Part of my role here is to find new products, or make established products available to the Gameops.com readers.  Which has proven to be one of the more interesting aspects of my monthly tasks.

Long ago I stopped trying to predict what will catch on, a lot of my favorite Promotion Spotlights have been busts (Real Time Shirts and Giant Inflatable Backpacks) and some that I thought would be mildly received (Bowling Pins and Big Shoes) are quite popular.  Perhaps I just have no idea what I am doing (quite possible) or promotions are a bit of a crapshoot.

Recently I came across a new product that I just love.  Big beach balls that are covered in cloth with a sports ball imprint (baseball, basketball and soccer).  They are light, fun, and pretty inexpensive.  I have been using them as a “leave-behind item” at smaller events like birthday parties (have the mascot sign them, invite all the kids to sign the ball and present to the birthday boy/girl).  We also have a team who uses them with the monster hoops set, since they are much lighter than the balls that come with that set.

But as promotions go…this one has been slow, which has surprised me (I should also note that this actually has not been a spotlight, it’s just a new item in the store).  My new thought is perhaps people aren’t as excited as I am because they haven’t seen the balls.  Living in cyberspace means our readers can’t play with the products like kids in a great toystore can.

Until now.

I am going to send out one of the balls to the next five people who email me and ask for one (just say you read the blog and want a ball (soccer/baseball/basketball) and provide your address (US only please).  All I ask in return is to let me know what you did with them and if you liked the product (forced testimonials are always the best). You can email me at info@gameops.com.

I will update this blog entry to let you know when I have my five people.

Update: We have our five people.  Thanks to everyone who responded.  No balls are left.

So here is your chance….free promotion items just for being a Gameops.com guinea pig.

-Cudo

ps. Happy 11th Ox.

Perhaps my favorite sports promotion is the “White Out.”  You’ve probably seen it on TV, and if you’ve had a chance to see it live…you won’t soon forget it.

The concept goes something like this.  Everyone is encouraged to wear white to the game,.  If you don’t you are greeted at the gate with a free white shirt.  Also on ingress or in the seats you might find a white rally towel or white pom pom, or inflatable noisemakers.  The effect of all the white is astouonding.  Especially in hockey where the ice enhances the white effect….filling about 95% of the arena in white.

Without triggering a big debate about the origins, it’s my understanding this all started with the now defunct Winnipeg Jets (now the Phoenix Coyotes).  The Coyotes have imported the idea and use it in the playoffs….and now the idea is pretty commom across sports.  I saw it last weekend at a  Miami Heat game.

Here’s the twist.  Going colorful. Some teams in an effort to “make it their own” (which I like) do the same thing, except with their colors (which I don’t).

Who’s the Al Schacht of our generation?

Who’s Al Schacht for that matter?

Schacht was the original Clown Prince of baseball who started touring the country as an entertainment act in the 1920’s after an arm injury ended his pitching career early.

Schacht has a couple books out about his travels, which are pretty funny. One story that sticks with me is how he bought a goat on the way to a game. He wanted to add the animal into a skit that night….which is great when you think about how he was totally rolling the dice on what the goat would do. We’ve all seen dog acts….but dog’s are trained. Goats are pretty much doing their own thing, especially one you buy off the street on the afternoon of the game.

(for more on Schact you can hunt for the out of print books, Clowning Through Baseball and My Own Particular Screwball, or read the Gameops.com Interview with Jon Terry.)

I was just thinking…what ever happened to that? Former players going on the road because they loved the game and had such a strong personality they could make it work.

After Schacht you had Jackie Price and Max Patkin….but now? Mark Fidrych doesn’t tour, Al Hrabosky has never worked with a goat, and Joe Charboneau never used his popularity and charm to work the minor leagues entertainment circuit.

Do you put Sun’s MC Cedric Ceballos in that mix? …..or the Harlem Globetrotters? Seems like a lost art or something can has just faded from plausibility.

If Charles Barkley could only ride a unicycle we might have something.

-Cudo

Book link from Amazon.com

While I love to say “I did it first”, I certainly am not the first to blog, or for that matter even the first to blog on the topic of Game Operations. 

Game Operations savant Glen Glower has a great blog, with a lot of interesting content (not only was he way before me….he’s more interesting! gasp!)  If you want to see a great blog in action, you should take a look at Glen’s:  http://ggower.blogspot.com/

A recent article talks about pre-game shows around the NHL.  It’s full of interesting ideas on how to ramp up the energy in your house during the playoffs. 

I am also sure that Glen and I are not alone.  If you have a blog or read a blog related to Game Operations and Entertainment, please let me know….I will be sure to share it here.

-Cudo

Welcome to the Gameops.com Editor’s Blog. 

It’s been a busy three weeks creating and starting to write the blog, thanks to Mike Lepis for his expert blog insight and encouragement.  I wasn’t sure this was the right thing to do (and that still remains to be seen), but it’s been fun kicking it off.

For those new to blogs, in general it’s a punchy blurb of writing on the subject at hand (in our case, game operations, entertainment, sports and to some degree the site itself).  You can subscribe via a content aggregator (like blog lines) to be notified that there is a new post. 

The other great part is that it’s interactive.  You can (and are encouraged) to comment on anything in the blog.  Agree…disagree…have a different twist, just add your comment. 

As you will see, I am not 100% sure where this is going….and I hope you will help steer.  To post a comment just click on the post topic and chime in.

-Cudo