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.

Guy Harvey, Guy Harvey Apparel, Artist, Scientist, Conservationist

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Rick is joined by a true “Renaissance Man” this week on “Tech of Sports.”

Guy Harvey of www.GuyHarvey.com.

Rick and Guy talk about his background and what’s coming in 2020. Harvey’s iconic ocean-inspired artwork which serves as the backdrop for the Spring 2020 launch. The Spring 2020 collection focuses on Guy’s original artwork showcased on versatile and durable clothing designed to perform from the day’s first cast, to the night’s last catch. This collection of wearable works of art feature high performance fishing apparel as well as casual lifestyle pieces. It includes tees, shorts, head wear, sportswear, swim, and layering pieces. Customers will also find boating and coastal casual footwear including sandals, boat shoes and casual canvas shoes.

“We are very excited about our new sportfishing lifestyle apparel and footwear collection,” said Dr. Harvey. “Through our diverse partnerships, we have created high-quality, functional, fashionable sportfishing apparel and footwear that fit every season and is designed especially for today’s active lifestyle.”

As with all Guy Harvey apparel and merchandise, a portion of proceeds from sales support scientific research and educational initiatives through the non-profit Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation (GHOF).

The Guy Harvey story begins on Jamaica’s south coast where a young boy and his parents enjoyed many hours fishing and diving, as well as beach excursions with the entire family. Growing up in this idyllic setting, this boy knew that his life would forever be focused on the ocean and all its offerings.

Today this young boy is the man we know as Guy Harvey—the embodiment of everything having to do with the water. He is a unique blend of artist, conservationist, diver, angler, scientist and explorer, fiercely devoted to his family and his love of the ocean.

A 10th generation Jamaican of English heritage, his passion for marine life started to grow from that tranquil childhood backdrop and he began drawing pictures of the many different fish he observed. From his early inspirations, Guy’s natural gift to recreate the underwater realm has propelled him from Professor of Marine Biology to Wildlife Artist and Photographer.

See more at www.guyharvey.com.

 

 

 

Patrick Davis, Singer and Songwriter’s ‘National Championship Blues’

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If you know music in the South, especially the state of South Carolina, you know Patrick Davis.

Rick catches up with Patrick this week as the college football season starts and his beloved Gamecocks are 0-1.

Davis, University of South Carolina alumnus and one of the Gamecock Nation’s favorite musical sons, is releasing The Gamecock EP just in time for kick off this weekend and right before embarking on a European Tour supporting fellow Gamecocks Hootie & the Blowfish.

The Gamecock EP includes four tracks from The Gamecock Album, which charted on Billboard in its first week when released in 2013, and a new bonus track “National Championship Blues.” The Gamecock EP will be available on Spotify, Apple Music and other streaming services this Friday, August 30th.

Davis wrote the new bonus track “National Championship Blues,” this past January after USC rival Clemson once again won the National Championship title. The song has until now only been heard as a live “day he wrote it” performance on Davis’ social media channels. It has since been listened to on Facebook and YouTube more than 185K times.

“I was watching the National Championship game with Hootie’s Darius Rucker and Mark Bryan and somewhere in the midst of the Clemson victory, I told the guys I was going to wake up first thing in the morning and write a National Championship Blues song. And that’s exactly what I did.” comments Davis.

The Gamecock EP, is a tribute to the University of South Carolina Gamecocks, who have played a large role in Davis’ life. Through the years, a number of these songs have become anthems for fans and are played throughout Williams-Brice Stadium on game day and beyond.

“I love South Carolina – the state, the people and the football,” says Davis.
“I never realized these songs would resonate with South Carolinians and Gamecock fans the way they do, but it has become a wonderful part of my life. That’s the beauty of writing songs and making music. Music truly does connect people so I feel very lucky to be part of it.”

Davis’ love of the Gamecocks began long before he attended school at the university. Having grown up in South Carolina, Gamecocks football has always held a special place in his heart.

“I grew up cheering on the Gamecocks and it was a pretty painful experience,” jokes Davis. “But honestly, all the University of South Carolina sports programs have been such a big part of my life – from game day tailgates when I was a student to today when I hear folks playing my music before games. The team and university have always brought me great joy.”

More on the 2019 season:

“I’m hopeful that we have a better record than we’ve had in the past few years. As everyone knows we have one of the toughest schedules in the country in 2019. And the SC motto has always been, ‘Just wait until next year.” Well I think maybe next year is this year,” adds Davis.

Track listing for The Gamecock EP:

Big Ole Cock
We Ain’t Far Feat. Darius Rucker & Edwin McCain
My Carolina
Wingo and His Yard Cocks
National Championship Blues

The Gamecock EP marks the start of new music slated to be released from Patrick Davis this fall.

Patrick Davis, frontman of Patrick Davis & His Midnight Choir, is a Tennessee born, South Carolina bred, Nashville-based singer, songwriter and artist who has had quite the musical run over the past decade. Davis has had nearly 70 of his songs recorded by artists including Jimmy Buffett, Lady Antebellum, Darius Rucker, Jewel and others. He is currently recording his first Patrick Davis & His Midnight Choir album with his eleven-piece band and come early 2020, the band will be on the road and bringing their musical message to the masses. Davis is also founder of Songwriters In Paradise, a uniquely crafted singer-songwriter festival designed to bring together the world’s top songwriting and performing talent in the world’s most exclusive and awe-inspiring destinations for a priceless musical experience. Additionally, he is co-founder of Whiskey Jam Whiskey with South Carolina’s world-renowned, Firefly Distillery. For more information on Patrick Davis & His Midnight Choir, visit patrickdavismusic.com.

Have a listen to Rick and Patrick Davis.

Joshua Jacobs, CEO, Founder of TGA Premier Sports

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Rick is joined by one of the most innovative minds in sports, Joshua Jacobs.

Jacobs is the CEO and founder of TGA Premier Sports.

TGA Premier Sports is the leading introductory “delivery system” for kids’ in-school and community-based golf programs. They just added their eighth youth sports golf franchise in the New York/New Jersey market and the 53rd nationwide.

Founded in 2003 and driven by an innovative curriculum that combines golf skills development with STEAM education modules and life lessons, TGA has had over 750,000 youth go through its golf programs and is on-pace to enroll its ONE-MILLIONTH student in youth sports programs by 2020. In schools and communities all across the country, TGA is driving growth in golf participation in powerful and sustainable ways.

Jacobs has made tremendous inroads, founding TGA Premier Junior Golf in 2003. Joshua was named by Golf Magazine and Sports Illustrated in 2010 as one of the Top 40 most influential people in golf under 40 and in 2013 was recognized as one of golf’s “Innovators” by Golf Inc. Joshua created the first scalable business model for school based golf programs in 2003 in the Los Angeles area and franchised the youth development and business concept in 2006. In 2010, he created the TGA Sports Foundation, dedicated to Developing Youth through Athletics. In 2011, Joshua orchestrated TGA’s horizontal move into the tennis industry by franchising TGA’s school based business model and facilitating a National Partnership with the United States Tennis Association (USTA) in the same year.

In addition to TGA, Joshua co-founded a social golf network called GLinks and has been serving his community since 9th grade coaching youth sports programs in Los Angeles and Atlanta. He currently serves on the PGA Golf 2.0’s National Building Blocks Committee, TGA Sports Foundation’s Board of Directors, the Southern California PGA’s Foundation Advisory Committee and the Southern California PGA’s Growth of the Game Committee.

Joshua Graduated from Emory University with a degree in Economics and Business and a minor in History. His passion for golf began at three years old and tennis at six. From those early years, Joshua’s love and respect for sports continues to drive him to break down barriers and open doors for all students ages 3-13 to have the opportunity to learn golf and tennis.

Jacobs is never short on opinions, especially when it comes to tennis. He discusses some of them with Rick!

Tommy Fleetwood, PGA Tour Star on FedEx Junior Business Challenge

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Caught up with PGA Tour golfer, Tommy Fleetwood, this week at the Tour Championship at East Lake. Fleetwood was among the 30 golfers that qualified for East Lake this year. He was also serving as one of the judges for the FedEx Junior Business Challenge this week in Atlanta.

This week, Junior Achievement students from across the United States competed in the finals of the FedEx Junior Business Challenge held at the tournament’s host site, East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta. The three JA student companies that participated in the finals secured their spots by winning each of their individual qualifying events, which were hosted at PGA TOUR tournaments throughout the summer. At the event, the JA student companies pitched original business ideas, with Our Story from JA of the Chisholm Trail being selected as the winner and recipient of a $75,000 donation from FedEx to their JA chapter. Our Story is a motivational journal company for teens that helps to reduce anxiety and stress.

Fleetwood was impressed by the high school students and their products.

The judging panel evaluated each company’s ability to deliver a compelling pitch, create a succinct visual presentation and connect their business concept to innovation, sustainability, job creation or the trade industry.

Through its PGA TOUR sponsorship, FedEx hosted FedEx Junior Business Challenge qualifier events at three PGA TOUR tournaments this year: the Charles Schwab Challenge (Ft. Worth, Texas), the Travelers Championship (Cromwell, Conn.) and the 3M Open (Blaine, Minn.). At each event, JA student companies presented their business ideas to a judging panel consisting of a mix of PGA TOUR players, local celebrities, FedEx Small Business Grant winners and business leaders.

In August 2013, Fleetwood won his maiden title on the European Tour at the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles. He won in a three-man sudden death playoff, after a birdie on the first extra hole to see off Stephen Gallacher and Ricardo González.

In May 2015, Fleetwood scored an albatross on the par-5 4th hole at the Wentworth Club during the second round of the BMW PGA Championship.

2017 was Fleetwood’s most successful year to date. In January he won his second European Tour event, the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, by one stroke over Dustin Johnson and Pablo Larrazábal after a final round 67. In March, Fleetwood was runner-up in the WGC-Mexico Championship, a shot behind Johnson. In April, he lost in a sudden-death playoff at the Shenzhen International to Bernd Wiesberger, at the first extra hole. Fleetwood had come from eight strokes behind on the final day with a stunning round of 63 to set the clubhouse lead. In the playoff, Fleetwood found the green in two, but Wiesberger from trouble fired an approach to within five feet and holed the birdie putt for the victory. In June, Fleetwood finished fourth in the U.S. Open, while in July, he won the Open de France, beating Peter Uihlein by a stroke, after a bogey-free final round 66. He moved from 99th in the World Rankings at the start of the year into the world top-20. In November 2017, Fleetwood won the European Tour season-long Race to Dubai and won $1,250,000 from the bonus pool.

Fleetwood made a successful start to 2018, winning the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship by two strokes from Ross Fisher. He had a final round of 65, with six birdies in the last nine holes.

He is the sixth golfer to shoot a 63 in U.S. Open history, tying the championship’s single round scoring record. He did this in the fourth round of the 2018 U.S. Open on 17 June at the Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York. He finished one stroke behind the winner Brooks Koepka.

Tommy was a delight to talk to and best of luck to him this week in Atlanta.

Jay Caldwell, Preserving History of the Negro Leagues

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A centennial celebration of the Negro Leagues launched at The National, thanks to the hard work of Seattle’s Jay Caldwell.

Glad to be joined by Caldwell, on this week’s “Tech of Sports.”

Caldwell is a collector who has a passion for preserving the history of the Negro Leagues.  At the National, he was offering a variety of commissioned artwork, bobbleheads and other items with profits designated for the Negro League Baseball Museum in Kansas City.  They’ll be used to advance educational and conservation missions to preserve the legacy of the Negro League players. Additional royalties will be paid to the players’ estates for securing the rights to use of their likenesses in the products.

There will be two large exhibits in 2020 commemorating the 100-year anniversary of the founding of the Negro Leagues.

“Our mission remains the same,” Caldwell stated. “To celebrate the Centennial of the founding of the Negro National League on February 13, 1920 at the Paseo YMCA in Kansas City. The Negro League Baseball Museum (www.nlbm.com) selected us to stage an art and memorabilia show at the NLBM between February 1 – May 31, 2020. The exhibit will feature 320 pieces of original art depicting African-American, Cuban and other players who participated in black baseball from 1867 – 1955 as well as over 80 pieces of Negro League memorabilia including the earliest pieces known relating to African-American baseball dating back to the 19th century.”

The first exhibit of Negro League art will be at the museum, running from February 13, 2020 to May 31, 2020.

The exhibit will then move to Milwaukee and the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, August 15, 2020 to February 15, 2021.

See more here and support Jay’s efforts.

John Parisella, Horse Trainer to the Stars with his New Book

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Great to be joined by quite an interesting character, horse trainer, John Parisella, talking about his new book. And does he have some stories to tell.

The book is: From the Streets of Brooklyn to Trainer to the Stars: John Parisella’s Lifetime of Celebrity Connections

This is an amazing read!

An accomplished trainer of Thoroughbred racehorses, John Parisella grew up on the streets of post-Depression, post-war Brooklyn. The son of a bookmaker and shylock, he began playing the horses at Aqueduct and Belmont while in high school. He became the protégé of fellow New Yorker and Hall of Fame trainer, John Campo. Parisella ran horses at thirty-eight tracks and half the Thoroughbreds he sent to the post finished in the money. His most famous horse, Simply Majestic, once ran faster than the great Secretariat. That’s only part of the story of the man who went FROM THE STREETS OF BROOKLYN TO TRAINER TO THE STARS.

John Parisella enjoyed over five decades of adventures with the biggest names in sports and entertainment. In the early 1970s he appeared twice on “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson,” and on his second appearance was proclaimed the “Trainer to the Stars” by actor Jack Klugman because, at that time, Parisella was training horses for a stable of movie stars that included Klugman, Caan and Telly Savalas. He went drinking with Mantle; cajoled Steinbrenner into helping Joe Pepitone and lived with James Caan at the height of Caan’s fame; became Pitino’s close friend and was the intermediary with the New York Knicks as he orchestrated Pitino’s move to become head basketball coach at the University of Kentucky; and, as Bethenny Frankel’s stepfather, was the father-figure in the future Reality TV star’s life as she was growing up.

The long list of notable figures with whom the TRAINER TO THE STARS was connected includes “Broadway Joe” Namath . . . Presidential candidate Barry Goldwater . . . iconic actor James Stewart . . . lead singer Bono of the mega-group U2 . . . former Kentucky Gov. Brereton Jones . . . and New York City shock jock Howard Stern . . . as they, too, are among the many stars within John Parisella’s almost-unimaginable orbit. He was even befriended by John A. Gotti, son of the man called The Teflon Don, mob boss John J. Gotti.

John Parisella lived faster than his horses ran, burning through millions of dollars as a result of his generosity and profligate spending. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder, he endured addictive behaviors associated with the condition—drug abuse and compulsive gambling. From the Streets of Brooklyn to Trainer to the Stars shares the whole story with never told behind-the-scenes conversations and dealings that helped make history.

Have a listen to Rick ad John this week- a lot of fun!