Summary-Response+Paper

Irene Lahana EWL – 4 Summary Response Paper The sports and entertainment business is a rapidly growing and is full of exciting career options. Jeannie Kruger, a business teacher at Arapahoe High School, who formerly worked in the Marketing Department for the San Antonio Spurs stated, “… the increased popularity of sports will contribute to the continued growth of the industry.” It is obvious that even though in the difficult economic times the United States is currently in, people, especially sports fans, like to forget about the world for a little bit while watching their favorite team play. Tom Green, a news anchor for Channel 2 News also offered his insight. He told of how his love for the entertainment business began at a very young age because his father produced commercials, so he was always around the camera. Mr. Green got his degree in Communication from Ithaca College, which directly relates to his natural presence and love for being on television. Mrs. Krueger also mentioned how her degree in marketing helped directly with the tasks that needed to be done for the Spurs. By talking with season ticket holders and finding out what they wanted to see in the upcoming seasons, Mrs. Krueger gave the Spurs an advantage in maintaining their popularity. Although the sports industry is fast-paced and exhilarating, there is also a lot of work that goes into becoming part of it. For instance, Mrs. Krueger was in school for over four years, took courses on Market Research and Business Statistics, and was currently learning of new ways to keep the fans on their toes. In addition to that, the hours are long and relatively draining from all of the commotion and excitement that comes with being in a sports setting. Mrs. Krueger said, “[I] worked 9 to 5, but also had to work all home games…My hours on game days were 9 am to about 11 pm.” Mr. Green mentioned that the sports and entertainment industry is a very exciting way to make your dreams reality. He hosted a show that was broadcasted on ESPN called //Sports on Tap//, which was a sports trivia show. Here he combined his love for both sports and entertainment. Clearly, both Mrs. Krueger and Mr. Green have made their dreams a reality in the sports and entertainment industry and left a lasting impression on the people around them. From going over both interviews, I realized that there is a lot more work that goes into being a part of the sports and entertainment industry than I had previously thought. I knew that going to school longer than most students was part of the deal, however, I was not aware that to get ahead of your competition, you sometimes find yourself in a constant mix of classes and real world learning experiences. Most of the time in the sports and entertainment industry, you have to build your way up from the bottom. Knowledge and experience is power in this industry. For myself, I think I have always been drawn to the sports industry because of my competitive nature. Both of my interviews proves that there will be plenty of competition every step of the way, whether it is fighting for an internship or handling disgruntled fans, the sports industry never ceases to have a new “brick wall” around every corner. Never the less, being a part of the sports and entertainment industry is what I see myself doing when I am out of college. To be specific, I would like to be a Sports Agent and represent professional athletes. Mrs. Krueger’s interview showed me that despite public opinion, professional athletes are pretty much like the rest of us. They have worked very hard to get where they are, therefore I see myself and professional athletes having the same work ethic and getting along because of that. Athletes spend hours upon hours in the gym or practicing with their team, as for myself, studying long and hard in business and law school will keep me on top of my competition. Mr. Green is a close friend of my family and has been by me since my first steps. I remember as a child watching him on the news, broadcasting from behind a desk or on the field with a big name football player and thinking, “Uncle Tom’s job is the coolest!” His poise and likeability on and off of the camera really play a key role in making him so successful. I believe that he is one of the brightest men that I know and I would be honored if I could work in the same industry as him. Interviewing him offered me a more in depth look into what the industry is all about. Both of my interviews gave me more confidence to follow in the direction of my dreams. Mrs. Krueger proved to me that a woman can have a huge and positive impact on the sports industry, a generally male dominated field. And Mr. Green showed me that dedication and having a love for what you do makes it all the better. I’m thankful I had the opportunity to talk to each of them and now I know what no matter what “brick wall” I may be presented with, I have the power to overcome it.