Ted's Take

The Blogging Site of Ted Leonsis

Archive for May, 2009

« Older Entries

A Perfect 11 - Ugh!

Sunday, May 31st, 2009
The media throws around the term Chapter 11 a lot to discuss bankruptcy and what General Motors will go through starting today. See the Wiki for a good snapshot of Chapter 11 filings. Click here.
 
 True bankruptcy is usually in Chapter 7 where a company is liquidated. Boom. Done. It is over.
Chapter 11 is now being positioned as a big mulligan in the sky - a big reboot - a big whoops, sorry - let us start over - for big companies. This is very troubling to me. Chapter 11 is usually a bad thing for a company but now it is starting to be looked at as a good thing and that is a terrible thing.
 
(more…)

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in The Economy | 5 Comments »

Bears Win Game 1 on the Road

Sunday, May 31st, 2009
The Hershey Bears won Game 1 of the Calder Cup Finals on the road last night in overtime 5 to 4.
 
This was an important road win. The schedule format in the Finals is two games on the road, three games at home and then two on the road.
 
The Manitoba Moose sold out their arena last night for the game with more than 15,000 fans in attendance. This is AHL hockey at its best and we are very proud of our Hershey Bears.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Hockey | 5 Comments »

The Importance of Discipline

Saturday, May 30th, 2009
Here is a very smart piece on officiating in the NHL playoffs and how important it is to stay out of the penalty box. And how important it is to capitalize on your opportunities with a man advantage or be efficient in the penalty kill. This article also offers a good analysis on the officials and who calls what.
 
I was  not surprised to see that we had the worst efficiency rating  in power plays to penalty kills in the league during the playoffs and that the two finalists, the Penguins and Red Wings, are ranked number 1 and number 2. When you see we are last in terms of differential - we had 13 less power plays than penalties against - it is a wonder that we went to game 7 in Round 2 in the playoffs, isn’t it? Twenty-six minutes of being purely short-handed is a lot of time in the playoffs.
 

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Hockey | 13 Comments »

My Prediction

Friday, May 29th, 2009
Several folks have asked me to tell them who I think will win the Stanley Cup Finals this year.
 
Here is my answer: I believe the Pittsburgh Penguins will win the Cup this year. I think it is “their time”. I think they are younger and faster and bigger and have gained playoff and Finals experience.
 
I think they are very healthy and will be well rested. The schedule sets up well for them as well since back to back games are a good thing for the Penguins.
 
As usual, it will mostly come down to who has the best goaltending. But from firsthand experience I can tell you that the Penguins - right now - I believe are the best team in hockey and I believe they will win the Stanley Cup.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Hockey | 14 Comments »

TV Makes You Unhappy

Friday, May 29th, 2009
Growing up my mom never let me watch more than one hour of television per night.
 
She literally forced me to read; to play sports; to hang out with friends; to socialize; and to get out of the house. She hated television and she didn’t want me to become a couch slouch and waste hours aimlessly watching what she called “the boob tube”.
 
Moms always know best, don’t they?
 

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Happiness | 11 Comments »

“Mondo Hollywood” - Banned

Friday, May 29th, 2009
Here is an amazing film, decades in the making. It is really a spectacular tour of culture, the Sixties and Hollywood.
 
Watch this film this weekend. It is mind-blowing. Click here. Kick back and enjoy. Wear something tie-died and loose-fitting. Peace out.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Films | No Comments »

It is a Floor Wax, Dessert Topping and More!

Friday, May 29th, 2009
I was really surprised when I saw this design for a new Google communications platform called Wave. Click here to see the prototype. It is a mash up of mail; messaging; search; social networking; Twitter; dashboard; and Flickr. You name it - it is here! And now on sale, for free! :-)
 
Google won in a broadband Web 2.0 world because its design was simple, elegant and non intrusive. It did no evil.
 
I always commented that in irony of ironies - in a broadband rich media world - a dial-up 2400 baud design won out! Grey. Blue. Light. Fast. No photos. No load time.
 

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Technology | 3 Comments »

Interesting Numbers

Thursday, May 28th, 2009

I just read that AOL had revenues in the $4 to $5 billion range and profits in the $1 billion range. I am unsure of the exact numbers these days.

If it was a stand alone company, who would that resemble?
 
How about MasterCard? They have revenues of $4 billion with profits of about $1 billion and are #548 on the Fortune 1000 list. Click here to read up on MasterCard.
 
I think AOL may have more revenues and more profits though.
 
That puts the spin out of AOL a little bit more in perspective as to the company’s position in the Fortune 1000, doesn’t it?

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Technology | 6 Comments »

ReadWriteWeb on Clearspring - Reaching Half of the Internet

Thursday, May 28th, 2009
Click here for a very good Q&A on Clearspring and its just announced metrics from Comscore.
 
It is a very daunting challenge to syndicate social media apps for 300,000 plus publishers to more than 500 million monthly unique visitors. To those who much is given, much is expected. This is important news for our industry and I am honored to serve as Chairman of this firm.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Technology | 1 Comment »

They Are What Their Records Say They Are

Thursday, May 28th, 2009
The Red Wings vs. the Penguins rematch in the Stanley Cup Finals will be great theater.
 
They are the two best teams in the NHL.
 
They both play a high tempo aggressive game. Both teams are filled with star players and have very good D; great centers; strong goaltending; great special teams play; and are well coached and have experience throughout the lineups.
 

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Hockey | 5 Comments »

« Older Entries