Russ Riberto considered it as wise a move as any he’s ever made. While pursuing his business administration degree at the University of Illinois at Chicago, the Oak Lawn resident returned home each summer to make some money and, in a break from the academic calendar he enjoyed from the previous twelve years, take summer school courses.
“I took a few math classes in two consecutive summers,” said Riberto. “It was strange doing schoolwork in July, but I knew it was a good move and one that would help me get ahead.”
Now working with the federal government’s General Services Administration as a senior project manager, Riberto admits that his decision to take summer courses at Moraine Valley Community College remains one of his wisest academic decisions.
“I was able to stay on track and make sure I graduated from UIC on time,” the 2002 UIC alum said. “Plus, when I got back to UIC I was able to focus on my major classes in business and make sure they were getting the attention they deserved.”
Although students at four-year universities such as Riberto have long utilized their home community colleges to support or advance their studies over the summer months, local colleges have heightened efforts in recent years to promote such opportunities, particularly given the skyrocketing costs of tuition at both public and private four-year institutions across the nation.
“The primary advantage is that [the students] can get the classes they need at a much lower cost with the added convenience of being in their home area over the summer,” said Patrick Rush, director of public relations at South Suburban College. “This may allow them to take a smaller course load as a full-time student or to get their degree faster.”
Students, meanwhile, have increasingly taken advantage of the opportunities available at local community colleges, particularly as tuition at the colleges ranges anywhere from $60-90 per credit hour, an affordable respite from universities’ hefty costs. While some students return home during the summer for full or part-time work, others return expressly for summer school.
In 2006, South Suburban College claimed nearly 500 reverse transfer students, as they are often called, a number accounting for approximately 15 percent of its summer enrollment. Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills counts upwards of 20 percent of its summer enrollment as reverse transfer students, a number that has sprouted alongside overall campus enrollment. Oftentimes, university students flock to the community colleges to fulfill general education requirements, such as math, English, science, communications, and history.
“There are a variety of reasons why [general education courses] are popular: students couldn’t get into such a course at their school or they have to make it up or want to get these courses completed less expensively so they can concentrate on courses specific to their major [once they return to their school in the fall],” said Mark Horstmeyer, Director of College Relations at Moraine Valley Community College, who adds that students might also elect to take a course in which they feel they might need extra help.
Students at Illinois universities, meanwhile, can take assurance that their summer work will carry over to their four-year institution with the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI), a statewide agreement among participating Illinois colleges and universities with clear guidelines identifying the transferability of courses.
“With the Illinois colleges, at least, transferring credits has become more seamless with the IAI,” said Cathy Robinson, Dean of Academic Services and Counseling at Prairie State College in Chicago Heights. “For those not at an Illinois four-year institution, I would suggest checking with the registrar’s office at the home institution. If the course transfers, then it’s really a win-win.”
Like the aforementioned Riberto, students who take summer courses at their local college rarely regret the edge it lends and the savings it provides. Yet more, such students even impress college administrators with their willingness to stay academically sharp in spite of summer’s tempting sunshine and students’ long-standing avoidance of schoolwork throughout June, July, and August.
“I’m impressed with the students who see that they can compete even better when they stay on their academic toes. They’ve thought it through and realized the benefits are well worth the investment,” said Robinson.
Saturday, June 2, 2007
Writing Sample #10: Taking a sip of liquor license know-how (Pizza Today, June 2007)
Casey Harris can tell you a thing or two about the difficulty of obtaining a liquor license. So, too, can Bob Callaway.
Though separated by time zones and some 1700 miles—Harris calling Port Huron, MI home and Callaway residing in Smithfield, UT—the two have traveled a similar path in pursuing their respective liquor licenses, one littered with frustration, disappointment, and bureaucratic noise.
Open since February 2006, Harris and his Casey’s Pizza and Sub Shop, a 100-seat establishment along the lake town’s evolving business district, have yet to pour a pint of ale or drop of wine. Though Harris called to get his liquor license the day after purchasing the former office building in late 2005, his journey to serving a pitcher of Budweiser has been anything but smooth.
“It’s taken two years to get my liquor license and I’m just now getting close,” says Harris, a retired hockey player who spent much of his youth in his parent’s Carmel, IN pizzeria. “I’ve been writing letters, making calls, and am constantly going to meetings. It’s disheartening how long it’s taken—not to mention the costs.”
For Callaway, who ran a catering service in southern California, his move to Smithfield, a modest spot of 7,500 inhabitants hugging the college town of Logan, and subsequent quest for a restaurant liquor license was similarly one of difficulty and distress.
Accustomed to California’s application process, Callaway encountered a different set of rules in Smithfield, a town with liquor regulations well beyond the state’s strict code. He could not purchase another’s vacated license, as one could in California, and was forced to petition the Smithfield City Council for a variance, a series of public hearings and forums to determine if Callaway’s Bistro faced “difficulties or hardships” given its inability to serve alcohol.
“I was going after the first restaurant liquor license in this conservative town,” says Callaway, “and I had to send letters out to everyone within an eight block radius. One dissenting council member said he’d be appalled to have his children walk home from school and pass a place serving alcohol. Such was the battle I faced.”
As it turns out, Harris’ and Callaway’s experiences are not uncommon. Operators across the country often find obtaining a liquor license to be a more challenging feat than anticipated. While liquor licenses once ran exclusively through the state, local municipalities sought increased say in the licenses granted within their communities. Zoning, as Jon Mejia of the California-based American Liquor License Exchange explains, has now lengthened, complicated, and overpriced the process.
“The local guys wanted their say and that’s placed an increased burden on the independent operator,” says Mejia, who notes Los Angeles where operators face a $6,000 price tag just to have their day in front of the zoning department—a first-step plea for a subsequent chance to deliver more paperwork, more cash, and more appeals.
While each state and municipality maintains its own set of regulations, Mejia, a two-decades long veteran of liquor licensing issues, offers a few general principles to move the process forward as efficiently as possible.
Two of the most overlooked items in applying for a license are parking, particularly in cities, and handicap accessibility, both of which demand an operator’s attention to detail and local code.
“These are true almost across the country,” Mejia says, “and are perhaps the critical items which most trip up operators. Don’t have them and you’ll likely run into a problem trying to get the liquor license.”
In an ideal world, says Mejia, the pizzeria would stand far away from residential units and so-called sensitive use facilities, such as churches, schools, parks, and hospitals. But since that leaves little else, Mejia urges operators with a choice to select a spot judiciously.
“If anybody’s going to throw up a real strong protest, it’s probably going to be residents so you’re sharp to avoid them,” he says, adding that community protests frequently delay license applications.
Most importantly, Mejia advises operators to learn the rules ahead of time, particularly those individuals opening a new spot. He relays horror stories of operators signing a lease, but failing to open their restaurant given code violations.
“Do your homework before you sign the lease,” he says. “Check with the appropriate agencies, both local and state, to make sure the business meets all the requirements.”
For operators opening a second pizzeria, Frank Fox of Chicago-based Fox’s Pizza says reputation goes a long way toward a more efficient process. Fox recently opened a new location in Chicago’s southwest suburbs, a 20-minute drive from his current spot, and says that although he got grilled by local leaders and had some moments of “hot seat wondering,” he understood that years of reputation, maintenance, presentation, and stability carried his application.
“[The council] knew who I was and knew I watched minors and consumption,” says Fox. “That’s the best advice I can offer to anyone, existing or new—have a clean record and they’ll respect how you conduct yourself with the product.”
Mejia reports that obtaining a license generally requires 90 days with costs falling anywhere from a couple thousand dollars to six figures. In Washington state, for instance, a hard liquor license might cost anywhere from $2,000-5,000; two New Jersey hard liquor licenses recently sold on the open market for $1.5 million, a nod to the speculative nature that has become more prevalent as zoning has emerged a more challenging hurdle.
For Casey Harris, who once thought he secured a Michigan liquor license for little more than the application fees only to watch new laws change the ballgame, a $20,000 charge is the present price tag. In an attempt to spur downtown development across the state, Michigan passed legislation in 2006 allowing business owners to purchase a liquor license for $20,000—a third of the open market’s going rate—if they could show a $75,000 investment in their downtown property coupled with a $200,000 town investment in redevelopment. Though a hefty cost, it’s a price Harris is willing to pay.
“It’s worth the $20,000 even if it takes a lot of pizzas to make up for it,” says Harris, who hopes to have the license in time for the summer’s active tourist season.
Callaway, meanwhile, now reaps the benefits of the license he obtained in 2003 following a four-year struggle. The frustrations behind him, he’s moving forward.
“It took an election shift on the city council to bring things around, but we finally got it done,” says Callaway. “We’ve been successful with a unique menu catering to different tastes, but now that we’re serving wine we’re no doubt getting customers that we didn’t have before.”
Though separated by time zones and some 1700 miles—Harris calling Port Huron, MI home and Callaway residing in Smithfield, UT—the two have traveled a similar path in pursuing their respective liquor licenses, one littered with frustration, disappointment, and bureaucratic noise.
Open since February 2006, Harris and his Casey’s Pizza and Sub Shop, a 100-seat establishment along the lake town’s evolving business district, have yet to pour a pint of ale or drop of wine. Though Harris called to get his liquor license the day after purchasing the former office building in late 2005, his journey to serving a pitcher of Budweiser has been anything but smooth.
“It’s taken two years to get my liquor license and I’m just now getting close,” says Harris, a retired hockey player who spent much of his youth in his parent’s Carmel, IN pizzeria. “I’ve been writing letters, making calls, and am constantly going to meetings. It’s disheartening how long it’s taken—not to mention the costs.”
For Callaway, who ran a catering service in southern California, his move to Smithfield, a modest spot of 7,500 inhabitants hugging the college town of Logan, and subsequent quest for a restaurant liquor license was similarly one of difficulty and distress.
Accustomed to California’s application process, Callaway encountered a different set of rules in Smithfield, a town with liquor regulations well beyond the state’s strict code. He could not purchase another’s vacated license, as one could in California, and was forced to petition the Smithfield City Council for a variance, a series of public hearings and forums to determine if Callaway’s Bistro faced “difficulties or hardships” given its inability to serve alcohol.
“I was going after the first restaurant liquor license in this conservative town,” says Callaway, “and I had to send letters out to everyone within an eight block radius. One dissenting council member said he’d be appalled to have his children walk home from school and pass a place serving alcohol. Such was the battle I faced.”
As it turns out, Harris’ and Callaway’s experiences are not uncommon. Operators across the country often find obtaining a liquor license to be a more challenging feat than anticipated. While liquor licenses once ran exclusively through the state, local municipalities sought increased say in the licenses granted within their communities. Zoning, as Jon Mejia of the California-based American Liquor License Exchange explains, has now lengthened, complicated, and overpriced the process.
“The local guys wanted their say and that’s placed an increased burden on the independent operator,” says Mejia, who notes Los Angeles where operators face a $6,000 price tag just to have their day in front of the zoning department—a first-step plea for a subsequent chance to deliver more paperwork, more cash, and more appeals.
While each state and municipality maintains its own set of regulations, Mejia, a two-decades long veteran of liquor licensing issues, offers a few general principles to move the process forward as efficiently as possible.
Two of the most overlooked items in applying for a license are parking, particularly in cities, and handicap accessibility, both of which demand an operator’s attention to detail and local code.
“These are true almost across the country,” Mejia says, “and are perhaps the critical items which most trip up operators. Don’t have them and you’ll likely run into a problem trying to get the liquor license.”
In an ideal world, says Mejia, the pizzeria would stand far away from residential units and so-called sensitive use facilities, such as churches, schools, parks, and hospitals. But since that leaves little else, Mejia urges operators with a choice to select a spot judiciously.
“If anybody’s going to throw up a real strong protest, it’s probably going to be residents so you’re sharp to avoid them,” he says, adding that community protests frequently delay license applications.
Most importantly, Mejia advises operators to learn the rules ahead of time, particularly those individuals opening a new spot. He relays horror stories of operators signing a lease, but failing to open their restaurant given code violations.
“Do your homework before you sign the lease,” he says. “Check with the appropriate agencies, both local and state, to make sure the business meets all the requirements.”
For operators opening a second pizzeria, Frank Fox of Chicago-based Fox’s Pizza says reputation goes a long way toward a more efficient process. Fox recently opened a new location in Chicago’s southwest suburbs, a 20-minute drive from his current spot, and says that although he got grilled by local leaders and had some moments of “hot seat wondering,” he understood that years of reputation, maintenance, presentation, and stability carried his application.
“[The council] knew who I was and knew I watched minors and consumption,” says Fox. “That’s the best advice I can offer to anyone, existing or new—have a clean record and they’ll respect how you conduct yourself with the product.”
Mejia reports that obtaining a license generally requires 90 days with costs falling anywhere from a couple thousand dollars to six figures. In Washington state, for instance, a hard liquor license might cost anywhere from $2,000-5,000; two New Jersey hard liquor licenses recently sold on the open market for $1.5 million, a nod to the speculative nature that has become more prevalent as zoning has emerged a more challenging hurdle.
For Casey Harris, who once thought he secured a Michigan liquor license for little more than the application fees only to watch new laws change the ballgame, a $20,000 charge is the present price tag. In an attempt to spur downtown development across the state, Michigan passed legislation in 2006 allowing business owners to purchase a liquor license for $20,000—a third of the open market’s going rate—if they could show a $75,000 investment in their downtown property coupled with a $200,000 town investment in redevelopment. Though a hefty cost, it’s a price Harris is willing to pay.
“It’s worth the $20,000 even if it takes a lot of pizzas to make up for it,” says Harris, who hopes to have the license in time for the summer’s active tourist season.
Callaway, meanwhile, now reaps the benefits of the license he obtained in 2003 following a four-year struggle. The frustrations behind him, he’s moving forward.
“It took an election shift on the city council to bring things around, but we finally got it done,” says Callaway. “We’ve been successful with a unique menu catering to different tastes, but now that we’re serving wine we’re no doubt getting customers that we didn’t have before.”
Wednesday, December 6, 2006
Writing Sample #9: Winter Selling Season Heating up (Daily Southtown, December 1, 2006)
The spring season is no longer king of the hill.
Spring’s stranglehold on the real estate market has loosened in recent years, a result of diverse factors ranging from the Internet to industry-savvy buyers. Where people once delayed a for sale sign on the lawn until March or April, the quiet of a frosty home sales season has since subsided in favor of a more active real estate market; with snow on the ground, Christmas carols ringing, and temperatures dropping, this winter selling season looks to heat up further.
“This winter may be one of the most active in years given that buyers have been sitting around waiting for something to happen,” said Linda Dore, a veteran agent with Orland Park’s ReMax Team 2000. “All indications are that the wild market we’ve been having for a while is slowing and that all the things buyers wanted to see happening—a settling of the market and mortgage rates—are happening.”
For some homeowners, winter presents an ideal selling opportunity—despite an upswing of homes on the winter market supply nevertheless remains at endurable levels while the colder months also allow sellers to concentrate almost exclusively on the home’s interior. For other homeowners, however, perhaps those with a thriving landscape or dimly lit streets, winter offers some less than enticing potential. As common in the industry, homeowners must accentuate strengths and downplay weaknesses lest they risk a lingering home sale.
Indeed, the winter real estate market is one littered with positives for some homeowners and negatives for others. Will buyers be able to enjoy the spacious patio deck and envision a summer party as they shiver in the Chicago twilight? Yet, won’t those inviting holiday decorations, fresh cookie scents, and candles provide a touch of warmth and comfort?
The answer: well, yes and yes. With the winter season in tow, homeowners can capitalize on the cozy feelings of the holiday season as well as a decreased supply of homes while simultaneously battling weather and a withering outdoor life. Sellers have taken increased notice of winter’s potential in the sales market and erased the need to wait for the warmer months ahead. With a few wise steps, winter can deliver a winner.
“Sometimes we pick the time to sell our home and sometimes the time picks us. If you have the flexibility to make the call as to when the home will hit the market, then consider what aspects of the home you want to highlight,” said Barb Thouvenell, managing broker and owner of PRS Associates Realtors in Chicago’s Beverly neighborhood.
“We’ve seen less of a seasonal market in recent years. Sellers used to think only about spring given the opportunity to spruce up the home, but in winter people can do some simple things they can’t do in the summer to make the home more inviting such as lighting the fireplace or candles. These are easy things that can make a home feel more like a home.”
While a well-priced, quality home prepared to sell will likely garner serious offers regardless of the season, the winter seller often needs to consider some aspects of staging that a summer seller might be able to overlook, including a seat inside the door for people to take off their shoes and accessible parking on snowy days.
“The winter seller has to be much more prepared for bad weather and scrupulous about shoveling and making a path to the door,” Thouvenell said. “The seller simply needs to take more care and cater to buyers while realizing that something like the open house requires a little luck of the draw.”
There are some uncomplicated ways, however, in which sellers can counter the ill effects of Chicagoland’s sometimes brutish winter months and make the most out of winter’s opportunities. Thouvenell advises clients to have summer, spring, and fall photos of the home’s exterior on display for potential buyers, a move she says “will help showcase the house in every season.” Dore, meanwhile, urges sellers to enter the market with realistic expectations and a positive attitude.
“The number one item to know is that you’re going to get fewer showings, so staging the home properly and making the house as attractive as possible takes on added importance,” she said.
Despite the movement toward an increasingly heated winter market, Dore cautions that the overall guiding principle of real estate holds regardless of weather and the winter season’s supply of homes.
“If you’re going to sell your home, then you get it ready in an attractive condition,” she said. “The buyer’s expectations remain high and on an attractive product no matter the weather outside.”
Spring’s stranglehold on the real estate market has loosened in recent years, a result of diverse factors ranging from the Internet to industry-savvy buyers. Where people once delayed a for sale sign on the lawn until March or April, the quiet of a frosty home sales season has since subsided in favor of a more active real estate market; with snow on the ground, Christmas carols ringing, and temperatures dropping, this winter selling season looks to heat up further.
“This winter may be one of the most active in years given that buyers have been sitting around waiting for something to happen,” said Linda Dore, a veteran agent with Orland Park’s ReMax Team 2000. “All indications are that the wild market we’ve been having for a while is slowing and that all the things buyers wanted to see happening—a settling of the market and mortgage rates—are happening.”
For some homeowners, winter presents an ideal selling opportunity—despite an upswing of homes on the winter market supply nevertheless remains at endurable levels while the colder months also allow sellers to concentrate almost exclusively on the home’s interior. For other homeowners, however, perhaps those with a thriving landscape or dimly lit streets, winter offers some less than enticing potential. As common in the industry, homeowners must accentuate strengths and downplay weaknesses lest they risk a lingering home sale.
Indeed, the winter real estate market is one littered with positives for some homeowners and negatives for others. Will buyers be able to enjoy the spacious patio deck and envision a summer party as they shiver in the Chicago twilight? Yet, won’t those inviting holiday decorations, fresh cookie scents, and candles provide a touch of warmth and comfort?
The answer: well, yes and yes. With the winter season in tow, homeowners can capitalize on the cozy feelings of the holiday season as well as a decreased supply of homes while simultaneously battling weather and a withering outdoor life. Sellers have taken increased notice of winter’s potential in the sales market and erased the need to wait for the warmer months ahead. With a few wise steps, winter can deliver a winner.
“Sometimes we pick the time to sell our home and sometimes the time picks us. If you have the flexibility to make the call as to when the home will hit the market, then consider what aspects of the home you want to highlight,” said Barb Thouvenell, managing broker and owner of PRS Associates Realtors in Chicago’s Beverly neighborhood.
“We’ve seen less of a seasonal market in recent years. Sellers used to think only about spring given the opportunity to spruce up the home, but in winter people can do some simple things they can’t do in the summer to make the home more inviting such as lighting the fireplace or candles. These are easy things that can make a home feel more like a home.”
While a well-priced, quality home prepared to sell will likely garner serious offers regardless of the season, the winter seller often needs to consider some aspects of staging that a summer seller might be able to overlook, including a seat inside the door for people to take off their shoes and accessible parking on snowy days.
“The winter seller has to be much more prepared for bad weather and scrupulous about shoveling and making a path to the door,” Thouvenell said. “The seller simply needs to take more care and cater to buyers while realizing that something like the open house requires a little luck of the draw.”
There are some uncomplicated ways, however, in which sellers can counter the ill effects of Chicagoland’s sometimes brutish winter months and make the most out of winter’s opportunities. Thouvenell advises clients to have summer, spring, and fall photos of the home’s exterior on display for potential buyers, a move she says “will help showcase the house in every season.” Dore, meanwhile, urges sellers to enter the market with realistic expectations and a positive attitude.
“The number one item to know is that you’re going to get fewer showings, so staging the home properly and making the house as attractive as possible takes on added importance,” she said.
Despite the movement toward an increasingly heated winter market, Dore cautions that the overall guiding principle of real estate holds regardless of weather and the winter season’s supply of homes.
“If you’re going to sell your home, then you get it ready in an attractive condition,” she said. “The buyer’s expectations remain high and on an attractive product no matter the weather outside.”
Writing Sample #8: Sizing Issues: The Snazziest and Wildest Tech Gadgets of the Season in the Palm of Your Hand (ELITE, December 2006)
Bigger isn’t always better.
In fact, in today’s tech-frenzied world, in which the complete Rolling Stones song catalog can fit into one’s palm, iPods play feature length films, and GPS systems no bigger than a pocket-sized atlas direct us where to turn, the “bigger is better” mantra continues falling victim to a revolution of pint-sized gadgets keeping us updated, connected, informed, entertained, and easily accessed. To be certain, small is the new big.
“Everything is moving toward a smaller, more portable item,” reports Karrie Ann Peters, a digital entertainment architect at Oak Brook-based Tweeter. “People want the convenience of portability these days so they’re not lugging large items around.”
Tech companies, meanwhile, have responded to consumer demands for portable, lightweight items. From the Apple’s iconic iPod to the Blackberry PDA units, Silicon Valley and its global cohorts have moved toward rewarding consumers with their every imaginable desire—music, video, e-mail, photos, Internet access—and doing it in a package smaller than a juice box.
Such is the wave of the present and the future, one in which college student Nathan Kennedy slides his iPod into his left hip pocket and a cell phone into his right as he steps into class. Yet, dismiss the idea that the high-tech buzz has only affected teens and young adults, fittingly labeled iGen; indeed, technology has captured baby boomers in its web of wonderment as well, aided in large part by the industry’s renewed focus on consumer ease-of-use and technological marvel.
As the holiday season rolls around and tech-heavy conversations take the stage, a few pocket-sized items demand immediate attention for their innovation and ability.
iPod: Apple Video iPod
The iPod has achieved an envious status among corporate America—instant brand recognition and adoption into the American lexicon. Since its 2000 release, the iPod has revolutionized our listening habits—on the go, in the car, or on the run (see sidebar). With its hip marketing, portable style, and dazzling capabilities, the iPod has found its way into the hands of over 60 million Americans.
In its latest incarnation, the Video iPod, released in late-October, Apple delivers much the same features consumers have come to expect from the chic digital media player. The 30 gig memory Video iPod ($249) can hold 7,500 songs and 2-3 feature length films; its 80 gig sibling ($349), meanwhile, boasts the ability to store 20,000 songs, 100 hours of video, and 25,000 photos.
While many will continue to enjoy the portability of the Video iPod much the same as its predecessors, Apple’s continued focus on accessories lends the Video an even greater degree of versatility: speaker ports to play music at home; a firewire cable to transport video from the unit onto a bigger screen; and a car port to stream the variety of iPod programs into the car.
M3 Players: Creative Zen Microphoto
With the market dominance of the iPod, MP3 players, once the promise-holders of the tech world, have been relegated to near second-class status. MP3 manufacturers, fighting to break through the iPod hold, are making headway by offering much the same features as their popular brethren, but arriving on store shelves at a more competitive price point.
Among MP3 players reaching to secure a slice of praise stands the Creative Zen Microphoto. Though holding less memory than the iPod series, the 8 Gig Microphoto still possesses the ability to store as many as 4,000 songs and 1,000 photos and does so under $200. The Microphoto also boasts the ability to record meetings, memos and notes as well as work alongside Microsoft Works programs to organize a calendar and tasks.
Says Tweeter’s Karrie Peters, “Everybody has a choice: it’s either the iPod or an MP3 player. The MP3 players are a great option for those people who don’t want to go full out, but still want to tap into the technology that’s out there.”
Personal Digital Assistants (PDA): Blackberry 7130e
A one-stop shop for e-mail, phone, Internet access, and networking, PDAs have emerged among the most popular items for those seeking one high-tech item integrating a wide range of features.
The new Blackberry 7130e provides high-speed data in the palm of your hand. With the ability to access e-mail, make phone calls, browse the web, and organize the day’s agenda, the Blackberry 7130e meets much of the day’s expectations in a PDA device—doing so in a pocket-sized, elegant unit. Other features include Bluetooth technology (the cordless ear piece), a wide color display panel, speakerphone, and laptop compatibility with the use of a single USB cable. To be used, however, the 7130e must be paired with a plan from a registered local provider such as Verizon or Sprint.
Satellite Radio: Pioneer INNO
The FCC has issued but two licenses to deliver satellite radio programming—one to Sirius and the other to XM Radio. The continuing battle between the two heavyweights shapes up much the same as a championship boxing match: Sirius hits with an all Elvis station followed by the landing of shock jock Howard Stern while XM counters as the exclusive station for Major League Baseball and a partnership with Napster to cultivate digital music downloading.
The reality: the two providers share much the same promises, including commercial free programming and top-notch clarity, features that have enticed the American public and brought millions of users on board. While each provider requires a monthly subscription fee ranging from $10-14, one must first select a compatible radio unit amid the myriad of choices.
The Pioneer INNO, weighing in at less than 5 ounces, is one of two portable receivers available from XM Radio. An easy-to-use unit, the INNO allows users to record songs and create play lists within its 1GB of storage and arrives with a home docking station to connect with your home radio. This, of course, all pales to its primary function: clear sound and exclusive programming free of commercials.
Navigation Systems: Alpine PMDB100 Blackbird GPS System
The days of poster-sized fold-up maps have disappeared in the wake of Internet mapping programs and, now, GPS systems guided by space-hosted satellites. North America’s streets are, in fact, contained in GPS units little bigger than a deck of cards.
But sometimes the GPS system alone isn’t enough.
Ringing in at $600, the Alpine Blackbird merges GPS navigation technology with a dash of entertainment allure. The Blackbird’s hard drive includes a music player, FM modulator, and traffic receiver. The 8-ounce system claims the preloaded maps typical of GPS systems combined with over 6 million points of interest from golf courses to hospitals. A short battery life, however, means you’ll want to keep that trusty paper map in the car.
Technology on the Run: Nike+
In July, Nike and Apple merged a pair of American passions—athletics and music. The debut of the Nike+ system, a collaborative venture between the two corporate giants, created a whirlwind of chatter upon its release and the buzz has yet to settle.
A nickel-sized sensor ($30) placed under the insole of the designated Nike shoe allows the individual to track the distance walked or ran and thereafter communicate such information through the iPod Nano in a wireless-frenzied awe. During Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run,” for instance, the Nano will interject to inform that you’ve just completed one mile while providing your time for that distance. Athletic greats such as Lance Armstrong may later congratulate you on completing your longest run to date. Users can also create custom play lists and workouts as well as record and track their progress.
Though Nike’s shoe selection for the Nike+ system is currently limited to a handful of models ($85-130), the company has plans to extend its use to the bulk of its running shoe line. All signs indicate, however, that the Nano will continue to be the only compatible iPod unit for the Nike+ system.
In fact, in today’s tech-frenzied world, in which the complete Rolling Stones song catalog can fit into one’s palm, iPods play feature length films, and GPS systems no bigger than a pocket-sized atlas direct us where to turn, the “bigger is better” mantra continues falling victim to a revolution of pint-sized gadgets keeping us updated, connected, informed, entertained, and easily accessed. To be certain, small is the new big.
“Everything is moving toward a smaller, more portable item,” reports Karrie Ann Peters, a digital entertainment architect at Oak Brook-based Tweeter. “People want the convenience of portability these days so they’re not lugging large items around.”
Tech companies, meanwhile, have responded to consumer demands for portable, lightweight items. From the Apple’s iconic iPod to the Blackberry PDA units, Silicon Valley and its global cohorts have moved toward rewarding consumers with their every imaginable desire—music, video, e-mail, photos, Internet access—and doing it in a package smaller than a juice box.
Such is the wave of the present and the future, one in which college student Nathan Kennedy slides his iPod into his left hip pocket and a cell phone into his right as he steps into class. Yet, dismiss the idea that the high-tech buzz has only affected teens and young adults, fittingly labeled iGen; indeed, technology has captured baby boomers in its web of wonderment as well, aided in large part by the industry’s renewed focus on consumer ease-of-use and technological marvel.
As the holiday season rolls around and tech-heavy conversations take the stage, a few pocket-sized items demand immediate attention for their innovation and ability.
iPod: Apple Video iPod
The iPod has achieved an envious status among corporate America—instant brand recognition and adoption into the American lexicon. Since its 2000 release, the iPod has revolutionized our listening habits—on the go, in the car, or on the run (see sidebar). With its hip marketing, portable style, and dazzling capabilities, the iPod has found its way into the hands of over 60 million Americans.
In its latest incarnation, the Video iPod, released in late-October, Apple delivers much the same features consumers have come to expect from the chic digital media player. The 30 gig memory Video iPod ($249) can hold 7,500 songs and 2-3 feature length films; its 80 gig sibling ($349), meanwhile, boasts the ability to store 20,000 songs, 100 hours of video, and 25,000 photos.
While many will continue to enjoy the portability of the Video iPod much the same as its predecessors, Apple’s continued focus on accessories lends the Video an even greater degree of versatility: speaker ports to play music at home; a firewire cable to transport video from the unit onto a bigger screen; and a car port to stream the variety of iPod programs into the car.
M3 Players: Creative Zen Microphoto
With the market dominance of the iPod, MP3 players, once the promise-holders of the tech world, have been relegated to near second-class status. MP3 manufacturers, fighting to break through the iPod hold, are making headway by offering much the same features as their popular brethren, but arriving on store shelves at a more competitive price point.
Among MP3 players reaching to secure a slice of praise stands the Creative Zen Microphoto. Though holding less memory than the iPod series, the 8 Gig Microphoto still possesses the ability to store as many as 4,000 songs and 1,000 photos and does so under $200. The Microphoto also boasts the ability to record meetings, memos and notes as well as work alongside Microsoft Works programs to organize a calendar and tasks.
Says Tweeter’s Karrie Peters, “Everybody has a choice: it’s either the iPod or an MP3 player. The MP3 players are a great option for those people who don’t want to go full out, but still want to tap into the technology that’s out there.”
Personal Digital Assistants (PDA): Blackberry 7130e
A one-stop shop for e-mail, phone, Internet access, and networking, PDAs have emerged among the most popular items for those seeking one high-tech item integrating a wide range of features.
The new Blackberry 7130e provides high-speed data in the palm of your hand. With the ability to access e-mail, make phone calls, browse the web, and organize the day’s agenda, the Blackberry 7130e meets much of the day’s expectations in a PDA device—doing so in a pocket-sized, elegant unit. Other features include Bluetooth technology (the cordless ear piece), a wide color display panel, speakerphone, and laptop compatibility with the use of a single USB cable. To be used, however, the 7130e must be paired with a plan from a registered local provider such as Verizon or Sprint.
Satellite Radio: Pioneer INNO
The FCC has issued but two licenses to deliver satellite radio programming—one to Sirius and the other to XM Radio. The continuing battle between the two heavyweights shapes up much the same as a championship boxing match: Sirius hits with an all Elvis station followed by the landing of shock jock Howard Stern while XM counters as the exclusive station for Major League Baseball and a partnership with Napster to cultivate digital music downloading.
The reality: the two providers share much the same promises, including commercial free programming and top-notch clarity, features that have enticed the American public and brought millions of users on board. While each provider requires a monthly subscription fee ranging from $10-14, one must first select a compatible radio unit amid the myriad of choices.
The Pioneer INNO, weighing in at less than 5 ounces, is one of two portable receivers available from XM Radio. An easy-to-use unit, the INNO allows users to record songs and create play lists within its 1GB of storage and arrives with a home docking station to connect with your home radio. This, of course, all pales to its primary function: clear sound and exclusive programming free of commercials.
Navigation Systems: Alpine PMDB100 Blackbird GPS System
The days of poster-sized fold-up maps have disappeared in the wake of Internet mapping programs and, now, GPS systems guided by space-hosted satellites. North America’s streets are, in fact, contained in GPS units little bigger than a deck of cards.
But sometimes the GPS system alone isn’t enough.
Ringing in at $600, the Alpine Blackbird merges GPS navigation technology with a dash of entertainment allure. The Blackbird’s hard drive includes a music player, FM modulator, and traffic receiver. The 8-ounce system claims the preloaded maps typical of GPS systems combined with over 6 million points of interest from golf courses to hospitals. A short battery life, however, means you’ll want to keep that trusty paper map in the car.
Technology on the Run: Nike+
In July, Nike and Apple merged a pair of American passions—athletics and music. The debut of the Nike+ system, a collaborative venture between the two corporate giants, created a whirlwind of chatter upon its release and the buzz has yet to settle.
A nickel-sized sensor ($30) placed under the insole of the designated Nike shoe allows the individual to track the distance walked or ran and thereafter communicate such information through the iPod Nano in a wireless-frenzied awe. During Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run,” for instance, the Nano will interject to inform that you’ve just completed one mile while providing your time for that distance. Athletic greats such as Lance Armstrong may later congratulate you on completing your longest run to date. Users can also create custom play lists and workouts as well as record and track their progress.
Though Nike’s shoe selection for the Nike+ system is currently limited to a handful of models ($85-130), the company has plans to extend its use to the bulk of its running shoe line. All signs indicate, however, that the Nano will continue to be the only compatible iPod unit for the Nike+ system.
Writing Sample #7: Win or Die Trying while Feeling the Fire (Southland Business, July 2005)
Despite street addresses that define them as teams of Chicago’s south side and current first-place records, the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Fire have little else in common. The White Sox, players of America’s grandest pastime, are a century old franchise with a long line of loyal followers. The Fire, meanwhile, an eight-year-old club in Major League Soccer, represent the upstart kids—a young program with immediate success and desires for stability and growth.
And from those differences emerge drastically variant marketing schemes. While the White Sox maintain a steady fan base in the hundreds of thousands and refine the franchise’s yearly marketing plan to bring more people into the ballpark, the Fire aggressively market their product in a different direction, simply urging people to give their game a try. With the Fire, a significant let-up can mean dangerous trouble. It’s a classic tale of keeping what you have versus earning what you want.
In the early to mid-1990’s, when the Chicago White Sox were perennial division contenders and a uniform redesign spurred new directions, the ball club ingrained the slogan “Good Guys Wear Black” in the minds of Chicago baseball fans.
Years later, with a slew of young talent and a quasi-rebuilding phase underway, the Sox looked at the character of their team and chimed, “The Kids Can Play.” Truth be told, some of the kids could play while others struggled to find success at the Major League level. Now, under the enterprising styles of both manager Ozzie Guillen and general manager Kenny Williams, the 2005 edition of the White Sox adopted the mantra “Win or Die Trying.” In a near perfect merger of sports marketing and sports reality, the slogan has matched the team on the field as the White Sox currently boast baseball’s best record.
“You never want to make promises with your slogans,” said Brooks Boyer, Vice President of Marketing for the Chicago White Sox. “People wanted us to play hard, smart, and win—that’s what it all comes down to. The guys on the field have taken care of what’s needed to be done.”
Yet even before the 2005 season’s first pitch, the team’s marketing staff consistently searched for ways to better the fan experience at U.S. Cellular Field. More than ever before in American sports history, the fan’s lofty expectations have moved from the product on the field to the entire entertainment experience. Everything from music to parking and cuisine achieving an elevated level of attention in the 21st century sports world.
“The number one priority is to make the experience great for the fan,” said Boyer. “All of the money that came from the park’s naming rights went back into the ballpark and breaking the stigma that [the new Comiskey] lacked character. We put things like a cover on the upper deck to make it more intimate and the Pontiac Fundamentals Deck so kids could have something. People are coming out and realizing that U.S. Cellular Field is a convenient, friendly place. The result is that we’ve created a fun experience for a wide range of people.”
Couple an improved fan experience at the stadium with the tremendous success of the 2005 White Sox and new marketing ideas develop to capitalize on all the good will.
“We got a Chevy Avalanche from a local dealer and we’ve created the White Sox bandwagon,” Boyer said. “Now, we’re taking it around and inviting people to jump on.”
And while the bandwagon approach is a relatively new one for the White Sox, it’s old hat to the Chicago Fire. Starting from scratch in 1997, the expansion Fire had to get riders on the bandwagon immediately. And while winning traditionally breeds success at the gates, the impermanent home of Soldier Field coupled with a temporary residence at Naperville’s North Central College for two seasons, dealt the Fire some unnecessary blows in building a steady customer base despite numerous on-field successes.
The club’s move into a new 20,000-seat stadium in Bridgeview, slated for opening in 2006, should provide the stability and continuity the Fire has long sought. With that, however, comes a new marketing focus.
“Moving to our own home in Bridgeview, one that better suits our needs, allows us to better control the presentation of the event,” said Fire President and CEO John Guppy. “Now, we’ll reach to create a more intimate atmosphere within the stadium that’s driven by the hard-core fan. We’ll try to create something different for the live event experience. The best selling tool is always word of mouth and we’ll want people to leave talking about us.”
While the White Sox have the benefit of season ticket holders and a steady stream of individual ticket sales, the Fire turn aggressively to group sales to spur the club’s financial fortunes. Working closely with Chicago area soccer leagues and teams, especially on the youth level, the Fire pursue group attendance at home games with a furor unlike their baseball counterparts.
“We’re more aggressive with group sales than any other sports team in Chicago,” Guppy said. “And that’s because we have to be. To build that strong foundation, you start with people who have a connection and support for soccer.”
And that aggressiveness extends beyond group sales, eventually reaching the average Chicago sports fan.
“The White Sox have decades of history and awareness. Everybody knows when their seasons starts and where they are,” Guppy said. “People are not programmed in such a way with the Fire. People are aware of us, but it’s not top of the mind. That’s why it’s even more important that we’re aggressive getting in front to people and educating them on why they should come to a Fire game. Our marketing strategy is akin to a political campaign. Get in front of them and tell them why you’re a good choice.”
Guppy also acknowledges the shift in the sporting fan’s expectations when coming to a game. Just as the White Sox aimed to create a more intimate, fan-friendly experience, the Fire seek to achieve a similar feel in their new Bridgeview stadium.
“There are more entertainment options available for people each day and so it’s become more incumbent on sports teams to create a positive experience for the people,” said Guppy, echoing the thoughts of Boyer. “Once it was purely about what happened on the field of play. Now, it’s entirely about the experience and the entertainment value. Fifteen years ago, sports was sports. Now, more than ever before, sports is entertainment.”
Given the realization that sports has matured into a viable entertainment option, both of Chicago’s south side teams have committed themselves to the entertainment experience first and foremost, adding another similarity to a growing list.
“You want to make the experience as good as it can possibly be for everybody who walks in—from the diehard fan to the novice guest,” said Boyer. “You want the fans to be participants in the action, not sitting on their hands.”
And though Boyer speaks specifically of the White Sox and U.S. Cellular one can’t help but think similar thoughts are being expressed among Guppy and his front office colleagues with the Chicago Fire.
“The interesting thing about sports,” said Boyer, “is that the more things change, the more they actually stay the same.”
And from those differences emerge drastically variant marketing schemes. While the White Sox maintain a steady fan base in the hundreds of thousands and refine the franchise’s yearly marketing plan to bring more people into the ballpark, the Fire aggressively market their product in a different direction, simply urging people to give their game a try. With the Fire, a significant let-up can mean dangerous trouble. It’s a classic tale of keeping what you have versus earning what you want.
In the early to mid-1990’s, when the Chicago White Sox were perennial division contenders and a uniform redesign spurred new directions, the ball club ingrained the slogan “Good Guys Wear Black” in the minds of Chicago baseball fans.
Years later, with a slew of young talent and a quasi-rebuilding phase underway, the Sox looked at the character of their team and chimed, “The Kids Can Play.” Truth be told, some of the kids could play while others struggled to find success at the Major League level. Now, under the enterprising styles of both manager Ozzie Guillen and general manager Kenny Williams, the 2005 edition of the White Sox adopted the mantra “Win or Die Trying.” In a near perfect merger of sports marketing and sports reality, the slogan has matched the team on the field as the White Sox currently boast baseball’s best record.
“You never want to make promises with your slogans,” said Brooks Boyer, Vice President of Marketing for the Chicago White Sox. “People wanted us to play hard, smart, and win—that’s what it all comes down to. The guys on the field have taken care of what’s needed to be done.”
Yet even before the 2005 season’s first pitch, the team’s marketing staff consistently searched for ways to better the fan experience at U.S. Cellular Field. More than ever before in American sports history, the fan’s lofty expectations have moved from the product on the field to the entire entertainment experience. Everything from music to parking and cuisine achieving an elevated level of attention in the 21st century sports world.
“The number one priority is to make the experience great for the fan,” said Boyer. “All of the money that came from the park’s naming rights went back into the ballpark and breaking the stigma that [the new Comiskey] lacked character. We put things like a cover on the upper deck to make it more intimate and the Pontiac Fundamentals Deck so kids could have something. People are coming out and realizing that U.S. Cellular Field is a convenient, friendly place. The result is that we’ve created a fun experience for a wide range of people.”
Couple an improved fan experience at the stadium with the tremendous success of the 2005 White Sox and new marketing ideas develop to capitalize on all the good will.
“We got a Chevy Avalanche from a local dealer and we’ve created the White Sox bandwagon,” Boyer said. “Now, we’re taking it around and inviting people to jump on.”
And while the bandwagon approach is a relatively new one for the White Sox, it’s old hat to the Chicago Fire. Starting from scratch in 1997, the expansion Fire had to get riders on the bandwagon immediately. And while winning traditionally breeds success at the gates, the impermanent home of Soldier Field coupled with a temporary residence at Naperville’s North Central College for two seasons, dealt the Fire some unnecessary blows in building a steady customer base despite numerous on-field successes.
The club’s move into a new 20,000-seat stadium in Bridgeview, slated for opening in 2006, should provide the stability and continuity the Fire has long sought. With that, however, comes a new marketing focus.
“Moving to our own home in Bridgeview, one that better suits our needs, allows us to better control the presentation of the event,” said Fire President and CEO John Guppy. “Now, we’ll reach to create a more intimate atmosphere within the stadium that’s driven by the hard-core fan. We’ll try to create something different for the live event experience. The best selling tool is always word of mouth and we’ll want people to leave talking about us.”
While the White Sox have the benefit of season ticket holders and a steady stream of individual ticket sales, the Fire turn aggressively to group sales to spur the club’s financial fortunes. Working closely with Chicago area soccer leagues and teams, especially on the youth level, the Fire pursue group attendance at home games with a furor unlike their baseball counterparts.
“We’re more aggressive with group sales than any other sports team in Chicago,” Guppy said. “And that’s because we have to be. To build that strong foundation, you start with people who have a connection and support for soccer.”
And that aggressiveness extends beyond group sales, eventually reaching the average Chicago sports fan.
“The White Sox have decades of history and awareness. Everybody knows when their seasons starts and where they are,” Guppy said. “People are not programmed in such a way with the Fire. People are aware of us, but it’s not top of the mind. That’s why it’s even more important that we’re aggressive getting in front to people and educating them on why they should come to a Fire game. Our marketing strategy is akin to a political campaign. Get in front of them and tell them why you’re a good choice.”
Guppy also acknowledges the shift in the sporting fan’s expectations when coming to a game. Just as the White Sox aimed to create a more intimate, fan-friendly experience, the Fire seek to achieve a similar feel in their new Bridgeview stadium.
“There are more entertainment options available for people each day and so it’s become more incumbent on sports teams to create a positive experience for the people,” said Guppy, echoing the thoughts of Boyer. “Once it was purely about what happened on the field of play. Now, it’s entirely about the experience and the entertainment value. Fifteen years ago, sports was sports. Now, more than ever before, sports is entertainment.”
Given the realization that sports has matured into a viable entertainment option, both of Chicago’s south side teams have committed themselves to the entertainment experience first and foremost, adding another similarity to a growing list.
“You want to make the experience as good as it can possibly be for everybody who walks in—from the diehard fan to the novice guest,” said Boyer. “You want the fans to be participants in the action, not sitting on their hands.”
And though Boyer speaks specifically of the White Sox and U.S. Cellular one can’t help but think similar thoughts are being expressed among Guppy and his front office colleagues with the Chicago Fire.
“The interesting thing about sports,” said Boyer, “is that the more things change, the more they actually stay the same.”
Writing Sample #6: Inner Journey: Wayne Rutledge on Fate, Fear, and One Sure Thing--Life (USA Cycling, January 2003)
His dreams of Olympic glory have faded. An existence once defined by sporting magnificence reduced to constant battles played out in the mind and in life.
Fate, it is said, has an odd way of intervening in life’s drama. What once may have seemed certain and right may be challenged and thrown in the most tragic and unexpected of directions. Such is the case with the tale that follows.
While the story’s primary action may have taken place on May 25, 2002 at the Encino (California) Velodrome, the script’s pen is still to the page months later—and it’s unlikely to be lifted anytime soon. For in the life of 20-year-old Wayne Rutledge, nothing is certain and everything is taken one day at a time.
A fantastic specimen
By all accounts, Wayne Rutledge was well on his way to an athletic career filled with success. An accomplished speedskater, an in fact an Olympic hopeful in that sport as well, the Buena Park, California teen took up cycling in 1997 as a cross-training activity only to soon discover that he was a natural fit for the bike, his 6-4, 210-pound frame making him a Goliath in the saddle and a powerful rider with intense, untapped ability.
His prowess was evident, even to the likes of U.S. National Track Coach Des Dickie.
“I told the kid he was a fantastic specimen for sprinting,” said Dickie. “He had the potential, but he needed to be in a structured program. It would have taken time, but the talent was there for a coach to work with.”
So impressed was Dickie with Rutledge that he attempted to earn the youngster acceptance into the resident athlete program at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs where training would become Rutledge’s sole focus. With no results nationally, however, his application was denied. Nevertheless, Dickie invited Rutledge to participate in various USA Cycling elite training camps in Chula Vista, California. There, Rutledge, still a relative novice on the track, continued to impress.
It was widely agreed upon, the future of Wayne Rutledge was colored in bright lights.
"I’m grateful I have life"
In southern California, on a traditional May evening in 2002, 19-year-old Wayne Rutledge’s life was threatened in an untraditional way.
Riding in a kierin qualifying heat at the Encino Velodrome’s racing series, Rutledge made a move for the second position coming out of the fourth turn. His wheel tangled with another rider seeking the same spot and, at nearly 40 miles per hour, Rutledge went down, his head taking the brunt of the fall.
Within seconds, the 19-year-old Rutledge went from a youthful existence as an Olympic hopeful to battling for his life.
Rushed to a nearby hospital, an unconscious Rutledge had the first of two brain surgeries within one hour of the crash, his second brain surgery came the following morning. Doctors reasoned that he could be in a coma for up to one year. There was also the possibility that he would never awake.
In a week, however, Rutledge was out of his coma. Two weeks later, he walked out of the hospital.
“I look over the 600 pages of medical records and I’m grateful for everything I have now,” said Rutledge. “I was supposed to be in a wheel chair not able to read or write or have any motor function. It’s hard for me to think about, but I’m grateful I have life.”
Following Rutledge’s crash, an outpouring of support arrived from those near and far. Hundreds of comments poured onto a message board set up at fixedgearfever.com while family, friends, concern, and prayer blanketed the hospital waiting room.
“There was an outpouring of support from the cycling community that truly touched us,” said Don Somerville, Rutledge’s brother. “A tremendous amount of people, maybe too many, came to the hospital and shared their blessings and hopes with our family. It was so difficult because we went from one end of the spectrum to the other so quickly.”
And some individuals outside of Rutledge’s immediate family went above and beyond. Ashley Knight, Rutledge’s girlfriend, took the 60-mile drive to the hospital each day. Rutledge training partners Jay Brown and Dave Hansen lent consistent support while Mark Perez, a Los Angeles County Firefighter and cycling father, took responsible control of the accident scene to care for Rutledge’s safety. Scott Patton, director of fixedgearfever.com, offered his website to allow others the opportunity to share their thoughts and well wishes with the Rutledge family.
“Laying in a hospital bed not know what happened is a scary thing,” said Patton, himself speaking from experience. “Being unable to get to see Wayne, [putting up a message board on the website] was something I could do to let he and his family know that friends were behind them. The Internet has a way of letting people know. Cyclists, in general, are good-hearted people. We all risk our lives on bikes every day and when we hear of a ‘brother’ going down, we want to reach out . . . . I think it was really quite therapeutic for everybody to post and read.”
The story of Wayne Rutledge touched and affected many outside of his immediate circle, a sign of the cycling community’s tight-knit ways and ability to see beyond the differences to discover the overall shared community that exists.
It’s a daily struggle
Months after his accident, there is little to indicate that Wayne Rutledge touched death’s hand only to slap it away for a second chance at living. With long hair, a baseball cap, and a button-up shirt, the visible scars of Rutledge’s near fatal encounter are well concealed. The interior scars, however, run deeper.
The injuries incurred in the fall have affected the right frontal lobe of Rutledge’s brain, where planning and future goals are practiced, as well as the left rear, where language and long-term memory processes occur.
“Emotionally and mentally, it’s a daily struggle,” said Somerville, one of Rutledge’s closest confidants.
Rutledge is currently enrolled in a two-year academic program at Coastline Community College in Costa Mesa, California. Designed for individuals who have suffered a diverse variety of brain injuries, the Acquired Brain Injury program focuses on all aspects of critical thinking and reestablishing a new thought process with particular attention paid to future possibilities. Brain injuries, however, are a curious thing. Oftentimes, remarkable strides occur immediately before the progress flatlines; yet, for every individual the process differs. Where the path of Wayne Rutledge’s future leads is a tremendous question mark.
“Getting through the situation I’m in right now is first and foremost,” said Rutledge. “I want to get a better education. I have things I would’ve liked to have done, but now I don’t know what the future holds.”
Others maintain added hopes for Rutledge and his uncertain future.
“I hope [Wayne] eventually makes a significant recovery and finds something in his life that will define him and give meaning to him,” said Somerville. “His identity was so tied to his success on the bike and now, with that removed, I want him to find something that gives him a solid sense of identity.”
One thing not in Rutledge’s future is a trip around the velodrome. Another fall could prove fatal.
“Deep inside, I can’t put myself back on the bike because I have the fear of dying,” he said. “I thought about being in the hospital as nationals came along and I had the idea I’d be fine, but logically I wasn’t going to be fine.
“I totally loved cycling, so much so that I put speedskating on the backburner. I could ride anytime and I love being outdoors. On the bike, I could go-go-go and never have to worry. It’s hard for me to find an activity now that I can do that can take the place of cycling. I hope there is something that can fill that void, but I don’t know when, where, or if ever that will come.”
"I’m just moving on"
While May 25, 2002 may be the day that forever altered the course of Wayne Rutledge’s life, it is not the day that will define him, he says.
“I have a [resilient] attitude. I’m in bad shape, I’m not going to lie. Things happen each day when I question why this happened to me—and I hope no other cyclist ever has to go through what I went through—but daily I just thank God that I’m alive.
“I’m just going on with my life. There were things I may have taken for granted before, like reading or writing, but now I have a whole new look on life. It’s a day-to-day thing. Today, I did this. Tomorrow, I’ll do that and a little extra. Things happen for a reason and I just have to believe and trust that.”
Indeed, fate has an odd way of intervening in life’s drama and, to Wayne Rutledge, live dealt a crushing hand. Yet, life is not over. It has been altered drastically, yes, but it is far from over.
“I’m just moving on,” said Rutledge, “thankful that I have life.”
Fate, it is said, has an odd way of intervening in life’s drama. What once may have seemed certain and right may be challenged and thrown in the most tragic and unexpected of directions. Such is the case with the tale that follows.
While the story’s primary action may have taken place on May 25, 2002 at the Encino (California) Velodrome, the script’s pen is still to the page months later—and it’s unlikely to be lifted anytime soon. For in the life of 20-year-old Wayne Rutledge, nothing is certain and everything is taken one day at a time.
A fantastic specimen
By all accounts, Wayne Rutledge was well on his way to an athletic career filled with success. An accomplished speedskater, an in fact an Olympic hopeful in that sport as well, the Buena Park, California teen took up cycling in 1997 as a cross-training activity only to soon discover that he was a natural fit for the bike, his 6-4, 210-pound frame making him a Goliath in the saddle and a powerful rider with intense, untapped ability.
His prowess was evident, even to the likes of U.S. National Track Coach Des Dickie.
“I told the kid he was a fantastic specimen for sprinting,” said Dickie. “He had the potential, but he needed to be in a structured program. It would have taken time, but the talent was there for a coach to work with.”
So impressed was Dickie with Rutledge that he attempted to earn the youngster acceptance into the resident athlete program at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs where training would become Rutledge’s sole focus. With no results nationally, however, his application was denied. Nevertheless, Dickie invited Rutledge to participate in various USA Cycling elite training camps in Chula Vista, California. There, Rutledge, still a relative novice on the track, continued to impress.
It was widely agreed upon, the future of Wayne Rutledge was colored in bright lights.
"I’m grateful I have life"
In southern California, on a traditional May evening in 2002, 19-year-old Wayne Rutledge’s life was threatened in an untraditional way.
Riding in a kierin qualifying heat at the Encino Velodrome’s racing series, Rutledge made a move for the second position coming out of the fourth turn. His wheel tangled with another rider seeking the same spot and, at nearly 40 miles per hour, Rutledge went down, his head taking the brunt of the fall.
Within seconds, the 19-year-old Rutledge went from a youthful existence as an Olympic hopeful to battling for his life.
Rushed to a nearby hospital, an unconscious Rutledge had the first of two brain surgeries within one hour of the crash, his second brain surgery came the following morning. Doctors reasoned that he could be in a coma for up to one year. There was also the possibility that he would never awake.
In a week, however, Rutledge was out of his coma. Two weeks later, he walked out of the hospital.
“I look over the 600 pages of medical records and I’m grateful for everything I have now,” said Rutledge. “I was supposed to be in a wheel chair not able to read or write or have any motor function. It’s hard for me to think about, but I’m grateful I have life.”
Following Rutledge’s crash, an outpouring of support arrived from those near and far. Hundreds of comments poured onto a message board set up at fixedgearfever.com while family, friends, concern, and prayer blanketed the hospital waiting room.
“There was an outpouring of support from the cycling community that truly touched us,” said Don Somerville, Rutledge’s brother. “A tremendous amount of people, maybe too many, came to the hospital and shared their blessings and hopes with our family. It was so difficult because we went from one end of the spectrum to the other so quickly.”
And some individuals outside of Rutledge’s immediate family went above and beyond. Ashley Knight, Rutledge’s girlfriend, took the 60-mile drive to the hospital each day. Rutledge training partners Jay Brown and Dave Hansen lent consistent support while Mark Perez, a Los Angeles County Firefighter and cycling father, took responsible control of the accident scene to care for Rutledge’s safety. Scott Patton, director of fixedgearfever.com, offered his website to allow others the opportunity to share their thoughts and well wishes with the Rutledge family.
“Laying in a hospital bed not know what happened is a scary thing,” said Patton, himself speaking from experience. “Being unable to get to see Wayne, [putting up a message board on the website] was something I could do to let he and his family know that friends were behind them. The Internet has a way of letting people know. Cyclists, in general, are good-hearted people. We all risk our lives on bikes every day and when we hear of a ‘brother’ going down, we want to reach out . . . . I think it was really quite therapeutic for everybody to post and read.”
The story of Wayne Rutledge touched and affected many outside of his immediate circle, a sign of the cycling community’s tight-knit ways and ability to see beyond the differences to discover the overall shared community that exists.
It’s a daily struggle
Months after his accident, there is little to indicate that Wayne Rutledge touched death’s hand only to slap it away for a second chance at living. With long hair, a baseball cap, and a button-up shirt, the visible scars of Rutledge’s near fatal encounter are well concealed. The interior scars, however, run deeper.
The injuries incurred in the fall have affected the right frontal lobe of Rutledge’s brain, where planning and future goals are practiced, as well as the left rear, where language and long-term memory processes occur.
“Emotionally and mentally, it’s a daily struggle,” said Somerville, one of Rutledge’s closest confidants.
Rutledge is currently enrolled in a two-year academic program at Coastline Community College in Costa Mesa, California. Designed for individuals who have suffered a diverse variety of brain injuries, the Acquired Brain Injury program focuses on all aspects of critical thinking and reestablishing a new thought process with particular attention paid to future possibilities. Brain injuries, however, are a curious thing. Oftentimes, remarkable strides occur immediately before the progress flatlines; yet, for every individual the process differs. Where the path of Wayne Rutledge’s future leads is a tremendous question mark.
“Getting through the situation I’m in right now is first and foremost,” said Rutledge. “I want to get a better education. I have things I would’ve liked to have done, but now I don’t know what the future holds.”
Others maintain added hopes for Rutledge and his uncertain future.
“I hope [Wayne] eventually makes a significant recovery and finds something in his life that will define him and give meaning to him,” said Somerville. “His identity was so tied to his success on the bike and now, with that removed, I want him to find something that gives him a solid sense of identity.”
One thing not in Rutledge’s future is a trip around the velodrome. Another fall could prove fatal.
“Deep inside, I can’t put myself back on the bike because I have the fear of dying,” he said. “I thought about being in the hospital as nationals came along and I had the idea I’d be fine, but logically I wasn’t going to be fine.
“I totally loved cycling, so much so that I put speedskating on the backburner. I could ride anytime and I love being outdoors. On the bike, I could go-go-go and never have to worry. It’s hard for me to find an activity now that I can do that can take the place of cycling. I hope there is something that can fill that void, but I don’t know when, where, or if ever that will come.”
"I’m just moving on"
While May 25, 2002 may be the day that forever altered the course of Wayne Rutledge’s life, it is not the day that will define him, he says.
“I have a [resilient] attitude. I’m in bad shape, I’m not going to lie. Things happen each day when I question why this happened to me—and I hope no other cyclist ever has to go through what I went through—but daily I just thank God that I’m alive.
“I’m just going on with my life. There were things I may have taken for granted before, like reading or writing, but now I have a whole new look on life. It’s a day-to-day thing. Today, I did this. Tomorrow, I’ll do that and a little extra. Things happen for a reason and I just have to believe and trust that.”
Indeed, fate has an odd way of intervening in life’s drama and, to Wayne Rutledge, live dealt a crushing hand. Yet, life is not over. It has been altered drastically, yes, but it is far from over.
“I’m just moving on,” said Rutledge, “thankful that I have life.”
Writing Sample #5: Maintaing Values Will Remain Reagan's True Legacy (Chicago Sun-Times, June 23, 2004)
Ronald Reagan has been laid to rest, but a legacy stands.
In the past days, the nation has been inundated with recollections of America’s 40th president. People have spoke of Reagan’s success in bringing the Cold War to a close; his impact on today’s political structure; and his lasting legacy as a President and man. We have also been deluged by video and audio clips detailing Reagan’s life, including perhaps his most famous words at a 1987 Berlin Wall speech in which the President said, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.”
A line that changed history. A line that almost didn’t happen.
Presidential speechwriter Peter Robinson drafted the now famous speech and was met with immediate resistance from both his superiors and other government agencies, including the State Department and the National Security Council. The point of contention centered on Robinson’s—and ultimately Reagan’s—direct language in addressing Gorbachev and the Berlin Wall.
Despite concerns, Reagan said he didn’t want to drift around the topic. No, the President wanted to make it clear to Gorbachev and others that the wall must vanish if peace was to prevail.
Up until the final day, NSC and State Department officials submitted alternative drafts, most deleting the wall reference or at best relying on vague, pretentious language. Reagan, however, remained committed to the truthful and sincere diction.
“The boys at the State are going to kill me, but it’s the right thing to do,” he said.
We can speak of Reagan’s leading role in ending Cold War hostilities or his action in the oval office. Yet, what we must always remember about Reagan is not his foreign policy or legislation, but rather a man who acted on deeply rooted principles. True, we cannot all change history as Reagan did, but we can lead our lives based on values and truths we hold dear.
And that should be Reagan’s enduring legacy.
In the past days, the nation has been inundated with recollections of America’s 40th president. People have spoke of Reagan’s success in bringing the Cold War to a close; his impact on today’s political structure; and his lasting legacy as a President and man. We have also been deluged by video and audio clips detailing Reagan’s life, including perhaps his most famous words at a 1987 Berlin Wall speech in which the President said, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.”
A line that changed history. A line that almost didn’t happen.
Presidential speechwriter Peter Robinson drafted the now famous speech and was met with immediate resistance from both his superiors and other government agencies, including the State Department and the National Security Council. The point of contention centered on Robinson’s—and ultimately Reagan’s—direct language in addressing Gorbachev and the Berlin Wall.
Despite concerns, Reagan said he didn’t want to drift around the topic. No, the President wanted to make it clear to Gorbachev and others that the wall must vanish if peace was to prevail.
Up until the final day, NSC and State Department officials submitted alternative drafts, most deleting the wall reference or at best relying on vague, pretentious language. Reagan, however, remained committed to the truthful and sincere diction.
“The boys at the State are going to kill me, but it’s the right thing to do,” he said.
We can speak of Reagan’s leading role in ending Cold War hostilities or his action in the oval office. Yet, what we must always remember about Reagan is not his foreign policy or legislation, but rather a man who acted on deeply rooted principles. True, we cannot all change history as Reagan did, but we can lead our lives based on values and truths we hold dear.
And that should be Reagan’s enduring legacy.
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