The Real Athlete blog

Athlete Weekly Rundown: Athletes & heat-related deaths, Delvon Roe pursues an acting career & Brandon Jennings has quite the internship with Under Armour

by Al-Hassan Sheriff 08-06-2011 04:04 PM Athlete Weekly Rundown

143279 Views
Athlete Development
- As the majority of the country faces an unusual heat wave, several football players and coaches from high school and college teams have died due to heat-related conditions. Yet, many athletic physicians and medical professionals have openly stated that many of these tragedies are preventable, regardless of the temperature increase. [Experts: Heat Deaths Are Preventable]
- In his prime, Patriots DT Albert Haynesworth was arguably the most dominant defensive lineman in the NFL. However, his failed season with the Washington Redskins—marred with holdouts, failed conditioning tests and gross underperformance—left many fans and pundits wondering if his better years are behind him. So far, Haynesworth has impressed coaches and observers at Patriots camp and appears motivated to an All-Pro-caliber season. [Albert Haynesworth Looks to Restore Name]
- This week the NFL officially ratified its collective bargaining agreement, thus completely ending the labor talks between the owners and newly-recertified NFLPA. Included within the 10-year CBA was testing for HGH, making the country’s most popular sport the first of the four major leagues to take such a stance. While the NFL has taken precautions for player safety, with increased rules on concussions, fewer two-a-day practices, HGH testing could possibly reduce NFL athletes from using these substances, which are used to quickly heal from injury. [Source: HGH Test Part of CBA]
- Eagles DT Mike Patterson was informed that he may need to undergo surgery for a brain condition, a day after being hospitalized for having a seizure at training camp practice. The seven-year veteran was diagnosed with arteriovenous malformation (AVM), a condition that affects the blood flow or certain blood vessels near the brain. Eagles athletic trainer said AVM is not a football-related injury. Patterson will receive a second-opinion on diagnosis, but his timetable to returning to the Eagles is uncertain. [Eagles DT Patterson Could Require Surgery for Brain Condition]
Business
- “When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade.” Excuse the cliché, but in the case of former Michigan State basketball player Delvon Roe, it’s fairly accurate. After several knee injuries forced him to abandon his once likely dream of the NBA, he pursued an acting career, which recently landed him a role in an independent film. Now, as he prepares for his final season at Michigan State, the 25-year old also much decide whether to pursue his first passion, or his promising new career. [When Basketball Ends, Spartans' Roe Preparing for Next Act]
- Milwaukee Bucks star Brandon Jennings is living the good life, and it has nothing to do with pro basketball. Sort of. The rising young star is in the midst of an sports marketing internship with athletic apparel company Under Armour, the same company who signed him to an endorsement deal to be its ambassador for their new basketball line. With the NBA lockout shaping to be a lengthy one, the 21-year old is taking advantage of the opportunity to gain valuable work experience. That and access to his boss’ tricked-out jeep. [Jennings Lands Perk-Filled Internship]
- Now that the NFL is finally open for business again, many folks are feeling the fast and furious rush of cramming nearly four months of free-agent deals, trades, workouts and preparation in half the time. NFL players, coaches and other employees are trying their best to adjust to the crunch. What about those who provide services to these individuals? Our friend Chris Dingman is the head of The Dingman Group, a company that specializes in relocating pro athletes and their families who have been traded or have signed with other teams. With so much wheeling and dealing this offseason, The Dingman Group is as busy as ever. [A Busy Time of Year]
Read more ›
Marshall Faulk: Making a Difference On and Off the Field

by Allison Collinger 08-06-2011 01:12 PM Philanthropy | Human Relations | Special Event

128803 Views

During my career in and around the National Football League, I had the opportunity to work with many great players!

My early work to secure an NFL expansion team for St. Louis included NFL Hall of Famer Walter Payton. Payton made a mark on the football field, but also off of it. The NFL's highest award for player community involvement, the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, was renamed in his honor.

Ironically, as the head of the Rams Foundation from 1997-2009, I got to work with another legendary running back! This weekend I salute another champion on and off the field - Marshall Faulk. As Marshall is inducted this weekend as the first St. Louis Ram, I reflect on the opportunities we had to help Marshall make an impact on St. Louis.

Faulk was born February 26th, 1973, in New Orleans, Louisiana to parents Roosevelt and Cecile Faulk. The youngest of five brothers, he grew up in the Desire Housing Projects 9th ward. Sports were always a great escape from the bad influences in the neighborhood and at a young age began shaping Marshall into the man he is today.

Faulk's love of the game started early on while playing at George Washington Carver High School. He excelled at four different positions: quarterback, running back, wide receiver and cornerback, even lettering in track and field. Marshall also excelled in the classroom, and especially loved math. He learned early on the importance of good grades and a strong education.

Read more ›
How to Train to be in NFL Linebacker Shape?

by Jimmy Lamour 08-03-2011 12:20 AM Nutrition | Training

213103 Views

This is a guest article by Jimmy Lamour of Lamour Training Systems

What type of abilities do you think the great LB's shared? Many had great football speed or the ability to move from play to play without wasted movement in whatever direction the offensive players went. This can be summed up as excellent directional speed because many times LB’s do not know where the ball carriers are going. Secondly, the great LB’s were instinctive to quickly mentally process where they believed the offensive players were going. This takes years of studying the game and learning the tendencies of different opponents or particular plays. I can recall LB’s that would be in the backfield before the RB knew what he was he doing. This was amazing to watch. Lastly, these great LB’s were what I like to call “nasty.” Their mental toughness to push through their limitations made WR’s not want to run crossing routes and QB’s not want to be blitzed by them.

Today, let’s discuss an example of how these LB’s should train in order to display these abilities.

Speed is what many coaches seek when they are looking for a playmaker at LB. Why else would we run 40 yard dashes at the NFL combine? When LB’s have similar abilities coaches will differentiate between the two by speed drills. Most importantly, we have to make sure that we are really training speed. Speed can only be trained with full recovery. Speed cannot be trained in a state of fatigue. Will you run your fastest when you are tired or when you are fully rested? The way that we structure our speed workouts for complete recoveries is to rest 1 minute for every 10 meters we run.

Also, we include explosive drills such as medicine ball tosses, jumps, and sprinting in our training. These speed drills teach the brain to send signals to the muscles quickly and efficiently. We want the LB to perform these drills with great form, so they do not create dysfunctional movement patterns. This could lead to injuries down the road as poor movement patterns are repeatedly performed. This is also why these speed drills should be performed at the beginning of the workouts when the LB is fresh. There is less of a chance of using improper form when you are well prepared.

Strength Training is also a foundation of building a fast LB. A LB with good relative body strength will be able to move their body weight with less effort. Let’s look at two different LB’s to illustrate this. LB #1 can squat 405 lb. at a weight of 220 lbs. and LB #2 can squat 280 lbs. at the same bodyweight. I can guarantee you that LB #1 will be able to manipulate his body weight with less effort than LB #2. However, I do believe that strength alone will not make a LB fast. He must have proper flexibility, explosive drills, low body fat, and proper technique. But, I also believe that you will be hard pressed to find a speedy LB that is not strong for his body weight.

Instinctive ability in LB’s must be a big part of the training. This can be learned by studying game film of LB’s that were great at the position. This is where you can start to see what those LB’s saw during different plays. Great LB’s must develop great study habits. How often did that RB step left when he was going to cut back right? A great LB can develop a feel of how to take advantage of these small details. Also, a LB’s training program must include drills that help foster instinctive ability. We call these “unexpected drills.” This is where we might add a new direction to a drill by adding moving people, pads, or auditory direction. The complete abilities of the LB must be trained to ensure the LB is thoroughly prepared.

The “Nasty” factor or mental toughness that a great LB must develop is something that many coaches believe that you either have or don’t. I agree in part as some LB’s are born with more mental toughness than others. But, I feel that we can do a better job as coaches to develop mental toughness. There is a test called the Wonderlic Test that is given to every NFL prospect to test their mental capabilities. However, what tests are given to these athletes in middle school, high school, and college to determine their mental abilities? What efforts are made to develop their weak areas?

My good friend Oliver Jordan has a test that he provides his athletes at his website Excelerate Sports that determines your focus, commitment, drive, etc…We use this test with our athletes to decide how to build their mental toughness.

We develop mental toughness in our program by quoting scriptures daily. We believe until you know the truth about yourself inwardly, it will be hard to perform at your best outwardly. Also, we include mental development challenges periodically in our program.

I want to leave you with a snap shot of a day in a training cycle of a LB that is attempting to be great. Feel free to ask any questions you might have and let us know what else you would like to learn about training.

Read more ›
Making the Most of Athlete Philanthropy

by Allison Collinger 08-01-2011 11:55 PM Philanthropy | Human Relations | Marketing

132543 Views

Sporting the same shoes as the ones featured on Sharapova or spotted on the hottest new NBA celebrity can definitely make an ordinary pair of sneakers feel a bit more glamorous. There’s no denying the ever-increasing influence of sports on culture and media—the industry is bigger, more multi-faceted, and wealthier than ever. Today’s sports superstars are a canvas for the latest endorsements and pop culture trends.

Behind almost every Great with-a-capital-G sports team or athlete is a community that finds inspiration and hope in them. Many athletes today are discovering that the best way to become more than just “the current face of Adidas” is by becoming the face of something they are more emotionally invested in—an issue important to them and relevant to a greater community. That’s when the concept of “sports philanthropy” came into the picture.

Sports philanthropy, a rather under-the-radar facet of the sports industry, now plays a pivotal role in connecting teams and athletes with their community to foster positive social change. Since its initiation in 1998, the “Sports Philanthropy Project” (SPP) has dedicated itself to tying the popularity and marketing power of the professional sports industry with health and social issues that face communities, such as childhood obesity, tobacco use, healthcare access, education, etc.

The concept is quite ingenious: who wouldn’t want to look like the Mother Theresa of baseball? Leading an effective and successful philanthropic program is a great spotlight on any sports celebrity, and SPP works in essentially connecting professional sports foundations with a network, a vision, and the specific framework to get the most out of their philanthropic endeavors.

Let’s face it, something about a star athlete personally reaching out to a cause is heart-warming enough to spark respect and faith, especially from the community involved, forming the basis for the kind of fan support that will withstand the good and the bad seasons. The personal nature of the program and the way it encourages the community to participate is a recipe for success, proving that the old saying definitely holds true: good deeds don’t go unnoticed.

“Professional sports is big business, yes, but experience has shown that it can also be a big player in driving social change,” said Joe Marx, the senior marketing director of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF)—a leading public health group focused on major health issues—in an interview featured in their anthology. RWJF, the figurative “father” organization from which the Sports Philanthropy Project was generated, shaped the initial idea for the project after the success of one of the first notable sports philanthropy partnerships with the Jacksonville Jaguars Foundation. Leveraging sports and marketing to promote health, they utilized the team and its athletes to spread anti-tobacco messages and extensive community programs.

Read more ›
Athlete Weekly Rundown: Nutrition-conscious athletes, Mark Doman's financial planning practice & Kellie Wells overcomes a tough past

by Al-Hassan Sheriff 07-29-2011 06:42 PM Athlete Weekly Rundown

137996 Views
Athlete Development
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is on a short list of the greatest NBA players of all time, and one would think most folks looking to improve their basketball skills and IQ would heed the Hall of Famer’s advice. Enter former No. 1 overall pick, Michael Olowokandi. The NBA all-time career scorer still harbors some frustration with the former Los Angeles Clippers center, claiming the “Kandi man” was “a player who fits the description of ‘talented but uncoachable’” after his coaching stint with the Clippers. [Kareem Abdul Jabbar says a former NBA first round pick can’t take constructive criticism]
- Scientists at Southern Methodist University concluded that Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt really doesn’t run “faster” than most of us. Instead, he is able to produce more force from his legs at a faster rate, which allows him to clock such mind-blowing times. [SMU scientists determine that Usain Bolt runs harder, not faster than most]
- It’s no secret that pro athletes are healthier than most of us. Yet, as players are looking for an edge, some through steroids and HGH, more are looking at nutrition as a “performance enhancing drug."[Athletes using healthy dieting, not PEDs, for competitive advantage]
- After a breakout season with the Houston Texans, NFL rushing-leader Arian Foster answers questions about his journey from being an undrafted rookie in 2009, to becoming one of the league’s premiere running backs. [Q&A with Texans Pro Bowler Arian Foster]
Read more ›
5 NCAA Bylaws Incoming Collegiate Student-Athletes Must Know

by Justin Sievert 07-14-2011 11:35 PM Amateurism | Athlete Career Development

135755 Views

Over the course of the next two months, the high school class of 2011 will begin to arrive on collegiate campuses across the United States. During the transition to life as a college student, these first-year students will deal with many issues including homesickness, more challenging class work, making new friends and becoming increasingly independent. First-year student-athletes will deal with many additional issues, one of which is NCAA rules compliance. In light of this, here are five NCAA Bylaws all incoming collegiate student-athletes should review before arriving on campus.

1. Student-athletes or his or her relatives or friends may not receive a benefit not expressly authorized by NCAA legislation (NCAA Bylaw 16.02.3).

“An extra benefit is any special arrangement by an institutional employee or a representative of the institution’s athletics interests to provide a student-athlete or the student-athlete’s relative or friend a benefit not expressly authorized by NCAA legislation. Receipt of a benefit by student-athletes or their relatives or friends is not a violation of NCAA legislation if it is demonstrated that the same benefit is generally available to the institution’s students or their relatives or friends or to a particular segment of the student body (e.g., international students, minority students) determined on a basis unrelated to athletics ability.”

2. Student-athletes shall not engage in unethical conduct (NCAA Bylaw 10.1).

“Unethical conduct by a prospective or enrolled student-athlete or a current or former institutional staff member (e.g., coach, professor, tutor, teaching assistant, student manager, student trainer) may include, but is not limited to, the following:

(a) Refusal to furnish information relevant to an investigation of a possible violation of an NCAA regulation when requested to do so by the NCAA or the individual’s institution;

(b) Knowing involvement in arranging for fraudulent academic credit or false transcripts for a prospective or an enrolled student-athlete;

(c) Knowing involvement in offering or providing a prospective or an enrolled student-athlete an improper inducement or extra benefit or improper financial aid;

(d) Knowingly furnishing or knowingly influencing others to furnish the NCAA or the individual’s institution false or misleading information concerning an individual’s involvement in or knowledge of matters relevant to a possible violation of an NCAA regulation;

(e) Receipt of benefits by an institutional staff member for facilitating or arranging a meeting between a student-athlete and an agent, financial advisor or a representative of an agent or advisor (e.g., “runner”);

(f) Knowing involvement in providing a banned substance or impermissible supplement to student-athletes, or knowingly providing medications to student-athletes contrary to medical licensure, commonly accepted standards of care in sports medicine practice, or state and federal law. This provision shall not apply to banned substances for which the student-athlete has received a medical exception per Bylaw 31.2.3.5; however, the substance must be provided in accordance with medical licensure, commonly accepted standards of care and state or federal law;

(g) Failure to provide complete and accurate information to the NCAA, the NCAA Eligibility Center or an institution’s admissions office regarding an individual’s academic record (e.g., schools attended, completion of coursework, grades and test scores);

(h) Fraudulence or misconduct in connection with entrance or placement examinations;

(i) Engaging in any athletics competition under an assumed name or with intent to otherwise deceive; or

(j) Failure to provide complete and accurate information to the NCAA, the NCAA Eligibility Center or the institution’s athletics department regarding an individual’s amateur status.”

Read more ›
The Missing Playbook: Former NFL Player and Alabama Star Keith McCants

by Michael Cooper 07-11-2011 12:16 AM Life After Sports | Human Relations | Sports Psychology

116555 Views

It’s unfortunate to see another former athlete experiencing chaos, suffering, and pain in their life. Keith McCants, former NFL player, is currently living through depression and is suffering and being held hostage by his limiting and false beliefs. He went from having it all to feeling the pain of being at the bottom of the barrel.

"I wish I had never had any money," he said during an interview with The Tampa Tribune at the Pinellas County jail, where he has been held since April 23 on a fugitive warrant from Mobile. "I would've been great without money. It's a sad story, but it's a true story. Money destroyed everything around me and everything I care for, my family, my so-called friends. I just want enough to live on. I never want to be rich again."

You see McCants has negative thoughts, ideas, and images of money that are blocking him from truly experiencing the peace of mind he seeks. He must tap into new information that will create new thoughts, ideas, and images of money. Money is good! Not evil. Money is ENERGY. McCants, along with 99% of all athletes out there, must learn how to direct the energy.

"I'm trying, really I am," he said. Obviously McCants is operating from false and limiting beliefs. There is no trying. You either do or you do not. It’s all a matter of DOING THE RIGHT THINGS. McCants must get clear on what he wants. Make it definite. Then back it with definite plans. Then he can DO THE RIGHT THINGS and transform his life into what he truly desires. However, in his current state of THINKING, he will continue to experience chaos, suffering, and pain.

Read more ›
As a Pro, You Created a Brand; Now, Protect It!

by Kanika Corley 07-08-2011 03:04 AM Image Branding | Legal | Marketing | Sports Business

136300 Views

In these times of multiple threats of league lockouts and increasing salary caps, many athletes are finding themselves searching for alternative revenue streams. Even pros whose sports continue to keep them working are steadily looking to supplement income, primarily through business deals based exclusively on name recognition. As a result, brand protection is of increasing and paramount importance. Once an athlete steps into the business sector, that athlete must remain cognizant of the public’s perception of his or her image. Thinking of oneself as a brand has been a widely covered topic of late. While many understand the need for brand protection theoretically from a PR perspective, many fail to see it practically from a legal perspective.

Brand Birth

The general public, including prospective employers, get to know athletes by the personality traits captured on tape, manifested through commonly observed technical and social skill sets displayed on and off the court (or field as the case may be) – which goes to the heart of branding. While brand development typically starts in high school and travels with the athlete all the way through to post-professional play, it is the public’s perception that dictates the pervasiveness of athlete brand recognition. Ultimately, surviving in the business sector necessitates that when an athlete leaves competitive sports for the business world, the athlete must carry a strong brand along with a (different kind of) team eager to protect it.

Disconnected Branding

High school-aged athletes are typically still learning their craft when audiences begin watching them and making decisions about the athlete’s likeability. During this time, most athletes do not have handlers, media trainers, lawyers and other consultants whose jobs are to create and cultivate what will one day become the athlete’s brand.

Athletes who go on to compete in college under NCAA guidelines assign to the association all rights to the commercial use of their names, pictures or likeness, while in college, and arguably in perpetuity. (See, Holmes, J. & Corley, K., “Defining Liability for Likeness of Athlete Avatars in Video Games,” Los Angeles Lawyer Magazine (May 2011).)

A slightly less extensive grant of rights is assigned by pro athletes who seek to compete in leagues, tournaments, circuits and tours. The major distinction here is that the pro maintains some rights to also license likeness, although such a contract cannot conflict with the primary agreement. As such, it is in this time frame, when an athlete turns pro, that the athlete is permitted to earn money from the commercial use of likeness.

Taking Control

These days athletes are lending their likenesses to the promotion of consumer goods and services such as clothing, shoes, and insurance; social events, including parties and charity tournaments; and even reality TV shows. What many do not understand is that the value of the athlete’s likeness to the company employing that athlete is usually multiplied by the athlete’s failure to negotiate greater protections for the use of the athlete’s brand, in conjunction with that of the employer’s.

Following the 2011 NBA Finals, there were rumblings that a multinational company might replace one athlete’s endorsement contract with another player. (This article will not speculate on the legality of such a move.) Evident from this notion of a seemingly unilateral decision by one contracting party to completely nullify an agreement is that the athlete might not have taken control of certain key terms when the agreement was initially negotiated. While it is typically the case that one party to an agreement will have slightly better bargaining power than another, he who holds the weaker position must fight for as much control in the negotiations as possible.

The Key Elements

Being asked to sponsor and/or endorse a consumer good or service is quite an accomplishment; it’s also a testament to the brand you and your team have created. However, don’t get caught up in the glitz and glam! Protect your brand by focusing on five key elements over which negotiation is both warranted and expected: scope, duration, territory, enforcement and price.

Read more ›
Hall of Fame Tight End and Union Pioneer John Mackey (1941-2011)

by Matthew Allinson 07-08-2011 01:56 AM Labor | Special Event

53855 Views

"He was a great player—in my estimations, one of the greatest players ever at the tight end position. He was a leader on and off the field. Heading up the NFL Players Association, he was able to get benefits we didn't have and for future players. He had a wonderful family. His wife and children were his inspiration and took care of him later in life. Sylvia Mackey is one of the classiest individuals that I have ever met in my life and should be a spokesperson for all retired players' wives."

--Tom Matte, former Baltimore Colts running back (1961-72), AccessAthletes.com

Thursday was a sad day, as legendary Baltimore Colts tight end and Super Bowl champion John Mackey died at age 69 after an extended battle with frontotemporal dementia. The Hall of Fame tight end who played for the Colts from 1963-71 and finished his 10-year career with 331 catches for 5,236 yards and 38 TDs. Not only did Mackey revolutionize the tight end position, he championed players' rights as the first President of the NFL Players Association from 1969-73 following the 1970 NFL-AFL merger and paved the way for many of the benefits current NFL players enjoy today.

During his historic tenure at the helm of the NFLPA, the first sports union recognized by the National Labor Relations Board, he organized the first NFL strike in 1970 that reportedly led to an additional $11 million in pension and benefits for the players, won an antitrust lawsuit that ended the "Rozelle Rule" and established a legal precedent that would ultimately lead to true free agency, and he fought to improve salaries, benefits, and player safety.

"John Mackey is still our leader," NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith said. "As the President of the NFL Players Association, he led the fight for fairness with a brilliance and ferocious drive. His passion continues to define our organization and inspire our players. His unwavering loyalty to our mission and his exemplary courage will never be forgotten."

"He was the right man at the right time," former Colts teammate Ordell Braase told the Baltimore Sun. "We were a fractured group until John began putting permanence in [the union's] day-to-day operations. He hired administrators and a general counsel. He had a vision for that job, which was more than just putting in time and keeping the natives calm. You don't get anything unless you really rattle the cage."

Read more ›
Be Intentional With Your Brand

by Kevin Conroy Smith 07-04-2011 12:12 AM Guest Contributors | Social Media | Image Branding | Marketing

26755 Views
Guest article by Kevin Conroy Smith of the Kevin Smith Agency.

When it comes to your personal brand your shoes and their color send a message. Every detail sends a message. When figuring out your brand, remember this: what makes you weird, makes you unique and therefore makes you stand out. Visual identity plays a significant role in the way you present yourself to both people you know and people you have not yet met.

In the past, the visual part of your identity was the way your business card or resume looked. With today’s age of social technology, where the first thing people do when they meet you or hear your name is Google you, visuals have become an even more important part of your brand.

You must find ways to tell your brands story with visuals. When it comes to the web, you are judged solely on what people can observe. Here is something to think about: if I were to ask you to tell me about one of your friends from high school that you haven’t seen in years but were friends with on Facebook, what would you be able to tell me about them? My guess is that you would know a lot about them. Based on what? That message you are sending your “friends” and “followers” is crucial to your brand identity because that is the only message they are getting in some cases. Do you know what message you are sending?

Here are ten key tips to get started:
1. Set a mission statement for your life.
2. Write down your mission.
3. Find 10 key "words" that describe your mission/vision.
4. Set "brand guidelines" for your social networking sites.
5. Once a week review your online presence (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) and make sure it is aligned with your mission.
6. Do a brand audit once a year to review your brand in depth.
7. Research the platforms you use to promote your brand (Facebook, etc.) so you understand how to be most effective.
8. Make sure that your business mission is aligned with your personal mission.
9. Set daily activities to achieve your "mission" long-term.
10. Be intentional with every single thing you do. EVERYTHING!
Video after the jump.
Read more ›