Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/1529031
A lot of BIG things happened in the world of team sports in the past year — BSN Sports' acquisition by another PE firm, the formation of Momentec Brands, the Olympics, pickleball – and we cover them and more in our excellent Top Team Stories of 2024 article by Tom Ryan that starts on page 12. But I'm here to talk about some of the LITTLE things that made 2024 special in the eyes of this editor. We write so much about all of those mega-trends that we oen miss seeing the forest for the trees. Or, as my wife likes to say, we don't take the time to stop and smell the roses. So let's pause for a moment and reflect on the year that was … • Watching my friend Cathy Pryor be inducted into the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame during the NSGA Leadership Conference in May was a special moment. It seems like a lifetime ago when I stood next to Cathy in the middle of Times Square in New York City – along with Mickey Newsome and Nelson Gage and others on the old Hibbett team – when the retailer first appeared on the NASDAQ billboard. at was a defining moment in sports retail and watching Cathy's success through the years made it even more special. • Speaking of that Hall of Fame ceremony back in May, watching HOF chairman Larry Aasheim fall off the back of the stage during the induction of Rawlings' Mike ompson was entertaining only because Larry took it good naturedly, wasn't hurt (except his pride) and Mike's ceremony proceeded smoothly from there. • One of the most entertaining events of the year was getting to listen to Johnny Cupcakes as the keynote speaker at the Sports Inc. summer meeting in Indianapolis. His message of community, experimentation and entertainment inspired a full house — and he sold a lot of T-shirts (but no cupcakes). You can look him up at johnnycupcakes.com • I corralled SFIA retiring president and CEO for an "exit interview" in this issue and it allowed both of us to reminisce a bit about more than three decades in this business. Remember e Super Show? • At the NSGA Leadership Conference I also had the pleasure of shaking the hands of both Ann Meyer- Drysdale, a true inspiration for women sports (I bought a copy of her book, appropriately titled "You Let Some Girl Beat You?") and LA Dodgers icon Steve Garvey, who I passionately rooted against as a Yankee fan back in the 1970s-80s, but who turned out to be pretty nice guy (I even got an autographed ball). • Finally, I end 2024 happy and healthy and looking forward to more of those little things as the year hopefully gets off to an auspicious beginning. And I promise to try to stop and smell the roses every once in a while. n Counting All The Little Things in 2024t "I look forward to more of those little things as the year hopefully gets off to an auspicious beginning. And I promise to try to stop and smell the roses every once in a while." TEAM TALK / MICHAEL JACOBSEN 6 • Team Insight ~ November/December 2024 teaminsightmag.com STAHLS.COM | 800.4.STAHLS LEARN MORE stahls.com/no-sew-cp TIMELESS STYLE & TRENDY APPEAL STAHLS' NO-SEW CHENILLE PATCHES TI1124 • 50+ thread colors • 9 felt backing options, including gold and silver • No sewing required CREATE THE CLASSIC LOOK AND FEEL OF VINTAGE APPAREL!