SMWW’s Sports Business Management (SBM) Course continues its high level of success!

Graduates of the program utilize the skills they learn in the course, as well as SMWW’s extensive network of contacts in the front offices of major- and minor- league sports properties, to get their foot in the door with professional sports organizations.

This month’s success story is Wes Brown. Wes came to us with a passion for basketball and great enthusiasm for a position in the NBA. He enrolled in the September 18th SBM course, and has already begun working for the Utah Jazz in game-day operations! Wes took the time to tell us more about his new gig.

SMWW: Wes, could you tell us about your position with the Jazz?

Wes: I work directly with the Promotions and Marketing Department. I am involved with organizing and implementing on-court contests, and in arena promotions during each home game. For example, I help with the Utah Jazz Dancers, Stunt Team, and the mascot, assist with halftime shows, activities during timeouts and at quarter-breaks, and I am also responsible for various sponsor-related elements including ball kids, tip-offs, honorary guests, player pictures and various pre- or post- game events.

SMWW: How was your experience in the SBM Course?

Wes: It’s been great. I have learned a lot about the business aspects of sport. I have been able to learn new skills in many areas of the sports business, and I understand that getting your foot in the door is most important when seeking a career in sports.

SMWW: How did the course help prepare you for your position? How has it prepared you for working in the front office in the future?

Wes: The course gave me a background of knowledge that prepared me for the interview process and the many opportunities I have had thus far. It has prepared me for working in the front office in the future by providing me with the skills that will help me be successful in a variety of different positions, from tickets sales to becoming a general manager. The skills taught in this course cannot be overstated.

SMWW: How do you see the course and the instructors helping you in the future?

Wes: I think the course will assist me in achieving success no matter what position I find myself in, in the future. Bret and Tom’s help is allowing me to have a group of people helping me to achieve those goals that I have of reaching a high level in sports. From helping with the preparation of a cover letter and resume, or even making a phone call of recommendation and helping connect me with people that they know to provide a better opportunity to get an interview with a team. Once you start working with them, they are always there to help you and that’s a good feeling.

SMWW: Anything else that you would like to say?

Wes: I would say that this course and SMWW are great assets when it comes to finding success in sports. Personally, SMWW gave me the motivation to go after my dreams, which is why I am now working for the Utah Jazz, and I know that with SMWW's help I will be able to achieve the goal I have of becoming a General Manager for an NBA franchise.

If you would like SMWW to help you with your sports career through the Sports Business Management Course, visit our website to register or call us today at 877-SMWW-NOW or 503-445-7105

SMWW’s Athlete Management Course presents a unique opportunity for successful graduates of the program to become Agent Advisors with SMWW’s Sports Agency, and immediately begin representing professional athletes. This month SMWW wants to tell you about one of our graduates who has worked hard over the last year to build his reputation and establish relationships.

Agent Advisor Greg Hicks from Akron, Ohio, came to SMWW with a passion for sports and a desire to get more involved in something that he loves. A teacher by day, he has discovered how fun things can be if you keep working toward your goal.

SMWW: Tell me about your recent signing of a QB? What has it been like being an agent as your career has progressed?

Greg: I just completed a two-year contract for Matt Kohn, a quarterback out of the University of Indianapolis, to play for the Arena Football League’s Nashville Kats. It was a lot of fun doing the deal with the GM and I look forward to watching Matt play in the future.

I really enjoy being an agent. It is kind of crazy how fast things can develop. A year ago, I understood that this business is not a cake walk, but I just kept at it. Now I have relationships with people on teams in the NBA and NFL. Romeo Crennel (head coach of the Cleveland Browns) called me the other day. Elliot Wolfe from the Packers is now a friend, and he invited me to visit for a Packers game and meet Brett Favre. I can’t explain how good it feels to have some connections.

SMWW: How did you present the player to the team?

Greg: I sent a player to a workout for the Kats and I had been getting to know the coaches and the GM over the last year. They were familiar with another one of my players, Daryon Brutley, who played in NFL Europe for the Berlin Thunder this last season. I continued to communicate with them about their team’s needs and tell them about the players I had who I felt could be successful in the AFL. They brought him in on my recommendation, and they liked him.

SMWW: What type of support have you had from SMWW since completing the Athlete Management Course?

Greg: The support and guidance has been tremendous. SMWW walked me through the door and helped me get to where I am now. You guys took time with me and explained what I need to do to advance my agent career. No one can do it for you. It is ultimately up to you to become successful, but I can tell you that I would have made a lot of mistakes and wouldn’t be this far along without help from SMWW. The staff at SMWW can definitely help open doors for you faster than if you go it alone.

SMWW: Would you recommend the Athlete Management Course to others who want to learn more about becoming an agent?

Greg: Definitely. The course exposes you to so many areas within the agent business. You go into the course thinking that you have a pretty good idea of what the sports agent business is like, but it is hard to really understand until you start learning it and then get out there and get involved. After I finished the course, I understood what I could and couldn’t do on college campuses and how to recruit. One of the most important things that the course doesn’t hide is the type of people that you can run into in this business. SMWW shows you how you can do things the right way and still succeed, and I really appreciated that.

SMWW: Anything else that you would like to say?

Greg: Matt Brock and Bill Kent are a great help. They know this business. They tell you exactly what it is going to take to succeed. They taught me about the true value of players, which is a hard lesson to learn when you’re first starting out, because you want to work with as many guys as you can to learn and give yourself an opportunity to succeed. I can now tell within a couple of minutes if I want to spend a lot of time helping a particular player, or if I can just give him some advice and move on.

For those out there thinking about getting involved, just keep in mind that it takes some time. Things don’t happen overnight. But if you just keep at it, you get better and your relationships continue to grow.

"This above all, to thy own self be true."

If you are interested in becoming an agent advisor with Sports Management Worldwide, you should enroll in the Athlete Management Course. To get started today go to our website or call 877-SMWW-NOW or 1-503-445-7105

Join SMWW at its 2007 Annual Sports Career Conference in Indianapolis at the NFL Combine on February 23rd, 24th and 25th.

If you are looking for a great networking opportunity and would like to meet SMWW's staff in person, don't miss this incredible opportunity to advance your sports career. Your fellow attendees will include front-office employees from all the major leagues, writers from ESPN and other media outlets, experienced sports agents, current coaches, and many more!

Talk to anyone who has attended a past conference and he will tell you that it's not only a great way to learn more about the world of sports and make connections, but it's also a lot of fun.

To register, or for more information on the 2007 speakers and other details, select this text.

Sports Management Worldwide’s Basketball GM & Scouting Course has a star-studded lineup of course instructors. With the basketball season upon us, now is the best time to get involved in SMWW’s Basketball GM & Scouting Course, as you will get to hear the instructors analyze the players you’re watching this season.

Brian Adams will be watching games a little differently this year. As an intern in the Boston Celtics scouting department, Brian will be breaking down games for the team. SMWW tracked him down to ask him how things were going thus far.

SMWW: What is your role with the Celtics?

Brian: My actual position is Assistant Video Coordinator. The video department’s main role is to break down game tape of our own and opposing teams. Coaches come to the video department with requests for video of offensive and defensive sets, footage of a certain player, etc. Players also come to the video department requesting tape of their own minutes or of players they’ll be facing. Probably the most important thing I do is log games, which consists of watching a future opponent’s game against another team and using a video editing tool to break it down play-by-play.

SMWW: What’s it like to work for an NBA team every day?

Brian: It’s an amazing experience. Working for the Celtics is very special for me because I grew up a Celtics fan. It blows my mind that last year I was watching them on TV and now I am in the office with them. It is especially nice to be interacting with Doc Rivers, his coaching staff, the players, and the rest of the basketball operations department.

SMWW: What was your experience like in the Basketball GM & Scouting course?

Brian: Going into the summer before my senior year in college, I knew I wanted to break into professional basketball. However, I was unsure how to go about this. The GM & Scouting course gave my career aspirations a much-needed structure. It helped me understand how the basketball business works. I came into the course watching basketball from a fan’s perspective, and finished the course being able to view the game from many different levels.

SMWW: How did it help you gain employment with the Celtics?

Brian: The basketball GM and scouting course was a huge help. Two weeks into the class, I called Bill Kent and spoke with him about my desire to work in the NBA. I knew that I would have to start as an intern, and Bill helped me devise a strategy with that in mind. I had several interviews, and in each case, after my resume was reviewed I was asked to discuss my training through the GM Course. I believe the Celtics knew I was serious when they saw I had taken this course on my own, outside of my regular college courses. Many NBA teams require their interns to receive college credit, and SMWW was able to apply this credit toward their course as I had already graduated from college.

SMWW: How did it prepare you for your current position?

Brian: As I mentioned, the class showed me ways to view the game from different levels beyond a fan’s perspective. This knowledge gave me the confidence and insight that I needed to work as an intern for an NBA team. The class also instilled in me a professional attitude. Every week during the chats, I spoke with influential members of the basketball world, and these conversations taught me how to handle myself in an NBA environment. One thing about my job is that I do a little of everything. The team’s basketball analyst was happy that I would be coming in with prior knowledge of using statistics in a sports environment.

SMWW: Anything else that you would like to say?

Brian: Follow your passion. I look forward to going to work every day. While I have by no means made my big break in the NBA, I have my foot in the door, which is the necessary first step. SMWW was integral in that process. If you really want to work in sports, work with the SMWW staff and develop your personal plan for reaching your goals.

If you are interested in learning more about how you can get your foot in the door with an NBA team, select this text to enroll in the Basketball GM & Scouting Course.

Or call us today at 877-SMWW-NOW

Sports Management Worldwide has a formed a new strategic partnership with Synergy Sports Technology that will help students in the Basketball GM & Scouting Course further separate themselves from others trying to break into the business of basketball.

If there is one thing about which everyone in the business can agree, it’s that working in a video coordinating department is not only a great learning experience, but also perhaps the easiest way to get your foot in the door with a pro sports team. Synergy Sports Technology gives SMWW’s graduates an edge on these positions by requiring that every student in the Basketball GM & Scouting Course log a basketball game.

Select graduates who do well at this portion of the course will also be selected to do an internship with Synergy and get a great opportunity to continue learning.

Here is more information about Synergy:

Synergy Sports Technologytakes full advantage of the Internet to provide unparalleled access to video and statistical analytics for NBA games and the Draft. They also provide video and statistical information about players from every major division one program in the NCAA as well as a number of international games. Currently close to half of the teams in the NBA are subscribers to the service.

• NBA games are logged live, and video is available as the game progresses (roughly 30 minutes behind real-time). This means video staff for the team can unplug from the Internet 40 minutes after the game is over, head to the bus when on road trips, and start watching and custom tagging video immediately for the coaches and players.

• Every game in the Synergy video database is logged in great detail, including the play type (post- up, pick and roll, off screens, isolation, spot-up) and the offensive players involved in the possession. Gathering this play-type information allows teams to better gauge player tendencies and effectiveness in various situations.

• Video clips of the specific play-types are just a click away for any basketball situational category with all corresponding video ready to watch in a matter of seconds. Want to watch Lebron James in every pick & roll that he has been involved in this season? The video loads and beginnings playing within sections.

Select this text to read an article written about Synergy Sports Technology.

Those interested in learning more about the business of basketball and strengthening their basketball resume can enroll in the Basketball GM & Scouting Course with SMWW by selecting this text.

Or call us today at 877-SMWW-NOW to enroll

Recently, Dr. Lynn Lashbrook, caught up withRick Horrow, "Sports Professor" to Sports Professor! Rick Horrow is the man who brought the Heat to Miami and NASCAR to Kansas City. He brings big business, big politics and big sports together.

Rick's weekly FOX Sports Radio show is "MoneyBall: The Cost of Winning," and can be heard Sunday mornings at 9:00 a.m. Eastern on over 150 North American FOX Sports Radio affiliates (and via the internet). The Sports Professor is a trademarked weekly commentary by Horrow, CEO of Horrow Sports Ventures and America's leading sports business expert. The column is carried on CBSSportsLine.com and SportsBusinessNews.com.

Rick Horrow's resume includes the title of 'architect' of more than 100 deals worth over $1 3 billion in sports, performing arts, and other urban infrastructure projects in the USA. Horrow is the Facility Development Consultant to the NFL, International Speedway, The PGA Tour, New York City 2012 Olympics, Major League Soccer and many other organizations. He has been a key player in stadium, arena, and speedway deals worldwide.

Will the real Sports Professor please stand up?!

Dr. Lashbrook recommends Rick Horrow's new book "When the Game is On the Line: Inside the High Stakes World of Sports Deal-Making"

Select this text to learn more about this book...

In Australia, Rugby Management instructor and sports agent Ricky Nixon was recently in the news regarding the negotiations with ESPN for his client Clinton Grybas. Select this text to read more...

On to Asia, where Martin Bayfield, the second instructor for the Rugby Management & Scouting Course, was traveling to Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Shanghai, Tokyo and Hong Kong. Bayfield was traveling with England's Austin Healey and Jonathan Davies of Wales and the All Blacks' Eric Rush taking part in an ''All-Star Rugby Speak-off." So...who won?? We vote for Martin! Click here to read more about Martin in Bangkok...

Select this text for more information about our Rugby Management Course...

In the West Indies, Cricket Management Instructor Jimmy Adams continues his work with the national team as they prepare for the 2007 Cricket World Cup. Select this text to read more about Jimmy Adams recently in the news...

Select this text to read more about SMWW's Cricket Management Course...

In New Jersey, Russ Lande just completed his 300th scouting report of the year on college football players for TheSportingNews.com. If you haven't had a chance to read a report on a player, select this text to read the best in the business (sorry Mel Kiper).

In Phoenix, Jim Utter arrived to cover this weekend's NASCAR event, the Checker Auto Parts 500. Select this text to read his latest news story from thatsracin.com

To Chicago, where Maury Brown, bizofbaseball.com founder and current instructor for SMWW's Baseball GM & Scouting Course, was recently interviewed in the Chicago Sun Times regarding the value of the Chicago Cubs. Select this text to read more...

Select this text to read more about SMWW's Baseball GM & Scouting Course...

In Missouri, SMWW Sports Broadcasting students are appearing live with Integrity Sports Network. Tune in and listen as our students show off their new talent!

Select this text to learn more about our Sports Broadcasting Program...

In Gresham, Oregon's Randy Williams, Sports Administration student who is the Athletic Director at Gresham High School (6A Oregon school), has launched a successful Booster Club thanks to facilitator Jim Krause. They have already raised over $10,000 with their new program and it is still in it’s infancy.

Select this text for more information about working in high school or college sports, or a non-profit sports organization or committee.

As the college football season rolls along and we watch the BCS rankings change, Sports Management Worldwide is leading the charge against the Bowl Championship Series. The idea for a college football playoff has been discussed for years in response to the BCS not producing a clear-cut champion.

BCSBusters.com was created to raise national awareness of the BCS’s shortcomings, as well as to demand a playoff system be put in place to determine the national champion. The new website is your opportunity to buy a BCSBusters t-shirt, send e-mail to college administrators, and participate in fan forums to discuss your team and your beliefs about the BCS.

To visit BCSBusters.com, select this text...

SMWW is proud to announce that four new agent advisors joined the company in the month of October.

Eric Bollinger, N.C.
Barry Mezey, FL
Jeremy Knaub, CO
Abdias Tida, FL
Joseph Kraus, WI
Brian Franks, TN
Phil Thornton, UK
Vernon Johnson, UT
Lyle Masnikoff, FL
Jose Sanchez, FL
Wayne Garner, KS
Curtis Foster, GA
Dereje Areda, CA

We have high hopes for all of our graduates and we look forward to helping every new agent sign their first client!

If you are interested in becoming an agent advisor with SMWW, you will need to complete the Athlete Management Course. For more information, select this text...

For questions or to enroll in our course, call us today at 877-SMWW-Now

Earn your Masters or Doctorate through Northcentral University online! M. ED, PH.D, ED.D and MBA are all available with a specialization in Sports Management. It is possible to get a masters degree in a little over a year.

There are no residency requirements, you work at your own pace, all online, and all from home. Courses are typically 16 weeks long; however you may take an eight-week accelerated course.

SMWW President and Founder Dr. Lynn Lashbrook, who is also a certified NFLPA agent, and Sally Sullivan, former sports attorney and agent of Venus and Serena Williams, teach many of the courses.

Call 1-877-SMWW-NOW to speak with one of them today or for more information, select this text...