GoRockford’s Post

An awesome discussion in our office yesterday with a couple of Aussie basketball legends, with Brad Newley doing a great job interviewing Jack White. I really enjoyed the conversation and thought I'd share some of my personal takeaways: Overcoming adversity – Jack shared how he’d suffered a torn Achilles in his first season in the NBL. Jack spoke of the disappointment of having such a significant injury at the very start of his professional career, as well as his concern for the risk of losing some of the athleticism that makes him a special player. He endured and overcame by controlling what he could and working tirelessly on his recovery. Focus and dedication saw him come back in 9 months and you get the sense he’s stronger for overcoming the challenge. Whether we like it or not, we will all face forms of adversity in our lives. How we face up to that adversity, the actions we take, informs our chances to make the best of any situation and keep moving forward, ultimately growing from the experience. Learning from Mentors – Jack spoke of his experience with Coach K at Duke, Dean Vickerman’s leadership as well as learning from the accomplished veteran players he’d always looked up to from Melbourne, like Matthew Dellavedova, Chris Goulding and Brad Newley. By learning from others Jack shared that he expects that he has and will continue to make the most of his playing career. My observation is that those (in sport or business) that have the type of personality to want to learn from others, often later become great teachers and supporters of others down the track. This type of role model cycling is critical to foster in any organisation that wants to prosper over the long term. Keeping a balanced perspective – Sports (and business) can have highs and lows. With Melbourne United most recently moving from a big loss against the Breakers at the start of November, to then delivering 2 big wins over the last few days, resulting in moving to the top of the NBL ladder. Jack spoke to staying balanced, focusing on the process and avoiding getting too high or low after a good or less good game. Jack mentioned the belief and culture that has been instilled within the United team that they can bounce back if they put the work in, and have a track record of doing so. I thought this was a really interesting point, as belief and culture often becomes intertwined as long as it informs constructive action. Overall a great experience and we're very grateful that Jack and Brad gave us their time. Go United!

Early Specialization and Success in Sports, Part 3

Great panel discussion about the value of sports to the economic vitality of the region.

Exciting news from the World Conker Championships! The recent controversy surrounding the men's winner has been resolved, with the athlete cleared of any cheating allegations. This development not only restores the integrity of the competition but also highlights the spirit of fair play that defines this unique event. To learn more about the details surrounding this story, read the full article here: https://ift.tt/IG48qQs.

Wimbledon is one of my favorite annual sporting events, signaling the unofficial start of summer for me! Back in 2008, I arrived in London for a summer class on the day of the men's final. Not knowing anyone else in my class, I was a little nervous and apprehensive, but we all bonded over that classic 5 hour Federer/Nadal match and quickly became friends! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 🎾 Ever wondered about the magic behind Wimbledon's perfect grass? Neil Stubley, head of courts and horticulture at Wimbledon, reveals that the two-week tournament requires year-round preparation. By the late 1990s, Wimbledon transitioned all the courts to 100% perennial ryegrass for better performance, more durable courts, and a more predictable ball bounce. And once the championship starts, the work doesn't stop. Neil and his team will conduct nearly 20,000 measurements across 38 courts just during Wimbledon alone. Fun fact: The grass is kept at precisely 8 millimeters! ✂️🌱 It's a testament to how attention to detail and continuous improvement can create something truly extraordinary. What area in your life could benefit from this level of care? #Wimbledon2024 #BehindTheScenes #Planning #Future Source: https://lnkd.in/e9_u9Akc TinyURL: https://lnkd.in/e3yVCgXk

Scottie Pippen Jr. Proves Bronny James is Taking the weak route to Success. This discussion explores the challenges athletes face fighting for their place in competitive leagues. We highlight inspiring stories of those rising from the G League, emphasizing the importance of determination and hard work in achieving success. #Resilience #SportsSuccess #AthleteJourney #GLeague #HardWorkPaysOff #Inspiration #BasketballLife #SportsDetermination #UnderdogStories #FightForYourSpot

Did you know that there are 9 categories of athletic competition types? When planning to build or renovate a sports facility, it's recommended to consider the level of competition you wish to host, whether the venue will be dedicated solely to athletics or multiple sports, as well as other factors from complementary services to the track itself or the capacity of the venue. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3ARdrNT #MondoAmerica #SportsFlooring #Athletics #Competitions #SportsFacilities #WorldAthletics

Why Being a Division One Athletics Director in 2024 is More Complicated Than You Think Discover the complexities and challenges of being a Division One athletics director in 2024. From building a community to replacing legendary coaches, delve into the depths of this fascinating role. Find out why competing for a national championship in football is a distant dream for some teams. #CollegeSports #AthleticsDirector #SportsManagement #LegacyCoaches #NationalChampionships #FootballDreams #SportsAdministration #DivisionOneSports #AthleticsCommunity #ChallengesoftheJob

Indiana Sports Corp (our client) became the country's first sports commission in 1979 and remains one of the best at attracting and organizing major sporting events. Its president Patrick Talty appeared on the Front Office Sports Today podcast to discuss “how the organization works to bring in big events, what makes a sporting event worthwhile, and why they are hosting Olympic swimming trials in a football stadium.” #sports #sportsindustry #sportsbiz #sportsbusiness #cities #business #finance #community #impact #consulting #economicdevelopment #economics #media #news #sportsmarketing #marketing #branding #communications #economics #linkedinsports #strategiccommunications

In my Current and Ethical Issues in Sport and Recreation class, Professor Christine Cleaver tasked us to lead a workshop for the class. My workshop was focus on parents and sportsmanship in youth sports. #STHM #TempleUniversity #YouthSports #Parents #Sportsmanship.