Rick Welts, president of the Phoenix Suns basketball organization, can be credited as partially responsible for making the NBA what it is today. In 1982, Rick, inspired by a Cracker Jack old timers baseball game, began to seek corporations to sponsor the NBA, which at the time was not the product that it is today. This search resulted in what is now called All-Star Weekend, a corporately sponsored weekend celebrating the storied history of the NBA, and rejuvenating the ABA tradition of the Dunk Contest. The resulting works established Rick as one of the innovators of the new brand that would become today’s NBA.

When asked for sports marketing advice, Rick speaks poignantly enough to merit block quotes.
“All the marketing in the world can only do one thing, which is shine a brighter light on your product. Now if the product can’t hold up to the scrutiny, it’s not a good idea.” And that scrutiny, Rick says, takes place in nothing short of a “fishbowl,” observed by a media far-evolved from the generally supportive beat reporters of the past. Rick has succeeded at his post, supporting one of the finest and most exciting franchises in
the country.

“People forget what makes them happy,” says Rick. “If you’re happy going to work each day, it’s probably a good start.”

Lisa Bauch doesn’t like being told “no.” The owner of Uppercut Boxing Gym, in Minneapolis, MN, found other boxing gyms to be unwelcoming to a woman entering the sport; Lisa rectified this problem by starting her own gym. Now in its eleventh year of operation, Uppercut welcomes all boxing enthusiasts, from fighters in training, to casual exercisers. Lisa has long sought to “demystify” boxing so that many can enjoy the fitness and confidence it provides. Lisa, who fell for boxing while learning self-defense, still faces the prejudice inherent to a male dominated world, but she lets her fighters speak in the ring.

When asked where boxing and business collide, Lisa conjures a boxer who has lost the first round. Sitting in the corner, beaten and tired, that fighter must “look for the angles and take a different approach,” even in the face of a terrible start. It is this kind of resilience that allows Uppercut to thrive, while “simply allowing more people to be involved with the sport.” Lisa, whose 43 years are not evident in her face, knows that when the bell rings, it’s “back to basics.” Uppercut continues to be a place to hone these basics, even if you are not looking to fight.

Arman Ausiello hasn’t made it; at least, that’s what he’ll say. The owner of Santa Rosa, California’s Ausiello’s 5th Street Grill warns, “once you sit on your laurels and think you’ve made it, you’re done.”

Arman, whose vitality makes his age a complete mystery, has owned successful bars for over 25 years; anyone looking into opening a bar would be wise to listen to his advice. Armen’s lack of college degrees is completely negated by a natural business sense and a work ethic taught in no MBA program. Ironic that a man so successful in a competitive business would offer this as advice:

“Don’t get wrapped up in competition. Do what you do, and be happy with it.”

Beyond his years behind the bar, every morning Arman cleans his entire establishment, and in doing so sets the standard for each of his employees. Many would call this work below the level of an owner, but Arman learned from his father to “just work,” and work he does. He makes sure to distinguish Ausiello’s as a neighborhood tavern/beer bar with a sports focus, not a sports bar. He does not draw his identity from thematic elements, but rather strives for consistency of service, food and environment.

This commitment to consistency has solidified Arman’s place in the community; the community is as well a part of Ausiello’s, with hundreds of framed pictures adorning the walls. These pictures serve to remind Armen who his people are, and exactly why he doesn’t need to change.

Michael Hynson, the featured surfer in the legendary movie The Endless Summer, as well as one of the finest surfboard shapers in the world, offers a warning to those pursuing their passion:

“Fame and fortune do not go hand in hand.”

After filming The Endless Summer Michael had attained a legendary status in the surfing, yet he saw no financial reward in that legendary status. Passion took Michael around the world and back, but in the end was more of a blinding force than a supportive one.

The boy who grew up in Hawaii but became enamored with surfing in California, is credited as one of the people who brought the surfer lifestyle into mainstream American culture. He was recently featured in a nine-page spread in Surfer magazine displaying his innovative line of Hynson Surfboards.

Michael is a sarcastic, funny, gruff man, reflective of many years of successes and also failure. But he comes across as an incredibly honest man, to the extent that he offers no personal review of his surfboards, leaving that job to those who ride them.

Michael is resilient in his business drive, working his way to the top with a more sound business plan than before, and his surfboards will certainly be a big part of the surfing culture for many years to come.

You can check out Michael Hynson’s surfboards at http://www.michaelhynsonsurfboards.com/

From a young age Mary Gilbaugh knew she wanted to work in professional sports, but her corporate accounting career path took a few bends before her childhood dream would be realized. After running track for two years at USC, Mary confidently entered the world of corporate accounting only to realize the fifteen hour days were not for her. On November 11th, 2004 Mary’s longtime friend, USMC 2nd Lt. JP Blecksmith, was killed in Fallujah, Iraq.

Allowed a leave of absence, Mary took the opportunity to co-found the JP Blecksmith Foundation which sponsors an annual memorial 5k in San Marino, California. After returning from the leave of absence, Mary took another corporate job, always alert however, to other opportunities in her field.

What began as a “why not” application has left Mary the controller for one of the best and most exciting teams in the NBA. Although Ms. Gilbaugh enjoyed each of her previous employment opportunities, the Phoenix Suns allowed her a normal life; the responsibility in no way watered down, Mary now has free time after work to run her foundation, work out, or bring her father to Sun’s games. Her parents, both employment loyalists, were skeptical of her decision to leave, but Mary knew what she wanted, and went out and got it.

She offers this advice to those who feel career pressure from their parents “Just because it’s something [parents] don’t understand doesn’t mean that it isn’t right for you.” A job will always be repetitive, but if you are passionate about what you do and where you do it, repetition does not have to be boring.

The Road To General Manager

At age 18, Billy Beane had more hype surrounding him than LeBron James did coming out of high school. Scouts would flounder to his high school and drool at the opportunity of drafting the 6′4, power hitting sensation. The New York Mets got that opportunity, taking Billy with the 20^th pick in the first round of the 1980 baseball amateur draft.

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There’s no better place to watch a baseball game than Wrigley Field in Chicago. It’s the home of the beloved Cubbies, with the brick outfield walls covered with green ivy and the retro scoreboard in centerfield, changed manually and lacking the flair of newer stadiums’. The 40,000 seats at Wrigley Field are sold out every game whether the Cubs are having a losing or winning season; surprising for a team that has not won a World Series in close to 100 years. Needless to say, Chicagoans are passionately dedicated to their Cubs! Vendors yell loudly to be heard over the fans’ chatter and can throw peanuts from distances a marksman couldn’t reach. Old Style beers are reasonable priced at $5.50 a far cry from the $9 domestics you find in newer stadiums. Wrigley Field is not just a baseball diamond, but a cathedral, the Mecca of professional baseball, where the gamel is found in its purest form. Adding to that purity is Gary Pressy, the Chicago Cubs’ in-house organist. Gary provides the notes that complete the Wrigley Field experience. His organ leads the crowd in cheers and chants and attempts to hide the poor vocals of celebrity singers during the 7th-inning stretch’s “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”.

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To this point, we’ve heard 23 different stories of how people have broken into the sports industry, and no story is the same. We have come to the obvious realization that there is not one standard path to get in! These sports stories are among the most entertaining that I’ve heard on the trip. I have a newfound respect for the people persistent enough to stick with their pursuit, all for the thrill of working in the sports industry. Marty Maloney is one such person. He currently works for his hometown team, the World Champion Chicago White Sox. It seems that his honest approach would make any sports team take a chance on him.

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Growing up, Chris always knew that he wanted to work in the news business, despite both of his parents being doctors. At a young age he dreamed of being a reporter on camera and before he graduated college he got his first taste of the business through an internship at NBC for the Today Show.

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Using baseball terminology, there are times in life where you have to go with the pitch to be successful. For all of those high and outside fastballs, those low and away curves or pitches that you fight off in an 0-2 count you have to go with the pitch in order to put the ball in play. Here is a story of a guy that has been able to foul off 0-2 pitches and drive low and away curves into right field.

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