This past Saturday, I graduated from Saint Leo! I felt fortunate to have my family, aunt, and girlfriend at the ceremony. I would not be the person I am today without my family and friends. I am very thankful for each of them. In the morning of the ceremony, I could not believe that all of my hard work had come down to one final day that I will remember for the rest of my life. I knew my hard work was going to eventually pay off. I received the first benefit of my hard work when I walked across the stage and received my diploma.

The guest speaker of our ceremony was Joe Garagiola. He played nine years as a catcher for the St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs, and New York Giants. After he retired, he was broadcaster for 27 years. He spoke about how we have received the best tools to succeed at Saint Leo, and even though the economy is not strong now we should not let it deter us from earning a full time job.

After Garagiola spoke, Dr. Kirk, President of Saint Leo, awarded several honorary degrees to Garagiola and others. Then, it was our turn to walk across the stage! As I was preparing to receive my diploma, I could not believe the day had come. I would no longer be considered a student. I would not have any more school work or tests. LastIy, I would soon be an alumnus. Once my name was called, I had a big smile on my face as I walked over to Dr. Kirk to shake his hand. Immediately after, I looked at my family and my girlfriend and I smiled from ear to ear. I had finally received my diploma! Soon after, we moved our tassels from right to left, which signified our accomplishment as graduates.

My Dad, Mom, and I after graduation

I was very relieved once the ceremony ended. Now, I can focus completely on my work and getting our new website up and running.

I would like to thank everyone at Saint Leo who has assisted me in the development of not only my education, but also in my personal development as in individual. I am grateful for everyone who has helped me. I am also thankful for having the opportunity to attend Saint Leo. If I was a sophomore looking to transfer once again, I would definitely choose Saint Leo.

Thank you again, best of luck to you, and so long for now.

In four days, I will be a graduate of Saint Leo!! The two years I have spent at the university have been terrific for me. I have been able to meet great people, experience phenomenal opportunities, and I have grown along the way, as well. As you may remember, I transferred to Saint Leo after receiving my associate’s degree from a junior college in Illinois. Looking back on my decision, I have absolutely no regrets about transferring to Saint Leo and only needing to fulfill two years of requirements. I realize I saved a great deal of money by going the route I did. I can also tell you that I was not prepared to leave home at 18. However, once I began the process of transferring, I knew I was ready.

I am proud to say that I was awarded the Sport Business Co-Outstanding Student of the Year by the Sport Business faculty. I received the award on Academic Excellence Day. My dad flew down from Chicago for the day to be at the ceremony with me and with my girlfriend. I feel very fortunate to have received such a prestigious award.

My Dad and I at Academic Excellence Day

My senior paper was due a little over two weeks ago. The criteria for the paper did not contain a length requirement, but I was expected to answer a number of questions about my internship experience, how Saint Leo benefited me in my internship, and how the education I received at Saint Leo has benefited me to enter the “real world.” Along with the paper, I submitted a binder that contained evaluation forms about the internship and the education I received in my sport classes. I also included work samples, including press releases, articles from our website, an overview of our new website, and much more.

Tomorrow, I will give my final presentation on my internship experience. We are expected to cover several of the topics we wrote about in our paper in a Power Point. The presentation should be between 20-25 minutes long. I have completed my presentation, and I have a total of 27 slides. Needless to say, I do not think I will have a problem in occupying the entire time. The only thing I need to do now before tomorrow is practice!

We just completed a six game home stand with a record of 3-3. Last Thursday, we held our second and final “Education Day.” Prior to both of our Education Days, the community relations intern sent out a curriculum to each third grade teacher in Polk County. Over 37 schools participated. The children learned about the sport of baseball in relation to history, English, math, and science. To reward the children for their achievement, we invited each third grader from the participating schools to attend one of our Education Days. At the two games, the ticket office intern, who controls the music, played Hannah Montana, the Jonas Brothers, Pink, and more. Each school also had the chance to participate in our on field promotions. I assisted the children who were guest public address announcers each half inning. Let me tell you, the kids loved saying the player’s names over the speakers and then looking down at their classmates! Most of them were nervous in the beginning, but they became accustomed to speaking through a microphone very quickly. Both of the days were very enjoyable, to say the least.

Well, I should begin practicing for my final presentation! To think, four more days…

Spring Training 2008 has just concluded. The Tigers have left town and the Flying Tigers are ready for the Florida State League season to begin. The Tigers finished the spring training season with a record of 15-14. We surpassed the previous overall attendance record and broke a number of concession records. As you can imagine, we had a great spring training season.

Since I last wrote, I have participated in the production of a commercial and a morning radio show. A few weeks ago, Major League Baseball (MLB) filmed a commercial with Tigers pitcher, Dontrelle Willis in Lakeland. I was asked to supervise the shoot and to help, when needed. The purpose of the commercial was to promote MLB’s RBI program, which stands for Revising Baseball in Inner-Cities. Willis was a great promoter of the program because he was once in RBI. It was neat to view the commercial as it was being filmed. Before the camera crews began shooting, Willis performed voiceovers. Next, he was filmed as a coach talking to his pitcher and catcher on the pitching mound. Then, he was filmed with children from both teams on the pitcher’s mound after the conclusion of the game. The commercial debuted on Opening Night for MLB. It will run on ESPN, TBS, and Fox throughout the remainder of the season.

As I mentioned, I also assisted with the production of a morning radio show. Two radio personalities from Detroit held a live show at Joker Marchant Stadium. I was to make sure both hosts had their scripts prior to the beginning of the show. I enjoyed having the opportunity to view the production of a morning radio show and what was needed for the show to function. Both of the opportunities gave me terrific insight on how vital the media is to sports teams. Now more than ever, I realize how much fans rely on the media for information about their favorite teams and sports.

Tonight the Flying Tigers will square off against Southeastern University in an exhibition game. We will be giving away a free master’s degree to one Polk County elementary school teacher. For teachers to be eligible for the contest, they had to submit their answers to six essay questions stating, “Why I deserve a free master’s degree.” I am really looking forward to the announcement. Imagine receiving a free master’s degree! Wow, if that could only be me!

On Wednesday, the Flying Tigers will open the 2008 season away against the Tampa Yankees. The Flying Tigers home opener is scheduled for Friday against the defending Florida State League Champions, Clearwater Threshers.

Come see the Flying Tigers at Joker Marchant Stadium!

I am really looking forward to the beginning of our minor league season. I am looking forward to our weekly promotions, meeting new people, and continuing my internship in media relations.

My senior paper is due in two weeks! I have been able to work on it, but I still have a great deal to complete. I would like to get a lot done this week, especially with a six game home stand beginning next week. Once I complete my paper, then I will begin working on my senior presentation. After I present, I graduate! Wow, I can’t believe it is right around the corner!

Yesterday, the Detroit Tigers faced the New York Yankees at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland. The Tigers lost 11-7, however all 9,660 fans saw a good game. I had hoped the Yankees were going to bring either Alex Rodriguez or Derek Jeter, but since the Yankees also had a split squad game in Tampa against the Tampa Bay Rays, they decided to bring five of their other starters, including: Johnny Damon, Melky Cabrera, Robinson Cano, Jason Giambi, and Joba Chamberlain. Nevertheless, the day was a success because we set a new Joker Marchant Stadium attendance record.

The spring training season has gone very well, thus far. I have had the opportunity to meet a number of Tigers employees, including: the president/CEO/general manager, vice president of communications, director of baseball operations, director of baseball media relations, manager of baseball media relations, and more. I have had the opportunity to ask them about their previous jobs and how they been so successful. I really enjoy working the scoreboard during the games. I am able to watch the sport I love, and I feel fortunate to watch some of the world’s best baseball players right in front of me.

When the Tigers are away or off, I normally prepare for their next home game by developing graphics for each player of the visiting team. These graphics are used when a player is introduced over the public address system. As I mentioned in my previous blog, I also develop graphics for our marquee. I build one graphic that contains the logo of the visiting team and the Tigers, the day of the game, and the time. Next, I build a graphic that once again displays both teams, but with the sponsor of the game. Once I began to use the software to build the graphics, it was not easy. After using the software consistently, I now understand it better. Before I include the logos of each team, I use a program called Adobe Photoshop to resize each logo. Prior to my internship, I had never used Photoshop. Now, I use it daily.

The New Marquee at Tiger Town

The Tigers are not the only team playing at Tiger Town. The Tigers affiliates, or minor league teams, are also training and playing at the complex as well. Needless to say, the complex has been very busy. In less than two weeks, the spring training season will be over and the Flying Tigers season will begin. The atmosphere in Joker Marchant Stadium and around the Tiger Town complex will be very different. Our crowds will be considerably smaller and the complex will be much quieter. Until then, I will continue to enjoy each moment of the spring training season.

The anticipation of the baseball season beginning has subsided. Today, the Detroit Tigers will begin their spring season with an exhibition game against Florida Southern College at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, FL. Tomorrow, the Tigers will open their grapefruit league schedule against the New York Mets. I am really excited for the upcoming season. I am even more excited because this will be my first spring training as a media relations intern.

Since I last wrote to you, I have put in many hours and a lot of hard work with the Flying Tigers. The interns, including myself, were assigned the task of selling ads for our spring training insert. The insert is four pages and includes our 40 man roster, the visiting team’s 40 man roster, the depth charts of each team, and Tiger Tales (historic facts about the Tigers).

Living at Tiger Town has been a neat experience. I love how close the dorm is to the offices and cafeteria. If I ever need anything in my room, I am only a very short walk away. My room is still bare, but it is comfortable. I do not spend very many hours in the dorm so as long as I have a comfortable bed and a tv that works, I am good! Just a few weeks ago, the internet in the dorm was upgraded so the speed is much quicker than it was previously.

Fetzer Hall, dorm at Tiger Town

Even though I am working an internship, I am still enrolled at Saint Leo. Every week, I write a log, which contains a goal for the week, whether or not I met the goal, what I accomplished, and a goal for the following week. At the end of the semester, I will submit a paper and give a presentation on my internship. The paper will be very extensive. We are expected to write about what we learned, how the classes we took at Saint Leo assisted us, our organization’s risk management plan, and much more. I hope to begin working on the paper in the next few weeks.

In a couple weeks, I will give you an update on my internship experience, spring training, and life at Tiger Town. Until then, be sure to root for the Tigers!

Wow, tomorrow will already be my third week as an intern with the Lakeland Flying Tigers. In the past three weeks, I have written press releases, had a meeting with a possible client concerning advertising, helped organize the Detroit Tigers spring training program insert, posted stories on our website, http://www.LakelandFlyingTigers.com, written a newsletter to our fans, assisted in designing our brand new website, and attended the Florida State League (FSL) “Boot Camp.

The FSL Boot Camp is where interns from all FSL teams gather for a one day crash course on the business of Minor League Baseball. This year, the boot camp was held in Jupiter, FL, which is the home of the Jupiter Hammerheads (Single A Affiliate of the Florida Marlins) and the Palm Beach Cardinals (Single A Affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals). The guest speakers of the day were general managers, assistant general managers, and other front office personnel in the league. The boot camp was a great experience. Even though I have worked for two other teams besides the Flying Tigers, I still learned a great deal.

As I mentioned, the ticket manager of the Flying Tigers and I are in the process of developing a brand new website for the Flying Tigers, Tiger Town Complex, and spring training. He and I have put a lot of time into the development of our new website. We literally had to layout all of the main pages by using Microsoft Excel. By layout I mean we had to decide where we wanted our auction button, whether or not we wanted to link birthday parties to Flying Tigers and spring training, and the color of our entire site. Then we had to write a brief description for every section we will have in our new website. In the next week, we are hoping to forward the information to our website developer. Once that is done, the next step is building the content. I am really looking forward to the launch of the new site because it should be really nice.

The transition from a college student to a full time employee has been relatively easy for me. Gone are the days of reading every night and studying before every test. My only obligation to my education right now is a log that is to be completed every Monday. Weekly I am required to explain my goal for the upcoming week, whether or not I met the goal (if I did not, I need to explain why), the job tasks I performed during the week, and then a goal for next week. By the end of the semester, I will submit a paper that describes my internship. I will also have a presentation on my internship, as well.

I have had the opportunity to return to Saint Leo a few times to visit my girlfriend. Every single time I enter campus I think to myself, “I can’t believe I am back."

In almost three weeks, spring training will be in full swing! It is going to be nice to hear the sound of the bat hitting the ball once again. Our first game is an exhibition match against Florida Southern College on Tuesday, February 26th at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland. We open up the spring season against the New York Mets on Wednesday, February 27th at our stadium in Lakeland as well. In the mean time, be sure to check out our website!

It is Sunday, January 6th and I just moved into my new dorm room. As I mentioned in my last blog, I have decided to accept a media relations internship with a baseball team in Florida. This internship is my last requirement I need to fulfill before I graduate in May. The baseball team I will be interning with is the Lakeland Flying Tigers, Single A Affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. As an intern with the Flying Tigers, not only will my meals and housing be covered by the organization, but I will also receive a monthly stipend. I truly feel fortunate to have an opportunity, such as this one.

The dorm I am living in now is currently being renovated. It reminds me of Henderson Hall. The hallways are bare, and there is tile flooring throughout the building. Since some of the players stay here, there are at least two, if not three beds to a room. I have not had the opportunity to settle in yet. As of right now, I am living out of two suitcases and my car is jam packed!

The dorm is part of a complex known as, Tiger Town. Tiger Town also contains a recreation hall, dining hall, administrative offices, practice fields, and Joker Marchant Stadium, spring training home of the Detroit Tigers and summer home of the Flying Tigers.

The dress code for my internship is a collared shirt, khakis, and dress shoes. I still have to purchase an iron so until I do, my bottle of wrinkle releaser is going to be my new best friend! I start work tomorrow at 9 a.m. and I am tentatively scheduled to end around 5 p.m. Since I have previously worked in baseball, I know it is very common to work past 5. For instance, when the spring training and minor league seasons begin, there are days where I may not get out of work until 10 p.m. at the earliest. I think my previous experiences in Minor League Baseball will greatly benefit the internship I will soon begin.

When I last wrote a blog, it was right before Christmas break. In fact, if I remember correctly, I wrote it shortly after I completed my last final. A few days later, I traveled home to Chicago for a few weeks. I spent the majority of the time relaxing and being with my family. My family and I went to Chicago one evening. We walked around Michigan Avenue and ate at the Cheesecake Factory. I remember being very cold that evening and thinking, “Oh how I would love to be in Florida right now!

I celebrated Christmas with my family and my extended family in St. Louis, MO. As always, I had a great time. My dad, sister, grandfather, and I had the opportunity to tour Busch Stadium. The tour guides told us that we would see areas where the average fan normally does not see. For instance, we saw the podium where managers and players speak after games. We also saw the radio room where the Cardinals radio announcers commentate during the game. We even had the opportunity to sit in the Cardinals dugout. Also, while we were in St. Louis, we ate at Albert Pujols’ new restaurant. For the first time in my life, I had fried plantains, and surprisingly they were not too bad!

Tomorrow is my first day as an employee in the real world. I am anxious for my internship to begin. I know I will learn a lot, and I will have the chance to experience many cool things. In my next blog, I will let you know how my internship is going and how life is as a full time employee. Until then, stay warm!

Yesterday, I completed my last final at Saint Leo. As I look back on this semester, I can not believe how quickly it has gone! It seems as if my last two weeks have been a total blur. I had four presentations and six papers due. Needless to say, I finished everything on time and to the best of my abilities. Saint Leo uses a computer program named, “E-Lion�? which contains information regarding one’s tuition, financial aid, registration, transcripts, and grades. As of right now, all of my grades from this semester have already been uploaded into the system. I am very satisfied with what I earned which is always good.

You may be thinking since I just took my last final, I am graduating in the next few days, right? Well, I will be graduating soon, but not yet. As I mentioned in one of my previous blogs, before Sport Business majors can graduate, everyone is required to complete an internship in the sport industry. The internship must run at least 12 weeks, and the intern must work 40 hours a week. Within the past two weeks, I have received three offers to intern for three separate Minor League Baseball teams. The teams were located in Southern California, Tennessee, and Florida. I have decided accept a Media Relations internship with a local minor league team. The internship includes a monthly stipend, food, and housing. Normally, it is very difficult to find an internship that offers all three. I am extremely thankful for the opportunity that has been given to me. I will begin interning on January 7th and work up until the end of the Florida State League season. One of the many things I am looking forward to is spring training. Baseball, thankfully, is right around the corner!

A few weeks ago, the school sponsored a winter formal at an off-campus location. I attended the formal with my girlfriend and a couple of our friends. The tickets were very reasonable and the price also included food. She and I had a really good time.

Saint Leo University's 2007 Winter Formal

One week ago, my peers from my Professional Development Seminar class and I attended the annual business etiquette dinner. This experience gave us the opportunity to intellectually interact with faculty outside of school. It also allowed us to improve our table manners and social skills to better prepare ourselves for possible future business meals. Before we attended the dinner, we were given a guide as to how to properly dress, introduce ourselves, use the silverware, and eat. I would have never dreamed that after using a knife, it is proper to place the knife on the plate so the blade faces you. Overall, it was a good experience. I definitely learned more than I had known prior to the dinner.

In two days, I will be traveling to Chicago for winter break. I am looking forward to going home for two weeks. It is a family tradition for my family and me to travel to St. Louis for the holiday. I was born in St. Louis so it is always nice to go back to my first home. While I am in Chicago, I am hoping to catch a Chicago Bulls game, and then while we are in St. Louis, tour the new Busch Stadium and eat at Albert Pujols’ new restaurant.

Since I will no longer be living on campus next semester, my blogs will begin to describe my internship experience. You will be able to read first hand the differences in what it is like to work everyday, as opposed to going to class and participating in some of the activities the school offers. I am anxious for my internship to begin; however, my year and a half at Saint Leo has truly flown by. Part of me does not want to leave yet. College life has been good to me, and I have made the best of my opportunities here. But I know part of life is about growing up. This past summer, I was glad I was not entering the real world just yet. Now I feel as if I am ready. Have a great holiday and a fantastic new year! I will see you next year!

Yesterday, I came back from Chicago after spending Thanksgiving break at home with my family. As always, it is great to be home! I had wonderful home cooked meals, I was able to sleep in my own bed, drive my own car, and I was able to see a few friends. I spent most of my break chiseling away on my school work I have due this week. I developed a Power Point presentation for my Professional Development Seminar class on Competitive Balance in Major League Baseball, wrote a paper on The Rookie for my Sociology of Sport class, and wrote an 11 page paper on Pat-Downs in the National Football League. I was busy!

The day before I flew out of Tampa, I worked the University of South Florida football game. The game started at 8 p.m. and did not end until about 11:30. The staff, including myself, left Raymond James Stadium at about 12:30 a.m. I was scheduled to depart later that morning at 8 a.m. Since the airport is so close to the stadium, I decided to spend the night at the airport. I was hoping to find a nice comfy seat in an area with dim lights to take a nap, but unfortunately, I never found my spot. Let me tell you, it was a long night! Thankfully, the Tampa airport has free wireless internet or I would have gone crazy! I finally fell asleep around 5:30 a.m. I probably slept for an hour. By the time I woke up, I could not wait to get on the plane and get home! That is an experience I will never forget!

I live in the southwest suburbs of Chicago in a town called, Bolingbrook. Recently, my town completed construction on a beautiful outdoor mall. I know, an outdoor mall in a climate like Chicago?! Believe me, I would not have dreamed of it either! The night I got into town, the mall debuted a lights festival that was developed by Carson Williams. Williams was the gentlemen that developed the synchronization with Christmas lights and a song by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. If you do not remember what I am describing, here is a link of one of his projects:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRvzcs3gQYk

The festival was very neat to see. Since it was opening night, the place was PACKED! The mall utilized a huge tree decorated with lights and different Christmas props to correspond with “Wizards in Winter�? by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. For Thanksgiving, my grandparents came up from St. Louis. It was great to see them. I am definitely looking forward to going home in a few weeks for Christmas break.

Christmas Decorations from Home

Since my last blog, a lot has been going on campus. The new student center is finally open! The lounge area of the student center will be a great place for students to meet during their free time. The cafeteria is very nice. There are two HD TV’s, and even booths to sit! As of right now, there is a pasta bar, salad bar, grill area, pizza, and sandwich area to name a few.

The student center opened during Fall Family Festival, which is a weekend where families and friends of students come to visit. This year, the school hired a hypnotist. I could not believe how much influence the hypnotist had on his volunteers. It was very funny. The school also had a talent show where students sang, acted, and rapped. The following day, the school held their Fall Family Festival. Fraternities, sororities, and other student associations/groups were in attendance. There was also a climbing wall, belly dancers, a camel, and a joust area where people could battle each other on an inflatable.

Belly Dancer Performing at Fall Family Festival

The next day, San Antonio, a neighboring city, held their “Rattlesnake Festival" which offered entertainment, crafts, a reptile and snake show, food, and gopher races.

Sleeping Tiger from Rattlesnake Festival

I am still searching for an internship for the spring semester! I have applied to a number of different organizations. I am proud to say, I did have an in-person interview with three departments of a Major League Baseball team. Everyone I spoke to was very nice and personable. Even if I do not get any of the positions, I still feel as if I learned a great deal from the process. All I can do right now is keep on plugging!

In the next few weeks, I have four presentations and six papers to complete. Finals will be here in no time!

In my first month of school, I have had two papers, three quizzes, and a group presentation. I have two exams, another paper, and another presentation to look forward to in the next few weeks! As you can see, school is already in full swing!

Since the beginning of the semester, the Sport Business Department has had a new faculty member. His background is in facility management and tickets. He currently teaches two of my classes, Sport Marketing and Sociology of Sport. I think I am going to enjoy both of his classes. He is the type of instructor that believes his students learn the best when they are put into groups. For instance, in Sociology of Sport, we may role play in one class about a certain issue that has occurred recently. In my Sport Marketing class, we may divide into groups to talk about how we may market a sports team’s success or failures.

My Professional Development Seminar class is going well. I have had the opportunity to re-design and update my resume and create my own business cards. I have also spoken to the instructor on a personal level on the best way to handle my internship search. I have applied to five organizations, made countless calls, and searched web sites to see if organizations offer internships. In the next week, I am scheduled to have a group interview where two of my classmates, my instructor, and a guest instructor will ask questions about a particular job that was given to me. This kind of mock interview is great because it will prepare me for when I interview for an internship or position in the next few weeks or months.

As I mentioned in my second blog, before school adjourned in the spring, I was fortunate enough to earn a job with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a Luxury Suite Assistant. I was given the opportunity to work for the Bucs through networking. This made me realize that networking is a huge part of any industry, but especially the sport industry. In the past month, I have worked two Bucs games and three University of South Florida football games. I really enjoy the work. I am able to interact with fans and work in an environment that is extremely fun. It is enjoyable for me to work at a stadium where everyone is wearing red for the Bucs or green for USF. It is even more enjoyable when the stadium is sold out because everyone is so passionate about the game.

The student activity center is almost completed! In fact, there are only two weeks of construction left! In a few weeks, some of the departments will be moving into the center, along with the bookstore, café, and new SAC shop. I can only imagine how nice the center is going to be when it is finished. The café is expected to be open by the second week of October, which will be right around “Parents Weekend.�? Since the center will be open by the middle of October, I am happy that I will be able to use it for a few months. I think it has the capability to make the campus even more appealing to current and future students. So if any prospective students read this blog, make sure you visit the campus to check it out!

View of New Round-A-Bout and New Student Center from Main Entrance