It took five months, but the New York Rangers finally got their man.

The team originally tried to pry Rick Nash away from the Columbus Blue Jackets at last season’s trade deadline so he could help with a playoff run. They didn’t succeed with either.

Not until last summer was this talented young scorer dealt to New York, and the deal was a steal. The Rangers did not give up any core young talent, nor did the acquisition affect the team’s salary structure.

During his first season with the Rangers, Nash has delivered with goals, assists, crisp passing, defense and with some nifty moves with the puck. Unfortunately, other aspects of the team’s play were lacking as the team struggled to reclaim its dominant play of the previous season.

Looking back to when the Nash acquisition was first discussed between the Rangers and Blue Jackets, no one at the time was sure it would occur. The package of players offered by the Rangers had been rejected by Columbus. Neither side budged.

When Nash finally became a member of the Rangers during the off-season, the player package going in the other direction involved the same names that had been discussed earlier. The Rangers refused to sweeten the offer. Columbus relented when it realized that the Rangers’ offer for Nash could not be matched by any other team.

Frequently, sports teams and businesses will jump too quickly at an opportunity for fear of losing leverage or anticipating that a deal may collapse. When this occurs, the payment, in hindsight, often is found to be too expensive. Resources may become depleted, or the return on the investment may be diminished.

In this case with the Rangers, and in all matters involving business and personal decisions, patience is the key to turning a successful deal.

Jim

Leo Schor recently earned a medal in a ski race. But, that’s not news to his family, because Leo has medaled in many other competitions.

Skiing is just natural for Leo. His parents first met on Mount Snow. Leo started skiing before he was two years old, and he has been on many New York slopes and even those in Utah. He still has a lot more to experience and accomplish, and he has the time. Leo just turned 13.

His most recent medal was bronze and he won it in the skiercross division during the Empire State Winter Games in Lake Placid. The medal odds were against him. A crash during a trial-run cost him the option to choose his starting position for the four-at-a-time, side-by-side races that included several jumps. Plus, his very first skiercross competition came only two weeks earlier.

But, Leo Schor certainly doesn’t lack the confidence in his ability. His goal was just to get on the podium. He’s done it before, he did it at Lake Placid and he will do it many more times. Leo just might be a name to remember for the 2018 Winter Olympics in Korea.

The Lake Placid competition involved 1,140 athletes of different ages across more than 10 different winter sports activities. The names of the participants mostly are unknown except to their small circles of family, friends, coaches and competitors. But, don’t be surprised when, within the next few years, you learn that a couple of rising young athletes competed in the 2014 Empire State Winter Games.

It is good to see that so many of our young people have the drive to compete. It also is refreshing and encouraging to learn that many of them already have confidence in their game.

Jim

The New York Rangers have a state-of-the-art practice facility in Greenburgh in Westchester County. Before that, their home was at the Playland Ice Casino in Rye. Even earlier, they skated at the Long Beach Arena on Long Island.

The latter two rinks were badly damaged by Hurricane Sandy last October, and both have been closed all this time. The Rangers, always supportive of the New York community and hockey fans, recently went on the power play to help with repairs to get these rinks back to full strength.

“New York Rangers Assist” is a new Rangers program supported by Chase Bank, one of the team’s major sponsors. It was designed, according to the team, “to improve the youth hockey experience and increase opportunities and accessibility to hockey.” The first task for the program is to refurbish these rinks that cater to a high volume of youth, high school and college hockey.

Playland will receive a new refrigeration system and roof, plus structural repairs. The rink should be ready after the summer. While a timetable has not been set for Long Beach, repairs will include a new refrigeration system, new ice and flooring, a new ice resurfacing machine and electrical repairs.

The Rangers had practiced at the Long Beach Arena and other Long Island rinks before they surrendered the territory to the expansion New York Islanders. The Rangers then practiced and trained at Playland from 1979 until they moved to Greenburgh during 2002.

For years, the Rangers organization—the executives and other employees, the players and former players—have embraced New York from Manhattan to Long Island and now throughout Westchester. They regularly participate in the Madison Square Garden Company’s Garden of Dreams program for children facing health and other obstacles. They also are involved with many other local charities and they still find time to skate with fans in Bryant Park and Central Park.

The thrill associated with the new Rangers Assist game plan for youth hockey is similar to netting a game-winning goal. It is another great example of the impact that a business and its employees can have within a community.

Jim

Despite losing January’s college football championship game and then weathering the non-existent girlfriend episode involving one of its players, the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame remain popular around the country and around the world.

From my corner of the globe, Notre Dame is New York City’s college football team. Other teams are followed by fans here, and that includes Syracuse and Rutgers. But, New York, especially Catholic New York, mostly cheers for Notre Dame.

Two years ago, when the Irish came to town to renew its old-time rivalry with Army at the new Yankee Stadium, more than 54,000 fans attended the game. Notre Dame also turned the city into a huge college town. No other college football team ever has overtaken New York City in this manner. Even Lincoln Center was transformed into a college quad for a pep rally.

Notre Dame’s connection to New York is an old relationship steeped in tradition that rallies around the religious and ethnic composition of the immigrant city. When a large population of working class immigrants, then the sons and daughters of these immigrants, and then the next generation of sons and daughters look at the Notre Dame roster, they see a lot of similar Irish, Italian, German and other ethnic names. These fans, generation after generation, have cheered for Notre Dame at the old and now new Yankee Stadium, at Ebbets Field and at the Polo Grounds. Over the years, they have earned a nickname – Notre Dame’s “subway alumni.”

A relationship with alumni, whether actual graduates or those who are adopted, is just as important in business as it is in college sports. Many on our team at the Whitmore Group enjoy relationships through athletics (lacrosse and football), through the high schools of New York City and Long Island, and from colleges such as Hofstra University.

Never underestimate past associations, common beginnings, or other connections on and off the field. In many ways, we can connect as “alumni” beyond our days in school.

Jim

I doubt that you have heard about Emilie Buse. Allow me to share her wonderful success with you.

Emilie played soccer as a youngster and then she starred at SUNY Purchase. As a freshman, she led the Panthers to the North East Atlantic Conference title and she was named tournament MVP. Then, Purchase College moved into the Skyline Conference, and Emilie was selected as first team All-Conference one season and second team All-Conference during another season.

Emilie also has enjoyed the game as a referee, and she was named the Capital District Youth Soccer League’s young female referee for 2007. She also has officiated in the East Hudson Youth Soccer League, for the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association State Cup finals and for the Region 1 finals.

In the Eastern New York State Senior Association, Emilie has officiated in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League and the Eastern District Soccer League. She also has worked games in the Premier Development League and has three FIFA international games to her credit.

Earlier this year, this Westchester County resident received the Jose Vargas Award as the 2012 Eastern New York soccer referee of the year. The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association stretches from Montauk Point to the Canadian border, and it includes 123,000 players.

Emilie Buse certainly has an impressive resume, and she is just 24-years-old.

Emilie’s success can be attributed to her talent, her commitment to the game she enjoys, and her willingness to continue to learn and improve to achieve her goals. The keen eye of just one soccer official helped her along the way and opened a door or two that led to new opportunities for her. Today, she continues to open new doors in an exciting soccer career.

I, too, scout for new talent. Sometimes a name is shared with me, and at other times I receive a good vibe about a person I have met during a business or casual meeting, or even at a social function. I enjoy helping our young adults get started. By opening a door for them to step through, I can place them on their journey to career success.

I am always looking for rising stars just like Emilie. Contact me if you know of one with potential.

Jim

On his 20th birthday, Johnny Manziel accepted the Davey O’Brien Award as the nation’s top college quarterback. A couple of nights later, he again stepped into the spotlight to accept the 78th Heisman Trophy as college football’s top player.

Popularly known as “Johnny Football,” Manziel became the first freshman to win the award. His 4,600 total yards were more than the recent Heisman winners Cam Newton and Tim Tebow.

“Being able to break that barrier, it’s such an honor,” he said. “It’s so humbling for me to be the first freshman to win and really make history. I can’t explain it. It’s just truly so awesome, something I’m so pumped about.”

Manziel’s rise in stature in both football and life has been quick. He emerged just a few months ago after having struggled during spring practice. His coach called him careless with the football. His father called him immature. Then, he was arrested after a fight outside a bar when he provided the police with a doctored ID.

He matured quickly. He realized his mistakes on and off the field, and he learned from them to capture two highly-prized college sports awards. Manziel said the Heisman will serve as his motivation. He admits that he still has much to learn.

Thousands of eyes now are watching Johnny Manziel. People are wondering what he will do for an encore. Will he continue to impress as he builds upon his success? Or, will he fade quickly and possibly miss a lucrative professional football career?

For the rest of us, it does not matter if the path we have chosen involves sports, or business, or some other passion. We always have much to learn. Previous success should serve each of us as personal motivation to capture that next honor or win a new account.

While thousands of eyes won’t be watching us, we still must continue to impress others. With each personal encore, you and I will ensure that we remain in the spotlight.

Jim

It’s not easy to be a fan of the New York Mets.  R.A. Dickey understands this, and he wrote about his appreciation for the fans in a column for the New York Daily News soon after he received the National League Cy Young Award.

“It’s not always easy being a loyal supporter when a team is going through a rough stretch,” he wrote. “But to all of you Mets fans, to be a recipient of your support and passion has been one of the greatest thrills of my baseball life.”

A lot of comments that are said or written by or about pro athletes usually are not genuine. But the words from Dickey always are straight forward and honest. He is a truth-teller about his team, his performance and his life. He also is committed to helping others and he is devoted to his Christian faith.

Dickey climbed Mount Kilimanjaro to help raise money and awareness for the Bombay Teen Challenge, which rescues young girls in Mumbai, India, from abuse and sexual exploitation. In his recent book, he revealed that he was sexually abused as a child and he explained his feelings of despair, loneliness and isolation. He also mentioned his mistakes, but he also wrote about redemption and hope, and his love for his mother, his wife (who stuck by him through a sputtering baseball career) and his God.

“I was tired of hiding,” he wrote in his book. “I needed for the public person and the private person to be the same. I needed to be authentic—to be completely honest before God.”

While it may not be easy to be a fan of the New York Mets right now, it is easy to understand why so many of them are personal fans of R.A. Dickey. He appreciates everything and everyone, and he repays the success he has enjoyed by supporting others.

This season, R.A. Dickey will not play for the Mets, having been traded to the Toronto Blue Jays. We all wish him continued success and we thank him for sharing himself with New York.

We all know the line uttered by Hamlet, as written by William Shakespeare—“This above all: to thine own self be true; and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.” More of our athletes need to follow in the steps of Hamlet and Dickey. So do more of our politicians and business leaders.

Jim

A couple of months ago, as The Ohio State Buckeyes were preparing for the biggest game of the football season against Nebraska, Ohio’s third-string freshman quarterback posted a tweet that received more attention than the game.

“Why should we have to go to class if we came here to play FOOTBALL,” read the message, “we ain’t come to play SCHOOL classes are POINTLESS.”

Someone with the team or the university quickly deleted the tweet and closed the player’s Twitter account. However, since media coverage and messaging now are instantaneous, multiple media outlets already had seen the tweet. The message quickly became national news.

One sports/entertainment media outlet concluded that the tweet was “a childish and harmless act.” It was childish, but it certainly was not harmless.

Any athlete, especially one who competes on a high school, college, or pro level, must understand that the scrutiny level is high. The “no tolerance” rules that govern fighting, sportsmanship and off-the-field behavior also oversee proper use of social media. Any comment on social media can reflect poorly on a player, for a team and for a school.

After the tweet by the Ohio State athlete, OSU distributed a statement that explained the university’s social media policy:

“We allow our student-athletes the opportunity to express themselves via the social mediums,” read the statement. “What we do ask of them and communicate to them is the importance of being respectful, appropriate and aware that their communications can impact many people. We remind [our student athletes] that others may have different views and opinions on what may and may not be appropriate, so always remember not to post or tweet anything that could embarrass themselves, their team, teammates, the university, their family or other groups, organizations or people.”

The student tweeter received a one-game suspension. For him, no doubt, this was a teachable moment and a lesson learned.

On the business side, a poor, misguided, or even a malicious posting on social media can severely damage the reputation of a company. If your company does not have a mandatory social media policy for employees, seriously consider creating one immediately. You can not afford the risk of an errant comment going viral and damaging your business, your reputation and your relationship with your customers.

If you would like assistance in developing a social media policy, my team at the Whitmore Group is here to get your started.

Jim

In a few days, the Baseball Hall of Fame will announce the 2013 class of inductees. The vote is conducted by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. As in recent years, the media will have the honor of selecting, or not selecting, players who have tainted the game during the steroid era.

Baseball seems to have addressed the on-the-field issue of substance enhancement with its current drug testing program. However, some of the players suspected of enhancing their game over the last 25 years, and who broke cherished records during that time, now are beginning to appear on the Hall of Fame ballot.

Six years ago, Mark McGwire, who is suspected of steroid use, became eligible for Cooperstown. He never has received more than 24 percent of the vote (a player must appear on 75 percent of the ballots). Last year, he received just 19.5 percent. Baseball purists are concerned that McGwire continues to receive votes during each year of eligibility, and they are worried that other alleged substance abusers, as they are placed on the ballot, could receive enough votes to be enshrined with baseball’s immortals.

The 2013 ballot is a litmus test. For the first time, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Sammy Sosa—all alleged users of steroids—are eligible for the Hall of Fame. Will the same 19.5 – 24 percent who voted for McGwire also vote for these three players who set big records with their big muscles? Could more writers be swayed to vote for them? Could too many voters find excuses to open the doors to Cooperstown for these players?

Some writers believe that they should vote for players based solely on their accomplishments on the field. If, at a later time, a determination is made beyond a doubt that a player used illegal substances to enhance performance, then that player can be stripped of the honor. Many other writers refuse to vote for any player suspected of using steroids even when the proof is lacking.

All of this can be very confusing and frustrating for fans. It is the same for some of the voters, too. But, actually, there may be a better way for writers to judge and to vote.

The ballot sent to voters each year includes this statement: “Voting shall be based upon the player’s record, playing ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character and contribution to the team(s) on which the player played.”

One-half of the decision process includes the words “integrity,” “sportsmanship” and “character.” So, voting a player into Cooperstown should be no different than accepting a person as a member of a prestigious business organization or private club, or hiring a person to be part of a company. Besides accomplishments and talent, it is important to measure a person’s integrity, character and the ability to perform as a member of a team.

At the Whitmore Group, we place “integrity,” “sportsmanship” and “character” on the top of our list. With this foundation, we then help each employee develop or broaden his or her talents to benefit our entire team.

Jim

More youth sports teams are focusing on sportsmanship rather than winning games and championships. Managers, coaches, parents and the leagues realize that this has its own rewards.

I recently learned about two teams from New York that stress sportsmanship. The Sand Gnats is a little league minors division baseball team from White Plains and the Putnam Valley Tigers is an under-12 girls soccer team.

The manager of the Sand Gnats is a pastor.

“When [the pastor] informed me that my son…would be on his baseball team, I knew the focus would be about character and not about winning,” said one parent to a reporter at a local newspaper.

An example of the pastor’s teaching of sportsmanship occurred when he responded to over-zealous cheering by his players during a game. He walked to the bench and told the players that they should not make the other team feel bad, and then he said that if it continued he would forfeit the game.

From this once incident, a player later said that he learned the importance of always showing kindness. He said that it is easy to be kind when thought is given to actions and having the knowledge that words can affect others.

For the record, the team won every game, including the championship. But all the players were more satisfied that they played their games the right way—with kindness and respect for other teams.

A little farther north, the girls won the East Hudson Youth Soccer League Division 2 title. But winning was secondary for them.

“What makes this team extra special is the true sportsmanship, commitment, encouragement and love they have for each other,” said a parent about the girls on the team. “Through the good, they would laugh, jump, smile and cheer with joy. Through the bad, they would embrace one another, smile, and say, ‘It’s OK, we gave it our all.’ If one was hurt, all were hurt.”

In sports, when only winning or personal success are the end game, sometimes the biggest reward is lost—self-respect and the respect for others. The same is true in business. Whether you work with an internal team or collaborate with outside partners, mutual respect always is a winning formula that delivers rewards.

Jim