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.

Manny Diaz, University of Georgia Head Men’s Tennis Coach

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Rick is joined by the Head Men’s Tennis Coach at the University of Georgia, Manny DIaz, this week on ‘Tech of Sports.’

With the cancellation of NCAA spring sports, Coach DIaz has some time on his hands, as do his players. Find out what Coach has told his players in the time of COVID-19 and how he’s handling things. He reflects on former UGA All-American, Jog\hn Isner’s career and more!

Diaz, this season, surpassed the legendary Dan Magill as the winningest men’s tennis coach in SEC history. The penultimate victory – number 707 – surely would have made Magill proud. It came on a Sunday in a big upset of No. 3 Ohio State on UGA’s Henry Field Stadium courts.

Diaz has been the Head Coach of the Bulldogs for 32 years. His careernumbers speak for themselves — 28 Southeastern Conference Championships in 32 seasons at the helm of the Georgia men’s tennis program.

He  has led Georgia to six national championships – four NCAA titles (1999, 2001, 2007 and 2008) and two ITA National Indoor titles (2006 and 2007). He is one of only three active coaches with multiple NCAA titles.

A great conversation with Coach Diaz, who is one of the nicest and most respected faces in tennis at any level.

Brad Payne, Founding Partner, CEO of Walker Trolleys

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Rick is joined this week by Brad Payne, one of the founders of Walker Trolleys.

Walker Trolleys is an Austin, Texas-based, golf startup with a story began in the entrepreneurial hotbed of San Francisco in 2018. Payne didn’t own his own push cart for tackling the crushing hills of the Presidio Golf Course.

He was able to test drive several models available from the course’s bag room. Some were better than others, but time and time again, they came up short on design, performance and especially storage.

Brad then traveled to Scotland, playing the classics like Royal Dornoch, the Old Course at St. Andrews, Prestwick Golf Club and North Berwick Golf Club. He was blown away by the history and tradition of golf in Scotland, where walking the links was a way of life and an opportunity to bond with kindred souls.

He used a push cart at many of these storied courses and clubs, but by the end of his pilgrimage, he was convinced none of the offerings were consistent with the ethos of the “royal and ancient” game as played in Scotland.

It was on an airplane, over a neat Scotch, en route home to U.S. that the idea for the first Walker Trolley was born. A clean, elegant push cart marrying modern and classic design features, the Walker Trolley is lightweight, portable and eminently convenient.

The Walker Trolley is a push cart for the player, the purist, the aficionado who appreciates style, form and functionality, and who boldly chooses walking as a way to play golf.

Brad  has extensive experience across a wide range of industries, working in finance,  strategy and digital advertising for Fortune 1000 companies, including  Apple, where  he led business development and digital advertising for Apple News, and Morgan  Stanley, where he focused on technology mergers and  acquisitions. He earned his MBA from Kellogg at Northwestern University in Finance. He is a passionate golfer with a fluctuating single digit handicap and has a passion for making cool golf products.

Listen to Brad’s and ideas and philosophy and the backstory to Walker Trolleys.

Danielle Lao, Professional Tennis Player on Sports and Tennis Taking a Break

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A second “Tech of Sports” this week and Rick is joined by friend and co-author of The Invaluable Experience and WTA player, Danielle Lao.

Danielle, like Rick has been grounded with the COVID-19 situation and we find out what she is doing to stay in shape for a return to tennis.

They talk hobbies, what will Danielle do when tennis returns and as Danielle stays close to college tennis, what the abrupt ending to the NCAA college season would’ve meant to her.

Rick and Danielle chat for about 15 minutes. Enjoy this episode.

 

Jane Park, LPGA Professional Golfer

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Rick is joined by LPGA veteran, Jane Park this week to talk about an LPGA major coming to her hometown in Atlanta in 2021. Actually the Atlanta area when the Atlanta Athletic Club hosts the 67th KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, from June 22-27, 2021. This will mark the first KPMG Women’s PGA Championship to be played in the state of Georgia with one of the largest purses in women’s golf history: $4.3 million, including $645,000 to the champion.

Park plays on the LPGA Tour. Before turning professional, Park reached the finals of the 2003 U.S. Women’s Amateur and 2004 U.S. Girls’ Junior, and won the 2004 U.S. Women’s Amateur. She also tied for low amateur at the 2006 U.S. Women’s Open. Since joining the LPGA in 2007, she has earned over $2.8 million and recorded 16 top-10 finishes.

Rick talks to Park about playing a major in her hometown, her schedule and technology she uses in her golf.

Kami Day, COO of Muscle MX

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CBD that is simple, natural, and powerful with results you can trust.

That would be Muscle MX.

Rick talks with Kami Day, the COO of Muscle MX on this episode of “Tech of Sports.”

CBD (cannabidiol) comes from hemp plants and works with your body’s natural biochemical balancer – the Endocannabinoid System (ECS). Endocannabinoids are found many of your body’s key functions; the central nervous system, immune system, brain, organs and joints.

Muscle MX uses purposefully formulated CBD extracts in our topicals to unlock your body’s natural ability to work with the ECS to reduce inflammation, increase needed blood flow and reduce pain. Those who use our premium CBD oil tinctures feel more focused, experience a sense of calm, and have healthier sleep cycles.

CBD and hemp are fast becoming household names, but there are still a few misconceptions. Hemp is not marijuana. Hemp contains less than .3% THC which is the psychoactive compound most commonly associated with marijuana. The elevated levels of CBD in hemp are non-psychoactive and work synergistically with your body to improve performance and overall health and quality of life.

We believe that everyone should be able to live full and active lives. There are adventures to take, races to run and mountains to climb. Muscle MX products are created to liberate you to do the things you want to do!

Muscle MX is a trusted source for innovative, safe and effective products that enhance your body and active lifestyle.

We are proud to provide our customers with products that are simple, natural, and powerful with results you can trust.

Kami is the COO of Muscle MX and a delight to meet and talk with about their great line of CBD.

Roi Mozer, COO of Pico

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Rick is joined for a jam packed episode this week, with Roi Mozer of Pico.

Pico is an Israeli SportsTech startup working with Sports Organizations and brands looking for innovative sponsorship activations that convert better than industry averages. They turn engaged, anonymous fans into identifiable customers without the need to download or log-in, but using the fans’ preferred channels and give the teams a better idea of what their fans need and like.

Here are a few examples of what they do:

In-game live activation – St. Louis Blues
Case study – St. Louis Blues (video) & Forbes article
LA Clippers Jumbotron in-game activation
Live activation on Israeli Sports Channel
CHL – live FB activation

Pico brings brands to life and creates experiences through total brand activation – from strategy to execution. A great “Tech of Sports” to start March 2020.