RIP, Ethan Stacey. I will never forget your story.
Love, Peace and Sympathy...
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Web Marketing Class -- Kyle Ashby
I am currently taking a class in Web Marketing with Professor Kyle Ashby. He asked that we answer the following questions.
Q1) When you think of great web marketing or use of social media who, or what companies, come to mind?
A1) Mexican Coca Cola comes to mind. I'll tell you why. When preparing to answer this question, I asked myself, "Which company has marketed themselves thoroughly enough to have even cynical me visit their social media page?"
The truth is I have only ever visited one social media page that was not a friend's page. It was the page for Mexican Coca Cola.
The reason? Like many other people, I love Mexican Coca Cola! It is made with real sugar as opposed to the high fructose corn syrup used in the United States and thus, has a richer flavor.
The taste was different enough to have me Google the term "Mexican Coca Cola." I found a news story about the trend of people pressuring Coca Cola to sell more Mexican Coke in places other than San Diego (which is where I lived at the time). I found a Facebook page. The page was simply titled "Mexican Coke." It currently has over 20,000 fans.
Mexican Coke has been so well received that, in response, Pepsi created "Pepsi Throwback" which is a Pepsi made with real sugar.
Coca Cola is a company that has mastered their marketing. From inventing the American Santa Claus to successfully marketing Coke Zero, they have succeeded in selling the aura of their product.
Q2) Why do these people or companies stand out?
A2) Coca Cola stands out because they are always marketing. There are commercials, sponsorships, restaurant cups, and even theme park coupons on their soda cans.
Q3) What elements of their marketing would you consider good or effective?
A3) One of the brilliant things Coca Cola did was to make Coke Zero a cool marketable drink that at the heart of things, was essentially diet coke with a sugar substitute. Their Coke Zero bottles have a lot more black in them than the usual red for regular coke or gray in Diet Coke. This creates a new, yet recognizable look. And the design is what I would call a newer look.
Q1) When you think of great web marketing or use of social media who, or what companies, come to mind?
A1) Mexican Coca Cola comes to mind. I'll tell you why. When preparing to answer this question, I asked myself, "Which company has marketed themselves thoroughly enough to have even cynical me visit their social media page?"
The truth is I have only ever visited one social media page that was not a friend's page. It was the page for Mexican Coca Cola.
The reason? Like many other people, I love Mexican Coca Cola! It is made with real sugar as opposed to the high fructose corn syrup used in the United States and thus, has a richer flavor.
The taste was different enough to have me Google the term "Mexican Coca Cola." I found a news story about the trend of people pressuring Coca Cola to sell more Mexican Coke in places other than San Diego (which is where I lived at the time). I found a Facebook page. The page was simply titled "Mexican Coke." It currently has over 20,000 fans.
Mexican Coke has been so well received that, in response, Pepsi created "Pepsi Throwback" which is a Pepsi made with real sugar.
Coca Cola is a company that has mastered their marketing. From inventing the American Santa Claus to successfully marketing Coke Zero, they have succeeded in selling the aura of their product.
Q2) Why do these people or companies stand out?
A2) Coca Cola stands out because they are always marketing. There are commercials, sponsorships, restaurant cups, and even theme park coupons on their soda cans.
Q3) What elements of their marketing would you consider good or effective?
A3) One of the brilliant things Coca Cola did was to make Coke Zero a cool marketable drink that at the heart of things, was essentially diet coke with a sugar substitute. Their Coke Zero bottles have a lot more black in them than the usual red for regular coke or gray in Diet Coke. This creates a new, yet recognizable look. And the design is what I would call a newer look.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
Jan. 25 NBA Rumors
According to Yahoo! Sports, the Phoenix Suns have boosted their efforts to trade power forward Amare Stoudemire. Among the teams interested in adding Stoudemire to their team are the Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers and the lowly New Jersey Nets.
According to the Arizona Republic, the Cleveland Cavaliers are also interested in Stoudemire's services. This strikes me as the most interesting possibility.
My Cavs/Suns trade analysis:
Cavaliers get: Amare Stoudemire (This season's salary and $16+ million next season)
Suns get: Zydrunas Ilgauskus' $11.5 million expiring contract, Anthony Parker ($2.6 million next year) and J.J. Hickson ($1.5 million next season) and/or a draft pick.
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Cleveland would be replacing one of their two slow-tempo centers with a fast-paced young Stoudemire while only having to throw in the underperforming Parker and Hickson. Lebron would much prefer an uptempo style as opposed to a drag out defensive pace. The Cavs long ago realized that their defense cannot afford to have both Shaq and Big-Z on the court at the same time. Bringing in Stoudemire would mean many more favorable situations in which Shaq and/or Anderson Varejao could come in without having to worry about an outburst from a running team like the Golden State Warriors.
This trade could keep Lebron in Cleveland at least one more year because Stoudemire's contract runs through next year. If Lebron does leave, the Cavs don't have to rebuild because they would still have an All-Star power forward and some role players and they could possibly sign a big name in the offseason if Lebron leaves. But if they did decide to rebuild then they would have Stoudemire's expiring $16.3 million contract next season. Countless teams would be willing to take him in exchange for a boatload of draft picks.
This trade could push the Cavs over the hump. They've already proven they can beat the Lakers with or without Mo Williams.
They are giving away Parker, whom has shot 46% from 3-point range but otherwise underperformed -- scoring a measly 7.2 points per game in 28.7 minutes of play. In the two wins against the Lakers, Parker scored a combined total of 12 points on 4-12 shooting (2-7 from the arc) in 51 minutes but his team still won. His production is easily replaceable.
The Cavs would be forced to play small ball with guys like Williams, Delonte West and Daniel Gibson (which Lebron would love) or play Jamario Moon more in a Bruce Bowen type of role.
Phoenix Suns:
They would get rid of their disgruntled All-Star power forward in exchange for two veteran role players and a young versatile player in Hickson.
Anthony Parker hates putting the ball on the ground. He is a spot up shooter. Nash loves spot up shooters that can open up driving lanes. This would also apply to Ilgauskus. When he comes in to give Robin Lopez some rest, Nash can set him up with some easy 3s. By the way, did you know that Big-Z is 9-17 from behind the arc this year? That is about 53%.
While Nash would hate to see Stoudemire go, he will love playing with two new spot up shooters and a guy like Hickson whom can go up for alley-oops for some showtime highlights.
Admittedly, the Suns would not be as good a team without Stoudemire but the trade would shave about $12.2 million off their books in the offseason, making it much easier to sign a big name in the offseason, and leaving them with about $27 million of expiring contracts (trade-bait) to begin the 2010-11 season.
In other words, it is possible for the Suns to into the 2010-11 season with a lineup similar to this seasons if they replace Stoudemire with a free agent like Carlos Boozer. And if things aren't going perfectly midway through the season they have $27 million worth of trade bait.
I say do it!
According to the Arizona Republic, the Cleveland Cavaliers are also interested in Stoudemire's services. This strikes me as the most interesting possibility.
My Cavs/Suns trade analysis:
Cavaliers get: Amare Stoudemire (This season's salary and $16+ million next season)
Suns get: Zydrunas Ilgauskus' $11.5 million expiring contract, Anthony Parker ($2.6 million next year) and J.J. Hickson ($1.5 million next season) and/or a draft pick.
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Cleveland would be replacing one of their two slow-tempo centers with a fast-paced young Stoudemire while only having to throw in the underperforming Parker and Hickson. Lebron would much prefer an uptempo style as opposed to a drag out defensive pace. The Cavs long ago realized that their defense cannot afford to have both Shaq and Big-Z on the court at the same time. Bringing in Stoudemire would mean many more favorable situations in which Shaq and/or Anderson Varejao could come in without having to worry about an outburst from a running team like the Golden State Warriors.
This trade could keep Lebron in Cleveland at least one more year because Stoudemire's contract runs through next year. If Lebron does leave, the Cavs don't have to rebuild because they would still have an All-Star power forward and some role players and they could possibly sign a big name in the offseason if Lebron leaves. But if they did decide to rebuild then they would have Stoudemire's expiring $16.3 million contract next season. Countless teams would be willing to take him in exchange for a boatload of draft picks.
This trade could push the Cavs over the hump. They've already proven they can beat the Lakers with or without Mo Williams.
They are giving away Parker, whom has shot 46% from 3-point range but otherwise underperformed -- scoring a measly 7.2 points per game in 28.7 minutes of play. In the two wins against the Lakers, Parker scored a combined total of 12 points on 4-12 shooting (2-7 from the arc) in 51 minutes but his team still won. His production is easily replaceable.
The Cavs would be forced to play small ball with guys like Williams, Delonte West and Daniel Gibson (which Lebron would love) or play Jamario Moon more in a Bruce Bowen type of role.
Phoenix Suns:
They would get rid of their disgruntled All-Star power forward in exchange for two veteran role players and a young versatile player in Hickson.
Anthony Parker hates putting the ball on the ground. He is a spot up shooter. Nash loves spot up shooters that can open up driving lanes. This would also apply to Ilgauskus. When he comes in to give Robin Lopez some rest, Nash can set him up with some easy 3s. By the way, did you know that Big-Z is 9-17 from behind the arc this year? That is about 53%.
While Nash would hate to see Stoudemire go, he will love playing with two new spot up shooters and a guy like Hickson whom can go up for alley-oops for some showtime highlights.
Admittedly, the Suns would not be as good a team without Stoudemire but the trade would shave about $12.2 million off their books in the offseason, making it much easier to sign a big name in the offseason, and leaving them with about $27 million of expiring contracts (trade-bait) to begin the 2010-11 season.
In other words, it is possible for the Suns to into the 2010-11 season with a lineup similar to this seasons if they replace Stoudemire with a free agent like Carlos Boozer. And if things aren't going perfectly midway through the season they have $27 million worth of trade bait.
I say do it!
Sunday, January 24, 2010
I Can't Call Kobe The Best Player In The League Anymore -- Not Even Close
Being the stats freak that I am, I went ahead and created my own formula in Microsoft Excel to determine how good a player really is. I inserted the career numbers of some legends like Magic Johnson and Larry Bird and then tweaked the formula in order to avoid doing things like giving too much credit to a great free throw shooter or a rebounder. After all, nobody will take my formula serious if it claims that Vladamir Radmonovic was more efficient than say Clyde Drexler.
I think I've come close to mastering the formula. I've analyzed the statistics of many of the top players in the league as of yesterday (Jan. 23, 2010) and the results were interesting to say the least. Here are a few interesting determinations. Lets remember that my analysis, for the most part, does not take defense into account, so a Ron Artest or Ben Wallace may be underrated by my formula. This formula measures production more than anything else.
1) Lebron James is the best player in the league and world this season with a rating of 43.49 for the year. To give you some perspective on this, Larry Bird had a 42.05 rating for his career. Michael Jordan had a 41.16 for his career, Kareem had a 40.78 and Magic Johnson a 39.68.
2) Kobe Bryant is not the best player in the league. His rating is a 36.11 -- great but not the best. In fact, Chris Paul (38.32), Dwayne Wade (37.09), Carmelo Anthony (37.04), and Kevin Durant (36.50) are all having more productive seasons than Kobe.
2) Tim Duncan is an offensive juggernaut even at his advanced age. Duncan gets a 35.81 on the production scale. This is ahead of Dwight Howard whom scores a 34.49.
3) There are two underrated players whose production often goes unnoticed. Zack Randolph scores a 35.29 and David Lee a 35.27. Part of this can probably be attributed to the fact that these guys often take their breaks on defense.
I hope you enjoyed my analysis. I look forward to doing much more statistical analysis in the future. If you have anything to say about my findings that you want heard by my readers, please send it to MikeTheBasketballGuy@yahoo.com.
I think I've come close to mastering the formula. I've analyzed the statistics of many of the top players in the league as of yesterday (Jan. 23, 2010) and the results were interesting to say the least. Here are a few interesting determinations. Lets remember that my analysis, for the most part, does not take defense into account, so a Ron Artest or Ben Wallace may be underrated by my formula. This formula measures production more than anything else.
1) Lebron James is the best player in the league and world this season with a rating of 43.49 for the year. To give you some perspective on this, Larry Bird had a 42.05 rating for his career. Michael Jordan had a 41.16 for his career, Kareem had a 40.78 and Magic Johnson a 39.68.
2) Kobe Bryant is not the best player in the league. His rating is a 36.11 -- great but not the best. In fact, Chris Paul (38.32), Dwayne Wade (37.09), Carmelo Anthony (37.04), and Kevin Durant (36.50) are all having more productive seasons than Kobe.
2) Tim Duncan is an offensive juggernaut even at his advanced age. Duncan gets a 35.81 on the production scale. This is ahead of Dwight Howard whom scores a 34.49.
3) There are two underrated players whose production often goes unnoticed. Zack Randolph scores a 35.29 and David Lee a 35.27. Part of this can probably be attributed to the fact that these guys often take their breaks on defense.
I hope you enjoyed my analysis. I look forward to doing much more statistical analysis in the future. If you have anything to say about my findings that you want heard by my readers, please send it to MikeTheBasketballGuy@yahoo.com.
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