Razookus!

A Day of Lasts

1. Final intramural volleyball game. 

2. Final home baseball game working as an Oregon Media Services intern at PK Park.

3. Final hot dog in the press box.

Onward!

25. The Time Has Come

It’s hard to imagine that Friday’s Pac-12 Championship Game is the final game I will work in the press box as an Oregon Media Services Intern.  Where did my four years go? 

I can remember back to my first ever football game on the job a few weeks before my freshmen classes began.  There were only five interns at the time; Ross, Weronika, Henry, myself and Emily, who although gone that day, turned out to be one of my closest friends and still is to this day.  Presently, I am the most seasoned out of our eight interns, but I do not hold myself above them, we are a team.  In my time with Oregon Media Services I have learned many things and gotten to know people along the way.  In the last three years, we have had two graduate interns who have since moved on, and I am currently befriending our third graduate intern.  I have met genuine people who have worked Saturday Duck games up in the press box for years and years, and despite our age differences I consider them to be friends in my life.  As far as re-stocking flip cards and game notes on the shelf for media, it’s second nature to me. 

Veterans have an engrained awareness about a few serious subject matters such as: Midway through the season, I know to look for Mark and Val’s homemade apple cider from their farm.  Also, veterans build up knowledge of the meals served.  Friday is the last press box dinner I will ever eat, for better or for worse. 

I have been taught to remain cool, calm, and collected to those around you (even when a hitch may have just happened behind the scenes).  If you do not know the answer to a question, do not be afraid to ask someone.  I have been trained through instruction, but also through observation, and natural instinct (I’d like to think, and perhaps this is my occupational calling) to always put the press and others before myself.  It’s good ol’ customer service at its best, and treating people how you would want to be treated.  Finally, I have noticed a growth in my confidence of my skills on the job, not to say I am not prepared to learn and adapt to changes and hurdles flown at the media services office on a daily basis, but I am overall more relaxed and I know I can do it.  When I walk, I walk with purpose.

But seasons change, weather and sports wise, and as football ends (save for our almost confirmed trip to Pasadena), another begins.  As the 2011-2012 football season comes to an end, I’ll make sure to soak up the view from press row, row 1, take some pictures, treat myself to the shortbread O cookie, and end the season feeling satisfied that I did the best job I could.  Even though I have the rest of the year before my job is entirely finished, I hope I can close out football Friday night knowing I have lived up to the standards of those interns who have come before me, and passed them along to those I work with now who will in turn pass these to future interns.  Now who’s ready for some basketball?!

Some pictures of the press box and sidelines over the years.

2008:

2009 wins over USC and Oregon State, Guarantee Entry to the Rose Bowl:

 

OMSI for life.

24. Movember Has Me Moved

In the past when the second week of November rolls around my guy friends and guy strangers all start to look a bit harrier particularly above the upper lip.  When I would ask what that was about, I would hear an automatic response, “No Shave November” as if I should know what it stood for.  But I the fact is I don’t.  I’d like to think someone must have told me last year the reason behind why guys grew out their mustaches, but it must have not stuck with me.  Being on a college campus and being around so many young guys, this year I did not want to be asking myself why exactly they were participating in what is also called “Movember.”  I did some research on my own, and here’s what I have gathered.  There’s only three days left of November, but its still a topic more than worthy to be addressed.

Movember is also an actual organization.  In their about section it explains the month long campaign that occurs each November.  “With their Mo’s, these men raise vital funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer and other cancers that affect men.”  This is the part where hearing the reason rings a bell.  Perhaps I had subconsciously known it was for raising awareness and funds for men’s cancers, but now the meaning and my understanding of Movember has grown (wink). 

Here is one of their clever ads placed in the middle of the page, playing off of the literal change of facial hair as well as a change that can be made in a man’s life through supporting the Movember season.

 

(Image via Movember)

The about section goes on to wholly describe the mustache movement, “Mo Bros effectively become walking, talking billboards for the 30 days of November…prompting private and public conversation around the often ignored issue of men’s health.”  Young men on UO’s campus really have been advertisements for Movember, and even if these poor college students cannot give money, their participation to grow or attempt to grow a mustache is a wonderful gesture in and of itself.  I know I have had private conversations in my head in the past as I’ve walked down 13^th and wondered, “Am I making up that I just saw at least six abnormally large mustaches?”  I’m glad I can now participate in the public conversation piece. 

Speaking conversation starters, TOMS (one of my favorite companies if you cannot tell from several of my past blog posts), teamed up with Movember this year.  TOMS made limited edition Classics for men and women as well as Botas strictly for men.  I would sport these in a heartbeat. 

 

(Image via TOMS)

TOMS is not only advocating the cause to another demographic of people, but the social media links Facebook and Twitter allow for an even greater spread of, in the words of Erik Qualman, “World of mouth.”  Even though I did not purchase these good lookin’ shoes, I posted a picture +link of them on my friend’s wall three weeks ago.  Who knows, maybe someone saw my post and went to the site and became informed, at least I’d like to think so.  I can tell you this much I will never look at a mustache the same. 

TOMS put together two Youtube videos; TOMS UK Movember 2011, and TOMS HQ Update – Movember 2011.  Especially in the latter, such spirit TOMS employees have, I crave to work in this kind of environment.   

Last year Movember raised $US 80.7 million worldwide.  I am anxious to find out how much is made this year.  Happy ‘Stachin to the dudes out there!