Nov. 6, 2009
Jim Kovach has spent years seeking the secrets of aging as president of Marin County’s Buck Institute for Age Research.
Now he’s helped start a new Oakland, California, company with a different quest: Finding the sports gene.
Kovach, a pro linebacker before he was a scientist, has teamed up with a leading Duke University genetic researcher and two other NFL veterans, including venture capitalist Alex Bernstein, to found Athleticode. The Oakland startup’s aim: Study athletes’ DNA so players can improve performance and avoid injury.
Showing posts with label Sports. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sports. Show all posts
Friday, November 06, 2009
Friday, October 09, 2009
Success, sex appeal fail to score more deals for young A's
March 29, 2002
Tim Hudson's slider mows down opposing hitters, but the Oakland A's pitcher and his young, hunky teammates are behind in the count for product endorsements.
Hudson and pitchers Barry Zito and Mark Mulder endorse Pepsi products in the Bay Area, and Hudson cut a deal with AT&T Wireless. But the trio, third baseman Eric Chavez, shortstop Miguel Tejada and centerfielder Terrence Long -- the heart of a solid, young team -- are falling short on corporate pitches.
And they don't care.
Tim Hudson's slider mows down opposing hitters, but the Oakland A's pitcher and his young, hunky teammates are behind in the count for product endorsements.
Hudson and pitchers Barry Zito and Mark Mulder endorse Pepsi products in the Bay Area, and Hudson cut a deal with AT&T Wireless. But the trio, third baseman Eric Chavez, shortstop Miguel Tejada and centerfielder Terrence Long -- the heart of a solid, young team -- are falling short on corporate pitches.
And they don't care.
Giants add power to ownership lineup
March 22, 2002
Three new members of the San Francisco Giants ownership group are pumping new money into the franchise.
Outgoing Yahoo Inc. President Jeff Mallett bought into San Francisco Baseball Associates L.P. earlier this month, Giants officials said. He follows former Charles Schwab Corp. Vice Chairman Lawrence Stupski and Cisco Systems Senior Vice President Dan Scheinman, who joined last season.
Mallett, Stupski and Scheinman collectively own less than 10 percent of the Giants, but as new investors, represent an increase in capital available to the team. That could prove valuable to a franchise that this year expects to post a loss as player payroll and other expenses escalate, but Chief Operating Officer Larry Baer said the Giants don't plan to use the new money for immediate operating expenses.
Three new members of the San Francisco Giants ownership group are pumping new money into the franchise.
Outgoing Yahoo Inc. President Jeff Mallett bought into San Francisco Baseball Associates L.P. earlier this month, Giants officials said. He follows former Charles Schwab Corp. Vice Chairman Lawrence Stupski and Cisco Systems Senior Vice President Dan Scheinman, who joined last season.
Mallett, Stupski and Scheinman collectively own less than 10 percent of the Giants, but as new investors, represent an increase in capital available to the team. That could prove valuable to a franchise that this year expects to post a loss as player payroll and other expenses escalate, but Chief Operating Officer Larry Baer said the Giants don't plan to use the new money for immediate operating expenses.
No instant replay for Giants tix
June 8, 2001
In a McDonald's parking lot just a strong throw from Pacific Bell Park, Wayne Bak and Greg Hubley are pitching tickets for that night's Giants' game against San Diego. It's not going well.
The problem's not just the four-game series against the lowly Padres, said Bak, one of a handful of licensed ticket resellers who operate around Pac Bell Park. It's also been games against teams like Cincinnati, Milwaukee, Montreal and Colorado.
Unlike last year -- when a spanking new ballpark, a solid on-field team, sellouts and an economy willing to shell out massive amounts of money made grand social occasions of Giants games -- big profits from resold Giants tickets are no longer a lock.
"Everybody's hurting out here," Bak said.
Yet, Giants officials say attendance will drop off only slightly from Pac Bell's first year -- from 3.3 million to 3.2 million -- and it's the first ticket sale that matters most to them.
"You're never going to have as much excitement as in the first year, but people have been very solid and loyal to this product," said Larry Baer, the Giants' chief operating officer.
But even the Giants have noticed a fall. More than 300 tickets failed to sell for the April 24 game against Cincinnati -- the first time in 90 home games that had happened. It's happened five times in the 20 games since.
In a McDonald's parking lot just a strong throw from Pacific Bell Park, Wayne Bak and Greg Hubley are pitching tickets for that night's Giants' game against San Diego. It's not going well.
The problem's not just the four-game series against the lowly Padres, said Bak, one of a handful of licensed ticket resellers who operate around Pac Bell Park. It's also been games against teams like Cincinnati, Milwaukee, Montreal and Colorado.
Unlike last year -- when a spanking new ballpark, a solid on-field team, sellouts and an economy willing to shell out massive amounts of money made grand social occasions of Giants games -- big profits from resold Giants tickets are no longer a lock.
"Everybody's hurting out here," Bak said.
Yet, Giants officials say attendance will drop off only slightly from Pac Bell's first year -- from 3.3 million to 3.2 million -- and it's the first ticket sale that matters most to them.
"You're never going to have as much excitement as in the first year, but people have been very solid and loyal to this product," said Larry Baer, the Giants' chief operating officer.
But even the Giants have noticed a fall. More than 300 tickets failed to sell for the April 24 game against Cincinnati -- the first time in 90 home games that had happened. It's happened five times in the 20 games since.
MVP pitches
March 30, 2001
Jeff Kent and Jason Giambi are two of baseball's best hitters, and have last year's Most Valuable Player trophies to prove it. Now they are working on becoming better pitchers.
But the approaches to corporate endorsements taken by the Oakland A's Giambi and San Francisco Giants' Kent are as different as a fastball and changeup. Motorcycle-loving Giambi parlayed his MVP award into national deals with Pepsi, video-game maker Electronic Arts and menswear retailer Ermenegildo Zegna; workaday family man Kent has picked up mostly smaller, baseball-related offers.
Different people, different endorsement paths.
"I've got tattoos and ride a Harley, and he's got a John Deere and farms," Giambi said. "It's just different personalities."
Jeff Kent and Jason Giambi are two of baseball's best hitters, and have last year's Most Valuable Player trophies to prove it. Now they are working on becoming better pitchers.
But the approaches to corporate endorsements taken by the Oakland A's Giambi and San Francisco Giants' Kent are as different as a fastball and changeup. Motorcycle-loving Giambi parlayed his MVP award into national deals with Pepsi, video-game maker Electronic Arts and menswear retailer Ermenegildo Zegna; workaday family man Kent has picked up mostly smaller, baseball-related offers.
Different people, different endorsement paths.
"I've got tattoos and ride a Harley, and he's got a John Deere and farms," Giambi said. "It's just different personalities."
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