys (Chris Paul and Blake Griffin) maximum contracts for the first time in team history.

It is often hard to watch a team slash payroll when rebuilding all while still keeping ticket and concession prices up, but as long as the owner spends on the team to push them over the hump it is all we as fans can ask. We are still the fans and they still own the business.

Event Recap: Hussain Naqi ('97)

 

On Tuesday September 17th, Hussain Naqi ('97) was kind enough to speak to the Sports Business Society via Skype. Seventy-three club members attended the first event in SBS's Speaker Series.  A graduate of the Industrial and Labor Relations School, Hussain currently serves as the Senior Vice President of Fan Engagement for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

In his role, Naqi is responsible for the Jaguars’ marketing and branding efforts, overseeing the Jaguars’ game day experience, and managing the Jaguars’ fan development efforts in the UK.

Prior to joining Jacksonville in 2012, Naqi served as Vice President of Business Planning and General Counsel at MetLife Stadium. Naqi has worked in sports since 1997; his resume includes stints with the National Football League, NCAA, Major League Baseball, and the New York Mets.

For a look back at all of the social media surrounding the event, check out our Storify post, which chronicles all of the Twitter activity surrounding the event.  The rest of the full recap is right here, after the jump.

The Skype call started with a conventional Q&A session, where Naqi discussed his career path, his current role with the Jaguars, and general sports business issues.  But then the event turned to Twitter, as our guest responded to the over 40 questions tweeted by our club members. Our club experienced tremendous growth in social media presence, with the #CornellSBS hashtag being used over 50 Times, and the twitter handle @CornellSBS gaining 35 New Followers.  We would like to thank Mr. Naqi, as well as our existing and new club members for directly making this happen. 

Naqi spoke of the challenges of working for the Jaguars, namely the small market size and the fact that the on-field product has not been particularly attractive of late. He emphasized that to overcome these challenges he and his team work to directly engage the fan. He stressed the importance of stripping away "any excuse [a fan] has for not coming to a game", such as the inability to watch other games, restricted access to the internet and their fantasy teams, or long lines for concessions.

On the topic of breaking into the sports industry, Naqi maintained that there are a multitude of different paths a prospective student can take, and that there are a wide-ranging array of skills needed in sports business. He offered this advice for any students interested in sports business: "Network and hustle as much as you can. Understand that it is a marathon and not a sprint”.

The Jaguars are heavily involved in London, where they will play one game a year, costing them a game in Jacksonville, for the next four years. When asked about reconciling the interests of the team in both Jacksonville and London, Naqi explained the key role transparency with each group of fans played. The Jaguars display that they care about the Jacksonville fans, but they acknowledge that the market has its limitations. The massive financial gains from playing games in Great Britain, where there are roughly two million fans of American Football, can offset some of those limitations the franchise endures by playing in a small market.

@cornellhkyfan Love the idea of the fantasy lounge, what inspired it and would you consider opening it to fans for away games? #CornellSBS
— Mark PuIaski (@mpulaski27) September 17, 2013

One of the challenges the Jaguars faced when the new ownership group took over was that the stadium was outdated in many facets.  Because the stadium is owned by the city, the team has been unable to modernize their facilities in the manner many NFL teams have done. Naqi saw an opportunity to convert an underutilized hospitality lounge in the stadium into a place for fans to get away from the heat, the lounge is air-conditioned, and check up on how their fantasy teams are doing. The lounge, which is open to any and all fans, is outfitted with high-density wifi, televisions, tablets, and "very comfortable recliners" .

@cornellhkyfan Headline from SI: "Orlando Television Station Issues Apology for Showing Jaguars Game" What was reax to this? #CornellSBS
— Josh Begleiter (@jmsaponar) September 17, 2013

Hussain explained that the Orlando CBS affiliate, which is obligated to show Jaguars game, had been mistakingly promoting the Broncos-Giants game being played at the same time. Once they realized that they had to show the Jaguars-Raiders game, they apologized for the confusion. Our guest was able to offer additional insight into the complex relationship between the NFL, teams, and television networks and their affiliates. 

@cornellhkyfan what did you think of the Seahawks idea of putting undercover police officers as 49ers fans? #CornellSBS
— Zohere Tabrez (@ztab100) September 17, 2013

Hussain explained this is actually a part of a league-wide program to expose unruly fans and increase safety for others.  This initiative plans to reduce safety concerns and offensive behavior in general, which is very much in line with the Jaguars' mindset of eliminating excuses for fans to not come to games.

@cornellhkyfan How much of an impact do fan polls have on administrative decisions in the Jaguars front office? #cornellsbs
— Josh Goldstein (@JoshGoldstein) September 17, 2013

Hussain stressed that the Jaguars do in fact conduct quite a bit of research into their fan base, but also stressed the importance of differing levels of validity this research can have. For example, Hussain brought up the rally held by fans in the stadium parking lot this past Monday advocating for the team to sign Tim Tebow. While it was heavily reported by the national media, the rally only drew 16 fans, indicating that there wasn't nearly as much fan interest in Tebow as the national media wishes there was.

For a look back at all of the social media surrounding the event, check out our Storify post, which chronicles all of the Twitter activity surrounding the event.

As always, ILRSBS extends its thanks to alumni like Hussain Naqi who take time to share their experiences with our members. The information and insight people like Hussain provide to our group is unique and indispensable, and we hope that this is the first of many great events with him.

The Reality of Fantasy Sports

As I sat down to watch the 49ers play in the first Sunday Night Football game of 2013 in my dorm, I couldn’t help but feel a rush of jubilation at the thought of a new season, a clean slate for my team after Super Bowl XLVII. But for many football fans a new season holds more excitement than what is simply found in 60 minutes on the gridiron and they work themselves up into a frenzy over one thing, and one thing only: fantasy football. Now this excitement over fantasy teams is in no way unique to NFL fans, but rather there are fantasy leagues for basketball, baseball, soccer, hockey, and even auto racing along with many others.


Much like the professional leagues themselves, fantasy sports have become an incredibly lucrative industry. According to IBISWorld US, fantasy sports services have estimated annual profits of $445.8 million from $1.2 billion in revenue. This is not difficult to believe as The Pew Research center reports that 46 percent of those who have fantasy leagues have paid to play. Additionally, IBISWorld US reports that fantasy sports services have been growing rapidly. In a market dominated by ESPN, CBS Corporation, and Yahoo! Inc. in the past five years fantasy sports have grown at an annual rate of 11.7 percent.

This high rate of growth can be easily explained by the growth of the technology industry. In addition to having Internet capabilities in many buildings throughout the world, the development of applications for not just fantasy leagues but sports in general has allowed many fans that might not have played on a computer originally to have the a fantasy league app at their finger tips all day every day.

However, on this Sunday spent sitting on the couch in my dorm, enjoying the 49ers win their third straight game against the Packers, the thoughts of fantasy football hadn’t even crossed my mind. Many friends have told me over the years about how much I would enjoy starting a fantasy team in a variety of sports and yet I have never brought myself to actually do one. This begs the question: if I am already following the sport closely why not draft a team? Well, for two reasons. The first of which is that there are only so many hours in a day and knowing myself as I do, I would become enthralled, spending hours looking up players, stats, etc. trying to craft the best team possible.

 

While this may sound enjoyable to many, I have made the smart decision to direct my time towards more useful endeavors, like actually reading that chapter of homework that was assigned for class. However, the second reason I have never ventured into fantasy sports didn’t become clear to me until this Sunday afternoon. In being the only person from San Francisco on my floor, I was left to enjoy the 49ers game by myself as the Bills and Jets fans filtered out of the TV lounge. But sensing what a fantastic matchup this game was likely to be, some fans returned, many talking about how the game would affect their fantasy teams.

This idea of how a player’s performance can affect your overall score is at the crux of my dislike for fantasy sports. One young man on my floor remarked at how Aaron Rodgers needed to stop throwing to Jordy Nelson because he needed James Jones to pick up a few more yards. Others watching the game urged Colin Kapernick to throw an interception because their competition needed to lose a few points (a suggestion, I might add, that I clearly objected too).

In listening to these ridiculous requests I started thinking about how with the growth of fantasy sports we have lost what made watching sports so enjoyable in the first place. In focusing on how individual players’ performances affect a fantasy score, people may find themselves even rooting against their own team.

Not a bad bet to lose points.

Need someone in the league who has Eli Manning at QB to lose a few points? Then the Giant’s first two games of the season were great even for a die-hard Giants fan.

Have Anquan Boldin on the roster? Screw the Packers then, because after all those points could be the difference in beating the guy that started James Jones at wide receiver.

At the heart of this issue is that in focusing on this microcosm of competition we forget that the purpose of sports is to enjoy the game rooting for one whole team and each and every one of its players. In sports the whole is most definitely greater than the sum of its parts.



President Obama's March Madness Bracket

This same behavior is demonstrated each March as sports fans madly rush to perfect their brackets. In choosing teams for the sake of small time competition, many of us find ourselves rooting against the Cinderella teams that are what makes the NCAA Tournament so great. I myself rooted against Wichita State and Florida Gulf Coast University because they kept busting my bracket, while I should have been cheering for the underdogs that are what make the Tournament more than just a mathematical equation where the winner could easily be found through running a simulation.

While my opinion may be easily dismissed as one ignorant girl’s ideas, my dislike of fantasy sports could be rooted in the fact that only one percent of all females actually play fantasy sports according to The Pew Research Center. Maybe us female sports fans are just missing something from the experience. But for the 14 percent of men 18-29 out there who have fantasy leagues I suggest an evaluation of priorities when it comes to sports. If sports hold no meaning beyond a way to compete with friends, then by all means continue with these fantasy activities.

But if you are like me, your love of sports is rooted in more than just small time competition, and instead in pride for a team and respect for the talent it takes to play at these high levels, it might be worth considering how fantasy leagues affect the way we view sports. For those out there who agree with me I urge the following: save the phone battery and the cash and stop wasting time on fantasy sports.

Twitter Takeaways: Hussain Naqi ('97)

On Tuesday, September 17, the Sports Business Society was privileged to Skype with Hussain Naqi ('97).  Both SBS and Naqi were extremely engaged in Twitter before, during, and after the event. Luckily, we have used Storify to recap all of the social media activity surrounding the our first speaker of the semester. 

Blogger Roundtable: The Best Commissioner in Sports

For the first Blogger Roundtable event of the semester, we asked some of our newest Sports Business Society bloggers the big question.  Who do they think is the"best" commissioner in sports today.  It was up to them to decide what "best" meant, and they came up with a variety of choices and explanations (along with one notable omission).

Read what they had to say after the jump:


Kevin Cole (CALS '15)- Roger Goodell, NFL

It is hardly uncommon to hear a negative sentiment about one of the commissioners of the four major pro sports leagues in America. Whether it is a function of media portrayal, individual personalities, the nature of the position, or some combination of factors, David Stern, Gary Bettman, Bud Selig, and Roger Goodell descriptions more often touch on words like 'arrogant', 'out of touch', or 'despot', than they do 'likeable'. However, setting popularity aside, the success that each has experienced with their respective league varies quite a lot- And in terms of league popularity, it's hard to argue with the job that Goodell has done for the NFL. 



Courtesy of www.businessinsider.com.

When Goodell began his reign atop the NFL in 2006, the league had already long been the standard for American professional sports. During his tenure, the NFL has remained at the top in the U.S., while furthering it's brand internationally. The global success is reflected by the influx of non-American NFL players (Ziggy Ansah, Margus Hunt, and Bjoern Werner all were taken in the first two rounds of this year's draft), games played on foreign soil (London, Toronto), foreign fan clubs, and the international coverage of the Super Bowl. 

 Goodell's rule has not been controversy free, however. His practice of being judge and jury for NFL suspensions and fines, along with the crackdown on excessive celebrations have been instrumental in earning the "No Fun League" moniker and simultaneously paint Goodell as a dictator. Needless to say, the replacement referees were nothing short of a disaster. However, while he has displayed iron-fisted tendencies, Goodell's has been relatively even with his punishments. His strict penalties not only hit players, but have extended to front offices and owners who have attempted to skirt the league's salary cap rules (see Redskins, Washington and Cowboys, Dallas, 2010). In summation, Goodell has held organizations, players, and coaches accountable for their actions under rules that he considers to be fair and just.

Matthew Hakimian (ILR '17)- Roger Goodell, NFL

Since taking the reins from longtime commissioner Paul Tagliabue in 2006, Roger Goodell has stood head and shoulders above every major American sports commissioner in large part due to his steadfast ways and persistent actions.   Various issues have arisen thus far throughout Goodell’s tenure that he has handled fairly well. Prior to the 2011 season, against all odds, Goodell remained cool in the face of pressure and was able to help orchestrate a deal between the NFL team owners and the NFL Player’s Association which saw the establishment of a new collective bargaining agreement, and effectively avoided any missed regular season game in which each team would have certainly lost its fair share of revenue.

Moreover, Goodells has been a major supporter of player safety, which can be seen by the disciplinary actions he has handed down. Whether its through weekly fines to players such as Ndamukong Suh or James Harrison for illegal hits, or dropping down steep penalties on an entire organization such as the New Orleans Saints, Goodell has made a firm effort to protect the welfare of the players. More recently, the National Football League was able to strike a $765 million deal with a group of ex-players over concussion-related brain injuries. The agreement certainly could not have been made without the headship of Commissioner Goodell, and it was immediately seen as a big win for the NFL to have finally gotten this situation resolved. Whether it has been through his efforts to relocate an NFL franchise overseas or awarding New York/New Jersey with the first cold weather Super Bowl in 2014, Goodell has continuously sought to innovate his league. 

Sebastian Perez-Vargas (ILR '17)- David Stern, NBA

It's easy to find faults in every commissioner, but that's the benefit of hindsight analysis. Focusing on the positives, though, you have to marvel at what David Stern has done with the game of basketball since his appointment in the mid-1980s. 

Out of all of the American sports, basketball is the one that has globalized to the greatest extent --  to the point that it is the 2nd most popular sport globally. If any sport is going to challenge soccer internationally, it's going to be basketball, and that all started with Stern, MJ, and Nike in the 1980s. It's not just because of MJ, though. Other stars such as Kobe Bryant and LeBron James are enormous figures around the world. Stern has been at the center of all of this, pushing the game of basketball beyond American borders through marketing and outreach campaigns. 

The effect has been not just American basketball players penetrating international markets, but international players impacting the NBA -- from Yao Ming to Dirk Nowitzki to Manu Ginobili. More generally, the fluid and selfless European style of play has impacted the way basketball in the US is being played. The reigning two-time NBA champions, for example, follow a very European "smallball" style, with no real post presence. The globalization of the game of basketball that has occurred under David Stern has had an impact on the NBA both on and off the court.  

Jon Levitan (ILR '17)- Bud Selig, MLB

Major League Baseball’s Bud Selig is the best commissioner in America sports. Selig is not without his flaws, the 1994 strike, which cancelled the entire postseason and World Series, was disastrous, and he was late to realize the massive PED problem on his hands. Despite these flaws, Selig has done a remarkable job keeping his players happy while at the same time creating a system of incentives that maintains a level of parity, even as teams like the Yankees and Dodgers payrolls’ expand. Baseball’s wage system comes far closer to a true free market than any of the other American sports, and its few restrictions on unhinged capitalism, like the revenue sharing program and the luxury tax, make it possible for poorer teams like the Rays and Athletics to experience consistent success. 

This wage system, which guarantees all contracts and doesn’t restrict their length or cost, allowed MLB to be the only major sport to survive the most recent wave of CBA expirations without a lockout. While his sport doesn’t have the worldwide appeal that basketball does, Major League Baseball is beginning to grow the sport in non-traditional baseball countries like Brazil and Italy, which will allow the talent pool to grow, further increasing the levels of parity in the game. Selig should not be judged on mistakes like his handling of the steroid issue, which caused short-term problems for the game, but rather on his salary system, that simultaneously rewards players fully for their performance, yet also makes it possible for poorer teams to stay competitive with the financial powerhouses.

Well that's what our bloggers think. Do you agree? Did they miss somebody? Leave your comments below and answer the poll at the top of the blog to show us what you think.

Event Recap: Rachel Jacobson ('96)

 



 

On Tuesday March 12, the ILR Sports Business Society was fortunate enough to host alumnus Rachel Jacobson for a meeting via Skype. Rachel, a 1996 graduate of Cornell’s School of Hotel Administration, currently serves as the Senior Vice President of Business Development for the National Basketball Association.

Rachel Jacobson has worked for the NBA since she graduated from Cornell. She started in the entry-level rotational training program, working for many different departments within the NBA. She partly attributes getting the job to the training ground for immediate impact that Cornell, and the Hotel School, provided her. After a year in the rotational program, it was time for her to decide what was next – she decided that marketing was the best fit for her, so she joined the Global Merchandising Group, before moving to Marketing Partnerships.

 Rachel’s first major project was to find partners for the USA basketball team, a property of the NBA, for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, where the USA took home the gold medal. Over the next four years, Rachel’s main responsibility was to manage these partners and identify potential new partners for USA basketball in its journey to Athens for the 2004 Olympics.




2000 US Men's Basketball Team

 

In 2005, Rachel saw a great opportunity for her to transfer her skills managing partners to selling them on the business side. She joined the Global Business Development group, which in addition to selling partnerships, also was tasked with creating social good within the communities with which it interacted. Rachel has worked in this department since then, now assuming the role of Senior Vice President, Business Development.

 On switching roles…

 Rachel had an easy transition from Marketing Partnerships to Business Development, largely due to the strong relationships she developed and maintained. Also, in her new role she still got to do marketing, just in a new way; instead of the day-to-day marketing, her new role was more about staying engaged and involved with the NBA’s sold platforms, while also seeking new brands to connect with.

 On the NBA’s marketing…

A main focus of the NBA’s marketing plan is to emphasize the purity of the game, such as the “Where amazing happens” campaign. The NBA wants to show how fun and exciting the game can be, and often does this through humor, as that is what they have identified that the fans love.

 



Heat F LeBron James in the midst
of his pregame ritual.

Also, the NBA wants the fans to be able to get a good look at what the players are doing, and for them to get closer to the game. This can be done through showing the teams in the locker room, the players doing their pregame rituals, or by having a player or coach “wired” for the game, amongst other ways. An additional example she shared was the Miami Heat’s version of the Harlem Shake. Basically, the NBA tries to deliver the fans a real experience that is fun and enjoyable.

 

 On franchise relocation…

 When asked about how franchise relocation affects her job, Rachel stated that it really doesn’t affect her too much. This is because the NBA has penetration in most significant markets either through its own league, the WNBA, the NBA Developmental League, or USA Basketball, as these are all the NBA’s properties. As an example, she offered the Nets relocation from New Jersey to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn; this move generated excitement around an organization that had been struggling and an area ready to embrace basketball. Change is good for the league; it just needs to be executed properly.

 On the recent NBA lockout…

 Rachel stated that the lockout didn’t detriment the NBA’s marketing partnerships too much, thanks to the strong relationships with their sponsors and the patience of these sponsors. It also helped that the fans were very forgiving! The major issue that the NBA faced, though, was an uncertainty of the date of return; however, they were still able to make many deals during the lockout and thrived out of the gate. Rachel also pointed out that if a brand wasn’t comfortable partnering with the NBA during the lockout, a partnership between the two probably wasn’t right anyway.

 On gender in the workplace…

 

WNBA star Lisa Leslie
with her daughter Lauren.

 Rachel insists that being a female in what is thought to be a “male industry” is not something she has thought about throughout her career, as she has never experienced gender issues. If anything, she says that it makes her more unique, and her status as a “working mom” helps her work with the WNBA, as this is what the league symbolizes. She also believes her status as a “working mom” motivates her to work more efficiently in the office.

 Advice for students…

 Rachel offered great advice to all of the students. One of the things she said was to “sweat the details” and not let things that seem small slip by. Also, it is good to personalize whatever you are doing, by finding a way to stand out. While doing this though, it is crucial stay humble and genuine by talking from the heart. Furthermore, when working for an organization, you should make sure you fully understand the organization, and work hard for it. Lastly, she stressed that, no matter what, you need to have fun!

 Again, we’d like to thank Rachel Jacobson for taking the time to speak with members of our club. It was an incredibly informative and insightful discussion, which we all truly enjoyed and appreciated.

 

Event Preview: Three Questions with Hussain Naqi ('97)

On Tuesday, September 17^th, the Cornell Sports Business Society will be Skype chatting with Hussain Naqi ’97. Naqi is the Senior Vice President of Fan Engagement for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

In his role, Naqi is responsible for the Jaguars’ marketing and branding efforts, overseeing the Jaguars’ game day experience, and managing the Jaguars’ fan development and marketing efforts in the UK.

Prior to joining Jacksonville in 2012, Naqi served as Vice President of Business Planning and General Counsel at MetLife Stadium. Naqi has worked in sports since 1997; his resume includes stints with the National Football League, NCAA, Major League Baseball, and the New York Mets.

In preparation for our event with Hussain, we conducted a 3Q interview that would help preview the content that will be covered on Tuesday.

Q1: As SVP of Fan Engagement, you have one of the more unique titles in sports. What would you consider to be your favorite part about your role, and what poses as the biggest challenge for you?

“The thing I love most about my job is that I’m a huge sports fan. My job gives me the opportunity to provide experiences that I, myself, would want to consume as a fan. I love that I can affect change that reaches fans. Whether that’s having Wi-Fi capability, checking fantasy scores, or even making sure our people are friendly to fans when they enter the building, it is my job to give Jaguars fans a product and experience that brings them to our stadium.

Obviously, it goes both ways. We have 3,000 workers on game day –  ticket takers, ushers, cleaning staff – and making sure that each and every one of them to take pride and ownership in what they do is tough. It’s on us to guide all of those behaviors. But when they’re only working for us 40 hours per year, it can be a challenge to get complete buy-in.”


Q2: While the on-field product has room to grow (perhaps putting it lightly?) your front office has done a commendable job of engaging fans through in-stadium innovation. Besides the widely discussed Fantasy Football Lounge, what are some other initiatives being implemented by the Jaguars to enhance the experience at EverBank Field and drive attendance?

“It’s a struggle out there for all teams, not only us. We’re all competing with Sunday Ticket, Red Zone Channel, affordable flat screen TVs, and the ability to walk up to your fridge and grab a beer without waiting in line to pay $8.

It’s critical for us to address the reasons why people may not go to games.

Obviously we can talk about the fantasy football lounge, but this organization really prides itself in being innovative in all areas of the fan experience. We’re implementing a lean operation for all concessions that--in the three games we’ve used it--has cut our concession line waiting time by 25%. That may not sound like much, but to not stand in long lines, to get fresh food, and to use a clean bathroom is essential to the experience.

We have one of the oldest NFL stadiums, and we need to identify every possible reason that a fan may not come to our stadium. Given our recent on-field performance and Jacksonville’s climate, it is essential that we stay ahead of the curve to address these issues. Whether it’s the fantasy football lounge, shorter lines at concession, or deploying 120 feet of air-conditioned benches for fans to use, the imperative is for our group to be innovative and ahead of the curve everyday.”


Q3: This will be your first (of what we hope is many) speaker event with the Sports Business Society. What new perspective do you hope students will learn after our Skype session?

1. I was in your shoes not that long ago, interested in a career in sports and wondering how to get in. I am happy to share the story of my career path and show you how to get where you want to go.


2. I hope to broaden the focus of what you think it means to be ‘working in sports.’ There’s more to it than simply working for a franchise.


3. I want to show the logic behind what the Jaguars are doing. We have an incredibly bright ownership group, and I hope I can provide context for you to see how successful our team is despite what the record may indicate.

BONUS: What do you miss most about your days at Cornell?

That one’s the easiest question yet: Cornell Hockey. No question.
(follow Hussain on Twitter @CornellHkyFan)

The passion, and the tradition born out of that passion, is the reason I love college sports. There’s nothing like hearing the crowd erupt at Lynah Rink when we scored a goal. I had so many nights at Lynah; I miss it dearly.

Oh, and deep dish pizza from The Nines is dangerously good.


Remember, Hussain will be Skype chatting with the Cornell Sports Business Society Tuesday, September 17^th. Please join us in Ives 105 at 4:30. For more information, check out the event on Facebook.

We hope you can make it!

Event Recap: Gabe Gershenfeld ('11)

           

On April 16, 2012, Gabe Gershenfeld ’11 videoconferenced with the ILR Sports Business Society. A graduate of the School of Industrial and Labor Relations with minors in Economics and Information Science, Gabe currently works for the Cleveland Indians as a Strategic Analyst. Before coming to Cleveland, Gabe interned with Sara Lee, the San Diego Padres and Major League Baseball. He also was a presenter at the Evolution of Sport talks at the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference, discussing how Labor Relations, Human Resources and Sports intersect. While at Cornell, Gabe served as President of our organization, then called the ILR Sports Management Club. Gabe shared his career experiences and advice for students interested in entering the industry.

As an analyst, Gabe’s primary responsibilities relate strongly to the Indians’ development and execution of strategies. By using data to make decisions, Gabe and his colleagues improve the Indians’ approach to a number of business issues. Essentially, they focus on creating more effective and efficient ways for the franchise to make money.

 One thing Gabe touched on was the collaborative side of the business.  On the business side, teams are often willing to share best practices.  This is different from the highly competitive baseball operations field, where teams maintain a degree of secrecy to develop advantages.  By exchanging information about marketing, ticketing and other business competencies, franchises can make better decisions and drive more revenue.

Furthermore, Gabe discussed the importance of active networking and education.  Touching on the importance of developing as a professional early and often, he discussed how his internships and work at Cornell prepared him for his current job.  As a recent alum, his advice was particularly valuable to students, especially those preparing to enter the job market.

As always, ILRSBS thanks alumni like Gabe Gershenfeld who share their experiences in the sports industry with our members. We are truly appreciative of Gabe’s commitment to educating students on the sports industry and we hope to host him at another event in the future.