19 years ago today, I stood as Best Man for my friend Mike Wayne.
The bride, Christine, was stunning! Her cousin, Marianne, the Maid of Honor, beautiful.
The ceremony went smooth; Mazel tov!
The reception, just like any other, except I still know that I could've DJ'd better.
Today, I wished my friends a Happy Anniversary, however, today was so much more than the 19th anniversary of their wedding.
You see, on June 13/2010, Mike and Christine heard words that nobody wants to hear. Doctors told them that their 13 year old son, Jacob, had non-Hodgkins T-Cell Lymphoma. Not only the fact that he was diagnosed, but, he was rushed to CHOC (Childrens Hospital Orange County) and was immediately put into a medically induced coma and chemotherapy was started. Their son was literally fighting for his life.
It was many days later, after many prayers, that we found out that the doctors decision to put Jacob into a medically induced coma and to start chemo saved Jacob's life! Friends and family descended upon CHOC to give their support. Marianne drove out on minutes notice to be by Christine's side.
I don't know what to say about Jacob other than he is a pretty resilient young man. His doctor's brought him out of his medically induced coma, he was told what was going on (tough for anybody let alone a 13 year old), and he decided that he was going to beat this disease.
Jacob was eventually released from the hospital to what can be described as "house arrest." He really couldn't go anywhere but home. Jacob wasn't in a position to be out and about with his friends, or out to dinner with his family. The only place he was permitted to go was in the car for a trip to and from CHOC for his infusion treatments.
In the meantime, "The J-Team" was founded to raise money for LLS, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and more specifically, their Light the Night Walk. As a team, we raised $28,077.71 in only 10 weeks!
On September 19/2010, Jacob got the green light from his doctors to walk in support of LLS and Light the Night. What an incredible day that was; thousands and thousands of people at Angels Stadium, walking in support of LLS and a want to fight this horrific disease!
Jacob wasn't permitted to return to school for the first half of the school year. He was home schooled and as 2011 came, March 21st was the date Jacob was given as the OK to return back to school. He went back to school and I can only imagine that he was welcomed like a rock star!
10 days later, Jacob was honored by the Association of California School Administrators with their Every Student Succeeding Award, which is given to students who show academic success through adversity.
And if that wasn't enough, on April 6th, Jacob spoke before the LLS Board of Directors, presenting his story to them, culminating with LLS asking him to be their 2011 Honored Hero!
Here's where you get the "but wait, there's more!" While at the meeting, it was announced by the Angels that they had selected Jacob to throw out the first pitch at an Angels game. The date he was given to throw out that first pitch? April 26th...his mom and dad's 19th Anniversary.
Tonight, we went to Angels Stadium...over 100 strong. Whether we love baseball or we despise it, we went to raise money for LLS; $1000 total raised in one evening! We went to see this young man, against all odds, throw out the first pitch before a Major League Baseball game! We went to show support to our friends and let them know we will be there for them. All on April 26th.
Happy Anniversary Mike and Christine!
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Ducks + Kings season's both end in Game 6
I don't think anyone is surprised with the way the Ducks/Preds series outcome. Nashville had the Ducks number at 3-1 in their 4 regular season games, and 4 vs. 5 match-ups are always a toss up.
You can't argue with how the big line played for the Ducks. Corey Perry with 8pts in 6 games, Ryan Getzlaf with 6pts in 6 games, and Bobby Ryan with 4 in 4, including his undressing of David Legwand in Game 5.
The second line was one of the best offensive lines in hockey, with Teemu Selanne leading the way with 7 points. His line with Saku Koivu (7pts) and Jason Blake (6pts) were great at one end of the ice, however, it seemed like they, along with defenseman Lubo Visnovsky were always on the ice when goals were scored against the Ducks.
On defense, Cam Fowler showed why he belonged in Anaheim all season. They need to drop some of the dead weight on defense and get some guys back there that that can play defense. They have a solid top 4 in Visnovsky, Fowler, Beauchemin, and Lydman. Sbisa is going to need to come into his own in 11-12. At $2+ mil next season, he becomes a larger target if he can't help shore up the defensive end. Andy Sutton no way, no how belongs in the Western Conference, and, at $2.125, he isn't a candidate for a buyout as he was a 35+ contract (WTF was Bob Murray thinking?). After that, the Ducks have a huge drop off and an even larger question in net.
Jonas Hiller hasn't been the same since signing his big deal early in the season (you'd probably have vertigo as well!). Ray Emery and Dan Ellis stood in for Hiller in relief down the stretch. Ray Emery's comeback was incredible and certainly has earned some interest with NHL teams as he will be a UFA on July 1. Do the Ducks try and keep him? Seems to me that the Ducks need to figure out what is going on with Hiller and whether his $4.5 million is worth keeping. The Ducks were 15-5-1 down the stretch to make the playoffs with the Ellis/Emery tandem. Hiller played in only 3 games after the All Star Game, going 1-0 (SO win btw) with 2 no decisions (he was pulled after 11 minutes in both games).
There is roughly $10 million open in Anaheim's budget for 11-12 and won't find out until July 1 whether Selanne wants to return, and have Todd Marchant (UFA) and Dan Sexton (RFA) out there to re-sign if they wish. Marchant had his worst season ever, and at 38, you have to wonder how much is left in the tank.
As far as the Kings are concerned, they showed inconsistency in their first round series against San Jose, despite taking 3 games to OT. One of those games, Game 3, was a complete meltdown that I've come to term "The Fuck Up on Figueroa." Is a 4-0 lead the worst lead in hockey? I always thought a 2 goal lead was the worst.
The Kings had a great opportunity to win Games 1 and 6, especially with a 5 minute power play late in regulation of game 6. If I am a Sharks fan, I'm worried. 3 games go to OT with the Kings missing Anze Kopitar, and, having a 75% Justin Williams? The only flash I feel SJ showed was in their Game 3 comeback and their domination in Game 4. The Sharks are lucky to have moved on.
19 regular season games and 6 playoff games showed us exactly how lazy Dustin Penner is. He went 2g+4a, EVEN, and 2pim since he arrived in LA from EDM. His playoff line was 1g+1a, -3, 4pim. Maybe if he wasn't 6ft4 and almost 250lbs, he wouldn't stand out as such a lazy fuck! Do the Kings suck it up and play him at a $4.25 million cap hit, or, are they better off with a $1.417 million buyout for each of the next two seasons? Remember, you have Brayden Schenn most likely coming up next year at $3.14 mil. Add in the buyout, and Schenn essentially costs you $4.557 mil. Sounds better to me than $7.39 mil for both.
Kings have $48 million on the books for next season and still don't have Drew Doughty signed (RFA). The have Michal Handzus (can't see LA bringing him back at $4 mil), Poni (not coming back at @ $3.2), Brad Richardson (RFA + due for a small raise), Oscar Moller (RFA; I still think this guy is a career AHLer), Wayne Simmonds (RFA + due for a raise of some sort; maybe a longer term deal at less $), Trevor Lewis (RFA who came into his own in the playoffs), and Alec Martinez (has certainly earned a spot with the big club) out there as free agents.
Keep in mind the Kings have Kopitar coming back, so, the top end of the team will look a little different than what we saw in the 1st round against SJ.
You can't argue with how the big line played for the Ducks. Corey Perry with 8pts in 6 games, Ryan Getzlaf with 6pts in 6 games, and Bobby Ryan with 4 in 4, including his undressing of David Legwand in Game 5.
The second line was one of the best offensive lines in hockey, with Teemu Selanne leading the way with 7 points. His line with Saku Koivu (7pts) and Jason Blake (6pts) were great at one end of the ice, however, it seemed like they, along with defenseman Lubo Visnovsky were always on the ice when goals were scored against the Ducks.
On defense, Cam Fowler showed why he belonged in Anaheim all season. They need to drop some of the dead weight on defense and get some guys back there that that can play defense. They have a solid top 4 in Visnovsky, Fowler, Beauchemin, and Lydman. Sbisa is going to need to come into his own in 11-12. At $2+ mil next season, he becomes a larger target if he can't help shore up the defensive end. Andy Sutton no way, no how belongs in the Western Conference, and, at $2.125, he isn't a candidate for a buyout as he was a 35+ contract (WTF was Bob Murray thinking?). After that, the Ducks have a huge drop off and an even larger question in net.
Jonas Hiller hasn't been the same since signing his big deal early in the season (you'd probably have vertigo as well!). Ray Emery and Dan Ellis stood in for Hiller in relief down the stretch. Ray Emery's comeback was incredible and certainly has earned some interest with NHL teams as he will be a UFA on July 1. Do the Ducks try and keep him? Seems to me that the Ducks need to figure out what is going on with Hiller and whether his $4.5 million is worth keeping. The Ducks were 15-5-1 down the stretch to make the playoffs with the Ellis/Emery tandem. Hiller played in only 3 games after the All Star Game, going 1-0 (SO win btw) with 2 no decisions (he was pulled after 11 minutes in both games).
There is roughly $10 million open in Anaheim's budget for 11-12 and won't find out until July 1 whether Selanne wants to return, and have Todd Marchant (UFA) and Dan Sexton (RFA) out there to re-sign if they wish. Marchant had his worst season ever, and at 38, you have to wonder how much is left in the tank.
As far as the Kings are concerned, they showed inconsistency in their first round series against San Jose, despite taking 3 games to OT. One of those games, Game 3, was a complete meltdown that I've come to term "The Fuck Up on Figueroa." Is a 4-0 lead the worst lead in hockey? I always thought a 2 goal lead was the worst.
The Kings had a great opportunity to win Games 1 and 6, especially with a 5 minute power play late in regulation of game 6. If I am a Sharks fan, I'm worried. 3 games go to OT with the Kings missing Anze Kopitar, and, having a 75% Justin Williams? The only flash I feel SJ showed was in their Game 3 comeback and their domination in Game 4. The Sharks are lucky to have moved on.
19 regular season games and 6 playoff games showed us exactly how lazy Dustin Penner is. He went 2g+4a, EVEN, and 2pim since he arrived in LA from EDM. His playoff line was 1g+1a, -3, 4pim. Maybe if he wasn't 6ft4 and almost 250lbs, he wouldn't stand out as such a lazy fuck! Do the Kings suck it up and play him at a $4.25 million cap hit, or, are they better off with a $1.417 million buyout for each of the next two seasons? Remember, you have Brayden Schenn most likely coming up next year at $3.14 mil. Add in the buyout, and Schenn essentially costs you $4.557 mil. Sounds better to me than $7.39 mil for both.
Kings have $48 million on the books for next season and still don't have Drew Doughty signed (RFA). The have Michal Handzus (can't see LA bringing him back at $4 mil), Poni (not coming back at @ $3.2), Brad Richardson (RFA + due for a small raise), Oscar Moller (RFA; I still think this guy is a career AHLer), Wayne Simmonds (RFA + due for a raise of some sort; maybe a longer term deal at less $), Trevor Lewis (RFA who came into his own in the playoffs), and Alec Martinez (has certainly earned a spot with the big club) out there as free agents.
Keep in mind the Kings have Kopitar coming back, so, the top end of the team will look a little different than what we saw in the 1st round against SJ.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
One-piece stick Manufacturers Warranty
Having sold many sticks and shafts while a pro/retail sales rep at TPS, it blew my mind to know that consumers could call up customer service because their stick had broken during use to get an Return Authorization. They would then send their broken stick back to us and within a couple of days, a new stick would be in return.
Our "warranty" policy at TPS back in 2002 was the same as what all the majors (Bauer, CCM, Easton, Reebok, Warrior) are using today. Each basically states they will replace any stick in which "the product broke during normal use as a result of manufacturers defect."
Reading many Internet bulletin boards, you can find thread after thread and post after post about sticks breaking. Consumers are returning these broken sticks and getting a replacement in return. What is this "warranty against manufacturers defect" saying to consumers if nearly 70+% of sticks broken within the first 30 days of ownership get replaced? Are the manufacturers, by virtue of these high replacement quantities, telling consumers that they are selling defective product from the outset? Furthermore, how pissed off are you if you are part of the 30% whose stick broke and you didn't get a replacement stick?
Yes, I understand that revisions are made to the sticks that create running changes in production, however, by taking broken sticks back that AREN'T broken due to a manufacturers defect and replacing them out of "good faith", the manufacturers are essentially saying "our sticks are defective from the time they leave our hands and to make up for that, we're going to send you a replacement IF it breaks within the 30 day warranty period." If the manufacturers don't enforce their own warranty policies, are these manufacturers putting themselves in a position to have to defend selling a defective product to begin with? The bigger question is how can it be that Bauer, CCM/Reebok, Easton, and Warrior ALL have what would be considered a high amount of "manufacturers defects" with their sticks?
The majority of broken stick returns comes from the higher end, "high-performance" sticks. These sticks are your top of the line sticks, higher priced to give the user the best performance, similar in many ways to a Ferrari if you will. The mid-line sticks seem to be the more durable sticks, not performing quite as high as the higher end, but, has very nice durability and a fair amount of performance, similar in many ways to a Honda Accord if you will.
When we think of a Ferrari, we think fast car. We don't think of a Ferrari as a car that will have great gas mileage or outstanding durability. An Accord on the other hand is a car that we think of being a work horse. It is going to comfortably get us to and from work, shopping around town, without a problem and with great gas mileage.
Going back to hockey sticks...Bauer TotalONE/X60, CCM CL U+, Easton Stealth RS/S19/EQ50, Reebok 11k, Warrior Widow/Diablo...these are the Ferrari's, made to be the high performance sticks in the marketplace. These are the sticks the pro's use. They aren't using a TRUE mid end, lower performing stick like the Bauer One80, Easton EQ40/S15, Warrior Dolomite, etc. The oddity and not previously mentioned stick in this mix is Easton's ST, which by virtue of price at $169USD, has fallen more into the mid end price range, and, is known to be a durable yet performing stick on many of the hockey bulletin boards.
So where does this leave us? Well, I don't believe that the hockey companies should warranty their sticks. Why? Well, as stated, "buyer beware." You buy a Warrior Widow KNOWING it is a high-performance stick. The person buying this stick is typically a "gear whore", the guy who is on his iPhone at school or work, cruising modsquadhockey.com or any other hockey bulletin board on the low down, and, is at home watching every NHL game on NHL Center Ice trying to see what every player is using, and, if Tomas Holmstrom is really using a Warrior Widow stick or if it is just a Dolomite painted as a Widow. You buy it knowing and seeing almost daily, that this stick and/or other high-performance sticks like it BREAK! I see it every night in my 30 minutes of viewing on the NHL Network.
On the other hand, we have Oliver Klosov, who enjoys playing hockey 2-3 times a week, buys an Easton ST, and uses it 6-8 months, 2-3 times a week without a problem. Sure, he isn't thrilled when his stick finally breaks, but, he got 6 months or so of usage out of it at $169, instead of MAYBE 60 days out of two high-end sticks (1 purchase + 1 replacement). I'd certainly take a stick that outlasts another by 4-5 months! Hockey is an expensive sport to play; why make it more expensive?
If the manufacturers choose to not offer a warranty, I'd expect them to keep the price of the sticks the same as they are now. Speaking for myself, I see no problem with this as it accomplishes several things for the manufacturers:
1) The market price has been set and lowering the pricing isn't an option.
2) The mid end segment, which is each companies largest in every category from skates to protective, would grow, and thus, so would their margins and profits.
3) The high end segment would get smaller in terms of production quantity. However, it would allow manufacturers to raise the price in order to make better margins on such technology driven products.
Would this solve the ills of the hockey industry? NO. However, it would get the manufacturers back on the right foot and treating hockey as a business, not running their companies with their hearts and passion that fills hockey fans and players.
Our "warranty" policy at TPS back in 2002 was the same as what all the majors (Bauer, CCM, Easton, Reebok, Warrior) are using today. Each basically states they will replace any stick in which "the product broke during normal use as a result of manufacturers defect."
Reading many Internet bulletin boards, you can find thread after thread and post after post about sticks breaking. Consumers are returning these broken sticks and getting a replacement in return. What is this "warranty against manufacturers defect" saying to consumers if nearly 70+% of sticks broken within the first 30 days of ownership get replaced? Are the manufacturers, by virtue of these high replacement quantities, telling consumers that they are selling defective product from the outset? Furthermore, how pissed off are you if you are part of the 30% whose stick broke and you didn't get a replacement stick?
Yes, I understand that revisions are made to the sticks that create running changes in production, however, by taking broken sticks back that AREN'T broken due to a manufacturers defect and replacing them out of "good faith", the manufacturers are essentially saying "our sticks are defective from the time they leave our hands and to make up for that, we're going to send you a replacement IF it breaks within the 30 day warranty period." If the manufacturers don't enforce their own warranty policies, are these manufacturers putting themselves in a position to have to defend selling a defective product to begin with? The bigger question is how can it be that Bauer, CCM/Reebok, Easton, and Warrior ALL have what would be considered a high amount of "manufacturers defects" with their sticks?
The majority of broken stick returns comes from the higher end, "high-performance" sticks. These sticks are your top of the line sticks, higher priced to give the user the best performance, similar in many ways to a Ferrari if you will. The mid-line sticks seem to be the more durable sticks, not performing quite as high as the higher end, but, has very nice durability and a fair amount of performance, similar in many ways to a Honda Accord if you will.
When we think of a Ferrari, we think fast car. We don't think of a Ferrari as a car that will have great gas mileage or outstanding durability. An Accord on the other hand is a car that we think of being a work horse. It is going to comfortably get us to and from work, shopping around town, without a problem and with great gas mileage.
Going back to hockey sticks...Bauer TotalONE/X60, CCM CL U+, Easton Stealth RS/S19/EQ50, Reebok 11k, Warrior Widow/Diablo...these are the Ferrari's, made to be the high performance sticks in the marketplace. These are the sticks the pro's use. They aren't using a TRUE mid end, lower performing stick like the Bauer One80, Easton EQ40/S15, Warrior Dolomite, etc. The oddity and not previously mentioned stick in this mix is Easton's ST, which by virtue of price at $169USD, has fallen more into the mid end price range, and, is known to be a durable yet performing stick on many of the hockey bulletin boards.
So where does this leave us? Well, I don't believe that the hockey companies should warranty their sticks. Why? Well, as stated, "buyer beware." You buy a Warrior Widow KNOWING it is a high-performance stick. The person buying this stick is typically a "gear whore", the guy who is on his iPhone at school or work, cruising modsquadhockey.com or any other hockey bulletin board on the low down, and, is at home watching every NHL game on NHL Center Ice trying to see what every player is using, and, if Tomas Holmstrom is really using a Warrior Widow stick or if it is just a Dolomite painted as a Widow. You buy it knowing and seeing almost daily, that this stick and/or other high-performance sticks like it BREAK! I see it every night in my 30 minutes of viewing on the NHL Network.
On the other hand, we have Oliver Klosov, who enjoys playing hockey 2-3 times a week, buys an Easton ST, and uses it 6-8 months, 2-3 times a week without a problem. Sure, he isn't thrilled when his stick finally breaks, but, he got 6 months or so of usage out of it at $169, instead of MAYBE 60 days out of two high-end sticks (1 purchase + 1 replacement). I'd certainly take a stick that outlasts another by 4-5 months! Hockey is an expensive sport to play; why make it more expensive?
If the manufacturers choose to not offer a warranty, I'd expect them to keep the price of the sticks the same as they are now. Speaking for myself, I see no problem with this as it accomplishes several things for the manufacturers:
1) The market price has been set and lowering the pricing isn't an option.
2) The mid end segment, which is each companies largest in every category from skates to protective, would grow, and thus, so would their margins and profits.
3) The high end segment would get smaller in terms of production quantity. However, it would allow manufacturers to raise the price in order to make better margins on such technology driven products.
Would this solve the ills of the hockey industry? NO. However, it would get the manufacturers back on the right foot and treating hockey as a business, not running their companies with their hearts and passion that fills hockey fans and players.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Annabel Findley
Most people enter a business and don't think twice about who the receptionist is. Annabel Findley was different.
When you went to Honda Center to see the Ducks or another NHL team on business the way I have for years, you had to get buzzed in by Annabel.
In 2007, a complete overhaul of the club's offices and lobby area took place at Honda Center. Instead of being buzzed in, you'd see security upstairs and then you'd take the elevator downstairs. Upon stepping out of the elevator and into the Ducks beautiful lobby, there she was; "Hi M, you here to see Doug?" Annabel knew you were there on business but she ALWAYS knew who you were and greeted you each time, even if you had been there 3 or 4 times that day.
Today I woke to a story in the OC Register that Annabel had passed away in her sleep a week ago. I didn't really "know" Annabel, but, never came across anyone, let alone a receptionist, who knew just about everyone by name when they came out of that elevator. She was always so nice to me with the way she had greeted me for years!
I hadn't been to see the Ducks or any opponent at Honda Center since I visited the Kings on February 23rd. Despite me visiting Honda less and less the past few years, this visit was no different than in the past. Took the elevator downstairs, stepped out, and greeted "Hi M, you here to see Chris (Kincaid) or Doug?"
I told her I was going to see Chris as I had business with the Kings that afternoon.
On my way out, I thanked her and unfortunately, that would be the last time I would see her.
I've had a hard time today having read of her passing. There are so many bad people out there in the world and they live on and cause problems, yet this sweet lady is no longer with us.
I know my next visit to Honda Center will be difficult knowing Annabel won't be there to greet me, and that I won't be able to say hello back and tell her who I'm there to see. However, I'll always remember her, her sweet voice, and her unmistakable smile.
When you went to Honda Center to see the Ducks or another NHL team on business the way I have for years, you had to get buzzed in by Annabel.
In 2007, a complete overhaul of the club's offices and lobby area took place at Honda Center. Instead of being buzzed in, you'd see security upstairs and then you'd take the elevator downstairs. Upon stepping out of the elevator and into the Ducks beautiful lobby, there she was; "Hi M, you here to see Doug?" Annabel knew you were there on business but she ALWAYS knew who you were and greeted you each time, even if you had been there 3 or 4 times that day.
Today I woke to a story in the OC Register that Annabel had passed away in her sleep a week ago. I didn't really "know" Annabel, but, never came across anyone, let alone a receptionist, who knew just about everyone by name when they came out of that elevator. She was always so nice to me with the way she had greeted me for years!
I hadn't been to see the Ducks or any opponent at Honda Center since I visited the Kings on February 23rd. Despite me visiting Honda less and less the past few years, this visit was no different than in the past. Took the elevator downstairs, stepped out, and greeted "Hi M, you here to see Chris (Kincaid) or Doug?"
I told her I was going to see Chris as I had business with the Kings that afternoon.
On my way out, I thanked her and unfortunately, that would be the last time I would see her.
I've had a hard time today having read of her passing. There are so many bad people out there in the world and they live on and cause problems, yet this sweet lady is no longer with us.
I know my next visit to Honda Center will be difficult knowing Annabel won't be there to greet me, and that I won't be able to say hello back and tell her who I'm there to see. However, I'll always remember her, her sweet voice, and her unmistakable smile.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
1st blog
I've thought about starting my own blog for quite some time and just have never gotten around to it.
While reading my favorite hockey bulletin board (modsquadhockey.com) earlier today, I finally decided I would pull the trigger.
Why? Well, over the years, I've learned that people take what I write and the information I provide and add that to their memory, then, re-post the information as if it was theirs.
Does anyone give a shit that the information acquired came from someone else and they've failed to provide credit to that person? NO. Today, we live in a society where "it's all about me" is the norm, so, people think it is acceptable.
Why do I care? Well, I guess because I was the one who lived it, and for someone to take that away from me, well, I just wanted to put it out there and be able to share it from the point of view of that; I LIVED IT! The good, the bad, the ugly...100%, it happened!
So, you've come this far and probably still saying to yourself... "who the fuck is this guy?" Well...
I've been in the hockey business since December 1990. I have seen all sides of the business. I've worked as a rink manager, shop salesman, store manager, hockey league owner/manager, hockey camp/school coordinator, hockey coach, Corporate Manufacturers Retail/Pro Sales Rep, Corporate Manufacturers Sales Manager, Product Designer, Product Manager, Regional Research & Development Coordinator, Independent Manufacturers Rep/Owner of Rep Agency, and finally, business owner.
I've had the opportunity of meeting the greatest athletes in all of sport, professional hockey players. I've worked for a hockey manufacturer wearing many different hats. Unfortunately, I found out how antiquated the industry is, and how it isn't run with business sense, but straight from the heart.
While I'd like to think I know quite a bit about this business, I don't profess to know it all . If I don't know, I find the people that do so that I can educate myself; no guessing here. Unfortunately, it's a small business that is getting smaller by the day.
I'm not going to talk about what I am doing these days because that isn't what my blog is about, and, I want to be able to speak my mind freely, mainly about hockey equipment, but also about sports, business, everyday things happening in our world.
I hope you'll tune in, follow along, laugh, cry, whatever floats your boat.
M
While reading my favorite hockey bulletin board (modsquadhockey.com) earlier today, I finally decided I would pull the trigger.
Why? Well, over the years, I've learned that people take what I write and the information I provide and add that to their memory, then, re-post the information as if it was theirs.
Does anyone give a shit that the information acquired came from someone else and they've failed to provide credit to that person? NO. Today, we live in a society where "it's all about me" is the norm, so, people think it is acceptable.
Why do I care? Well, I guess because I was the one who lived it, and for someone to take that away from me, well, I just wanted to put it out there and be able to share it from the point of view of that; I LIVED IT! The good, the bad, the ugly...100%, it happened!
So, you've come this far and probably still saying to yourself... "who the fuck is this guy?" Well...
I've been in the hockey business since December 1990. I have seen all sides of the business. I've worked as a rink manager, shop salesman, store manager, hockey league owner/manager, hockey camp/school coordinator, hockey coach, Corporate Manufacturers Retail/Pro Sales Rep, Corporate Manufacturers Sales Manager, Product Designer, Product Manager, Regional Research & Development Coordinator, Independent Manufacturers Rep/Owner of Rep Agency, and finally, business owner.
I've had the opportunity of meeting the greatest athletes in all of sport, professional hockey players. I've worked for a hockey manufacturer wearing many different hats. Unfortunately, I found out how antiquated the industry is, and how it isn't run with business sense, but straight from the heart.
While I'd like to think I know quite a bit about this business, I don't profess to know it all . If I don't know, I find the people that do so that I can educate myself; no guessing here. Unfortunately, it's a small business that is getting smaller by the day.
I'm not going to talk about what I am doing these days because that isn't what my blog is about, and, I want to be able to speak my mind freely, mainly about hockey equipment, but also about sports, business, everyday things happening in our world.
I hope you'll tune in, follow along, laugh, cry, whatever floats your boat.
M
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