San Francisco - Hotel Vitale

San Francisco - Hotel Vitale, originally uploaded by wr_downing33.

Here is the view from our hotel room in San Francisco. I am going to post a full review of this hotel -- it is my new favorite in San Francisco.

Interesting Video Clip - I also posted on tumblr

airport food

airport food, originally uploaded by wr_downing33.

This was the scene at the John Wayne International Airport. The only place to get food was McDonald's.

The other thing that I found out today was that there is no where to plug in your laptop. No plugs anywhere to be found (trust me - I looked everywhere).

Social Graph

Today I spent a lot of time reading about the "social graph" on the web. One video that I came across that really made me think was a clip with Fred Wilson talking about how the web is really becoming social, and no one, ultimately will own this social graph -- it got me thinking about Facebook, Flickr, Dopplr and our own site, soccerprofiles.org

There is so much going on in web 2.0 right now that part of me feels that there is going to be a correction in the market - that is to say, there has to be some shake-out from all these social networking sites. right? I mean, can we really have social networking site for everyone and everything?

But on the other hand, it also makes me think that web 2.0 is just the tip of the iceberg. I think 2008 is going to see a lot of really interesting events in the tech world, but how do we capitalize on that is still the question going round and round in my head.

More Blogging 2008

After a few months, I am back to blogging.

This has been a crazy fall with college applications and doing everything in our power to help our students succeed. I could never find the time to blog (or so I told myself). But in 2008 I am going to post atleast one item everyday (lets see how long that last).

This is going to be an exciting year for a lot of different reasons; but as we begin 2008 I am going to be watching the economy, the elections, and of course paying special attention to what is happening here in California specifically.

For those of you who have been asking, I have done it finally. A "college only" blog about everything you want/need to know about the college admissions process.

You can find it located at: The Right Fit College For You

Please pass on the link to your friends.

Happy Holidays.

Pasxalis feat Goin through - Sxoleio 2006

Awesome Greek Music Video.

Funny

Don't send a lame Holiday eCard. Try JibJab Sendables!

1850 L Street

IMG_1321.JPG, originally uploaded by wr_downing33.

SKK Developments is nearing completion of their L Street Lofts project...

Rhodes College Video

UC Berkeley

berk.jpg, originally uploaded by wr_downing33.

I took this photo a long time ago -- but here is a great shot of the Berkeley clock tower.

San Francisco

SF, originally uploaded by wr_downing33.

Had some meetings in SF today -- it was beautiful, clear day in the city. The more time I spend in SF the more I like the city. Had a bowl of soup on California Street at a place cal San Francisco Soup Company. I highly recommend it.

College Applications

Another application season is quickly coming to an end. This year the stakes have risen once again, with kids competiting for spots in some of the country's best colleges and universities. One thing that consistently stood out to me is that there has got to be a way to effectively streamline the application process by consolidating the efforts of the college board, common app and the individual universities. It will probably never happen, but it should. Going to college should be something that everyone can attain and look forward to it.....and for many, the application process is a dark cloud from which they'd like to run from............

Granite Bay High School Band

Granite Bay High School Band, originally uploaded by wr_downing33.

My man Vincent representing his school .......

Sacramento Housing Market

IMG_1330.JPG, originally uploaded by wr_downing33.

Despite a struggling housing market in the Sacramento, developers are continuing to build. The projects that expected to weather the storm are those that are moderately priced, and close to the central business district.

2008 is going to be a real struggle for a lot of real estate developers and investors, but this correction in the maket will hopefully help balance us out......

Social Web Aggregator

Wouldn't it be cool if there was a way to aggregate all of the social web. One page that would allow you see your facebook, flckr, tumbrl, twitter etc... It would be even cooler if there was a way to aggregate your voicemals, emails, and sms messages to one place as well.

Chicago

IMG_1357.JPG, originally uploaded by wr_downing33.

Great view

Great view, originally uploaded by wr_downing33.

Blogged with Flock

Chris' wedding

photo.jpg, originally uploaded by wr_downing33.

Saturday we were in Tahoe for a Wedding. My roomate from college got married. It was awesome. I only wish we could have stay longer in Tahoe. Need to go back there soon.

Greece faces challenges ahead of elections; few taking notice

IMG_1119.JPG, originally uploaded by wr_downing33.

Along the trendy streets outside Athens in the Voulegemenia district, coffee houses are packed, stores busy, and revelers and tourists alike are out in large numbers. There is no evidence that less than one week ago intense forest fires were ravaging most of Northern Greece. Some 60 Greeks were killed, and the government has reported that 500,000 acres of forest and olive orchards were destroyed. With economists uncertain exactly what toll this will take on the economy, there seems to be one thing for certain: with upcoming elections, many Greeks, especially those in the hardest hit areas, feel that they have been let down by the ruling party.

The Olympics in Athens just a year ago put to rest a timeless notion that Greek infrastructure was inadequate to compete in the European Union. The games were a success, and many walked away impressed with the progress in Greece. But outside Athens, infrastructure is still lacking, and this became apparent with the government's bumbling of the crisis.

Now, as elections loom, the fire crisis poses some potential issues for the ruling party. Critics have been quick to point out that the government did little to help those in need in the short-term. Reports that the government lacked the resources to help battle the fires ran rampant on Greece television. However, in the calm after the disaster, the government has announced an aggressive relief package to help those in need. Estimates put the total aide at about 400M euros, with more on the way from the EU.

The next few months will be an interesting one as Greeks will have some tough decisions at hand; some of which will have lasting effects for generations to come.

MLS in Sacramento?

A good friend of mine asked me a few weeks ago what I thought about an MLS team coming to Sacramento. I didn't respond to him because I thought that this would be something worth blogging about, and get feedback from the soccer community.

At face value, having an MLS team in Sacramento would create a lot of buzz, and continue to cement the notion that Sacramento, is in fact, a first class town that has everything that other major U.S. cities have in terms of amenities.

Whether an MLS team could come to Sacramento and make money is an entirely different question. I am not totally convinced that the business model that MLS operates under is one that would make a lot of sense for Sacramento. I don't think that we could draw large enough crowds after the first two seasons to keep such a massive machine going. We saw this with the likes of the Sacramento Knights, the highly successful (world champions) indoor squad that pulled 3,5000 plus to each match at Arco Arena in the first few seasons, but dwindled after that. The team still exists today, but as an outdoor team. Attendance at those matches are relatively small and the team's lack of funds is well known.

I also don't think that we could recruit a top notch coach or international players. Sacramento has come a very long way; but why not San Diego? Seattle? Portland? What makes Sacramento the right place?

There's also a question as to where the team would play -- surely we'd need to build new stadium? Some would say that the Natomas area near Arco Arena is the right location. Makes sense, with the Kings being right there....but what if the Maloofs take the Kings out of Sacramento? Others would say Roseville/Rocklin. Not a bad idea either, but where? Also traffic on I-80 near Douglas is already congested beyond capacity. Could you imagine having to leave two hours early for a match just to beat the traffic up to Roseville? If you lived in Davis or Elk Grove, your drive would be longer.

So, do I want a MLS team? Yes. Do I think this is the right market? No. That being said, it would be amazing to put together a group of top business leaders who could explore all the options regarding a team coming to Sacramento. There is certaintly a way to do it. It is just going to take time.

VarsityDreams.com

We are seriously stoked about the launch of our Sacramento-based news coverage of High School athletics via www.VarsityDreams.com

There is no doubt that there is a total lack of coverage of Sacramento Prep Sports. For whatever reason The Sac Bee just does not give Prep Sports any love. We plan to change that.

There is so much passion that revolves around high school athletics, and the athletes that make it so much fun to follow.

Be sure to check out www.varsitydreams.com to follow us as we chronicle what is sure to be a really exciting school year for all the high school sports in Sacramento.

Rick Singer on KFBK 1530AM

Awesome stuff on college admissions....

Click Here to hear the audio.

Blogging with Flock

The first half of 2007 has been the worst for air travel delays since the Department of Transportation started keeping detailed statistics 13 years ago, the government said yesterday.And preliminary numbers show July won't do much to reverse travel woes, either.June 2007 was the second-worst June on record for flight delays, with only 68.1% of flights arriving on time as a result of more jets in the sky and particularly bad weather at key airport hubs like Dallas-Fort Worth International. Last year in June, 72.8% of flights arrived on-time. Only June 2000 was worse than this year at 66.3% on-time, when surging travel demand and airline labor battles clogged air transportation.

The Middle Seat - WSJ.com

Blogged with Flock

Chrysler

Chrysler hired ex-ceo of Home Depot, Robert Nardelli.

With US automakers struggling to keep pace with the likes of Toyota, Lexus and BMW, Nardelli might be just the outsider who can revive Chrysler.

It will be interesting to see how his experiences at The Home Depot will help him in Detroit.

Traffic on I-80

Traffic on I80
Originally uploaded by wr_downing33

9.30am on I-80 near Davis and the traffic is thick. There's no accident. No construction. Nothing. Just a lot of cars between here and Marin County. Its a Saturday and still there's a lot of traffic.

This just in. Sacramento is no longer is a small town.

Toyota

Toyota continues to dominate.

They announced that net profits rose by 32%. Quality issues have taken center stage recently, but Toyota's brand name and reputation for quality has led the Janpanese car maker to keep its American rivals at bay.

In 2008, watch for Toyota to take even more market share from American car companies. Ford's recent news that they will put up Land Rover and Volvo for sale only signals that the American auto group is in worst trouble than its letting on.

18th and L Street

18th and L Street
Originally uploaded by wr_downing33

In the midst of a depressing housing market in the Sacramento area, there has been a few projects that have managed to out perform expectation. SKK Developments new loft project near the corner of 18th and L Street is just one example.

What makes this a really cool project is the fact that urban living is now in Sacramento in a very Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle type way. This isn't a condo conversion of a 1970's apartment building. This type of project represents all that is good about Sacramento -- the future.

If you haven't been to mid-town Sacramento in sometime, check it out. There is a lot going on.

Sac Airport

I am at the airport this morning headed to Orange County for the morning. I got here at 5:30 am and the security line is already out the door.

What's wrong with this picture?

SoccerProfiles.org

We are really excited for the re-launch of our social networking site www.soccerprofiles.org. We had developed the site about 4 years ago and it has done well without any type of marketing or push from us. We have registered users from all 50 states and several foreign countries. We really think that the next 12 months will lead us to a huge growth spike as we re-tool some of our features and really open up with a marketing push.

Stay tuned, or better yet, check out www.soccerprofiles.org for more info.

Elite Soccer Camps

Next week we are hosting our last session of elite soccer camps for the summer of 2007. Director Simon Sheppard will once again lead the camp. If you want more information, please visit www.elite-soccer.com or email him at ssheppard@esmgroup.org

The Red Rubber Ball

Several years ago I attended a banking and real estate conference called PCBC in San Francisco. One of the keynotes was given by a man named Kevin Carroll, who worked for several companies, including the likes of Nike. He changed my mind, and helped foster my creative to both write my book and found ESM.



He spoke about the power of play. He talked about how each one of us has the ability to evoke positive change in the world, and to do so we needed to find our inner child. By doing that, he argued, we could have a powerful experience everyday. Most importantly he emphasized, that if we found that inner child and that passion to play that we could accomplish great things along the way.



In a lot of ways his speech helped me to write my book. In it, I talk a great deal about the power of play, and the ability we have in our society to effect kids through sports and empowerment.



One of the most interesting things I come across in my travels is that plethora of parents and coaches who don't get it. I can't put it any simpler: they just don't get it. They think that sports are about winning. They think that sports are about bragging about who is a better athlete. I am hoping that my book will shed some light on what's going on with the current plight of youth sports in America, but more importantly, provide a road map for what we need to do in order to bring about powerful change.



In the end, its all about finding a way to play.

The Getty

IMG_1039.JPG
Originally uploaded by wr_downing33

If you haven't visited The Getty yet, you have to. It is most likely one of the most impressive cultural experiences in the states. From the minute you walk in you are so in to the whole experience, and just keep going from exhibit to exhibit. You can spend the whole day there, and not even realize it.

Check out my flickr photos on the right hand side of this blog for more details.

Flickr

For about 4 months now, I have been using Yahoo!'s photo management system, Flickr.

Flickr has changed the way I communicate using the web. Now, I snap a photo of something, upload it to my Flickr account, click "blog this" and moments later the photo and any text I want appears on my blog.

It also allows you to create collections and sets that you can email to friends, family and business associates.

This isn't meant to be a plug for Flickr, but the more I thought of it today, tools like Flickr, Facebook, Paypal, and others have really changed the way we live, interact and thrive as humans.

What I have been thinking a lot about this week is finding a way to utilize all these new tools from web 2.0 and make it impact our small business.

Food for thought tomorrow as I hit the road to Santa Cruz.

Social Networking

There seems to be a lot of blogging going on about Facebook. As you know, Facebook launched its new "open" platform. A backlash has hit Facebook in the wake of a tremendous amount of upset users who have been overloaded with a sea of new apps.

Facebook's plan is simple. More users equals more revenue. However, they may have overlooked one key element: they need to keep their current users happy.

Social networking a la Myspace and Facebook seem to be played out a little bit, but there is a new paradigm in web 2.0 and its called user generated content. I really think that this is the key to the future of social networking. Wikipedia and others have done a great job of creating content that has come from the users. My hunch, though, is that there is another twist in this game that will soon hit. Social networking may be played out, but the paradign is going to shift again.

iPhone: Cingular, AT&T or whatever their name is today bungled the opening day sales of the iPhone. Steve Jobs, wake up, cingular is not ready to handle Apple. Open the iPhone to every carrier.

Rick Singer

Here is a brief interview with College Counselor Rick Singer. Visit www.thesingergrp.com for more information on how to help your student.

Club Soccer in California?

I am curious, which clubs in California are considered to be the best in the state. That is to say, who is known for quality coaches and successful teams. I am interested in hearing from you all.........let me know.

Red Eye

On the red eye to Pittsburgh, PA tonight. Today was one of those days that makes me feel very lucky to be building an educational services company that is geared at impacting kids over the long haul. I am going to blog more about this later, but to say the least we are really excited about some of our upcoming projects. I really feel that our traction is beginning to tack hold in the market.

That being said, we are going to have to stay on our toes everyday. The competition is fierce.

Airline Industry

Headed to San Diego and then Orange County for meetings. The last year I have flown out of Sacramento about 50 times. One thing that consistantly puzzles me is how the airline industry has been able to survive in such a competitive environment with such terrible customer service. I guess that speaks volumes about folks at places like Jet Blue who have tried to brand themselves as customer service specialists. To some degree it has paid off for Jet Blue, and others like Southwest. Today the lines are long with weekend travelers and 3 of the 4 security screening points are operating. Sacramento seems to be out growing its airport.

Parker in action on the Piano

Parker is a talent on the piano. I am serious. He's got some real game. Everyday my job makes me realize that kids can do awesome things. Our only goal in society should be to help inspire them.

Champs!

P6030082.jpg
Originally uploaded by wr_downing33

Soccer Tournament

Soccer Tournament
Originally uploaded by wr_downing33

More photos from the 4th Annual Elite Soccer Tournament coming soon. Check back on Friday for all the details, and a lot more photos.

Rick Singer on TV

Check out Rick on TV Today....

http://www.cbs13.com/video/?id=21201@kovr.dayport.com

Syros

On the island of Syros for the last two days, so I am posting from my
blackberry via gmail.

For you high school seniors, the UC has just made some changes
regarding the way they will look at SATs and SAT 2s. I will post more
details shortly......but you can visit their website too.

Lots of photos coming too. Be sure to check our the flickr.

Champions Cup Finale

Liverpool
Originally uploaded by wr_downing33.

I haven't seen an AC Milan supporter all day..........

English Fans - Video

English Fans

Downtown Athens is rocking. English Fans outnumber the Italians 3 to 1. They have taken over the various downtown squares; singing their songs; drinking their beers; and above all else, proclaiming a Liverpool victory.

If it is only that easy. Milan has pledged an all out war; surely they must in order to make amends for their loss two years ago in Turkey.

Tomorrow is going to be a great day.

Greek Photos

McDonald's

I went to McDonald's today.

Yeah, I know...please spare me the whole, "But you are in Greece....etc" argument.a With rain pounding central Athens today, I needed something quick and easy.

I am glad I went though.

McDonald's in Greece, as it is throughout much of Europe, is not a fast-food chain on every corner like in America. Here in Athens, McDonald's is home to a melting pot of visitors and Athenians alike. A common place where people gather to eat, drink coffee, and enjoy ice cream. There is no drive-thru. There is no rush to leave. It is two-stories high, and has an outside eating courtyard with umbrellas.

What impressed me most though was the people who worked there.

As I walked up to the counter, an Albanian-Greek named Nicko greeted me. He asked me in Greek what I wanted. I responded in English, and he responded with perfect spoken English. He never hesitated as I am sure his brain has to shift between several different languages on almost a non-stop basis. Cooking behind the counter were two women who looked to be in their mid-30's. I was told that one was from Korea and the other from Northern Greece.

Upstairs, as I enjoyed my Big Mac, I was surrounded by Germans, English, Chinese, Indians, and Greeks. It was as diverse a crowd you would see anywhere.

One other thing that struck me was that there continues to be this overwhelming discontentment with American foreign policy and Americans in general overseas. However, there doesn't seem to be much of an issue with acceptance of American imports to places like Greece. McDonald's was busy. The Levi Straus store was packed solid. Everyone is wearing Nike shoes. And just about every young person in Greece is sporting an iPod. How are American brands living and thriving amidst an environments where being "American" is seen as unpopular?

How can Europe continue to criticize America and American values, yet so openly accept (and pay for) American products and elements of our culture?

Hoop Dreams

I recently watched the documentary, Hoop Dreams -- which came out in the 1990's. I'd never seen the film before, but I must say it was very interesting to see how things have (or haven't) changed in youth sports.

The film documents the lives of two inner city kids in Chicago - one who attends the all-boys prep school, St. Joe's and the other who attends Marshall High, the public school in downtown Chicago.

Throughout the film there is a really intriguing story line that revolves around family life. I have posted on the sociology of the family and how it effects youth sports. The element will be a key component in my upcoming book. You see how family life strife created obstacles for both boys to hurddle.

However, for me the most interesting part of the movie, was the coach at St. Joe's who had been famous for coaching Issah Thomas. In my opinion, that's about all he can be famous for. His coaching, or lack thereof, was tremendously sterotypical of the win-at-all costs coach. He clearly didn't care about his players, and was only concerned with winning a state title. In the end, he lost both the respect of his players and the title.

It proved to me that we have come a long way in terms of our values relative to youth sports, but that we have a long ways still to go.

FA Cup Final

Watching the Manchester Utd v. Chelsea match live here in Athens. The people at Wembley are in for a treat, as it looks like the 2nd half has started with some real pace. Rooney looks good, and is creating chances. If Chelsea can keep it level thru the 70 minute, they will win. Man U hasn't scored more than 1 goal on a Mourinho Chelsea side ever.

Elite Soccer Camps & Tournament

Once again this spring our Elite Soccer Group will be hosting soccer tournaments and soccer camps. We have one of the best coaches in the area at the helm of these programs. Simon Sheppard, a former professional player from England who has participated of England's youth national team growing up has done a great job running these programs.

Please check out www.elite-soccer.com for more information or email Simon at ssheppard@esmgroup.org

UPS Global

UPS Global
Originally uploaded by wr_downing33.

Along the crowded Ermou shopping district there darted a brown UPS truck. Not the same boxy ones we see in the USA, but it got the job done.

Ever since I read Tom Friedman's book, Longitudes and Latitudes, I have been facinated with the company. UPS is not just a delivery company; they are a global supply chain guru. They have the ability to do so many cool things from tracking packages world wide to helping coporate clients understanding the ups and downs of outsourcing. Not to mention they have their own fleet of jets!

I have posted about globalization in Greece a lot on this blog. With the likes of UPS, and others, this country continues to rapidly change.

Corn anyone?

Corn
Originally uploaded by wr_downing33.

You can't help but embrace the Greek way of life. There is food on every corner, and it seems like no one actually works here. Everyone is always out for coffee or lunch. I am still trying to figure out what keeps this economy going, but in the meantime I am enjoying a little relaxation. Headed to check emails at Starbucks. While the USA is in the midst of web 2.0, here in Greece the internet is still not a part of everyday life. Very few places offer WiFi, and of those, none are free. Just now are the hotels beginning to offer broadband like connection; the charge being lead by the American hotel chains due to business travelers needs and desires. So far, Starbucks in the only place I can find solid WiFi for 6 euros.

Greece

A quick look at hectic downtown Athens. It was hot today, but there were still a ton of people out and about. There seems to be a lot of tourists in preparation for the Champions League Final next week.

Vasili and Maria in Athens

Vasili and Maria in Athens
Originally uploaded by wr_downing33.

Had lunch with my cousin Vasili and Maria today in the Plaka. Lunch was great.

Want to see more photos from my travels, click below:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bdowning

or

Click the Fickr link on the right hand-side of the blog.

Heathrow - London

Heathrow - London
Originally uploaded by wr_downing33.

Its been a long time since I have last blogged. I am hoping that the next 10 days or so that I am in Europe I will be able to write more. I have had a lot on mind, so there is no shortage of material. Lots of interesting things are happening with ESM, and we seem to be hitting our stride at the right time. I am going to be trying to finish the last part of my book in the next 30 days. Looking like it won't be out until Oct 1, 2007. Sorry for the delay. I want to make it is awesome. Taking more time than I thought.

The photo is from Heathrow. What a great airport to people watch. There is so much diversity.

Meze

Meze
Originally uploaded by wr_downing33.

For the best Greek food in San Francisco, there is only one place to go. Meze on Chestnut Street blends old world charm with down right amazing food. Sit in the bar, enjoy a glass of white wine from Greece, and then feast on a variety of plates that are sure to please.

This is my favorite spot in the city.

WuShu Champ in Action

Here is a quick clip I took today of one of students in the bay area who is a competitor in the sport of WuShu.

Cool Video

Here is a video posted by one of my students who was in Munich during the summer.

San Francisco

If you are downtown San Francisco tonight, you are probably, like us, stuck in absolute traffic hell. It is a great scene down here; lots of people here for the parade, and there is a great energy - but hopefully you are not in a car.

Took some cool photos that I hope to post in the next day or so.

These entry is coming via my blackberry so we will see how fast the mobile blogging uploads.

If you are in SF tonight, have fun and be safe.
Billy Downing
The ESM Group
bdowning@esmgroup.org

On the road again

Today, I am driving down to LA from Santa Clara. Along I-5 you really get an idea of how much of California is really farm and ag land.

Got a great email from a mom that said her daughter had been accepted to her #1 college choice. She said she was so happy she would cry. Emails like that make me really proud of the work we are doing here at ESM/Singer Group.

For those of you who love to surf the internet, I'd suggest getting Sprint's area wide coverage. Even at 80 mph I am able to log on (I am not the driver). Don't know how I was able to get away with that prior.

Photos to follow.
Billy Downing
The ESM Group
bdowning@esmgroup.org

Cool Photo

IMG_0436
Originally uploaded by wr_downing33.

On my way home from work last night, I took this picture of a crane on the job along the American River.

The art of play

I get a lot of comments/emails from people that tell me that for a blog about youth sports, I sure write a lot about everything but youth sports!

I guess the reason for that is that I find my inspiration from everyday life. I write about what comes to my mind when I am driving; watching a movie; running; or traveling. I went through my previous posts from the last year, and realized that my blog is not about just youth sports. Its about life.

The plight of youth sports today is really a reflection of what going on today in our hyper-competitive, uber-focused, and mentally draining way of life. Our kids are being pushed, and pushed, and pushed....with very little direction on what the objective is at the end of the day. For parents today, it seems that it is more about the process, than the actual accomplishment of goals.

I spend most of my day working with kids, getting to know their families, and helping everyone stay on course. What strikes me at almost every instance is how much we can learn from kids and about how they approach the process to sports, school, and life.

More coming in the next post.......

Four Days To Glory

Four Days To Glory
Originally uploaded by wr_downing33.

If you haven't had time to grab it yet, pick up Mark Kreidler's book, Four Days To Glory. A profound story about Iowa wrestling and the struggles that two high schoolers encounter along the way.

I will post more on it, when I am done with the book.

Prosper.com - changing the lending industry

If you haven't checked out www.prosper.com than you are missing out on a piece of history in the making. For a little over a year, Prosper has been effectively cutting out banks and credit card companies. Much like the rest of the web 2.0 companies, Prosper is dependent on social networking. This time instead of looking for a date or re-connect with old friends, people arrive at prosper looking to borrower or lend money.

I have been lending money for about 30 days now, and without too much disappointment the program has gone according to plan. I am going to post more details on prosper in a few weeks after some of my loans will be in process.

In meantime check out www.prosper.com.

Sonic Burger

In Woodland, CA there is an old-fashioned burger joint. Milkshakes, burgers, chilli fries, the works. They will even serve the food to you in your car as you park along the patio. Your food is brought to you by a waiter or waitress on roller skates.

But, for all the hype I was disappointed with the experience. First, the menu interface was confusing. Second, the speaker and mic didn't work well. They couldn't hear us and we couldn't hear them. When we tried to pay with our credit card, it didn't work.

The food was great, but the technology needs fixing.

Documentary

We are really excited to announce today that we will be producing a short documentary entitled: "The Sociology of Youth Sports." Heading up this creative venture for us is Joe Jaszewski, a photographer with The Idaho Statesman, and freelance photographer for all the big names, among others. His photos have been on the front page of USA Today. He's got game, and we are stoked to have his help. He is also my best friend since 1st grade.

More info to follow shortly. We will be offering the video online or via DVD.

Book Excerpt - Sociology of the Family

A lot of people have asked that I post some parts of my book that is due out on June 1st, 2007. Here is a small section on the chapter entitled: Sociology of the Family.

Sociology of the Family.

Participating in youth sports is not just about sports. Its about family.

The effects of youth sports on an athlete and the family is one of the most under-researched dynamics of the development of children. Today, student-athletes are pushed to the limits; overloaded with homework, burdened by the pressures to win, and surrounded by a changing social network of friends and peer issues. Even for the most well-adjusted, mature and motivated child, these pressures can build up over time.

While, there are now more studies about how youth sports play a role in the lives of student-athletes, very few speak to the changes that occur to families when children participate in sports.

In our society today, the American family is ever changing. In the 1950’s, the traditional American family had a stay at home mom, a bread-winning father, and two children. This model of family life created profound change in the way our communities were developed and constructed. In her book, Redesigning The American Dream, Yale professor Dolores Hayden speaks passionately about how homes, neighborhoods, and parks were created specifically for the “traditional” family.

As the role of mothers changed in our society, and as they made a larger push into corporate America, the family model altered. The Second Shift, a monumental book written by Arlie Hochschild outlined the family model in this new state, and the effects of women having to work two shifts a day – one at the office during the day, and a second shift at home with children.

The effects of youth sports on the family are not as well documented, but needless to say just as influential.

Consider this: depending on what club team your son or daughter plays for effects several issues pertaining to family. First, it effects who your child is friends with. In most cases, children are more likely to socialize with their teammates than with peers from their school. Much of this is due to the time commitment players put in with their club teams. In some cases, children will spend 20-30 hours a week with their team.

What club team your son or daughter plays for effects who parents hang out with. For families who have children playing youth sports it seems as though all available time outside of school is allocated to sports. As a result, these families and the players spend vacations together (usually at tournaments), and become a social network of sorts. Moms can be seen sitting along the sidelines of games in their usual groups. Dads will pace up down the field yelling out support, or perhaps hassling the referee. After the games, many times the teams will retreat back to the hotel or go out for dinner. At the restaurant, players will sit together, while parents sit at their own table. Over the course of the meal, parents will talk about the game, work, family life, schools, or even discuss the remodel they just did to their house. All in all, these people become family. One parent remarked, “It is really amazing how close you become with some of the other parents. I guess we all get used to seeing one another almost every weekend of the year. If my son wasn’t on this team, I don’t think I would have ever had the opportunity to meet some of these folks.” Given the diversity of many of these teams, it fascinating to see how parents can come together bonded by only one thing – their kids play on the same team.

The effects on the family don’t stop there. In many ways, a family is very much branded by the athlete in the family. The family can become known as the soccer family or the baseball family. This comes as a direct result of the achievements made by the student-athlete.

....... more to come. please leave me your comments.

Dulles Airport

Dulles Airport
Originally uploaded by wr_downing33.

Took this picture as I was departing from Dulles. Anyone notice anything about the sequence of flags?

The Crossover Movement

Mike deep in thought
Originally uploaded by wr_downing33.

A good friend of mine, Coach Brian McCormick has just penned his lastest book entitled, "Cross Over: The New Model for Youth Basketball Development." This book focuses on youth bastketball in the USA, but encompasses a much larger issue --- the overrall development of student-athletes in our country. This book should serve as a resource to players, parents and coaches as they continually re-evaluate the programs and protocols of youth sports surrounding our children.

Brian's step-by-step breakdown of the system helps to shed light on a part of child development that is left in the stone-ages -- youth sports.

Hopefully with likes of Brian and others coming into the national scene as coaches and administrators (as well as authors) the nature of the game, and those participating, will grow and prosper.

Check out his website: www.thecrossovermovement.com

A very cold day in Washingto DC

White House
Originally uploaded by wr_downing33.

While the weather was still frigid here in Washington DC, the political battle for the 2008 Presidential race was heating up.

Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani semi-announced that we was jumping into the race. Though he has stayed much out of the fray thus far, most polls have shown him leading John McCain. If he can mitigate his spotty record as NYC Mayor (pre-9/11), find a way to connect with the ultra conservative Republican base, and play up his post-9/11 leadership, he might be the only hope for the Republicans.

I didn't get much of a chance to soak in DC today, but I can say that it was easily -10 below with the wind chill.

Online Store

Our Soccer/Sports group just launched a website where you can purchase merchandise. We are going to be adding more and more products in the coming days and weeks.....

In the meantime, check it out and see if there is any gear that you really like.

You can visit the site, by going to www.elite-soccer.com, and clicking online store.

Or you can click, here.

Stop KFC

Stop KFC
Originally uploaded by wr_downing33.

I thought this was an interesting sign.

The 405

The 405
Originally uploaded by wr_downing33.

On Friday, a large crane collasped on the 405 Freeway in Los Angeles. Traffic wasn't able to get through for nearly three hours. Here's what the roads in and around Westwood looked like.

I had a particularly good look at the roadways because my rental car broke down and I had to walk all the way back to the hotel. There is no doubt that the traffic in LA eclipses that of the bay area.

UCLA

As a Cal alum & fan, I have been taught to hate everything that is UCLA.

After meetings today, I had a chance to visit the campus and run throughout the area. I was expecting to be bored; afterall, this was not Cal (How good could it be?)

There was an energy on campus. It was really neat as I ran through the campus seeing a real diverse student population. The hacky sackers were in the quad; the international kids were all playing soccer; other were playing tennis, or going to the library.

It was an unique experience. I must say that UCLA seemed like a very engaging university. Don't get me wrong, Cal is still better.....but UCLA wasn't that bad.

On the farm

Originally uploaded by wr_downing33.

Today, I went to visit a client of ours, and on my way off the ranch, I was stopped by this guy. Not much other to report than that.....

Lots more blogging in the next day or so...

Titanic Experience

Titanic Experience
Originally uploaded by wr_downing33.

Since June 10, 2006, San Francisco's Mascone Center has been home to The Titantic Artifact Exhibit. The movie was good; this was great.

Jessaca and I waited in line for nearly an hour, just to get into the exhibit. Despite a the crowd of frustrated parents trying to wrangle in their kids, the line went quickly. Needless to say, once you get in it is apparent that you are able to experience something totally sureal.

As you make your way through the different chambers, you can't help but feel as though you are on board the ship.

The re-created grand stair case and the cabin quarters were amazing to see first-hand....and when you walk into the blue room that has a replica-like glacier you get a vivid sense what is must have been like in the freezing cold water in the dead of night.

I am not sure where the exhibit is headed next, but if it is anywhere near you, I would encourage you to take a few hours to visit this very worthwhile exerience. It will move you undoubtly.

Capitalism Takes Over Telegraph (Berkeley)

Berkeley
Originally uploaded by wr_downing33.

In the spring of 2002, I was a senior at Cal. The weather was nice. School was almost out and there was a lot of excitement in the air as graduation loomed. After class, I can remember taking the long way home from class. Along Telegraph Avenue I'd check out the different stores, eclectic street vendors, grab a slice of pizza, and soak in all that was Berkeley. Afterall, my fours were almost up.

It had been some time since I had visit my alm mater and on Saturday I had a chance to check out campus and the area.

For those of you who are die hard Berkeley natives from the 1960's please stop reading this post now. What I am about to tell you might be too disturbing.

Telegraph was lined with creative, unique and interesting stores. Now, I am affraid to report that capitalism has taken over. As you exit campus, and walk down Telegraph you will pass Sprint, EB Games, Chipotle, and Addidas on your left. Down further are other examples of the corporate take over of Telegraph.

If there is one positive to take away from this; it should be that if capitalism can succeed on Telegraph, then it can succeed anywhere.

Staff Meetings

Dean at CPK
Originally uploaded by wr_downing33.

We try to keep staff meetings fun, but you could see that Dean was starting to let his mind wander a little bit as Simon talked about our need to grow market share......

The Apple Retail Experience

Today I got a new MacBook Pro.

As expected, the Apple experience was flawless. I walked into the store, looked around for a couple minutes, went to the register, told them what I wanted, and one minute later I was walking out the door with my new laptop and the receipt was emailed to me my mac email.

Haven't had time to mess around with the laptop just yet, but I am looking forward to testing the new Intel processor.

Apple.com for more details on the new MacBook Pro.

Power of Blogging

2007 is not even 30 days old and still lots of things are happening.

Hillary threw her hat in the ring. The 2008 election is going to be very exciting, and will prove to be a telling event in American history. While Hillary has a lot going for her; my prediction is that Obama and The Clinton's make a deal. It will be all for not because Rudy will win in 2008. He is staying out of the fray for now; but he is poised to win it. McCain will be VP.

Apple announced the iPhone. Too soon to tell if it will be as good as Jobs says it will be. Prediction: Apple is on its way to taking over the world. All eyes are on Google, but Apple is a more powerful brand.

I have received a lot of emails from people regarding my blog. It is has been great to hear different opinions from people all over the USA and the world. The power of blogging is going to peak in 2007; more and more people will benefit from this one-on-one relationship with the new globalized economy. Look for more and more businesses to use blogging as a way to build their brand.

On the ESM front, we have been very excited about our progress. Both our college coaching group and our internet recruiting group have seen a lot of interest, and our growing.

If anyone thought 2007 was going to be slow; think again.

Greece 2006

A trip to Athens and Faraklada (the village) in Greece 2006. Enjoy the video.

San Jose Museum of Art

If you have time, check out the San Jose Museum of Art. There is an exhibition entitled "The Listening Post."

It is a hybrid between art and technology. In a nutshell the exhibition pulls information from the internet live and streams the information to the viewer in a variety of different visuals and sounds.

Check out: the online description.

Starbucks: Your "Partner"

Yesterday in Lafayette I stopped at Starbucks. Not really paying attention to much, I grabbed a bottle of water and The NY Times.

On my way out, I noticed a sign in the window that said: "Everyone is a PARTNER at Starbucks."

The notion that Starbucks was trying to articulate didn't hit me for a few minutes. As a drove down Mt. Diablo it finally rang home to me. This was brilliant.

The mega-billion dollar company that has been heralded as the eptome of capitalism, while still being depicted as the poster boy of corporate greed was trying to change its image. This time from the inside-out.

A good friend of mine, John Davis (brandnewview.blogspot.com), has spoken eloquenty about the need for branding to be done within the company first, before being exported outside to clients.

In essence, Starbucks was trying to foster an ethos within the company that every team member is in fact a "partner" in the firm. The hope and goal is that Starbucks will produce a culture of long-lasting employees who exude a passion for their business, and most importantly proudly advocate the Starbucks brand.

The Power of Kids

One of the reasons we started ESM was because we believe in the power of youth. Today I got a phone call from a mother who's son we work with......

His high school counselor has just finished telling the mother that her son was never going to college and should just give up on trying. He remarked, "College is not for everyone."

It is that type of negative, narrow-minded person whom we want to re-teach in order to help them work with youth; rather than allowing them to squash the ambitions of those who are working to that end.

At times I feel we are losing the battle, but next spring when this student is accepted to college and graduates high school, it will only speak volumes about how much kids can achieve when we believe in them.....

Mobile Blogging

I have been spending a lot of time traveling for work lately, so I
thought I would check out the mail-to-blogger feature....here is a
test from my blackberry.

Sactown Magazine

Inside the Newport Beach Barnes & Noble I was looking for a copy of the Orange County Business Journal. As I made my way through the stands, I came across an unlikely find: A copy of the Sactown Magazine. Here in OC was a little piece of Sacramento.....

For all the naysayers, here is proof that little by little Sacramento is creating a culture of itself just like the Bay Area has done; We may still be years away from SF, LA or San Diego. But the margin is closing. Fast.

Congrats to Sactown Magazine for its early success, and with the likes of others like them Sacramento should enjoy a very bright 2007, and beyond.

Urban Living in Downtown San Diego

Thought you might like to see some photos from Downtown San Diego................lots of development underway.

2007 - What's on the horizon

Happy New Year to all.

2007 should prove to be a very interesting year. On the world business front web 2.0 and social networking internet sites are all the buzz. Private Equity and Hedge Funds continue to raise obscene amounts of money for mergers and buyouts. The real estate market nationwide has cooled prompting many to ask what will fuel the economy and keep us out of recession. The 2008 Presidential Election could very well be the most important vote America has ever had, and much of the political strife will come to a head in 2007. But most importantly, globalization and the world economy will contiue to grow at a fast pace and technology coupled with the internet will open more doors for all of us in business.

On a smaller scale, at ESM we are excited about the following projects:

*growing on our college coaching business to include kids both in the USA and abroad.
*breaking ground on a new soccer specific sports center in the greater Sacramento-area.
*upgrading our digitial recruiting website to include more features for our clients.
*expanding our tournament schedule to include multiple venues and locations.
*continuing to help kids achieve the unthinkable.

All the best in 2007,

Billy Downing
ESM