Notre Dame Football: "Return of a Champion"

For the first time since 1988, Notre Dame Football will make their first appearance on the National Championship Stage. Why is this so relevant? A program with a storied tradition re-captures their place in the national spotlight. Led by sophomore Quarterback Everett Golson and Heisman Trophy candidate Manti Te’o.

Holding already thirteen National Championship Trophies in their possession and seven Heisman trophy winners, the Fighting Irish are vastly new to this era of champions. What may be even more intriguing, is the possible match up of facing last years National Champion, Alabama. Notre Dame is second in National Championship titles only to Alabama, and the Tide have been on a steady roll since the arrival of Head Coach Nick Saban. Winners of two National Championships since became Head Football Coach.

With an astonishing 44 collegiate Hall of Famers and a host of individual accolades received by players past and present, Notre Dame Football has returned to its championship form. With coaching transitions being changed radically after the Lou Holtz era, Brian Kelly has provided a solid presence within the program. Formerly, Head Coach of the Cincinnati Bearcats, Coach Kelly has revamped a program that has a tradition for winning. In 2010, Coach Kelly won the vacant position of Head Coach and began re-shaping what he felt was a program close to a National Title contender, he was right.

Since his arrival, the Fighting Irish have produced a 28-10-win loss record and voted unanimously number one for the first time in the new BCS system. The team also defeated their rival the University of Southern California Trojans for the first time in ten years. Icing on the cake to complete their universities first perfect season since 1988. Without a doubt, the cherry on top would be a National Championship win in Miami, where they’ll either face the University of Georgia Bulldogs or the reigning National Champion Alabama Crimson Tide. 

Company Profile: IMG, Leader in Entertainment

In pursuing a career within the sports entertainment industry, there are many companies that a candidate may choose as an employer. With a wide variety of avenues being; Sports, Fashion, Entertainment and Marketing, there is one company that has excelled in nearly every avenue imaginable for nearly 50 years, IMG. Originally titled International Management Group within Sports Media. An ideal company that provides multiple avenues in Sports and Entertainment is IMG. A world leading power house in providing talent recruitment and setting the standard in delivering the very "best" quality representation.

Arnold Palmer and Mike McCormack started the company in 1960. Mr. McCormack was a lawyer who believed in athletes capitalizing their revenue earned through promotions, advertising and sponsorship. Arnold Palmer was his first client, a legendary Golfer with a marketing presence. In 2004, entrepreneur Ted Fortsmann purchased IMG and has established the company's position as the leader in Sports and Entertainment business industry. Employing nearly 3,000 employees and representing 1,000 talents across the globe, is only a glimpse of the prestige that is IMG. The most remarkable attribute of IMG, is the top level success that ranges across the board within; Fashion (Calvin Klein, Lancome, David Yurman) partners, Sports (Football, Basketball, Soccer etc.) and Television (MTV, Disney Networks) to name some of the widely known companies in the world.

IMG provides internships and opportunities to undergraduates and post graduate students. With a variety of different avenues already being represented by the company, their are many different opportunities career wise within the IMG corporation. The main corporation is based in Cleveland, Ohio. Since their original corporate office opening in 1965, the company has ventured across the globe.   The company also has its own academic university and class offerings within various universities in the U.S. Given their history, business structure and balance within all industries, IMG would be a great opportunity.

TED.Com Speaker: Heather Brooke "My Battle to Expose Government Corruption"

Speaker Heather Brooke, presented "My Battle to Expose Government Corruption" for Ted.Com.  Ms. Brooke revolutionized the British Parliament, by exposing the fraudulent data base within the British government. Six ministers were forced to resigned, Military Police were arrested and a new government was placed in British government. According to Ms. Brooke, technologies mainstream accessibility was the main source for her success. Above that, it was the need to fight for a true democracy within her country.

Are the people of the U.S. coherent for government truths? What Heather Brooke accomplished in England was without a doubt a remarkable outcome. Her triumphant task to ask and pursue public information for the betterment of her country, provides an insight on how to gain such knowledge. Ms. Brooke spoke of, "Freedom of Speech", "Freedom of Information" and "Freedom for the People". Our government was built "By the people" and "For the people" but how true has that statement come to pass.

Such historic events have been regularly in question by general public: "Area 51", "Kennedy Assassination", "911" have all been events that have been questioned as government involved events. Ms. Brooke also refers to "Officials being held accountable for their actions" and "Power being more of a disease rather than a precious cause".  According to the speaker, we as the general public, need to fight against oppression and not allow our government to keep the public blind to such events. We as the general public have a right and a duty to find truth and hold those who exploit truth accountable.

Small Market vs Major Market...Who's Better?

For every Yankee, Celtic and Cowboy there are the Royals, Thunder and Browns. Each team has a different sized market that plays a key role within the respective organizations. The draw of the city brings the draw for the players, however, which market makes for the better team. As we've seen in past sports history, the Major city (5 million or more population) is often the victor in championships or continued success. For example, the New York Yankees, despite their current post season pitfalls, the Yankees are a year-to-year highly favored contender for a championship. Why?

The market within major cities attract to different capable opportunities of revenue for players. Would Jordan have Nike if he weren't in Chicago?, Would Derek Jeter be as recognized if he played in Milwaukee?. The Denver Nuggets were apart of the wild spread "Melo Drama" during Carmelo Anthony's trade to the New York Knicks but, Denver feels they are the better team. Denver Head Coach George Karl said; "There are as many or more,  good small market teams than there are big market". As small market teams continue to be competitive within their respective sport, it leaves the argument of higher revenue generated teams and their high paid player's are contending for the attention or the competition. 

Minority Representation in Sports Front Office

This current percentage for minorities within the U.S. is currently around thirteen percent. The current minority head coaches in the NFL is just four, Three general managers and no owners. Female representation is little to none throughout professional male dominated sports. With aspirations of one day becoming apart of such an elite fraternity group, is this a realistic opportunity or just a fair assumption, minorities will have a difficult time gaining representation within such fraternities.

Author Brad Muster for 'The Sport Journal' wrote the article "Minority Hiring Practices in Professional Sports" who comments, "As a business, the teams and leagues must concern themselves with dominant public issues". Fact the professional sporting world is dominated by minority employees, nearly eight percent in the NFL, seventy percent in the NBA and thirty percent in Major League baseball. You would think with that kind of experience, former players would have a good perspective on how to operate or manage a team. More often than not, such teams are run and owned by major corporations in different industries. These owners are a fraternity of a majority that rarely grant opportunities to any applicants, regardless of minority.

So why still dream of such an accomplishment?, As in any timeline or era, there are changes and trail blazer who create opportunities for aspiring minorities to strive for such a goal to be obtained. Minority representation has risen within the last decade including: Michael Jordan (Charlotte Bobcats) majority owner, Jay-Z (Brooklyn Nets), Nelly (Charlotte Bobcats), Serena and Venus Williams (Miami Dolphins), are just a few limited owners who have started a new trend of minorities seeking owners and may possibly team up to majority own a team. Jerry Reese (New York Giants General Manger), Ozzie Newsome (Baltimore Ravens General Manager). These minorities mentioned provide an inspiration for individuals like myself who look for an avenue in such a competitive industry.