A repost from a few years ago: On June 24th (and 25th) in 1988, I experienced something that very few have had the opportunity. From my seat in the dugout of the Burlington Indians of the Appalachian League affiliate, I was part of history; history, to this day, that is unmatched. Here is - part - of my story.
On a late summer’s day in 2017, I peddled my bike around the Elon University campus. I circled the fountain at Scott Plaza and I was struck by a memory. It was on these bricks, where I stood as an Assistant Athletics Director, at 9:40 a.m. on September 11, 2001 that I learned of what had happened in New York. Those events unfolded as our campus had come together to celebrate the opening of the brand-new football stadium. I was moved to engage this memory even more, so I climbed from my bike, and my eyes drifted to where the [...]
I stood at the urinal and, looking to my right, I noticed the Executive Chef. “Nice job tonight,” I offered gently. Turning over his shoulder he said, “Thank you. Wahdyah have?” I am in Boston. I stared at the porcelain tiles ahead of me and, at that moment, I realized that everything I had heard 74 hours ago – all that I had been struggling with – finally made sense. My wife and I come here every eighteen months or so, just to change our scenery and to visit our old haunts, to eat good food and to share the [...]
It happened over three years ago and the impression still lasts. In November 2012, my wife dispatched me to the hardware superstore to purchase a cleaner for our granite counter tops. When I returned home it was made very evident that I bought the wrong product. She wanted the can that was wrapped in the image of granite not the trigger spray purple plastic bottle that was in my hand. With head hung, I hopped back in the Jeep for the return run. With the correct can in hand, I walked through the back door of the house and handed [...]
And now, I climb upon my soapbox. Please bear with me for two minutes. My wife and I recently traveled to Washington, DC. While in the district, we had lunch at a hopping spot, a restaurant filled with power brokers and tourists. I watched one table as a waitress refilled the iced tea of a customer that I figured to be in his mid-twenties. He continued to talk as she continued to pour. As she left the table, he didn’t flinch in her direction. He kept on talking to his lunch mate. Today, I walked into a stationary and gift [...]
For fifteen years I only knew Mike Cleary for fifteen minutes at a time, not nearly enough looking back on it now that Mr. Clearly has gone away. While he knew me, I don’t think I ever really knew him. It wasn’t until his obituary over the New Year’s weekend that I realized the breadth of his influence, the depth of his vision, and the height of his popularity. He recognized my face each June, whether we would shake hands in Florida, California, Texas or any of the other stops of the NACDA and affiliates convention. He was the founder [...]
This photo inspired my brother to claim that I lead the life of Forrest Gump. In the highly acclaimed movie, the Tom Hanks' character often finds himself in moments that seem too impossible to believe. I am quite fortunate to serve as the public address announcer at Cameron Indoor Stadium. The 2017-18 year marks my eighth season (and my second without a Plumlee on the roster). Between the men's schedule and that of the women, I walk through the front doors of the iconic arena nearly forty times a season. I have a constant opportunity to do what many basketball [...]
Steamboat, CO (December 9, 2015) – A collection of 20 NCAA Division I mascots will gather in Steamboat-Ski Town U.S.A® December 11-13 for an opportunity to receive continuing mascot education and to participate in friendly on-slope competitions with ample time for fan interaction. Steamboat Ski Resort in association with Raymond Entertainment Group (West Grove, PA) and 2D Consulting, LLC (Burlington, NC) once again host the Steamboat Mascot Stampede® providing student mascots an opportunity to hone their skills while meeting fellow student and professional mascots in a winter setting. The mascots scheduled to take part are: University of Arizona’s “Wilma” [...]
I am not a horse racing fan. I don’t dislike it. I just don’t find myself drawn to follow it year round. When I wake up on the first Saturday of May each year, I do have an intention to watch horse racing. When I arrive to my couch at 4p, when I turn on the television and when I purposefully dial in to the telecast of the Kentucky Derby, I find myself curious about the industry connected to this event and interested in the race. I know that I don’t know names of the jockeys, horses, owners or trainers. [...]
I thought it might be fun at the end of the college basketball regular season to poll a few college marketing administrators to discover some of the unique regional variables that weigh in on decisions about their basketball schedule. Many institutions have to either leverage their opportunities or steer clear of outside influences in order to maximize their attendance numbers. Here is what I learned and I hope you enjoy the insight. Montana State: No early or late afternoon games on a Saturday. So many people are on the slopes that the Bobcats attendance would be wiped out if they [...]