NMSC #USSDA Phoenix Photos

In addition to the blog coverage for the #NMSC #USSDA trip to Phoenix, I was our acting sports photojournalist... Check out the albums on our North Meck SC Facebook page!

#USSDA Winter Showcase Album 1
http://www.facebook.com/pages/North-Meck-SC/160887333925767#!/album.php?aid=50875&id=160887333925767&fbid=185451158136051

#USSDA Winter Showcase Album 2
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=50880&id=160887333925767

Really great event and amazing to see the resources offered to top players nowadays- they are treated like professionals!

NMSC USSDA 2010 Winter Showcase

Coverage of the North Meck SC US Soccer Developmental Academy's Phoenix trip to take part in the 2010 Academy Winter Showcase is below. Authored copy and photos provided by your truly!

http://tinyurl.com/USSDAblog

Best part is that I get to call this "work"
=D

U.S. Soccer Academy Trip- North Meck SC

Donning their new North Meck SC US Soccer Academy “HendricksCars.com” red tops players’ boarded US Airways flight number 705 for their desert destination.

During the plane ride players worked on homework, jammed to their iPods, chatted with coaches and watched footage from their various high school seasons.

For U-16 Jordan Chillson, he says he was a little uneasy first flight experience, “I was a little nervous and got a bit queasy. I just wondered how that big of a plane is supposed to get airborne! When we hit that first patch of turbulence, I looked over to (fellow U-16) John Pouliot, who told to me to relax and that it’s normal.”

Following the four and a half hour flight to Phoenix the North Meck SC US Soccer Academy players piled into vans and headed straight to a pasta dinner.

After plenty of carbohydrates, calories and fluids for the demanding weekend ahead, NMSC players paraded into the Courtyard Marriot at around 11 pm mountain time. And just like that, the North Meck SC US Soccer Academy teams were ready for their first day at the 2010 Development Academy Winter Showcase.

Just short trip from the hotel the Reach 11 Sports Complex appears as an oasis in the Martian like landscape that is Phoenix Arizona. The sprawling 73 acre soccer complex is broken into two phases and houses 18 lighted, international soccer fields.

The top players from North Meck SC were both anxious and nervous to take the pitch in front of a crowd littered with collegiate scouts from around the nation. Both teams were well aware of the fact that their performances this weekend could help determine where they will compete in the coming years at the next level. But after the opening whistle blew, those thoughts were as far away as Richard Barry Park as the players focused on the challenge in front of them- the Chicago Sockers.


The U-16’s played to a 0-0 draw while the U-18’s lost the earlier contest 1-0. Day one was deemed a success as there were numerous signs of progress from last year and plenty of positives to take away from the field.

Perhaps the biggest obstacle for our players is the fact that they have had only a handful of opportunities to train together due to the postseason success at their respective High School programs.

Day one was also highlighted by what was considered to be the largest non-playing attraction for the participants of the 2010 Development Academy Winter Showcase; the U-17 National team matchup between USA and Brazil.


This year marks the first time that the six-game round-robin event will be played as a tournament with the champion taking home some hardware. It is also one of the last events for the U-17MNT before the 2011 CONCACAF U-17 Championship in February.

Fans of the beautiful game gathered in the thousands at the “stadium field” to watch the highly anticipated matchup that was broadcast on Fox Soccer Channel. The level of play was superb but the competition, which was considered to be of the “friendly” format, was anything but- There was plenty of color on display during the match coming from both the beautiful desert sunset as well as what was shown by the referee’s hand. The match ended in a 0-0 draw.

NMSC players wrapped up their first full day in Arizona with team meetings, a large meal and an early curfew in preparation for the morning matches tomorrow. On day two our NMSC US Soccer Academy teams will square off against Met Oval Academy from New York.

Go North Meck SC!

New @ NMSC

So unless you've been following on twitter it's been a considerable amount of time since I last blogged -(microblogging is still blogging nonetheless!)- but I am happy to tell that the absence comes as a result of being hired full time with North Meck Soccer Club! The Charlotte area based youth soccer club brought me in to coach two teams and assume a multifaceted media & marketing role.

Full time doesn't even to describe the commitment I have made to the club... 7 days a week, 80+ hours of work weekly. Although I consider myself EXTREMELY lucky to have the opportunity to work a job that I love... (so that technically, I'll never work a day in my life according to the cliche)... the work load is insanely life consuming!

Having recently met with our Executive Director to discuss my role within the club, he made sure I was aware that the most important thing to understand in our contract is the part that reads "*And other duties assigned by the Executive Director." We generated a detailed document that navigates through my various responsibilities and requirments as a full time club staff member. We called it my "job description" and it includes the following titles: Head Coach, Recreational Program Director, Marketing Manager, Social Media Director, Communications Editor, Advertising Author, Facilities Manager, Multimedia & Graphic Designer. Of course people around the club still refer to me as "The Writer"...

Needless to say, during the season it is nearly impossible for me to find any time for myself so the blogging habit suffers. The daily demands of my two teams taper off in the winter months which will leave me more time for the loved "long-winded" discussions & colorful conversations...

Until then please follow me on Twitter @GBsWorld and @NorthMeckSC!

Fitness Fanatic

Today I signed up to get my Personal Training Certification at the YMCA of Charlotte, NC. The irony of this blog's timing is not lost on me--the VT Spring football game was this past weekend--but I figure that this is another "recession proof" skill that I can add during this time of underemployment.

Anyway, since I had a more time this past year following my layoff I chose to spend much of it working on my physical fitness to reach some lofty goals of mine...

**SET GOALS**

As many of you know, I have an extensive athletic background. I played four sports in high school with numerous accolades in each. I was most gifted at soccer and was awarded a scholarship to play in the ACC for the Hokies. As a striker, much of my on-field success was due to my speed. I weighed around 165-175 lbs from my sophomore year in high school up till this past year. After I was forced into early retirement from collegiate soccer I took a few years off from the gym. As so many recent grads do, when my focus shifted from class to full time work I neglected my physical fitness in hopes career development.

During one of my last months in Boston, numerous members of the Solar Consulting team I was working with chose to do a http://www.21daydetox.com/ program. Dr. Green's program not only altered my outlook on my eating habits but completely changed my lifestyle at an early age.

Having been able to take advantage of my soccer player metabolism my whole life, I hadn't ever paid much attention to what I put into my body. Always loaded up on pasta the night before a game and banana, water and Gatorade between games. Although I never ate fast food, I never wondered about how much what you consume affects how you feel.

A quick synopsis of Dr. Greens Detox program is this...
Week 1: Vegan (all organic all 3 weeks)
Week 2: Raw Vegan (nothing cooked + 1 energy soup a day)
Week 3: All liquid meals (smoothies and energy soup)
Final 24 hrs: Water Fast

Essentially, what the program is designed to do is put the "reset" button on the body and flush out any toxins.

**DO A BODY DETOX AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR**

Without getting too detailed, this program forced me to cook every meal for myself while working 60-70 hour work weeks. I feel in love with cooking during this time.

**COOK EVERY MEAL YOURSELF**

Once I relocated back to NC, I decided to dedicate more time to my body which had taken so much athletic abuse over the years. Researching tirelessly, I compiled a program that was all-organic and one that would hopefully help me pack on weight for the first time in my adult life without the use of any weight lifting supplements.

I felt so energized during my detox due to the lack of additives in my food that I could bounce out of bed at 6 am and go until 8 pm at work before coming home for a very light workout and still have enough energy to cook my dinner. I felt the difference almost immediately- results did vary for my co-workers but I was like an 8 year-old all over again.

**EAT ORGANIC-ALL THE TIME**

Ten pounds was my initial goal. Obviously if you are looking to gain weight you need to consume more calories then you burn. So at a goal of 185 pounds I needed to eat between 2,700-3,200 calories a day with little-to-no-cardio in my workout.

My 3 main food groups are as follows:
High Quality Protein: eggs, lean meat, poultry, fish, etc
High Fiber Low Glycemic Carbs: Oatmeal, brown rice, whole wheat anything
Healthy Unsaturated Fats: fatty fishes, nuts, seeds, avocado, flax seed, olive oil

Starting out I had to sacrifice a lot to afford eating 4 organic meals a day on a tiny unemployment check. Naturally, going out to eat & drink with friends was the first to go... sorry amigos.

**DRINK 60% OF YOUR BODY WEIGHT IN OZ OF WATER**

For optimum muscle growth your muscles need a ton of water. Currently, I try to consume about 150 oz of H20 a day. In all reality it's hard to drink too much water but the main goal of drinking so much water is that it will keep your muscles hydrated and makes you less likely to drink other beverages. NO SODA!! Cut back on you High Fructose Corn Syrup intake... trust me you will notice a difference.

**THE #1 RULE AT THE GYM IS I HATE MY BODY**

If you get comfortable or seem satisfied with your initial results just by changing you eating habits, you will slip. Be disciplined, push the envelope, add weight, do the extra rep and go the extra day. Most importantly keep a record of your progress. Write down what you eat and how you felt. Same with what you move in the gym.

I won't get into my whole workout routine in detail but the mental aspect of working out is critically important. Commit to it. Make it a part of you. Going to the gym is now one of the highlights of my day. There is nothing more satisfying then getting in a real good workout, seeing your progress on paper and coming home & cooking yourself a delicious meal that is good for you too. It works wonders on your mental health, confidence and will provide you with more energy.

**STRETCH**

Include a stretching session after your warm-up and include one when you cool down after your workout. Believe it or not stretching makes you stronger and faster. It elongates the range of motion while also keeping you toned. I like to do a yoga or pilates class at least a couple times a month. Plus the guy-to-girl ratio in that class will make up for your neglected nightlife.

**GET MENTAL**

When your lifting think to yourself how much more toned you are now, how swollen that muscle group is, think big to get big. You will see results if you believe they are happening before your eyes...endorphins everyone!



These are just how I have been able to change my body. I've put on 23 lbs in 14 months when I have never been able to put on five for more than a month before. I continue to set goals--next I want to hit 210 lbs. I am currently flirting with the 2-bill mark and continue to have people ask me to train them in the gym...soon people!

Remember this worked for me but everyone's body is different. I hope to learn more about how I can help others reach their physical potential by becoming a certified personal trainer here in Charlotte. The network of fitness fanatics I have come in contact with over the past year has continued to grow and only excite more more.

I love to make other people feel good about themselves. Life is just better when you are happy with yourself. On top of pursuing one of my passions this is just another way I can live UT PROSIM as a Hokie in this real world recession.


"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others" -Gandhi

March 5th Massacre

The following is an email from my sister we received this morning. Britta is looking after her two dogs by herself while her husband, who's also a pilot in the Navy, is abroad... enjoy...


Monroe (left) carried on and ended all at once a long standing Bengtson dog tradition this morning.

He, as had dogs past, sunk his teeth into my childhood teddy bear. But instead of tearing off an eye, or single limb and leaving the remains for dogs to come, he de-bowled my sweet teddy.

His innards were strewn throughout the house requiring me to vacuum prior to leaving for work. The bear was almost unrecognizable except for the 3 different pieces of the bear's fur that lay lifeless on opposite sides of the room. Unfortunately that wasn't enough...

After the horrid massacre I returned upstairs to finish getting ready for work and he somehow found another smaller bear. I found Monroe throwing said bear's head in the air and chasing it around. Betty (right) had the body and was very proud to show me that she, too, could de-bowl an innocent bear.

These monsters should be caged! (really!!)

Partnership Activation: Sports Marketing "Think Tank"

Anyone who is interested in sports marketing & promotions needs to know about Partnership Activation. Founded by avid sports marketer Brian Gainor of GMR Marketing the site has been used as a means to provide sports business professionals with consultation of industry best practices and innovative sponsorship/marketing concepts.

I got to know Brian through a mutual connection at the Carolina Panthers and it has certainly been a blessing having him as a resource and friend. Brian was nice enough to share his Charlotte network with me and is directly responsible for the success I have had thus far at Davidson College in the athletics department.

Although I was sad to see him leave the QC I am pleased to share that he is quickly climbing up the ladder at GMR. A little over a week ago he was offered a more prominent role in the company and relocated to their headquarters in Milwaukee, WI.

Brian is one of those rare people in life who will go the extra mile to help. Brian and others like him offer us "under-employed" a shred of sanity that is becoming harder and harder to sustain. It is a daily battle for us recent grads that do not have a full time position and thanks to Brian's encouragement I have been able to keep doing the right things and maintain a positive attitude.

A very special thank you goes out to Brian for his help, advice and genuine desire to help. I wish you all the success in the world and hope to see you soon.

Cheers BG!

Soundtrack to Our Lives

I just finished reading this article that has the Top 10 Most Downloaded Songs on iTunes of All Time list and was a bit bewildered to find out that The Black Eyed Peas had two in the top three and Lady GaGa had two in the top six... Since 2001... Really?

It makes sense because the songs "I Got a Feeling", "Poker Face" and others on the list were more recent releases. Obviously more people are using iTunes now than when Kelly Clarkson sang "Since You've Been Gone." It's clear that tomorrow there will be more iTunes users than today downloading and itching to "Just Dance." Naturally, that means more ipods and other peripheral purchases per person- much to Mr. Mac's delight.

A topic I have meant to blog about for some time now arises from this "Podenomenon"...



A few years back I thought about pitching an advertising campaign to Apple along the lines of "iPod: The Soundtrack to Your Life." I thought of a few different variations of commercials where people from all walks of life entering various "defining life moments" listening to their iPod -- a Coldplay or U2 song most likely-- and being successful... only because they had their iPod to get them ready for the moment (similar this Amp commercial)

Seems almost too obvious now... Go to any public place and I bet you cant go more than five minutes without seeing someone with white stings swinging from their bobbing head.

What was Shaun White doing right before he dropped in on one of his Olympic runs? Yup, he was plugged into his iPod probably listening to AC/DC or Guns N' Roses.

For pregame warmups in sports the iPod presence remains permanent- And why not? I know I take mine everywhere.

Hell, I am writing this right now with my iTunes on the background
(Nowplaying: Tea Leaf Green u Nosey Nancy!)

I certainly work out harder when I have my gym playist on w/Eminem calling me a bitch and beats that make reps and controlled breathing easier from Lil Wayne. I always seem to fall asleep quicker when my "Sleepin" playlist shuffles selections from Slightly Stoopid & Jack Johnson. The work day never seems to be over until "It's 5 O'clock Somewhere" starts. Shoot, would even know what we were working for if it weren't for Loverboy?

Music is great! It always has been and will never feel like I have had enough. New music is like having the hottest toy of the year... and the iPod allows everyday to be show and tell.

(Citizen Cope- Salvation)

But back to the the public place part of the "Podenomenon" and the part that concerns me... If everyone is plugged in does that reduce the need to reach out and talk to our fellow man? Are we going to miss out on organic opportunities for love, friendship, etc?

Now I know you choose listening to Taylor Swift's "Our Song" for the 400th time over trying to manufacture your own "meet-cute" with the goodlooking guy you see on the bus every morning because it's the safe choice for your self esteem versus being told he already has a girlfriend or isn't interested. But is that really what you want or is it just another excuse?

I wonder what those people who believe in "Fate" think of iPods... You missed your window of opportunity with the guy because you needed to "turn it up, it's my fav part!"

So much for your happy ending... But he had his iPod on too...
And there's always tomorrow, right?

(Dave Matthews Band-Pig)

The term "My Music" is taken very literally now... You don't even have to buy the whole album now which makes making a mixtape for a girl even more daunting a task, but really who does that anymore? You don't even have to put it on a CD anymore... just gift your gal one!

You can create a playlist for just about every activity in life and it doesn't even take that long. Drag, Drop and Dip as you DJ your day...

Again, I am one of many enjoying another modern luxury we didn't use to have. I swear I cook better when I have Pavarotti playing.

Base it on whatever you like- weather, mood, activity whatever you want. Sooner or later you begin to associate the song more with your life's events than the artist who creates it.

Now it's really "My Music"

(Kanye West-Livin' in a Movie) <-- haha iRonic... FYI shuffle on 41 GBs of music

Ok so maybe the demise of human interaction due to the iPod isn't something we need to worry about...I know it's not that tough to yank an earplug outta your head and jump into whatever situation that presents itself but there has to be a trade off. Kind of like that if a tree falls and no one hears it riddle there are things that are going to go unnoticed.

As much as I love to talk to everyone and anyone pretty much at any time anywhere, I do love "My Music." Honestly, some activities are borderline enhanced by music! I definitely make more shots when I ball to Public Enemy-He Got Game. I get a better all around workout when I have Jay-Z- On to the Next One playing. I certainly run farther when all I hear is Jackson Browne signing Running on Emptyyyyyyy....

So I guess I'm torn...I suppose I run the risk of missing things here and there if I am plugged in.

Then again, I've never been much of a "it happened because of fate" guy anyway. If I'm in the right place at the right time, I know it... and most of the time it's because I planned on being there.

I suppose I will just try to remain opportunistic... with a soundtrack.

(The Helio Sequence- Can't Say No)

Charlotte, NC HS Basketball Coverage

First basketball article & attempt at sports photojournalism of 2k10 by yours truly...

United Faith Christian Academy beats Davidson Day School 54-48. United Faith defeated current Kentucky guard John Wall's Word of God Christian Academy (Raleigh, NC) team in last years Div. 1A championship game.

LakeNormanCitizen.com...

ESPN Interview

On Wednesday I had an interview with ESPN for a Production Assistant trainee program position. Overall, I think the interview was one of the best I have ever had, but that's probably because we talked about sports pretty much the whole time.

I had to do a critique of an episode of Sportscenter. On 1/12 I chose to do the 6 PM primetime edition. I can't share my entire review per the request of my interviewer, but will share some of my ideas on how to improve the show...



"-Plug your regional .com’s more when there is a story coming out of that city (Canseco on ESPN Radio Chicago) that entire interview needs to be available online before show airs & inform viewers that you can hear the interview in its entirety @ espnchicago.com…”

-Would have liked to seen some college football experts on the show regarding the open USC job. How come no one had a beat on Kiffin going to USC at 5 PM when the story broke at 8 PM? I would expect that your insiders area always more than 2 or 3 hours ahead of the news but understand it’s hard to anticipate when working against deadline.

-Personally, I would have liked to seen a little more variation in the teases. The show was loaded with Pete Carroll and Mark McGwire anyway so why not tease something smaller like “With the World Cup just around the corner, see if your city is in the running to host a World Cup game?” Would have a nice flow into interactive poll on .com

-Again, I really liked having Mike Paul on live but I’m sure 98% of your viewers said “Mike Who?” Why not pull up a little sidebar graphic that shows some of his background that qualifies him as an expert on reputations ie clients present and past, little bit about his agency, website, etc anything that will provide audience with a little visibility on how this guy qualifies as a legitimate person to talk to- if it weren’t for google how would we find out more about him and his agency?

-ESPN bottom line- Whenever women’s scores flash across bottom we viewers often have to do a double take when seeing final scores. Maybe you can change color of font, bottom line or differentiate somehow that these scores are womens and these are men’s so we aren’t blown away when we see UCONN beat Syracuse by 40 in bball only to realize “Oh, it’s women’s.”

-Continuing with the McGwire story, I would like to hear how many experts, former & current players and coaches think that McGwire could go out and hit a HR right now. Can he test clean right now? Could he hit 20 HRs in AAA since there were rumors of an MLB comeback.

-Viewers are becoming more and more desensitized to steroids revelations & admissions. I think viewers want to know less that they did it (since everyone now assumes everyone took them) and more of what they took. Which drugs, what classifications, how applied, what area of game it is designed to improve. Steroids are now mainstream enough that just the fact of someone taking them is not enough for the knowledge-hungry audiences of ESPN. They all did it we assume, so it’s old news, what they took is probably harder to find out but more what I want to know as both a casual sports fan and sports writer. Additionally, this is what people will go online to find out via blogs.

-Lastly, I wanted to comment on the audio during the show, particularly during the interviews. As a former radio producer I am programmed to hear the mistakes. During the interviews with John Clayton and Tim Kurkjian I heard anchors breathing, sniffing, clearing his throat and shuffling the hard copy of his scripts. I always made a habit when running audio for TV or Radio to bring down the anchors mic level a notch during an interview to prevent that unnecessary noise from coming across the broadcast."

Creative Loafing: The Dirty Martini

So this is my first article for Creative Loafing Charlotte... It will appear on the Brittney After Dark section of the blog.... will link in later to read full article.

My go with the flow attitude on New Years Eve 2009 landed me at The Dirty Martini off Exit 28 in Cornelius at about 11:30 PM with 10 of my guy closest guy friends. Upon entering the bouncer asked me to remove my baseball hat.

Thinking he was a University of Tennessee fan I laughed and said “good one” in reference to my Hokie Headwear.

He wasn’t a Vols fan and was serious about his request to remove my lid. Although I felt entitled to wear it in support of my alma mater’s trouncing of the SEC team, I was blown away by the enforcement of a “dress code” at a lake bar!

Fully aware the minutes were ticking down, I obliged and entered to find LKN New Years revelers in a club that seemed to be completely lost.

It caught me totally off guard. I was floored by how this place had passed by my radar until the waning hours of a this year.

Don’t get me wrong bar owners&tenders of Lake Norman; I love the laid back Lakelife. It’s a Kenny Chesney mentality up here although most local watering holes do require a shirt and shoes to get served; you never have any problems.

While you wont run into any problems at “The Dirty” you won’t find any of the sleeveless, sunburned and salty that occupy most of the sports bars and Kenny Chesney songs in my life. This place is different.

Owner Peter Contastathes has been here since 2005 and noticed that “there really wasn’t someplace people went to as the ‘spot’. I got tired of hanging out at the same old bars around here, I really wanted to open up something fresh and new.”

As a native of Philadelphia, Contastathes grew up in a household where the nightlife business was the family business.

This is why it comes as no surprise to me when he shared that he designed it and puts in a lot of physical labor at the lounge and bar himself.

“I grew up all around them and with my parents owning clubs I naturally took interest. I had a vision, thought it was a good time to invest and wanted to put my all into it.”

Aside from the northeast, Contastathes said there were a few other places where he got his inspiration.

“So, I went to Orlando, Miami and all around just to get some different ideas. I hope it brings a modern & contemporary feel with a little UK flare to the lake area since the people here appreciate class.”

The creative use of open space is highlighted with white furniture that energize The Dirty Martini’s aesthetics. Well measured VIP areas are “walled” off by curtains which help sustain enough room for the flow to their outside patio to remain uninterrupted....

Before 30 Bucket List: Update

I was able to check off a few things from my "Before 30 Bucket List" in 2009 and wanted to address the ones I hope to accomplish in 2010...

2009: Check!
#5) Skydiving- Went in Hawai'i & now I want to go everyday for the rest of my life
#23) Dunk- Accomplished on 12.7.09 with 6 witnesses on 10 foot rim, regulation bball
#36) Grow Something- Going to continue in 2K10- organic veggies, herbs & spices 2 cook with
#40) 10 lbs bigger- was at 175 now at 188 & growing
#52) Learn 2 Salsa- Gotta love Puerto Rico!
#67) Become a gourmet cook- All organic, "restaurant quality" now aka "Chef Bombay"
#77) Grow a Beard- not so much grizzly but its a full beard for sure haha


2K10: To Do!
#1) Complete a Food Challenge
#4) Base Jump
#13) Own a motorcycle
#14) Go to a Music Festival
#18) Party w/a Celebrity
#40) Attend a Horse race
#41) Move
#43) NASCAR race
#62) Learn to Tango
#79) $100+ bottle of wine
#82) Cross Country Road Trip
#85) Tryout for a pro sports team
#93) 100+ followers on Twitter


Cheers to a new year everyone! Stay tuned to see how GBsWorld changes in the new decade and what else I will be able to check off the ol' B4 30 Bucket List... Be well yall

New Year, New Decade

Well, 2009 is gone and we are entering another decade although '09 feels like it could have been a decade long by itself.

With each Dec. 31 that passes, people view the Jan. 1 date as a fresh start, a whole new year, but mainly as a chance to be better this 365.

That being said, it's time for to share some of my New Years Resolutions for 2K10...

Keep up gym habits & achieve fitness goals (200 @ 7%)
Volunteer monthly
Write daily
Drink more water
Text less, call more
Learn another language
Spend more time with family
Learn to cook 25 new dinner dishes
Drive less, Bike more
Go to a music festival
Be Greener!
Improve vocabulary
Play more golf
Travel more (Cali)(S.America)
Break a world record
http://www.21daydetox.com/ again
Learn to ride a motorcycle
Don't turn 25...

=D Happy Decade everyone!