Category Archives: Tech of Sports

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.

Wayman Britt, College Basketball Star, New Author



College hoops star Wayman Britt found success in athletics, business and government, but his story is one of guts and grace behind any glory. Today, Britt uses his life experiences to inspire others — particularly those in underserved communities — to overcome challenges, dream bigger and achieve more in life.

His upcoming book, Fulfilling the Dream: My Pathway to Leadership and Finding Purpose in Serving Others.

A long way from the North Carolina tobacco farm where he grew up, college basketball standout Wayman Britt captained the University of Michigan Wolverines to the NCAA title game in 1976. It had always been his dream to play the game he loved for a bona fide powerhouse like the Tar Heels of North Carolina, and the Wolverines fit the bill. After realizing one dream, Britt set his sights on another. And another.

Britt didn’t let his poverty-stricken environment in the North Carolina Jim Crow era of racial discrimination dissuade him from envisioning a bigger world and a better life.

In his new book, Fulfilling the Dream: My Pathway to Leadership and Finding Purpose in Serving Others, Britt shares his personal account of growing his skills through life experiences. Following his successful careers in college and professional basketball, he grew into a management role for an international company and later rose to administrator for one of Michigan’s largest counties. Along the way, he became a dynamic leader and role model in the communities he served.

Britt candidly tells of the hard work, determination and faith in God that propelled him through challenges, disappointments and setbacks. He takes readers through his quest to open up the American Dream to people long excluded, and relates lessons and experiences of competing at the highest levels in athletics, corporate culture, government and politics to some of the most sensitive cultural issues of modern times.

This compelling account of the way Britt found his life mission will stimulate readers to reflect on how the individual accomplishments of one person contribute to building a society that matches Martin Luther King Jr.’s “dream” of opening opportunity to every citizen. Fulfilling the Dream is a tale about pursuing dreams, realizing them—and then dedicating one’s life to helping others.

Enjoy Rick and Wayman talking about the book and a lot more.

 


Sir Ben Anslie, Olympian and SailGP



As Sir Ben Ainslie makes his SailGP debut on home waters at the Great Britain Sail Grand Prix in Plymouth this weekend, SailGP will be putting into action some of the most progressive technological and sustainable clean energy innovations the sporting world has ever seen!

The Great Britain Sail Grand Prix will be the most sustainable on-water event ever with the largest number of electric solutions integrated across the race weekend and the entire race village 100% powered by clean energy.

The Duchess of Cambridge, Royal Patron of the 1851 Trust, will also be in attendance, joining a group of young people taking part in the Protect Our Future program by the 1851 Trust – the official charity of the Great Britain SailGP Team. Her Royal Highness will then get a taste of the incredible speed and skill involved in SailGP when she boards Ainslie’s British F50 and takes part in a friendly Commonwealth race!


Andrei Duarte, College to Pro Tennis, Atlanta Open



Rick is joined by a great guest this week. Georgia State men’s tennis fifth-year senior Andrei Duarte, who was awarded a main draw doubles wild card for the 2022 Atlanta Open as announced by the professional men’s tennis tournament and tournament director Eddie Gonzalez. Duarte will pair with Alvaro Regalado of Columbus State to compete in the ATP 250 Tour event against a pair of ATP Tour Pros on July 26.

He also talks to Rick about his compelling story and more.

Duarte joins former Panthers men’s tennis player Zack Kennedy as the latest GSU tennis standout to compete at the US Open Series tournament in Atlanta. Kennedy received a doubles draw to the Atlanta Open in 2016 and secured a win in the first round over tennis pros Yoshihito Nishioka and Thiago Monteiro.

Duarte prepares to make his professional tournament debut at this year’s Atlanta Open having closed his tenure with the Panthers in 2022 as the school’s all-time leader in wins. Duarte’s five-year career at GSU was capped off with a historic season that saw the fifth-year help lead GSU to Sun Belt Conference Regular Season and Tournament Championships as well as an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Duarte received All-Sun Belt Singles and Doubles First Team honors for the spring 2022 season.


Rachel Pearcy, CFO of WNBA’s Dallas Wings



She built on the organization’s winning 2021 season and playoff appearance, key player re-signings, and increased global exposure for the organization, leading the charge to streamline key financial operations using integrated software – a critical element to the team’s success. Her approach offers a recipe for success.

Rick is joined by Rachel Pearcy, this week on ‘Tech of Sports.” Rachel is the CFO of the Dallas Wings of the WNBA.

An advocate for community, having made a move to the sports industry two years ago, Rachel is passionate about building a solid foundation to enable her to focus on relationships to drive the organization forward and help ensure success both on and off the court.

The WNBA is hot! She talks about that and a lot more.


Olivia Baker, Professional 800m Runner, Stanford All-American, Atlanta Track Club



Pleasure to be joined by Olivia Baker, this week on “Tech of Sports.” Olivia is having a career year in 2022.

The New Jersey native and Stanford grad is current the 25th ranked 800m runner in the world. She just ran at 1:58:46 at the Toyota USATF Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, OR. Now living in Atlanta and representing the Atlanta Track Club, Olivia has her sights set on improving her world ranking and feels her best times are still to come. She’s had a busy 2022 and there is still half the year to go.

A self-described “nerd” (I wouldn’t call her that), Olivia loves reading and co-hosts a book club on Instagram @runjumpread), along with interests that include watching sports, hiking, and board games.

We were luck enough to catch up with the speedy and gritty Olivia!

She is a seven-time national championship qualifier with a career-best 3rd place finish in the 600m at the 2019 USATF Indoor Championships. Baker was a semi-finalist in the 800m at the 2016 Olympic Trials and qualified for the 2021 Trials. At Stanford, Baker, who has a degree in human biology, was an 11-time All-American. Her personal best of 2:00.08 in the 800m (2018) is the Cardinal’s school record.

A fun and quick talk with Olivia.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Career Highlights:

2022 USATF Indoor Championships, silver (800m)
2020 USATF Indoor Championships, fourth (800m)
2019 USA vs. Europe, fifth (800m)
2019 USATF Outdoor Championships, fourth (800m)
2019 USATF Indoor Championships, bronze (600m)
2018 USATF Outdoor Championships, sixth (800m)
2018 NCAA I Outdoor Championships, fifth (800m)
2016 NCAA I Outdoor Championships, silver (800m)
2016 NCAA I Indoor Championships, bronze (800m)
2015 Pan American U20 Championships, gold (4x400m)
2015 USATF U20 Championships, bronze (400m)
2014 USATF U20 Championships, silver (400m)
2013 USATF U20 Championships, gold (400m)

 


Erik Kortland, Tennis Industry Veteran, RKT3 Group



Tennis & Racket Industry Pros Launch RKT3 Group To Offer Expert Consulting Strategy, Programming and Leadership Development

Rick talks to Erik Kortland this week on “Tech of Sports.”

Three dynamic leaders in the racket sports space are venturing out and offering their services to organizations and facilities looking to expand and take advantage of the growing landscape and popularity of tennis, paddle, pickleball and other racket sports within the industry.

RKT3 Group, Inc., offers executive coaching, vision strategies with mission statements, communications, marketing, programming, leadership and personal development to clubs and racket sports facilities in the United States and abroad.

RKT3 Group was founded in 2021 by dynamic tennis leaders Ryan Redondo, Erik Kortland and Khuong Tien.

“Our vision is to promote an innovative and universal approach to the tennis and racket sport industry,” said Kortland, a former USTA National coach now the National Sports Marketing Manager for Tecnifibre/Lacoste Sports Group also working in player development. “The growth of racket sports like tennis, padel, and pickleball has skyrocketed over the past three of four years, especially in the United States. And we want to be the leaders in helping the industry’s leading facilities and organizations get the most out of their developmental strategy.”

RKT3’s services include organizational strategy and structuring, club management, on and off court program development, one-on-one coaching and mentoring, tournament planning, fundraising and development strategy and planning, and more.

“We support and create a space for our clients to provide lucrative business models, strengthened community development, and the tools to be on the cutting edge within the industry,” said Redondo, the CEO of Youth Tennis San Diego and General Manager of Barnes Tennis Center, home of a newly announced WTA 500 tournament set for the fall.

Tien is a junior tennis parent who has worked as a corporate lawyer for the past 20 years. Prior to RKT3 Group, he served as general counsel for a national chain restaurant based in Southern California.

For more information on the RKT3 Group, go to the website at: www.rkt3.com.