Figuring out what is out there in the sporting world.

Sport today has become one of the upper echelon businesses in the world. When you think about top things that employ people in the US, and offer successful job opportunities, sports are on that list. Things like finance, banking, food industry, stock broking, teaching, being a lawyer or doctor; sport now offers jobs and opportunities that are just as desirable as all of these, and it is was not always this way. In fact, a few decades ago, if a person said they wanted to pursue a career in sport, it meant they were headed down the path to becoming a gym teacher. Today, there is sports advertising, sports law, countless sport media outlets, public relations in sport, and many more areas of sport that offer great opportunities for people to have successful positions in the sporting world.

That brings me to myself. Along with the hundreds of other students at Ithaca College who are participating in some sort of sport studies. And of course we can't forget about the thousands more at all the other colleges and universities around the country who are studying the same things, all of who are looking to become successful in the world of sport, without actually playing it. What is out there for us? How vast is this sports society? I for one do not know exactly what I have got myself into. I decided to choose sports media as my major when I enrolled at Ithaca College based on the fact that I like sports. I felt that I could be successful at something that I am passionate about, and so I decided to look into this so-called "sports media" and run with it for awhile. Well in my third year into college, and internship-less, I am still unsure of what career path I am headed down. So why not take this time to look at some aspects of sport that seem appealing to me.

One thing that is appealing to me, and maybe can be something like a goal, is to reach a job on the professional level. By this I mean with a professional team, preferably in the big three: the NFL, NBA, and MLB. Professional Sports teams are big businesses, and they offer many jobs within their organizations. I am very interested in what goes on behind the scenes within the sports organizations, such as management, marketing, media relations, and things of that sort. Now obviously, money comes into play at some point. Everyone wants to make the big bucks, and a lot of areas in sport are known to not pay out very well. It seems like in sports, you're either making a lot, or you're not bringing in as much as you would like. It depends on what team you're working for, and what league that team is in. Obviously there is going to be a difference in what the Public Relations Director for the Arena Football League Chicago Rush makes, to what the same position on the National Football League Chicago Bears makes.

That brings me to why I chose Ithaca as the school I wanted to enroll in. Hopefully having a degree in Sports Media will give me the opportunity to find a job that has a good salary, and that I enjoy as well. Some different organizations in which previous graduates of IC have gotten jobs with include The Boston Celtics, Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins, Los Angeles Dodgers, the Major League Baseball Office of the Commissioner, and many others.

I am excited to see where I end up in the future, and hopefully it will be with an organization that I can be successful in. One in which I can continue to rise in ranking in years to come, and become an important part of whatever organization that may be.

"Hard Knocks": A healthy break from the roid ragers, gambling refs, and dog killers.

I am intrigued by many things in the sporting world. I not only enjoy watching an actual game, but I am also interested in the "behind the scenes" aspect. Whether it be in the front office, the locker room, or at a player or coaches home, I always find it interesting to see the player outside of the stadium, the coach off the sideline, or just the way the sport works in other areas outside of the playing field.

Recently, I've been following the HBO series called "Hard Knocks". This show presents a side of the National Football League that majority of it's fans and followers do not see. It is a documentary of the recently past Kansas City Chiefs pre-season camp. The camp was a 20 day, grueling football experience, and the show did a great job of not only documenting the entire camp experience on the professional level, but also followed around and documented the camp experiences of a few of KC's superstars, their fringe players, fan favorites, many coaches, ranging from head man to defensive line coach, and a few of the front office personnel.

It is obvious to see that the American media in the sports world is drawn to stories about troubled athletes, or athletes in trouble for that matter. Take recent issues with guys like Pacman Jones, Michael Vick, the never ending Barry Bonds steroid saga, anything that ever happens to a player on the Cincinnati Bengals, and so on. The people heard a lot more about Pacman Jones' involvement at a strip club shootout than they did about his stellar sophomore season with the Tennessee Titans. A season in which he had over 60 tackles, along with 4 interceptions and a touchdown. We also heard much more about Chris Henry, who plays wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals, and his reoccurring DWI issues, rather than his stellar 2006 campaign, when he quietly became one of the most dangerous deep threat receiver's in the AFC, catching 9 touchdown passes, as well as tallying over 600 receiving yards on 18.8 yards per catch, even though he only caught more than 1 ball in 10 out of 16 regular season games.

I realized what a relief "Hard Knocks" was to watch. I never thought that I would say this, but taking a break from watching sports center, and instead tuning into a show like this never felt better. To be relieved of the never ending negative stories that we hear so much about on most of the ESPN shows was without doubt a change that this sports fan needed. Tuning into "Hard Knocks", I saw the story of Boomer Grigsby, a linebacker and fan favorite in Kansas City. Now, I consider myself pretty knowledgeable when it comes to knowing NFL rosters, and I had never heard of this guy. Grigsby has been assigned a position change, and has been moved to fullback this off-season. Here is the story of a hard working fringe player, whose not making a whole lot of money, and plays for the love of the game. The story that majority of NFL fans do not hear. And I haven't even told you what a character this guy is. With his muscular frame, tattooed body, and freshly cut Mohawk, you would take this guy as one mean dude. I would have to say that I have not heard much more genuine, well spoken guys in the NFL as Grigsby is, and I will defintly be routing for him to succeed at his position change this upcoming season.

This story is only one of many compelling and entertaining stories that "Hard Knocks" gives its viewers. Kyle Turley, a first round draft pick lineman trying to rejuvenate his career after he has been labled a hot head with a terrible temper. Bobby Sippio, the recently signed wide reciever. This guy was one of the best receivers the Arena League has ever seen, but can he cut it in the NFL, and nab a roster spot with the Chiefs? Dimitri Patterson and Rod Breckenridge, defensive backs and good friends fighting for one roster spot, who will make the cut? "Hard Knocks" delivers this and so much more, and it has given a view into the NFL that I have never seen before, and am interested in seeing again.