May 30, 2005
New Jersey Devils burning mad over proposal to change team name
From NHL.com:
New Jersey State Assemblyman Craig Stanley is taking issue with a satanic symbol representing the team, which has won three Stanley Cup championships.
"This is an age where symbolism is very important," said Stanley, a Baptist deacon whose resolution to rename the team is to be introduced in the Assembly next month. A new name would be chosen in a statewide competition.
"I've always cringed when people say they're going to see the Devils," Stanley said. "The merchandise, the paraphernalia is based on the actual demonic devil. Personally, it causes a little bit of an issue with me."
May 24, 2005
Mets launch broken-windshield campaign
From adreak: In Queens, Manhattan and Long Island, the windshields of parked cars will look like they’ve been shattered, as though errant baseballs have crashed through them—thanks to realistic-looking Ogilvy & Mather decals. Read more...
May 19, 2005
Confidential to Memorial Cup dj: Song suggestions
Some song suggestions for the Memorial Cup:
LONDON:
- When London loses: "It's Not Easy Being Green" by Kermit the Frog
- See also: previous post
KELOWNA:
- "Rocketman" / Elton John
- "Rocket" / Def Leppard
RIMOUSKI:
- Anything by Billy Ocean (we're stretching here!)
OTTAWA:
- "Batman TV Theme" for after a big save from Battochio
- "Jeremy" by Pearl Jam if Akeson makes a big play
(more coming soon!)
LONDON:
- When London loses: "It's Not Easy Being Green" by Kermit the Frog
- See also: previous post
KELOWNA:
- "Rocketman" / Elton John
- "Rocket" / Def Leppard
RIMOUSKI:
- Anything by Billy Ocean (we're stretching here!)
OTTAWA:
- "Batman TV Theme" for after a big save from Battochio
- "Jeremy" by Pearl Jam if Akeson makes a big play
(more coming soon!)
May 11, 2005
Search Engine Optimization
Had a client ask about search engine optimization services.
Yes, there are legit companies out there that have been successful in improving site rankings. But there are many, many companies who won't tell you is that many of their techniques are only temporary at best. Search engines re-program themselves every few months to try to reduce what they consider 'search optimization spam', and deliver the most relevant, useful results.
I offered him some free advice, that has always worked for me, to ensure your site ranks highly:
1. Text. Search engines read text only. If you have graphics, make sure they make use of the "alt" tag (for alternate text). If you have flash, javascript, PDF, or other special multimedia content, be aware that this probably won't be indexed.
2. Content-specific pages. Create pages that are specific to one topic. (A good example of this are the "Guides" on OttawaStart.com)
3. Choose topics that are out of the ordinary, unusual. Find niche topics where there are few (or inadequate) websites, and spend some time developing those areas.
4. Update your content as often as possible.
5. Support your website with effective, targeted advertising in other media.
Hope that helps.
Yes, there are legit companies out there that have been successful in improving site rankings. But there are many, many companies who won't tell you is that many of their techniques are only temporary at best. Search engines re-program themselves every few months to try to reduce what they consider 'search optimization spam', and deliver the most relevant, useful results.
I offered him some free advice, that has always worked for me, to ensure your site ranks highly:
1. Text. Search engines read text only. If you have graphics, make sure they make use of the "alt" tag (for alternate text). If you have flash, javascript, PDF, or other special multimedia content, be aware that this probably won't be indexed.
2. Content-specific pages. Create pages that are specific to one topic. (A good example of this are the "Guides" on OttawaStart.com)
3. Choose topics that are out of the ordinary, unusual. Find niche topics where there are few (or inadequate) websites, and spend some time developing those areas.
4. Update your content as often as possible.
5. Support your website with effective, targeted advertising in other media.
Hope that helps.
May 6, 2005
NCC Pathway re-opens after over a year of detours
Definitely not sports news, but something we've blogged about in the past:
(via flora.cfsc)
Public Notice: Ottawa River Pathway Behind the Supreme Court of Canada to
Open on Saturday, May 7, 2005
GATINEAU, QUEBEC--(CCNMatthews - May 6, 2005) - On May 7, 2005, Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC), in collaboration with the National Capital Commission (NCC), will reopen the section of the Ottawa River Pathway behind the Supreme Court of Canada.
Although repairs are required to an area of the escarpment in the fall of 2005, PWGSC has installed temporary cement structures to provide access to the pathway throughout the summer months. These temporary structures will remain in place until repair work is completed.
For the safety of users of the pathway, cyclists are asked to walk their bikes through the area where the temporary structures are located.
The pathway may have to be temporarily closed in the fall while repairs to the escarpment are carried out.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Public Works and Government Services Canada
Pierre Teotonio
Media Relations
(819) 956-2310
(via flora.cfsc)
May 5, 2005
Texas moves to ban sexy cheerleading
From ABC Sport (Australia):
Did you know: The first cheerleaders were male.
Legislators in the American state of Texas yesterday voted to crack down on 'sexually suggestive' dance performances in schools. Famed for its Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders, Texas has introduced a law which is designed to ban dance routines by school cheerleaders and drill teams at sports events that one politician said was like something out of a strip club. Exposed midriffs and ever shorter shorts and skirts have particularly outraged some legislators. Read the article...And from the New York Times, headlined "Texas Legislation Adds a Bah! to Sis and Boom":
"High school cheerleading was starting to emulate popular culture, if you call popular culture the scantily clad Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders," said Cathie Adams, president of the conservative Texas Eagle Forum. "We feel this is a bill that empowers parents, that provides moms and dads with some additional support."
...
Supporters of the bill, however, argued that something had to be done to prevent student cheerleaders from mimicking the provocative dances seen on MTV, the routines of some professional sports teams' cheering squads and suggestive performances in cheerleading movies like "Bring It On" and its sequel, "Bring It On Again."
Read the article...
Did you know: The first cheerleaders were male.
May 4, 2005
Yale searches for a new mascot
From Sports Illustrated:
"Back in 1889 when Yale students wanted an animal to symbolize their football team's grit and pluck, the process was simple: One of them bought a bulldog for five dollars from a local blacksmith. Handsome Dan, they called the fierce little creature, and a tradition was born. But when Handsome Dan XV died of a possible heart attack last January after nine years on the job, finding a suitable replacement for America's longest-running live-animal mascot was not easy. First, came a press release, followed by stories in newspapers and on radio about the school's search for canine candidates, as the release put it, "athletic enough to climb stairs, walk the sidelines of a game for four quarters and dodge out-of-bounds football players." Then Steve Conn, Yale's director of sports publicity, evaluated essays and photos from 40 applicants, and enlisted Chris Getman, Handsome Dan XV's caretaker, to help him winnow the field to 10. On April 26, as the Yale Precision Marching Band played How Much Is that Doggie in the Window and several hundred spectators gathered on the New Haven, Conn., campus to watch, the finalists competed to become -- with apologies to Georgia's UGA -- college sports' boss bulldog."
Read the article...
"Back in 1889 when Yale students wanted an animal to symbolize their football team's grit and pluck, the process was simple: One of them bought a bulldog for five dollars from a local blacksmith. Handsome Dan, they called the fierce little creature, and a tradition was born. But when Handsome Dan XV died of a possible heart attack last January after nine years on the job, finding a suitable replacement for America's longest-running live-animal mascot was not easy. First, came a press release, followed by stories in newspapers and on radio about the school's search for canine candidates, as the release put it, "athletic enough to climb stairs, walk the sidelines of a game for four quarters and dodge out-of-bounds football players." Then Steve Conn, Yale's director of sports publicity, evaluated essays and photos from 40 applicants, and enlisted Chris Getman, Handsome Dan XV's caretaker, to help him winnow the field to 10. On April 26, as the Yale Precision Marching Band played How Much Is that Doggie in the Window and several hundred spectators gathered on the New Haven, Conn., campus to watch, the finalists competed to become -- with apologies to Georgia's UGA -- college sports' boss bulldog."
Read the article...
May 2, 2005
Entertainment in NBA arenas
GameOps.com points us to a recent article in USA Today: "NBA arenas: Fantastic or not?". Some highlights:
- Ten-year-old Austin Pawelka announces the starting lineups in Denver, and wants to be the next Michael Buffer.
- Every team except Boston has a dance team and every team except the New York Knicks has a mascot.
- Phoenix has Dancing Dads — overweight, middle-aged men performing a choreographed routine.
- Also in Phoenix: "The Suns also feature one of the best masters of ceremonies. Cedric Ceballos, a former NBA player, conducts contests, oversees promotions and introduces celebs at courtside with a flair unmatched around the league ... During a break at the game I attended, Ceballos coaxed team owner Robert Sarver out of his courtside seat to center court, where he was unceremoniously hurled feet-first, via a giant slingshot, into a set of rubber garbage cans."
- "There is a staple of cookie-cutter entertainment promos used widely in the league, but I found one universal truth: Fans love to see themselves on the video screen. Regardless of the promo — the KissCam is the most popular — they smile, wave and mug for all to see."
- In Denver: When a player leaves the game with an injury, the type of injury is posted — information that is normally shared only with radio and television audiences.
Raymond Entertainment opens mascot hall of fame
This month's GameOps.com interview is with David Raymond (the original Phillie Phanatic), and Chris Bruce (a UCA national mascot champion, and currently performs as REGGY the Purple Party Dude). They're part of the Raymond Entertainment group, and they're launching a new mascot hall of fame.
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