Ugh

As I said to a friend recently, I’ve been using those 3 letters way too much these days. Is it just me or does it seem like we are all in this cop's shoes with the economy slowly coming to crush us whether we like it or not. I was delusional enough to be hopeful that October would set a bottom and the repair would begin once we have our new President lined up. Not surprisingly, I was wrong.

I have had the ability to catch more than my fair share of CNBC over the past month. What began as a slow bleed, turned to a busted corroded artery, and is now back to those 5 cuts from shaving that just won’t stop. It has been the car wreck I just can’t bring myself to look away from. K2 has nothing on the Dow’s chart the past 8 weeks and even though we had a bit of a bump 2 weeks ago, we’re back down like Heath Ledger after…oh, sorry, too soon?

I’d like to go into a long analysis about how f@*%ed we are, but I don’t have the energy…CNBC has taken it from me. All I know is this.

The banks don’t have money, so they can’t lend to anyone. People don’t have money and they can’t borrow any. Businesses don’t have money and they can’t borrow any either. So the solution? Give the banks money.

Awesome, problem fixed. Only problem is, we got into this whole by giving undeserving people loans…so up go the standards. Great, so give loans only to the people who are worthy. Uh-oh, everyone is losing their job and the value of their greatest asset (their home) is shot. No one is worthy.

How about the businesses loans? Well, since the people don’t have jobs, can’t even pay their mortgages and have lost 50%+ of their investments, they kinda aren’t in the shopping spree mood. Looks like Tiny Tim’s Christmas had nothing on this year’s Christmas. Beyond that, businesses are having trouble collecting their invoices and their market cap has probably dropped 50-80% this year .

In summary...your home is under water, you lost your job and can't get a loan to buy a car from the bankrupt auto company to get to an interview. Your kid's school is closing because your state's budget is out of wack, and you can't pay for the babysitter to go to the job interview. This is alright though because no one is hiring because you also can't afford to go buy anything. Did I mention your 401k is more like a 97k right now? Boy, could we use a war...are there any more Bush's left? There are?! Awesome!!! Oh, Jeb...UGH...let's give Obama first crack at this.

The end result everyone? We’ll be fine…eventually. In the meantime, hold on because for any of you that aren’t 80+ this is new to you and it could take quite a while. Let’s just home my inspirational feelings last week weren’t misplaced.

Got Bush?

Am I the only one wondering why we haven’t seen more from our CURRENT President Bush the past 2 weeks? Obviously we now know that the 12 of 20 years Bush regime is over (for now), but he still hast 2.5 months to go. Besides the weeks following 9/11, has there been any more important period during his 8 year administration?

In President Elect Barack Obama’s first news conference he did his best to instill confidence in the imminent action of the new administration to implement policy to improve our economic conditions, while emphasizing that the current President is still George Bush. The new conference necessary? Yes, confidence of our nation is critical in our recovery. The message comforting? Not to me. Should we really need the reminder?

Often it is said that with adversity comes the opportunity for greatness. In an administration marred by what many view (only 25% approval rating) as poor decisions and lackluster leadership, George Bush has been presented the opportunity to drastically effect his legacy in a positive manner. $700 billion TARP plan? You think your job is done? Fade into the sunset? You’ve got to be kidding me! With so much work to be done I’d really hope that our President stops looking more like the coworker who just turned in their 2 weeks notice than the leader of the free world.

Strategic government spending of approved funds and implementation of essential policy (see: finance industry regulation, stimulus package and employment assistance) cannot wait. Either can I for a new administration.

If I were to be able to deliver W one message, it would be a reminder that the United States of America is a land of opportunity and of second chances. 50 years from now, are my grandchildren going to be reading how you protected a nation in its time of need and then made poor decision after poor decision from that point on? Or will they read about a misunderstood leader, unafraid to make the unpopular decision who ultimately protected our country’s freedom and saved us from crippling economic crisis? Carpe Diem George…you’ve got plenty of time to rest come January 20th.

Inspired

Sitting here watching our President Elect Barack Obama accept his appointment to the 44nd President of the United States. Sitting here listening to the messages our future first black president is delivering from Grant Park in Chicago. Sitting here surprised how emotional the crowd of 125k+ supporters, and myself included, are… hanging on every word.

For the record, I was a McCain supporter…was…

Perhaps it’s the difficult times we’re in. The wars. The housing crisis. Failing corporations that were once mainstays in the US. Job losses that will continue to skyrocket. Whatever the reason, Barack Obama has our attention. And the message? Come together, help thy neighbor, be Americans first and prepare for change. One of hope, promise and inspiration.

Who would have thought…really?!! 150 years ago blacks were enslaved, only 50 years ago did the civil rights movement start to accelerate the righting of years of wrongs. And now we stand as a nation with a black man as our leader. The combination of the tumultuous times we’re in, systemic uncertainty and witnessing history is making it hard for me have the proper perspective to truly understand where our country is headed.

What I do know, is that after listening to our new leader, all I can hope is that this man who has endured so much, risen up against great odds and prejudice, and now become the next President of the United States, uses this strength to follow through on his mission, and not bend to the political pressures that have ruined our system. Should this path be followed I have great confidence our direction will be righted, and together we will build momentum to re-creating the country we hope to live in and to leave for our children. Optimistic? Yes. Overly Utopian? Perhaps. Inspired?? Definitely...

Knocked off your game…

So on Election Eve it’s only fitting that MNF is played in our nation’s capital. In fact while writing this we’re only moments away from our Arizona and Illinois senator’s final pleas for your hanging chad.

Pregame discussion surrounded Big Ben’s tough times this year and his sieve of an offensive line. It delved into what one too many hits from the blind side can do to a quarterback and his career. The crew brought up the stories of Jim Everrett(click the link, trust me), Jeff George (troubled in other ways as well admittedly) and now JaMarcus Russell who suffer not from a lack of ability, but the inability to have time to showcase it.

The beauty of football is the teamwork that it demands. Basketball can win with 1-2 superstars, baseball can pull it off with a great pitching performance, but football requires all 22+. Safety blows an assignment? TD. WR slips and allows the CB to intercept? TD. Offensive lineman not able to handle the bull rush resulting in a fumble and a return for a…TD? Yup, not good. No other sport reflects life more accurately.

Where am I going with this? No team is going to win without a team effort, and no team is going to win without their top QB. How do you keep your QB safe? Keep him from getting hit. Allow that backside end in a few too many times…allow Joey Porter to run free on a delayed blitz…here come Brian Dawkins, uh-oh! Get hit enough times and all the sudden your internal the clock is a bit shorter, you start throwing off your back foot, you don’t follow through as well…aka you’re hearing ghosts.

The mental game of sports is just as important as the X’s and O’s. As easy as it is to ask your players to have a short memory, human nature is to flinch…it just is. Hit a good man enough and eventually he’ll break. Some make it back…good job Kurt Warner, and then 5 years later, Kurt Warner…but most don’t. Then again though, life isn’t much different…but that’s a different post all together I guess.

Demoted!!!

If this is the end of the road I'm going to miss it

The NBA Draft...it's FAAAANTASTIC!!!

Cheesedoodles anyone? Oh, how I've been waiting for this day. Finally it's here. The NBA Draft, when we get to see the new YouTube video of these guys giving our old friend Stephen A. the business. Quite frankly I'm more excited than Stephen A. when he finds a way to use Sasha Vujacic, Vladimir Radmanovic and Rasho Nesterovic in the same sentence...enjoy

What Happened to SNL?

In the event you are short on time, I found a condensed version of my favorite skit.

The list of skits that make us pee our pants are endless....until now. SNL has lost its touch. Unlike George's suggestion of Seven as the name of his child, it has no cache. Long gone are the days of Beluchi, Murphy, Myers and Farrell.

What prompts this? I just turned SNL on and the guest is Tina Fae. No offense to Tina Fey, her friends and family, but where does your once National Icon of a show rank when it's star guest is a former cast member of a recently detested era?

Loran Michaels, you've brought us laughs for years and years. Mr Robinson's Neighborhood, Matt Foley and his motivational speeches, Leon Phelps and the junk in a box. WTF is up. You can't tell me American comedic talent has dried up. Perhaps its political correctness. Perhaps the war on drugs. I don't know, but something has caused us to not have a SNL episode that is even barely watchable airing in the past 10 years.

Here's to the re-incarnation of Beluchi and Farley to save us all and NBC's failing show...please don't tell me The Office is the best we can do these days.

Why We Watch

Hours upon hours spent watching pre-game shows, mundane performances, post-game highlights. Day after day we watch, mothers don't understand, girlfriends complain, wifes divorce. Yet still we watch. Why? To witness greatness. To see the impossible. Goosebumps and an uncontrollable pre-pubescent scream...only sports.

Figures, right after I complain about nothing to write about, here comes Tiger. I couldn't look away Saturday, Sunday or MONDAY!!! 91 holes boys and girls, and then to find out today he's having season ending reconstructive ACL surgery?! You have to be f'n kidding me. He won our national championship with a blown knee? Oh, btw, with 2 stress fractures in his tibia too.

Thanks for the show and get better Tiger...I'm sure you'll have the best care money (the networks, USGA and Nike) can pay for!

All Hail the Champs!

Congrats to the Celtics, first NBA Championships in 22 years!

If there ever was a shining example for hard work, perseverance, professionalism and dedication to the cause they are it.

Certainly a case can be made for the ex-Celtic Kevin McHale getting an assist on this one, but nonetheless a 66 win season and NBA Championship is in the books. Congrats boys.

Oh, and for those of you not keeping count, 6 championships in 6 years for Boston. Next stop, WS Trophy :)

Happy Fathers Day

In honor of all those daddies out there, we present to you some of the daddiest there are. Enjoy!

Ugh...

I'll admit it, my blogging these past few months has sucked. As my buddy Mike says, it deserves a "Meh" minus at best. I couldn't agree more.

One thing I've learned in the past year, is from a product development standpoint companies need to follow what the user does, not what they say. So I've gone and applied this same philosophy to figuring out why I haven't been blogging well. I thought it was my hectic work schedule, my lack of material, or maybe just that this blogging thing was a passing fad like my pet rock.

Then it came to me.

Even though I'm from Boston and enjoy a certain level of misery in life, this is a joke. The economy sucks. I am not too into politics. Companies not making money are being bought for millions. The whole Yahoo thing has just gotten annoying now. Worst of all, the sporting world, where my contributions are the greatest, is nothing short of miserable.

Wait, you say, how can this be? TVI, your Pats made the Super Bowl (still stings), your Red Sox are in first and your Celtics are 1 win away from from winning their first championship in 22 years!

Let me tell you...the list is long:

• Tim Donaghy - Scumbag, yes. Convicted felon, yes. Trying to save his own ass by regurgitating what has already been widely speculated, yes. Right, unfortunately yes.
• David Stern - De-Nile isn't just a river in Egypt. Arrogance will be his downfall. To simply dismiss such egregious claims, now coming from the inside, where as it has come from several others over the years, is the worst possible reaction. Its to the point it makes me sick to listen to him.
  
• OJ Mayo - (head shaking) Saw this one coming a LOOOOONG time ago.
• Looming Beijing Olympics - Typically I love the Olympics...can you think of a worse place right now? Baghdad Summer games? Just think of the marketing possibilities, "Join us for the Summer games in Baghdad, they'll be a blast!"
• No Football - I'm officially in withdrawal, so much so that I almost turned Area Football on the other day...almost.

Have no fear though, help is on the way. A great summer lined up followed by my defense of my latest Fantasy Football title. The Pats are primed to defend their honor, if only our defense was 5 years older at each position. The Sox look like they are going to cruise back to the series and see what happens from there. (Cubs v. Red Sox anyone?) Even my BC Eagles are looking good at most positions, even QB where Chris Crane is replacing Matty Ice who went #3 overall to the Falcons.

Just to be Clear

This doesn't happen in ANY other city...gotta love Beantown.

Ever just have one of these days?

Office Worker Goes Absolutely Insane - Watch more free videos

Well today is it for me....thanks Mike!

Not to beat a dead horse...but

Watching the Celtics game. The Lakers locked it up last night and this is a close out game for Boston. The lead officials name is Bennett Salvatore. Do I need to say more?

I Told You So!

Watch carefully minutes 2:20-2:25. That shooter? Spur Brent Barry. That mugging defender? Laker Derek Fisher. That Lex Luther look alike in the background? You guessed it, Joey Crawford. The shot? To win the game baby. The whistle? Swallowed before the ball was even inbounded...

Where's Tim Donoghy when you need him?

That's right David Stern, Ambien isn't the answer to all those sleepless nights.

Pistons v. Spurs Finals? Your bedroom probably has more corners than that series will get market share. Want to come closer to the number of specs on the ceiling...thats right, go old school...Lakers v. Celtics baby.

You can probably only get away with Joey Crawford (see Tim Duncan getting thrown out for laughing) reffing 2 games in the Lakers series, so you'll need Phil and the boys to come through at least twice on their own. With Kobe and one of the most lopsided trades of all time, this should be a lock. Good job on that one!

Boston has taken back home court after you slipped 'Sheed, Rip and Billips mickeys before game 3. Still that might not be enough because it appears Detroit has gotten their legs back and are rolling in Game 4.

What you need is something extra, something you can count on to come through. The Yankees turn to Mo in a pinch, the Pats give it to Brady in the final 2 minutes, the 9er's Montana, the Bulls Jordan. But in this case, who do you trust? KG? Allen? Pierce? Certainly not Doc Rivers, I don't think anyone in Celtic Nations (Danny Ainge included) trusts him. What you need is a little help from the Zebras. Where are the corruptible officials when you need them? Oh, that's right, you've got the FBI investigating all of them and you're doing your best to pretend to help them.

Let's all be honest with each other, basketball is the easiest sport to rig, hands down, no questions asked. With so many arbitrary calls that could go either way, timely whistles to kill momentum or give a team a point here or there are virtually undetectable and easily executed. Call me a conspiracy theorist, but I'll be sure to be putting my money where my mouth is if this goes 7, and I'd suggest you follow suit.

Are they here yet?

First 38 seconds look familiar? No matter how old we admit to being or mature we try and act, all of us can remember back to this type of anticipation for whatever that LATEST AND GREATEST toy we wanted was growing up. I remember my first bike at 12, first Nintendo (Duck Hunt and all) at 13, the anticipation for my first day of college and for my first Spring Break trip to Cancun.

I've outgrown this though...or so I thought.

Damn you Steve Jobs, reminding me I still have a 4 year old inside me who can be easily wooed with the new shiny super-cool toy. For someone who prides himself on being rather minimalistic, I've become consumed by the anticipation and excitement.

Is it June 12th? 9th? 4th? Is it $399? Or $199 after AT&T subsidizes it in exchange for switching carriers? You know what, who cares. You've got me Apple, I'll pay whatever, whenever, to whoever. I just want my new toy and I want it NOW!!!

Timing is everything!

Congratulations of my fellow Eagle Matt Ryan who recently signed a record deal with the Falcons for 72 million. This was on the eve of the owners opting out of the current labor agreement with the players union. What does that mean? It means the owners want more $, and where is that coming from you might ask? 2 places, rookie salary pool and potentially an extra game.

The days of increasing record deals for rookies who have yet to prove a thing are numbered. Expect something more closer to the NBA's rookie salary cap and the big money coming in the player's 2nd contract. The structure will never be the identical because in a game where injuries, career ending injuries, are so prevalent, there will always be a premium paid for potential over performance.

To this end I applaud Matty Ice for his deal, enjoy it my friend, keep up the good work and you have a chance to maybe come close to being the great institutions #2 alum...

Idiocracy...

No, not the movie, although that's good too (in a mindless comedy way). I'm asked why I don't participate in social networks, and challenged when I say I just don't get their value. Call me old fashioned, call me naive, but this pretty much sums up my point...God bless the Brits!

Square Peg…Round Hole

Have our childhood days taught us nothing? I am a firm believer that if principles taught in kindergarten and advice from mom are applied to most of life’s problems things will work out just fine. Sure to be a more a lengthy blog in the future, I’ll stick right now to the lesson I learned spending hours trying to literally bang a square peg into a round hole…it doesn’t work.

Who might I be referring to that didn’t learn this lesson? I’m not entirely sure, but it’s some combination of the following: Mike D’Antoni, Steve Kerr, Mark Cuban and Avery Johnson most recently.

Both the Suns and the Mav’s bowed out last night after each receiving top seeds the past few years. Combined they have 3 of the last 3 league MVP trophies, the Suns reached out and sacrificed flexibility and defense in Shawn Marion to get Shaq at the deadline, the Mav’s doing the same to get the old and offensively inept (and wife beating) Jason Kidd.

The Mav’s might have been better off suiting their coach Avery Johnson up, Kidd couldn’t stop anyone and couldn’t put the ball in the basket to save his life. This shouldn’t have been a surprise either, and now they’ve given up on a great youngster in Devin Harris in the process.

The Suns run and gun style, granted not proven as a consistent winning style in the NBA, worked for them. To change mid-season and trade for the biggest anchor in the league, Shaq, who not only slows down their offense and exposes them defensively, but he’s owed an additional 20 mill a year the next 2 seasons…hardly the blueprint for allowing yourself flexibility to improve in the off season.

In contrast to these teams, the Lakers, Spurs and Celtics made well timed and well thought out trades vaulting them to phenomenal success. The Lakers and Spurs have already advanced, the Celts eventually will. LA and Boston both had #1 seeds. Sure the names of Paul Gasol, Kurt Thomas and Sam Cassell don’t scare anyone. But each fit perfectly into these team's styles and glaring needs. Passing center in the triangle offense, tough forward to rebound and play defense next to Duncan, backup point guard with size to a 2^nd year phenom (who can guard Billips too).

Listen here GM’s, know your team and your identity. Mid-season is not the time to try and change this, so make trades for your need and not to appease the fan base. What else is it they usually say? Listen to the fans and soon you’ll be sitting with them? Mike D’Antoni and Avery Johnson, I think there are a few already reserved for you…

How Parcells Builds His House

We’ve already seen the beginning of Bill Parcell’s 5^th reclamation project (Giants, Pats, Jets, Cowboys, maybe Dolphins?). The beginning of any of Bill’s tenures are met with one of 2 reactions from fans: head scratching or head nodding. To those scratching, check his track record and re-evaluate.

Why his model is not repeated (we know that his coaching tree is extensive, but it’s not so hard that anyone can’t copy it) is beyond me. For those of you who haven’t caught on at this point, let me help you through what has, and what is going to happen here on out:

-Winning starts at the top (see Bill Polian and Scott Pioli); Bill hand picks his organizational staff, coaching staff and scouting department. All the way down to the trainers and ball boys, Bill gets the people he wants in place.

-After tireless hours of watching film, which is probably what has caused his abysmal failure in family life, he cleans house of players who don’t play his way, are too old with too big a contract (most recently Zach Thomas and Jason Taylor might be taking his dancing shoes elsewhere before long), and those who flat out can’t play (watch your back Cleo)

-Once his team is down to the bear bones, he does the reverse, he stock piles as many players as possible, “his players”. He did it in New England with David Meggett et all. He did it with the Jets with Bryan Cox & Curtis Martin. Now with Miami he’s traded for Anthony Fassano (14 catches last year) and Akin Ayodele. What’s the point? Bill does things his way and these players listen, he sets a tone and the more yes men he has the better.

-Usually a top draft pick of some sort, Bledsoe, Keyshawn, DeMarcus Ware and now Jake Long.

What’s next you ask?

-More free agents, make players compete for their roster spot, none are guaranteed in the NFL, and no one is safe.

-Stock piling of draft picks. He’ll trade down this year whenever possible to get 2009 and 2010 picks.

-Strategic salary dumps…much to the dismay of the season ticket holders.

-3 yards and a cloud of dust. Ronnie Brown, hope you’re rested! Wonder why Bill would not find an often troubled Ricky Williams expendable? Ha, exactly the opposite, he’s keeping him because he IS EXPENDABLE!

- DE-FENSE!!! A genius on the defensive side, championships are built around it, and the Dolphins strongest side of the ball.

-Years 2 and 3 will be his refocusing on filling what he has taken the first year to figure out where the holes are. This is where those draft picks and salary cap room come into play.

-Just win baby!

Seems easy right? If the TVI knows this, why can’t anyone do it? As a wise friend of mine once said, ideas are nothing without execution. In this case the evaluation of who to draft, who to sign, who to cut and what management bring in is the key. Sound familiar? I’m sure this same estimate is echoed in several top MBA programs on a yearly basis…only difference is Bill didn’t have to drop 100k to figure it out…

Final Standings

In this the first year of TVI's March Madness pool, Big Pun took the top prize with Rob pulling a rabbit out a hat, or somewhere else. Congrats Irene on 3rd...till next year, early favorite...UNC!

Participants	Total Points
Jason L.	146
Rob D.	126
Irene Y.	112
Ryan M.	109
Clark S.	105
Justin F.	96
Nate F.	96
Craig S.	92
Blair L.	87
Matt T.	85
Scott M.	81
Andy F.	80
Chris B.	75
Rich R.	67

U2BE Part Deux

To follow up on my previous post on YouTube, it was made clear to me by a forced loyal reader (probably the only reader) that I did not expound upon my answer to their monetization issue. I believe there would be great value in placing the ad around the border of the video screen for a few reasons, let me explain.

First, let’s play a little word associate game…Ads…no, not “tuberculosis”, you watch too much Seinfeld, I’d bet most of you come up with “annoying” within the first 3 words. Whether messing with your show on TV, making it impossible to flip the pages in a magazine, or in this case, watch the whole video on YouTube, ads are in the way. AdWords and AdSense have succeeded in part because they’re not in the way. Look at Facebook’s Beacon, failed because it was intrusive, in a little bit of a different way, but intrusive nonetheless.

What makes YouTube different than other web pages though? There's no scrolling, moving of the eyes left to right, up and down….no, it’s a dead on stare straight ahead. So put the ads there, almost. Placement around the perimeter ensures a couple things:

• The ad can’t be closed like current in video ads are
• The ad will be seen for the entire duration of the video (unless they listen, but who does that)

I’ve conceded this will wreak havoc with advertisers who need to create new online ads for their clients, but let’s look at this glass half full for a moment. A user now goes to Popular Mechanic’s website and sees an ad for Ford in a predetermined sized box that looks like every other Chevy, BMW, Volvo and Porche ad. With YouTube they have the unique advantage of having all the content of value in a centralized area, with the remainder of the page for robust, more create, and DIFFERENTIATING ads. Imagine if Ford instead animated a Mustang driving in and parking on top of the video of drag racing a user is viewing, and dropped down the new price and financing deals on either side. Perhaps Bud Light could bring back their frogs to hop across the screen chasing a fly holding a beer instead of having a picture of a girl in a bikini like every other ad. You get my point.

Sure I hear some of you screaming that the success of online advertising has been because of the ability to report EXACTLY how many users clicked on their ad, and consequently charge more. Who’s to say though this old ad sales pitch won’t fly?

“I will sell you a 40 foot by 20 foot sign on one of the busiest roads in America to be viewed by every man, woman and child who drives by for a low daily flat fee!”

Now throw in: we’ll only put the ad on roads where there’s people who like what you sell, these people don’t need to move a neck muscle to see your ad, and oh yea, they’re not driving 65 miles per hour and will view it for minutes on end! It just might work…

Taking It to the Street!

Forget Foldgers, the best part of waking up is realizing the Sox are tied up on opening day in the bottom of the 9th. After a top of the 9th homer by Brandon Moss, local hero Hideki Okajima (game was played in Japan) shut down the A's in the bottom to set up a great day for me. For those of you counting at home, Manny's season tally for "obnoxious poses after getting a hit, the one where the thought of running doesn't come to him for 15 seconds, the one that will be sure to get him plunked 5+ times and cause at least 1 bench clearing brawl this season" is now 1. But what a 1 it is. A top of the 10th, 2 run double off Huston Street to give the Sox the lead, later locked down by Paps. 1-0 is a great way to start, baseball is here, summer is just around the corner, and we're one step close to goggle clad river dancing to the Drop Kick Murphy's. I can faintly hear, even from 3200 miles away, the fans clearing their throats and practicing their "Sweet Caroline". I'm not naive, we won't go 162-0, but at least during some of those home losses we will be sure to get treated to plenty of "these" guys:

Thinking Around the Box

Far be it for me to pretend to be a tech expert. In fact, it’s a minor miracle I can spell tecnolgy technology. I can’t stop thinking, though, that it’s bizarre all these companies are being valued at astronomical amounts with almost no revenue. It’s as if I could write a business plan (everything except how it turns a profit), register a domain, stir up some press and voila...$200 million. Don’t believe me?

Facebook.com – Valued at $15 billion with an expected $150 million in revenue for 2007, their price vs. sales value is almost 100/1

Bebo.com – Just purchased by AOL for $850 million, had $20 million in 2007 revenue, 42.5 / 1 P/S ratio

Slide.com – A widget (yea, I thought it was a fictitious product from business school too) producing company used on Social Networks such as the ones listed above was valued in their Series D funding at $550 and I am not sure if they’d made any significant revenue.

What’s my point? 1.5 years ago Google purchased YouTube for 1.65 billion. At the time CEO Eric Schmidt said to their new acquisition to focus on attracting users and not on attracting revenue. Fast-forward to present day and the word that sums up the missing part of all these overvalued companies starts surfacing – MONETIZATION. As of this past October, Google / YouTube had a 31.3% market share in online video watching. Considering 75% of web users viewed a video that month, and they averaged 3.25 hours of watching in the month, this is what you might refer to as a captive audience. Still though YouTube has not found a way to successfully convert these users into dollars.

Fear not though YouTube, The Village Idiot is here to the rescue.

Picture frame ads. Sure this would require advertisers to partially redesign their online media content. But to take advantage of someone watching the day's Glumbert videos for 5-10 minutes without flipping during commercials? I think they’d find time.

How to target the ad though…there’s several ways. Google already knows every other site you’ve been to, so start with that data. Non-original content’s source can be identified and most media outlets already knows the demographics they reach. Throw this data into the equation. Lastly, using the speech recognition software Google already has for their GOOG-411 service they can build out the software to analyze original video’s content. Based on the determination of the video’s content a final data point for ad targeting is applied. An AI component can be built into this last piece to better target over time based off user clicks and engagement.

Adoption would be tough I admit, advertisers have become used to their easily measured CPC’s. Cozying up to a new measurement scheme, not so dissimilar to Slide.com’s measure of engagement, would take time. But since thinking in, or out, of the box hasn’t worked so far, perhaps it is time to see what can be found around it…

What a dog....

In her first, and surely not her last, appearance on the Village Idiot's blog, everyone's best friend Loomis shows her skills....and what a skill it is!

Tradition....

Man we're getting old. For the 5th year running I've joined my friends (I use this term lightly) for a weekend of college basketball. What began for them 10 years ago didn't start for me until my move to SF. Ruby, the "Duckman" and myself typically are first in line at 8am for the bar Thurs - Sunday...but no longer. It has slowly deteriorated to "I'll try and make it by 4 on Thursday" and "How did we ever get up this early" on Friday morning. The thought of making the normal Saturday and Sunday sessions has given way to "I'll catch some games while doing the work I missed on Friday". It's always good to have those annual traditions, whatever they may be. The problem is what we hoped would be an age old tradition is falling victim to old age....

Don't forget about the NBA

Let's not forget about one of the greatest NBA seasons in years, coming down the stretch its easy to lose interest with March Madness and Opening Day imminent. Figured some of the NBA's finest entertaining in a non-game setting might enlighten your Saturday morning...

The Mighty Crystal Palace

As we all prepare for one of the most entertaining 3 week stretches in sports, its easy to lose focus of the utter hypocrisy that exists in the NCAA. As someone who sincerely cares about the health of the system, for both moral and selfish reasons, it is painful to take a hard, honest look at the current state of affairs.

Let’s dial the clock back 1.5 years with a letter from Congressman Bill Thomas, Chairman of the US H.O.R. Committee on Ways and Means. This letter demands NCAA president Myles Brand to defend the NCAA’s tax exemption status, which they say is to "maintain intercollegiate athletics as an integral part of the educational program and the athlete as an integral part of the student body" in their annual tax return. Several of you are probably just now learning that the NCAA’s most recent TV contract with CBS for $6 BILLION that kicked in 2002 is TAX FREE! Some may have known, but still this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Fine, no taxes paid, but at least all these kids are getting a quality education and learning valuable life lessons… right. Only 55% of football players and 38% of basketball players graduate - compared to 64% of the general student body. Fret not though, Myles Brand has instituted the Academic Progress Rate, and if not met, severe (scholarship loss) penalties will be assessed. In no time schools will surely regain focus in fear of not meeting the minimum standard…50% graduation rate…huh? To make matters worse, they allow 5 years for graduation in these stats; I’d hate to see what the 4 year rates are. There must be other programs in place, some of that $6B have to been put towards academic learning centers, tutors, books, SOMETHING!!!

We interrupt this blog to report NCAA (non-profit mind you) President Myles Brand’s for 2006 earned (drum roll please) $895,000. C&C Music Factory said it best, Things that Make You Go HMMMM!!!

OK, let’s be fair for a second, if it wasn’t for schools misrepresenting their intentions, catering to these over hyped man-children’s every need, and turning a blind eye to anything that may cost the player PT, these schools wouldn’t make enough for the other 25-35 sports that don’t turn a profit to play. I will be the first to advocate that athletics is one of the best training grounds for business, life in general in fact. But is sacrificing our standards a necessary evil?

At least once we move past the economics of the NCAA we find a mature and well adjusted organization run in a fair and reasonable manner…or do we…stay tuned for more.

Bitter Beer Face?

I think one call to Milwaukee's Best (aka the BEAST) can help Eliot recover some of that 80k; he's a shoe in for the next commercial!

Defected Product

A happy smile came to my face while watching the story of 7 Cuban soccer players who recently defected in Orlando from their Under-23 team. It’s not that soccer is that close to my heart or that Communism strikes a strong cord with me. Consider for a second though the planning, effort and most of all risk that goes into such an action, just ask Captain Marko Ramius. Great suffering must exist to lead up to this. Furthermore it’s a small indication of the world’s perception of America despite what the media will have you believe (thanks FoxNews).

This isn’t the first time defection has brought an influx of athletic talent to America, though. Let’s take a quick look at some of the recent contributions Cuba has made to our sports:

Livan Hernandez Pitcher – 2 time All-Star and World Series MVP in 1997 with the Marlins, Livan has been one of the most reliable and durable pitchers in the league over the past decade.

Orlando Hernandez Pitcher – Better known as “El Duque”, he’s killed my Red Sox for years as a Yankee, his age changes more than Oprah’s waist size, but despite probably being 57 continues to throw from 10 different angles to keep hitters off balance

Jose Contreras Pitcher – George Steinbrenner’s big prize in one of the first major bidding wars for international talent (which needs to be fixed)

Boxers Guillermo Rigondeaux (Olympic Champ 2000, 2004) and Erislandy Lara recently defected during the Pan-Am Games

These are just a few of the 50 or so athletes of have defected in just the past 10 years, the most popular exit door for them have been the Pan-Am games. I can’t help but be happy for them when I see they make it, ecstatic actually. What I would hope for, though, is with the failing health of Castro and his recent relinquishing of power that Cuba be able to restore its quality of life, national pride and sporting dominance…..at least until the Red Sox need a flame thrower for the stretch run :)

It's not illegal to cut grass!!!

Good Night Farve

On of the greatest football players of all time has hung up his cleats this past week. Brett Favre called it a career after 17 seasons and a record 275 consecutive starts. I challenge any of you to remember the last time you showed up to work 275 consecutive days, never mind a workplace that has 300 pounders chasing you down on a regular basis. Brett embodied what football is about: team, grit, selflessness, perseverance and determination. A wizard on the field who had the unique ability to make the Lambeau faithful feel hatred for his decision making and glee for his greatness all within the same play.

The greatest loser of all this week is the NFL and its fans. In the league of “me”, Brett stood head and shoulders above the rest. With apologies to John Elway, Brett is the NFL’s greatest loss since Montana in 1994 and I cannot name another of his class in the game today. Over the years players retirements have simply signaled the beginning of a new career in broadcasting (Keyshawn, Emmitt, Michael Irvin, Marino, Boomer, Phil Simms, Tiki, I could go on forever). It’s amazing the Newhouse School of Broadcasting grads are able to find jobs with the amount of former players flooding the screens. With that said Brett is probably one you will not find following suit.

This is what made the man so special for so many years.

There was no other player fans could identify more with than #4. His honesty, blue collar work ethic, flare for the dramatic and gunslinger reputation made him a fan favorite much beyond the Wisconsin borders. Hailing from Mississippi, Brett entered the league as an underdog and never lost that chip on his shoulder, and he never lost sight of the fact it was just a game. Always one to laugh and joke in the most stressful of times (see Warren Sapp) Brett embodied what we all would want our sons to grow up to be.

I may be wrong, but I would think that Brett Favre sightings will become fewer and further between in the coming years. The man will rest his weary body back home in Mississippi and go on living his life just like the rest of his, shaving every week or 2 and rocking the denim as often as possible. If ever there was a Wrangler Jeans and Marlboro commercial icon rolled into one it is Brett.

With that I want to say thank you Brett for reminding us how the game should be played. Enjoy your time off, you’ve earned it, and good night….

Metro-Crockett and His Beaux

Davy Crockett gets FABULOUS in Tahoe!

Didn't agree with that guy?

Watch this and then tell me you wouldn't me more likely to watch more hockey if this were a regular occurrence...

Yahoo and the NHL

So...I had a long boring, unintelligent and self-serving post comparing the plights of the NHL and Yahoo. Some similar problems and somewhat similar suggestions for each. Then I saw this guy....no way I can say it better (although probably in better voice).

Long story short Jerry Yang should listen to my buddy Mike

Gary Bettman, listen to this guy:

Dude's got WAY too much time....

Not So Free Agency

Yesterday I was able to spend some time with a friend of a friend, whose father (in-law?) is the president of a MLB team. We spoke about recent trades, global scouting for talent and free agency successes and lack of it. Given that his father’s team isn’t considered a big market franchise, where as my beloved Red Sox have more money to burn than anyone outside of the 212 area code, it really got me thinking about the inequity in the sport.

Unlike any other sport, baseball has the most extensive prospect development system. In contrast the NFL uses the NCAA and the NBA just recently created the D League. Not only do baseball franchises need to support 5-10 minor league teams, but constantly be scouring the globe (Japan, Korea, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, ect, ect) for young talent. Teams with deeper pockets have even gone to the extent of developing their own Baseball Academies in some of these areas. Billed as a support system for underprivileged athletes, these are merely a massive scouting tool and PR campaign rolled into one.

Bud Selig has done some great things for baseball, and I think sometimes he gets a bad rap. With that said, and his tenure just recently given a 3 year extension, it is time for the commissioner to develop a system of checks and balances to bring more equity to the game. The cost of signing free agents from oversees is prohibitive for those teams who don’t benefit from big money TV deals and massive fan bases. Bud should know this better than anyone else having owned the Milwaukee Brewers and still residing as their president.

He’s a busy man though, so I will lend a helping hand…..

1. Prohibit MLB teams from opening baseball academies. Rather increase the luxury tax percentage and lower the threshold. This will create a larger pool of money for MLB to fund neutral academies, which should be tied into the World Baseball Classic program. It will also promote a “soft” salary cap and more league equity.
2. More drafts. The amount of drafts the MLB has is insane already, 1-2 more won’t hurt at this point. I’ll fully admit this is not nearly as easy to implement as it sounds. We’ll call it the Non-US Amateur Draft consisting of 15-20 rounds. I’d be in favor of limiting the number of rounds to 10 in an effort to curb the signing of younger players, much in the same way there’s a size limit on some game fishing.
3. Modify the rules to allow drafted players to remain in their home countries for 2-3 years, much in the same way this privilege is afforded to high school seniors or NBA oversees draftees.

Currently MLB is the “Wild West” when it comes to oversees operations and without change we’ll continue to see the likes of the Red Sox and Yankees in the playoffs every year, but hey, at least Joe Buck and Tim McCarver will be happy!

Oh Monsieur!!!

If you are having a bad day, tell this guy, I'm sure he cares.....
(turn the sound up if you can)

glumbert - I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for French Ski Screaming

Opportunity Cost.....

Saturday night I had the pleasure of watching what is hopefully the return of the NBA Dunk Contest to its old form. Much of this can be credited to the NBA’s new man-child Dwight Howard and his Superman Dunk, definitely one of the Top 5 dunks of all time along with those of Dr. J, His Airness, The Human Highlight Film and Vincanity. But watch again and pay close attention to minutes 2:14 – 2:21 (update 3/29/08, the NBA restricted the original link, perhaps because of the mass hysteria this blog caused over it, so you'll have to take my word on this, I've replaced the link so you can still enjoy the dunk itself). With a New Orleans crowd going insane, TNT announces and judges alike beside themselves and Dwight’s agent already counting the endorsement money, NBA officials couldn’t make Howard put his Orlando jersey back on fast enough. These are the same NBA officials who wouldn’t let Howard dunk on a 12 foot hoop, why? Who knows?

With the league in the shadow of The Brawl at the Palace, the Tim Donaghy cheating scandal, legal issues with the likes of Ron Artest and Stephen Jackson and countless players with children with countless women (see Shawn Kemp), I can understand why David Stern has instituted some of the measures he has. Corporate sponsors drive the leagues behavior whether we like it or not; from the hesitation to incorporate the ever-present “hip-hop culture” to its new motto “Where Amazing Happens” from “It's Faaaannnntastic” to expanding the NBA oversees, it's all about the NBA, its image, and dollars.

With this said, this is still a game, it is still entertainment and All-Star weekend is still an exhibition. Whoever is advising David Stern against promoting the wearing of a Superman Cape, playing the Superman theme song during the dunk, or even allowing the hoop to be raised to 12’ is playing scared. As important as it is to know when to do something, it’s equally as important to know when not to do something. In this instance the NBA should have sat back and allowed one of their blossoming stars to shine as bright as possible. Opportunity lost…..

Maiden Voyage

Welcome to my two cents, my periodical random thoughts and updates on events in my quite inconsequential life. Appropriately named the Village Idiot, the subsequent posts will be a variety of the successes, failures (more of these) and embarrassing moments (several more of these) of my life. Littered in will be my thoughts on various subjects ranging from the state of the sporting world, my elementary knowledge of the technology industry and overall philosophy on life.

A disclaimer to all those expecting something more than a sophomoric view of the world, stop reading now.

I’ll be sure to try and keep the laughs coming (clearly with pirated material) and hopefully provoke a few comments from what will surely be a very limited readership. All comments appropriate for my sister 12 years my junior will be approved regardless of how embarrassing they are to me. Thank you for visiting, come again soon as post #2 is not far behind.