In theory , the spectator plaza is a wonderful idea. It draws fans that are going to the Alumni game on December 31st and the Winter Classic to the ballpark early.  It has a “fan fest” type feel with games, autograph sessions, etc. Then I looked closer and saw that the plaza closes at 1pm on January 2nd.  The Winter Classic game starts at 1pm.  If you’re going to the game or not interested in the game at all , you probably think, “So what?”.  Let me explain, in my opinion, what the problem is. I’ll start with a little back story.

In 2003, the Montreal Canadiens played the Edmonton Oilers in the first “Heritage Classic.” I said to myself, “If the Rangers were to ever play in something like this…I am there!” Fast forward almost 10 years later and there’s an announcement prior to the 2011-2012 NHL season that the Rangers will be facing the Flyers in Philadelphia. Finally! My Rangers will be playing in the Winter Classic!

As soon as I heard this news, I started to have serious talks with my friend Megan about taking her son to the game. Much to our dismay, we soon discovered it will be nearly impossible to get tickets for face value and tickets on the secondary market are about half a month’s rent. Sadly, I just can’t afford to go. We have spoken about tailgating with friends and then going somewhere to watch the game in the city, as well as entering every contest possible to win tickets.

Today, I read about the NHL’s planned Winter Classic Spectator Plaza. GREAT! Maybe we could actually tailgate with friends and then stick around for the game itself and watch from outside the ballpark.  One would think that an area called a “Spectator Plaza” would include a viewing area for the game itself. Unfortunately and surprisingly, this is not the case.  The plaza closes right before the game begins.

Closing the spectator plaza when the game starts represents a huge missed opportunity for the NHL both in terms of potential revenues and development of fan goodwill.  I visited Italy during the 2006 World Cup.  In every city, piazzas had screens set up where the public could go and view the matches.  It was a fabulous idea and a fun way to watch matches.

Here’s an idea for the NHL. Rope off an area, set up high tops (tables), move some concessions over, charge $20 and let people watch the game right outside the ballpark. Don’t want to do that? Ok, just set up a screen and let people watch for free.  There are people who would do that (i.e., me, and many other hockey fans). I believe the NHL is really missing a great marketing opportunity.  Want to make hockey more accessible to the masses?  Here’s your chance!  Show the game on the big screen and have alumni out during the intermission to chat with fans. A Q&A with fans could be a huge success.  This can’t be a logistical issue, since security and vendors are already in place.

I am sure there are people reading this saying, what if it’s 20 below? What if it’s snowing?  Here’s my answer. If people are willing to go to the game and deal with the elements, why wouldn’t they stand outside and deal with the same elements? I would. I know many other fans that would. Oh, and NHL…those fans would also then purchase additional merchandise.

This could be a tremendous opportunity.  The NHL is missing the point.

Let’s see…since I last blogged I moved out of Hoboken, New Jersey and back into Manhattan (WOOHOO!).  Still do not have a full time job, but I am working on an exciting project called the Mystic Writers Conference, you can learn a little more about it here.

Remember that photo I took back in May?  Nope…not one of Mariano Rivera…or Derek Jeter…the one of the Space Shuttle Endeavour…ahh…now you remember.  Well anyway, I found out earlier today that Twitter has named one of the tweets I sent including the photo, as the #6 top tweet of 2011 and showcased me in a @TwitterStories.  I am going to have some more exciting news about the photo…but not ready to announce it just yet.  I did, however, enter the photo in National Geographic’s 2011 photo contest….I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I win.  Wouldn’t mind winning $10,000 for a photo I took on my iPhone!

So hopefully soon I’ll have some semblance of exciting news…for now feel free to take a look at photos I have taken, and posted on Flickr (although I have not posted some Yankees photos I took at the end of the season…maybe this weekend)!

December 7th Update:  Time has chosen my photo as the #9 photo of the year!

Thank you for being there for me when I have needed you the past few months (or in some cases years).  For listening to me.  For giving me advice.  For keeping your thoughts to yourselves.  For telling me what I needed to hear, even when I didn’t want to.  For being a shoulder to cry on.  And especially for providing me with a laugh or two when you knew I needed one.

I don’t know what I did to deserve such amazing friends.

I know I don’t say it nearly enough, but you all mean the world to me.

So again…THANK YOU!

Three months since I walked into an office. Three months since I felt needed in a professional aspect.

The first month I was relieved to not work for my old employer anymore. I felt like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I was able to sleep through the night again.

Then I went to Florida to visit my parents and took that photo. Once I was able to sit down and take in what was happening I was hoping that the popularity of the photo would help my job search. It has not.

June came and went, mostly because I was busy the whole month with pre-planned activities. Now we’re into July and entering the third month of looking for full-time employment. I have applied to countless jobs, have been on interviews, and have heard too many times: “Thanks but, no thanks.” “You have a great background, but not exactly what we’re looking for.” “What a fabulous resume.” “You should have no problems finding a job.” “We’ll keep your resume on file.”

I have a specialized background and that makes the job search harder, but I think that just makes everything more frustrating also. There are jobs out there, I am applying to them, companies just don’t seem to want me. I have expanded my search, I have even applied for jobs in Canada and almost applied for a position last night in Australia. I have contacted recruiters. I have blogged about what I know would be my perfect job. Last month I even created a website with my resume on it: www.hirestef.com, I have tweeted the link countlessly. Nothing….

Besides continuing to do the same thing I have done almost everyday since I lost my job back in April, I don’t know what else to do.

I lost my job three months ago today…but it feels like much longer…

After landing and while waiting for my suitcase at baggage claim I checked into the airport on Foursquare and then I tweeted “Three things about my flight: I can lay down across 3 seats just fine, it was freezing & I got to see this.” I included the following photo:

Space Shuttle Endeavor from Delta flight 2285

Next thing I knew I had to turn off my Echofon mentions on my phone because my phone wouldn’t stop vibrating. Turns out the picture above and the photo below had gone viral!

What has happened over the last few days has been, for lack of better words, crazy and overwhelming. My picture has been tweeted by @BreakingNews, @NASA, @WeatherChannel and @JimCantore (of the weather channel), just to mention a few and now my 2 tweeted photos have been viewed almost 800,000 times!

I have been interviewed by (please forgive me if I missed one):

MSNBC
AP
CBS (New York, West Palm Beach and National)
ABC (Miami, West Palm Beach and National)
Star Ledger
MJ Morning Show (Syndicated)
NPR
Palm Beach Post
St Petersburg Times
Washington Post (the photo immediately above ran in the Tuesday print edition)
Time
Mashable

And possibly the coolest thing…Brian Williams from NBC blogged about me!!

I know there are other blog posts and articles about the photos and me, but I can’t list them all. I suggest you just Google my name if you really care that much. A cousin of mine posted on my Facebook page that she had and suggested I do the same. All I did was type in “Stefanie” and my last name was the first name to pop up! I was above Stefanie Powers (I spell my name with an F because of her, my Dad liked the spelling).

I’m not going to go into anymore details because, well…you’ve probably already read them in any of the above pieces or saw the interviews on TV or read my tweets.

If you didn’t know all of this, you must have been living under a rock!

Suddenly my Twitter following has gone from just about 1,800 on Monday morning to over 5,400 as I type this on Wednesday night. I had intended to write this blog post Tuesday morning but because of interviews all day Monday and Tuesday and then spending the day with my mom for her birthday today, I find myself finally getting around to finishing my side of the story.

This whole viral situation has completely caught me off guard. I never thought anything of the magnitude my photo would have when I sent an innocent tweet moments after I landed in West Palm Beach. I am still in shock about it all. Will this lead to bigger and better things? Well as someone who is currently seeking full time employment….I hope so. As a matter of fact my Twitter friend @Metsgrrl suggested I tweet that I’m looking for a new job and to post my Linkedin profile. So that’s exactly what I did!

Anyone want to hire me??? http://linkd.in/mn8QWe #jobs #sportsbiz #worldfamousiphonephotographer—
Stefanie Gordon (@Stefmara) May 16, 2011

So far nothing solid has come though, but there are a few possibilities out there.

If you have found my blog because you clicked on a link in an article about me, or on my twitter page, HI! Thanks for reading. I tweet mainly about sports, and only once in a while about Space Shuttle launches. I take pictures of everything from Yankees games, to crazy clothes I see in stores, to random amazing things I see while walking around cities such as Manhattan. Photography is a hobby. I blog mainly about my experiences in life, sporting events I attend, or sports in general. I don’t blog just to blog. I blog because I have something to say and I think one or two people might want to read about it.

Monday morning I boarded a plane for a week of relaxing, sending out resumes and most importantly, to celebrate my mom’s birthday in Florida. Monday afternoon I became an instant “15 minute celebrity” for a few pictures I took with my phone.

As baseball fans we all know about the “Fan Cave” and that on Opening Day they had a Victoria Secret model answering fans baseball questions.  Yes, this was to cross promote with the VS Pink/MLB line of clothing.  However, this and the idea of the Fan Cave…or Man Cave if you will, caused an uproar amongst female baseball fans almost everywhere. Caryn over at Metsgrrl.com wrote a great piece before the season started about the Fan Cave as did many other female bloggers.

Last month I received an email from Steiner Sports, more specifically from the owner of Steiner Sports, Brandon Steiner.  The email was promoting meeting the Manning brothers, Eli and Peyton for charity.  Mr. Steiner was having  a fundraiser for a girls home.  Part of the email read:

Imagine giving this gift to your son, your nephew, your grandson, or just someone you care about….

As a football fan I thought, why does this have to be a gift for only males?  In my disgust I wrote the following correspondence to Mr. Steiner:

Mr. Steiner,

As a female sports fan I am disheartened by the email I just received.  Why does this gift have to only be focused on being for a son, nephew or grandson?  I am a football fan, more specifically I am a Giants fan.  While I cannot afford to donate to your fundraiser, I am disgusted that it seems you think only males will appreciate this opportunity.  I am a Yankees season ticket holder, the account is in my name…not a male’s.  I have
purchased from Steiner for ME, not only for my dad or my brother or a male friend.

Your fundraiser is for a GIRLS home…yet you only think only males would enjoy meeting Peyton or Eli?  I would appreciate if you somehow acknowledged that your email below was extremely short sighted.

Shortly after I sent the email I received an email from an employee of Steiner Sports with an apology from Mr. Steiner and an invitation to the signing, which unfortunately I cannot attend.

Most recently, as I was checking my email this morning, I read my daily media industry e-newsletter from Cynopsis.com.  Under “Sponsorship & Promotion” header was:

SportsNet New York is undergoing a rebrand, and launching a new series of ads under the banner “More Sports. More Testosterone.” The concept was conceived by Ogilvy & Mather New York to promote the networks extensive coverage of the total New York sports scene and features a series of ads that depict the positive impact watching sports has on a man’s testosterone levels. One ad focuses on how it has a positive impact on a man’s libido while another hones in on muscle development. The channel’s previous campaign touted “NY NY Sports Sports.”

I read this a few times to make sure I was reading it correctly and then thought, and tweeted, “Are you kidding me?!” after the new tagline.  As a Yankees fan I admit, I rarely watch SNY, but in the times that I have, I have only once seen a woman on camera representing the network and that’s for their show “Beer Money”.  So of course SNY would think that only guys watch sports right?  Notice to SNY: You are wrong!

I know that it is thanks to my father and grandfathers, not my mom or my grandmothers, that I am the sports fan I am today. Also thanks to my dad and grandfathers I know how to read a fly ball, know that the 1927 Yankees is the best team in the history of baseball, know what icing the puck means and I don’t ask “what inning is it?” at a hockey game… side-note: a girl actually asked me that at my brother’s high school ice game and it is still a joke between my dad and I 20 years later.
However, if the day ever comes that I have a daughter, I will be the one to teach her the things I know about sports.

There are teams and leagues that have embraced their female fans as a knowledgeable base and not just pink wearing, I’m going to the game with my boyfriend/husband/guy or sports groupies.  It’s time for all sports entities to acknowledge that there is a large fan base of women that will only wear their team colors, that don’t want rhinestones and hearts on their sports clothing and most importantly….know more about what is going on on the playing surface than many men.

We last took our annual trip in 2007 as my previous job had prevented me from traveling during much of February and March the past few years.  Last month I traveled to Tampa for two Spring Training games.  Dad stayed on the east coast of the state and I took in a few games with friends.  These games were my first Yankees Spring Training games in over 10 years, as Dad and I would go the week position players reported.  Nothing like four hours a day of batting practice and fielding drills to get you pumped for a season…seriously!

My first game was in Dunedin where the Toronto Blue Jays were hosting the Yankees.  As I was driving to the ballpark, I looked at my GPS and saw I was less that half a mile away.  I asked my friend Alison, “Where was the ballpark?  We’re in the middle of a neighborhood!”  That’s right, Florida Auto Exchange Stadium is neighbors with a library and Mr. & Mrs. Jones.  One could say it is a charming ballpark.  It is everything you would expect from a minor league park.  The ballpark holds just over 5,000 fans, has a chain-link fence around the field and features a pretty simple scoreboard. The field and bullpens are very accessible to the fans. I even got Andruw Jones to sign a baseball for me during batting practice!

Neighborhood sign less than a mile from the Blue Jays Spring Training Complex

Eric Chavez during Batting Practice with the basic scoreboard behind him. Photo taken from my seat.

Fans hang out on the fence as Sergio Mitre warms up to enter the game

During the game, much like a minor league game, a MC was in the crowd.  There were contests for the loudest section, giveaways to various restaurants in the area and a gentleman in my section won a free case of Bud Light.  I only wish I could remember why!  Throughout the concession area the line ups were posted, a silent auction was being held with signed memorabilia for a local charity (I bid on a Curtis Granderson ball…someone outbid me.  Maybe next time.), there was also an area called the “Canadian Grill”.  I didn’t see anything different in the Canadian Grill that you couldn’t get at and of the other concessions.  Maybe it was just a place, in the shade, our friends from North of the Border could feel comfortable?

Line-ups

List in the Blue Jays program of how to pronounce Yankees names. I hope that Jeter kids makes the team... *

The next day I was on my way to George M. Steinbrenner Field (GMS Field), formally known as Legends Field, to see the Yankees yet again take on the Toronto Blue Jays.  Since I had been to this ballpark before I knew what to expect. GMS Field is the exact opposite of Florida Auto Exchange Stadium, it holds about 4,000 more fans, is surrounded by a community college, car dealerships and Raymond James Stadium (home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and my University of South Florida Bulls football teams). GMS Field is also on a major roadway.

GMS Field feels like you’re walking into a mini Yankee Stadium, which of course was done on purpose, even the dimensions of the field are the same as in the Bronx.  Much like during the regular season in the Bronx, only fans with field level seats were permitted down to the field inside the bases during batting practice, Paul Olden was the in-house announcer, in-between innings there wasn’t an MC giving away free beer, but there was the great New York Subway Race and Who’s That Baby Bomber?.

View from the outfield patio at GMS Field.

I was able to move around pretty easily along the inner concourse during the game.  Except for the patio area, I was not able to stop and watch a few pitches before a security guard told me I needed to move on.  Below are some photos I was able to take while wandering around:

Under the stands bullpen.

Mark Prior warming up under the stands.

Mariano Rivera in the bullpen which is down the right field line

Alex Rodriguez taking a pitch

Overall the experience between the two games was night and day.  I viewed the game in Tampa as a warm up for the season for everyone, not just the players.  I have never been to a game in Toronto, so I cannot compare the Spring Training and regular season game experience like I was able to for the Yankees.  I do however, have a feeling that what I saw in Dunedin is not what you get in Toronto.  As much as I love the Yankees and their tradition, I think I enjoyed the overall atmosphere of the game in Dunedin.

Next year I hope to travel to more Spring Training parks around Florida and hopefully one day make good on the promise to myself to travel to Arizona for Cactus League Spring Training.  After all, there is no such thing as too much baseball.

Photo credit: *Alison Faye Johnson.  All others: Stefanie Gordon

In the past I have looked forward to weddings as a time to see friends I don’t normally get to see.  Especially with this group since we live all over the country and have not all been together at the same time in five years…since another wedding.  This wedding will be bittersweet.

Although I am looking forward to spending the weekend with my friends I can’t help but feel a little upset too.  You see we all always thought the friend that is getting married would be the last one to do so, if ever.  Well, that title has now been bestowed upon me. Something I never thought would happen.  For the most part I have been friends with this group since high school we are up to about 19…that’s a lot of weddings.

When I received the save the date card it was addressed to me and guest.  Of course I laughed it off because I didn’t have anyone in my life at that point.  I later found out that my friends were inviting everyone with dates.  Which of course is a wonderful and uncommon gesture considering how expensive weddings are.  My friend Alison said “You have plenty of time to find a date.”  I laughed again knowing my history.  I also decided that with this group of friends I wouldn’t bring just anyone.  He would need to be special.

Days, weeks and months passed, dates happened, guys came in and out of my life, some for longer times than others.  The invitation came in the mail a few weeks ago, tomorrow I get to send the response card back without a “guest” to take.  I keep telling myself that I’m ok with this.  That it doesn’t matter.  That I will get to spend a great weekend with some of my closest friends and not have to worry about them bombarding a guy with a thousand questions.  That since I have known most of the husbands longer than they’ve known their wives, I can steal them for a dance or two.

The truth is, I hate the fact that I will be going to the wedding without a guest/boyfriend/someone special.  No, I wouldn’t bring someone just to bring a date.  These friends mean too much to me and I never feel like a third wheel around any of them.  However, I would prefer to be caring enough about someone to want to introduce them to these friends.  Well, my friend’s son’s Bar Mitzvah is only a few years away…

Many cultural influences are generational whether it be music, clothes or television shows.  Sports, however, brings generations together.  My grandfathers and father forged a stronger bond when they taught me about sports.  When I look around the stadiums I visit, I see parents and grandparents teaching their children about the team, the play, the sport, and using sport as a metaphor for life.  Sports teaches teamwork.  Even in individual sports it takes a team of coaches, trainers, and supporters to make the athlete successful.  Sports teaches values.  It proves that if a person works hard enough and puts in the time and dedication almost anything can be achieved.

A summer internship with the Tampa Bay Storm while attending the University of South Florida led to a pivotal change in my career ambitions, and led to a decision that broadcasting was not in my future.  For one season I was mentored by the team’s Vice President of Operations.  Twelve years later, I still believe this was the best internship I could have asked for.  I had the rare and educational sports organization internship: a hands-on opportunity to learn the assortment of responsibilities that go along with working in a ten-person front office.

My biggest accomplishment came halfway through the season. My supervisor had an idea for a cheerleading clinic and she asked me to manage its creation, without dedicated funding. I was tasked with finding participants, sponsors, food, and giveaways. Since the season was during the summer, I contacted local dance and cheerleading camps and asked them to tell their campers about our clinic. I reached out to team sponsors for aid in providing food and giveaways. A few weeks later, with the help of the teams cheerleading squad, over 300 local girls and boys performed during half-time of a Storm game.

For me, one of the most gratifying aspects of working in sports is interaction with the fans and being an ambassador for the team or league I work for.  While working for the Miami Dolphins, I was able to use another skill, my comprehension of Sign Language, to improve the experience of some hearing-impaired fans.  The group had approached customer service seeking help.  Instead of requiring them to write down their questions, I was able to converse with the fans and serve as an interpreter to ensure that customer service could meet their needs.

Everyone has a dream.  Their dream wedding.  Their dream house.  Their dream vacation.  My dream is to work in sports and events, to support the work of teams and players, and enhance fans’ experiences.  I find the work extremely fulfilling when I see a child enjoying not only the plays on the field, but also the promotions and entertainment that I have worked so diligently to prepare and see come to life.

For some reason, although I am quite the talker, I have always found it easier to express myself in my writing. Maybe it’s because through writing I can let go a little more.  I can express myself without being interrupted by suggestions, oh that reminds mes, phones ringing, OH MY GOD DID YOU SEE THAT PLAY?, internet crashing, and…well…you get the idea.

I know I don’t post that often.  When I started the blog I told you all, and myself, that I would NEVER post blog just to get hits on my site.  I still feel that way.  Why should I post because it’s a certain day of the week or because I haven’t posted in a while?  If I were to do that everyone would probably get bored and never want to read what I have to say.  That is why I wait until I have something to say.

Without this platform I would have probably never received the response, and outcome, I did from my Delta airlines “adventure” this summer. If you don’t know what the I am talking about, look to your right and select “August” from the archives and learn ALL about it!

So today I wanted to take the time to thank you for coming to NotYourTypicalGirl.com, reading what I have to say, commenting, giving suggestions and praise, not only here but on my twitter page and through private messages and conversations.  PSA time: You can subscribe to my blog right there on the right and have my postings delivered directly to your email inbox! Thanks to those who already have! I honestly never thought when I started this that people would actually want to read what I had to say. I’m still shocked and amazed everyday that people care to read what I have to say and that so many people follow me on twitter and RT my quirky little sayings, feelings and observations.

Lastly, thank you to those who suggested I start this blog in the first place.  You know who you are, and I appreciate it.

In the upcoming year I will to continue posting my thoughts and experiences to share with all of you.  You have been warned!