Image is Everything
Today I read Bob Hohler’s article published in the Boston Globe called “Inside the Collapse”. Hohler refers to “team sources” when stating how he learned of the intimate and disturbing details associated with the 2011 Boston Red Sox. These indiscretions include:
- Top Red Sox players (Beckett, Lester, Lackey) drinking booze, eating and playing video games while their teammates were actually playing a game.
- Disgruntled players who openly objected to trivial requests of management.
- Selfish players only concerned about their own accomplishments.
- Constant undermining of the manager and coaches.
The article goes on to then malign the job of former manager Terry Francona citing highly personal issues that include:
- A failing marriage
- A potential prescription drug addiction
- A real concern about children/relatives deployed as soilders in Afghanistan
There is no doubt that the 2011 Red Sox are/were a disgraceful bunch of underperformers who casually dismissed management and their adoring fans. That said, for Red Sox owners Larry Lucchino, John Henry and Tom Werner to float unsubstantiated rumors about their former manager is downright unseemly. Larry, John and Tom endorse the philosophy that firing a person is not enough agony to inflict on another human. They must use the puppet media to deflect criticism, and burry any and all viable scapegoats. I don’t know Terry Francona but he seems like a decent person who helped generate a lot of money for management/ownership over his 8 year tenure as Red Sox manager. During interviews conducted post his dismissal, Francona was openly remorseful when taking responsibility for the failure of his team. He had plenty of opportunities to lash out, but remained professional and composed as he exited Fenway Park for the last time.
Red Sox General Manager, Theo Epstein is heading to Chicago to become the Cubs Director of Baseball Operations. In the coming days, I am certain Hohler will publish another article that cites unnamed “team sources” who besmirch Theo’s 10 year run in Boston.
Firing someone for lack of performance is certainly the right of management in every business setting. The 2011 collapse of the Boston Red Sox should have meant the end of Francona and Epstein. That said, trying to destroy someone’s reputation in order to preserve one’s own image is reprehensible.
Related articles
- Pitchers Hooked On Beer, Fried Chicken, And Video Games! Francona On Pills! The Boston Globe’s Version Of The 2011 Red Sox Collapse [Boston Red Sox] (deadspin.com)
- Theo Epstein Is On The Verge Of Leaving The Red Sox For The Cubs (businessinsider.com)
- Latest Boston Globe Story on Red Sox 2011 Chaos Confirms One Thing: Ownership Revels in Bad Spin (juliorvarela.com)
- Theo Epstein To Cubs; Deal Finalized (yankeesfansunite.wordpress.com)
- Source: Red Sox GM Epstein to join Cubs (tsn.ca)
Review: Orvis River Guard™ Easy-On Brogue Wading Boots
Last spring I decided to invest in a new pair of wading boots. Like most fly fisherman, I want to do my part in mitigating the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species. I fish waters throughout Colorado and Wyoming, and I was told that the felt soles in my Cabela’s boots played host to these nasty diseases. A 2007 study conducted at Montana State University on angler movement found that the average pair of wading boots sampled carried more than 16 grams of sediment. The study estimated that in one year, angler boots moved more than 6,300 pounds of sediment between access sites in southwestern Montana and that nonresident anglers carried more than 1,600 pounds into Montana.
For about 4 months I examined the marketplace, looking for a boot that was rugged, sturdy and easy to get on and off. I thoroughly evaluated boots by Simms, Patagonia, Cabela’s, Korkers and Chota. It was the River Guard™ Easy-On Brogue that ended up on my feet.
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Criteria |
Thoughts |
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Date Purchased |
March 2010 |
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Retail Price/Price Paid |
$179.00/$154.00 (used a $25 Orvis coupon) |
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Manufacturer Description |
The easiest on-and-off boot—now upgraded with EcoTraX™ rubber soles to help stem the spread of aquatic invasives. The Orvis-exclusive lug pattern with sharp leading edges gives better traction in the boot with legendary stability thanks to our hunting boot welt construction to minimize torsion and keep your ankles from rolling. They last a lot longer than competitive boots, too. All-synthetic construction resists shrinkage and expansion and wards off damage from rot, mildew, or sun. Support panels and main toe and heel made of rugged polyurethane. Recessed side-panel stitching prevents thread abrasion. Heavy-denier nylon uppers. Padded collar. Same durable zipper for easy on-and-off. PosiGrip™ Screw-In Studs included with each pair for better traction. |
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Looks |
Who cares – the boots are generally under water or covered by my waders. They could be hot pink as long as they were comfortable and kept me vertical. |
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Functionality |
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Recommendation |
An extra pack of PosiGrip™ studs would be a nice addition. Orvis sells a 20 pack of extra studs for $29.95. |
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Would I Buy it Again? |
Absolutely. I consider my Orvis River Guard™ Easy-On Brogue boots to be a great investment. I expect them to last for years. Orvis has fantastic customer service, so I know they will support their product if anything should happen to the boots. Much thanks to Tucker Bamford and his crew at the Orvis store in Lone Tree, Colorado. |
When Golf Goes Bad
My Reality
One year ago, my handicap was a 7. Today it is a 12, and rapidly moving north. To provide some perspective, I have not been a 12 handicap in over 12 years. I generally float between a 7 and 10, with scores ranging from a 77 on a good day to an 84 on a bad day. For those of you who understand the handicap system, the type of meteoric rise that I am experiencing can only happen if your registered scores far exceeds the published handicap. This means I am not playing to a 12 – it just says that on my Colorado Golf Association GHIN card.
I am not certain where it all went wrong. In 2010, I played pretty well throughout the season. My accomplishments ranged from my first hole-in-one (May 31st, Colorado Golf Club, hole #6, 5 iron, 205 yards) to scoring in the low 70s on two occasions (including 6 birdies in one round). I do not possess an elegant or balanced swing, and generally succeed with a bit of guile and a decent short-game. For years I tried to improve my swing through lessons, practice, swing-aids and more practice. The results are mixed, but the effort and financial investment deserve an A+. In 2010 I was experiencing longer distances throughout all clubs in my bag. I attribute these advances to better equipment (TaylorMade Burner 1.0 Irons and a Ping G-15 Driver), more solid ball contact and of course more confidence.
Until recently, I have not regularly recorded my swing, due to the fact that I do not want to question why a swing as ghastly as mine can occasionally produce decent results. Through multiple lessons in 2011, I concluded that my club is so off plane that making any contact with the ball should be deemed a colossal success. At address, the body club and ball position look fine. As the club rotates back, my hands and shoulders suck the shaft/club head inside. At the top of the swing (which has become disturbingly short), the club face is closed and very flat. On the transition, the club maintains an inside position, while my right elbow flails aimlessly away from my body. For those non-golfers reading this piece, what I have described is not what you should do when attempting to compress a golf ball. The unfortunate result of this uncoordinated move has the golf ball snapping wildly left or ballooning to the right. On the rare occasion when the ball does fly straight, I have no idea what I did to execute the shot.
My Mind
Those who have the patience to play with me these days, tell me that my mind is “mush” and I should stop trying to be “mechanical” and just “swing the club”. Of course my mind is mush; I stand over every shot hoping to get the ball airborne and in the direction of the green. In conjunction with my lack of confidence, I have started to throw clubs and launch into bouts of uncontrollable swearing (turrets has not been diagnosed). Childish temper tantrums resulting from poor execution will not continue, but it sure feels pretty cathartic to toss a 9 iron farther than you have hit your ball. Unfortunately I am in the midst of a deep golf depression. Diagnosing golf depression is easy, here are the symptoms:
• At the first sign of trouble during the round you say “here we go again”
• After your ball enters a hazard you strongly consider sending your club then the bag in after it
• You apologize to your partner more than 10 times in a round
• Your best friend asks you to play in a member/guest and you have to figure out a really good lie why you can’t join him
• You would rather watch TV with your wife than play golf with your buddies
• You fail to recognize how lucky you are to be outside playing golf with friends
My Pet Peeve
In the August issue of Golf Digest, the cover reads “Get More Distance”, “Pick up 17+ Yards with a New Driver Fitted for you…It gave our guy 44 yards – Wow”. The multiple articles in the magazine stress the importance of upgrading to new technology, and getting properly fitted for golf clubs. Obviously, it is advantageous to swing a club with the most appropriate shaft, loft and length. That said; please do not tell me that a custom fitting will result in a 23% increase in distance. I have played golf for just over 20 years, and there has been some improvement in my length over that timeframe. During a club fitting at a local retailer last year, the cocky sales rep told me that he could “get me hitting the driver 270+.” After cycling through a plethora of drivers, he insisted that a stiff shafted (stock) Ping G-15 was the answer. I told him that I felt more comfortable swinging the regular shafted G-15. “The numbers on the computer don’t lie”, he told with a smug voice. After two days on the range staring at hundreds of balls landing right of target, I returned the club to the store the following Monday. The regular shafted Ping G15 still remains in my bag and I hit it between 235 and 255 yards. If you are still playing the TaylorMade Bubble Burner, I guarantee you will pick up some distance when you upgrade to a club manufactured in the new millennium. As for Golf Digest, I will not be renewing my subscription in 2012.
My Plan
I admit to being anxious when I think about playing golf. I am even more apprehensive about committing to playing in a tournament with a partner; something that I relished not more than one year ago. I try to make it to the range two nights a week in a concerted attempt to try to pull off a golf-swing 180. These are not ball-beating sessions; there is whole-hearted attempt to incorporate professional instruction while mentally simulating game conditions. Yes I will continue to utilize swing aids (Tally MIND set, alignment sticks, Momentus, Swing Glove, Power Angle Pro) to try to put me in the right position and obtain the proper feel. I will also reengage my PGA teaching professional. Other than that, I am not certain what more I can do.
It is not my nature to sulk around looking for sympathy. My wife is praying for Divine Intervention as she is tired of looking at a face full of desperation and angst at the conclusion of every round. Eventually, I will construct a swing that produces the results I expect. Hopefully it is sooner rather than later.
http://qik.ly/CY9qeAetyBAvLzMcCnerQsU
Stop Discounting Premium Products
Premium product discounting usually occurs when a lift in sales is needed during a specific period of time. Companies sacrifice margin in order to appeal to a larger audience with the hope of a sudden and predictable surge in revenue. These discounts vary from a percentage off the list price to a flat dollar amount reduction.
Generally speaking, discounting a high-end product can result in an immediate increase in demand. That said, marketing professionals continue to profess that the more people pay, the more value they credit to their purchase. However, when premium products are discounted, consumers question the value of the product. In addition, the value of a powerful brand is the ability to demand, and consistently obtain higher prices than competitors in the marketplace. Discounting also conditions the consumer to delay their purchase and wait for the impending sale.
A viable alternative to price discounting continues to be the utilization of a prepaid card (plastic or virtual) to create the motivation for the targeted consumer to purchase immediately.
The benefits of prepaid are as follows:
• Immediate program revenue lift – prepaid stimulates demand and improves margin
• Predictable program financials with an ability to maximize revenue recognition
• Return of incremental customer monies – prepaid allows for a unique opportunity for seamless cross-selling and up-selling ancillary products
• Continuous engagement of end customer through card messaging (IVR, Text, Email and Web)
• Ability to gain consent from the consumer in order to continue to interact with them moving into the future
• Reinforcement of brand with ability to customize the card and corresponding collateral
• Detailed spend data that helps create a more accurate profile of the end customer
Historically, rebates were utilized to stimulate revenue, with the underlying hope that the consumer would avoid the involved process of submitting their rebate and the rebate dollars would return to the sponsor company. That is not the objective any longer. The real value the rebate provides is in the ability to immediately engage the consumer with the end goal of creating a loyal, persistent relationship. In the case of a consumer rebate, prepaid becomes a valuable financial instrument that provides an organization the ability to ensure their buyer becomes a viable, long-term asset.
