The Real Athlete blog

Do You Deserve It?

by Alan Stein 09-21-2010 12:24 AM Training | Coaching | Sports Psychology

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One of my high school players asked me if I will teach Luke and Jack that they "can be anything they want to be when they grow up."

I said “nope.”

They were shocked!

They thought that’s what parents were supposed to teach their kids.

Interview with a Sports Professional: Mark Slipock

by Adam Steinberg 09-14-2010 01:27 AM Interview with a Sports Professional | Injury & Rehabilitation | Legal

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Mark Slipock, owner of The Law Offices of Mark Slipock, APLC, has been representing retired professional athletes in California Workers’ Compensation claims for over a decade. Mark is a former NFLPA Certified Player Agent (1995-2001) and has been a member of the California State Bar since 1997. Mark is also a member of the Workers' Compensation Section of the California Bar.

Are You A Baby?

by Alan Stein 09-13-2010 11:22 PM Sports Psychology

2941 Views

Why? Because they have already figured out the 6 keys to success:

For those that follow my blog, you know I am the proud father of 6 month old twin sons, Luke and Jack. While I am not 100% certain (haven’t had them actually tested), I am confident they are geniuses. I’m serious!

1) Persistence: they never quit. Ever. When they want something… to be fed, to be changed, or hold a toy… they do not stop until they get what they want. Right now they are learning to crawl… and they spend hours and hours “practicing.”

How persistent are you in getting what you want? How relentless are you in your development?

Reputation Management in the Digital Age: What Will You Be Remembered For?

by Wesley Mallette 09-12-2010 09:51 PM Public Relations | Crisis Management | Image Branding

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The digital age clearly provides tremendous opportunity for growth on all levels. But, it also has created a certain “reality TV meets the Internet” type of world, and those in the spotlight should be aware of the long-term effects. For athletes, it will most certainly impact their legacy and ultimately, how we will remember them.

Eileen Wisnewski, a fellow contributor at Access Athletes, makes several great points in her article “Image Strategy for Celebrity Athletes – What About YOUR Image?” She poses the question to college students and recent grads and asks if they have thought about how they are presenting themselves in the public space. Eileen’s piece, combined with the recent passing last month of the late Giants’ baseball great, Bobby Thompson, gave me reason to pause and think about how today’s athletes will be remembered.

Training vs. Working Out

by Alan Stein 09-02-2010 01:00 AM Training

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It’s been exactly one month since my last blog post. I am refreshed, re-energized, and completely refocused on my commitment to offer quality insight on basketball strength & conditioning, coaching, and motivation.

In addition to spending quality time with my wonderful wife Rebecca and my twin sons Luke and Jack (23 weeks old), I read a dozen books on leadership and watched numerous DVDs and YouTube clips on performance enhancement. I combed through notebooks of my own notes and took time to reflect and evaluate my entire program. Most importantly, I developed my plan for this coming pre-season.

Tony Gonzalez Launches 1,000th Catch Twitter Contest

by Matthew Allinson 09-01-2010 02:41 PM Public Relations | Social Media | News

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All-Pro NFL tight end Tony Gonzalez, in conjunction with his all-natural sports nutrition company All-Pro Science, Inc, is running a neat social media campaign to celebrate his 1,000th career catch. The winner of the contest will receive an autographed glove used during the 1,000th catch game and a trip for two to Atlanta to reenact the catch with Gonzalez, along with tickets to a Falcons game.

Gonzalez is only one reception shy of becoming the seventh player in NFL history, and the first tight end, to reach the 1,000 catch milestone. He is expected to make this catch in the Falcons' season opener on Sunday, September 12 at Pittsburgh.

It's always nice to see a professional athlete thinking outside the box to reward his fans and create good will in the community. A clever and fun social media campaign like this will definitely enhance Gonzalez's brand and reputation. This underscores the importance for pro athletes to have a strong PR team. Jen Campbell, All-Pro Science's PR Director, is doing a fantastic job and this campaign will no doubt be highly successful and create tons of positive publicity for her star client.

For more details about the contest, check out the press release that Jen Campbell sent me.

Boosting Sports Performance – It’s all in the Process

by Gregg Swanson 08-31-2010 12:35 AM Training | Sports Psychology

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Even though as an athlete you already know that technique is essential for performance, many sport performances tend to be evaluated according to the outcome (‘the product’) associated with their performance—things such as place, time, and score.

Consequently, the normal tendency is to focus on the end result…’the product’. In training, as well as competition, numerous athletes pay way too much attention to ‘the product’ associated with performance instead of precisely what is required in order to get there (the process connected with performance).

Zing Nutrition Bars: They are Deliciously Different

by Matthew Allinson 08-18-2010 10:42 AM Nutrition | Sports Business Review

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Zing Nutrition Bars are quietly becoming a hit in the athletic community. NFL Pro Bowl Tight End Tony Gonzalez recently recommended Zing bars in his new book, The All-Pro Diet, co-written by sports dietitian, Mitzi Dulan. Professional sports teams such as the Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks and the Seattle Mariners order Zing bars for their athletes. They also come highly recommended by Nancy Clark, a bestselling author and sports nutritionist formerly pictured on Wheaties cereal boxes.

Athlete Advice: Money management a difficult lesson for NFL's rookie class

by Matthew Allinson 08-17-2010 11:19 PM Athlete Advice

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We are introducing a new type of article on Access Athletes. The goal of this short column is to drop interesting tidbits of information and advice that will help athletes advance their careers. It may be a quote from an athlete, coach, journalist, or sports professional. At the end of the excerpt, I will pose a question or two for you to think about.

In a recent USA Today article about NFL players having financial difficulties, former all-pro cornerback Deion Sanders had this to say:

"My advice?...Find someone to mentor you who doesn't have their hands in your pocket."

What steps should an athlete take to find a "neutral" mentor?

Source: [Money management a difficult lesson for NFL's rookie class]

12 Reasons Why Athletes Should Partner with a Strategic PR Team

by Wesley Mallette 08-10-2010 11:58 PM Public Relations | Trusted Athlete Educator | Crisis Management | Image Branding | Marketing

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The start of the 2010 college and professional football season finds us at the intersection of social media, reality TV and sport. Rarely have we seen so many professional and collegiate football players front and center in the media – and not just as the subject of the interview or feature. Given society’s obsession with all of the above, this should not surprise anyone.

Former and current players are trading in their cleats for their dancing shoes and showcasing their talents on ABC’s ever-popular “Dancing with the Stars.” All-Pros Jason Taylor, Warren Sapp and Chad Ochocinco, as well as Hall of Famers, Emmitt Smith, Jerry Rice and Lawrence Taylor, have not only done well on the show, they have boosted their public profile and in most cases, increased their endorsement and business opportunities.