On the Ball: What You Can Learn About Business From America's Sports Leaders

318 Pages·2003·1 MB·English

by  David M. Carter

FMtitle.fm Page v Friday, January 10, 2003 10:07 AM
On the Ball
What You Can Learn About
Business from America’s Sports
Leaders
David Carter
Darren Rovell
FMtitle.fm Page vi Friday, January 10, 2003 10:07 AM
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
A catalog record for this book can be obtained from
the Library of Congress.
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Interior design: Meg Van Arsdale
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Praise for “On the Ball”
“Don't be fooled by the fun and games approach. This book takes its exam-
ples from the sports world—from NASCAR to the Dallas Cowboys—but it’s
serious business. David Carter and Darren Rovell use sports to teach some
important lessons about branding, crisis management and a host of other
everyday business issues.”
Rick Alm
sports business reporter
Dallas Morning News
“Carter and Rovell have written a manual for teaching people how things
have been and could be done in the sports business which is clearly transfer-
able to the private sector. Nothing is better from which to learn than actual,
real-time experiences and the authors have captured them perfectly. The
Leadership chapter should be mandatory in all business schools.”
Tony Attanasio
sports agent, Ichiro Suzuki
“As entertaining as it is informational. True tales of infamous sports person-
alities and the way they do business. Puts the spotlight on many fascinating
and unbelievable inside sports stories that affect the way we all do business
today. Enjoyable reading.”
Peter J. Barnett
Producer, HBO’s Arli$$,
The Art of the Sports SuperAgent
“Carter and Rovell deliver the goods! In a concise, entertaining and informa-
tive manner, On the Ball melds the multibillion dollar sports industry into
lessons that everyone can benefit from.”
Howard Bloom
Publisher,
SportsBusinessNews.com
“David Carter and Darren Rovell have combined to show how the business
world really works through the prism of something we all love: sports. The
sports business provides us with all the examples we need to fully compre-
hend business done well and business done poorly. David and Darren have
written a compelling and exciting book.”
Fred Claire
former Executive Vice-President
and GM of the Los Angeles Dodgers
“Business people looking for enterprise tips from the world of sports will find
a lot to like in On the Ball. The authors have assembled a treasure chest of
eye-opening anecdotes, and presented them clearly and forcefully. Highly
recommended.”
John Dempsey
TV sports reporter,
Variety
“On the Ball provides those aspiring for career success with noteworthy case
studies from the sports industry that will no doubt help them to achieve their
career goals and aspirations. A must read for all those who turn first to the
sports pages, but understand that their success will be determined in the
business field, not on the athletic field.”
Darryl Dunn
General Manager,
The Rose Bowl
“Don't miss out on reading this one! A highly successful sports marketer and
one of the best sports business investigative reporters around present a lively
collection of object lessons for all interested in the sports business. For those
watching the sports business from the periphery or for those involved in the
day-to-day business, Carter and Rovell pull no punches and lay out invalu-
able lessons for all. For my money, their presentation of Jerry Jones' turn-
around of the Dallas Cowboys alone is worth the price of admission.”
Rodney Fort
Professor of Economics,
Washington State University
author of Sports Economics
“As Carter and Rovell so skillfully convey, continual learning is an important
part of the essence of leadership. There is much to be learned from the com-
plex business of sports that is applicable to all businesses. On the Ball is an
interesting and well-written account of many of these lessons.”
Bob Graziano
President & COO,
Los Angeles Dodgers
“Carter and Rovell have successfully and creatively used the sports world to
provide invaluable lessons about the trials and tribulations associated with
running businesses of all sizes. On the Ball is a compelling playbook for busi-
nesspeople.”
Pat Haden
former USC quarterback
and 1975 Rose Bowl co-MVP,
Partner,
Riordan, Lewis & Haden
“If you read the sports and business pages with equal passion, On the Ball is
definitely for you. You'll not only have a great time reading this book but will
actually learn about key business practices and principles along the way.”
Ted Leonsis, majority owner,
Washington Capitals
minority owner, Washington Wizards
and MCI Center
Vice Chairman, AOL
“On the Ball takes you where you want to go—behind the scenes, where the
sports reporter does not take you, to learn the best moves off the field, in the
broadcast booth, and in the front office. A great book both for the sports fan
and for the businessman looking for lessons from true sports insiders.”
Mark Levinstein
Partner, Williams & Connolly LLP
Adjunct Professor of Law,
Georgetown University Law Center
and Acting Executive Director,
U.S. National Soccer Team
Players Association
“From managing the George O'Leary/ Notre Dame résumé flap, to placing a
smiling Barry Bonds in TV commercials, the high-profile challenges and suc-
cess in sports invoke the same business principles as any thriving company.
Carter and Rovell capture this with imagination, in an insightful treatment
any executive will find essential.”
Bob Ley
Host, ESPN’s Outside the Lines
“David Carter and Darren Rovell have taken a unique approach—showing
how savvy business leaders can learn from the successes and failures in the
sports industry. On the Ball provides specific ideas and strategies for today's
sophisticated and enlightened business executive.”
Abraham Madkour
Editor-in-Chief,
The Sports Business Daily
“I might have paid $3 million for Mark McGwire's 70th home run ball, but I
still know a value when I see one. If you want to learn about business without
being bored to death, you're not going to find many books more entertaining
and informative than On the Ball.”
Todd McFarlane, Spawn creator
owner of McFarlane Toys
and part owner of Edmonton Oilers
“InOn the Ball, David Carter and Darren Rovell have devised a novel way to
impart important management lessons—wrap them into a tome rich with
anecdotes that span the world of sports. The result is a touchdown of a busi-
ness book.”
Ciro Scotti
Senior Editor, BusinessWeek
“On the Ball takes a unique look at sports and recognizes it for what it has
become: A complex and dynamic business and not just fun and games. It is
an essential read for those who want a successful career in business.”
Jeff Shell, CEO,
Gemstar-TV Guide International
“On the Ball is just that. The perfect combination for the business person
who is also a sports fan. A side benefit of reading about the business lessons
that come from sports business leaders is the opportunity to read a rich
sports business history. As the authors make clear, the lessons from sports
business leaders transcend the field of play.”
Kenneth L. Shropshire
Professor and Chairman of Legal
Studies Department,
Wharton School,
University of Pennsylvania
co-author of The Business of
Sports Agents
“You hear people use sports analogies all the time, but On the Ball isn't about
that. This is an idea book on how to run a business better. Sure, the teach-
ers may be guys like Jerry Jones or Jerry Colangelo, but they aren't talking
about tackling or jump shots, they're talking about different strategies that
propelled their businesses.”
Jon Spoelstra
author, Marketing Outrageously,
aWall Street Journal best-seller
“The sports marketing industry has been screaming for someone to chronicle
how this young industry has made the transition from pure entertainment to
business. David Carter and Darren Rovell have done this in great detail but in
a very readable and usable format great for any business executive who
wants to advance his or her career—a must read!”
Bob Williams, President,
Burns Sports & Celebrity Services
FTPH_FM.fm Page i Thursday, August 22, 2002 8:05 AM
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To Paige, whose infectious smile and endearing personality
provided all the motivation (and, on occasion, insight) necessary
to complete this book.
–David M. Carter
To Mom, Dad, and Brian, for letting me immerse myself in sports
and business, but always reminding me that family comes first.
–Darren Rovell