Ode to Training Camp

Its that time of year again, the lockout is over, and as every sports reporter, athlete, team and owner has said #backtofootball. A little bit of over kill, we get it, we all now have something to do until February. As an alumni of a football organization, training camp usually meant long days, sunburns, annoying kids, and my favorite INFLATABLES (it's the best when they are filled with water from the night before)! The phrase training camp still prompts me to have an intense anxiety attack. For fans, the words training camp elicits a strong scream and the need to take two weeks of work off to stand in line at the practice facility in hopes of securing a rare autograph. Ok all kidding aside, it is an exciting time of year, and aside from the rabid fans, the sponsors of teams wait with strong anticipation for this moment as well because it means that their biggest money maker is back! 

Baseball is in a lull right now, it will start getting exciting soon, I promise, at least I think I do. The NBA and NHL seasons are not even in the foreseeable future of a fans mind.*Special Note: that is if the NBA season happens. Besides the fact that the sports world over all is, well boring, right now, Football is an advertising Goliath amongst these advertising Davids, but in the end this Goliath wins. 

I have heard some say it is because of the nature of the game that people are more engaged with the pacing of the game. Someone once said the third down is what makes Football far superior to other sports. All the momentum builds to that one down and it is make or break. Thrilling stuff. Others have said that because there is only one game per team per week it enables fans to get really exicted about that one game, where it can be tiring to be a fan of baseball, hockey and basketball because they play 2-4 times a week. The Red Sox are on everyday! Whatever it is, Football is marketing gold for sponsors. And this is the type of stuff that gets me REALLY excited.

With Training Camp starting I have noticed the twitter activity of teams has become increasingly  more active as if their activity level parallels that of the players themselves. I have seen some GREAT sponsor inclusions in photos that have been uploaded to team websites, moby (didn't know about that one), twitpic, instagram, and lockerz. Below are some of my favorite findings:

Courtesy of Seattle Seahawks

See that bing logo? There it is. Use Bing not Google is what it is saying to you. PS to all my friends and loved ones: THIS IS WHY I WANT TO MOVE TO SEATTLE!

Courtesy of New England Patriots

Ahh yes. The patriots are very smart people. wink. They never waste an opportunity to get their sponsors the recognition they deserve, as well as, never waste an opportunity to sell space that will get covered. Can you see Tom's hair from here?

Courtesy of Dallas Cowboys

It's not quite as obvious but they are there. Ford and Miller Light. Again, Cowboys very strong organization that recognizes where the money shots are going to be during interviews and gets the exposure for their clients. How about 'em Cowboys?

My last photo is one where I see a LARGE missed opportunity. Below is a photo of a rookie signing a contract to join the Oakland Raiders (should've expected this), and while this is great use of social media and getting fans all excited for the season, but do you see something missing? Look hard:

Courtesy of Oakland Raiders

Did you strain your eyes looking? Ahh yes, that's it! NO SPONSOR! At least put the boy in front of your step and repeat! The raiders have 64651 followers on twitter, and 570 of them looked at that photo as of right now. This has missed opportunity written all over it. Can I get an amen?

Lastly, I wanted to include this photo from the Packers website that is from their  "stockholders meeting."It makes it really hard not to be a Packers fan to see how involved their fans get to be. Ok I'm going to guess there are some people in Chicago that would disagree with that statement, but come on!

Courtesy of Green Packers

Perhaps there could have been a sponsor right there in the front, but I won't fault them because somethings shouldn't be sponsored and should be left organic, natural, and untouched.

So this was just going to be a post about training camp, but then I rambled about football overall, but then when you think about it Training Camp is the starting gun to the marathon that is the football season. So stretch, hydrate, carbo load, and get ready for some FOOTBALL.

I want to know your thoughts. Please fight me...lets go head to head...Pats vs. Jets style. 

Until I find something else to ramble on about...

Go Fourth (get it football, fourth down. Ok, I'm done)