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.

Dr. Ron Gertsch, OxyStrap Making Protective Masks

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Many sports tech companies are pivoting in the fight against COVID-19. OxyStrap is one of them making a difference.

This week, Rick talks with Dr. Ron Gertsch of OxyStrap.

Ron Gertsch, a long-time physician and bariatric surgeon, had launched OxyStrap International Inc., (https://oxystrap.com/ ), to create fitness trackers to help consumers improve their health and save lives.

Now, in response to the Coronavirus Pandemic, Dr. Gertsch’s San Diego, CA-based company has shifted its manufacturing focus to produce effective N95 equivalent protective masks to help in the effort to stop the spread of the virus.

Manufactured in the U.S., the OxyStrap protective face mask is a premier quality product, which is carefully hand-made with an effective microbiological barrier material. It’s comfortable to wear and easy to use. Since all the material components are hand-washable, the OxyStrap mask can be used repeatedly without deterioration of its effectiveness or appearance. OxyStrap recommends that the masks be hand washed daily during periods of usage to not only clean but also remove and destroy microbiological organisms from the mask.

Dr. Gertsch received his Bachelor of Science Degree from Brigham Young University in 1968. He received his Medical Degree from Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana in 1972 and completed a General Surgery Residency at Wright State University in 1977. He was Chief of Surgery at Vandenberg Medical Center, USAF, in Santa Maria, CA, from 1977-79. He is licensed by the State of California as a Doctor of Medicine.

Rich Mueller, Founder of Sports Collectors Daily on How COVID-19 is Affecting Sports Collecting

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Rick is joined by Rich Mueller, founder and editor of Sports Collectors Daily.- SportsCollectorsDaily.com— a daily news website/blog for the sports memorabilia industry/hobby.

About Sports Collectors Daily:

We search the internet for stories of interest, produce our own original content and keep tabs on news made by leading companies. We then bring it all together in one place. It’s a unique concept which has grown substantially in readership, internet presence and advertiser interest in the last dozen years.

Rich serves as head writer, editor, social media manager, marketing director and sales manager.

In this episode, Rick an Rich discuss the many ways COVID-19 is impacting the sports collecting industry.

Rick and Rich are both collectors, so it’s interesting to see how collectors are reacting. Also how retailers, card companies and show promoters are adjusting. An interesting talk with Rich, as it might be a good time to be a “buyer” in the sports collecting universe.

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.