The Celebrity of Athletes

I have played lacrosse since I was 6 years old. Growing up i was never one of those kids that dreamed to be a doctor or a vet, I always wanted to be a star lacrosse player, but I realized there is absolutely no money in being a star lacrosse player. There are certain sports that are the "money making" sports; football, basketball, and baseball, but even baseball isn't the highest income in the world of sports. In 2010 the average major league baseball player made an average of $3,297,828 a year. This of course excludes players like Derrick Jeter or Alex Rodriguez. The average NFL player makes an average of 2-3 million a year, but the most known players make over 20 million a year. 

  You may ask yourself why they need to make more money if they are already making a crap ton of money anyway. The answer, for most athletes is sponsorships. The more sponsorship the athletes gets the more money he/she makes. For example, Michael Phelps, Apolo Ohno, and Misty May from the olympics are all sponsored by Subway. They are featured in their commercials and marketing products like signs, cups, bill boards, etc. This not only brings money to the athlete, but also for the company. Another example is Ray Rice with M&T Bank. I am sure all of you have herd or seen the corny commercials that say "Raise the green flag with M&T and Ray Rice". Don't get me wrong, I love Ray and his smiling face, but it's everywhere.

 Athletes also make money by becoming a brand or becoming the main rep for a brand. Back in the day, Carmelo Anthony teamed up with Michael Jordan and released a shoe called the Carmelo Jordan. I remember the day those shoes came out I got the last pair from foot locker in Towson mall. They were sold out in less then 24 hours. Carmelo made himself a brand by releasing those shoes. Michael Jordan also made himself a brand through his own line of shoes and athletic clothing and gear along with being one of the biggest reps for Hanes underwear. Sponsorships and brands are ways that athletes expand their fame.
  There are athletes that are not stuck in their own world full of money. Many athletes in the less sponsored sports like soccer, lacrosse, tennis, volleyball, and many others, have athletes that reach out to their communities and across the globe to practice pure goodness. The entire mens soccer team from Spain traveled to the Dominican Republic to help restore and rebuild homes and played soccer with many of the children. I think with all the media it is easier for kids to see athletes as role models, but it may be for the wrong reason. Children know that these "mainstream" athletes make tons of money, therefore they want to be just like them! When scandal is involved it can either boost or ruin an athletes career along with their reputation.
  Today more and more athletes are becoming more celebrity like instead of athletes. They are blown up in their reputation and sponsorships that they lose focus on why they are famous in the first place. The world of sports is so much different now then what it used to be. I don't think i could say what athlete I look up to because none of them are known for what they do in the sport, but what commercial they were on or what shoe they are sponsoring. It's just not the same anymore.
  
  

Finally Famous

 Malik Ferraud is a local Baltimore rapper working hard everyday writing new songs, making new beats, and making new connects with other rappers. He puts in hard work in the studio and works months on end on one song or video. He is crafty with his lyrics and his videos. Positive vibes is his ways of life as well as his brand. How do I know this? Because Desmond (Malik Ferraud) is one of my good friends. I have supported him by going to concerts and handing out his cd's as well as taking them everywhere I go and handing them out. He has done a few shows and continues to try to book more. This link is his most recent video to his song Around the World...Around the World by Malik Ferraud. This video was filmed in Washington Dc, Ocean City, and of course our hometown Baltimore. I use Desmond as an example because he is real example of a rapper that is trying to make his way to the top.   To get famous every artist starts out with mix tapes  youtube videos, and an audience  The audience is what matters the most. If an artist is local, then that artist wants to expand his fan base to regional then nation. You do this by making a brand. Malik's brand is positive vibes.

Every artist gets famous by connections and the message and catchiness of the music. If you go to www.Datpiff.com, is gives you all the hottest mix tapes  sponsored and unsponsored. Any artist can upload their mix tape on there. This is one way to get sponsored. As an artist you have to make yourself know and ut yourself out there. The big money comes ones you are sponsored from a label, but when you are just starting out, the money comes from shows that you perform. You want to book as many tours and shows as you possibly can. Many record labels will be at shows along with other bigger artists. You also want to make yourself known on the social media like twitter, facebook, myspace,etc. Every single picture Malik has he has a caption that advertises his twitter name and facebook page and that is how you build fans. The key to becoming famous is literally hard work.

Bill and Nancy

  I have watched several clips of both Bill O'Reilly and Nancy Grace and I can clearly make a decision on which one I like better. I am going to start off with Bill; he is absolutely nuts! I understand the point of making your voice herd and your opinion wanting to affect and persuade others, but O'Reilly makes me want to do none of them. When talking politically, I believe you need to argue your points with factual information instead of information that is completely wrong. 
  The look on my face watching him is puzzled. I can't tell if he is arguing just to argue and yelling just to yell or actually trying to prove a point. In the beginning of each clip I have watched, he says something ridiculous  He makes himself intimidating to others because of his full force rections. To me its more like a baby trying to get what it wants. 

  I think one of the funniest clip that i watched was from 2007 with Andrea Mitchell. The interview was about a feud between NBC and Fox news. The funnies part was when he repeated twice "I don't like NBC, I don't like you guys, I like you, but I don't like NBC news", and he interrupts her several times repeating the same phrase over and over. Point blank, he is rude and obnoxious.
  Nancy Grace, different from Bill, attacks her opponents with actual facts and questions that are not based on opinion. Nancy also has her rude comments and inappropriate jokes, but she argues fact not fiction. Some of the things she says does not make sense at all though. I think her insults are a little old fashioned and confusing. I do think she is also kind of a nut case as well. 

  I think both Bill and Nancy make the newsroom hilarious.