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 THE
INDUSTRY
OF
SPORT
REMARKS FROM
CARL SCHEER
by Julius Melton
By coincidence, our program six months ago was about the Charlotte
Regional Sports Commission, given by its Executive Director, Jeff
Beaver. Today's reporter "covered" that speech too, and the lead
sentence said: "It is hard to think of a business or area of
activity in Charlotte that is not in some way affected by
crowd-drawing sports." Our speaker today came with top-notch
credentials as one who knows about the sports side of that equation.
Carl Scheer even taught us the better term to use in conversing
about this exceptional influence on our region, as well as many
other metropolitan areas. The president of Scheer's Charlotte
Checkers organization, our fellow member and his introducer today
(Jeff Longo) used the more familiar expression "the business of
sports." But his boss, easily and naturally, shifted over to "the
industry of sport." For purposes of today's talk, however, he did
not include motor sports, confining himself to "team sports."
Described by Longo as a man "passionate about sports," and one who
has been way ahead of the learning curve for over 40 years, Scheer
is best known today in Charlotte as the CEO (and an owner) of the
minor league hockey team, the Charlotte Checkers. He was a prime
mover in bringing the Checkers "back" to Charlotte in 1993. Its
history in Charlotte began in 1960 when our original Charlotte
Coliseum opened on Independence Boulevard, and it had an exciting
run for 17 years. The "returned" Checkers' venue is the same arena,
now known as "Cricket Arena." And it now has some big brother pro
teams in basketball and football to share public interest and
enthusiasm. But it is here and going strong.
Scheer was complimentary about those who have been instrumental in
bringing our current major league sports teams here, and about civic
and community support and excitement. It is hard to overstate the
benefits our area has received from this development, he judged.
Scheer himself had been involved in the earlier phase of the Hornets
NBA team, as its first general manager, staying at it for three
years. He knows personally the hard facts of putting together a new
arena, because he led the charge in Greenville (SC) for placing one
in center city in 1998, after a challenging several year effort by
his development company, Scheer Game. One of his life satisfactions
is seeing his son Bob sharing leadership in his business. Bob's
title in the Charlotte Checkers hierarchy is CFO.
Q & A time was allowed, and our members raised hands to ask about:
- A salary cap for players
– There has to be equity in profit for owners and
players; right now, in some sports, it's gotten tipped
toward players.
- Bad behavior by pro
players – It hurts support, and can affect attendance
negatively, even loud, braggart behavior.
- Monetary penalties –
yes, they seem too "cheap," given the size of players'
paychecks.
- Roughness of hockey as a
sport – As a life-long basketball player and fan, he has
had to adjust to hockey's culture of roughness. Many
sports have to tolerate "fighting," but penalties can be
and are imposed, and if things get too rough, fans may
stay away.
- Why does professional
tennis seem to be in a kind of slide? As a sport, it is
"flattening out," and it may be helped if more kids and
more diverse kids are taught the sport. The rules could
be made more fan-friendly—e.g., let the fans "root" for
a player.
- Cricket Arena vs. the
new downtown arena for his hockey games – He is really
enthusiastic about the new arena, after a detailed tour.
It will be at the top among US arenas. If it wouldn't
run up the ticket prices too much, and if it could be
arranged, playing hockey there would be great.
- Major league hockey's
current "lock out" – Yes, it is currently hurting things
(his minor league team isn't affected); but if the
compensation controversy is able to be "fixed," he
thinks the fans will return. Hockey is "infectious;" if
you go to 2 or 3 games, and get to understand it, you're
"hooked."
- Which professional
sports are best at "giving back" to their community? In
Charlotte, he thinks, they all give back. They are part
of the community. His players are eager to get involved,
especially with kids. The Checkers' color brochure
(placed on our tables) sites a motto "Community First."
This means that players intend to deliver the greatest
show on ice, educate as well as entertain, and strive to
be role models as well as home-town heroes.
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Head Table:
Niels Olsen, Natalie English,
Catherine Browning, Jeff Longo, David Norman, Hunter Widener;
Invocation: Henry Bostic
Visitors and Guests:
Don Carmichael; Health & Happiness: Tom
Hutchins; Song: David Erdman
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MARK THE
DATE
The Club will celebrate Rotary International’s 100th
Anniversary on Wednesday, February 23, 2005, with a dinner
(6:30 pm) at Charlotte Country Club. Invitations will be
mailed next week.
(NOTE: the Club
will not meet on that Tuesday.) |
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þ
Congratulations to
Jody and
Jennifer Billiard on the
birth of Benjamin Joseph Billiard
on January 12, 2005. Baby Benjamin arrived about 3 ½ weeks
early, weighing in at 8 pounds 5 ounces. Sisters Hannah (8)
and Sarah (5), along with brother David (almost 3) are
excited beyond belief.
þ
In a note received in the
Rotary office this week, Dwight
Thomas says to tell everyone at the round table
hello and he sure misses Rotary. Though Dwight has suffered
health issues, he says he is getting along quite well with
the help of wife, Margaret.
þ
The Business Journal did a
nice story on Chip Scholz,
detailing the growth of Scholz & Associates, Inc. since
moving to Lake Norman in 1999. Chip is looking to double his
client base in 2005, saying “when I first got into my own
business, I thought you had to do things in a certain way. I
found you needed to be a lot more flexible.”
þ
Pete Larson updated the club on tsunami relief
efforts and reported about $6900 of the $13,500 goal has
been achieved. All members are encouraged to make a $50
donation, payable to the Rotary Club of Charlotte, with
disaster relief in the memo section. Contributions will
support the Shelter Box program, which provides a tent and
survival supplies for ten people. To learn more about
Shelter Box, go to
www.shelterboxusa.org.
þ
Wishes for a speedy recovery
are sent to Carter MacBain (George)
as he recovers from back surgery last week. George says he
has a new appreciation for handling kids and the household.
þ
February 23, 2005
marks the 100th Anniversary of Rotary International. The
Rotary Club of Charlotte plans to celebrate this momentous
occasion with a birthday dinner at the Charlotte Country
Club. Details will follow….but mark you calendar NOW.
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The Crew at Classroom Central |
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Hats off to John Johnson and his
team of volunteers who work tirelessly to support the
efforts of Classroom Central. Classroom Central
provides teachers with free, donated new or
 recycled
supplies, in a centrally located retail store. These supplies
are given to at-risk students receiving free or reduced price
lunches in the Equity Plus II schools in the
Charlotte-Mecklenburg system. There are 54 schools within the
CMS district with the Equity Plus II designation. Pictured are
Jay Deyton, Budd Berro, John Johnson, and Bob Alexy. Other
regular volunteers include Al Nikles, Chris Thomas, Rich
Campbell, Hunter Widener, Natalie English, Kitty Stutts, Chuck
Panoff, Henry Cantrell, Jim Adams, Tom Robertson, Jeff Searcy,
Martin Welton and George Rohe. Their next scheduled dates are
February 17th and March 17th. |
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Charlotte
Rotary 2004-5 Reports
Click the icons to view the reports
in Adobe Acrobat. If you are unable to view it
after clicking,
click here to
install Acrobat Reader for free.
Charlotte Rotary Midyear Review
Charlotte Rotary
Attendance Report |
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Attendance
Record |
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1/11/05 |
1/13/04 |
| visitors &
guests |
13 |
13 |
| club
members |
195 |
198 |
| total
attendance |
208 |
211 |
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Wedding
Anniversaries |
18 Catherine and Bill Browning
23 Beth and Mike Whitehead |
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New Members | Resignations |
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n/a |
Tim Hunt
Mark Leggett
Ken Carter |
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| Birthdays and
Birthplaces |
19 Charlie Williams,
Charlotte, NC
20 Fred Brown, Statesville, NC
20 Tony Zeiss, Nobelsville, IN
24 Benton Bragg, Charlotte, NC
24 Chase Saunders,
Charlotte, NC |
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