Back on Track

Let's knock this out and get back on track...


Chris Clouden called Sarah and I and asked if we would volunteer for this Amazing Race that the Charlotte Sports Commission was putting on with Visit Charlotte. a couple of weeks ago  Participants came from all over the area, most worked in sports industries, and were considering bringing some kind of sporting event to Charlotte-whether it be a youth league or an event.  The "race" was set up so that people would have to make stops at some of the most well-known places around uptown Charlotte.  There were stops at The Panthers Stadium, Time Warner Cable Arena, the site for the future baseball lot, Wachovia Plaza, Bojangles (i have no idea), Ri Ras, etc...We were set up at Alexander Michael's a little restaurant that is known for their fried pickles.  Each team had to come by and eat a basket of fried pickle's at our stop.  These teams were serious about winning the race, and getting to Strike City to bowl the first strike and win the event, so much so that they were stealing each other's cabs while teams were inside finishing their challenges.  It wasn't too bad of a deal for each of the participants...winners or not, each person received an iPad for doing the race and participating in the three day event.  Afterwards, their was a party at Strike City for the racers and volunteers, and once again, we really enjoyed getting to know some of the Sports professionals who were selected to help run this race.  We did have to bowl, and I had to show my ability to laugh at myself, as bowling is NOT. MY. SPORT. 

The next day we headed out to the ACC Basketball Media Day where we got to see lots of all of our favorite BBall stars.  They had it set up so that there were several different rooms, one for Raycom (the ACC Network), one for Fox Sports, one for Radio, one for Print Media, and one for other television stations.  They rotated pairs of players from each team around to the rooms...and were there for approximately 5 minutes a piece.  It really ran like clockwork.  In the ACC Network room, they interviewed each player individually, but in the "other stations" room, they interviewed press conference style.  They also had another station set up at ESPNU where the Coaches were stationed, and they with the players half the way through the day.  I had no idea how a media day was run so it was cool to see.  Not what I expected. 

Other events we attended in the past couple of days-

Touchdown Club Luncheon featuring John Randle:  What a funny, INTENSE guy. 
He loves him some trash talking.  Here's a little nugget of fun for you all:

http://www.youtube.com/user/nieminenj

He said that he'd spend hours studying video and knew when a guy would be making a passing play versus a running play based on whether he had one chin strap buckle fastened or two.  He would also study his opponents personal lives and find out ways to get inside their heads on the field.  Interesting guy with a good game plan.

The Charlotte Sports Commission Golf Club:  Cold. Rainy. Inappropriately Dressed for the weather.  But we did get to watch a lot of men golf, some were funnier than others.  For example, when one guy teed off and literally hit the ball into the parking lot BEHIND HIM.  Hilarious.  We sold some extra point passes, but I don't know how many extra point passes we would have had to sell to make the weather conditions really seem worth it.  We had several people bring pieces of clothing by, and one guy even ran up to another hole where they were serving apple martinis and brought some back to us. 

Other than these events, we got tickets in this week and have been trying to get inventory done.  Do you know what that means?  It means we look through every single ticket we get, and cross referencing them with a list of every single ticket we are supposed to have.  Tedious.  It literally made Sarah feel sick today.  YIKES.  But it's got to get done, and honestly it's not the worst job in the world if you do it in doses. 

Thank you for your patience with the blog these past couple of weeks!