Re: The Career of Bryan Hurst (MLB 09)
Started taking PED's I see.
Started taking PED's I see.
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Originally posted by slickdtc
No context needed -
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Re: The Career of Bryan Hurst (MLB 09)
The story of Bryan Hurst serves as a great read day in and day out - I've even bookmarked it!
What's your contract status at the moment?CUBS & BEARS
...all the other teams? I'm just not that interested.
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Re: The Career of Bryan Hurst (MLB 09)
This is freakin' hilarious. Following.MLB: Tampa Bay Rays
NFL: Tampa Bay Bucs
NHL: Tampa Bay Lightning
NCAA: Florida Gators
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Re: The Career of Bryan Hurst (MLB 09)
I haven't followed in awhile, but I think I'm going to try checking this out again. Good luck!NFL: Bills
NBA: Bucks
MLB: Cubs
NCAA: Syracuse
Soccer: USMNT/DC United
PSN: ButMyT-GunDontComment
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MLB: Tampa Bay Rays
NFL: Tampa Bay Bucs
NHL: Tampa Bay Lightning
NCAA: Florida Gators
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Re: The Career of Bryan Hurst (MLB 09)
I started reading this yesterday and I had to read through the whole thing it was so entertaining. Good job and keep it up. You've inspired me to maybe try a similar thing.
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Re: The Career of Bryan Hurst (MLB 09)
Thanks for following. I look forward to reading your dynasty.Comment
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Re: The Career of Bryan Hurst (MLB 09)
July 9, 2010
When he hung up the phone Robert Stankinson realized he had made a gigantic mistake mentioning Bryan Hurst’s name.
The afternoon had started started so well. Stankinson basked in the thought that he could sell anything to anyone. You just had to know your customer. If you knew your customer well enough you should be able to sell him something he doesn’t even want.
Those rules were as true today as the day he learned it taking a Masters of Business Administration at The Wharton School of Business. It had served him well after graduation for 10 years as a sales executive. It had all led to his dream job: Sales, Major League Baseball International Operations.
It was easy to sell Major League Baseball packages to international markets. The premier events like the World Series and All-Star Game could be sold to just about any country in the world.
But a minor league game? That’s where you had to know your customer. It was Stankinson’s job to convince international television networks to purchase the rights to the Futures Game that was part of Major League Baseball’s All-Star Week. The Futures Games was an exhibition game played at the All-Star Game venue between a team of top minor league prospects from the United States and a team of prospects from other parts of the World on the Sunday before the Tuesday Summer Classic.
It was about 1 pm when Stankinson got the phone call. A phone call that was about to make Bryan Hurst, a happy man, and Stankinson a total wreck.
The phone call was from Roger Trenton, an executive with Sportsnet, a Canadian national sports broadcaster which had purchased the rights to the All-Star Game, Home Run Derby and the Futures Game.
“We’ve decided we’re not going to broadcast the Futures Game,” said Trenton. “I know we bought the rights months ago but we’ve had a change of heart, there’s simply no market for it.”
“But you paid for it months ago,” said Stankinson.
“We’re not looking for a refund, but under the contract if we buy it and don’t air it, we’re allowed a discount on certain future properties,” said Trenton.
Wonderful, thought Stankinson, there goes my commission for that sale.
The international market for the Futures Game was small. It was a tough sell, and to entice broadcasters to buy it, MLB had agreed to insert language in the contracts that allowed them to buy the rights to the Game but get a discount on other Major League Baseball properties if they decided not to broadcast it.
Stankinson couldn’t believe Sportsnet was going to exercise that right just two days before the Futures Game on July 11. He couldn’t believe they had something better to air on a Sunday night in the summer. He couldn’t believe that he been foolish enough to purchase a kidney-shaped pool with a jaccuzzi before having the commission cheque in his hand.
“Oh, come on, Roger. Who wouldn’t want to watch baseball on a Sunday night in the summer?” Stankinson asked. “Show the game. Think of all those Blue Jay fans who are going to want to see their top prospect.”
Every team in the Major Leagues had a prosect at the game and Sportsnet was owned by Rogers Communications which also owned the Toronto Blue Jays.
“No, we’re going to air the Ontario Junior Hockey League draft instead,” said Trenton.
“What in the world is the Ontario Junior Hockey League draft?” asked Stankinson. He realized he had broken that rule he held dear: He didn’t know a thing about this customer.
“It’s where 13- and 14-year olds are drafted by Ontario Hockey League teams. The coaches go up to a podium and announce who they have selected. I mean the players themselves aren’t actually there so there won’t be much of an emotion angle. We’re just going to do it in a studio,” said Trenton.
Stankinson pictured his backyard with a big hole in the middle. He saw all the trucks and all the workers leaving his house. He saw his two small children playing in a plastic wading pool, crying. He saw his wife having a glass of wine with his Spanish neighbour in his Fuzion 7200 jacuzzi with the jets going full blast and his neighbour’s hands going even faster, moving closer to his wife.
Stankinson shuttered.
“Sounds about as exciting as a Canadian Football League draft,” said Stankinson. He could feel the room getting darker.
“No, it’s not that good. But people love hockey up here,” said Trenton. “I mean people kind of like baseball. They like watching Canadians like Joey Votto and seeing his success but this year’s Futures Game has no Canadians.”
Stankinson tapped on his computer frantically, searching for Canadian minor leaguers.
“Roger, what if there was a Canadian in the game? Would you be interested then,” Stankinson said.
“I don’t know. Who do you mean?” said Trenton.
Stankinson searched the database on his computer but it was as slow as a lineup for the bathroom at the old age home. He tried to think of a Canadian minor leaguer but he couldn’t. Finally it hit him.
“You remember that kid last year who was on ESPN for yelling in the dugout at his manager,” said Stankinson. It was a sensation at the time and he vaguely remembered that kid was Canadian.
“Oh, yeah, I remember that. Kid’s name was Hurst. Bill or Bradley. A real fighting spirit. People loved that kind of attitude. Good Canadian kid, standing up to his American boss. Great story angle. I heard he got called up to Triple A this season.”
That’s good news, thought Stankinson. Any Triple A player could be considered a top prospect for the purposes of the Futures Game. His computer chirped to life and he tapped in the words Hurst and Triple Aon his keyboard.
“What if we get Hurst into the game? You air it then?” Stankinson said. The pool was coming into focus now, sensational bright blue water glimmering in the sun as his children laughed and splashed in delight.
“Sure, we can get advertisers for that. We’ll show it. But the rosters have already been set. Can you change them this late?” asked Trenton.
Stankinson’s computer found the name: Bryan Hurst.
“No, problem,” lied Stankinson. “We’ll move Heaven and Earth for Bryan Hurst to get to the game.” He wondered how fast concrete could be poured to make the foundation for his pool.
“Yeah, Bryan, that’s the kid’s name. We’ll even send a reporter to interview him. Okay, we’ll stick to the original deal and broadcast the Futures Game,” said Trenton.
Stankinson’s computer showed the stats for Hurst: a .218 batting average, two home runs and just 11 RBIs.
“Great,” said Stankinson, dropping the phone in disbelief. It landed right in the phone’s receiver, cutting off the call.
What have I done, he thought. How am I going to justify this player going to this game?Comment
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Re: The Career of Bryan Hurst (MLB 09)
Lol this should be good.
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