Thursday, May 04, 2006

Oakland Raiders Legend Michael Dotterer's Advice To The New Raider Draftees - Video

Oakland Raiders running back Michael Dotterer -- who was also on the Stanford team that lost to Cal because of "The Play" in the 1982 Big Game -- has been my friend for about 11 years now. He played for the Silver and Black during their LA years and was part of the 1984 Super Bowl Championship Team. He is also one of only 24 two-sport all stars in Stanford University history.

During my trip to the NFL Draft, I asked Mike if I could do a kind of walking interview of him and his advice for the Raiders newest draftees on the eve of the NFL Draft. He was more than happy to allow this. The result is a talk and walk through Midtown Manhattan on the way to dinner at The 21 Club restaurant. My favorite.

Along the way, Mike reveals that his Raiders roommate was none other than the legendary Lyle Alzado, a true character and so much in the Raider mold it's easy to forget he played for the Denver Broncos. Mike also instructs rookies to listen.

We covered a lot of ground and in more ways than one.

Here's my conversation with Michael Dotterer:

"Beyond The Call" - Adrian Belic and Michael Dotterer Introduce Adrian's New Film "Beyond The Call" At The Tribeca Film Festival

Last Friday I had the pleasure of attending the premier of a new film called "Beyond The Call" at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City. It's a really good and moving work about three ex-military Americans who travel around the world making sure that food and other resources get right to the people who need it.

My friend Michael Dotterer's helping Adrian market the film, and so I thought I'd take a video of Adrian and Michael talking about a documentary that's certainly oscar-material.

This is the first of three videos on the movie.

Here's the video:

Wednesday, May 03, 2006

Prom Hairstyles - It's That Time Of Year!


You can tell what America's doing just by a simple visit to The Lycos 50, a website that tracks the most popular searches conducted with engines like, well, Lycos.

The most popular search this week is for something as simple as prom hairstyles. What's number one in that category? Click on the title of this post to find out.

Proof that NBA Basketball Is a Contact Sport - Watch Your Mid Section

Last Saturday, Reggie Evans had the nerve to do something that may be considered ok only in the ranchiest of gay bars (Heck, I don't know.) What did he do? Click on NBA Business Blog to find out.

"BuziBUZZ" - BuziBuZZ: My Friend J. Randy Gordon's Book Is Out -- And It's A Hit!

At the EA Sports Super Bowl party in Detroit, I ran into my friend Leigh Steinberg, who knows a thing or three about the "buzz" business and was the boss of my good friend J. Randy Gordon, who's just finished and released his long awaited book "BusiBUZZ."

"When is his book coming out!?" Leigh asked.

Well, it's out.

I don't write this just because he's my friend and I'm biased, but as a follower of the Zeitgeist, this is it! He's got the one book you want. I know you've wanted that one book full of all the popular saying's you've been within earshot of someone uttering: "Close The Deal," "et It Across The Goal Line" , "I'm shagged", "I need to drop a bomb." They're all here and many you never knew existed.

I decided to have fun with Randy and his book, so I interviewed him at a great place: The Golden Gate Perk Cafe in San Francisco on Bush near Kearny. This talk is laced with the buzz words that appear in his book, and it's fun to hear.

Check out Randy Gordon talking with me about his new book "BuziBuzz" then go out and buy it!

Here's the video, followed by a press release about the book, BusiBUZZ. (As a note, the video is a LARGE file, which may take a few minutes to load depending on browser and service. Go get some wine, then come back. Also, YouTube may be down for service, too!)




New Book Exposes the 'Real' Language Heard in Today's Boardroom

More than 5,000 Buzzwords and Catch Phrases Brought to the Forefront by
Marketing Executive, J. Randy Gordon in His Book, BusiBUZZ(TM): Business
Buzzwords for Survivin' and Thrivin' in the Big City

LOS ANGELES, April 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Whether it's "going after the low
hanging fruit," or "fast tracking the project," America's boardroom
maintains its very own corporate speak and first-time author, J. Randy
Gordon has captured it in his book, BusiBUZZ(TM): Business Buzzwords for
Survivin' and Thrivin' in the Big City (Booksurge Press -- an amazon.com
company). With more than 5,000 buzzwords, catch phrases, euphemisms, short
anecdotes and general business speak, BusiBUZZ(TM) discloses a
"behind-the-scenes" view of the interaction that's taking place in the
executive offices of corporate America.
With the foreword written by famed sports agent and author Leigh
Steinberg, BusiBUZZ(TM) goes where no outsider has gone before -- the inner
sanctum of the business world's most exclusive circles. Readers will
experience corporate-speak at its best -- ranging from negotiation
terminology to the daily vernacular reflected in various industries found
in such words or phrases as "podcasts," "traction," "going nano,"
"hotspots," "blogging" and "mash-ups," among thousands more.
"This book will hopefully level the playing field for many people in
business or just getting started in the business world," said Gordon.
"Boardroom chatter is not necessarily a secret code but it's easy to feel
as though your colleagues are speaking an unfamiliar language. I've made it
easier to feel a part of the inner circle."
Gordon, who has held positions at some very prestigious companies
including The Coca-Cola Company, Sony Computer Entertainment America,
Universal McCann and Ubisoft Entertainment, recorded more than 15 years of
executive daily dialogue and interaction by listening to those around him
and attending meetings, conferences and interviews.
"Every profession and field has its own lexicon and jargon which needs
translation," commented Leigh Steinberg, CEO, Leigh Steinberg Enterprises.
"In the world of sports representation, language can either serve as either
a barrier or a bridge. With so many catch phrases in today's sports lingo,
one needs a vivid imagination just to keep up."
The book, BusiBUZZ(TM): Business Buzzwords For Survivin' and Thrivin'
in the Big City, is available for purchase on http://www.booksurge.com for $19.95
and will soon be available on Amazon.com. The ISBN number is:
1-4196-2124-6.

2006 NFL Draft - Sights And Sounds Before The Start Of The Draft

I took my camcorder on a kind of tour around the main theater of Radio City Music Hall just before the start of the NFL Draft. It was kind of like the crew of the Starship Enterprise preparing the big vessel before it leaves drydock. A cool scene.

During my rounds I reconnected with Todd Barnes, who, with Jerry Andersen formed the plans for the use of the Oakland / Alameda County Coliseum for the 2005 Super Bowl in1999-2000. He's a very nice person, who's landed well as the architect for the NFL. The segment where I almost ran into him wasn't fake -- it really happened.

I also feature Bill Chachkes, who as you know if you regularly read this has attended more NFL drafts than perhaps all but a handful of people in the room. I also catch ESPN's Mike Golic, who at the 2005 NFL Draft was tossing his cookies to the audience. No kidding. (He later told me that security really got on him for that, so he didn't do it this time.)

I also met Jerry Davis, Al Davis brother, whom I refered to earlier. You can see how much he's really like the man who runs the Oakland Raiders.

You also see both ESPN's crew and the NFL Network's hosts getting ready to go into action.

Along the tour one can gain a keen idea of the complexity of this massive production.

Here's the video:

Tiger Woods' Father Passes Of Prostate Cancer At 74 - I Feel His Pain

I just learned that Tiger Woods' father Earl Woods passed on from prostate cancer at 74. Last year, I lost both my father and stepfather to that something I hate so much.

For us a black men, hit hardest by prostate cancer, it's very important to get annual PSA level checks, eat as much fish as possible, stay fit and not overweight, and keep vitamins in our system and our blood pressure low.

I think we can beat this thing if we try.

Tiger's father got to see his son at his best. I'm sure he went to rest in peace.