The Super-Drama Bowl

The upcoming super bowl is currently plagued in controversy. One team in particular, the New England Patriots, is undergoing dubious suspicion. In recent weeks prior, Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh complained about the Patriots using deceptive substitution tactics, and now #DeflateGate has been one of the most popular trending topics on Twitter leading up to the super bowl. In case you have been living under a rock, the Indianapolis Colts accused the Patriots of purposefully deflating 11 out of 12 footballs even though the final score could have been called lopsided at best. The Seattle Seahawks are no stranger to controversy either.

Most of the controversy in Seattle surrounds certain players. Marshawn Lynch has recently been broadcast into the limelight this season for his refusal to talk to the media. Lynch often seems to be a Jekyll and Hyde sort of character. Repeatedly during live football games Lynch has proceeded to do obscene gestures. However, there was also the story that came out this season about Lynch tracking a man down and returning his lost wallet. Who can forget the opening season drama surrounding former Seattle wide receiver Percy Harvin? There was the locker room rumors about Percy Harvin and star Quarterback Russel Wilson quarreling.  As the season transpired, the media continuously overwhelmed Seattle with questions about the future of Marshawn Lynch due to his soon to be ending contract.  Another rumor also spread earlier in the season that accused Marshawn Lynch of refusing to board the team bus upon hearing about the Percy Harvin trade to the New York Jets. Marshawn Lynch has proceeded to continually elevate the drama week in and week out. This week he added to his dramatic flair by only speaking for the required time limits at super bowl media events. Lynch is likely to be fined for promoting his own brand of hats as well which is a forbidden action in all player contracts. Boisterous Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman always seems to find a way into the center of attention due to his flamboyant statements and the one that comes to mind particularly now is the one he dished out to New England’s Quarterback Tom Brady last time they met. You MAD Bro? The phrase hit the internet by storm and became a running joke on the meme market.

Richard Sherman may not even make the super bowl! It has recently came out that Sherman is expecting a newborn baby boy any day now. One thing is for certain, this super bowl does not lack in the suspense department. The super bowl halftime performance comes from the popular pop-rock singer Katy Perry. Humorously Katy Perry happens to be feuding with another widely admired artist named Taylor Swift. Apparently the stage is being set for the Super-Drama Bowl this year. However, the super bowl is receiving more PR than ever before which means that viewership will be at an all-time high. I suspect that companies will be going all out in regards to their marketing, advertising and social media efforts in order to seize on this wave of controversy. The type of shows that typically rank second to sporting events as far as ratings are concerned are reality TV shows. This year we get the pleasure of blending the two TV genres together and social media will help boost the suspense. Companies are salivating like a pack of hyenas at the chance to capitalize on the drama. A lot of people may dislike drama, but it’s still a guilty pleasure that most people love to watch unfold.

Now lets see how this Super-Drama Bowl plays out! It should be interesting to say the least…

Pay it forward

Recently my social media class had the opportunity to connect with former students from Dr. Freberg’s previous social media class. It was amazing to see the different unique personalities in the panel. Each of the guest speakers were involved in progressive efforts. A few of the guest speakers had essentially took over their companies social media management and it was impressive to admire their productivity in such a short amount of time. The guest speakers gave us some great insight on social media reputation management and establishing/building our own brand. We were able to ask the panel questions and they answered in a helpful warm manner.

After the guest presentation, it came to my attention how important peer advice can be. Often it can be intimidating to receive advice from those professionals substantially higher on the totem poll than ourselves. I’ve also found that getting advice from past generations on topics such as social media is usually retroactive. Sometimes people get caught up in the notion that their peers cannot possibly provide any new insight to them because they are often in similar professional, social and experiential spectrum’s, however this is not the case at all. I felt a strong connection and bond to the guest speakers and I do not even know them. Psychologically its easier to connect with people who have been through similar situations.

This is the first time I have witnessed a professor utilize this form of learning in the classroom and I feel as if it was an influential way to foster networking growth. Dr. Karen Freberg should be personally commended for establishing this new element into her academic curriculum. University classes often require you to memorize information and take exams on it, but cognitively it is easy to not retain this short-lived information. On the other hand, the networking relationships Dr. Freberg is implementing in her classroom setting through professional and peer guest speakers has the potential to unleash limitless long-term opportunities. Universities should not seek to alienate academic growth from the professional world. It makes for a much easier societal transition if college curriculum’s are set up in a networking based mindset. Our future educational landscape should rely upon this system because it allows students to build experience and it allows professionals to stay connected with an all important demographic voice in society.

Lastly, I would like to help spread awareness about the guest speakers endeavors. Be sure to follow on Twitter @WhiskeyBen and his company @ActiveHeroes (this company helps military families in need). Follow @samanthahughley (for anything UofL sports related). Follow @gissellekohoyda for her latest social media efforts on @SwimSwamNews. Last, but not least, follow @mag_and_cheese and her contributions to @CafePress (Thank you for the class gift Maggie!).

Thank you to all the guest speakers for paying it forward and I hope to continue this trend in the future! If my blog readers would like to stay up-to-date on our classes future discussions and endeavors, just search the hashtag #Freberg15 on Twitter.

May the WEIRD be with you!

Remember the old saying, “You are the company you keep”? That saying can be adapted to these current times easily as well. Humans naturally try to mimic what others say and do from an early age. Cognitive learning is a type of learning in which an individual learns through personal experiences. Everything that we see, touch, listen to, etc.. shapes us in some fashion. The problem for adults is that we often try to mimic whats normal within our society instead of whats WEIRD.

We must make an effort to become conscience about the situations we are putting ourselves in. When I was a struggling college student, my social media feed was full of local nightlife events, questionable statements, lots of complaining and those oh so annoying on/off again relationships! I was gradually trying to make positive changes in my life in order to pursue personal growth, but my social media feed constantly made me feel “normal”. It turns out, I was resorting back to primitive psychology by mimicking others actions. You are probably wondering to yourself whether or not I’m one of those people that just follows whoever they are around, but that’s not the case at all. My issue is that I was not consciously thinking about my situation and I was just going through the motions. I was being too normal and not embracing my inner WEIRDO.

In the professional and educational world you learn that social media is all about NETWORKING, NETWORKING and more NETWORKING. However, it’s important to be aware of the type of social networks you are establishing. Surround yourself with the type of people that will be a positive influence on you. Most people probably assume Billy the computer nerd from high school is a waste of a friend request, but unique skill sets are what makes the world go round. I bet those people who laughed at Bill Gates for saying he was going to be a millionaire by 30 years old (he actually ended up becoming a billionaire by 31), wish they would have liked that pet rock collection he posted on Instagram back in the day!

In the field of Communications, one must embrace openness, but walk a fine line. If you are too private, no one will know who you are. If you are too eccentric, they might think you are weird. Who said weird had too be a bad thing? Steve Jobs tried to cure cancer by becoming a fruitarian and it was said that he had almost no furniture in his home. Albert Einstein struggled with speech as a child and failed his university entrance exam. Most people thought Stuart Scott and his quirky catch phrases didn’t fit the traditional ESPN mold and then he proceeded to revolutionize sports broadcasting. Not many people will remember the unique nuances associated with these pioneers, but everyone will remember their legacies.

If you can find a way to balance professionalism, weirdness and ambition, then you might just stumble upon your Willy Wonka Golden Ticket!

Check out this blog post recently recommended to me called “Why Weirdos Outperform Normals” by Michael Lazerow

The side of TMI no one warned you about!

One of the hot button issues for our society currently is the debate over privacy. To the older generation, we have already landed on Mars and it’s called social media! Meanwhile our youth can’t put the phone down and every waking moment seems to be a opportunity for a new like or a savvy selfie. Its easy to become overwhelmed in social media land because of the individuals bombarding you with TOO MUCH INFO.

I used to want to combat losing my privacy every step of the way, but then I realized that I wanted to be a Communication major, thus this is the life I chose. There is no wrong or right answer as to how privacy should be allocated. However, privacy is something that one must tailor to their own career path. The best thing to remember is that anyone can see the content you are putting out and everyone could be a potential customer or connection. So what could constitute as “TMI” in the sports world? I recently learned from watching Stephen A. Smith on ESPN’s First Take that if you want to be involved in the sports realm, you can’t let the world know your favorites until you are on top. After hearing this advice, I proceeded to slap myself in the forehead because of all the posts I have made as a fan and not as a professional. I’m learning everyday and a part of being human is not being perfect. I wanted to touch on this advice because a substantial number of people working in the sports communications realm do not realize this. Lets put it this way, if you declare yourself a die hard Dallas Cowboys fan, what are you going to do when you get a job offer from Philadelphia, New York or Washington? Or what are you going to do when you want that exclusive inside scoop from a player and he recalls you tweeting that there was no way he made that catch! Every industry is about showing respect. Whether you are a professor, a journalist, an actor or anything in between, you have to set aside inherited loyalties for progress because you never know where your next meal could come from.

If you are concerned about the image you are portraying, you can always do a social media audit. Everyone tells you to go erase those drinking and smoking images, but most people don’t tell you to erase favoritism. Once you become established, by all means, go ahead and tell the world how much you like your product and support your company! On the other hand, beggars like me can’t be choosers. You can capitalize on the loss of privacy or let it burn you… the choice is yours!!!

 

Carpe Diem

I recently read a book last year by Rick Pitino called “The One-Day Contract”. It was astounding to witness how one of the most acclaimed coaches in college basketball goes about his daily life. Mr. Pitino plots his course out each morning so that he can maximize his productivity. Most people are probably thinking, well I have a boss or a family that dictates my schedule, therefore this organization stuff is not for me. However, if you are anything like me, structure and routine is your best friend. Even if you work all day long, it is still possible to manage your downtime. To reach the ranks of a Rick Pitino, one must go above and beyond the normal call of duty. I have learned from experience that if you spend your time reviewing the past and pondering the future, you will not seize the present moment. Success is not built on mediocrity, it is built on over-achievement. Failure and mistakes are merely a part of the journey. It is better to fail repeatedly than to never have tried at all. Profound strengths can materialize through struggle and pain.

Mr. Pitino is not much of an advocate for the social media world and he recommends that his players not participate in it. However, through his book I developed my own spin and I realized that social media can either be a curse or a mighty sword. I will be the first to admit that I’m not a fan of the loss of privacy aspect that comes along with social media, but this is simply the era we live in. Social media is too powerful of a tool to ignore and let fall by the wayside. Social media presents the opportunity for extensive networking, relationship strengthening, awareness advancement, business expansion and the establishment of ones own brand. The American dream is closer to the “Average Joe’s” fingertips than ever before. Our generation may lack the physical prowess of previous generations, but we can use technology to our advantage and become laborers of the mind. Hootsuite is a social media management system and I feel it is the answer to a beaming future. Through the Hootsuite system, one is allowed to schedule and coordinate their social media posts. This means that the wholesome balance between family, hard work, health and faith revered by past generations can re-emerge stronger than ever before. Through proper planning and organization, you don’t have to let your health disintegrate while your success bolsters. Hootsuite will send those brand building tweets out for you while you finish your work out at the gym. Little Billy can still get his breakfast in the morning!

I believe the key to success is to find a balance in life. Concentrating too much on one aspect of your life can cause you to disregard other vital elements that are important to you. It is up to YOU to decide whether or not you want social media to be a curse or a blessing. Will you spend your time complaining, being distracted and wasting time or will you use technology to reach new heights? Ask yourself, what kind of lasting social imprint do I want to leave on the world? Believing in yourself is the first step to success, but following through takes precise determination, adaptation and organization. The next time you wake up or go to bed, seize your future by plotting out your present.

“Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance, order, rhythm and harmony.”

– Thomas Merton

A Little Bit of Background

The first aspect someone usually notices about me is my height. I was born with a rare condition called Spondyloepiphyseal Dysplasia. I look at my circumstance like a gift because it has allowed me to empathize with all types of individuals. I am driven beyond belief because I have yet to come across any individuals like me in the sports world. I want to be for the disabled what Stuart Scott was for the African American community. I have had a few major surgeries including a C1-C2 neck fusion which put me in a Halo device that restricted the majority of my movement for 9 months. After that surgery, I had a rod put in my spine to correct the scoliosis in my back that became too severe. I have always been enamored with sports, even though basketball is the only one I used to play. My family and friends think I’m a little obsessed with sports at times. It doesn’t make sense to a lot of people why someone would study the sports world like one were to study subjects such as literature, science and mathematics. I am guilty of rooting for certain teams in the sports world, but I admire rival teams with the utmost respect, even though I might not show it in the heat of the moment. I watch ESPN religiously and I look up to people like Steven A. Smith, Rich Eisen, Scott Van Pelt, Mike Greenberg, Michael A. Smith, Skip Bayless, Chris Berman and many more. I love how sports has the power to uplift people and bring us together. I will admit that my speech is not the best because of a lisp and I gravitate towards writing. I was born in a small town called Hickory, North Carolina which is close to Charlotte, NC. I grew up most of my life surrounded by a comfortable familiar setting. My life hit a stalemate and I realized to grow I needed to become uncomfortable. During my recovery from ankle reconstructive surgery, I moved to Louisville, KY to stay with my mother. I would have never imagined going to the University of Louisville and it never was in my plans, but the wind blew me in this direction. I think honesty is the best policy and to be truthful, at one point I was almost kicked out of community college. My grades were barely making it and I thought that maybe higher education was not in my cards. However, the exact opposite began to unfold. I proceeded to have a rebirth of sorts and I now am at the top of my class. I would go in to detail, but that is not my style. I believe in always being humble and not gloating about your successes. My grandfather was my idol growing up and he dropped out of school after 6th grade. He taught me to appreciate every person and to never feel as if you were above someone else. I also learned from my grandfather how important honesty and compassion for other people is. I have no family and just mere acquaintances in the Louisville area, except for my mother. I miss everyone back home, but I came to the conclusion that I needed to utilize the talent I was given accordingly. I am now in my senior year and the next step in my journey will not be based on being comfortable. I like to break barriers and shoot for the stars. My life journey will be dictated by the opportunities that come my way. My ultimate goal is to be a role model for the people burdened by unfortunate circumstances (not necessarily), that often do not have a voice in this society. I know how it feels to grow up wondering who you can connect/relate to because you are so different. I want the people who suffer from various disabilities to know that they have a voice, a friend and a role model in me. I thought I would begin my blog by giving some background on myself.

A dream is your creative vision for your life in the future. You must break out of your current comfort zone and become comfortable with the unfamiliar and the unknown.
– Denis Waitley