TheSecretWeapon wrote:FreeBalling wrote:
New leadership at the top is a start, reflecting on the past I've formed my opinion. Maybe deeper pockets, new business management strategy, Achieving sustained quality improvement requires commitment from the entire organization, particularly from top-level management. That's how.
Washington DC is the 7th largest media market, money can be made in this region of the USA with the correct leadership at the top.
Maybe you should be more specific about what Ted would do. Are Ted's pockets any deeper than Abe's? Ted's fortune came from AOL, which has tanked. I don't know where he's generating more income at this point. What new business management strategy should/would Ted implement? Abe's most recent strategy was to hire Ernie and let him run the team. He did things bassackwards by hiring Eddie Jordan first, but that's been corrected -- Flip is Ernie's guy. Abe's roll at this point is to sign checks and recruit free agents when Ernie asks him too. The Wizards at this point are nothing like the cheapskate Clippers, whose owner turns a profit by keeping costs down. Ernie runs a professional operation that's fully funded. Abe has authorized going over the luxury tax threshold. What more can he do to demonstrate his commitment?
Again, what is Ted going to do that's different? They have a very good GM. The GM has a first-rate staff. Tommy Sheppard and Milt Newton have both been finalists for GM openings, both will be GMs at some point. Both are highly respected around the league. They have a well-respected coach who's won at previous NBA stops. They've spent on players and continue working to upgrade the roster. The biggest knock I can bring against the front office is that Ernie doesn't pay as much attention to advanced stat analysis as he could. But, both Tommy and Milt keep up with advanced metrics, and Flip is receptive to stats and advanced tracking.
Seriously, I don't know how the team could demonstrate that they're more committed to winning. But maybe it's just my failing that I can't see what Ted would do to make this team contend for a championship.
Okay, I'll take that one BA. Potential things that Teddy could do:
--'Cuban'-up the facilities even further, compete for buzz league-wide of 'best player treatment, ever'. Including in-house chef/nutritionist for players who want to come and work-out on off days, offseason, etc. Stock the fridge. Give them a reason to be at the facilities instead of anywhere else.
--Recruit best possible Medical team from area professionals (more than relying on family friends). Johns Hopkins, Georgetown. Study Pheonix, study Detroit's trainer, survey league-wide to see what can be done to upgrade facilities/staff/training team/nutritionists, etc.
--Maybe develop player/personnel mentor program for youngsters entering the team system. Team nanny sort of thing, to keep an eye on young talents like Blatche and the KFB and ensure they are able to eat right, balance a checkbook, etc.
--Maybe drop the ducats to build a home-grown D-league that runs the team's system, de facto farm team system, like LA. As is Hershey is to the Caps. Build a team from the local connects in the DC/BMore/MoCo/PG talent-rich area. Allow local college stars/coaches to get run on these top facilities, ditto area trainers like Idan Ravin etc, to develop that homegrown loyalty and a pool of defacto scouts/consultants. Develop promising coaches for the system at the D-League level, as well as athletic talent, ready to graduate. Sponsor area AAU teams.
--Maybe push the league FO to allow rehabbing veterans to play in the D-League in the next CBA, to allow the minor league to get a bit more buzz and interest, and give recuperating plaeyrs run to knock the rust off.
--Recruit a top Big Man coach to work with young frontcourt players. Host a DC-based Big Man camp/skills camp on the Wiz campus.
--Schmooze, work the PR on local media to drive up the profile of the team as a hometown option.
Reach out to directly connect with fans and develop brand loyalty. One thing that Teddy can do that Abe really can't: change the team name maybe.
--Re-vamp the tired in-game entertainment to develop a real area flavor, hometown loyalty. Better food, better music, live bands pre- and postgame to encourage early arrivals and discourage early exiters.
These things begin to turn the PR profile of the team league-wide. Lazy media outlets don't get to fall back on the same old cheap easy stories ('Bullets=Washington Generals, ha ha ha') instead get to run 'New Era Wizards' stories, new directions. Teddy is a master schmoozer, giving great sound bites, basically writing the story for league heads to run features on the 'new' direction the team is taking. Free agents listen to the buzz, listen to current Wiz players and train in the team facilities in the offseason to get a taste.
I got a billion idears, some will work, some might not. But as of right now there lacks a certain energy, even in a winning year. I get tired of the DC crowd that thinks it's more important to talk on the cell phone than to lose your head on behalf of the home team, ushers who ask to see your ticket if you cheer too loud for a white-collar section (true story). I'd allow halftime-upgrades if the lower seats are empty, find the guys in the top rows who are making the most positive noise and bring them down to the higher-dollar sections where their enthusiasm can do some good.
The caps crowd is a different demographic, true, but they know how to lose their perspective. Ditto the local college teams. If we have to seed the crowd with people who know how to get ridiculous, fine. You can have superfan contests to win season tickets for you and a couple loud friends. Hecklers row, free tickets for local comedians, behind the opponent bench. Professional Fickers, provided they're funny and basically PG-13.
And in general provide a receptive ear to one of the more insightful and intelligent fanbases that's out there. (Pats self on back). These are the sorts of things that Teddy Dotcom is best at, listening to people to collect new ideas. Tougher to do for a guy like Abe, or Ernie. Not impossible, just easier to do eventually when you have a new guy coming in looking for fresh ideas.
Whatever ideas I have, still, I love old Abe. Love his loyalty, to his team, his City. I wish him good health. I certainly don't resent him as an owner, he does the best he knows how. He has said he won't sell his team until he gets a championship, and like everybody else in Wizfandom, truly, I hope he gets his wish.
