A Newsletter for Alumni Current Students and Friends of

A Newsletter for Alumni, Current Students, and Friends of the Program. Dear SPAD Alumni, Since our first newsletter in November, many exciting things have been happening in and around the School of Sports Administration (SPAD). Particularly, I want to draw your attention to a few matters. First, the SPAD 35th anniversary is really taking shape. It is going to be a night to remember both to celebrate our past and inspire our future. I sincerely hope that you all can be a part of the big night…put Wednesday, September 12th, 2007 in your calendar. In the coming weeks, invitations will be sent as will a request to get involved on one of the many committees around the event. In addition to celebrating SPAD and getting us all together, the goal of the night is to raise $50,000 for student scholarships. Second, thanks to the support of Lisa Demers-Brooks (Laurentian’s Director of Alumni Relations) and two SPAD grads at the Toronto Blue Jays (Heather Marshall and Honsing Leung), we will be launching the SPAD alumni chapter on the evening of April 12th, 2007 in Toronto. Details will follow in the coming weeks. This is an important step forward for us; as we’ll become the 10th official Laurentian alumni chapter and the first that is ‘program-based’! Third, a new SPAD faculty member has been approved for next year with a second under consideration. We’re growing! Fourth, progress continues on all the strategic fronts I outlined in November including the Institute of Sport Marketing, our MBA, our new website, and the Faculty of Management. More specific updates on each will follow in the coming months. Thanks again for the many notes and calls of support and well wishes. We’re very excited about the future and hope you’ll be part of it with us. Please keep us updated on your careers, contact information and all the best. Sincerely, Norm O’Reilly Director and Associate Professor School of Sports Administration Norm O’Reilly on Mount Everest last year on a research expedition. January 2007 Volume 1, Issue Winter 2007 2 SPAD ALUMNI Phil Legault … The Sports Administration grad is currently the VP of communications with the NHL’s Ottawa Senators and Scotiabank Place. He has been with the club since being hired on July 15, 1996 as the head of media relations. Legault came to the Senators from the Canadian Hockey Association, now Hockey Canada, where he had served as communications manager since August of 1992. Part of his responsibilities with the CHA included serving as the national teams media director for four world junior championship teams (from 1992-1996), the 1994 world gold-medal winning women's team, the silver medallists men’s squads at the 1994 Lillehammer Winter Olympics and 1996 World Championship in Vienna and the first NHL-led group at the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics. He also served as press attaché for the Canadian Olympic Association in the Olympic Village at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. As with any other aspects of the sports industry in Canada, Legault’s experience in media relations and communications has seen the evolution and exponential growth on news distribution. From driving around the city delivering news releases in the early morning hours, to the introduction of the fax machine to the process, to do today’s instantaneous delivery process through the Internet and email. Before joining the CHA, Legault worked in media relations with the Canadian Soccer Association and the Ottawa Rough Riders of the Canadian Football League. “It goes without saying that I wouldn’t be where I am today without the help and guidance of many people,” said Legault. “From Bob (Wanzel) finding something good in my application to the SPAD program in 1982, to Don Holtby, then general manager of the Rough Riders, giving me my first job in media relations right out of university, and Pierre Gauthier for ‘turning’ me pro in 1996 with the Senators. It’s been a great ride and one that I hope to share with super SPAD interns like Ryan Snow every Fall. “For me, the SPAD program has been a passport to great employment opportunities, to great friendships and to travel across North America and the world.” PPp Phil Legault, 1986 Winter 2007 3 Remember When …. SPAD Alumni News May 1986 Volume 5, Number 3 Editor- Phil Legault Professionals & the Olympics: To Be or Not to Be Winter 2007 4 Alumni Updates…. Ryan Belec SPAD Grad 2000 Ryan has enjoyed a very successful career to date with the NHL’s 2003-2004 Stanley Cup Champion the Tampa Bay Lightning. The relationship starting upon completion of his 1999 student internship and upon graduating he joined the club and worked his way up to his current position of assistant to the General Manager, Jay Feaster. However, in addition to his current job, in August 2006 he was named VP of hockey operations with the Johnstown Chiefs of the ECHL- one of the Tampa Bay farm teams. As VP of hockey operations Ryan will be responsible for overseeing player acquisitions, scouting, contract negotitations and much more. Marcel Dejardins SPAD Grad 1993 Marcel, after eight years with the CFL’s Montreal Alouettes has left his position as assistant to the General Manger Jim Popp and accepted the job as General Manger of the Hamilton Ti-Cats. Jon Lalonde SPAD Grad 1999 Jon was first hired by the Toronto Blue Jays in 1999 as their service co-coordinator of corporate partnerships. Jon, at 30, is also the youngest scouting director in Major League Baseball and has held the position with the Blue Jays since August 2003. SPAD at the 2007 Canada Winter Games *From Eric Chéné (SPAD 2001): “The 2007 Canada Winter Games are being held in February/March 2007 in Whitehorse. A couple SPAD grads from 2001 are working up there as Senior Managers (Sponsorship and Sport) and the Canada Games Council (CGC) also has two SPAD Grads. At the 2005 Summer Games I knew of 11 SPAD grads that were at the Games in some capacity!” year. A major event is planned for September 12th, 2007 in downtown Toronto. A high profile speaker tops an exciting agenda to celebrate our great program. Please mark this date down in your agendas! Mark Your Calendar! SPAD’s 35th Anniversary is coming next Winter 2007 5 What’s been happening..? Guest speaker Dr. André Richelieu, an associate professor in marketing from Laval University, treated SPAD students to presentation on Wednesday, November 29th. Dr. Richelieu then presented again the following morning to all of the core year marketing students and faculty. An entertaining and charismatic speaker Dr. Richelieu based his lecture on brand equity development in professional sport and the role of merchandising in the brand equity of professional sport teams and leagues; using the Montreal Canadians and Allouettes as real world examples. The topics of his lectures also included sport marketing, International marketing strategy levers, marketing education, and publicity. Jeff Twohey General Manager of the Peterborough Petes Jeff Twohey treated SPAD students of all years to an impromptu intimate presentation in November. Mr. Twohey spoke candidly with students about making it in the business and answered a number of questions. Jeff originally joined the Petes as the Trainer in 1983, before becoming the Assistant Coach/Assistant General Manager in 1989. In 1993 Twohey became the General Manager of the Petes. Under his guidance the Petes were OHL Champions in 2006 and Finalists in the 1996 Memorial Cup Championship Winter 2007 6 Presidents Message … Last November, myself and other fellow classmates attended the John Molson Sports Business Conference in Montreal. Our main goal at the conference was to promote the SPAD programme but mainly to create new relationships with people who share the same love which is business and sports. During the whole weekend we introduced ourselves and talked about our SPAD degree to all the speakers. We were able to exchange contact information about internships and future academic projects. Therefore, SPAD needs to continue expose itself to the sports industry to be able to develop its network. SPAD’s uniqueness is special, the only one if it’s kind in Canada. If we keep working hard on building a strong network, SPAD will have a unique place in the sports industry around the world. Jean-Marc Edme President, SPAD Student Council Up and Coming SPAD Superbowl Party Where: Huntington Social Center When: Sunday February 4th Student Internships … Special Olympics Canada The intern position at Special Olympics Canada, for the Special Olympics Festival, draws mostly upon the event management and organizational skills learned in SPAD. It was an excellent opportunity to meet many people involved event management as well as various aspects of a TV, and live production. The intern is also introduced to many prominent figures in the Toronto sport and business communities. This position also allows the intern to have large impact on the success of the festival, as the intern is responsible for many key areas. Because of this it really gives students the opportunity to make a noticeable impact and impression on those involved with the event. The staff at SOC is very friendly and welcoming to any new members of the team, and do not treat the intern any different than any other staff member. The position holds the same accountability as other staff but also the same credit and recognition for their efforts. The internship is very busy as the event approaches, and requires a large time commitment in the last month, but is well worth the effort. Overall it is an excellent opportunity for any student and I would definitely recommend it. Brian Scott 4th Year Indianapolis Colts vs. Chicago Bears Suitcase Dance Where: Pub Downunder When: Friday February 2nd Tickets $10!!!!!!!!! More SPAD Research! For those who enjoyed Professor O’Reilly’s publication in the last issue…another of his can be found in the Sport Journal at: http://www.thesportjournal.org/20 07Journal/Vol10-No1/Seguin.asp Winter 2007 7 The 2007 Bianco’s SPAD Hockey Tournament presented by The Doghouse is set to take place January 24-27 at the Sudbury Arena. Also part of this year’s tournament is the Skater’s Edge Skills Competition and The Keg Steakhouse and Bar prof. showdown featuring LU vs. Ottawa U. Some corporate partnership opportunities are still available with the tournament, and we are also seeking prize donations for the tournament raffle. All proceeds from the tournament go towards the 4th-year field trip. If you are interested in more information about sponsorship or prize donations, please contact Andrew Stokes at ab_stokes@laurentian.ca. We are looking forward to another successful tournament this year! SPAD Hockey Tournament 2007 Schedule January 24th Round Robin: Sudbury Arena 8-9pm January 25th Round Robin: Sudbury Arena 1-11pm January 26th Round Robin: Sudbury Arena 9am- 2pm Skater’s Edge Skills Competition 2- 4pm Round Robin: McClelland Arena 4- 11pm January 27th Semi and Quarter Finals Countryside Arena 8am- 3pm (Sudbury Arena) Keg Steakhouse & Bar Prof Showdown 2- 4 pm Tournament Final Game 4:30- 6pm Awards Party at Peddler’s Pub starting at 6:30 pm Winter 2007 8 A Good Sport Read … Giants sign Zito to $126M, 7-year deal December 28, 2006 RONALD BLUM ASSOCIATED PRESS NEW YORK Barry Zito and the San Francisco Giants reached a preliminary agreement on the largest contract for a pitcher in baseball history, a $126 million (U.S.), seven-year deal. While there was no immediate confirmation from the Giants, details of the contract were provided Thursday to The Associated Press by two persons familiar with the negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal wasn’t announced by the team. Zito’s agreement, reached late Wednesday night, includes an $18 million option for 2014 with a $7 million buyout that could increase the value to $137 million. The option would become guaranteed if Zito pitches 200 innings in 2013, 400 combined over 2012 and 2013 or 600 combined from 2011-13. Zito is scheduled to have a physical Friday, and the Giants planned to announce their agreement with the three-time All-Star later in the day. His decision to sign with the Giants first was reported on MLB.com. Zito’s deal ties for the sixth largest overall, matching the $126million, seven-year extension agreed to this month by Toronto and centre fielder Vernon Wells. Previously, the largest contract for a pitcher was Mike Hampton’s $121 million, eightyear deal with the Colorado Rockies before the 2001 season. Texas, Seattle and the New York Mets also pursued Zito, the top available pitcher on the free-agent market. The 28-year-old left-hander spent the last seven seasons across San Francisco Bay pitching with the Oakland Athletics, and staying in the area appeared to be a factor in his decision. “We gave it our best shot,” Rangers owner Tom Hicks said in e-mail to the AP. “He’s a great pitcher and a fine young man. I wish him well and am glad he’s out of the AL West.’’ Zito has been among the most durable pitchers in the majors, making 34 or more starts and throwing 210 or more innings in six straight seasons. He was 16-10 with a 3.83 ERA last season and has a 102-63-career record with a 3.55 ERA. Zito won the 2002 AL CY Young Award after going 23-5. As part of his agreement with the Giants, Zito will fund the construction of youth fields in the San Francisco area through his foundation. Only Alex Rodriguez ($252 million), Derek Jeter ($189 million), Manny Ramirez ($160 million), Todd Helton ($141.5 million) and Alfonso Soriano ($136 million) have contracts with more guaranteed money. Zito’s is the 14th $100 million deal in baseball history and the fourth of the off-season following agreements by Soriano (Cubs), Wells and Carlos Lee ($100 million with Houston). New York’s initial offer was for about $75 million over five years, and the Mets were prepared to go somewhat higher in average salary but were wary of offering a longer deal. Texas had told Zito’s agent, Scott Boras, that it would withdraw its proposal if it wasn’t accepted by the end of the week. Winter 2007 9 Editor’s Message… The Sport World in Brief… December and January brought with them a number of amazing sporting events, too many to mention! Here are some highlights… World Junior Championships Gold- Canada Silver- Russia Bronze- United States Spengler Cup Final: HC Davos 3 Canada 2 NCAA Basketball: The Texas Tech Red Raiders blew a 20-point lead but withstood a threepoint miss at the buzzer to beat New Mexico 70-68 to help coach Bob Knight break the men's Division I record for Top 5 Teams: 1. UCLA 2. North Carolina 3. Florida 4. Wisconsin 5. Duke Football: Cotton Bowl- Auburn MPC Computers Bowl- Miami Alamo Bowl- Texas Chick-fil-A-Bowl- Georgia Meineke Bowl- Boston College Insight Bowl- Texas Tech NFL AFC Champion Indianapolis Colts NFC Champion Chicago Bears Superbowl: February 4th in Miami Keep Watching!!!! Laura Holden Editor SPAD Alumni Update Take a few moments to update us on what is going on in your life. We would love to know what you have up to since graduation: where you are going, any recent promotions, births, marriages, and so on. It would also be great if you could send a photo with each update. Sorry if SPAD has lost touch with you over the years… we’d love to catch up! School of Sports Administration Laurentian University 935 Ramsey Lake Road Sudbury, ON P3E 2C6 Email: noreilly@laurentian.ca Phone: (705) 675-1151, ext. 1011 * Please include your full name, year of graduation and current address information for the purpose of updating our system