factor?Its a mutually beneficial relationship for player and team. Tebo

Growing up, Jill Geer wanted to be a professional football player. But she chose track and field because she could control her own destiny -- she could depend on herself to win a race.The former sports writer is now the chief public affairs officer for USA Track & Field. Under her leadership, USATF has navigated the evolving world of digital media,?marketing and sponsorship.?Shes worked with many champion athletes and witnessed competitors break more than 30 world records.As she prepares for the Olympics in Rio next month, Geer is managing to remain calm, particularly amid the the disparaging headlines surrounding USATFs long-term sponsorship agreement with Nike. Geer, who is married and has a 10-year-old son named Hayden, opens the door to her busy life.?Coolest moment?In 2014, several members of the 1968 Olympic track and field team returned to Echo Summit, California, where the 1968 Olympic trials were held, and we had a ceremony honoring them.I had the opportunity to speak in front of the one group of people I would refer to as truly my heroes. They were men who were important to society, to the Olympic movement and to human rights as well. When I spoke, I saw my hero, bronze medalist John Carlos -- who raised a black-gloved fist during the American national anthem at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City -- nodding his head and telling me to preach. And at that moment, knowing that these men whom I thought were so important felt understood and appreciated almost moved me to tears.Focus to overcome obstacles?The correlation between distance running and any job is the ability to focus and overcome distractions, overcome pain and discomfort, whether its personal, physical or professional, to get something done. The things I am most proud of at work are often times where we face a great challenge and figure it out.Running the worldWhile traveling is a great way to get out and see the world, the fact is that once I reach my destination, Im working. I dont run on treadmills; I go out into the city and run. At various cities, running has become my sightseeing because there is too much work to be done to be doing any vacationing.Have perspectiveDont take anything personally, and then you can deal with whatever the issue is in a professional way. The most important thing in dealing with a sensitive issue or a crisis is to first take a step back. When its a sensitive topic, especially in the social media world, you have to step back and see: Who is it coming from and how many people are really contributing?In the social media world, very few people get very active on social to say positive things. Its important to keep perspective with any issue. Acknowledge concern while pointing out factual basis.Positive thinking is keyThe great thing is that whether its the Olympic trials -- which last for a week and a half in Oregon -- or the Olympic Games or any of our events, regardless of if you are ready for them, they arrive, they start, they happen, they finish and they go great! Its just something that we manage. We do what we need to do to succeed, just like our championship athletes.Anything a guy can do, I can doWhen I was an athlete, or even as a professional, whether its right or wrong, Ive never self-identified first as a female. I never thought of myself as a female athlete or a woman in sports. Ive been an athlete and a person in sports first. For me that was a good thing because it meant that in no way I limited myself throughout my whole life. Anything a guy can do, I can do. That was never even a question.Sisterhood in sportsIm really appreciative of the sisterhood Ive always had with female journalists. Women in sports just have a different kind of experience than men in sports.Be gratefulNo job is cool every day, and every job has days where you wonder what youre doing. But if youre fortunate enough to get a cool job, it is so important to be grateful for the job you have and to the people who helped you get there.Always try new thingsPushing yourself out of your comfort zone is how you grow and really stay engaged in your job. Ive been here for 16 years, and this job has never been boring to me. That is one of the highest compliments I can give a job because to not burn out after 16 years is saying something for me.Byron Linnell Edwards is a run coach, marathoner and triathlete. The former entertainment executive spent his formative years working in public relations and event logistics at Viacom (BET Networks), Roc Nation, Huff Events & PR, and Urban League while doing social media and digital consulting on a number of projects within entertainment and creative properties. Follow him?@ByronLinnell.? Custom Taylor Rapp Jersey . 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Miller reached right to deflect Mikhail Grabovskis attempt with just over 2 minutes remaining in regulation, and then made two more saves in the shootout Sunday to give the Sabres a 2-1 win over the Washington Capitals. Custom Rams Jersey China .com) - The red-hot Los Angeles Kings will try to extend their winning streak to a season-high seven games when they visit the Edmonton Oilers for Sundays clash at Rexall Place. PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- After the New York Mets signed Tim Tebow to a minor league contract two weeks ago, general manager Sandy Alderson maintained the transaction was about scratching a baseball itch rather than cashing in on a phenomenon. Amid considerable eye-rolling, Alderson said the Mets saw baseball potential in Tebow, and their investment in him had nothing to do with marketing, publicity or any ancillary benefits the club might derive from the transaction.If that was indeed the case, you can file the events of Monday under unintended consequences.Tebow -- a University of Florida icon, Heisman Trophy winner and former NFL quarterback -- arrived at Tradition Field on Monday morning for his first day in the Mets instructional program. From an action standpoint, it was about as close as you can get to a trip to the Department of Motor Vehicles. For the better part of two hours, he stretched, took part in baserunning drills, shagged fly balls and banged out line drives in batting practice under a scorching sun.But the interest level was something else entirely. About 70 media members dutifully took notes as Tebow nodded his head to an instructor here and stopped for a refreshing guzzle of water there. At the same time, more than 400 fans ringed the back fences and clamored for his autograph.Hey Tebow, do you know Peyton Manning? yelled one elementary school-age boy as Tebow stopped briefly to sign.Several fans made forays to an outdoor stand where Tebow No. 15 replica jerseys were selling for $120 each and Tebow T-shirts could be had for $28. And when the fans grew parched on the back fields, Mets employees were standing at the ready with bottles of water for $3 a pop.The Tebow shouts, cheers and buzz of activity were a stark contrast to the typical quiet of the Florida Instructional League scene.Its usually crickets, said Paul Taglieri, the Mets senior director of Florida operations. Its mom and dad or a couple of scouts watching. A lot of people dont even know what instructional league is. Obviously, this is going to add a lot of notoriety to the definition of instructional league.Tebow detractors who think his celebrity has outlived its shelf life probably cant relate to his popularity in SEC country, where his followers revere him for his faith, off-field charity work and the values he represents. Nine years after Tebow won a Heisman Trophy under Urban Meyer at Florida, he has a hold on the collective sports psyche in the region where he attained his fame. Gators fans will love him forever, and even Florida State fans, who are conditioned to dislike him, cant help but respect his achievements.Jo-Ann Walker, a New Jersey native, grew up as a Mets fan in the 1980s. She drove about 150 miles from Mount Dora, Florida, to Port St. Lucie and arrranged several Tebow T-shirts in a minitribute along one of the cyclone fences.ddddddddddddShes a two-time cancer survivor who finds Tebow to be an inspirational figure, and she was overjoyed when he signed a copy of his 2011 book, Through My Eyes.I moved down here from Jersey, and I kept hearing about this football player with the scriptures, and I said, Let me take a look, Walker said. Hes very humble. Hes very real. I pray that he can be part of the public eye for his foundations and Gods kingdom.The Tebow love spans generations. Andy Favata, a Long Island native, is a Florida alumnus whos married to a Florida alumna and has a daughter currently going to school in Gainesville. Hes a lifelong Mets fan with vivid memories of the 1986 World Series, so it was a no-brainer to make the short drive to Tradition Field with his 13-year-old daughter, Bella, and check out Tebows debut.I grew up at Shea Stadium watching the Mets, Favata said. Two hours after the ball went through Bill Buckners legs, I was there screaming and hugging people I didnt know. Tim Tebow is one of our favorite Gators. So when you see him with a Mets jersey on, youve gotta come.Although it was hard to tell from the first day, it appeared the Tebow-related momentum increased as reporters spread the word of his appearance at Tradition Field on social media. So what happens Tuesday and the day after that? Will the interest wane, or will sports fans in the area continue to stop by for an autograph or picture or because of the curiosity factor?Its a mutually beneficial relationship for player and team. Tebows publishers were no doubt ecstatic Monday when a reporter at his news conference asked him to talk about his new book, Shaken: Discovering Your True Identity in the Midst of Lifes Storms, which is scheduled for release in October. Tebow spoke with passion about the book and the message of encouragement hes trying to convey.Tebows book sales and Mets minor league ticket sales are likely to receive a boost next spring when he joins the low-A Columbia Fireflies, high-A St. Lucie Mets or wherever else the parent club chooses to assign him. Tebow is a natural magnet for attention, and hes going to sell tickets, hot dogs and bottled water regardless of how much those economic considerations factored into the Mets decision to sign him.In the grand scheme of things, the experiment will only pay dividends in New York if Tebow can shake off 11 years of baseball rust and prove he can hit a curveball. But charisma and name recognition alone should be enough to make turnstiles click in the minors. To no ones surprise, the Mets appear to have a cash cow on their hands. ' ' '