From the shoes we wear on our feet to the high definition televisions in our living room, wearable devices, the sports universe is a breeding ground for technology. Writer and Photographer Rick Limpert will examine this each week on The Tech of Sports – With guests which include athletes, inventors and journalists that cover the intersection of sports and technology.
Rick is joined by internet and baseball sensation, Zack Hample this week.
Hample has attended games at 61 different MLB stadiums and snagged more than 11,000 balls in the stands including Mike Trout’s 1st career home run and Alex Rodriguez’s 3,000th hit.
Hample gives his tips for catching baseballs at games and his favorite ballparks.
Zack is also the subject of a new feature-length documentary which was released on March 29, 2022. It’s very interesting.
Kevin Gallagher joins Rick this week to talk his new book and “saving baseball.”
SAVE THE GAME ™ is a grass roots initiative to invigorate Major League Baseball and increase youth participation in the game; the initiative was launched by the nine-year veteran former MLB player Jeff Frye (Rangers, Red Sox, Rockies, Blue Jays), and two New York college standouts – Kevin Gallagher (Pace University) and Pat Geoghegan (Mercy College). Gallagher’s book, “Teach Your Kid to Hit … So they Don’t Quit,” was the genesis of the “Save the Game” ™ movement. The hope is that the initiative will ensure the revitalization of the game toward a healthy business future.
Visit www.savethegameus.com for more information and to sign the petition.
The initiative starts a one million signature petition-for-change effort to gain momentum toward a National movement, while grabbing the attention of MLB executives on a league and team level. Visit www.savethegameus.com for more information and to sign the petition.
Simply stated, Gallagher, Frye and Geoghegan contend that MLB has lost its entertainment value because of its reliance on the power swing and little action between home runs. America’s youth is not engaged with MLB because the game has become too slow for this generation. Without the next generation’s involvement, MLB’s customer base will be diminished and baseball could lose its relevance and becomes a niche sport.
SAVE THE GAME ™ group wants to align with MLB on issues it has raised and problems already recognized in a grassroots effort.
Some of the focuses of SAVE THE GAME ™ include:
· Give a Voice to the American baseball fan.
· increasing youth participation in baseball with instruction from the book, and aligning with MLB to partner on the message.
· reaching out to the RBI Foundations of each team (Revive Baseball in Inner Cities) to provide support and tools to help kids play the game
· developing an app for parents which will provide a process to teaching kids, so they enjoy the game
· Creating new fans.
It is the belief of the trio, and many experts are in agreement, that baseball has lost its luster because of its lack of action and strategy. Once America’s pastime, today it lags in television ratings (down 50 percent since 2003), sponsorship dollars and younger fan interest (only 7 percent under 18 watch baseball).
The hope is to revive baseball by bringing it back to its quicker pace of bygone years. The strategy, beginning with a player’s swing in youth baseball, includes: contact hitting and keeping the ball in play instead of swinging for the fences to increase action, thus making the game more entertaining; and by engaging younger fans and instructing younger players on the art of the game from Little League to High School to College.
Gallagher gives this example of the current “All or Nothing” approach: “There are only 2.46 home runs hit per game. In a three-hour game, you’re only getting a home run every hour. In between home runs is what is killing baseball. There is no action. We have to restore the game to the way it was historically played.”
WNBA star Brittney Griner was arrested a month ago in Moscow’s main airport. On Thursday it was announced that she would be held without trial until at least May 19th. She currently faces charges that could carry a sentence of up to 10-years in prison.
Upon arrival in Moscow during her seventh season playing professional basketball in Russia during the WNBA’s off-season, Griner was arrested for allegedly possessing cartridges containing ‘liquid with hashish oil’, according to the customs service.
Rick is joined by legal expert, Aron Solomon, to talk about Griner and her charges. Aron Solomon, JD, is the Chief Legal Analyst for Esquire Digital and the Editor of Today’s Esquire. He has taught entrepreneurship at McGill University and the University of Pennsylvania, and was elected to Fastcase 50, recognizing the top 50 legal innovators in the world.
Rick is joined this week on ‘Tech of Sports’ by Kyle Groth, CEO of Whiskers.
Whiskers’ Made-in-the-USA golf laces coordinate in style and color with the footwear and apparel brands PGA Tour players and amateur golfers’ wear. Crafted with ultra-durable poly-nylon tech weave and high-grade aglets, they are available in multiple styles, flat and oval shapes, and 30- to 45-inch lengths. Best sellers include navy and light blue, orange and white, berry and black, green and blue, and purple and pink. They also come in color palettes of college and professional sports teams.
“PGA Tour players and golfers worldwide are paying more attention to how they look. As an accent brand, Whiskers subtly adds to their unique personalities without being too loud.”
“Whiskers is reimagining a category that’s been long overlooked yet is now becoming an essential part of premium wardrobes,” says Groth. “Tour players are taking charge by personalizing and dressing up their shoes in fashionable and fun ways.”
The company plans to similarly outfit caddies, LPGA Tour players and social media influencers. Customizing laces is also on Whiskers’ roadmap.
In November, 2021 Whiskers entered the $84B annual golf economy that saw rounds climb more than 10% over 2020 with millennials – who especially relish self-expression that Whiskers laces promote – representing one of the fastest growing golf segments. Sales of golf equipment, apparel and accessories measurably rose in 2021.
In addition to golf, Whiskers designs and manufactures laces for dress and casual shoes, sneakers and boots. Overall, the company is creating a movement in becoming the world’s most iconic, inspirational, aspirational and ubiquitous premium footwear accessory.
Rick is joined by Mark DiMassimo of DiGo this week.
March 13th is the start of March Madness, and as many fans begin thinking about their brackets, companies should also begin thinking about their advertising strategies.
How can companies use advertising during March Madness to ensure desired behavior changes are met among consumers?
Mark DiMassimo, Founder & Creative Chief of DiGo, a creative agency promoting better habits by building businesses using Positive Behavior Change marketing can give an in-depth look into:
Consumer habits companies should consider when advertising during March Madness
How companies can best ensure they gain the desired habituation among consumers through advertising
Issues impacting college athletes companies should consider in advertising to inspire positive consumer habits
The future of advertising during college sports, and what this year’s March Madness will reveal
A fun and informative talk. Mark and Rick get you ready for what you may see along with the blocks, dunks and buzzer beaters.
Pete Charleston, Co-founder and President stops by ‘Tech of Sports’ this week.
Charleston co-founded Premium Cigars International and helped take the company public on the Nasdaq. Charleston served as vice president of sales for Premium Cigars International, where he successfully launched an in-store humidor program in over 10,000 retail outlets, negotiating contracts representing over 25,000 retail locations and managed 50 sales reps. Charleston now leads GolfLogix’s marketing, sales, and business development efforts and helped successfully negotiate the acquisition of GolfLogix by Emigrant Capital Corp. in 2014. Having been in the golf GPS business since its inception in 1999, Charleston is one of the most experienced executives in the Golf GPS industry.
What’s new?
GolfLogix/EZGO are providing a solution to golf course customers that will allow walkers to be tracked in their Textron Fleet Management (TFM) system along with the golf cart riders. GLX built features that show up only if they at an EZGO course.
Benefits to Course
Track walkers on their clubhouse pace management screen
Send page of play, inclement weather, and other types of messages to walkers
Walkers can use GLX App to order food/beverages
Cart riders will see GLX Approach view w/ QR code ability to purchase GLX App and/or GLX Green Books
Benefits to Golfer
Access to all existing GLX App features w/ option to upgrade to Plus
Ability for walkers to order food through the GLX App
Distance to Pin -course will set daily pin position and all walkers will see them in GLX App
Blind shot notifications – golfers will see players in fairway ahead which will add safety
