Boca Raton, FL, – Steve Tebon wants to know if you’ve “got your game on.” It’s easy — just read the book. Game On: The Power of the Sports Marketing Deal (Tebon Publishing), is for entrepreneurs, business executives, athletes and those who practice or study the business of sports.
As Tebon points out, the first step for anyone is to find your target market and be creative. For example, ask somebody about sports marketing and they’ll tell you it’s all about the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and major college sports. But not Tebon. He quickly realized there was a niche out there that offered big opportunities for a young entrepreneur.
“Recreational sports, lifestyle sports. The grassroots, participant market is the fastest growing and potentially biggest market out there,” he says. At some point, virtually everybody will shoot hoops, spike a volleyball, hop on a bike or lace up a pair of running shoes. Tebon shows his clients how to pursue this virtually untapped revenue stream, and now he’s sharing it with his readers.
You may not have given it much thought, but just how did that race to benefit a local charity happen? Who’s behind last month’s hugely popular beach volleyball tournament? There’s a good chance it’s Exclusive Sports Marketing or a company like it. It takes a specific skill set to create, promote and run successful events, and Tebon knows those skills inside and out.
A diehard recreational athlete, and 7-time Ironman finisher, Tebon has studied the industry intensely. Like many other experts, he’s bullish on the growth of grassroots sports. “The U.S. is experiencing a serious health crisis, and events like running, biking, and competing in triathlons are playing a huge role in helping people get back into shape, and focusing on a healthy lifestyle for them and their families.”
The keys to making sporting events and business in general profitable are easily understood through the informal and helpful pages of Game On. One of these is strategic alliances. Before Tebon sold his multi-million dollar business, Exclusive Sports Marketing developed long standing sponsor partnerships with industry giants such as Anheuser-Busch, Nike, Coca-Cola, Pepsico, Gatorade, Nestle’s Brands, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and Club Med.
Tebon’s strategies for closing the deal are clearly laid out in Game On: The Power of the Sports Marketing Deal. Creating and maintaining relationships is one important aspect. Providing “5-Star” Customer Service is another. Using these techniques and more, Tebon connected influential businesses with the audiences they targeted at more than thirty events every year, such as The Publix Family Fitness Weekend/Sprint Triathlon Series, The Bud Light Beach Volleyball Series, The Toyota Tundra Adventure Racing Series, and the Ft. Lauderdale A1A Marathon and ½ Marathon, just to name a few.
After selling Exclusive Sports Marketing in 2006, Tebon has been working as a consultant to the growing business of recreational sports marketing. His consulting services also include event/ athlete management, development of strategic programming and the creation of print and electronic marketing strategies. He will also be teaching a Sports Management course using Game On as the text, at Lynn University, (Boca Raton, FL), beginning with the Spring 2012 semester.
Kevin Sreenan, General Manager, Mercedes-Benz U.S.A: “With Steve, you knew his best interest was your best interest. In the face of adversity or a challenge, he proved himself to be a winner, and in this business, you always want to go with a winner.”
Mark Wilson, Senior Sports Marketing Manager, Anheuser-Busch: “Steve took the time to find out what we wanted, and then wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty and go above and beyond the branding partnership. That earned our trust and longstanding sponsorships.”
Chon Searfoss, Senior VP Nestles Waters: “A huge reason you want to associate with Steve is that he genuinely wants you to succeed and believes that if his friends and associates succeed, he will too.”
Steve Scott, Nike Senior Sales Executive: “What separated Steve from his peers was his ability to establish relationships. He developed them to the point where each party obtained successes because of the other. He redefined the art of networking.”
Steve Meckfessel, Chief Operating Officer, Ironman: “Steve’s vision helped ESM [Exclusive Sports Marketing] write the race director’s handbook with respect to packaging the sport of triathlons. During the 1990’s, ESM was the gold standard among Florida promoters.”
Richard Gonzmart, President/CEO, The Columbia Restaurant Group: “People like to be around winners, and that’s what Steve and ESM are! It was a true honor for my family’s business to be associated with the Publix Family Fitness Weekend for as long as we were.”
New York, NY, – “Knowing what you’re dying to do tells you what you are living for.” – Steve Mazan
Background for dying to do Letterman: turning someday into today (HCI Books– $14.95). A very special book which grew out of his award-winning documentary film by the same name, here is everything you need to know about Steve, the book, and the film:
Steve Mazan was a funny kid with a big dream. From the time he was 12 years old, he wanted to become a comedian for one reason, and one reason only: to perform stand-up comedy on David Letterman’s show. Like all eager comics, he hustled for work in small clubs across the country, taking any gig he could earn. The pay was crummy, the progress miniscule, and some of the jobs ridiculous (like performing comedy at a minor league baseball game without a working microphone!) But Steve continued hoping that “someday” his dream might come true.
Then he received news that would change his life forever. Steve was diagnosed with incurable liver cancer, and learned he might only have five years to live. That was in 2005. Fighting through the fear and refusing to let depression swallow him whole, Steve chose to make the most out of his remaining time…he would dedicate what was left of his life to living his dream: performing on The Late Show for his idol, David Letterman.
This life-affirming, funny documentary chronicles Steve’s moving five year journey. Verite footage mixed with intimate diary cam and home movies shot by Steve gives dying to do Letterman a raw, incredibly real edge as it looks at cancer and comedy in a brand new light.
Beginning with Steve’s decision to “live his dream or die trying,” friends and family members pull together to launch a grass-roots campaign called “Dying to do Letterman.” They hope to grab Dave’s attention. Steve entertains audiences everywhere and enlists their help in reaching out to Letterman. Thousands of Steve’s comedy fans email The Late Show with the request, “book Mazan!” It looks like everything is going great…until Steve gets an email himself.
Letterman’s executive producer informs Steve that the show ‘gets these requests’ all the time, and while they’re sorry he’s sick, it would be ‘impossible’ to make this dream happen. He’s at a devastating crossroads. But, ever the fighter, he decides he’ll just have to ‘live longer’ and get on the show the old fashioned way: being funny in as many clubs as possible. Keeping audiences laughing in clubs everywhere, Steve works hard to become the best comedian he can, all the while using humor to help him deal with his disease. He even creates his own top ten list: The Top Ten Benefits of Catching Cancer.
Over the next four years, Steve battles his health, self-doubt, and bankruptcy as he chases his “impossible” dream.
Through it all, Steve’s new age wife, Denise, struggles to support the quest as best she can, all the while subjecting him to a slew of alternative healing treatments in the hopes he’ll live just a little longer. More than simply ensuring he survives to appear on Letterman, she aims to keep Steve healthy enough to father children—a life experience he’s just not ready to undertake.
Along the way, Steve obtains hysterically honest advice from comics who have appeared on Letterman like Kevin Nealon, Ray Romano, Brian Regan, and many others. In a surprising, action-packed sequence, Steve takes his new comedy material to Iraq where, while performing for the troops, the base is bombed and he has a close call with death. Steve exclaims, “Being so close to that explosion showed me…it’s not just cancer that can kill you!” Steve even manages to forge a shaky relationship with the comedy booker at Letterman’s show, but as the years roll by he begins to wonder if he’s wasted his precious time on a silly childhood fantasy.
Just when all seems lost, Steve gets a big call: The Late Show may be interested in booking him. But when a horrible misunderstanding strikes, has Steve blown his one and only shot at his dream? As the film comes to a close, Steve finds himself alone in a hotel room in New York City, waiting for a phone call from the show: will his dream finally come true?
Hilarious and heart-breaking, Steve risks everything to prove dreams matter.
dying to do Letterman is a roller-coaster ride of laugher, tears, and reversals of fortune that boldly says, “If you stop chasing your dreams, you’re already dead.” And, now, it’s a book!
Steve Mazan. Man? Myth? Legend? Some people say he’s none of these. Steve is, however, one of the hottest comedians and speakers in the country and a veteran of the US Navy. Critics have described his act as ‘brilliant,’ ‘goofy,’ and ‘exceptionally clever.’ That reputation has landed him on the most coveted stages and numerous television shows, including The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. Steve’s journey to try and get on the Letterman show has been made into an award-winning documentary that’s been called ‘inspiring’ and ‘side-splittingly funny.’ A former writer for Ellen Degeneres, Steve has also appeared on Last Comic Standing, Byron Allen, and The Bob & Tom Show. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Denise, and his dogs, Wrigley and Kuma, and currently travels the country to film festivals where his documentary is racking up critic awards and audience acclaim. For more information on the movie Dying to Do Letterman, and about Steve and his latest book, visit www.stevemazan.com and www.dyingtodoletterman.com.
Available online or at bookstores or to order directly from the publisher, contact: www.hcibooks.com or (800) 441-5569. dying to do Letterman: turning someday into today Steve Mazan ISBN: 978-0-7573-1627-2 $14.95 – October/November 2011
New Haven, MI, – Army, Navy, Marines: it’s tough enough to make it in one branch of the military — but Ron Zuccaro succeeded in all three, wrestled professionally, overcame a devastating injury to come back and win a wrestling championship, and is one of the most engaging patriots you’ll ever meet. This veteran has enough strange and interesting tales to fill more than one lifetime, and an amazing awareness of God’s grace, all packed in his new book Heaven, Iron and I: The Ron Martinelli Story (Tribute House Publishing).
Ron Martinelli was his name as a professional wrestler in the 1970s; his story recounts the early days of professional wrestling with surprising humor and insight. At the peak of his career, his legs were crushed in a freak accident and he was told he’d never walk again. His faith, his family and his love for his country spurred Zuccaro to literally stand up and fight: he did walk again, and won the 1980 heavyweight world title in wrestling. These accomplishments in civilian life were bracketed by extraordinary service in not one, but three, branches of the U.S. Military. He saw action in Vietnam that would prove to have a lasting, and surprisingly positive, influence on the rest of his life. Honorable service during a difficult time for our country brought Zuccaro a unique and moving sense of what it is to be a veteran of the United States Armed Forces.
Learning to walk again after his accident, Zuccaro was troubled by vivid flashbacks to the chaos and danger of his time in Vietnam. It was these recollections, plus his remarkable determination to recover, that helped him uncover God’s grace at work in his own life; his dramatic re-telling of this time in his life makes Heaven, Iron and I: The Ron Martinelli Story a must-read for Christians, veterans and patriots. Zuccaro says his book is “a tribute to my buddies who made the ultimate sacrifice, and shows what war is really like. If you yourself have problems, you can overcome them, you can achieve your goals through the grace of God.” In honor of his fallen friends, Zuccaro now works tirelessly to promote and encourage veterans and veterans’ organizations, in particular the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars), American Legion, Marine Corps League and Disabled American Veterans.
Zuccaro’s story is more than inspiring. It’s filled with powerful anecdotes about his time in Vietnam and seasoned with humorous tales of his antics in the early days of professional wrestling, making it a book that critics find impossible to put down. All together, Heaven, Iron and I: The Ron Martinelli Story is a truly great story about a patriot of the first order, a patriot who shows the way for others to achieve, as he did, against all odds.
Nicole Maren: “This book is a “must read” for all Americans who want to learn what true patriotism is.”
Ron Sugar: “I am so inspired by his drive and zest for life…thank you for your military service, and for sharing your life by writing this book.”
Michael J. Miller: “For the first time, I read a book and laughed, cried, smiled, wept, and was motivated all at the same time.”
Wally Allport: “We were in the same unit in Vietnam and I was totally captivated by the story of his life….It’s a powerful example of the human spirit!”
San Antonio, TX, – San Antonio evangelical preacher Matthew Hagee’s new release Response Able: What my father taught me about life and making a difference (Charisma Media) offers the insights of a lifetime on parenting, self-reliance and affecting societal change. The key to any significant transformation, according to Hagee, is a refusal of the sense of entitlement often associated with Gen-Y and Millennials. Instead, Hagee argues that readers should embrace self-reliance and acknowledge the individual’s God-given ability to respond in a positive manner, regardless of the circumstances.
“One of the most valuable lessons my father taught me was to focus on what I can do, rather than what I cannot,” says Hagee. “If your life is on a course that you would indeed like to change, you can change it. No matter what.”
Matthew Hagee, the son of global evangelist John Hagee, serves as Executive Pastor of the 20-thousand member Cornerstone Church founded by his father in San Antonio, Texas. The elder Hagee launched the church more than three decades ago, growing it into one of the most influential and charismatic Christian communities in the country. The companion TV ministry now reaches almost 100 million homes in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Australia, Africa and New Zealand. Matthew Hagee, the heir-apparent to the church and TV ministry, uses many lessons taught by his father as the framework of Response Able.
With some parents working two jobs or both parents working more than 40 hours a week, Hagee wants to help parents break the cycle of shrinking family time in America. To do this, he has issued a provocative challenge to the parents in his flock. He calls it the 707 Challenge and he wants parents to sign up for this ongoing campaign that requires moms and dads to commit to spending at least seventy minutes per day with their children, seven days a week, for seventy days.
“The time has come for this generation to take responsibility for tomorrow,” says Hagee, “and the response begins with you.”
Hagee’s book offers faith-based insight and guidance on initiating powerful change in personal, social, financial, educational and political arenas. Hagee bases his premise on a conviction that principle should be the compass by which to guide one’s life, and not passion.
“Principles are powerful,” says Hagee. “They will make men out of boys and instill a foundation in future generations that cannot be shaken.”
Other foundational concepts offered in the book include:
Responsible people submit to authority, namely God Declare war on the status quo Invest in others, primarily children Patience rewarded Gratitude The joy of giving
And many more concepts chiseled into his character by his father’s loving guidance. For more information on this remarkable man and his new book, visit: www.response-ablethebook.org.
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For more information, or to schedule an interview, contact Jeff Brady at Brady Media Group. 214.265.5670. [email protected]
Potomac, MD, – The Good, The Bad, and The Crazy: No One’s Ever Called Me Boring (Duke, M.D. Literary Enterprises, L.L.C.) by Mary Ann Duke, M.D., is the true story of a modern-day Joan of Arc who survived being burned at the stake by the male-dominated medical and judicial systems, and now dares to tell the unrevealed truth.
Mary Ann Duke was the epitome of a success story. She graduated from medical school at age twenty-three and became a board-certified ophthalmologist by age thirty. Her private practice in the prestigious suburb of Potomac, Maryland had a patient list that read like a Who’s Who of the Washington Metropolitan Social Register. Dr. Duke was granted privileges at the renowned John Hopkins’ Wilmer Eye Institute. Happily married, she lived in a gorgeous home with her husband and their three beautiful children.
That is, until the day she found her husband and best friend together and her perfect world exploded, sinking her into a pit of despair. This was the beginning of the end for Mary Ann Duke; the God-fearing, small town girl from upstate New York. She began drinking to ease her pain, and the alcohol, along with an untreated bipolar disorder, soon cost her everything…
The Good, The Bad, and The Crazy is packed with life lessons that come together in a mixture of spirit and guts, new-found wisdom and touching sorrow. This writer’s sharp wit and glorious sense of humor (especially when she describes being in jail with an alleged killer) makes her book a page-turner that is impossible to put down!
The Good, The Bad, and The Crazy not only chronicles the myriad challenges and prejudices a brilliant, young female doctor faces from both the medical and legal systems, but it also tells the very personal and moving story of her downward spiral into alcoholism; her private war with bipolar disorder; her fight for custody of her children, and the pain of incarceration. Yet the sheer determination and perseverance of this writer incites readers to cheer for her tenacious spirit that has proven no matter what the odds – she will never give up.
Dr. Mary Ann Duke’s electrifying book challenges the status quo and shamelessly avenges her honor. It is a story of social protest that will be read and revered for generations to come. The final pages of The Good, The Bad, and The Crazy are scanned medical and legal documents that prove the truth of her writing.
Samuel R. Shumaker, III, Retired U.S. Army Lt. Col., published author: “A genuine page turner. The most insightful and wise book of our generation about the medical and legal systems of America gone cancerous. The harsh realities are deftly balanced by the devastatingly perceptive humor of the author, an accomplished eye surgeon. This book is impossible to put down.”
Amazon Five-Star Reviews:
“I literally could not put this book down when I first started reading. Then I didn’t want it to end. How anyone could survive all this and still be in one piece is beyond all comprehension. You find yourself rooting for the author, despite all the trials and tribulations she has experienced during the past 30 years. Outstanding!!! A “must read”
“This is quite a story. Interesting, tragic, funny and compelling. Read this book and you will know why no one ever called the author boring. Hollywood needs to latch onto this one. It is the stuff great movies are made of!”
“This book gives a fascinating look into the mind of one of America’s top medical minds. Parts of it are gut-bustingly hilarious, but …a grim reminder of the weaknesses of the American penal system, and the Machiavellian organization commonly known as the AMA. Would most certainly recommend it to anyone.”
“I usually only read a few books each year, but I read this one incredibly FAST – because I could not put it down… Well written and juicy to the end… You feel the struggle as you read it. Highly recommend.”
Co-editors Mike Leach and Ferhat Guven speak to fans looking for more out of college football in their new book “Sports for Dorks: College Football”
Key West, FL, — “What do you get when you combine an astrophysicist, a world champion backgammon player, some respected economists and a few other brilliant minds?”
New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan is referring, in this case, to former Texas Tech head coach Mike Leach’s latest literary undertaking, “Sports for Dorks: College Football” (ISBN 978-0615484976), in which Leach once again takes aim at college football’s conventional wisdom.
Leach, along with co-editor Ferhat Guven, came up with the idea of “Sports for Dorks” during a “typical” telephone call in which they discussed Henry VIII, US fiscal policy, Sub Saharan Africa real estate, and of course college football.
The two come from different walks of life; Leach is the still wildly popular former head football coach of the Texas Tech Red Raiders and author of New York Times bestselling autobiography Swing Your Sword: Leading the Charge in Football and in Life, while Guven, based in London, is an executive in a global real estate investment firm and avid college football fan.
Leach views the world of college football as a crucible of innovation, yet despite the enormous media coverage enjoyed by the sport, he notes that little if any of that side of the game is exposed to the public. Guven, out of his own interest, follows a number of talented academics, writers and bloggers who cover many of the sport’s more unique aspects, but do so in what he describes as relative obscurity.
The two wondered if there was an audience that wanted to better understand the game in a manner that went beyond what was being offered by conventional media.
Leach and Guven set out to collect essays and articles from a wide range of thinkers who were examining the game in an unusual way. “We were focused on identifying well-formulated ideas which challenge a sport dominated by conventional wisdom,” said Guven. “The book’s contributors include coaches, journalists, bloggers, academics, economists and yes, even an astrophysicist.”
Leach and Guven examine college football, both on and off the field, through disciplines such as economics, psychology, statistics and sociology. Their book also provides readers with unique insights into Leach’s coaching influences and philosophies, offers a formula that would make the BCS ranking process more rational, and examines what they describe as the meteoric rise of American football in Great Britain.
“We are trying to bring innovative content to readers,” Guven says. “We want to provide a unique perspective to readers who are looking for more than just box scores, cliches and lukewarm paeans to their favorite teams’ greatness. We hope our readers will be informed and entertained. There is plenty of opportunity for both throughout the book which come from a variety of perspectives.”
“Sports for Dorks: College Football” is available for sale online at Amazon.com and other channels.
About the Editors Mike Leach is the former all-time winning football coach at Texas Tech and author of the bestselling autobiography, Swing Your Sword: Leading the Charge in Football and Life. Leach is a graduate of BYU and Pepperdine University School of Law. Ferhat Guven is a real estate investment professional who graduated from Texas Tech University before earning his graduate business degree from the London Business School. For more information, see www.sportsfordorks.com.
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TIP SHEET:
Rex Ryan, Head Football Coach, NY Jets: “What do you get when you combine an astrophysicist, a world champion backgammon player, some respected economists and a few other brilliant minds? This fascinating book and the reason I’m hoping to watch Mike Leach on Saturdays instead of coach against him on Sundays.”
Gil Brandt, former VP Dallas Cowboys: “Sports for Dorks is an exciting collection of ideas and trends shaping the world of college football. Mike Leach proves, once again, that he is a step ahead of the rest.”
Austin Murphy, Sr. Writer, Sports Illustrated: “One man’s dork is another man’s intellectually curious, envelope pushing pioneer. Mike Leach is the most original thinker I’ve met in three decades as a sportswriter. With this provocative, nourishing, all-you-can-eat buffet of intriguing ideas, Leach reminds us why football needs him more than he needs football.”
Virginia Beach, VA/Houston, TX, – Whether already in business, starting a business, or wanting to enhance your life – Switched-On Networking: Balance Your Brain for Networking Success (Happiness Unlimited Publications), by Dr. Jerry V. Teplitz and Donna Fisher, gives you instructions on simple Brain Gym® processes that will immediately rewire your brain for networking ease and effectiveness.
Networking works for everyone: business owners, sales people, job seekers – whether out of work or looking for a new position to further their career, college grads, and home-based business owners who wish to create visibility for their business, as well as non-profit staff where networking is essential to generating donations, sponsors and volunteers.
Readers will learn techniques that teach how to approach people, how to make a powerful introduction and initiate conversation, how to follow-up effectively, use social media to connect in ways that work, call people to request support, and ask for referrals. Once our subconscious mind has been reprogrammed using the tips and exercises in this book, we can “switch-on” our brain for optimum success and use these skills in any area of our life – to grow a business, meet new clients, or find a perfect job!
Switched-On Networking uses the proven, leading-edge mind-body technology of the Brain Gym® system to switch readers on for every aspect of the networking process. A system that is simple yet powerful – it will immediately re-wire your default settings and balance your brain for optimum networking success. And it starts working as soon as you finish each chapter!
By using the Brain Gym® process, along with Fisher’s material, Dr. Teplitz expects readers to become more successful, regardless of whether they are new to networking or are experienced networkers who want to push their career to the next level. The tools provided in Switched-On Networking can enhance every aspect of a person’s life – whether it is personal, business, or financial success.
Dr. Jerry V. Teplitz is an attorney, author, and has a Ph.D. in Holistic Health Sciences. He has been president of his own speaking and consulting firm for nearly four decades, and is a Certified Speaking Professional who has been a guest speaker for some of the nation’s most prestigious organizations and Fortune 500 companies. Author of nine books, his Switched-On Selling: Balance Your Brain for Sales Success was a #1 Amazon bestseller. For more information on this acclaimed professional who has been interviewed on numerous TV shows, over 400 radio stations, and featured in numerous newspaper articles and top-selling magazines, please visit: www.teplitz.com.
Donna Fisher is an author, entrepreneur, business owner, and Certified Speaking Professional. Her books, Power Networking, People Power, Power Networking Nuggets and Professional Networking for Dummies, have been translated in five languages and are used as reference books in companies and universities. She has been interviewed throughout the country on numerous TV and radio shows. For more information on this talented author, speaker and businesswoman, please visit: www.DonnaFisher.com.
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TIP SHEET:
Dr. Jack Canfield, author of Chicken Soup for the Soul series, and one of the creators of The Secret: “I’ve found what I’ve learned from Dr. Teplitz to be a really valuable tool in many areas of my life. His programs can help you and anyone you care about live up to their full energy potential and become a peak performer in every area of their life.”
Dr. Joe Vitale, star of The Secret movie and author of Attract Money Now: “Wow! Easily switch on your ability to naturally, successfully and memorably meet people with the breakthrough secrets in Switched-On Networking. It’s terrific!”
Mark Victor Hansen, co-author of Chicken Soup for the Soul series: “Everyone can benefit from Switched-On Networking. The tools that Jerry and Donna share in this book will enhance your success, prosperity and bring more fun into your life.”
Marci Shimoff, author of Happy for No Reason and Chicken Soup for the Woman’s Soul: “Switched-On-Networking revolutionizes the idea of reprogramming your brain for success! Using Jerry and Donna’s leading-edge program, you can get your mind lined up to optimize your existing network, as well as the new connections you make. Networking can be more fun and easy than you ever thought—and it can lead to surprising successes!”
