Podcasts about Sullivan Award

The 16:9 PODCAST IS SPONSORED BY SCREENFEED – DIGITAL SIGNAGE CONTENT This podcast is a bit different, as I am on the other side of the interview table - answering questions instead of asking them. That's because this is the last Sixteen:Nine podcast with me as the host. I've been doing Sixteen:Nine for almost 20 years, and the podcast version for the last nine. I'm retiring. I'm 67 and it is time to slow the hell down. I'm not leaving the industry, entirely. Just dialing back to a few side hustle gigs and other work, working more when the weather gets cold in my part of the world and I'm looking for distractions and extra money that will get Joy and I away from that cold weather for a bit. Think of this as my exit interview, done with my friends in Munich at invidis, who have been longtime content partners and will now edit and manage Sixteen:Nine. This makes me happy, as I didn't want to just stop what I think is a valued part of this business. Subscribe from wherever you pick up new podcasts. TRANSCRIPT Balthasar Mayer: Welcome to the Sixteen:Nine podcast. This is Balthasar Mayer.  Antonia Hamberger: This is Antonia Hamberger.  Balthasar Mayer: We have a very special guest today. He is the bullshit filter of the digital signage industry. He's the head, heart, and driving force behind Sixteen:Nine, one of the rare people who manages to produce a trade publication that makes you laugh and gives you something to learn at the same time. He also keeps the digital signage industry with his beloved industry mixes at trade shows, and he's never afraid to cut through marketing fluff and speak his mind and now he's retiring, and we are very happy to have him here on the podcast. Welcome, Dave Haynes. Thank you.  Dave Haynes: Yes, I was joking. This is the exit interview. It's like leaving a company.  Antonia Hamberger: It is the exit interview, and we were thinking about just turning things around. Your blog is called Sixteen:Nine, and we're now doing the Nine:Sixteen edition. You'll get nine questions where we just let you ramble on a bit about your career, and then you'll get sixteen questions where you'll give us rapid-fire answers. Dave Haynes: Alright, I'm drinking Vice beer because I'm in Munich so this could get salty by the end of it.  Balthasar Mayer: That is our goal to make it salty, and interesting at the same time.  Antonia Hamberger: Dave, you've been doing this blog for 20 years. You've been in the industry for even longer than that. So I guess I'm wondering what made you go into digital signage? How did this happen in the first place?  Dave Haynes: I was in the newspaper industry. I was a daily newspaper reporter. I started in 1979 at the Winnipeg Free Press, and my first job out of school, working for a newspaper, was covering the rock music scene. So my first three years in the newspaper, I was interviewing rock bands like Billy Joel, Ozzy Osbourne, you name it, back in the early 80s, late 70s, just about anybody who was big at that time. I did an interview with them, which was quite interesting. At times, you would get lovely people and sometimes you'd get absolute a-holes, and everything in between.  Antonia Hamberger: Probably also a lot of drunk people, drunk rock stars?  Dave Haynes: Ozzy definitely was impaired, and Billy Joel, he stopped in Winnipeg on the first stop on his North American tour back in 1981 or something and he was just off a plane from New York, he and his band, and they had a press event at a Holiday Inn in Winnipeg, and he was very tipsy. He'd been having cocktails all the way from New York. So that was pretty interesting. I've had a number of those kinds of interviews.  So anyways, then I continued in newspapers for several years, became an editor, and got bored with being an editor in a market where not a lot of bad things happened, and as a journalist, you're not praying for bad things to happen, but they're much more interesting to write about than calm, stable situation. When the newspaper started talking about doing new media, getting into digital, I stuck my hand up and said, I'll do it. So I took the newspaper online in 1995, one of the first North American papers to go online, and did that for four years and reported directly to the publisher and nobody on the executive team, including the publisher, bought into my concerns that this was going to be a problem for newspapers. They just tended to think this was a passing fancy. It wasn't really gonna happen. So, I just got frustrated and left and weirdly went to work for a company called Elevator News Network that was putting digital screens, LCD panels in elevators, office tower elevators in 1999. Very complicated, very expensive. I started out as the GM for Western Canada, but pretty quickly became Vice President of Operations for the whole show. So I was putting screens in 70-story office towers in the elevator shops, in the shafts, and running all the cabling in the elevator shafts, and very expensive, very complicated, and very frustrating because you're dealing with unionized labor. With elevator companies, where they wanted to charge you $250 to stand there and watch you, that sort of thing. So I did that. There was a shotgun merger with another company in the US that was doing that, and I walked off the plank with the rest of the Canadian management team and found myself looking around, going, okay, now what do I do? And I ended up starting my own digital out-of-home media company, putting screens in. Public walkways in the underground walkways at downtown Toronto which was a great idea, but probably ten years too early because I would go to advertising agencies and say, I'm doing this, and they would look at me like… What? Digital out-of-home was just not a thing back then. So I was the dreaded pioneer lying in a field with arrows in my back, having done that. So I didn't make a lot of money out of that, and my wife, bless her, said it would be great if we had an income. So I started working for what is now known as ComQi. At the time, it was called Digital View, and then it became EnQi, and then it became ComQi, and I was a business development person. So I was doing sales and looking around going, how did a guy who used to interview Rock bands become a sales guy for a software company?  But I did that and went over to Broadsign because they offered me more money and then the Great Recession hit in 2008-2009, and that was that was it for salespeople. That company, Broadsign, ran into deep problems at that point. They totally rose back up like a phoenix, and they are a powerhouse now, but at the time, they were in trouble. So that was 2009, and I decided, okay, do I wanna work for somebody else or do what am I gonna do? And I just decided to go out on my own and start just doing writing and some consulting, things like that. But early on, when I was still with Digital View, I decided to just look at the industry and the level of “thought leadership” that was available at the time. It wasn't very good. A lot of it was just nonsensical or badly written, and I thought, okay, I understand this space at this point. I've been doing it for seven years. I know how to write. So I just, for the hell of it, I just started Sixteen:Nine, and never thought that this would be something that would define my career, my later-stage career for many years, and be like a full-time job, and generate real money. So it just happened.  Antonia Hamberger: But we're all glad it took that turn for you, Dave, because I don't think anybody would take you for a good salesperson. I think you're much better off as an editor and publisher. Because you would just say the truth and would probably offend a lot of people. Dave Haynes: That was one of my problems when I was doing business development. If we lost a deal, if I could understand why the target company went in a different direction, I would be fine with it, and I think to be a really good business development person or “salesperson”, you've gotta just want to be a killer. You just wanna win every deal, and it doesn't matter whether you're the right solution, you just wanna win the deal and my mind doesn't work that way. I probably wasn't best suited to it.  Balthasar Mayer: So just to understand, you founded Sixteen:Nine in 2006, and then you went full-time on it in 2009?  Dave Haynes: I wouldn't say by 2009, I was full-time, but I liked doing it every day. But it wasn't necessarily my main thing. It was just something that I'd been doing, and I kept on doing it because I felt, so I had, at that point, I had a following, and it felt something of an obligation to do it. In the first few years, I would have a Google ad on there, and every quarter, I would get like $37 or something from Google ads. But then I started getting questions saying, “Hey, can we advertise on this?” And so I would just get inbound, and that just built up and built up to become inbound. It took a while, but it was all inbound as opposed to me shaking trees. It took a while, and it was like making real money, and it was something that would be a proper income for me. At which point, I was able to back off doing much in the way of consulting or writing for hire and just mostly do Sixteen:Nine.  Antonia Hamberger: For somebody who's been in the industry only a few years, I'm wondering what the industry was like when you first came into it, and what you hoped to contribute? Dave Haynes: It was very embryonic. A few people understood it. When people would ask what I did, and I would tell them digital signage, they would just have to give me a sort of tilted head and say… Huh?   Antonia Hamberger: I still have to explain it on a weekly basis to people outside the industry. So I can't imagine what it was like 15 years ago. Dave Haynes: There are so many more reference cases now, whereas before you would have to say, you might be in a store, and you might see this. Now it's like everywhere. So I just have the digital menus in any quick service restaurant that's digital signage, and posters that you see on the sidewalks that's digital out-of-home/digital signage, and they go, okay, I get it. In those days, it was very expensive. Few people understood it. There were far fewer vendors. A lot of the companies that were providing software in particular were companies that had, in a lot of cases adapted that software from other purposes like broadcast and turned that into something that would also work on as sometimes described a narrow cast, just like narrowly defined network as opposed to something sent out everywhere. It was in those days not well known, not well understood, and I just felt that the writing that was available back in 2006 was a lot of buzzword bingo stuff, crossing the chasm, paradigm shift, all these nonsense phrases out of business books, and I just thought, if somebody's just gotta write something that says, here's this thing, here's why they're doing it, here's what's good about it, here's what I think is problematic and how it could be done better. So, it was a little bit of my, I don't wanna say bully pulpit, but it was a way to express my advice without being mean or anything else..  Antonia Hamberger: Were there any trends you predicted really early on that then became true or didn't?  Dave Haynes: Oh, I saw everything. I would say more than anything else, you could see that whereas in the early stages, it was something that was nice to do, I clearly saw that this was going to be something that was needed to do for a company. It was going to be mission-critical. It was just going to be fundamental to how retailers and other businesses designed a space in the same way that they're thinking about their furnishings, thinking about their lighting, their HVAC system and everything else, they're gonna start thinking about, okay, where does the digital fit?  And in the early days, it was to build a space and then look for empty space on a wall and go, okay, we'll put the screens there, even though in a lot of cases it wasn't the appropriate place to put it. I'd say the other thing was pretty obvious, and I started writing about this in 2011 but I could see LED was gonna come and come hard and start to supplant flat panel displays just because of all the benefits and the flexibility that I have. I invested a lot of time in in the last few years, went to Taiwan and China and everything else to visit factories and really fully understand what it is as opposed to just writing about it and taking what the manufacturers are saying because manufacturers as is their way, their marketing people tend to fledge the facts and play pretty fast and loose with what something is versus what it really is.  Antonia Hamberger: In a lot of cases, they don't even know what it really is.  Dave Haynes: This is true. It's the thing about the digital science industry. A lot of the companies still are run by technical people, engineers, electrical engineers, software developers, and everything else. They're not good marketers. Then they hire people to do their marketing for them, and those people with some notable exceptions, don't understand a damn thing about the space. So they just parrot what their executives say, which is far too technical and people don't understand it, and I always try to bang on people that if you're going to market your product, for God's sake, provide some relevance and context and to use my Canadian term, give me an explanation as to why I should give a crap about this and why should I care?  Antonia Hamberger: I guess that's a thing that a lot of companies in the digital signage space struggle with. Finding those people who want to understand their product on a technical level. But we don't just wanna bash in the digital signage industry because there's a lot of great things in the industry, and. So what's your favorite thing about the industry?  Dave Haynes: If we're talking in technical terms, I am impressed and encouraged and excited by how LED in particular is opening up all kinds of new possibilities to start to think in terms of displays being a building material, being a finish, being the curtain wall glass, being something that's a full exterior of a building. That gets way beyond just this idea of a screen on a wall, which is how this industry was defined for a whole bunch of years.  Thinking about the industry, it's a relatively small industry. Even though we tend to think that it's giant and it's booming and everything else, in pure terms, it's very small compared to most technology industries. But that means you get to know a lot of people all over the world, and there's no shortage of knuckleheads, but I would say by and large, it's full of really great people, and because it's a small industry and it gets together two or three times a year at different events, I've got to know people all over the world and develop friendships with people all over the world that I never do at all in doing other work, which is fantastic. I'm friends with the Invidis folks, and here I am in Munich having a beer.  Antonia Hamberger: Yeah, and we're always glad to have you. But you've also done a lot of trips over the years, right? You went to Taiwan. You visited some display manufacturers last year. Dave Haynes: Yeah, I spent a week in Taiwan in October.  Antonia Hamberger: So what was the best work trip you had during all that time?  Dave Haynes: The best trip I had. I did an extended consulting gig on digital signage for a mobile carrier, a telecoms company in South Africa, and I went down there three times. I never would've gone to South Africa. It's very expensive. It's a long flight and everything else, but I was there for, I think, six or eight weeks, I forget now, and so I spent a lot of time in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and that was absolutely fantastic, and it was just something I never would've done otherwise. I would say the most interesting stuff has been going to Asia just because that's where it all emanates, and I think the second time I went to Hong Kong was when LEDs were really starting to come out. It was kind of a big moment for me in that I don't like to go to tourist places, although all of Hong Kong is really a tourist place, but I like to go off the beaten track, where you don't see all the people with their cameras and everything else and I was just walking in this district and saw over a nightclub entrance, a very large billboard, a LED billboard, that in North America would be a press release. There'd be all kinds of buzz about it, because look at the signs of that.  Antonia Hamberger: In Germany, let me tell you that will be the breaking news, the news of the year.  Balthasar Mayer: Talk of the digital signage town. Dave Haynes: But there, it was just there, and it really told me that, okay, this is where this is gonna go where it just becomes commonplace. Because it was already there, and when you go to Asia, it's way over the top from what I've seen from a distance in China. I've been to China, but I haven't been in several years now, pre-COVID covid where you see entire skylines that've got LED lighting. Whether it's mesh lighting or they've got larger lighting that's illuminating the whole building, but entire skylines that are synchronized. I don't really want that in whatever city I live in with all the light pollution. It looks amazing, but it's not appealing in another way, but China, Taiwan. Hong Kong and Seoul, all those areas really are instructive as to the possibilities, as well as Dubai. But Dubai's just insane.  I don't think that's a marker or an instruction of anything. It's just a crazy place.  Antonia Hamberger: No, it just also has tons of money in that place.  Dave Haynes: The building tires skyscrapers on a change order.  Antonia Hamberger: Dave, was there ever a particular moment when you realized that your blog really has influence, because I know almost everybody in the North American proAV and digital signage industry knows you and reads you. But that has taken a while. So was there a moment when you?  Dave Haynes: Oh, it was immediate. Antonia Hamberger: Yeah? Oh.  Dave Haynes: No. There were a couple of moments. Early on, I said I'd gone from one company, with Broadsign, and I went up to Montreal to do the interview. They'd approached me, and I was walking the hallways, and one guy came around the corner and said, “Oh, Dave Haynes, I read your stuff” and I went, oh, really?  Antonia Hamberger: This is something we still have to achieve still.  Balthasar Mayer: Yes, this is a big goal for us. Did you ever sign an autograph? Dave Haynes: I have signed autographs which is absolutely bizarre. I was asked, can you sign your business card because there's somebody back in the office that'll just be thrilled and I go, really? I don't want to see what's gone wrong in your life, but the big thing that has always stuck with me is the number of times that companies have told me that part of their onboarding process now for new employees is, there's the parking lot, here's your parking assignment, here's this, that's your desk, here's your wifi password, and so on, here are the instructions for healthcare and this and that, but here's what you need to do on a daily basis, you need to subscribe to this thing, and you need to be reading it every day to stay current in this industry. I've had dozens of people tell me that I'm just kind of part of their workplace operations that they've told people as part of learning this business, you need to be reading this every day, and yeah, that's always been really heartening and nice to hear.  Antonia Hamberger: So apart from reading Sixteen:Nine every day, which is an obvious thing to do as part of your daily routine, what advice would you give to someone just entering the industry?  Dave Haynes: Learn it. The flip side of what I was just saying is I'm always astonished at how many people I run into who've been in this industry for ten years or more, and they had no idea about Sixteen:Nine or something else that they're not learning about their industry, and I'm flabbergasted by that. How can you work in an industry without investing any time to learn emerging technologies and trends and everything else?  I would say just invest the time. Make sure you invest the time to read about it and look at things with curiosity, but also with a degree of skepticism because as you guys well know, there's a lot of trade press and a lot of PR that's just cheerleading. It's just shaking the pompoms about, “This is amazing” and “This is world's first” and all that. I've spent 18 years calling bullshit on things that it's not the world's first, and if it is, who cares? It can be the world's first, but it has no business application. It's just eye candy.  So spend the time looking at stuff. Try to get your head past the wow factor and the eye candy side of things because we collectively go to trade shows and we will see people at certain stands, I won't name them, but they're slack jaws staring at this technology there going, oh my God, that's amazing…  Antonia Hamberger: Did I hear the word hologram just now?  Dave Haynes: I didn't say it but…  Antonia Hamberger: I saw you thinking it! Dave Haynes: Yes. It is just thinking about what the business application is, what you're gonna do with it, and get past whether you think it's amazing looking because as I've said for years and years, eye candy and wow factor have very short shelf lives. They're exciting the first time you see it, second time it's eh, third time you just walk right on by it. And that's a lot of money to spend on something that people aren't really paying attention to.  Some of the best digital signage out there. I started using the term boring signage a few years ago. Some of the best digital signage is crushingly boring, but incredibly relevant to the people who are looking at it. Like, how busy is this washroom? Do I turn left or right? Is this lineup faster if I go this way or that way? It's just data, but it's immediately relevant to the people who want to know this. They don't need to see a hologram of somebody dancing or whatever, or pretending they're a security control agent. They just need something saying, “This line over here” because we're using AI to measure or computer vision to measure the density of lineups that this one's gonna take five minutes. The one you're right in front of right now is gonna take you 12 minutes, so they're gonna go to the left, down to the other one, and that's gonna load, balance the venue, which is awesome. It just makes operations better, but for the people who are all about the eye candy, it's not not very exciting. But it works. It beautifully serves its purpose.  Antonia Hamberger: So learn about the industry. Take your time, learning everything you can. Learn about new emerging technologies and don't get wowed too easily by flashy stuff.  Dave Haynes: View everything with a degree of skepticism and a business mindset of, okay, even if this is super cool, would anybody use it, or does this scale? Some of this stuff is amazing. But given the cost of it, there's never gonna be a whole bunch of them. Antonia Hamberger: Balthasar, do you want to throw some rapid fire corners?  Balthasar Mayer: Dave, you ran Sixteen:Nine for almost 20 years. You gave great insights for the industry, and you're giving it over to us at Invidis. I really hope that we can keep up the spirit of Sixteen:Nine. We will try our best. Dave Haynes: You've got big, smelly shoes to fill.  Balthasar Mayer: The smelly part we can do. So we have sixteen rapid-fire questions for you.  Dave Haynes: Sounds like a game show.  Balthasar Mayer: Yeah, it's  in celebration. It's a celebration for you. I have sixteen questions. You try to answer them as rapidly as possible. Since this is your exit interview and your celebration, you are allowed to put one sentence into it. We are not that strict with the rules. We're a little flexible today. Today, on our very first podcast. You need another sip of beer, or are you ready?  Dave Haynes: I'm good.  Balthasar Mayer: Then let's begin. What is your first big thing you do in retirement?  Dave Haynes: Ooh, boring yard work.  Balthasar Mayer: After the show, wine or beer?  Dave Haynes: After what show?  Balthasar Mayer: ISE?  Dave Haynes: That's Spain, so wine. Balthasar Mayer: Infocomm?  Dave Haynes: That'd be beer because it's hot.  Balthasar Mayer: What do you like more: conferences or trade shows?  Dave Haynes: Conferences.  Balthasar Mayer: In conferences, on stage or in the audience?  Dave Haynes: I like both.  Balthasar Mayer: Blog or the newspaper?  Dave Haynes: I'm a newspaper guy. Unfortunately, I love the tactile side of newspapers, but they're hard to find. So if I'm in New York, I'll pick up The Times.  Balthasar Mayer: Hardware or software?  Dave Haynes: Hardware.  Balthasar Mayer: Hologram or MicroLED?  Dave Haynes: MicroLED.  Balthasar Mayer: What was the coolest story you covered in Sixteen:Nine?  Dave Haynes: Oh boy, that's hard to give a snappy answer to.  Balthasar Mayer: You can give the top three because it's the exit interview.  Dave Haynes: I would say going to China, going to Taiwan, and, I always remember the LED billboard that is at 8 Times Square. It was back ten years ago or something in front of the Marriott Marquee in Times Square, they lit up what at that time was the biggest LED board, certainly in the United States, and probably among the biggest in the world and I saw the room where they had all the servers and everything else, and then I was there when they turned the thing on, and that was pretty cool.  Balthasar Mayer: True MicroLED or OLED?  Dave Haynes: They are so different. True MicroLEDs are still in their infancy. OLED is getting a lot better than it used to be. But I still don't see it as a digital signage project product by and large. Balthasar Mayer: I messed up the numbers, but what was the silliest story you covered.  Dave Haynes: Top three allowed. Oh. Most of those, I just don't run.  Balthasar Mayer: We'll change the question. What was the absolute silliest press release you got? Dave Haynes: It's a tie between those Guinness World Records and those with the Frost and Sullivan Awards, which you buy. You don't win an award, you buy a Frost and Sullivan Award.  Balthasar Mayer: But I have to say I love the Guinness World Records stories, but yeah, you're right.  The coolest person in digital signage you interviewed? Dave Haynes: The coolest? Can I say the best interview? That's easier. Chris Riegel, CEO of StrataCash, founder of StrataCash. Sole owner, as far as I know. Insanely smart guy. Very dry sense of humor, but so knowledgeable and so blunt. It inevitably or very reliably was a great interview.  If he talks, people should listen. Balthasar Mayer: We heard about your past. So, what was the best interview you ever had aside from digital signage?  Dave Haynes: Oh, boy, I had a whole bunch of really great interviews when I was doing the entertainment industry. I think one of the ones that always sticks in my mind is Bryan Adams in his very early days, when he was still playing in local nightclubs and not in arenas or anything else. I had a chat with him at our offices. He came up there and he was playing at a local spot, and said, are you coming tonight? I said, yeah, I'll come. Is your wife coming? Yeah, she's gonna come with me, and I said, come and see me, and went up to see him after the first set, he said, did your wife come? I said, yeah and he said, let's go.  So he sat down with Joy and I and friends of ours and shot the shit in between the sets. Super nice guy. I met some rock people who were idiots, but he was among the truly nice people, and that's always encouraging that fame doesn't get to them.  Balthasar Mayer: The most useless digital signage tech you've ever seen?  Dave Haynes: I know I rag on holograms. I do think they have a role. I just think they're overstated in terms of their applicability. Also, robots, screens on roving robots. Those are almost universally pointless.  Balthasar Mayer: A technology you didn't think would make it, but became successful. Dave Haynes: These are hard questions.  Balthasar Mayer: Was there ever a thing you were wrong about or you misjudged?  Dave Haynes: Oh, never!  You know what? The rotating LED rotors, when I first saw them, I thought they were interesting, but those will disappear in a couple of years. To Hypervisions' credit. Hypervision is the company that markets them more than anybody. They've done a great job of marketing their product and getting people excited about it and I have seen instances of it where I think it's really applicable, but I've seen lots of other cases where I just don't get it. I was wrong there that I thought that would just disappear, but they've done a good job.  Balthasar Mayer: You're at fifteen questions now, so here's question #16: Imagine you run a successful trade block for almost 20 years. You were very successful, and are a guiding star in the industry. If you retire, what is better: simple goodbye or emotional farewell??  Dave Haynes: A simple goodbye.  By the time this gets up and listenable, I already have my goodbye post written, and it's me riding off into the sunset on my lawnmower.  Antonia Hamberger: We couldn't top that. That picture of you riding off into the sunset on your lawnmower. We wanna preserve that memory of you.  Dave Haynes: Just imagine a cowboy on an electric lawnmower.  Balthasar Mayer: Nevertheless, thanks, Dave, for all the things you've done from all of Invidis. We'd really try to hold up your flag, and I think it's your time to have the last words.  Dave Haynes: Thank you. I've known Florian and stuff and you guys for quite some time now. Got to not just be industry colleagues and people doing the same work, but friends as well, and when I decided to wind things down, I'm 67 now and at some point you gotta do it or you're gonna be sitting at a computer when you're 85 and trying to remember your name. I think I'm leaving it in good hands. I've got a lot of respect for what you guys do with the yearbook, with your day-to-day stuff, and everything else. It would've been challenging to just have some person come into the industry and try to have a little baptism by fire understanding it, so to have it taken over by people who already know the industry, know the people in it, know the goods and bads, and understand some of the bullshit, that makes it a lot easier to kinda back out of it, and as I've said to you and I said to others, it's not like you'll never see me again, I'm gonna stay in the industry. I just decided I didn't want to do this every day first thing in the morning. I would be better off health-wise to get up, have my coffee, and then do some stretching and go for a walk, and things like that, instead of banging away on a keyboard.  I'll be around, I'll still go to ISE and do other things. I'll probably still do some writing on Sixteen:Nine, but just as a guest editor as opposed to the daily editor. So it's been great, and I think this is gonna work out really well, and I'm excited for it.  Antonia Hamberger: We're excited too. Thank you, Dave.

In this episode of Confessions of a Male Gynecologist, Dr. Shawn Tassone interviews Professor Isaac Berzin, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Vaxa Technologies. He is also an Affiliated Scientist at MIT, where he worked on a NASA sponsored project. Named one the 100 most influential people by Time Magazine for his work in sustainability and climate change, Isaac Berzin is an Affiliated Scientist at MIT, where he worked on a NASA sponsored project, developing bioreactors for the International Space Station. His innovative work in GreenFuel Technologies has won numerous awards including the Frost and Sullivan Award (2006), Platts Global Energy Award (2006) and American Society of Competitiveness (ASC) Awards 2005, 2006, 2007. Isaac holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel. Together we explore the benefits of spirulina, its high protein content, and its importance for women's health, particularly in providing bioavailable iron and vitamin B12. Isaac emphasizes the need for sustainable practices in algae production and highlights Orlo's innovative approach to creating tasty algae-based products while maintaining a low carbon footprint. Episode Highlights Intro to Microalgae How Spirulina serves as a highly bioavailable source of protein Vitamins crucial for women's health The bioavailability of iron in spirulina vs beef How Spirulina can act as an anti-nutrient for B12 if not processed correctly How algae can provide essential nutrients without the environmental impact of traditional agriculture User experiences with algae products and the significant health benefits Orlo's new products Why Isaac believes sustainability in algae production is achievable with the right technology About Isaac Berzin Named one the 100 most influential people by Time Magazine for his work in sustainability and climate change, Isaac Berzin is an Affiliated Scientist at MIT, where he worked on a NASA sponsored project, developing bioreactors for the International Space Station. His innovative work in GreenFuel Technologies has won numerous awards including the Frost and Sullivan Award (2006), Platts Global Energy Award (2006) and American Society of Competitiveness (ASC) Awards 2005, 2006, 2007. Isaac holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel. Resources Dr. Tassone's Practice | Tassone Advanced Gynecology Dr. Tassone's Book | The Hormone Balance Bible Hormone Archetype Quiz | Hormonal Mapping System Medical Disclaimer This podcast and website represent the opinions of Dr. Shawn Tassone and his guests. The content here should not be taken as medical advice and is for informational purposes only. Because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions

John Kinsella did it all in a pool. At the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City he won a silver medal at the age of 16... 16!!! And he followed that up in Munich in 1972 by taking gold and helping set a World Record in the 4 x 200 freestyle... Kinsella started that race, and Mark Spitz ended it. But a pool just wasn't big enough for Kinsella... and he took to the open waters... and marathon swimming... something he raced in 26 times, and never lost culminating in his 9 hour and 9 minute swim across the English Channel in 1979. This was a man driven to be the best distance swimmer in the world, and he proved it time and time again. The winner of the 1970 Sullivan Award for the best amateur athlete in the land, Kinsella looks back on a career that started in his teens and took him all over the world and back. He talks about how Montezuma's Revenge almost cost him in '68 and the terror of being in the Olympic Village during the '72 Games in Munich when 11 Israeli athletes were killed by terrorists... how the Games almost didn't go on and what the Village was like after that horrible siege... and how his friend and teammate Spitz almost backed out of his attempt at a 7th Gold in '72. Over 50 years later, Kinsella recollects on a life of swimming... and the ebbs and flows of a life determined one stroke at a time. Join us for a great talk with a great guy and a phenomenal athlete that you may not remember, but won't soon forget... John Kinsella on the Past Our Prime podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We discussed the NFL draft with ESPN NFL Insider Field Yates...talked some OSU football with Tim May of Lettermen Row...chatted about past OSU athletes who won the Sullivan Award...and mocked scouting reports that said less-than-glowing things about Marvin Harrison Jr.

Numerous space-age technologies are currently changing how people eat and nourish themselves while using fewer resources. One of these innovations is algae technology. In this episode, Corinna Bellizzi explores this cutting-edge technology with Professor Isaac Berzin, an affiliate scientist at MIT and Founder/CTO of Vaxa Technologies. Together, they discuss how algae technology contributes to producing healthier food alternatives and reducing carbon emissions. Professor Berzin also explains how they are scaling this approach to reach more regions and become more accessible to every household. About Guest:Founder & CTO of Vaxa Technologies, Professor Isaac Berzin was named one the 100 most influential people by Time Magazine for his work in sustainability and climate change, Isaac is an Affiliated Scientist at MIT, where he worked on a NASA sponsored project, developing bioreactors for the International Space Station. His innovative work in GreenFuel Technologies has won numerous awards including the Frost and Sullivan Award (2006), Platts Global Energy Award (2006) and American Society of Competitiveness (ASC) Awards 2005, 2006, 2007. Isaac holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology from Ben-Gurion University of Negev, Israel. Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isaac-berzin-17386428/ Guest Website: https://vaxa.life, https://orlonutrition.com Guest Social:https://www.instagram.com/orlonutrition https://www.facebook.com/orlonutrition https://www.tiktok.com/@orlonutrition Please subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform - and join the Care More Be Better Community! When you visit our website and join our email list, you'll receive a FREE 5-Step Guide To Unleash Your Inner Activist!Website: https://www.caremorebebetter.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@caremorebebetter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CareMore.BeBetter/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CareMoreBeBetterLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/care-more-be-betterTwitter: https://twitter.com/caremorebebettr Support Care More. Be Better: A Social Impact + Sustainability PodcastCare More. Be Better. is not backed by any company. We answer only to our collective conscience. As a listener, reader, and subscriber you are part of this pod and this community and we are honored to have your support. If you can, please help finance the show (https://www.caremorebebetter.com/donate). Thank you, now and always, for your support as we get this thing started!

No stopping a speeding freight train A rising tide raises all CHIPS – and boy did they rise Inflation still an issue and the Fed trying to talk markets down (Not working) Guest: Larry McMillan takes us through some interesting options strategies. Professional trader Lawrence G. McMillan is perhaps best known as the author of Options As a Strategic Investment, the best-selling work on stock and index options strategies, which has sold over 300,000 copies. An active trader of his own account, he also manages option-oriented accounts for certain individuals. In a research capacity, he edits and contributes to his firm's publications: Daily Volume Alerts, The Option Strategist and The Daily Strategist – derivative products newsletters covering equity, index, and futures options. Finally, he speaks on option strategies at many seminars and colloquia in the United States, Canada, and Europe. He is often seen on CNBC and Bloomberg TV and is quoted in publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Barron's, Technical Analysis of Stocks and Commodities, Data Broadcasting's “Exchange” magazine, Futures Magazine, theStreet.com, Active Trader Magazine and many others.  In 2011, Mr. McMillan received the prestigious Sullivan Award in recognition on behalf of his outstanding contributions to the growth and integrity of the U.S. options markets. Follow @optstrategist CHECK IT OUT To claim the offer attendees should visit www.OptionStrategist.com/TDI Check this out and find out more at: http://www.interactivebrokers.com/ Follow @andrewhorowitz Looking for style diversification? More information on the TDI Managed Growth Strategy - HERE Stocks mentioned in this episode: (AAPL), (NVDA)

Guest: Founder & CTO of Vaxa Technologies, Professor Isaac BerzinTo help celebrate our 500th episode we invited on a special guest named one of the 100 most influential people by Time Magazine for his work in sustainability and climate change, Isaac is an Affiliated Scientist at MIT, where he worked on a NASA sponsored project, developing bioreactors for the International Space Station.His innovative work in GreenFuel Technologies has won numerous awards including the Frost and Sullivan Award (2006), Platts Global Energy Award (2006) and American Society of Competitiveness (ASC) Awards 2005, 2006, 2007.Isaac holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel.Talking Points:-You started working with algae from a greener-energy source first -- and possibly even in its role to sequester carbon in space. What first drew you to algae for its nutritive content?-In growing algae for its omega-3 content, you've also been able to preserve its polar lipid structure. How is this unique, and why is this so new?-What makes Orlo growing technology so different?-I understand you're also growing Spirulina. Can you tell us about the Spirulina Orlo is growing -- and what makes it so different?-Many brands talk about carbon neutrality - as they seek to meet global goals for more sustainable business practices. What makes Orlo carbon neutral -- and even carbon negative?Learn more at Orlonutriton.com

Charlie Ward is the only Heisman Trophy winner to play in the NBA, but that distinction is just a small part of his story.Join us today on the Games People Play podcast as Bernie Corbett welcomes the former Sullivan Award winner to discuss his unique path in life, including his ever-evolving faith in God, learning assertiveness from his older sister and the complex college recruiting challenges he faced as a two-sport star at Thomas County Central High School in Georgia.You'll hear about Charlie's magnificent career at Florida State, which included a National Championship in football and a trip to the Elite-Eight in basketball, as well as what ultimately led him to choose the NBA over the NFL. Plus: living in the city as a New York Knick; playing in the 1999 NBA Finals, and which current NFL quarterback most reminds him of himself. Finally, Charlie recounts the details of his 2018 stroke while on a church mission in Mexico and his family's many charitable endeavors benefitting youth sports, the elderly and hurricane relief victims.Track: "Im Coming Back Again"Music provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/tzpr1lThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5983722/advertisement

On this episode of Leading Literacy, we talk about the role of libraries.  I know, sounds kind of boring, right?  Well, my listeners, this episode is awesome!  Our guest is Debbie Anderson, the Assistant Director of Education Engagement for the L.A. County Library System, and WOW!  We had no idea libraries had so many resources available!  In 2023, Debbie was selected to receive the Sullivan Award for Public Library Administrators Supporting Services to Children and after listening to this episode, you'll understand why.  You'll definitely want to hook up with your local library after listening to all the great things that Debbie has to share.  Be sure to head on over to the L.A. County Library's main website at https://lacountylibrary.org/ to check out all of the amazing resources and locations!  

About Kimberly O'Loughlin:Kimberly joined HRS in March 2022, bringing with her more than 30 years of experience in leveraging talent and technology to drive growth, innovation, and improved business performance and customer experiences across health tech and other industries.  At HRS, her portfolio includes award-winning Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) and telehealth solutions and services that address increasingly important healthcare needs – lowering the cost of care, and improving health outcomes, while delivering better experiences for both consumers and clinicians. Prior to HRS, Kimberly was CEO of Therapy Brands where she was responsible for serving the mental, behavioral, and physical therapy market providers with a broad portfolio of software and services including specialty-specific EHR/PMS platforms, patient engagement, telehealth, e-prescription solutions, and revenue cycle management services.  Before this, she was President at Greenway Health; prior to that, she ran two global healthcare businesses at Philips in Connected Care and Health Informatics.  She had solutions for monitoring and supporting the safety, health, and connectedness needs of seniors in the home as well as in long-term and post-acute care settings.  She also expanded access to healthcare in emerging global markets with low-cost continuous monitoring, vital signs monitoring, cardiology, oncology, and women's health solutions.Prior to working at Philips, Kimberly held senior leadership roles within AIG, AT&T Wireless, and AT&T. She has demonstrated excellent results in growing revenue and profitability, launching innovative products, transforming operations to six sigma and best-in-class performance, and building stellar teams.Over the years, Kimberly and her teams have earned a variety of awards including Best Company Culture, Best Company for Diversity, Frost and Sullivan Award for Product Line Innovation, Best in KLAS for RCM, Best in KLAS Most Improved Ambulatory EHR, and Stevie's People's Choice Award for Best Customer Service. In 2012 she was inducted into the Executive Women of New Jersey, and in 2013 she was featured in Executive Profile magazine on the Top 25 executive profiles list. In 2019, she was named the number 3 woman in Healthcare by Modern Healthcare, and in 2021 she earned top CEO ratings by Comparably.Kimberly has a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from Princeton University and a Master of Science degree in Applied Psychology with a concentration in Human Factors Engineering from Steven's Institute of Technology. She served as class president at Princeton where she currently serves on the Alumni Schools Committee. She lives in New Jersey with her husband, Jerry, and their dog Harley.  They have three children and enjoy the beach, skiing, sports, and time with family and friends. Things You'll Learn:Health Recovery Solutions is the leading provider of remote care delivery.Patients are becoming more active in their healthcare.Individually tailored care plans with inpatient and virtual care will become more common in the coming years.HRS has clinical advisory services. HRS sets up the remote care technologies providers need.Promising healthcare industry trends include value-based care, lower-cost care settings, health equity focus, interoperability, the use of AI and ML, and hospital-at-home functionalities.HRS provides patients with hardware and software to connect to their caregivers and clinicians with a portal that monitors and supports the patient.AI technologies can help harness data to design different treatment pathways and predict which patients will need intervention. Resources:Connect with and follow Kimberly O'Loughlin on LinkedIn and Twitter.Follow Health Recovery Solutions on LinkedIn.Discover the Health Recovery Solutions Website!Reach out to Kimberly at KOLoughlin@HealthRecoverySolutions.com!

Join us for an insightful discussion about how a different mindset regarding SEO can positively affect your company's bottom line. It is all about value first at Accubits. Not only for search engines but primarily for putting people at the forefront and creating value-focused content for their audience. Welcome to the future of SEO, now dubbed SEPO (Search Engine and People Optimisation) by our guest for today's discussion, Aharsh from Accubits.Accubits most certainly apply an out-of-the-box approach to all they do. On top of changing their unique SEO game to be a more people-centred tool for their business, they also give new meaning to the word ROI, which stands for Return of Innovation Positive in their organisation.How did this market-leading business build its product portfolio from one in 2012, when they started up, to servicing Fortune 500 companies globally and winning the Frost & Sullivan Award for the ‘Most Promising Blockchain Developer of the year' (in Logistics & Supply Chain)? What are they doing differently from the mainstream marketing approach to achieve such success?Our guest:Aharsh MS | CMO Accubits & TEDx Keynote SpeakerAharsh is the CMO of Accubits Technologies and a thought-leading tech entrepreneur, growth strategist and visionary. Unorthodox thinking is his modus operandi, and it has always helped him see problems from different angles to find better solutions. He has designed 10+ products and solutions in the past year that helped hundreds of people worldwide. He inspires, motivates and educates businesses on how to stand out in the crowd and reach their target customers. If you are looking for innovative and unique digital marketing solutions for your business, don't hesitate to contact us at: info@mediagroupww.com. We will be happy to chat with you.

In this exclusive session from OIC 2021 - The Sullivan award is presented for significant contributions to the options industry. 

In this exclusive session from OIC 2021 - The Sullivan award is presented for significant contributions to the options industry. 

Sports Scientists: Ernest Silva - Dre Rodgers - Davis Cordova - Ashley Garcia Sunday Gameday: Steve Reisner Sports Stories DL: Denny Lennon Segments Round 1 - AAU Sullivan Award Presentation Round 2 - NFL Week 6 Pick 'Em --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/intothelab/message

Evita qualified to represent the United States at the 2020 Olympic Games. Evita was one of 10 finalists for the 2020 AAU James E. Sullivan Award, which is presented annually by the Amateur Athletic Union to the top amateur athlete in the United States of America. (aausullivan.org, 23 Mar 2020)In 2019 she received the NextGen Award for Best Female U20 Athlete of the Year at the Panam Sports Awards. (panamsports.org, 14 Dec 2019)Career Highlights2021 U.S. ball champion and all-around, clubs & ribbon silver medalistWon the NextGen Female Athlete Award at the 2019 Pan Am Sports AwardsAdvanced to the all-around and ball finals of the 2019 World Championships2019 Pan American Games all-around, hoop, ball & ribbon champion and clubs bronze medalist2019 U.S. ribbon champion and all-around, hoop & ball silver medalistAdvanced to the all-around finals of the 2018 World Championships2018 U.S. ball champion and all-around & hoop silver medalistAdvanced to the all-around, ribbon, and hoop finals at the 2017 World Championships2017 U.S. hoop & ribbon champion, all-around & ball silver medalist, and clubs bronze medalist2016 U.S. ribbon silver medalist and hoop bronze medalist

We are celebrating the one year anniversary of the 90th AAU AAU James E. Sullivan Award - hosted virtually by SSDL    The AAU James E. Sullivan Award presented by Eastbay has been presented annually since 1930 to the most outstanding amateur athlete in the United States. Representatives from the AAU created the AAU Sullivan Award with the intent to recognize amateur contributions and achievements from non-professional athletes across the country   

Transcript: http://bit.ly/AIAe016In this episode, we talk with Jim Abbott.Jim Abbott was born September 19, 1967, in Flint, Michigan without a right hand. He was an All-America hurler at Michigan; won the Sullivan Award in 1987; was the pitcher for the Gold Medal Olympic Team in 1988; and threw a 4-0 no-hitter for the New York Yankees versus Cleveland (September 4, 1993). Jim played for 10 seasons on 4 different teams and ended his big league playing career in 1999.Abbott has worked with The Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) on several initiatives encouraging businesses to hire people with disabilities.Today, in addition to often being a Guest Pitching Instructor during Spring Training for the Los Angeles Angels, Jim Abbott is a motivational speaker.Jim's website: http://jimabbott.net/Follow Jim on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jabbottum3Connect with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center at https://rockymountainada.org/ or find us on social media. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify or anywhere else you get your podcasts!

Amy Palmiero-Winters is a professional athlete, career-woman, mother and the founder of the One Step Ahead Foundation. After losing her left leg below the knee due to a motorcycle accident that occurred in 1994, Amy compiled a tremendous portfolio of world records and firsts for a female amputee in marathons, ultramarathons, triathlons, and ultra-triathlons. As she attained more and more achievements, she found herself in the position of being a role model, especially for young people with physical disabilities of their own. She soon found herself working extensively with children, introducing them to sports and athletics as a way of helping them overcome their physical limitations. After several years, Amy founded the One Step Ahead Foundation in order to provide even more opportunities for children with physical disabilities.  Amy currently holds eleven world records in various track events. In 2010, she was awarded the James E. Sullivan Award as the top amateur athlete in the United States and the ESPN ESPY Award as the top female athlete with a disability in the world.  Also in 2010, Amy received the Women’s Sports Foundation Wilma Rudolph Courage Award, the Challenges Athletes Foundation Trail Blazer Award, the Huffington Post Game Changer Award and the USA Strength Award.  In 2011, Amy became the first female amputee to finish the Badwater Ultramarathon, which is described as “the world’s toughest foot race”. It is a 135-mile course starting at 282 feet below sea level in the Badwater Basin, in California’s Death Valley, and ending at an elevation of 8360 feet (2548 m) at Whitney Portal, the trailhead to Mount Whitney.  She had a finish time of 41:26:42.   In 2011, Amy was the first amputee to run the Reykjavik, Iceland Marathon.  During her time in Iceland, Amy was honored with the 2011 Ossur Ultimate Athlete Award.   *** For Show Notes, Key Points, Contact Info, Resources Mentioned, & More on this episode please visit our website: RockBottom2RockinIt.com. *** Feedback? Questions? Comments? I would love to hear from you! Contact me at us via: Email (eric@ericgilbertwilliams.com), LinkedIn (@ericgilbertwilliams), Twitter (@ericgilbertw), or Instagram (@ericgilbertwilliams). EP Tags: television, hispanic, support, family, tragedy, focus, radio, show, syndication, latin, america, disruption, passion, accomplished, hustle, freedom

Jim Abbott joins the podcast to talk about the #25 and his connection to Angels great Don Baylor.  We break down the Contenders with a discussion of polarizing #25s, Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Fred Biletnikoff and are still amazed that Jim Thome hit 612 HRs.   Talk about Richard Sherman and Ben Simmons in Heat Check. Award the inaugural Derrick Rose Award to none other than Derrick Rose, plus the Hall of Shame and the Hall of Fame. If you're looking for a lively discussion of players and teams we hate, this is the episode for you!Our GuestJim Abbott is one of the most inspirational players in sports history. Born without a right hand he went on to have his #31 retired at the University of Michigan where he also won the Sullivan Award in as the nation's best amateur athlete. In 1988 he won the gold medal game in the Olympics and was a 1st round selection of the California Angels. Abbott played 10 years in the big leagues including a no-hitter in 1993, which is detailed in his excellent autobiography, Imperfect. 2:05 – “Jim, welcome to Puttin' Up Numbers.”We dive right into it with a conversation with Jim Abbott.12:50 – “Yeah, that's a good word for it.”Tom and Rudy discuss the most polarizing #25 of all-time, Barry Bonds. The conversation then moves to Mark McGwire and a shared (ruined) memory of a day spent with the slugger.15:03 – “Who couldn't see that coming?"A discussion of Tommy John who, with 288 wins and 188 no-decisions, should be famous for more than just the surgery that bears his name.17:02 – “He's Astro royalty.”Some lesser known, but still relevant #25s enter the conversation with Jim Abbott, Jose Cruz, Don Baylor and the Great Train Robbery that is Bobby Bonilla Day.21:28 – “Appeared in Season 3 of our favorite old-time show, The White Shadow.”Basketball gets a turn with a discussion of Gail Goodrich, Chet “The Jet” Walker, KC Jones, Danny Manning, Penny Hardaway, Nick Anderson, Mark Price, Steve Kerr, Robert Horry, Doc Rivers and Vince Carter.24:32 – “25 is not really a huge hockey number.”Dave Andreychuk, Joe Niewendyk and Jacques Lemaire . . . that's it.  That's the list25:38 – “You overlook NASCAR everytime we do this.”Rudy takes Tom to task for forgetting about great NASCAR drivers, kicking a shout out to the late, great Tim Richmond in the Folgers #25.26:49 - “As a kid, that guy was evil.”The football discussion begins with Fred Biletnikoff, followed by mentions of Tommy McDonald, Shady McCoy, Rocket Ismail, Jim Bakken and Haven Moses. 31:53 - “It's time for Screen Stars!”Short list for #251. Mark Arnold as Mick McAlister in Teen Wolf (1985)2. Wesley Snipes as Trumaine in Wildcats (1986)3. Harold Sylvester as DC Dacey in Fast Break (1979)35:19 – “Branding matters.”Rudy explains “The Derrick Rose Award” for players who had their careers cut short by injury or circumstance seconds before turning around the giving Derrick Rose the Derrick Rose Award.  Tom also explains the Ben Wilson Effect.38:13 – “Missed the Super Bowl, missed The Fridge, missed the stupid song.”Hall of Shame returns with Chicago Bears DB Todd Bell, Big White Stiffs Chandler Parsons and George Zidek and Juicers (Bonds, Palmiero, McGwire, Giambi).40:48 – “Heat Check.”Guys making it happen on the field currently in the #251. Richard Sherman2. Ben Simmons3. Byron Buxton4. Clyde Edwards-Helaire43:28 – “It's that time again."These guys wore it best1. Barry Bonds2. Gail Goodrich3. Fred Biletnikoff4. Joe Nieuwendyk5. KC JonesOrder Jim Abbott's book, Imperfect HERE.

May 26, 1946 - Ed Sullivan stops by the broadcast while Jack Benny is in New York to give him an award. They mention the women's clothing storew S. Klein, actress Joan Crawford, the railroad and coal strikes, newspaper comic Dick Tracy, communist Russia, comedian Fred Allen, and Dave Rose, the composter of a song dedicated to Jack Benny called The Waukegan Concerto.

Welcome to In The Room, a wrestling podcast from the Des Moines Register's Cody Goodwin. On today's episode, Cody talks with Iowa wrestler Aaron Costello, who recalls the time he wrestled, and beat, future NFL star Tristan Wirfs on the mat in high school. STORIES • ‘Pretty fun day’: That time Iowa’s Aaron Costello beat future NFL star Tristan Wirfs on the mat: https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/college/iowa/wrestling/2020/04/30/hawkeye-sports-nfl-draft-tristan-wirfs-football-career-wrestling-aaron-costello-beat/3054822001/ • Iowa wrestler Spencer Lee wins prestigious AAU James E. Sullivan Award: https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/college/iowa/wrestling/2020/04/29/iowa-wrestler-spencer-lee-wins-aau-james-e-sullivan-award-ncaa-wrestling-hawkeyes-tom-brands-hodge/3047774001/ • Iowa adds Michigan state champ to 2020 recruiting class: https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/college/iowa/wrestling/2020/04/29/wrestling-hawkeyes-add-andy-simaz-michigan-state-champ-2020-recruiting-class-tom-brands-iowa-city/3053664001/ • Northern Iowa adds former Old Dominion signee Dajun Johnson to 2020 recruiting class: https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/college/northern-iowa/uni-panthers/2020/04/29/northern-iowa-wrestling-adds-dajun-johnson-2020-recruiting-class-junior-all-american-panther-train/3050888001/ • Follow Cody on Twitter: twitter.com/codygoodwin • Subscribe to the Des Moines Register for all your wrestling updates, news and analysis: desmoinesregister.com/deal

April means baseball and all month Conversations with Joan is bringing you inspiring stories from standouts in the sport. Leading off is one-handed baseball great, Jim Abbott, who inspires us to overcome limitations and reach for the stars! We all have limitations - it’s what you do with them that matters! Jim Abbott was born without a right hand but that did not stop him from fulfilling his dream of becoming a major league baseball pitcher! Jim was an All-America hurler at Michigan, won the Sullivan Award in 1987, was the pitcher for the Gold Medal Olympic Team in 1988, and threw a 4-0 no-hitter for the New York Yankees. Jim played for 10 seasons and ended his big league playing career in 1999. Jim has worked with The Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy on several initiatives encouraging businesses to hire people with disabilities. He is the author of the book, Imperfect: An Improbable Life. Music: www.purple-planet.com Show site: www.cyacyl.com

We talk with a first-time Team USA Olympic hopeful who led the Badgers to the volleyball Final Four and won the Sullivan Award as the nation's best female athlete, while also sharing two funny Brewers stories from the past. Plus, Jay Sorgi's viewpoint goes into the need for genuine heroes in sports, and the lineage from athletes like the late Bart Starr to Giannis Antetokounmpo.

John Urschel is a respected mathematician pursuing his PhD at MIT. He is also a former offensive lineman for the Baltimore Ravens. He may seem like a walking contradiction, but Urschel’s experiences on the field and in the classroom have brought him closer to understanding how emotion and reason, the body and the mind, are always working together. In MIND AND MATTER: A Life in Math and Football, co-written by Louisa Thomas, Urschel’s partner and an accomplished author and journalist, he invites readers into his unique life, where math and athletics both provide a path to make sense of the world around him. ABOUT THE AUTHOR:John Urschel is a former offensive lineman for the Baltimore Ravens and a PhD candidate at MIT. He has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in mathematics from Penn State, and in 2013, he won the Sullivan Award, given to “the most outstanding amateur athlete in the United States,” and the Campbell Trophy, awarded to the country's top scholar-athlete in college football. He co-wrote this book, with his partner, Louisa Thomas. John and Louisa live in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with their daughter. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/steve-richards/support

*I apologize in advance for any echo in this episode - I had to record in an empty apartment as we moved this week*On the 29th of October in 2007, inventor Rainer Partanen was arrested suspected of aggravated fraud. In total, 270 Finnish and foreign investors had put over 1,3 million euros of their money into the company that was claiming to revolutionize how batteries were made. But the police were now saying the invention did not exist. How exactly did we get here?We are putting together a true crime event for the first time here in Finland. It will take place in Hanasaari, Helsinki, on the 15th of August this year, 2019. I would be so happy to see you there! Please go to: www.truecrimeevents.fi for tickets and more information.I will also be going to the True Crime Podcast Festival in Chicago this summer as a registered podcaster. For more information and tickets, please visit www.tcpf2019.comPodcast promo for this week: Relic : The Lost Treasure podcastIf you are able to and would like to help me with the costs of this podcast, you can do that on Patreon where you can donate as little as two dollars a month and in return, get exclusive access to ad-free episodes, scripts, bonus episodes on various topics and other nice rewards. Visit the page at https://www.patreon.com/truecrimefinlandArt is by Mark PerniaMusic is "Night" by VVSMUSICMy art store: https://society6.com/minnanenPodcast swag store: https://www.redbubble.com/people/tc-finland/shop?asc=uEmail: truecrimefinlandpod@gmail.comWebsite: https://truecrimefinland.squarespace.comFacebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/507039419636994/Twitter: tc_finlandAre you interested in advertising on this podcast? Find out more at https://www.advertisecast.com/TrueCrimeFinlandSources:Arvopaperi 27.1.2011: Osakeantipajatso nimeltä Europositron https://www.arvopaperi.fi/uutiset/osakeantipajatso-nimelta-europositron/46585797-0670-3755-be20-7fc44eb06791Frost & Sullivan 22.3.2005: Frost & Sullivan Award for Europositrons Technology Innovation in Battery Technology (original is no longer available, but the same exact text can be found here: http://www.zpenergy.com/modules.php?name=News&file=print&sid=1236 )Tuula Laatikainen/Tekniikka & Talous 9.1.2009: Europositron teki wincapitat https://www.tekniikkatalous.fi/blogit/europositron-teki-wincapitat/e2235551-1d63-312d-a9e2-6eea5e1e710dTuula Laatikainen/Tekniikka & Talous 27.2.2009: Ikioptimisti, hullu vai yksinkertaisesti nero https://www.tekniikkatalous.fi/uutiset/ikioptimisti-hullu-vai-yksinkertaisesti-nero/84ef5417-2233-34f3-9524-24bca1ac84aaThe Europositron website: http://www.europositron.com/fi/background.htmlTuomo Pietiläinen/Helsingin Sanomat 30.10.2007: Akkukeksijä vastustaa tutkintavankeuttaan https://www.hs.fi/talous/art-2000004522818.htmlTuomo Pietiläinen/Helsingin Sanomat 29.10.2007: Vuoden teknologiainnovaatio https://www.hs.fi/talous/art-2000004522602.htmlTuomo Pietiläinen/Helsingin Sanomat 29.10.2007: Oikeus vangitsi osakeannilla rahaa keränneen keksijän https://www.hs.fi/talous/art-2000004522603.htmlTuomo Pietiläinen/Helsingin Sanomat 29.10.2007: Poliisi epäilee keksijää miljoonahuijauksesta valekeksinnöllä https://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000004522580.htmlTuomo Pietiläinen/Helsingin Sanomat 30.6.2008: Nanokemian keksijälle syyte törkeästä petoksesta https://www.hs.fi/talous/art-2000004580501.htmlTuomo Pietiläinen/Helsingin Sanomat 12.1.2009: Huijariksi epäilty suomalaiskeksijä myi osakkeita ympäri maailmaa https://www.hs.fi/talous/art-2000004625291.htmlTuomo Pietiläinen/Helsingin Sanomat 6.9.2010: "Nanokemia"-yrityksen varoja takavarikkoon https://www.hs.fi/talous/art-2000004754206.htmlJohanna Pohjola/Helsingin Sanomat 17.9.2010: Nanokemialla huiputtanut keksijä sai vankeustuomion https://www.hs.fi/talous/art-2000004756603.htmlTuomo Pietiläinen/Helsingin Sanomat 5.11.2014: Taiteilija sai nanokemialla huijanneelta keksijältä 285 000 euron korvaukset https://www.hs.fi/talous/art-2000002774921.html

Show from 6/12/19Full house in this episode of Wharton Moneyball! At the top of the show our hosts get into the biggest sports news of the week, the NBA finals, Durant's injury and the Warriors victory in Toronto. Then former NFL Offensive Lineman turned MIT PHD in Mathematics, John Urschel, joins the show to talk about how he used his intelligence to help him excel on and off the field as well as his brand new book, “Mind and Matter: A Life in Math and Football.” Plus learn how TrackMan data in the MLB is useful in player development. Guests:John Urschel - Former offensive lineman for the Baltimore Ravens and a PhD candidate at MIT. He has a bachelor's and master's degree in mathematics from Penn State, and in 2013, he won the Sullivan Award, given to “the most outstanding amateur athlete in the United States,” and the Campbell Trophy, awarded to the country's top scholar-athlete in college football. He is also the Author of the new book, “Mind and Matter: A Life in Math and Football.”Follow him on Twitter: @JohnCUrschelCheck out his book: https://www.amazon.com/Mind-Matter-Life-Math-Football/dp/0735224862John Olshan - General Manager of TrackMan, a technology used by all 30 MLB teams today.Follow TrackMan on Twitter: @TrackManBB Visit TrackMan Sites: https://trackmangolf.com/what-we-track https://baseball.trackman.com/Zach Day - Former Major League Pitcher and he is now the Manager of Insights and Player Development at TrackMan. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

John Urschel is a former offensive lineman for the Baltimore Ravens and a PhD candidate at MIT. He has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in mathematics from Penn State, and in 2013, he won the Sullivan Award, given to “the most outstanding amateur athlete in the United States,” and the Campbell Trophy, awarded to the country's top scholar-athlete in college football. He co-wrote this book, with his partner, Louisa Thomas.

In this episode, Mark is joined by Gary Katz, co-founder and former CEO of the International Securities Exchange. They discuss: Gary receiving the Sullivan award at the Options Industry Conference Thoughts after being away from the conference for a few years His thoughts on how Nasdaq is integrating ISE Issues with liquidity The importance of market makers Caring for people on the autism spectrum Snack foods And more

In this episode, Mark is joined by Gary Katz, co-founder and former CEO of the International Securities Exchange. They discuss: Gary receiving the Sullivan award at the Options Industry Conference Thoughts after being away from the conference for a few years His thoughts on how Nasdaq is integrating ISE Issues with liquidity The importance of market makers Caring for people on the autism spectrum Snack foods And more

Carrie goes for a walk with 6-time Olympic medalist Jackie Joyner Kersee! Jackie discusses her favorite Olympic memories, managing her asthma as an athlete, playing in the American Basketball League and her Winning at Life curriculum. Show notes for this episode can be found at ctollerun.com. Jackie Joyner-Kersee Jackie grew up in East St. Louis, Illinois. The second of four children born to Al and Mary Joyner, Jackie's athletic talent and determi­nation helped her to push through obstacles and go on to win six Olympic medals, including three gold, one silver, and two bronze in four total Olympic games. Jackie has become known as one of the greatest athletes of all time. Her list of achievements include:Jackie grew up in East St. Louis, Illinois. The second of four children born to Al and Mary Joyner, Jackie's athletic talent and determi­nation helped her to push through obstacles and go on to win six Olympic medals, including three gold, one silver, and two bronze in four total Olympic games. Jackie has become known as one of the greatest athletes of all time. Her list of achievements include: First woman to win back-to-back gold medals in the heptath­lon, a 7-discipline event First woman to score 7,000 points in the heptathlon First American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in the long jump Current world-record holder in the heptathlon with 7291 points (1988, a record that has stood for 30 years now). Jackie's success as an athlete is only surpassed by her achievements in serving her community. She has open-heartedly leveraged her athletic ability to give back and has been honored for this work by The Jesse Owens Award, The Sullivan Award, Volunteers of America Humanitarian Award, The Trumpet Award, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Outstanding Achievement Award, International Olympic Committee Women in Sports Trophy, and 8 Honorary Doctorate degrees. In her autobiography A Kind of Grace, Jackie explains that, in itself, giving back to the community is a kind of grace. She travels throughout the United States as a motivational speaker to raise awareness about issues such as: overcoming social injustices; winning with grace and humility; dealing with health problems; team building; track and field; youth health and fitness; and women in sports. Her speeches highlight how to combine and apply dedication, determination, and desire. Jackie ex­emplifies the theme she wrote about in her book A Woman's Place is Everywhere by applying her famed athletic tenacity to develop great programs and discover committed sponsors in her Foundation's initiatives worldwide.

2018 Joseph W. Sullivan Award: Gary Katz Gary Katz is the former President and Chief Executive Officer of the International Securities Exchange (ISE), the first all-electronic options exchange in the United States and one of the world's leading exchanges. Prior to that, he served as ISE's Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Katz is one of the principal developers of the unique options market structure – an auction market on an electronic platform – used by all ISE exchanges and is named as inventor or co-inventor on six patents that the Company received or applied for relating to its proprietary trading system and technology.

2018 Joseph W. Sullivan Award: Gary Katz Gary Katz is the former President and Chief Executive Officer of the International Securities Exchange (ISE), the first all-electronic options exchange in the United States and one of the world’s leading exchanges. Prior to that, he served as ISE’s Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Katz is one of the principal developers of the unique options market structure – an auction market on an electronic platform – used by all ISE exchanges and is named as inventor or co-inventor on six patents that the Company received or applied for relating to its proprietary trading system and technology.

Robert Herbst is a nationally known expert on fitness, wellness, weight loss, and drug free sport. As a powerlifter, he has won 19 World Championships and 33 National Championships and set 38 world records. He was a semi-finalist for the 2013 Sullivan Award given to the nation’s outstanding amateur athlete and is a member of the AAU Strength Sports Hall of Fame. He is quoted frequently in national publications such as Men’s’ Fitness, Prevention, Reader ‘s Digest, and Women’s Health and has appeared on numerous radio shows and podcasts..A New York attorney, he supervised the drug testing at the 2016 Rio Olympics and helped to manage the wrestling venue at the 2012 London Olympics. He is a graduate of Columbia Law School and Trinity College, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and was Salutatorian of his class. Learn more about Robert at www.w8lifterusa.com.

Robert Herbst is a nationally known expert on fitness, wellness, weight loss, and drug free sport. As a powerlifter, he has won 19 World Championships and 33 National Championships and set 38 world records. He was a semi-finalist for the 2013 Sullivan Award given to the nation’s outstanding amateur athlete and is a member of […]

Chamique Holdsclaw was called the Michael Jordan of Women’s Basketball. She dominated the courts winning 3 National Championships and being named the Naismith Player of the Century. She was 4-time All-American, World Champion, Olympic Champion and enjoyed an 11-year professional career, but no one knew the real battle she was waging… Bio Chamique Shaunta Holdsclaw is a former professional basketball player in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) most recently under a contract with the San Antonio Silver Stars. She announced her retirement from the Los Angeles Sparks on June 11, 2007, though she eventually came out of retirement to play with the Atlanta Dream for the 2009 WNBA Season. Holdsclaw went to the University of Tennessee from 1995 to 1999, where she played under coach Pat Summit and helped to lead the Lady Vols to the women's NCAA's first ever three consecutive Women's Basketball Championships in 1996, 1997 and 1998. The 1998 championship was Tennessee's first ever undefeated season at 39–0 and also set an NCAA record for the most wins ever in a season. She also helped lead Tennessee to two SEC regular season titles in 1998 and 1999 and to three SEC tournament championships in 1996, 1998 and 1999. At Tennessee, Holdsclaw was a four-time Kodak All-America, one of only six women's basketball players to earn the honor. Holdsclaw finished her career with 3,025 points and 1,295 rebounds, making her the all-time leading scoring and rebounder at Tennessee in men's or women's history, the all-time leading scorer and rebounder in SEC women's history, and the all-time leading scorer and rebounder in the NCAA tournament women's history with 470 points and 197 rebounds. In 1998, Holdsclaw received the James E. Sullivan Award as the top amateur athlete in the United States. Holdsclaw also won the Naismith trophy for player of the year twice, in 1998 and 1999 and posted a 131–17 win/loss record during her remarkable career as a Lady Vol. In 2000, she was named Naismith's Player of the Century for the 1990s and was also part of an ESPY award given to the Lady Vols as Co-Team of the Decade for the 1990s. In 1996, 1997 and 1998, Holdsclaw was named to the Final Four All Tournament team. Holdsclaw was also a member of the US National team who traveled to Berlin, Germany in July and August 1998 for the FIBA World Championships. The USA team won a close opening game against Japan 95–89, then won their next six games easily. In the quarterfinals, Holdsclaw scored 20 points to help team advance. After trailing late in the final game, the USA held on to win the gold medal 71–65. Holdsclaw averaged 10.9 points per game, third highest on the team. Holdsclaw continued with the National team to the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia. The USA won all eight games, including the gold medal game against host Australia to win the gold medal. Subscribe to the Way of Champions Podcast on iTunes Show Notes 8:35 “I remember walking on Nike’s campus and everyone had my shirt on…” 10:50 What it was like playing for Pat Sumiit 17:20 The problem with being an introverted sports star: “I’m not rude, just quiet” 22:50 The importance of having a place to feel vulnerable in athletics 26:05 “You had a bad day”: Chamique’s moment with Pat Summit 34:05 What Chamique is doing today to help the next generation heal and move forward 41:50 Chamique’s opinion on participation trophies 49:50 “A closed mouth doesn’t get fed”: on opening up and sharing your struggles with those who love you Get in Touch Website: Mind Game Film Twitter: @CHold1 The ESPN Story on Chamique: When the Game is Over If you are enjoying our podcast, please help us out and leave a review on iTunes. How to leave an iTunes rating or review for a podcast from your iPhone or iPad   Launch Apple’s Podcast app. Tap the Search tab. Enter the name Way of Champions. Tap the blue Search key at the bottom right. Tap the album art for the Way of Champions podcast. Tap the Reviews tab. Tap Write a Review at the bottom. Thanks so much, every review helps us to spread this message

Gina McFadden was President of The Options Industry Council (OIC) from 2006 to 2013. She was OIC's Executive Director from 1995 to 2006. Concurrent with her OIC position, she was also a member of The Options Clearing Corporation's (OCC) senior management team, serving as Executive Vice President of Industry Services. Prior to that, she was Executive Vice President of OCC's Business Operations Group and Business/Product Development. Active on various industry committees and organizations including OIC's Roundtable, OCC's Operations Roundtable, SIFMA's Equity Options Roundtable, the STA Options Committee and the Futures Industry Association, she was also an inaugural board member of Women in Listed Derivatives (WILD), a professional development group for women. Gina completed the Kellogg Management Institute Graduate Program at Northwestern University and SIA's Securities Institute Program at the Wharton School. She has a B.A. from Barat College. After almost forty years in the options industry, Gina retired in 2013. She lives with her husband Marty in Chicago and Boca Grande, Florida, where she is on the board of the Boca Grande Art Center and active in other community and educational organizations. The Sullivan Awards named for Joseph W. Sullivan to recognize outstanding contributions in the options industry. Mr. Sullivan provided the vision and leadership to make listed options a reality and played a key role in the development of the Chicago Board Options Exchange, serving as its first president from 1972 until 1979. The Sullivan Award was established in 2002 by the Options Industry Council and has become a regular feature of the Options Industry Conference program. The award acknowledges an individual's achievement as measured by contributions to education, innovation and product development, and in helping to grow the industry. Gina McFadden, a long-time leader in the U.S. listed equity options industry, will be the first woman to receive the award. The past Sullivan Award recipients have been Joseph Sullivan himself, Wayne P. Luthringshausen, Paul G. Stevens, Jr., Ivers W. Riley, Thomas Peterffy, Jeffery S. Yass, David Krell, William J. Brodsky, William A. Porter, Lawrence G. McMillan, Edward J. Joyce, Meyer Sandy Frucher, Blair Hull and Robert E. Whaley.

Gina McFadden was President of The Options Industry Council (OIC) from 2006 to 2013. She was OIC's Executive Director from 1995 to 2006. Concurrent with her OIC position, she was also a member of The Options Clearing Corporation's (OCC) senior management team, serving as Executive Vice President of Industry Services. Prior to that, she was Executive Vice President of OCC's Business Operations Group and Business/Product Development. Active on various industry committees and organizations including OIC's Roundtable, OCC's Operations Roundtable, SIFMA's Equity Options Roundtable, the STA Options Committee and the Futures Industry Association, she was also an inaugural board member of Women in Listed Derivatives (WILD), a professional development group for women. Gina completed the Kellogg Management Institute Graduate Program at Northwestern University and SIA’s Securities Institute Program at the Wharton School. She has a B.A. from Barat College. After almost forty years in the options industry, Gina retired in 2013. She lives with her husband Marty in Chicago and Boca Grande, Florida, where she is on the board of the Boca Grande Art Center and active in other community and educational organizations. The Sullivan Awards named for Joseph W. Sullivan to recognize outstanding contributions in the options industry. Mr. Sullivan provided the vision and leadership to make listed options a reality and played a key role in the development of the Chicago Board Options Exchange, serving as its first president from 1972 until 1979. The Sullivan Award was established in 2002 by the Options Industry Council and has become a regular feature of the Options Industry Conference program. The award acknowledges an individual’s achievement as measured by contributions to education, innovation and product development, and in helping to grow the industry. Gina McFadden, a long-time leader in the U.S. listed equity options industry, will be the first woman to receive the award. The past Sullivan Award recipients have been Joseph Sullivan himself, Wayne P. Luthringshausen, Paul G. Stevens, Jr., Ivers W. Riley, Thomas Peterffy, Jeffery S. Yass, David Krell, William J. Brodsky, William A. Porter, Lawrence G. McMillan, Edward J. Joyce, Meyer Sandy Frucher, Blair Hull and Robert E. Whaley.

Who's the best athlete ever at the University of Wisconsin? Plus Ben Worgull of BadgerNation.com, Chad Reuter of NFL.com on the draft, plus Sullivan Award winner Lauren Carlini of Badger volleyball.

The Options Insider continues coverage of the 2015 Options Industry Conference with the presentation of the Joseph W. Sullivan Award to Robert E. Whaley.

The Options Insider continues coverage of the 2015 Options Industry Conference with the presentation of the Joseph W. Sullivan Award to Robert E. Whaley.

Our coverage of the 2014 OIC Conference continues with the presentation of the Joseph W. Sullivan Award to Blair Hull.

Trading Tech Talk 6: Interview with Blair Hull CTO Interview: Our guest on this episode is Blair Hull, Founder of Hull Trading, Founder of Ketchum Trading, and 2014 Sullivan Award recipient. He discusses: The 1987 crash If trading technology leveled the playing field The impact of multiple market centers on trading tech failures If HFT is a detrimental force in the financial markets Hot Topics in Tech: Exchanges are extremely concerned over cyber security. NY Attorney General Erick Schneiderman is looking at the "unfair advantages" high frequency traders have over regular investors. Futures traders embrace algorithms. European asset manager are moving to in-house electronic execution expertise. NASDAQ OMX ramps up technology sales to Asian exchanges. The Inbox: In which the listeners dictate the conversation. Question from Hawkeye - I want to know if HFT firms are allowed to jump to the front of the queue? If so, how is that justified?  Also, if so, why should they not get in back like everybody else? Please give me the justification for this practice. On a similar vein, I know that some platforms allow you to hide the number of actual shares/contracts you have bid/offered, and instead you can show a smaller number so that you do not tip your hand.  Do those remaining orders have to get in the back of the queue? Or are they also given favorable treatment?  Why should they be allowed to lie? Thanks     Looking Ahead: TT is releasing a web-based HTML 5 version of XTrader.  

Trading Tech Talk 6: Interview with Blair Hull CTO Interview: Our guest on this episode is Blair Hull, Founder of Hull Trading, Founder of Ketchum Trading, and 2014 Sullivan Award recipient. He discusses: The 1987 crash If trading technology leveled the playing field The impact of multiple market centers on trading tech failures If HFT is a detrimental force in the financial markets Hot Topics in Tech: Exchanges are extremely concerned over cyber security. NY Attorney General Erick Schneiderman is looking at the "unfair advantages" high frequency traders have over regular investors. Futures traders embrace algorithms. European asset manager are moving to in-house electronic execution expertise. NASDAQ OMX ramps up technology sales to Asian exchanges. The Inbox: In which the listeners dictate the conversation. Question from Hawkeye - I want to know if HFT firms are allowed to jump to the front of the queue? If so, how is that justified? Also, if so, why should they not get in back like everybody else? Please give me the justification for this practice. On a similar vein, I know that some platforms allow you to hide the number of actual shares/contracts you have bid/offered, and instead you can show a smaller number so that you do not tip your hand. Do those remaining orders have to get in the back of the queue? Or are they also given favorable treatment? Why should they be allowed to lie? Thanks Looking Ahead: TT is releasing a web-based HTML 5 version of XTrader.

February 2014An interview with the legendary Dick Button. What hasn't he done? He's practically the father of our sport (if Jackson Haines were Grandfather). The two-time Olympic Gold medalist invented many of the jumps and spins we see today, and he invented figure skating commentary. He's a skater, producer, commentator, actor, truth-seeker, hall-of-famer, stirrer-upper, and figure skating's biggest fan. This first episode focuses on his new book Push Dick's Button, a fantastic book that is a really wonderful conversation on skating. 55 minutes, 50 seconds. [display_podcast] AM: Allison ManleyDB: Dick Button AM:  Hello, everyone, and welcome to the Manleywoman Skatecast. I'm your host, Allison Manley, and this is Episode 73, an interview with Dick Button. That's right!  You heard it, here it is! Any longtime fan of my podcast knows I have been chasing this interview for years. Years! And it only took writing a poem, some polite stalking, a pinch of begging, and quite a bit of persistence and tenacity — and let's face it, it doesn't hurt that he was trying to spread the word about his new book. All I know is that I'm thrilled to have been finally able to interview him. So, in case you don't know his many accomplishments, I'm going to list them off first. Here is the general overview of what Dick Button has done for this sport. He was the first skater to have won the men's novice, junior and senior titles in three consecutive years. He was the first skater to land a double axel. He was the first skater to land a triple jump, which was a triple loop, and the first male skater to perform a camel spin. And he was the inventor of the flying camel spin, also known as the Button camel. He's the only American to win the European title. He's the first American world champion, the first American to win the Olympic title in figure skating, the first and only American back-to-back champion. He is the first and only American skater to simultaneously hold all of the following titles: national, North American, European, World and Olympic. That's five. He's the youngest man to win the Olympic title in figure skating, at age 18, and it shocks me still that this record stands today. He is the winner of the Sullivan Award. In the 1960s he began doing television commentary, and has been gracing our television sets for decades since. He was inducted into the World Skating Hall of Fame in 1976, which was the initial class. He won an Emmy Award in 1981 for outstanding sports personality/analyst. He was a producer of skating shows including The Superstars, which was the first of the reality shows. He starred in movies and on television, and on the stage. The autobiography he wrote in 1955 is a fount of knowledge, and is incredibly well written. I highly recommend that you all find a copy and give it a read. And, of course, he is the author very recently of Push Dick's Button, a fantastic book that is a really wonderful conversation on skating. Dick and I decided to do this interview in two parts. The first will be focused on his book and all the ideas within. The second part will focus more on his career and life in skating, and will follow at a later date to be determined.  Anyone who knows my podcast knows that I've been dying to capture his voice on tape for the fans. So, ladies and gentlemen, may I present — Dick Button. ----- AM:  All right, Dick Button, are you ready? DB: I am. AM: So, thank you so much for your book. It's wonderful. I have to ask, why did you write it at this time? DB: And my question to you is, what do you mean by “at this time”? Are you saying that I'm a very old poop [laughs] and therefore don't have any understanding of what the hell is going on in today's world? Or are you asking it because it's been a long time since I have written? I wrote a book in 1952 or 1954, when I was a very young person, and then I did one other paperback kind of book a couple of years later. I don't understand the question “at this time”?  I mean, that does that mean? Am I missing something? AM: I guess it is curious that it has been such a long time. I do actually have the book from the 1950s, and I think it's interesting that the book that you chose to release now, rather than being a biography or an autobiography, is such a conversational book. So I suspect that you felt the need to have this conversation, so that's why I'm asking. Is skating frustrating you to the point where you felt like you had to tell these opinions? DB: I'll tell you what it really is. Number one, it was in the past exceedingly difficult for me to write. The advent of the computer and the lectures that I give on gardening introduced me to an entire new way to write. If you write on your computer, you can erase things, you can change things, you can move things around, and you don't have to rewrite painfully every single word. So the system and the ability to write was exceedingly pleasant. Then I also have a very good friend who had gotten me a major contract ten years ago, that was with Simon and Schuster, and I had a great opportunity to write a very good book at a very high-priced contract. And that was at the same time that I had gone skating on New Year's Eve, and fell and fractured my skull, and got concussions and lost the hearing in my left ear. And I also had a co-writer with me, and it didn't work. We just didn't work out. In other words, it was too much. I couldn't handle it at that time. It took me about two or three years to really get my act together and to recoup from that fall. So the important thing was, this same lady, who is a great friend of mine and who got me that contract, her name is Pat Eisemann-Logan — I finally said to her, Pat, what can I do for you? And she said, I'll tell you what you can do. I would like it if you would come and sit on the couch next to me and tell me what the heck is going on with what we are watching. So I sat down one day and I just wrote out a couple of things, a few chapters, and she said, yeah, that's terrific. And I love it because, number one, it doesn't have to be The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire of Skating. It is a simple conversation. Conversations are meant to be interrupted, to have answers, to have somebody kvetch about it. Conversations can range from any subject to any subject, and that's why I like the idea of this. I did not want to do a history of skating, which others have done before this, and I did not wish to do a biography. I think there's far too much more of great interest around the world of skating. I wanted to do what subjects came up to my mind, what it is to watch for at the Olympics, and most of the questions you've asked me about this are  all in that book. So it was a very pleasant experience for me, I enjoyed it no end, and I'm happy to have done it and done it the way I did. Although I will tell you that there are three books that you write and three skating programs that you skate and three pictures that you paint.  They are, number one, the book you plan, number two, the book you do, and number three, the book you wish you'd done [laughs]. So if you can put up with that, you're a good gal. AM: It does seem to have worked out that this is the book you wish you had done. You seem very pleased with it. DB: Oh, yes, but there's a lot of things that I . . .  listen, if I had started with all the things I made notes of, I would have had six more volumes [laughs]. I don't think so. AM: Well, I do love the fact that even though it's not biographical, that you have a lot of sprinklings of your history in there. I mean, I think that's a great addition to the opinion pieces that are in there, because there's definitely opinions in there as well. DB: Well, it's a conversation. It covers whatever's on your mind. The one chapter that many people have criticized, they say, we know what jumps are, you don't have to put a chapter in there saying the different jumps. But my doctor said to me, "Dick, my daughter skates and we all really like watching the skating, but I can't tell one jump from another, how can I do that?" And it annoyed him. So I put in this brief explanation, if you don't know what a jump is, there's three or four or five or six pages of it, and if you already know which jumps are which — skip over it! This is not the end of the world book. This is not the end of the world subject. It is a conversational piece. And I hope like the devil that people can figure out that they can learn something from it. Because I enjoyed very much doing it. AM: Well, great. And I do want to ask you some questions about it, obviously without giving away too much, because people should buy it and read it, of course [laughs]. DB: [laughs] Well, we don't have long enough on this conversation, so go ahead and spring your questions. AM: Well, one of the things you are concerned about is losing the theatrical part of skating. And I wonder, from a competitive standpoint, how you think it can be preserved. There are a lot of people trying to preserve it outside of competition, but in the competitive arena, what are your thoughts on that? DB: Let me also start out by saying that competition, the Olympic Games which we're about to start into in another day or two — they get the most audience. Figure skating and dancing, they're kissing cousins, and figure skaters have the opportunity to become instantly famous and household names. Dancers don't have that. So if a figure skater has that opportunity, and the Olympic competition is there, it's marvelous that they take part and do it. However, figure skating is a complete sport. It's a sport that has music, choreography, costuming, performance level, story level — it has so many different aspects that are intimately intertwined with each other. Figure skating is theatre, and I don't care who tells me that it's not. The head of the ISU, the head of the Olympic Committee, and a lot of guys get all honked about it and say it's not a sport. Well, don't watch it! If you think it's not a sport, don't watch it, and I couldn't care less. However, the point is very simply that it is all of these things. It is theatre, it always has been theatre, and it will always continue to be theatre. And that is the very reason that makes it so popular at the Olympic Games. Now the reason I'm saying this is, there's an old saying that Oleg Protopopov used to tell me all the time, and that was, “Deek! Deek! You cannot have artistry without technique. But neither can you have technique without artistry”. The old votes, the old judging system had two marks. They were for technical merit and for artistic impression. The new marks, in essence, if you really want to see what the icing on top of the cake is, the subterfuge of it all, is they have all the marks that you get on your point system first, and then they have the component scores. Have you ever read the component scores? AM: I have. DB: Then you know that they mix together choreography, step sequences, footwork, et cetera, et cetera, and they have something like 27 or 28 different criteria to figure and allot to a skater's program within about two seconds. That's almost an impossible thing. And also, you will never know what it's about because it's secret. All I'm saying is that yes, there are many other organizations — there's Disney on Ice and Stars on Ice and individual singles skating here and there, and there's ensemble skating with the Ice Theatre of New York, and there's synchronized skating, and there's all kind of things. But it's the theatrical performance level that mesmerizes us. I mean, why did we look at Katarina Witt? Not only was she sensational looking, but she had personality and pizzazz. Let me ask you a question. Why is Evgeni Plushenko such a hot subject? I'll tell you why. Because he has personality. He's a great jumper, not a great spinner. But he has personality. He has pizzazz. And you can't take your eyes off him, watching what he's going to do. He will bamboozle you with his wrist movements . . . AM: He'll make you think he's skating with those wrist movements [laughs]. DB: Of course, I've seen him do that half a dozen times. He stops and does a bunch of fancy wrist movements around his belt line, and that's supposed to be great theatrical skating or something. Let me tell you something. Who is it that you want to watch at this Olympic Games? Who is it they are looking forward to watching? AM: Jeremy Abbott and Jason Brown. DB: You mean you want to see the competition between them. AM: The competition between them, but I think both are so wonderful. They bring something so different. DB: Absolutely right. And so do half a dozen of these skaters. I think what you really want to see also is Davis and White and how they impact the show. And who do we remember out of the past? Come on, you remember the stars that had pizzazz, that had presence, that grabbed you. There's a whole chapter in my book there about entrances and exits, and it's all about the difference between an Irina Slutskaya entering the skating arena — the first thing she does is skate over to her coach, takes a swig of water, high fives her coach, and adjusts the pants on her dress. And the next thing she does is blow her nose. Now, come on, is that theatre? That's not a humdinger of an entrance. The point is that, how does Katarina Witt do it? She doesn't lose for one moment the presence, the theatre aspect of it. And the gal we remember most of those two has gotta be Katarina Witt. And that's why there's a chapter in the book called "Where Are You When We Need You, Katarina Witt?" And . . . what else can I tell you? [laughs] This is my favorite rant. AM: You're passionate and I love it. I love every minute of it. DB: Well, come on, you know, it's a fun activity. It's a very complicated activity. It has so many elements to it that you simply cannot avoid any one of them. And the level of performance is one of those characteristics. AM: Yes. Well, you are a vocal critic of the judging system, but I am curious because you have said that there are parts of it that you think are worth preserving. What parts would that be? DB: Well, for example, I think you should always have a markdown if you fall. Right now what we are seeing is — how many people fell in the last [2014] National Championship, both men and women, in the different parts. How many people fall down? AM: Not a lot this year, actually. DB: Well, Ashley Wagner, she did. But you're being rewarded if you do a quadruple jump and you fall down but you're rotated almost enough to complete the thing in the air. This is all part of Ottavio Cinquanta's desire to — if he had his way, he would not have any judges there at all, and it would all be based on points and timing. I would like the fact that there would be no reward at all for a fall. And a deduction if you fall down.  I write about this in my book, there was a communiqué from the ISU explaining what falls were. You don't know what a fall is, I don't know what a fall is, certainly. But this rule came out and then three months later, there was — I mean, the question was, what part of the body was the fall on, was it on your bottom, was it on your core, and if you were on your fanny, were you on one buttock or another buttock or were you on both buttocks [laughs]. And then along came three months later this explanation, this clarification, and then changes to the rule that explained what a fall was [laughs]. So you have to read all that to understand the sense of the nit-picking. Now listen, let me tell you something else, and I write about this in the book . I challenge you to count — take one of the ladies anywhere, not necessarily Ashley Wagner, but start with a young lady and start counting the number of times when they're doing step sequences and all of those wonderful things, where they raise either one or the other or both arms over the level of their shoulders. And if you start counting, my bet is that you will get to 20 very, very quickly, and then you can stop. They're like flailing windmills. That's exactly the point. That does not augur well, in my book. First of all, there's just gotta be less talk about it. Why do you have to have something that is exactly two minutes with so many seconds on either end of it? That isn't the way. You should have one program that is your technical program, and one program that is your creative or other program, but neither one should be acceptable or be able to be marked well unless it has the qualities of the other one. One should be of technical merit and one should be of — the old judging captions, artistic impression, they are in a sense that way now, they're just called something different, it's technical marks and the program components. AM: So I wonder, you do outline at the end of the book your wishes and suggestions for better scoring, and they do include that the two programs should be different and that there shouldn't be a time limit. DB: Put it this way, there should be a time limit, but a generous one. I mean, during the World Professional Championships, we recorded the length of time of every skater, and only once did somebody ever go over, I think, maybe four and a half or five minutes.  So if you have three and a half minutes or four minutes, a generous thing — what difference does it make? Why do you just have to limit yourself? This is just the one program, not the technical program, the artistic impression program. AM: Well, I'm curious, what do the powers that be think about your ideas? Have you gotten any feedback? DB: No, I don't have feedback, because they . . . Ottavio Cinquanta does not want any subjective judging there. Remember, he is a speed skater, and all he can see — number one, he has two goals to his agenda. And once you understand a man's agenda, you will understand what he will do. His agenda is to have, number one, to never have another scandal like we had in Salt Lake at the pairs skating competition. And number two, he's all for eliminating anything subjective about the sport. He would like it to be like speed skating. You get over the line first, you've won. Now that is not figure skating. And besides he's said it too many times, and he's the one who put the new rules system in. My chapters go into all of that and show the chicanery that was involved with it. And now because he [laughs] made a contractual offer and placed every officer in their position for an additional period of time, he will now remain as head of the ISU until the year 2016. It's a chapter in the book as well. AM: You have always been an advocate for great spinning. You've talked about Dorothy Hamill, Lucinda Ruh, Ronnie Robertson, so I have to wonder, that in the new judging system, it has to be nice that at least you see the spins getting rewarded even if you don't always love the positions. DB: Well, I find that the multiple levels — you know, everything that you look at, there's a grade of execution, there's a level of difficulty. If you add more moves and turns into your spin, you get more points. But nobody gets points for blurred spinning. Nobody gets points for the things that used to make the audience stand on their feet and cheer. Spinning is just as important as jumping, and it's one of the two major technical elements in skating, the other being jumping and then of course there's spinning. And when you see somebody moving from position to position and changing their edges, all that sort of thing, you're not looking at the spin. At least have one spin that reflects the total true quality of a fast, delayed, long lived spin, where everything counters on the centering and everything counters on the blurring of it and on the finishing of it. Look, I don't have to have everything that I like, it's what other people like too, but I will tell you, there's very little to cheer for when you get a 243.8 personal best score. That doesn't give the average person an understanding of what the heck the score is all about, except that somebody else can get 283.9. And I trust that was more than the first number I gave [laughs]. AM: Well, I've actually always wanted that. I've always wanted there to be at least one spin that was skaters' choice, if you will, that they could do just for choreographic effect. Just like they've finally done with the step sequences, where you can just do one that you don't have to do without so many turns and flailing and windmilling, but it's one that just works with the music. DB: Well, there's very little — you can't really create things that are unusual or unexpected or different and expect to get anywhere under the current judging system. AM: Well, you have of course mentioned before that the ISU needs to be split, that skating shouldn't be run by a speed skater any longer. It's going to be a while, of course, since Ottavio wrote his own contract . . . DB: Well, of course he did, and nobody stood up to him. Nobody was able to stand up to him because he has cultivated so many federations which are all speed skating federations which get their money from figure skating. So what do they care? Why would they care what the rules for figure skating are, any more than a figure skater would care less whether the speed skating race is another 50 meters or not?  That's up to the speed skaters to understand that. And the very fact that they — did you know that there are over 80 federations in the world of skating? AM: I didn't know there were that many. DB: Over 80, and most of them all — the majority either are speed skating or joint speed skating and figure skating. And they get money from figure skating, the ISU pays them money from figure skating. And the end result is that of course they're going to do what he wants. AM: Do you think there's anyone out there right now who can challenge him, who can be the next great leader, to separate the two? DB: I think probably everybody is scared beyond belief. You see, the impact of the Olympic Games is always the most publicized event, but I can guarantee you, even the world championships which are taking place after the Olympic Games, they're not going to be on live. They're going to be in about two weeks in a summary program on NBC. Now maybe there's some obscure cable system or Ice Network that will show them, but you have to buy that cable system. I'm sure there will be recordings of it. But [laughs] here's a world championship that will be coming up a month later than the Olympic Games. Wouldn't you think it should deserve — and it used to always be very much of a highlight. Now it's sloughed off and it's shown a week or two weeks later after the world championship is over. I don't like that. AM: I don't either. All right, well, let's move on from the judging and talk about which skaters for you right now are really exciting. You've mentioned Davis and White. DB: Well, look, let me tell you something. My book covers a point about to wilt or not to wilt. When you have somebody who simply does not wilt, that in itself is exciting. And many a time, those people that can rise to the occasion, and suddenly pull together a program that is phenomenal — it's what you want to see. I mean, I found myself rising out of my seat when Jason Brown performed, because he in a sense broke the rules. It will be very interesting to see how he fares in this international competition, when he has competition from not only Jeremy Abbott but from Chan, Plushenko, Denis Ten, Javier Fernandez, and the Japanese skaters. It'll be very interesting to see how he compares in that to them. Remember, the national championship is one where it's a single country. And there aren't countries that are vying to improve their lot because that's the way they get money from the ISU. It's a different situation. I hope like the devil that he does brilliantly. I find him a fascinating skater and I was entranced by the choreography. And the choreography was done by Rohene Ward. I remember talking to him a couple of years ago, saying, you are going to keep on skating, aren't you? And he said, no, I'm not. And I felt that was a great loss. I'm very happy now to see him back in force as a choreographer. AM: Yes. And I'm happy to see someone, that he has a student that can interpret that choreography so well. Because, you know, Rohene was a very unusual talent, and oddly enough Jason has a lot of the same qualities, with his extreme flexibility and his showmanship. DB: Wait a minute. Are you telling me that that flexibility can't be gained by other people? They can, if they would understand what that is and follow that. AM: No, but I think Rohene was very unusual for a male skater to be able to use it to choreographic effect. DB: Why as a male skater? AM: Well, because most men, if they could do the splits like that, they certainly wouldn't lower themselves on the ice and pull themselves back up and do a lot of — Johnny Weir could lift his leg all the way up before a lutz, too, just like Jason and Rohene can, but it is unusual. DB: Well, that's because they don't follow that either. If you look at the number of skaters among the ladies that – well, look, there's a totally developable way. Guys can learn. You see it in gymnastics, for heaven's sake, If they do it, why can't figure skaters? Look, this is called the development of the — right now, I can guarantee you there's very, very little of the component score voting for some of the stuff that Jason Brown did. He was marvelous in the fact that he did not open his program with the single most difficult jump that he could. I'm really fascinated to see how the international version of this will work out, the international competition coming up in the Olympic Games. AM: So you did mention that he is a bit of a rule breaker in that sense, and you have said in your book that rules are made to be broken. And you did use Torvill and Dean as a perfect example of that, of course, from 1984. Is there a rule that you see right now that you wish someone would break, or push a little more? DB: Yeah. If you look at the rules of the component scores, you will see that, number one, they include skating skills, transitions/linking footwork and movement, performance and execution, choreography, and composition. Now what is the difference between choreography and composition, and transitional and linking footwork and movement, et cetera? I mean, aren't these the same things? AM: To me they are. To me it's semantics. DB: That's right. And isn't it better to have a skater develop that through their own intelligence rather than having to control those step sequences through it? And the linking movement and the linking footwork? And the transitions and the linking movement? [laughs].There was a wonderful English lady who would always comment on English television, and she had a very high voice, and when it came out, linking movements, we were all happily amused [laughs]. AM: Well, that's a good challenge for the next person listening to this, to try to push those boundaries a little bit per Dick Button's request. All right. So, you have a chapter on music choices, and there are a lot of choices as you know that are constantly overused and that we are all tired of hearing about. So is there a piece of music that you have never gotten tired of hearing, that you feel is underutilized? DB: Look, these pieces of music are time-honored pieces of music. So if you look at, for example, Swan Lake, I still will go, when I go to the theatre in the winter time, I still will go to New York City and see Swan Lake. I mean, it doesn't stop any more than certain songs that you get tired of. It is the way they're developed, and I do a whole thing in this book on the development of music by the skater, and whether they understand what the music is saying. And when you pick a piece of music like Carmen or Swan Lake, it comes with over a hundred years — one comes with much more than a hundred years and one comes from close to a hundred years — of very fine history and development and interpretation. Are you telling me that because six skaters do it within a two-year period of time that you're tired of it? I find it's that the skater hasn't developed it. We're always seeing different interpretations of dance, and if you get tired of Swan Lake being done, then try to bring a great quality into it that makes it sing. Swan Lake is wonderful for skating because it has long sweeping movements. It is not Irish clog dancing or step dancing. AM: Well, I think if you're going to pick, and this is my opinion, but I think if you're going to pick one of the commonly used pieces, you better make it good and different and that's what I think — Samantha Cesario, I don't know if you saw her program, when she did it this year at Nationals I thought it was fantastic. And I am not a fan of using Carmen because I think that after Debi Thomas and Katarina Witt had the battle of the Carmens, you'd better leave Carmen pretty dead. You know? [laughs] DB: But one of the things is, you have to understand what the music is. I write about this in the book, and I talk about Mao Asada who is a lovely skater and a very nice person. But she had all the white feathers and all the music, et cetera, but there was no understanding of the movement of a swan in that. There was no understanding of the history of Swan Lake. I mean, you can't have a program that has been performed for more than one hundred years now, nearly one and a half centuries, in great companies with great choreography and great sweeping music, and not understand what that performance level is. You must understand the music, you must be able to — and there are different interpretations of the music, different orchestrations, there are many times different ones. Whatever the piece of music it is that you choose, you can find sometimes more than one interpretation, and unfortunately we don't hear about that on the commentary, I don't think. AM: Is there a piece of music you would like to hear more? DB: Look, that's like saying is there a great skater that I'd like to see more of. Always! Always.  I like great skating. That's all I'm saying, I like the best. And I want to be — it's theatre, it's athletic ability, it's competition, it's technical demands, it's music, it's choreography, it's costuming, it's the whole kit and caboodle. And I guarantee you, do you think they're going to cut out — I wouldn't be at all surprised, if Ottavio Cinquanta had his way, that he would make everybody wear the same costume for the team competition. AM: They were talking about that. One of the articles this week was talking about putting all the athletes in Nike outfits [laughs]. DB: Yeah, yeah, yeah, remind me of one event I don't want to see if that's the case [laughs]. Oh, gawd. If you have a great product, don't mess with it. Skating was a great product. Now we've messed with it so completely and for so long that it's very disheartening. Remember, you're not a member of the rules committee if you're not making rules. If you're a rule maker, you have to be making rules or otherwise you're not a rule maker. AM: [laughs] They got a little over-zealous. All right. Your commentary is epic. People still talk about it, they miss hearing you, your catchphrases have inspired a drinking game and compilations on YouTube. And you have gotten some heat for your comments such as “refrigerator break”. DB: I'd like to address that. What the heck, would it have been better if I had said, it will give you an opportunity to make a toilet break? I don't think so. A refrigerator break — you know, I think I got over 1100 letters from people saying that I had only said that, I wouldn't have said that if this, that, and the other thing. And I wrote each one of them back and I said, look, Angela Nikodinov was a very talented skater, but she was skating against Michelle Kwan, and there is no problem coming in second behind Michelle Kwan, but she was coming in fifth, fourth, second, third, fourth, that sort of thing, floating around. But what she allowed you to do was to lose your sense of concentration on her. That's where performance level comes in. She was a gorgeous, lovely skater, with wonderful technique and very, very beautiful on the ice. But she allowed you to lose your sense of concentration. She allowed you to switch off and take a refrigerator break. And after I answered that, I never heard anything more about it. AM: But she did listen to you, though. Because she came back amazing the next year. She made you pay attention. DB: [laughs] Well, that's my gold medal. My gold medal is when I hear, when I make a criticism of somebody and then I see later that they have either improved it or changed it. One of the things I always said about Evgeni Plushenko was, way back in 2002, I said, he's a wonderful jumper but he's a lousy spinner. And the next year, or two years, I was at a championship, and he said, how are my spins? Are they better? So he was listening, and he made it good. And his spins were better. And that's a great compliment to me, when somebody does that. AM: So how many skaters would you say have come up to you and talked to you about your comments about their performance? DB: Well, I had a lot of skaters say, can you point it out to me. One of them was Jason Dungjen and his partner, Kyoko Ina. Kyoko Ina had exquisite posture and stretch and arching of the back, and Jason was like a nice all-American skater without that same stretch. So when they did a pair move, hers was extended beautifully and his was not parallel to it. As soon as I pointed that out to him, he understood exactly what I was talking about, and I think they worked hard on it. So that was a great honor to me. That is my gold medal, my reward, when a skater will do that. And look, you really only criticize, I say this in the book, you really only criticize a skater if they're talented. If they're not talented, it doesn't spark comment. AM: Would you say the refrigerator break comment was the largest reaction you've gotten over the years from fans, or was there another one? DB: It was one of them. Another one of them was when I commented one time about, I think it was crossing the street in New York, and everybody said, oh, you wouldn't have said that if the skater that I was referring to wasn't black. And come on, I encourage my kids to cross the street, I say, stop and look in both directions, otherwise you'll get run over and then you'll look like a pancake on that road. It's about an awareness of your surroundings, and you've got to be aware of the surrounding effect in an arena. How many times do you see — go back and look at programs. That's why some day I would like to see a great media museum of skating. Because if you go back and you look at these performances and you consider them, then you will never forget that. And it will apply itself, it will be another basis for another understanding of what it is that you're doing. Every position you take on the ice should be thought out. You cannot just do these positions where you see the skater come out and they take their position and the free leg toe is pointed behind and to the side of the skating leg — you know, the kind of position you take where one foot is flat on the ice and the other is on a point behind you. Look at the number of times you see, what is the position of that foot? Is it turned under, or is it not in an elegant position? If you want to see proper position, look at Oleg and Ludmila Protopopov, and John Curry, and Janet Lynn, and Peggy Fleming. And Dorothy Hamill, who became an infinitely better skater after she had won the Olympics. I was a better skater after I had finally learned, long after I had retired, and learned from — there's a whole chapter in this, it's called "Open Your Eyes, Dummy." And it was my opening my eyes which led me finally to understand what the heck skating was all about. AM: Well, I would love it if we finally had a media museum with all those performances. DB: There is the museum in Colorado Springs, but it doesn't have any money. US Figure Skating is not really going to support it because they want to support skating today. But sometimes the education, the media education is imperative. AM: Yes. Well, I am hopeful that one day will come to fruition, that there will be a central place where all that is housed, and it's not just Youtube [laughs]. So, all right, your book, I sort of felt like as I was reading it, and this is sort of getting heavy here, I really felt that it was a metaphor for living a balanced and fulfilling life. It talks about centering yourself, breaking the rules, having a solid foundation, fighting the good fight, not wilting under pressure, and having a whole lot of fun. Do you view skating that way? DB: Yep. You know, skating is no different than gardening, than painting, than anything else. You know, I hope you'll come some day and see my garden lecture [laughs]. Then you can do a conversation on that for a different sport. But all of these things intertwine. Why do you dress the way you do? Why do you speak the way you do? Why do you live in a house, if you have the opportunity to live in a house, why do you choose the style of house you do? All of these are inherent in skating, and they are inherent in everything else. It is called not only what the eye beholds, it's what the eye registers. One of my pet peeves is watching skaters take position in the center of the ice, when they skate down and they're on one foot, and the other knee is bent. Time after time, you look at that particular entrance move on one foot, and it's not a beautiful move, but yet there is every skater doing it. What is that move, what is that position supposed to be? If you ask the skater, what are you trying to express by that, are you expressing a welcoming moment to the crowd? You don't have to be on one foot to do that. Take a look at it yourself, and I urge all your listeners to take a look at that, and take a look at the number of times an arm flings above the shoulder. And question each and every one. Peggy Fleming, always, I would see her in front of a mirror at a rink, constantly checking out the way she finished a turn or a pirouette, or made a turn, and how the dress worked with it. She was constantly looking at that. And you will find that she does not make a move even today without knowing exactly what that position is, whether she's on skates or not. Ludmila and Oleg Protopopov, and I talk about this in the book, I went up to Lake Placid where they were getting a lifetime achievement award, and of course the Lake Placid club or whoever it was didn't have any money for publicizing it, and it was an almost empty arena. However, the Protopopovs skated in it as if they were skating for the King and Queen of England. And Oleg took an opening position with Ludmila, and you take one look — without them moving one inch, they took a position, and I said, that's it, that's their whole performance right there in that position.  They were stunningly beautiful in that position. And they're well into their 70s, and there was the story, right there. My problem is, I can't look at skating — that's one of the sickening things with having watched it for so long, is that I've seen extraordinary performances, Belita Jepson-Turner, Noffke and Schubach, pairs skaters who were champions of the US in the 40s, the movement, their parallelism of their moves was extraordinary. They couldn't do throw axels and they couldn't know what triple side-by-side jumps were and so forth, but their pair skating quality was without compare. I mean, it was just extraordinary. All I'm asking the skaters to do, and everybody else to do, is to look at it, and say, why are we doing this? Each step, what is it supposed to do, and is it? Does it interpret the music and does it interpret — John Curry, we did a thing with Ice Theatre of New York, Dance on Camera, at Lincoln Centre over the weekend, and it was all about, it was a great deal of comment and production in the John Curry film of what he was teaching skaters and the way he was making them look at film. Slavka Kohout used to do that. She would take all her dancers in to see the ballet, or any other production that had dance movement in it. It wasn't about seeing it, it was about registering it. And that's the important thing. If there's only one thing I hope for in this book, with a little bit of tomfoolery that you don't get stuck into something serious, and, number two, that it opens your eyes. AM: I love that. All right, I just have one more question for you, then, since we are just days away from the Olympics. I am curious what you think about the new team event. DB: Oh, I don't really think much about it at all one way or the other. I think if they want to do it, that's fine. It gives a secondary skater a secondary choice, and it gives somebody who may not win a medal another chance to win a medal, and I'm fine with that. I don't have any great problem with it. You know, God bless them, what they're doing is trying to get another set of television exposure, and that produces money and blah blah blah. The one thing, though, that I did understand was that when the rules were not quite set in Budapest, at the European championships, the newspaper people were asking Ottavio Cinquanta what was the rule about such and such, and he said he didn't know. He said, you have to ask the Russians about that. Well, hello! Are the Russians the ones that are controlling the sport? I mean, the Russians are a hell of a good skaters, and very efficient, and they've got a wonderful team going, but are they the arbiters of our sport? That's my complaint. “I am a speed skater, I know nothing about figure skating.” AM: I know, it's incredible. Well, I agree with you that it's wonderful that there's another opportunity for skaters to get medals, because there's just been the one chance all these decades. But I also don't think that it was done for any reason other than ratings and money. I'm cynical enough for that. But I'm glad to see the skaters get another opportunity. DB: Right. But you've also got to remember that that's why figures are no longer with us. They didn't bring in any money, nobody watched them, they took a lot of time, they were expensive, and they didn't add anything to the income. So this is another one that adds to the income, and it really doesn't change anything. I'm sure they'll all do their same programs that they will do again. They're not going to create a new program now. They might for another year. AM: Maybe for the next round. But we'll see. To be determined [laughs]. Well, I am going to take you up on your offer and invite myself to one of your garden lectures someday. DB: [laughs]. All right. I just finished one at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and one at the Botanic Garden in Arizona, and I've done several in the New York area, in the New York and Connecticut area, and maybe there'll be one in the early spring or so in a nearby city to New York. So I'll let you know. AM: Please! And as we've discussed I'm hoping to come out and see you in a couple of weeks, and do another interview more about you. DB: Good. AM: And I hope that you'll let me come up and take a look at your fantastic art collection of skating art. DB: Oh, you're more than welcome. AM: I would love it. DB: You're more than welcome. You have a good one, my dear, and keep the faith. AM: You too. Enjoy the next couple of weeks of good television. DB: Thank you, ma'am.   AM: And there it is. I have finally had my dream of interviewing Dick Button. I can now die happy. I think. Although, as you heard, he did want to have another conversation later. So we will plan to do that. And until next time —May you be a pioneer with whatever you choose to do. May you be as opinionated and passionate about your life's work as Dick Button is about his life's work. And as he says in his new book Push Dick's Button, on page 46, and yes, I'm paraphrasing just a little bit: don't skate to Carmen. Bye-bye!

   In this episode of the Peak Performance Podcast, I speak with Jessica Long, 12-time gold medalist, 3-time ESPY winner, and Sullivan Award winner. Jessica has accomplished more things by the age of 21 that most never do in their lives…and Jessica has no legs from the knees down. In this episode you will learn: […] The post PPP 011 JESSICA LONG, GOLD MEDALIST, PARALYMPICS appeared first on Ed Tseng.

Best of Volatility Views:  Larry the LegendIn this episode, Mark, Don, and Mark Sebastian are joined by Larry McMillan.Volatility Viewpoints: Larry McMillan, recent winner of The OIC's Sullivan Award, discusses how volatility derivatives have changed the landscape of vol trading. Larry waxes nostalgic on the days when there weren't puts on every stock. The virtues of upside VIX calls versus SPX puts to hedge a portfolio.  Discussing the fine art of gamma scalping.

Exclusive 2012 OIC Conference Coverage: Presentation of the Sullivan AwardPresentation of the 2012 Joseph W. Sullivan Award to CBOE's Edward J. Joyce

Exclusive 2012 OIC Conference Coverage: Presentation of the Sullivan AwardPresentation of the 2012 Joseph W. Sullivan Award to CBOE's Edward J. Joyce

This Sunday February 5th at 9pm EST Robert will be speaking with Olympic Gold Medalist Greg Louganis. Openly gay and HIV-positive Olympic diving legend Greg Louganis wants to show off his moves on ABC’s ‘Dancing with the Stars’ next season. Louganis fans have created a Facebook campaign to ABC to extend an invitation to Louganis, and the campaign is getting some attention. Greg is a five time World Champion and holds 47 National Championship titles. At the Pan Am Games, he earned six Gold Medals, and in 1985, he was awarded the Sullivan Award as the “Nation’s most outstanding amateur athlete.”However, what most people remember about Greg is that he went on to win Olympic Gold at the 1988 Games despite striking the back of his head on the springboard during the preliminaries. He attempted a reverse 2½ somersault pike in the ninth round of the prelims, and he hit his head on the board and fell into the water. Thirty-five minutes later, after receiving stitches to his scalp wound, he resumed diving. The following day, he hit all 11 dives and easily won the Olympic Gold Medal. After he tested positive for HIV in 1988,he recounted his story in a best-selling book Breaking the Surface. The book spent five weeks at number one on the New York Times Best Seller list. His story was also documented in the 1996 Showtime movie Breaking the Surface: The Greg Louganis Story with Mario Lopez playing the lead and Louganis narrating. Greg has worn many hats, Actor, Dancer, Olympian, Diver, Dog Trainer, Speaker, AIDS Activist, Equality and Diversity Activist, and yes he would love to be on Dancing With The Stars in honor of his Mom’s memory, Frances Louganis, “My Mom would have loved to see me on that show” says Greg.