Monday, May 3 through Sunday, May 9, 2021
Issue No. 379
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George Blanda's Oakland Raiders career ended with some magic |
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George Blanda –The Ultimate Curmudgeon
by Bruce Macgowan
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(Above) Bruce Macgowan, Bogey, wife Colette and daughter Molly
Long-time Bay Area sportscaster Bruce Macgowan has been recording his 45 years of broadcast experience for a forthcoming book to be published shortly.
“WHERE WERE YOU 20 YEARS AGO WHEN I NEEDED YOU?” barked the grizzled football player to a young, intimidated radio reporter who had asked for a quick postgame interview.
It was in the fall of 1975 and I was covering my first Raiders game for the first radio station I had ever worked for – KAHI in Auburn, a 5,000 watt AM station where I also held down the noon to 6 pm DJ shift.
Believe it or not, the Raiders, who lost only something like 10 percent of all of their home games in the 1970s, were upset on the first game I ever covered, by the Houston Oilers. A last second TD pass from Dan Pastorini to wide receiver Billy ‘White Shoes’ Johnson silenced the usual sellout crowd at the Oakland Coliseum. Fortunately for the Raiders, it didn’t effect the outcome of their season as they routinely won another division title.
After the game, in the Raider locker room, I interviewed several players and then noticed Blanda sitting in front of his locker in a corner. He still had on his silver pants and was removing his old style, high top shoes. I gingerly strode over to his locker and asked him if he might have a minute to talk.
George Blanda was in his late 40s by this time, had grey sideburns and his sun tanned, weather-beaten face reminded me of the ‘Marlboro Man.’ He was a solid 6’3” and probably weighed about 210 pounds and looked every bit the fine athlete he had been in his 20s and 30s.
Looking up at me and regarding me as if I were some annoying fly, he snarled at me that I was someone he could have used a long time ago instead of now, late in his career.
“Hell, I’m just a placekicker now. I’ve hardly played a down as a quarterback in the last five years. Who the $#%@ would be interested in hearing what I have to say?”
I tried flattering him by explaining that he was a legendary figure but he was having none of it.
“Yeah, yeah. Ok, I’ve heard all that before! You guys just won’t leave me alone! OK, let’s do this thing but you better make it goddamned quick! I don’t have much time for any of your damn nonsense!”
For some reason, even though I would figuratively tip-toe around crabby athletes such as Blanda over the many years that followed in my broadcasting career, I was never intimidated. But Blanda was a little different. He began his career in a different era; the late 1940s, playing for the legendary head coach George Halas of the Chicago Bears. Blanda eventually had a falling out with the cantankerous and autocratic Halas, and in his early 30s he ended up leading the newly-minted Houston Oilers of the AFL to the league’s first two titles in the early 1960s. The defining moments of his career, however, came years later in the magical 1970 season.
At the age of 43, a time when most players had long since retired, the University of Kentucky product suddenly became a cult hero, especially to middle-aged football fans. In the space of five weeks George Blanda led the Raiders to four wins and a tie by either throwing game winning TD passes or kicking long field goals in the final seconds. This exciting string of good fortune allowed the Raiders to take their fourth straight divisional title before they were stopped in the conference finals just one game short of the Super Bowl. But Blanda’s heroics earned him many accolades, including being on the cover of Sports Illustrated during the middle of that memorable run.
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During his late run of glory, Blanda appeared on the cover of Sports lllustrated
So as one might imagine, I was eager to talk with Blanda. Our interview went smoothly although I have to say I remember little about what we discussed. Just another interview that probably sounded like so many other obligatory postgame interviews I conducted over the years.
After our brief chat I stood there for a moment and Blanda gave me a sour look and then said: “Well, is that it!?”
I sheepishly replied that I was wondering if he would read an endorsement I had printed. It promoted a 15-minute sports report which I produced and hosted each afternoon on the station.
I handed the old pro a well worn piece of paper with a typewritten script which had many alterations I had made in pen.
“What the $#@! Is this?” Blanda replied after yanking the paper from my hand.
“I can’t read this crap! What the hell is this for?”
When I explained it was an endorsement for my show, he sarcastically replied: “Where is this radio station?”
I told him but that elicited a more caustic reply.
“Auburn? Where the hell is that Bum#@%$ town?”
I told him that Auburn was a small burg in the Sierra Nevada foothills just outside of Sacramento. That hardly made him back down as he continued to read me the riot act.
“Yeah, I know where the hell Auburn is,” he barked. That’s where Otto (Raiders legendary center Jim Otto) owns a Burger King.”
Fortunately for me, Blanda reluctantly relented, grabbing the microphone from my hand and doing a perfect reading. But afterward he again expressed his annoyance.
“Here!” he snapped as he crumpled up my script and threw it back at me like a piece of garbage.
“Now get outta here kid! You’re driving me nuts!”
I noticed that a few other writers who were loitering nearby turned their heads to see what the commotion was about. Two of them started chuckling. No doubt they were amused that some raw young neophyte media member was getting his ‘baptism under fire’ from one of the game’s crusty old characters.
Seconds later as I was walking away, I suddenly heard his voice booming at me from across the locker room. My first thought was: “Oh no! What did I do to piss him off now?”
But the old coot had a smile on his face, “Hey Kid!” he paused for effect. “You’re ok!” A modest smile spread over his craggy features.
I gave him an embarrassed smile but had a warm, satisfying feeling as I walked away. Years later I realized that an experience such as this one gave me confidence to approach sometimes testy athletes in locker rooms after tough losses.
A post script to this story; About 25 years later I was doing sideline reporting for the Oakland Raiders’ radio broadcasts and was in their locker room getting some interviews for KNBR. Everyone was in a good mood because the Raiders did what they were supposed to do. They had throttled the mediocre San Diego Chargers. But who did I see talking with several players about ten yards away? It was a gregarious but quite recognizable white haired gentleman.
I went over, introduced myself and told him about our encounter many years before.
“Yeah, I never cared much for you reporters. But I’m glad you didn’t take it personally. Looks as if you’ve done pretty well for yourself kid!” he smiled.
We had a nice conversation for several minutes and then he shook my hand and we said goodbye. As I walked away I had that same warm feeling I had many years before after our first encounter.
George Blanda. What a player and what a character!
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San Francisco 49ers Savior? |
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Will Trey Lance, drafted by the San Francisco 49ers with the third pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, fulfill his promise as the generational quarterback the Niners have been seeking? Draft reports are unanimous in praising his high upside, but Lance was the least battle-tested of the available quarterbacks. At the moment, Lance is seen as someone who will keep 49ers fans on their feet and cheering
for years to come.
What do YOU think? Was this choice too risky? Let us hear your thoughts for our Letters to the Editor column. Write: sportstoday@ultimatesportsguide.net
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Golden State Warriors 113
Houston Rockets 87
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San Francisco Giants 7
San Diego Padres 1
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Oakland A's 7
Baltimore Orioles 5
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A's, Giants, Warriors,
Kings & Sharks Schedules
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Oakland A's 7
Baltimore Orioles 5
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Oakland Athletics center fielder Ramon Laureano hit a 2-run home run in the 8th inning to break a tie game as the Athletics beat the Baltimore Orioles, 7-5, at RingCentral Coliseum on Sunday, May 2. Caption and photo
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A half inning earlier, Laureano made a run-saving catch at the center field wall.
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Manager Gabe Kapler and Bench Coach Kai Correa debate who would win in a race and discuss how they think players would pick a winner in this week's episode of Catchin' Up. |
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A's Fantasy Camp
Live out your Major League dream of being a member of the Green and Gold during A's Fantasy Camp in Mesa, Arizona, Jan. 12 to 18, 2022. Proceeds from this event will benefit the Oakland A's Community Fund.
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San Jose Earthquakes 4
D.C. United 1
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Jackson Yueill scored two goals as the San Jose Earthquakes defeated
D.C. United, 4-1, at PayPal Park in San Jose on Saturday, May 1.
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Seventeen-year-old Cade Cowell scored a goal and added two assists to help lead the Quakes to their second consecutive victory. Caption and photo
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Hardly Trivial by T. Buff |
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A-born in Texas but a homegrown boy (San Francisco/Bay Area) is the only MLB player to earn an MVP award in both the American and National Leagues. Who is it?
(See answer below...)
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Ted Williams, the former Boston Red Sox slugger and of Mexican heritage,
hit .406 in 1941, a record which still stands today
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Why is Ted Williams in the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum?
by Amaury Pi-Gonzalez
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The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame was founded in
San Francisco in 1999 and registered by the State of California as a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization.
Through the years at many of the exhibits, at different cities, baseball parks, libraries and community events, people ask why Ted Williams is inducted into the museum. Few people know Teddy Ballgame had Mexican ancestry.
Williams just did not tell people about it. His father was Teddy Samuel Williams. Ted Williams was named after his father and Teddy Roosevelt. His mother, May Venzor, was Mexican-American, born in El Paso, Texas about nine miles from Ciudad Juárez, México.
In that time in history, the 1940s and 1950s, Williams did not discuss his mother’s Mexican and Basque heritage. Williams wrote in his biography, My Turn at Bat, “If I had my mother’s name, there’s no doubt I would have run into problems in those days, with the prejudices people had in Southern California.” But Williams also credited his uncle, Saul Venzor, for teaching him to hit and throw a baseball.
It’s important to understand the era and circumstances when considering why Williams didn’t discuss his mother’s Mexican and Basque heritage. During an exhibit of the museum at the San Francisco Main Library many people asked why Ted Williams was in this Hall of Fame. Obviously many people still ignore his heritage and that is understandable, since the name Ted Williams is anything but Hispanic.
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'The Splendid Splinter' was aptly named
It is part of the purpose of the museum's mission to inform the public about the great diversity of nations in Latin America, as well as those born in the United States, of Hispanic heritage.
There are 33 countries in Latin America with different cultures and traditions and even different languages. As a matter of fact, in Brazil (the largest country in Latin America) Spanish is not the predominant language, but Portuguese. Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world by territory, larger than Russia, Canada, U.S. and China. Brazil is one of the great fútbol (soccer) powers of the world, with a leading five World Cup titles. But they also play baseball in Brazil.
Yan Gomes today is a catcher for the Washington Nationals. Other Brazilian-born players who have played in the Major Leagues: Paulo Orlando, Luiz Gohara, Thyago Vieira and Andre Rienzo. Brazil has also participated in the World Baseball Classic.
The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame (HHBMHOF) is dedicated to recognizing the contributions made to baseball by Hispanic players. Since its inception, the HHBMHOF has inducted 74 players, coaches, broadcasters, Negro League and Hispanic players, MLB scorers, and Pioneer Executives. The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame, respects the heritage of all players. The museum is proud to have the great Ted Williams in its Hall of Fame. Here is the new website for the museum: http://www.hhbmhof.com
Stay well and stay tuned.
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Mr. Gabriel (Tito) Avila Jr. is the Founder and President of The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame and Amaury Pi-González is co-founder and Vice President. The traveling museum was founded in San Francisco and ex-Athletics and ex-Giants players Orlando Cepeda and Tito #23 Fuentes were co-founders of the popular museum. Amaury does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com
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Cal splits 126th dual against Stanford |
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Cal's Alexa Rossum (second from left) took first place in the 100m and finished second in the 200m. California Track & field earned 18 event wins and collected 22 lifetime bests as the Bears and Cardinal split the 126th edition of the Big Meet on Saturday, May 1 at Edwards Stadium. The Cal women defeated Stanford, 88-74, while the Cardinal men beat the Golden Bears, 85-75.
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Asha Fletcher of Cal won the Triple Jump with 13.26m as the Stanford Cardinal met the California Golden Bears in the 126th Big Meet at Edwards Stadium on May 1. Caption and photo by Ron Sellers.
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Josh Johnson of Cal prepares to launch the shot 18.99m, just beating out teammate Jeff Duensing, as the Stanford Cardinal met the California Golden Bears in the 126th Big Meet at Edwards Stadium on May 1.
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Things really got exciting in the Men’s 4x400 relay as Henry Larking of Cal (#6) had to make up a 3m deficit at the last exchange for a dramatic win. The Stanford Cardinal met the California Golden Bears in the 126th Big Meet at Edwards Stadium on May 1. Caption and photo by Ron Sellers.
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Allie Jones of Stanford takes first in the Long Jump as the Stanford Cardinal met the California Golden Bears in the 126th Big Meet at Edwards Stadium on
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It was a solid 1, 2, 3 and 4 for the Stanford women in the 1500m as Lucy Jenks took the win. The Stanford Cardinal met the California Golden Bears in the 126th Big Meet at Edwards Stadium on May 1. Caption and photo
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It was a solid 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 for the Stanford men in the 3000m as Charles Hicks took the win. The Stanford Cardinal met the California Golden Bears in the 126th Big Meet at Edwards Stadium on May 1.
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Probably the most exciting moment of the meet occurred when Charles Hicks of Stanford just held on to win the 1500m as Cal’s Garrett MacQiddy overtook four other Cardinal runners on the last lap. The Stanford Cardinal met the California Golden Bears in the 126th Big Meet at Edwards Stadium
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J.T. Herrscher of Stanford launches himself over the bar on his way to winning the Pole Vault with the height of 5.21m. The Stanford Cardinal met the California Golden Bears in the 126th Big Meet at Edwards Stadium on May 1.
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Cal Bears 48
Arizona Wildcats 7
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Seth Purdy (L) and Mack Fell (R) celebrate Nathan Zylstra's (C) try in the 22nd minute. California over Arizona,48–7, in a men's rugby match at Witter Rugby Field, University of California on May 1, 2021 in Berkeley, California.
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Cal outside center Seth Purdy eludes the Arizona defense.
California over Arizona, 48–7, in a men's rugby match at Witter Rugby Field, University of California on May 1, 2021 in Berkeley, California.
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Cal junior lock Max Murphy races for a try in the 64th minute.
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In the Shadow of Obscurity |
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Author Arif Khatib (above left)
As a person who has traveled the world and chronicled his journey, and recently completed his memoirs for his family, Arif Khatib set out to create a book that would combine three of his passions: sports, history and social justice, while shining a much-needed light on the contributions of forgotten and unheard-of athletes of color. The Shadow of Obscurity: Toiling in a Reluctant Society realizes his vision.
Author Pete Elman (above right)
Pete Elman is a musician, journalist, author and teacher. Originally from Washington, D.C., he grew up loving rock and roll, sports and history. His father, a Justice Department lawyer who argued cases in the Supreme Court—most notably Brown vs. Board of Education—imbued in young Peter a strong sense of social justice.
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Where The Bay Comes To Play! |
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The BEST Bay Area sports photos from
Michael Zagaris, Ed Jay, Rich Yee, Darren Yamashita,
Ron Sellers, Alex Ho, Rob Edwards, Kenneth Wong,
Timothy Reynolds and Larry Rosa
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Oakland, CA - Grammy award-winning artist Fantastic Negrit and Oakland Roots have collaborated on the release of "Root City," a tribute to the Town and the club's new Official Anthem.
“Root City” was born from the Roots’ 2020 Justice Match, a soccer match created to promote racial and gender equity that was driven by the club’s response to the protests for racial justice that swept the country following the continued police killings of unarmed people of color. Fantastic Negrito wrote the song specifically to be played before the match and helped raise funds for the Oakland Roots Justice Fund, which supports causes at the intersection of race and gender justice.
About Fantastic Negrito:
When you listen to 3x Grammy winner Fantastic Negrito, you’re invited to hear the story of life after destruction. Each song is a real story about a musician from Oakland who experienced the highs of a million-dollar record deal, the lows of a near fatal car accident that left him in a coma, and is now in the midst of a rebirth that took him from the streets of Oakland to the world stage. The narrative of this man is as important as the sound, because the narrative is the sound. Songs born from a long hard life channeled through black roots music. Slide guitar, drums, piano. Urgent, desperate, edgy. Negrito burst on to the national radar by winning the inaugural NPR Tiny Desk contest in 2015, and has since won Grammys for his first three albums: The Last Days of Oakland (2017), Please Don’t Be Dead (2019), and Have You Lost Your Mind Yet? (2020). He has performed on stages around the world and has appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and CBS This Morning: Saturday. The Associated Press said that Fantastic Negrito “offers his songs for the soundtrack of the lives of those who won’t give up and are willing to carry on.”
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Hardly Trivial Answer by T. Buff |
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Frank Robinson, a member of a number of teams and holder of many positions, is the only MLB player to achieve an MVP
in both the American and National Leagues.
In 2005, Robinson (above) received the Presidential Medal of Freedom Award from President George W. Bush. "In the game we love, few names will ever command as much respect and esteem as the name
of Frank Robinson," Bush said.
on the man that I could find..
Suggestions? Caught me off-base for misinformation?
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Recent Facebook Albums to Enjoy |
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For the best real estate listings homes and property on
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Consider!
More than an internship and a great career opportunity!
The Ultimate Sports Guide needs people (as in more than one) familiar with basic social media technology and e-marketing. Utilize your technical skills to advance your career, add to your resume and learn from sports industry professionals. Send a note and resume to sportstoday@ultimatesportsguide.net
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Back Issues
not to be missed!
Offering superb photography and
entertaining chronicles
* Click here for 2019 editions.
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Weekly Bay Area
Sports Calendar
Monday, May 3 through
Sunday, May 9, 2021
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Monday, May 3
Golden State Warriors @ New Orleans Pelicans, 4:30 p.m.
San Jose Sharks vs. Colorado Avalanche, 7:30 p.m.
San Francisco Giants @ Colorado Rockies, 5:40 p.m.
Oakland A's vs. Toronto Blue Jays, 6:40 p.m.
Tuesday, May 4
Golden State Warriors @ New Orleans Pelicans, 5 p.m.
Sacramento Kings @ Oklahoma City Thunder, 5 p.m.
San Francisco Giants @ Colorado Rockies, 5:40 p.m.
Oakland A's vs. Toronto Blue Jays, 6:40 p.m.
Wednesday, May 5
Sacramento Kings @ Indiana Pacers, 5 p.m.
San Francisco Giants @ Colorado Rockies, 12:10 p.m.
Oakland A's vs. Toronto Blue Jays, 6:40 p.m.
San Jose Sharks vs. Colorado Avalanche, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 6
Golden State Warriors vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, 7 p.m.
Oakland A's vs. Toronto Blue Jays, 12:37 p.m.
Friday, May 7
Sacramento Kings vs. San Antonio Spurs, 7 p.m.
San Francisco Giants vs. San Diego Padres, 6:45 p.m.
Oakland A's vs. Tampa Bay Rays, 6:40 p.m.
San Jose Sharks vs. Arizona Coyotes, 7:30 p.m.
San Jose Earthquakes @ Real Salt Lake, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 8
Golden State Warriors vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, 7 p.m.
San Francisco Giants vs. San Diego Padres, 1:05 p.m.
Oakland A's vs. Tampa Bay Rays, 1:07 p.m.
San Jose Sharks vs. Arizona Coyotes, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 9
Sacramento Kings vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, 7 p.m.
San Francisco Giants vs. San Diego Padres, 1:05 p.m.
Oakland A's vs. Tampa Bay Rays, 1:07 p.m.
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Enjoy the
Under the ultra-skilled leadership of Cal graduate Ricky Liu, a team of talented Cal students assembled the elegant Ultimate Sports Guide website for your readers. Ricky's team included Natalie Leung, Yafei Liang and Kasey Woo. Visit www.ultimatesportsguide.net
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This is an eBook available in .epub or .mobi file formats.
Navigating a career in any business is highly complex, especially in the world of sports and entertainment. Knowing how to separate the logo on your business card from your personal identity is a valuable skill for creating your own career path. Building a career in the sports industry is easier said than done, especially since the business is extremely addictive. Cool corporate logos and titles should never control your true sense of self; your name on the card is much more important! Welcome to the world of LOL, or “Loss of Logo.”
Written for aspiring sports professionals, current sports industry professionals, and any career enthusiasts who are chasing the fancy logo and corner office, LOL, Loss of Logo: What’s Your Next Move? offers valuable takeaways for everyone. Comprised of powerful perspectives from 38 multitalented industry professionals, this book will give you the tools to succeed in the industry, with or without your logo.
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Many people -- maybe even you -- have been getting out on their bikes more during Shelter-in-Place. "Check for Bikes" clings and bumper stickers are great ways to keep bicyclists safer out there on the road by promoting awareness by drivers to share the road. Keep safe out there and keep your neighbors safe by using or passing along vinyl clings for inside a car window or windshield and
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The Ultimate Sports Guide is very appreciative to the ongoing contributions made by former staff photographer Kenny Karst and Robert Moselle. Mr. Karst, now retired, continues to contribute through helpful ideas and his archives. Mr. Moselle lends his sharp eyes and marketing savvy.
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