Takes More Than One To Franchise

The face of a franchise is a beautiful thing to the naked eye of a fan. There’s so much more to it than just the team though, so much work that goes into it by so many people. To really appreciate the organization as a whole you want to know the different areas of work, the “behind the scenes.” You have the higher ups like the president, GM, marketing people, equipment managers, coaches and then there are people like, McKenzie Hughes, the interns. She was working in the Youth and Development department and the Marketing and Promotions for the Chicago Blackhawks, the Street Team.

Hughes is now working with the USHL (United States Hockey League) a prep league for 16-18 year olds to get them ready so they can be drafted. Starting with the Blackhawks as an intern doing all sorts of different things, she would have to not only help out at the arena but go out and do things for the organization. “There is a lot of hard work for a 10 minute thing,” she explained, “it’s tiring definitely 24/7.” For the street team you have to go to different places and companies as early as 5 in the morning to pump people up for the games during playoff times. “Business men would look at you like, what are you on?” Hughes described, but that’s just one of the perks. On game days they have to go down ice level by the Zamboni doors 30 minutes prior to a game and during all intermissions to get ready for things like Shoot the Puck or when they have an honorary guest during the national anthem. They also do post game tours or take families of the other teams around and show them the area and their seats. Being high up has some advantages and privileges not everyone gets to encounter. You can’t be ignorant and should always give credit where credit is due to a franchise. It takes more than just the team to win championships. Organizing a team, buying the team, running events so they have fan support is a lot of work.

Being interested in this line of work myself she explained, “Being passionate about a team will make it harder for you and make the work that much harder.” You have to take the passion that you would have for the team and put it more to the game and organization as a whole. Especially being a female going into the sports industry in general, “I quickly did learn that it is male dominate. Mostly from the views that i have heard it is that men don’t either believe or see woman succeeding. As they are believers that the industry is built for men and men only.” Nothing can make someone want to succeed more than that. “Being able to share the knowledge, is great when you know a sport.”  It’s a constantly busy organization and it’s something you have to make sure you are willing to fight

Ronnie Brewer Profile Story.

While the Holidays are fast approaching there’s one thing that is getting Chicago sports fans ready for Christmas this year, basketball. The NBA lockout was affecting many people this year but people like Ronnie Brewer Jr. kept hope, continuing his workouts all summer in hopes the lockout would end with any type of a season left at all. “All I can say is that I’m glad to be back at work,” Brewer on the lockout lift.

For Brewer, basketball wasn’t always something he thought himself of playing, “The love for the game grew with the relationships and friendships that came about with the coaches and players and the competitiveness which allow me to play today,” he explained.   Born on March 20, 1985 in Portland, Oregon his father, Ronnie Brewer Sr. wanted him to play baseball and to create his own path and not be compared to him while growing up because he had also played basketball in the NBA. He did try baseball and was good at it but it wasn’t anything he loved. He wanted to do everything his older siblings did and so, he did just that, which has led to his on growing basketball career. Although criticized by some others praise his unique shot caused by an accident in the 5th grade, in which he broke his arm on the water slide. It healed properly but affected the way he shot the ball and has been shooting that way ever since.

Declaring early for the draft in 2006 Brewer didn’t finish his last year of college at Arkansas, he thought that this summer with the lockout he would go overseas to play but his mother, Carolyn Brewer, thought differently and encouraged him to go back and finish his final year.

A moment he will never forget and the biggest highlight of his career, the 2006 NBA draft, “Having my friends and family with me in NYC for the draft and hearing them call my name, greatest moment thus far,” he described. Being drafted by the Utah Jazz was the start to his NBA career. He slowly became their main shooting guard until 2010 where he was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies for a short 5 months before agreeing to a deal with the Chicago Bulls. Brewer loves Chicago and its atmosphere, the fans, the team and the coaches but when it came to the weather, Brewer couldn’t express that same love, “I’m still trying to get used to the weather, not a fan of that just yet.”

While only doing marketing and promotions, for Brewer, for a year, Knyja Reed said Brewer would do anything within reason for his fans, “He loves his fans and feels very blessed to have them, “she said, which may be the reason other than the love for his community in starting the “Brew Crew.” In 2006 he started the Ronnie Brewer Foundation which goes hand in hand in helping the community both in Chicago and back in Arkansas. “It’s my intuition that you have to know where you’re from before you know where you want to go in life,” he described. He is not only very active in giving back to the communities around the holiday season but also has scholarships for local high school and university students; he has an annual Brew Crew basketball camp and an annual Ronnie Brewer Foundation dinner. He has also been a great guy when it came to a local signings in the Chicago land area. He was extremely friendly and great to fans, Alan G. a worker from the signing at Fans Edge said, “He was very down to earth and was so easy to talk to; it’s those kinds of athletes that really stand out as keepers and Chicagoans hope stick around.”

Newish Job

So since living in Chicago i got a job at the most amazing sports store. Well i love it. We just had a signing at the store and usually i am on the other end of those. I always thought while being at them though like man it would be pretty cool to work one and see what it's like, right? It went great and everything it was for a basketball player, Ronnie Brewer of the Chicago Bulls.Although basketball was never really my sport and i don't religiously watch it he really was a class act guy and very niceand may have changed my wanting to pay attention more,that and my crazy basketball player and lover of the sport roommate of course. I also made chocolate covered strawberries for the event and they were a "Great Success!" Well for now i just thought i would make this great discovery until my later story will come, a
profile on Brewer. I'm in the process of talking with him and have to get it all together. ESPN here i come wednesday to tour you, make my dreams come true!
Over and Out, Candice

DEFENSE.

Chicago's defense has been SUPERB! They have been not only scoring points but playing both defensivly and offensivly great. Nick Leddy has been ultra impressive, Montador has been a beast. The whole team itself has been playing all around better then a couple of the "fluke" like games they had.
I have a feeling this circus trip is going to be one of there best get some bonding going on and some great chemistry going. They got some canuckle heads to tend too!

Polar Plunge

My dearest family and friends, it's here again. I am mentally preparing for the Polar Plunge that will take place in February. I have HUGE goals this year compared to the last 2 years so I’m getting a head start in November to make sure i can raise as much as i can for such a great cause. I personally don't have any family members who are a part of this program but i have raised money for it for 2 years and know how much it means to all of those who are a part of the huge event, they are all amazing people and deserve to do what they love just as much as anyone! I will be doing everything i can to raise money this year to make sure i can top my previous years, so PLEASE have a warm heart and do what you can to help an amazing fundraising organization reach their goal. I will again be joining a Blackhawks player in this event but it is not revealed yet who the lucky guy will be, and we will make sure he actually goes in this year (John Scott.) We are going to want to be the team that raises the most! It is not only raising money for such a good cause but I meet wonderful people doing it some of which are my close friends. It’s a great event and great opportunity to make a difference and do it Freezing your, well you know. Anything will help, so please tell your friends, tell your neighbors, heck tell the next person you see!

You can do it in one of two ways:
1. Cash donations I will collect for a while and then I put them online with your names on the amount along with it.2. Visit my awesome site and follow the steps on there.
 http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/candice-martens/2012-polar-plunge-evanston
                                                                            Thank You So Much, CANDICE!

Check it out the first time interviewed from the PLUNGE! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AdVjV8sJPw

WinnBos.

It was just as excciting as flying to Atlanta last november, seeing some old guys (Ladd, Buff.) Not only is it officially my game of the season to always go to now but it was an actual really good game. I mean it put us on the edge of our seats right off the bat with them getting a lead on us but both teams played a good strong game. So happy i got to be there for it, it was weird everyone just kept talkking about buff being back and stuff but to me i was like umm hello ladd left and took over a team? Did we forget he was one of my favorite players, yet another player i called in his success, i swear people should listen to me more just like the organization should really give me tickets to the whole season, on account they win all the games i'm at...am i right? of course i am.
Much like tonights game against Boston, the boys looked really GOOD, i was extremley pleased with how they played. Never been a fan of the shootout determining the game, i can't say they aren't exciting and nail bitting but i like it as an entertainment thing not to determine who gets the extra point. Nothing is like an original six match up i feel as if we should play them more throughout the season, but who am i to say.
Can't wait for next saturday, we play the Av's at home and the Hull/Kita staues will be reveiled, Oh man exciting!
Found out i get free NHL for the month of october yesterday, WHAT and noone told me!? Now i can watch hockey all day everyday, thank you coworkers! Really can it get better than that?
That's all folks. Far well for now.

Random.

Man in the last couple of days a lot has gone on, well i think. ESPN's Sarah Spain wrote an article about Chicago female fans giving other sports areas a run for their money because we mean buisness, which we do! Anyways she mentioned me in it which was cool i told her a cool story of my die hardness and she mentioned it a little, unfortunatley some girl had sent a picture of her shrine in so she got more of the spotlight but hey fellow hawks lover i could care less as long as shes a real fan of the game, right and her shrine is just as amazing as mine so it's like how could i be mad she is awesome! I have the link posted her so you can check it out, pretty amazing.

http://espn.go.com/espnw/commentary/7089966/sarah-spain-windy-city-boasts-most-die-hard-female-fans

Today the two patricks went to a downtown Qdoba to film a commercial for blackhawks tv, so i figured hey i live downtown why not go check it out right? Well i did, it was pretty cool and fun to see and say hey i was at that, but i mean to many puck bunny type girls there, not fun. Didn't get a free burrito but it's okay i'm fine with it although we were rather hungry, no big deal. haha but now it was a fun situation and intresting to watch and see how big these guys really are down here, they are literally treated like celebrities and it's insane, i love it, they deserve it!

Ahh, tomorrow is game 3 for the boys against Winnipeg and i am proud to say i will be rockin in the madhouse tomorrow. Get to see not only my boys but my boys from Winni too, Ladd, thank goodness!
Thought i'd do a little update there will be great hockey stories tomorrow after the game, so be alert the one of you that read this. Ta-Ta for now.