Ted's Take

The Blogging Site of Ted Leonsis

Archive for June, 2009

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Soccer for Social Change

Tuesday, June 30th, 2009
Click here to read about Street Soccer; The Homeless World Cup trials coming to Washington, DC; and the DC Knights homeless soccer team.
 
I am proud to continue my family’s sponsorship of this worthy event. Get involved. Donate some time or money to this great cause and come on down and watch some games at Kastles Stadium.

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Posted in Sports | No Comments »

And Speaking of Free

Tuesday, June 30th, 2009
Aren’t you glad you can watch this fantastic series by Carl Sagan on SnagFilms.com?
 
Cosmos is really great stuff. Watch it if you aren’t familiar with the series. Seminal work here. And NOW free to all on SnagFilms.com. Click here to check it out and watch all of the series on SnagFilms.com as well.

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Posted in Films | No Comments »

The Next Big Thing

Tuesday, June 30th, 2009

Check out this video. This artist is managed by the son of a partner in our sports teams. Marina and the Diamonds will be a huge act. She has an amazing voice. Way to go Derek Davies!

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Posted in Music | No Comments »

When is Free Good?

Tuesday, June 30th, 2009
Click here to read a great article about the importance of being free (kudos Chris Anderson) in the new media world and a counter claim being made by Malcolm Gladwell, best-selling author and former Washington Post employee.
 
In regards to YouTube, I agree. Giving away free video stuff costs money and it is tough to monetize. Can you ever trust this community-created video as a brand builder and advertiser? Is it curated? Is it frankly any good in terms of quality?
 
(more…)

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Posted in General Interests | No Comments »

Oh Great - Just What We Need

Monday, June 29th, 2009
We need to be jinxed before the season even begins!
 
Check out this article. The author, a highly regarded analyst, picks the Washington Capitals to win the Stanley Cup next season.
 
While flattering, please burn this article and don’t believe a word of it. Don’t jinx us. There are a million things that have to go right for us to win a Cup. It is nice to be mentioned as an elite team but we all know we have lots of work still to do.

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Posted in Hockey | 8 Comments »

Cringeworthy

Monday, June 29th, 2009
Yuck. What an interview. What a father whose true feelings come out in this interview. Michael Jackson isn’t his son, he is a superstar performer. And let me sell you some stuff I can hawk now as I have this opportunity on a big stage thanks to Michael’s passing.
 
I thought the CNN newscaster was going to slug Mr. Jackson.
 
Click here and check this one out. Any wonder why Michael Jackson didn’t want to go home again. Ever wonder why Michael Jackson reveled in self-loathing? Well here you go. “Thanks Dad.”

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Posted in In Memoriam | 2 Comments »

Draft Concludes

Monday, June 29th, 2009
We had a productive draft. I bet at least two of the kids drafted can make our team or play in the NHL. If that happens, we can all be happy.
 
We still have work to do. There weren’t many trades made at the drafting tables this year. Perhaps now we all go to work in free agency and those moves will open up personnel needs and create some dynamism in the league?
 
Don’t expect us to make any big long term expensive signings though in free agency. We have many core young players to reward and keep in the fold. We are up near the cap max now. We have some wiggle room but I am hopeful - as noted before - that we add to the team via internal promotion, trades, deadline trades and some smaller free agent signings.
 
Wish us luck. We have work left to do. Click here to read a good article that summarizes the draft.

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Posted in Hockey | 4 Comments »

After Party Interview

Monday, June 29th, 2009

Check out this after NHL Awards interview with me and Sarah Spain, an aggressive blogger. She was all over the Awards ceremony and events for Mouthpiece Sports. I just found this online and thought it was a straightforward and good interview. Check it out by clicking here.

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Posted in Hockey | No Comments »

On the Mystics Turnaround

Saturday, June 27th, 2009
Thank you Mystics fans. Business is booming. The blueprint of change is being well executed.
 
Click here to read a nice story about the recent business success of the Mystics and how our business success follows success on the court.
 
Also the Washington Mystics were named the “Emerging Business of the Year” by the DC Chamber of Commerce and will be recognized for that feat later in the fall at a big time gala.
 
I am proud of our work - in all aspects - regarding the Washington Capitals and the Washington Mystics. I believe we have developed a very good system of change and improvement that we now know how to execute and implement in all facets of the operation.

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Posted in Sports | 2 Comments »

George Is Usually Tight-Lipped

Saturday, June 27th, 2009
George is usually tight-lipped about developments at the draft. I am surprised he is being so open and transparent. At 5:00 pm last night, I talked to him on the phone and asked him how it was going. He told me that barring a last minute trade that included the pick that if we had the opportunity at number 24, we would draft Marcus Johansson. And sure enough, that is what we did. So the scouts were all in agreement as was the staff and our GM so I have to feel good about the pick.
 
George and staff believe he is strong on his skates; a well rounded two way center with very good hockey sense; plays D; and has skill and will get even more strength. So in the last three drafts we have taken 3 Swedish centers. The Swedes seem to be all of the rage in the NHL now with 7 drafted in the first round yesterday.
 

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Posted in Hockey | 5 Comments »

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