When I first started my blog back in 2009, I wrote an article on the economic rationale (or lack of) with regard to NYC’s new baseball stadiums being built at that time. Now, exactly two years later, I’d like to share with all of you again the contents of that blog which today – has come full circle…

Archived from EJ’s blog on Thursday, March 5th, 2009
Even if the economy was booming today, do the owners of these sports teams have a clue as to how to market to their hometown fans? I mean, let’s get real…In New York for instance, there are two new baseball stadiums being built right now a mere stone throw away from their existing ones and let me tell you, they may initially get some good crowds to fill them, but after the newness wears off in about a month or so, these stadiums will be hard to fill.

Here’s a tip to all owners of any sports team: if you want to increase your fan base, stop paying these ballplayers millions of dollars to merely show up. Hire the ballplayers who want to come to work everyday (playing) and who want to achieve with a great attitude and passion for their respective game. Have the ballplayers interact with the fan base, and with the children every game like the old days and then maybe, maybe, you’ll get the loyalty from fans that you are so desperately seeking.

As a motivational expert that deals with people’s lifestyles and habits, I like to get a pulse as to the mood, energy and mindset of people of all walks of life to help me better professionally as well as personally. I like to get into what I call the “trenches” with everyday real New Yorkers, riding the subways, taking cabs and observing how people are dealing with their challenges on a day to day basis. Part of this process is walking to and from appointments on the streets of Manhattan, NY.

It’s hard to ignore how nearly everyone I pass on the sidewalks is walking with their heads down these days… I remember not too long ago that on Thursday evenings around 7 pm or later that there was so much traffic along with the streets buzzing with people out on the streets that you couldn’t get a cab going downtown on the Eastside for maybe 10 minutes – and these days, not only is there no one on the streets, you can grab a cab within a minute or so and the energy and buzz is definitely absent from the city…

As I say hello to strangers while walking, some say hello back and some look at me as if I’m from Mars with a scowled look, bewildered as to why I would even dare say hi to them as they scuffle and wander down the street into oblivion. Sometimes I get lucky though and am able to engage in conversation with some small talk about the weather or the traffic (or lack of).
Conversely, I take the Metro-North train from Connecticut into Grand Central Station a few days a week and I find the exact opposite to be true…Most people I say hello to are friendly and want to engage in conversation, morning, day or night. Perhaps it’s because they too are so starved to have the opportunity to speak to someone who actually responds to them or maybe it’s because we have become so high tech-oriented that we have lost the ability to communicate through speaking. Whatever the reason, humans have a deep-rooted desire to have close, intimate and meaningful contact with others in this high stressed world we now live in…

However, the common denominator I have found to be consistent is that most of the people who I speak to are fit and, most of the people who don’t want to speak to me or anyone for that matter, are unfit. A coincidence, I think not…

Being fit not only helps to combat mood swings and depression, it also gives us that edge that is sorely needed these days. Exercise is the best medication and the only prescription you don’t need from a doctor, so if you’re not moving and moving properly and consistently, get going and maybe you too will start to see what’s in front of you and walk with your head held high while you’re walking and get back that zest for life!