Summer Class Isn't so Bad

David R.

June 28, 2010 - 8:34 PM

Last summer I decided to take an online class to try to knock out some of my college requirements. I took AAD 251, an arts class, to get receive some credits in the arts and letters section. The class went just fine and wasn't too rigorous considering that it was the only class that I had to focus on. Because of my success in that class I decided to again this summer take an online class through the University of Oregon. I would try to take a summer class at one of the surrounding community colleges by my house but the problem is that these schools begin their summer sessions before anyone at the University of Oregon is even out of school. This makes it even more convenient that the U of O offers online classes during the summer months.

 

While looking over my transcript with my advisor this last spring term I was made aware that I need more credits for the college of arts and sciences. Geography classes count towards this category and I noticed that there was an online geography class available. I decided to take it because I have already taken two geography classes while at the University of Oregon and it is a subject that I find rather interesting.

 

The class started last Monday and it has been going well so far. The topics up to this point have been interesting and we have ample time to complete the online quizzes. I did some reading on Sunday and I was reading about the first interactions (back in the day) between the colonists of the new world and the indigenous peoples who were already here. I found this to be very interesting because it is entirely relevant to the history of our nation. The University of Oregon offers a variety of different online classes that grants students the privilege of having some options to choose from. Obviously there are some courses, like math or science, that aren't offered online because these classes are much too detailed to be taught over the internet. Obviously a person isn't going to be interested in all of the offered classes but the variety that one has to choose from ensures that a student will be able to find at least one class or topic that he or she is interested in. Coming up in a few weeks we have an assignment due that requires us to write an essay about the geographical elements of a movie of our choice. This should be a rather interesting and engaging assignment as I will be able to view a movie (Jaws) that I am particularly fond of.

 

All is well so far and I only hope that I can keep the momentum from last term's 3.5 rolling through the summer months.

 

While the Rockies are gone on their road trips there really isn't much for me to do. On the upside this gives me more time to focus on my internship, my class and my blogs. Even when the team is gone I keep myself updated on their progress (or regression as of late). Tonight is the start of a big divisional series in San Diego. Hopefully the Rockies can pull themselves out of their latest skid and get back in a position to make a push for the playoffs come season's end.

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From One Job to Another

David R.

June 27, 2010 - 11:18 AM

On Tuesday afternoon I headed down to Coors Field to work the first game of the series between the Rockies and the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox are known all around the country and before I worked the game I couldn't come to terms with the fact that I was going to be in the same locker room as one of the league's most premiere teams. I walked in to the locker room and saw all of the famous players who I had seen on television but never thought I would be in the same area as. It took me a few minutes to get over the fact that I was standing five feet away from Big Papi himself. I usually find however that I am never as taken back as I initially expect because at some point I realize that after all they are just people too.

 

For maybe the first time this season Coors Field was packed to full capacity for every game of this series. The Rockies can usually bring in a decent draw but it is on rare occasion that the stadium is full. It always tends to fill up when a high-profile team makes its way in to Denver. The summer after my senior year I went to one of the games when the New York Yankees were in town and it was the first time in my life that I had ever seen the stadium full. Given the fact that that Boston Red Sox have such a large fan base nationwide, I unfortunately have to tell you that I think there may have been more Red Sox fans at the game than Rockies fans. They were every where and a distinct "Papi" chant could be heard throughout the stadium when David Ortiz came to the plate. This didn't seem to play too much of an effect on the Rockies as they were able to win two games out of three and rough up pitcher Jonathon Papelbon (one of the best closers in the league) every time he made an appearance, including the second game when he gave up two home runs in four batters to lose the game for the Red Sox.

 

Last night was the Kroenke Sports Enterprises VIP Summer Party at the Paramount Theatre in Denver. After two straight days of rigorous preparation the venue looked great and was ready for the event. After gambling for prizes and a spectacular dinner by Texas de Brazil "The Colin and Brad Show" kicked off in the main theatre. Although we weren't able to watch too much of the show it was a great success from what we heard. The front portion of the theatre was set up to seem like a standard setting for a comedy show. We had a bunch of small tables grouped together with candles and snack mix on the top. It looked very professionally done and at the end of the night each client received a thank you gift consisting of an ipod shuffle and two season passes to Copper Mountain in Colorado.

 

The event was a great success and hopefully it doesn't take us all day on Monday to take it all down!

 

 

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New Life at Home

David R.

June 22, 2010 - 9:56 AM

I have been at my internship with Kroenke Sports Enterprises for only a week and a half and I already love it. Everyone that I work with is more than friendly and the work that is done within the company is exactly the type of thing I would like to get in to after I graduate.

 

Kroenke Sports Enterprises, also known as KSE owns the Colorado Avalanche (hockey), the Denver Nuggets (basketball) and the Colorado Mammoth (lacrosse). The company handles all of the corporate sponsorships for all of these three teams during their respective seasons. Each client of KSE can sponsor as many of the three teams as is desirable according to the established budget. For example, Excel Energy, a local Denver company has a very large sponsorship budget so it is a sponsor of all three teams and receives significant amounts of promotion at each game. On the other hand Westwood College, a small two-year university in the Denver area, has a smaller budget for sponsorship so it decided to sponsor only the Colorado Mammoth.

 

Currently the four other interns and I are working on season recaps. A recap is made for every client of KSE and basically displays how each client received everything that it was promised (promotion and signage etc.) in the contract. Each recap also includes a summary of the success of each team that the client sponsors, just to fill the client in on how successful the season was. The recaps are full of pictures from the year and even include demographic information for each team (this information is helpful because it allows each client to gain a better understanding of what types of people are attending what sporting events). The pictures that are included are usually used to highlight the different ways that a client received promotion at each sporting event. For example, King Soopers, a local mountain-region grocer, has a promotion at Denver Nuggets games called the King Soopers Honorary Ball Kid. In the King Soopers recap, we included a picture of a small kid who was chosen, alongside one of the Nuggets, just to ensure King Soopers that the elements of the contract it signed were being implemented as promised.

 

We have a company VIP party coming up on Saturday so a large portion of the remainder of the week will be designated to setting up for this event. I hope it turns out well and it should be a blast.

 

While being home in Denver I have also been lucky enough to get some hours with the Colorado Rockies. Last night the Boston Red Sox came to town so I assisted with the notorious un-pack that takes place when any new team arrives. To cut back on overtime hours my boss told me that it would be helpful if I worked a game or two for this series so at a bare minimum I will be working the first game of the series tonight. This is the best job I have ever had and I'll ket you know what it feels like to stand in the same room as Big Papi (David Ortiz).

 

 

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Finally Home

David R.

June 15, 2010 - 5:27 PM

As I know everyone was worried sick about my voyage home, I finally made it after 18 strenuous hours. Driving alone in my car isn't exactly what I would consider to be a good time. I left Portland at about 5 a.m. on Friday and began to make my way, faster than the speed limit allows of course. For whatever reason I have always had a tendency to have kind of a "lead foot" (I have received four speeding tickets already). I made my way to the outskirts of Hood River, Ore., about an hour into my journey, and I was stopped for going too fast in a construction zone. After I noticed the flashing lights in my rear view mirror I couldn't help but think, "Wow, this is going to be a LONG day." Luckily, I was blessed with the graces of one of the friendliest police officers I have ever met. After asking me about Oregon and chatting with him for a few minutes about my time on the club baseball team I was on my way with only a warning. I was informed by the officer before he walked away that that particular offense would have cost $482. Yikes! That would have put a damper on the somewhat optimistic mindset I had about driving home.

 

The day went by hour by hour and slowly I made my away across the country, through Oregon, Idaho, Utah and into Wyoming. Crossing into Wyoming was rather uplifting because that meant that I only had one more state to cross through before making it to the holy land. My excitement about the progress of my journey was quickly eliminated after I realized that Wyoming is THE most boring state in the nation. I am sorry to those of you who are from Wyoming but I don't understand how you can do it. Interstate 80 cuts right through the bottom third of the state and takes you through one of the most baron and desolate parts of America. Certainly Oregon, Idaho, Utah and even Colorado have some boring parts, but for the most part there are trees, mountains or rivers to hold my attention. In Wyoming there was nothing for as far as I could see to the left, right and straight in front of me. No mountains, rivers or even trees to look at. That region of Wyoming seems to consist of nothing more than rock and sand.

 

The time became later and later and it became time for me to try to determine a location to post up for the night. A few of my friends have a house at CSU in Fort Collins, Colo. and it was my original goal to make it there. However, after noticing that the ground seemed to be moving on me (due to extreme fatigue) I decided to call it a night in Laramie, Wyo. I made it home safe and sound the next morning after a great night's sleep in the always reliable Best Western.

 

Monday was the first day of my internship with Kroenke Sports Enterprises in Denver. I spent most of my first day becoming acquainted with my surroundings for the summer. Once I wet my beak on some of the action I'll be sure to keep everyone posted on the interesting things I am doing in the corporate world.

 

 

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Leaving the Eug Once Again.

David R.

June 9, 2010 - 6:56 PM

Once the exams end, the packing begins. Getting ready to entirely change scenes for the summer is more work than I imagined. When I begin to think (in naive fashion) about what needs to be done I think to myself, "Well all I really need to do is pack, right?" Wrong. Taking my car to the shop was more of an ordeal than I had originally planned. What a shocker. I took my car to Elmira Automotive and after being informed that the work would take close to two hours I decided to walk farther down west 11th street to hang out in the Wal-Mart super center. What a blast. I walked through the meat section a few times, meandered over to electronics and finally took a rest in the McDonalds. It wasn't exactly how I planned to spend my Tuesday morning but I guess it beats sitting around at the auto center.

 

Shortly after, I remembered that my paychecks and all of the important (but usually garbage) information that I receive via mail comes to my Eugene address. I had to change a lot of my contact information so that I can receive mail and my hard earned cash at my address at home.

 

The majority of my day today was spent basically clearing my room down to nothing. What started as a room full of stuff (and lots of garbage) is now down to nothing more than my bed, my computer and my speakers. I never thought that I owned so much stuff. My roommates' rooms are full of way more than mine was so I guess they are in for it when they start to clear out. My car, also known as the Hog, is stuffed to the brim with all of my belongings that I will trek across the nation with. It was a major struggle to make sure that my boxes weren't blocking the line of sight to all of my mirrors. Safety first right?

 

With everything packed and ready to go now I just need to make sure that I know exactly where I am going. On my way out here in the fall I made it to Bend, Ore. and became so twisted around that I was forced to ask a drunken haggard for directions. After talking my way out of a speeding ticket (for going 70 in a 45 due to frustration) I finally made it out of town in the right direction. I am trying to avoid another situation like that at all costs. I will be staying in Portland tomorrow night and from there the journey is simple. I can take interstate 84 from Portland all the way to Wyoming, which is where I make the switch the interstate 25 that takes me right to the promised land (Denver, the Mile High City, the 303 etc.).

 

Tonight is the last dollar beers of the night so that is how I will be spending my final evening in Eugene. I make the holy voyage in less than 48 hours so I promise to keep everyone posted on my progress, or lack thereof.

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