This patch cures all

This weekend, I'll have finished the most grueling job I've ever experienced...dealing with erratic emotions, temper-tantrums, and runny noses...and this job was only twice-a-week.

I was my 4-year old's soccer coach.

I admit, I had a great time coaching all these little brats...er...budding Beckham's, and I got something I'll cherish forever...

...I got a patch. It's not just a patch mind you, but a symbol that I was the coach-it was my-way-or-the highway. If one of those parents had a problem with me sitting little Jimmy in the second-half...tough..."read my chest-pocket chief"...my patch was my shield.

Ok, I'll confess. All the coaches got them for volunteering...they were part of the sacrifice for giving up a couple days a week to run around and look important to a 4-year old...the free shirt-with-patch made me sign up.

Gotcha...pretty sad. I should have held out for more, like the PGA Tour pros do.

In the September issue of Conde Nast Portfolio, beat writer Kevin Cook breaks down what it costs to put a patch on a pro golfer. It's pretty sick.

Let's say your Widget Tees Inc, and you want to put your patch on a top PGA pro for a year. Let's start with the hat: $75k and up...or you could put a patch on the back of the lid instead for half.
How about sleeves: $10k-$1M? Would you believe there is a premium on which arm! It's because of visibility. The left sleeve is more desirable because most Tour Pro's are right-handed...therefore their left arms are front-and-center to the TV camera.

The article goes on about every other location, and is an eye-opening read, like what it costs for the rear...and how Johnnie Walker got away with sewing it's brand on Jim Furyks' collar.

I wonder if the the Pro's keep a trophy display of their patches? "Hey Phil, be careful with that one...vintage Cracker Jack's hat...man, that was a bad PR move for me...every time I'd tee it up...some clown from the gallery would shout..."Hey sailor...going my way?"...I should have stayed with Foot Joy."

Oh, and what's the going price for the chest pocket? Starting at $25k.

...hmmm...well, I did get those yummy cookies at the end of every game.


Thanks for reading. Keep it in the short-grass,

JFB

Bend it like...Tiger?

Tiger Woods has met his match....but it isn't another golfer.

He's coming from across the Pond with the the swiftness of a free kick.

He's David Beckham, England's most famous footballer, and international celebrity. Coming to America by way of Real Madrid, signing a monster contract to play with the American team LA Galaxy. How much is monster? Well, with endorsements he might top out at $250 meelion. Tiger last year cleared less than half that.

But that's not where he's met his match.

It's with kids.

In a survey conducted by HSBC, results of a new study on the effects of sports on successful childhood development.

“Successful Youth Development: The Contribution of Sport" researched adults aged 18+ from the United States, the United Kingdom, and China were asked what they felt the key values for optimum child development were. They then identified the sports and athletes they believed to be most effective at teaching these values.

Here are the findings for America and England:

Tonight David Beckham will usher in a new era for American sports as he takes the field in LA Galaxy's first match, a friendly. Beckham, like Woods, transcends his sport to personalize it with everyday folk like you and me. We have to watch to see what all the fuss is about, we are intrigued-and American media...enormous compared to the English media...will do its level best to give him to us in multi-media splendor.

Beckham will be bigger than life in America as a fantastic role model..rivaling Tiger, but will also challenge Tiger's crown as the most marketable sports figure in America. Here's why:

Kids.

Kids love soccer. I realized this when I signed my 4-year old up to play last Fall at the YMCA. I came with his little ball, and little cleats fully expecting to find a handful of kids wandering around picking daisies off the fields.

I was amazed with what I saw.

Of a field of 8 sectioned off "little" soccer areas, 8 kids per team...2 teams per field, for a total of 128 kids-all excited about the game of soccer.

And that was just the 9am gametime. This went on all that day 'till 6pm.

I've never seen that kind of childhood interest on a golf course.


Thanks for reading. Keep it in the short-grass,

JFB

PS: Thanks to my friends at Hill&Nowlton/HSBC for sharing this survey for all MyDailySlice fans.

If you enjoy golf you'll certainly enjoy Ireland
golf tours. There's something magical about taking in the beautiful
Irish countryside while playing the links. Not to mention the
great Ireland
tours that can take up your time off the course. Discover
more about
Ireland and look into Ireland vacations
today.