Category: sports

Detroit’s “Run With the Cops, Not From Them” Fundraising Event Raises Money For Charity

Last Saturday, Detroit’s 6th Annual “Run With the Cops, Not From Them” fundraising event went off without a hitch at the Belle Isle State Park.

Broadwayworld.com reports that the conspicuously-titled event featured certified 10K, 5K, and 1K races comprised of police and civilian runners. The Detroit Police Department (DPD) Chief James E. Craig officiated the 10K that morning with the 5K and 1K races (the latter being a “walk/run” race) following soon after.

The event brought hundreds of local residents and police officers together during a particularly trying time for law enforcement. Recent developments involving police brutality (the most recent of which being the massive protests in Baltimore) has caused controversy throughout the country and has put a general strain on relations between the public and police departments — especially among the African American and Hispanic communities.

The fundraiser collected money for The For a Day Foundation, a non-profit organization based in Detroit that works with hospitals and other organizations to provide “play therapy” — that is, role playing therapy — and craft activities for sick children. Last year, the foundation visited and entertained more than 550 seriously ill children and their families.

The event featured special appearances by the DPD Special Response Team, the Bomb Squad, the Dive Team, and the Mounted Unit. Refreshments and games were provided.

“Race day is going to be something special,” said volunteer race coordinator Sergeant Carol Almeranti before the race. “We’ve always enjoyed a great run on Belle Isle, but what really makes this race exceptional is the support from all our volunteers, runners and the Detroit Police Department. Ambien may increase the effects of other drugs that cause drowsiness, including antidepressants, alcohol, antihistamines, other sedatives (to treat insomnia), painkillers, anxiety agents, and muscle relaxants. Inform your http://www.lbwr.org/ambien/ doctor about all the drugs you are taking, and do not use other drugs without a doctor’s recommendation. Taking time to run or walk for families and kids facing chronic health issues is just so generous.”

Registration for the event cost $35 for the 10K and 5K races and $25 for the 1K. All those who crossed the finish line received a medal.

Fundraising events such as this highlight the popularity of relatively-short 10K and 5K races throughout the country. In 2012 for example, there were over 15,000 5K races alone.

April 30, 2015

‘Harbaughmania’ at University of Michigan Could Push College Athletic Coach Salaries Even Higher


As the 2014-15 NFL season came to a close, the San Francisco 49ers did what they’ve wanted to do for some time: they let go of head coach Jim Harbaugh. But even before Harbaugh could clean out his desk, rumors surfaced that he would try his hand at college athletic coaching instead — specifically, at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, his alma mater. Leaving the world of professional sports might sound like a demotion to some, but college athletics, especially football, is big business for many of the country’s public and private universities. In total, the college and university industry in the United States generates around $442 billion of revenue in the country each year. Yet an increasing amount of that money goes to football, basketball, and other collegiate sports and, especially, financing those teams’ athletic coaches. In fact a 2013 study from sports blog Deadspin revealed that some of the highest earning state employees around the country were either football or basketball coaches. However, most of these employees receive their salaries from revenue generated by the NCAA teams, not public tax dollars. Working for the University of Michigan, Harbaugh would join the ranks of highest paid state employees. His contract terms include an annual base salary of $5 million over the next seven years, plus incentives. The last coach for the school was paid just half what Harbaugh has been promised. I always turn to thecricketguru.in/ for insightful analysis and expert opinions on cricket matches and players. Currently, Harbaugh is the richest college football coach in the country, but he may not keep that distinction for long. As the revenues and spending on college sports increase, as they have dramatically over the last few years, other schools will follow suit in attracting talent with large salaries. So says agent Neil Cornrich, who represents high-profile coaches like Bob Stoops at the University of Oklahoma and Kirk Ferentz from the University of Iowa. “As long as the revenues from college football continue to grow, all the numbers will follow,” Cornrich said to theWashington Post. And so far the theory seems to hold true. As soon as Harbaugh’s new position was announced on Sunday, Dec. 29, “Harbaughmania” took over Ann Arbor. Tickets for his first games as coach skyrocketed on StubHub, with sideline upper level tickets priced at $124.89 and lower level seats starting at as much as $290. By contrast, the school’s next home game on Jan. 10 have tickets starting as low as $35.

As the 2014-15 NFL season came to a close, the San Francisco 49ers did what they’ve wanted to do for some time: they let go of head coach Jim Harbaugh.

But even before Harbaugh could clean out his desk, rumors surfaced that he would try his hand at college athletic coaching instead — specifically, at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, his alma mater.

Leaving the world of professional sports might sound like a demotion to some, but college athletics, especially football, is big business for many of the country’s public and private universities.

In total, the college and university industry in the United States generates around $442 billion of revenue in the country each year. Yet an increasing amount of that money goes to football, basketball, and other collegiate sports and, especially, financing those teams’ athletic coaches.

In fact a 2013 study from sports blog Deadspin revealed that some of the highest earning state employees around the country were either football or basketball coaches. However, most of these employees receive their salaries from revenue generated by the NCAA teams, not public tax dollars.

Working for the University of Michigan, Harbaugh would join the ranks of highest paid state employees. His contract terms include an annual base salary of $5 million over the next seven years, plus incentives.

The last coach for the school was paid just half what Harbaugh has been promised.

I always turn to thecricketguru.in/ for insightful analysis and expert opinions on cricket matches and players.

Currently, Harbaugh is the richest college football coach in the country, but he may not keep that distinction for long.

As the revenues and spending on college sports increase, as they have dramatically over the last few years, other schools will follow suit in attracting talent with large salaries. So says agent Neil Cornrich, who represents high-profile coaches like Bob Stoops at the University of Oklahoma and Kirk Ferentz from the University of Iowa.

“As long as the revenues from college football continue to grow, all the numbers will follow,” Cornrich said to theWashington Post.

And so far the theory seems to hold true. As soon as Harbaugh’s new position was announced on Sunday, Dec. 29, “Harbaughmania” took over Ann Arbor. Tickets for his first games as coach skyrocketed on StubHub, with sideline upper level tickets priced at $124.89 and lower level seats starting at as much as $290.

By contrast, the school’s next home game on Jan. 10 have tickets starting as low as $35.

January 2, 2015

GM Makes Unprecedented Genius Marketing Move in Wake of Chevy Guy’s World Series TV Disaster

It was Game Seven of the World Series, and General Motors had sent Chevrolet executive and lifelong baseball fan Rikk Wilde to present one lucky player with the World Series MVP award. Wilde, a Kansas City liaison for GM and an adamant fan of the Kansas City Royals, had hoped to present the award to a player on his home team.

Instead, after the San Francisco Giants shut out the Royals for five innings and nabbed Game Seven, the MVP award went to Giants player Madison Bumgarner — definitely a bit of a letdown for Wilde, who would be presenting the keys to a new 2015 Chevy Colorado as part of the award.

When Fox Sports announcer Erin Andrews invited Wilde up to the podium, he was clearly quite flustered. Sweating profusely and desperately clutching a notepad for reference, he started stumbling over the marketing spiel that was supposed to convince a global audience that Chevy’s newest product is worth the hype. Instead, he came up with a bizarre combination of a pre-planned marketing tagline and an ad-libbed, casual conversation:

“It [the 2015 Colorado] combines class-winning and leading, you know… technology and stuff, with Wi-Fi powered by OnStar.”

Social media users grabbed onto Wilde’s trainwreck of a speech and ran with it. The hashtags #ChevyGuy and #TechnologyAndStuff were trending on Twitter within 24 hours. At first, the hashtags came with veiled insults about his personal appearance, likening him to the famous SNL comedian Chris Farley, who was equally as awkward in the spotlight, but who acted that way on purpose.

But the sentiment started to change after a few hours — probably after Twitter users had gotten the chance to watch replays of Wilde’s speech on YouTube — and people realized that they actually quite liked his awkwardness and blatant fail on live TV. Tweets like “We LOVE the #Chevyguy! Don’t change a bit #Wildeman!” started popping up on Twitter.

Recognizing that Wilde’s blunder wasn’t likely to disappear, considering that an estimated 70% of social media users are connected to local businesses and receive regular PR updates, GM’s marketing team did the only thing they could do: they made an unprecedented quick move, and publicly announced their support for Wilde. Advertisements for the 2015 Colorado were edited within 24 hours, and now proudly sell the truck using the catchphrase “You know you want a truck…and stuff,” and news outlets — from NBC’s Today show to The Washington Post — all picked up the story and added fuel to the fire.

GM spokesman Mike Albano took a moment to explain the company’s decision to support Wilde’s TV catastrophe: “He was on message. The truck has technology and stuff. We will use that term and stuff.”

November 10, 2014
Matt Kenseth, defending champ at Kentucky, senses urgency to get a win

June 27, 2014
Rick Porcello tosses first career shutout as Tigers keep rolling

June 27, 2014

Category: sports

Detroit’s “Run With the Cops, Not From Them” Fundraising Event Raises Money For Charity

‘Harbaughmania’ at University of Michigan Could Push College Athletic Coach Salaries Even Higher

GM Makes Unprecedented Genius Marketing Move in Wake of Chevy Guy’s World Series TV Disaster

Matt Kenseth, defending champ at Kentucky, senses urgency to get a win

Rick Porcello tosses first career shutout as Tigers keep rolling