Thursday, April 24, 2014
Thursday, April 3, 2014
The greatest accomplishment
Well, the topic of this blog post had me sitting here thinking for a while. What is your greatest accomplishment? I've accomplished many things in my lifetime so far, but the greatest thing I've achieved I think is the whole idea of "growing up and following my dreams." When I was a senior in high school, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life? When I received my acceptance letter to the University of South Dakota, I knew that's what I wanted to do.
So here's this little freshmen in college, I've always been an independent person, so moving 500 miles from home was a thrill for me! I love new experiences. I came into school as a Pre-Physical Therapy major, but after I got introduced to The Volante, the university newspaper, I had success and found my calling. Sports have been a major part of my life and to continue my life down the sports path was just what I needed.
I have gone through some difficult times during college and being 500 miles from home, dealing with things, emotions, and life can be hard without family by your side. When I was a sophomore, I went through the first death of a family member, my grandmother. During winter break, she was really struggling with diabetes and all issues caused from it, she decided she had lived a great life, and was ready to not be struggling and constantly in and out of hospitals and nursing homes. She decided to stop taking her insulin pump, which put her into a diabetic coma and then she passed away. I missed about a week and a half of second semester that year, but came back strong and finished the semester out.
Then the week before I was supposed to come back to Vermillion my junior year, we found out my mom was having some issues the doctors thought was cancer. Being in a sorority, Alpha Xi Delta, we had recruitment coming up and sisterhood week, when I first found out, that was it for me. I made the decision to stay home from sisterhood week until we found out the results, and then I would decide about school. My mom and I are super close and we had a talk, she said that I needed to go to school, we needed to trust in God, pray about it and be strong through it. That being said, I went back and participated in sisterhood week. We were sitting in our formal living room and I got a phone call from my mom, the results from the tests were negative, my mom didn't have cancer. That was the most relieving phone call I had ever received.
Senior year then came around and my life was at its highest. Then I got the text that stopped my world, I was standing in the student union and dropped my phone. The text that my uncle, my idol, an inspiration of mine was diagnosed with Acute Leukemia and only had a month to live. I couldn't believe it, I thought it was a joke, I prayed and prayed that it was and the doctors were wrong. I left four days later and flew to Florida to visit him, he was doing so well, until one night his pneumonia came back and they transported him to the ICU. I spent every day, minute and hour I could with him. He then decided it was all too much, the pain was unbearable and just wasn't worth the fight. They moved him to hospice where he passed away about a week later. This is the hardest thing I have ever had to deal with in my life. He is my inspiration, the reason I love sports, the reason I strive to be the best person I can be. I was going to move to Florida to live with them and help them get through the Leukemia in December, before he decided things weren't alright. Not moving there still to this day, breaks my heart. I couldn't have gotten through these things without being strong and having faith. My uncle told me the whole time I was down there, we're gonna stay strong through this, you're a strong girl and you can do this. I love him so much and miss him more than words can ever explain.
Without moving far from home, learning to live on my own and taking care of myself would have been way different if I was close enough to go home whenever I wanted. I'm proud of the accomplishment I have of leaving Wisconsin, starting brand new, doing what I want and pursuing my dreams. Independence and just being me have gotten me a long way in life and I cannot wait to see where my life takes me. I know I will have many more difficulties in my life, but I've been through some already, I know how to deal with situations and know they don't just go away. Life is all about learning new things daily, and I love that.
So here's this little freshmen in college, I've always been an independent person, so moving 500 miles from home was a thrill for me! I love new experiences. I came into school as a Pre-Physical Therapy major, but after I got introduced to The Volante, the university newspaper, I had success and found my calling. Sports have been a major part of my life and to continue my life down the sports path was just what I needed.
I have gone through some difficult times during college and being 500 miles from home, dealing with things, emotions, and life can be hard without family by your side. When I was a sophomore, I went through the first death of a family member, my grandmother. During winter break, she was really struggling with diabetes and all issues caused from it, she decided she had lived a great life, and was ready to not be struggling and constantly in and out of hospitals and nursing homes. She decided to stop taking her insulin pump, which put her into a diabetic coma and then she passed away. I missed about a week and a half of second semester that year, but came back strong and finished the semester out.
Then the week before I was supposed to come back to Vermillion my junior year, we found out my mom was having some issues the doctors thought was cancer. Being in a sorority, Alpha Xi Delta, we had recruitment coming up and sisterhood week, when I first found out, that was it for me. I made the decision to stay home from sisterhood week until we found out the results, and then I would decide about school. My mom and I are super close and we had a talk, she said that I needed to go to school, we needed to trust in God, pray about it and be strong through it. That being said, I went back and participated in sisterhood week. We were sitting in our formal living room and I got a phone call from my mom, the results from the tests were negative, my mom didn't have cancer. That was the most relieving phone call I had ever received.
Senior year then came around and my life was at its highest. Then I got the text that stopped my world, I was standing in the student union and dropped my phone. The text that my uncle, my idol, an inspiration of mine was diagnosed with Acute Leukemia and only had a month to live. I couldn't believe it, I thought it was a joke, I prayed and prayed that it was and the doctors were wrong. I left four days later and flew to Florida to visit him, he was doing so well, until one night his pneumonia came back and they transported him to the ICU. I spent every day, minute and hour I could with him. He then decided it was all too much, the pain was unbearable and just wasn't worth the fight. They moved him to hospice where he passed away about a week later. This is the hardest thing I have ever had to deal with in my life. He is my inspiration, the reason I love sports, the reason I strive to be the best person I can be. I was going to move to Florida to live with them and help them get through the Leukemia in December, before he decided things weren't alright. Not moving there still to this day, breaks my heart. I couldn't have gotten through these things without being strong and having faith. My uncle told me the whole time I was down there, we're gonna stay strong through this, you're a strong girl and you can do this. I love him so much and miss him more than words can ever explain.
Without moving far from home, learning to live on my own and taking care of myself would have been way different if I was close enough to go home whenever I wanted. I'm proud of the accomplishment I have of leaving Wisconsin, starting brand new, doing what I want and pursuing my dreams. Independence and just being me have gotten me a long way in life and I cannot wait to see where my life takes me. I know I will have many more difficulties in my life, but I've been through some already, I know how to deal with situations and know they don't just go away. Life is all about learning new things daily, and I love that.
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Youtube Sensations.
YouTube, a way for someone to express themselves in video form. It is used for multiple reasons, promos, psa, sports, music, how to videos, comedy and many many more. Videos go viral all of the time, I'm not huge into watching them unless I'm shown them by someone else. There are two main reasons I use YouTube, the first one being music and the second one of course being for sports!
Music is a passion of mine, I can't go a day without listening to it, whether it be in the car, during a workout or when I'm studying! I love it! Music speaks to the soul and depending on my mood I listen to various genres. An infamous song, which I've mentioned more than once on my blog that I can't get enough of is "Jump Around" again, being from Wisconsin it just comes natural to love this song! I could simply post a lyric video of it from YouTube on here, but the Badger in me comes out and I love to promote them and watch this video! It reminds me of the Wisconsin tradition which I encounter at every game! My first video. . .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHYgwC4fyhM
Sports, I just can't get enough of them in my life each day. If I could spend my life traveling to different sports venues to watch games each day I would! Now, to narrow my choice of YouTube videos I love that have to do with sports is just not fair! There are so many of my favorite sports moments! For this, I literally can't choose one, so why not choose one each from my three favorite sports, basketball, football and of course, hockey!!
College basketball, the rivalries, conference tournaments and the NCAA tourney, the best part of the year! Wisconsin plays tonight against the Baylor Bears, so why not show some MORE Badger pride with this exciting buzzer beater that led the Badgers to OT and ended up beating that team from across the lake. . . Michigan.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbYPFNfEa-Y
Football, now how does one go about choosing a favorite video here? Well, it's not a quite a highlights video, but it does have a rap to it and is something that went viral when it came out. Now I'm not a huge fan of rap, but Lil Wayne did do a great job on this video called "Green and Yellow" that is now known as the Green Bay Packers Anthem.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvqmUXs5XAA
Hockey, this is an easy choice, again I can't help that I've lived in Wisconsin my entire life and grown up around ALL Wisconsin sports. Although, I do LOVE the Chicago Blackhawks, and this video features a family friend, who played for Wisconsin and then the Blackhawks. I was a freshmen in high school and traveled to Milwaukee to watch the Frozen Four, where the Badgers won. I can vividly remember this day, losing my voice, and taking pictures with family friend, Adam Burish before the championship game, which the Badgers won! So here is the tribute to the 2006 Badger Hockey Frozen Four!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JOy6r6hpj0
The last video I will share has to do with the Badgers once again, but this video went viral and brought attention to the college football world in many ways. After this video was made, then t-shirts were made and all of a sudden the Oregon Ducks tried to copy the Badgers and it went on from school to school from there. Teach Me How to Bucky is a fun, Wisconsin loving video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVAZXZfIlNk
YouTube can be used in so many ways, the best way in my opinion is for sports!
Music is a passion of mine, I can't go a day without listening to it, whether it be in the car, during a workout or when I'm studying! I love it! Music speaks to the soul and depending on my mood I listen to various genres. An infamous song, which I've mentioned more than once on my blog that I can't get enough of is "Jump Around" again, being from Wisconsin it just comes natural to love this song! I could simply post a lyric video of it from YouTube on here, but the Badger in me comes out and I love to promote them and watch this video! It reminds me of the Wisconsin tradition which I encounter at every game! My first video. . .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHYgwC4fyhM
Sports, I just can't get enough of them in my life each day. If I could spend my life traveling to different sports venues to watch games each day I would! Now, to narrow my choice of YouTube videos I love that have to do with sports is just not fair! There are so many of my favorite sports moments! For this, I literally can't choose one, so why not choose one each from my three favorite sports, basketball, football and of course, hockey!!
College basketball, the rivalries, conference tournaments and the NCAA tourney, the best part of the year! Wisconsin plays tonight against the Baylor Bears, so why not show some MORE Badger pride with this exciting buzzer beater that led the Badgers to OT and ended up beating that team from across the lake. . . Michigan.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbYPFNfEa-Y
Football, now how does one go about choosing a favorite video here? Well, it's not a quite a highlights video, but it does have a rap to it and is something that went viral when it came out. Now I'm not a huge fan of rap, but Lil Wayne did do a great job on this video called "Green and Yellow" that is now known as the Green Bay Packers Anthem.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvqmUXs5XAA
Hockey, this is an easy choice, again I can't help that I've lived in Wisconsin my entire life and grown up around ALL Wisconsin sports. Although, I do LOVE the Chicago Blackhawks, and this video features a family friend, who played for Wisconsin and then the Blackhawks. I was a freshmen in high school and traveled to Milwaukee to watch the Frozen Four, where the Badgers won. I can vividly remember this day, losing my voice, and taking pictures with family friend, Adam Burish before the championship game, which the Badgers won! So here is the tribute to the 2006 Badger Hockey Frozen Four!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JOy6r6hpj0
The last video I will share has to do with the Badgers once again, but this video went viral and brought attention to the college football world in many ways. After this video was made, then t-shirts were made and all of a sudden the Oregon Ducks tried to copy the Badgers and it went on from school to school from there. Teach Me How to Bucky is a fun, Wisconsin loving video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVAZXZfIlNk
YouTube can be used in so many ways, the best way in my opinion is for sports!
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
A Wisconsin Girl's Traditions. . . SIEVE!
Growing up in Madison, Wisconsin, home of the Wisconsin Badgers. I have gone to more Badger sporting events than I can even begin to name. My family has season tickets to football and men's hockey. With that being said, there are many traditions that we have during the seasons.
The first tradition we have starts with football. Saturday mornings, the drive to Camp Randall with my grandma are the best. We park about a mile from the stadium and walk over together. We enjoy the craziness that is Wisconsin football fans while walking down the street and every house has music playing loud, grilling out and just having a fun time together. Then, the best part of the game, the start of the fourth quarter, when the famous "Jump Around" is played and everyone in the stadium is up jumping and singing. We sit on the upper deck and when Jump Around is played if you stand still, you can feel the stadium moving. My grandma and I no matter what always stay for the 5th quarter, when the Wisconsin Marching Band plays all of the popular Wisconsin songs. It does not matter how cold, windy, rainy or snowy it is, we stay every game.
The next tradition comes with hockey, my favorite! It starts on Friday night when about 10-15 of us get together and go to Alt n Bachs for dinner before the game. It's about five minutes from the Kohl Center and is a favorite place for many people to gather before hockey games. We then head to the Kohl Center where we always have to be early so we can watch the starting line-ups and the video that plays beforehand. I've gone to a couple Frozen Four tournaments and know more about Badger hockey than a lot of people. Knowing the history and what my family did before hockey was at the Kohl Center and was played at the Coliseum makes the video extra special. During the game, after the Badgers score a goal, there is a chant the crowd yells, "SIEVE" as the band plays along. When my dad was younger and went to games with my grandma, close family friends of ours made a huge sign that read SIEVE and it hung in every game. That's a pretty special tradition of mine. Then there is always the band that plays during the second intermission and the tradition of everyone standing and singing "Varsity" while swaying back and forth. Now let's not forget the best part of the song, at the end when everyone yells, "When you say WISCONSIN, you've said it all." My sister and I also know all of the songs and dances so we get up at every game and do them together. I am a Wisconsin girl at heart and always will be, I love my Badgers and the traditions they carry on.
Attending Badger games will always be a favorite tradition of mine, especially when we face Minnesota in hockey or Ohio State in football. I hope to carry these traditions on forever.
The first tradition we have starts with football. Saturday mornings, the drive to Camp Randall with my grandma are the best. We park about a mile from the stadium and walk over together. We enjoy the craziness that is Wisconsin football fans while walking down the street and every house has music playing loud, grilling out and just having a fun time together. Then, the best part of the game, the start of the fourth quarter, when the famous "Jump Around" is played and everyone in the stadium is up jumping and singing. We sit on the upper deck and when Jump Around is played if you stand still, you can feel the stadium moving. My grandma and I no matter what always stay for the 5th quarter, when the Wisconsin Marching Band plays all of the popular Wisconsin songs. It does not matter how cold, windy, rainy or snowy it is, we stay every game.
The next tradition comes with hockey, my favorite! It starts on Friday night when about 10-15 of us get together and go to Alt n Bachs for dinner before the game. It's about five minutes from the Kohl Center and is a favorite place for many people to gather before hockey games. We then head to the Kohl Center where we always have to be early so we can watch the starting line-ups and the video that plays beforehand. I've gone to a couple Frozen Four tournaments and know more about Badger hockey than a lot of people. Knowing the history and what my family did before hockey was at the Kohl Center and was played at the Coliseum makes the video extra special. During the game, after the Badgers score a goal, there is a chant the crowd yells, "SIEVE" as the band plays along. When my dad was younger and went to games with my grandma, close family friends of ours made a huge sign that read SIEVE and it hung in every game. That's a pretty special tradition of mine. Then there is always the band that plays during the second intermission and the tradition of everyone standing and singing "Varsity" while swaying back and forth. Now let's not forget the best part of the song, at the end when everyone yells, "When you say WISCONSIN, you've said it all." My sister and I also know all of the songs and dances so we get up at every game and do them together. I am a Wisconsin girl at heart and always will be, I love my Badgers and the traditions they carry on.
Attending Badger games will always be a favorite tradition of mine, especially when we face Minnesota in hockey or Ohio State in football. I hope to carry these traditions on forever.
Words to Live By
When narrowing down a selection of quotes to pick just one that I live by is hard. I love quotes and relating them back into my life. So I can't just pick one, that's just cruel. Sports have been a huge part of my entire life, so of course, I have chosen sports quotes to live by.
The first quote I have chosen to talk about is from a football coach who has made an impact on the world, the man who said the quote is none other than Vince Lombardi. The quote he said was, "Dictionary is the only place that success comes before work. Hard work is the price we must pay for success. I think you can accomplish anything if you're willing to pay the price." These are words to live by every day, going after your dreams and goals. Without work, success won't be found, the willingness to put forth effort and achieve your goals/dreams will bring you to success. There are many quotes from Lombardi to live by, he was a successful, hard-working man who made a remarkable impact on the football world. Being a Packers fan, I find another quote I love of his to live by each day, "God, family and the Green Bay Packers, in that order." Growing up going to church every week, growing up in a loving family and of course, loving my Green Bay Packers more than anyone, this quote is a great one to remember. I always post this quote as a status on Facebook at the start of every football season.
I just returned from a trip to Tampa, Fl and while down there I met my absolute life idol, Dick Vitale. I have loved him, his commentating and passion for basketball since I was a little girl. A typical Dickey V. quote, "It's Awesome Baby, with a capital A," I love when he says things like this. So I know he has a restaurant called The Broken Egg where he eats breakfast every morning. My aunt lives in the same town and has met him multiple times, this time I told her we must go to the restaurant so I can meet him! Well, that didn't happen, but as I was leaving the grocery store Friday morning, he walked in and I introduced myself and talked for a brief moment, explaining what I want to do with my life, he told me "Always remember to follow your dreams." I have been thinking of the words he said to me every day, because it is true, I am following my dreams. I work towards my goals and dreams every day. It is a cliche statement, but coming from him, means so much more, especially since he has been an idol of mine for a long time. It just goes to show, there are going to be obstacles to face every day, but follow your dreams and soon dreams will become reality.
The first quote I have chosen to talk about is from a football coach who has made an impact on the world, the man who said the quote is none other than Vince Lombardi. The quote he said was, "Dictionary is the only place that success comes before work. Hard work is the price we must pay for success. I think you can accomplish anything if you're willing to pay the price." These are words to live by every day, going after your dreams and goals. Without work, success won't be found, the willingness to put forth effort and achieve your goals/dreams will bring you to success. There are many quotes from Lombardi to live by, he was a successful, hard-working man who made a remarkable impact on the football world. Being a Packers fan, I find another quote I love of his to live by each day, "God, family and the Green Bay Packers, in that order." Growing up going to church every week, growing up in a loving family and of course, loving my Green Bay Packers more than anyone, this quote is a great one to remember. I always post this quote as a status on Facebook at the start of every football season.
I just returned from a trip to Tampa, Fl and while down there I met my absolute life idol, Dick Vitale. I have loved him, his commentating and passion for basketball since I was a little girl. A typical Dickey V. quote, "It's Awesome Baby, with a capital A," I love when he says things like this. So I know he has a restaurant called The Broken Egg where he eats breakfast every morning. My aunt lives in the same town and has met him multiple times, this time I told her we must go to the restaurant so I can meet him! Well, that didn't happen, but as I was leaving the grocery store Friday morning, he walked in and I introduced myself and talked for a brief moment, explaining what I want to do with my life, he told me "Always remember to follow your dreams." I have been thinking of the words he said to me every day, because it is true, I am following my dreams. I work towards my goals and dreams every day. It is a cliche statement, but coming from him, means so much more, especially since he has been an idol of mine for a long time. It just goes to show, there are going to be obstacles to face every day, but follow your dreams and soon dreams will become reality.
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
A Musical Inspiration
Sports is a passion of mine, but if I had to choose something else, it would be music. I do not go a day without listening to music. If you listen to the lyrics to songs, actually listen, they tell a story and can speak to your heart. I was inspired by both of my grandmothers to play the piano, I taught myself how to play and would play from the time I got to one of their houses until the time I left. I also played the Violin when in middle and high school. There is something about music that interests me.
Music is definitely a motivation of mine, I listen to different genres when I'm in different moods. But probably 99 percent of the time I listen to country music. I do not go to one specific genre to motivate me, it depends on what type of motivation I am looking for. If I am at the gym and running I will listen to pop and hip-hop or hairbands to get me going, but if I am weight training I listen to rap. If I am struggling during a run or workout I usually turn to the song "Till I Collapse" by Eminem. The words are powerful and extremely motivating. When I am doing homework I will typically be listening to country music, as I am doing right now. If I am studying for an exam/finals and need to really focus I will use Spotify and listen to classical piano music. I find that if I listen to the piano it helps me focus, I especially love the song "Canon in D" by Pachelbel, I sometimes play it over and over.
I think there are so many things music can say about a person that it is hard to narrow it down to just one thing. It varies from person to person, I listen to music because I enjoy it, I can relate to it and have been involved with it my entire life. My little sister, however, typically uses music to relate with her friends and give them a commonality and something they can all enjoy together. I embrace life with passion, drive and just happiness. Country music has all of these elements in their songs. I feel like I can relate to just about any country song, it may not be the entire song, but there are parts in every song that I could.
My List:
1. I Will Never Forget You -- Danielle Bradbery (While in college, I have lost my great uncle and my grandma, who were brother and sister, who were also my idols, inspirations and heroes. This song truly speaks to my heart, I will always miss them, but I know they are watching over me and they are a reason I push myself each day. I strive to be as excellent and successful of a person my great uncle was.)
2. Canon in D -- Pachelbel (This will always be my favorite classical song, the rhythm, sounds, chords and just the song in general calms me down and I find peace when listening or playing it.)
3. Jump Around -- House of Pain (Growing up in Madison, Wisconsin home of the Badgers should be enough of an explanation for why I chose this song. It gets me in a great mood and anytime it comes on I have to listen to the whole thing and sing it, of course. It reminds me of why I'm going into Sports Media, as a long time tradition of UW it will constantly be a reminder of something I remember jumping around to since I was a little girl. Wisconsin Football is my absolute favorite and I can remember all summer when I would go to Camp Randall for interviews, I could imagine looking into the student section and hear the song in my head.)
4. Carry On Wayward Son -- Kansas (This song has a lot of meaning to me and family. The day my dad's father passed away, he was listening to this song on the way to the hospital, my dad was only 18 years old. It's a constant reminder that everything is going to be alright. If you listen to the words. In the media world, if you listen to the words, you hear how hectic of a life you can have with constant news, the stress and time it takes out of your life, but if you stick with it, everything will be alright. I set a course for winds of fortune" is one of my favorite lyrics from the song, you're setting yourself up for your life, and I know the way I set myself up that I will succeed.
5. Life Goes On -- LeAnn Rimes (The title says it all, in everything that happens, life goes on. You have a bad day, the next day will always be better, life has its challenges, but you learn to life through them. The tough times you endure only make you stronger. LeAnn Rimes has been my favorite artist since I was a little girl, I would sing and dance to her songs constantly. She is a country singer I can relate to in multiple ways.)
Music is definitely a motivation of mine, I listen to different genres when I'm in different moods. But probably 99 percent of the time I listen to country music. I do not go to one specific genre to motivate me, it depends on what type of motivation I am looking for. If I am at the gym and running I will listen to pop and hip-hop or hairbands to get me going, but if I am weight training I listen to rap. If I am struggling during a run or workout I usually turn to the song "Till I Collapse" by Eminem. The words are powerful and extremely motivating. When I am doing homework I will typically be listening to country music, as I am doing right now. If I am studying for an exam/finals and need to really focus I will use Spotify and listen to classical piano music. I find that if I listen to the piano it helps me focus, I especially love the song "Canon in D" by Pachelbel, I sometimes play it over and over.
I think there are so many things music can say about a person that it is hard to narrow it down to just one thing. It varies from person to person, I listen to music because I enjoy it, I can relate to it and have been involved with it my entire life. My little sister, however, typically uses music to relate with her friends and give them a commonality and something they can all enjoy together. I embrace life with passion, drive and just happiness. Country music has all of these elements in their songs. I feel like I can relate to just about any country song, it may not be the entire song, but there are parts in every song that I could.
My List:
1. I Will Never Forget You -- Danielle Bradbery (While in college, I have lost my great uncle and my grandma, who were brother and sister, who were also my idols, inspirations and heroes. This song truly speaks to my heart, I will always miss them, but I know they are watching over me and they are a reason I push myself each day. I strive to be as excellent and successful of a person my great uncle was.)
2. Canon in D -- Pachelbel (This will always be my favorite classical song, the rhythm, sounds, chords and just the song in general calms me down and I find peace when listening or playing it.)
3. Jump Around -- House of Pain (Growing up in Madison, Wisconsin home of the Badgers should be enough of an explanation for why I chose this song. It gets me in a great mood and anytime it comes on I have to listen to the whole thing and sing it, of course. It reminds me of why I'm going into Sports Media, as a long time tradition of UW it will constantly be a reminder of something I remember jumping around to since I was a little girl. Wisconsin Football is my absolute favorite and I can remember all summer when I would go to Camp Randall for interviews, I could imagine looking into the student section and hear the song in my head.)
4. Carry On Wayward Son -- Kansas (This song has a lot of meaning to me and family. The day my dad's father passed away, he was listening to this song on the way to the hospital, my dad was only 18 years old. It's a constant reminder that everything is going to be alright. If you listen to the words. In the media world, if you listen to the words, you hear how hectic of a life you can have with constant news, the stress and time it takes out of your life, but if you stick with it, everything will be alright. I set a course for winds of fortune" is one of my favorite lyrics from the song, you're setting yourself up for your life, and I know the way I set myself up that I will succeed.
5. Life Goes On -- LeAnn Rimes (The title says it all, in everything that happens, life goes on. You have a bad day, the next day will always be better, life has its challenges, but you learn to life through them. The tough times you endure only make you stronger. LeAnn Rimes has been my favorite artist since I was a little girl, I would sing and dance to her songs constantly. She is a country singer I can relate to in multiple ways.)
Thursday, February 6, 2014
Public Relations Opportunities in the Sports World
Sports, so many opportunities in the sports world for PR in so many different ways. Every nationally televised game has numerous ways it can bring PR into it. Even if it's not on national television just the game setting itself has multiple ways PR can play into the game. Sports is definitely my passion, so this is an exciting topic for me to write about.
The Super Bowl is a prime example of ways to incorporate PR into the entire production. It really starts with the commercials. Companies can get teasers and promos together to make people excited to see what they have to offer and will intrigue people to watch the Super Bowl in order to see their advertisements. The Half Time show is also a prime PR spot, this year they brought in Bruno Mars and the Red Hot Chili Peppers all sponsored by Pepsi. Pepsi had the idea PR opportunity with the Super Bowl, they had commercials and the entire halftime show. Announcers would talk about the half time show coming up and always say presented by Pepsi, they emphasized the brand so people hear it constantly and when they think of Pepsi they put together the fact that they brought in Bruno Mars as entertainment. Where the Super Bowl is located also gets PR for the stadium as well. Everything was regarded as MetLife Stadium, not where the Jets play.
Another great opportunity for PR in the sports world is the NCAA Men's Final Four. It is held this year in AT&T Stadium in Dallas. AT&T is getting their name out into the world just by holding the championship games there. Capital One, Coca-Cola and Snickers all sponsor the tournament so when hearing about the tournament there will be a lot of commercials, ads, etc featuring these brands. The NCAA also has their own list of sponsors that will be seen throughout the tournament as well. Again, with the location of the games factor into play as well. The first couple rounds are in numerous locations, depending on the team and where they are being played, the arena, team and all of that teams sponsors also get attention and is a great way of PR as well.
Right now, back in Wisconsin, the town next to mine has a high school student who is battling cancer. She goes to chemo and then participates in practices and games. This girl has so much spirit and drive, she is an inspiration. The young girl's name is Ebony Nettles-Bay and her wish is to meet the "King" also known as Lebron James. A couple of the players on the team have made t-shirts for her along with the slogan Beat Cancer and along with that the hashtag #LebronMeetEbony. There has been over 10,000 tweets on twitter about her story, using the hashtag and tagging Lebron in the tweet as well. If Lebron answers, he will not only make this girl's life incredible and complete a dream of hers, but it is also great PR for him. He is already known for being the King in the NBA, the best player and a favorite of many. For him, this not only looks good for himself, but the Miami Heat as well. He can fulfill a basketball players dream by meeting her, that can bring in a ton of talk as well.
The Super Bowl is a prime example of ways to incorporate PR into the entire production. It really starts with the commercials. Companies can get teasers and promos together to make people excited to see what they have to offer and will intrigue people to watch the Super Bowl in order to see their advertisements. The Half Time show is also a prime PR spot, this year they brought in Bruno Mars and the Red Hot Chili Peppers all sponsored by Pepsi. Pepsi had the idea PR opportunity with the Super Bowl, they had commercials and the entire halftime show. Announcers would talk about the half time show coming up and always say presented by Pepsi, they emphasized the brand so people hear it constantly and when they think of Pepsi they put together the fact that they brought in Bruno Mars as entertainment. Where the Super Bowl is located also gets PR for the stadium as well. Everything was regarded as MetLife Stadium, not where the Jets play.
Another great opportunity for PR in the sports world is the NCAA Men's Final Four. It is held this year in AT&T Stadium in Dallas. AT&T is getting their name out into the world just by holding the championship games there. Capital One, Coca-Cola and Snickers all sponsor the tournament so when hearing about the tournament there will be a lot of commercials, ads, etc featuring these brands. The NCAA also has their own list of sponsors that will be seen throughout the tournament as well. Again, with the location of the games factor into play as well. The first couple rounds are in numerous locations, depending on the team and where they are being played, the arena, team and all of that teams sponsors also get attention and is a great way of PR as well.
Right now, back in Wisconsin, the town next to mine has a high school student who is battling cancer. She goes to chemo and then participates in practices and games. This girl has so much spirit and drive, she is an inspiration. The young girl's name is Ebony Nettles-Bay and her wish is to meet the "King" also known as Lebron James. A couple of the players on the team have made t-shirts for her along with the slogan Beat Cancer and along with that the hashtag #LebronMeetEbony. There has been over 10,000 tweets on twitter about her story, using the hashtag and tagging Lebron in the tweet as well. If Lebron answers, he will not only make this girl's life incredible and complete a dream of hers, but it is also great PR for him. He is already known for being the King in the NBA, the best player and a favorite of many. For him, this not only looks good for himself, but the Miami Heat as well. He can fulfill a basketball players dream by meeting her, that can bring in a ton of talk as well.
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