brian_bassett
hello, my name is brian_bassett.
i work in enterprise software by day, and run thejetsblog.com by night. i love SPORTS, travel, photography, good food, and most of all, my family.
i'm a self-taught [social] media wrangler and have built my own mini media fiefdom with two simple rules: work hard and take time to show you care.
always looking for a new challenge.
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Info
- Experience
- Jun 2012 - PresentSoftware Deployment Principal / IBM
Strategic project driven by senior IBM executives to identify, analyze and mitigate the risk of software deployment at IBMs largest accounts to drive accretive growth & create new business processes around best practices for sales and services.
- Mar 2007 - PresentManaging Editor for SNY.tv's TheJetsBlog.com / SportsNet New York
- Jul 2006 - Jun 2012Learning Services Account Executive / IBM
Strategized and sold consulting and educational services to all IBMs accounts within the Information Management brand, as well as managed the delivery process of all services sold.
- Mar 2004 - Jun 2006Inside Sales Representative / IBM
Drove sales leads to software sales team by outbound calling, sales prospecting, and working through marketing outreach response.
- Jan 2000 - May 2002National Account Client Manager / Integrated Business Systems
Worked as deputy seller to company's only National Accounts seller, handling sales, business process implementation, and all client management needs.
- Jul 1998 - Dec 2000Senior Consultant / TCSC
Education-
1994 - 1998James MadisonBachelor of Arts in Media Arts & Design
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Posts
- May 19, 13
Here’s an interesting nugget from ESPN Cleveland’s Tony Grossi:
I've learned the team that really wanted QB Brian Hoyer besides the #Browns was the #Jets.—
Tony Grossi (@TonyGrossi) May 19, 2013Hoyer signed with the Browns last week, but the fact the Jets were reportedly interested speaks volumes about how the Jets feel about their quarterback situation in light of David Garrard’s decision to retire.
Hoyer has thrown just 96 passes in his NFL career, most of which has been spent backing up Tom Brady in New England. He started the first game of his NFL career for the Cardinals against the 49ers in Week 17, throwing for 225 yards and a touchdown in a 27-13 defeat.
- May 19, 13
This week, John Idzik made it clear that the Jets would look to field roster spots this season through undrafted rookie free agents. Former California University safety Rontez Miles went undrafted, we’ll take a look at Miles in this post.
Height: 6’0″ Weight: 203 lbs
Hands: 10 1/4″ Arm Length: 32 7/8″
40 Yard Dash: 4.62 3 Cone Drill: 6.97
Vertical Jump: 36.5″ Broad Jump: 123.0″BIOGRAPHY: In short, he went to high school with Rob Gronkowski, and Miles was recruited by many big schools out of high-school, but he choose Kent State to play with his step-brother Vondre Griffin. In Miles’ first year, Griffin was dismissed from the program (but was eventually cleared) of the charges, and Miles decided to leave the program with Griffin no longer there. After a year in a warehouse taking classes at a community college, Miles then enrolled at California University of PA. Where he earned PSAC Freshman of the Year, four All PSAC-West selections, back to back Defensive Player Of The Year awards, and two-time Division II All American honors. This USA Today article gives a great picture.
STRENGTHS: Good size and looks extremely athletic. Very lean and hard build. Miles is known as a punishing hitter, and is extremely willing to get physical against the run and he’s a good tackler and wraps up well. Good diagnosis skills, and decent against the pass.
WEAKNESSES: He will have get much more technically sound as he moves up to the NFL. Sometimes can overpursue the play and can take bad angles at times. He sometimes tries too hard to make a big hit and that might get him in trouble in the NFL.
CONCLUSION: It’s impossible to look at some of his highlights and not be impressed. At the same time, it’s maddening because his it is impossible to judge how he’ll fare against a much more talented pool of players. Miles has all the athletic skill and the physical nature that could make him a menace in the defensive backfield, but he’s going to need to get much more technically sound and not rely on his brute strength and athleticism to make plays in the NFL. He’s a great prospect for the Jets to give a try, but some dedicated work and roster stowing might pay dividends over time.
- May 19, 13
According to Liz Mullen of Sports Business Journal, Jets top draft pick Dee Milliner has chosen his new representation after firing his agency after what he apparently deemed poor draft results.
Milliner fired Impact Sports back on May 10, though news didn’t reach journalists until late last week. Per Mullen’s report, the former Alabama corner has already signed with Pat Dye & Bill Johnson — and this has happened after waiting the necessary five-business-day waiting period expired. Dye & Johnson’s agency merged a few years back with Jimmy Sexton’s larger group. Under that larger banner some other Jets of note represented are Rex Ryan and Calvin Pace.
When Milliner made the switch, he has become the second Jets rookie to fire his representation, after West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith parted ways with Select Sports in late April.
Brian Bassett, theJetsBlog.com
I hazarded a guess that Jay-Z might be sniffing around another New York athlete, but that seems to not be the case. Good to know that at least this is behind him. It’s extremely rare that two players drafted by the Jets would both leave their agency after disappointing draft results, but there’s a first time for everything. It seemed an odd move to fire an agency over four draft spots, but we don’t know the full story there.A number of Jets players are already signed and now that this is settled we’ll expect that they will all get into camp on time and signed with their new agencies.
- May 18, 13
Quinton Coples got a wake up call a few weeks ago from the Jets coach, but he’s working it through.
Neither player nor coach have talked about the perceived lack of effort with Coples saying it was a “first-time experience for me” and that he has never been called out before. He called it a “wake-up” call.
“I wouldn’t say I got comfortable, it was during a drill, it was videotaped and I could have given better effort,” Coples said. “The next day when we came back here, I gave a better effort to make sure it wouldn’t happen again.”
Brian Bassett, theJetsBlog.com
Coples is so physically talented and it’s good to see that he realized that Rex is watching him closely and his coach expects nothing less than his best. Coples led the team as a rookie with 5.5 sacks, and if he adjusts to his new role next year and can be more featured because of it, I’d expect him to double that number this year.
- May 18, 13
Mike Goodson remains on the Jets roster, despite being slapped with weapons and drugs charges on Friday, but offensive lineman Willie Colon doesn’t expect that to be the case much longer.
“It’s one of the things where it’s zero-tolerance with stuff like that,” Colon told the Daily News Saturday at the Alliance for Lupus Research walk at MetLife Stadium. “It’s sad. Mike could have been huge for us.”
“He wasn’t around a lot, so I didn’t really get to see him a lot. For the most part, I was kind of anticipating seeing how he was going to do in OTAs,” added Colon.
The lineman, who also signed as a free agent this offseason, said the team hadn’t said anything to the players about Goodson yet and he heard about it through the news. “A lot of guys were upset. They knew the type of ballplayer (he was),” Colon said.
Jordan
This entire situation stinks. I was kind of looking forward to see what Goodson could bring to the Jets. Thank the lord we traded for Ivory. If we didn’t and we didn’t draft a RB, our RB’s would be Powell, Mcknight, and maybe Griffin? There’s a small chance that maybe this whole thing will carry over to the end of the season and he wont miss any playing time. But the chances of that happening are slim to none. If we keep him he’ll most likely be suspended 4-6 games. Let’s see how this plays out.
- May 18, 13
Brian Bassett, theJetsBlog.com
A few days ago we mentioned some of the more “viable” options at quarterback should the Jets want to consider bringing in in another veteran to compete with Mark Sanchez, Geno Smith and Greg McElroy. Here’s some more details on those potential veteran options … not named Tim Tebow.
VINCE YOUNG
Career Stats: 60 Games, 74.4 Passer Rating, 57.9% completion, 46:51 TD-INT
Young — who just finished his degree — is tough to evaulate because he’s been away from football since the Bills cut him last summer. Young played sparingly during the Eagles 2011 season, most notably in a game he helped the Eagles beat the Giants 17-10 on Sunday Night Football. Young has all the physical tools, but he’s not been excellent at making his reads and in his accuracy. Young would of course have some familiarity with Morhinweg’s offense from his days in Philly, but Young isn’t an optimal West Coast Offense fit.CHARLIE BATCH
Career Stats: 80 Games, 77.2 Passer Rating, 56.6% completion, 61:52 TD-INT
Batch has played as a backup role since joining Pittsburgh in 2002. The former Steeler has good size as well as decent arm strength, instincts and vision. He isn’t very mobile but is known as a savvy game-manager who would be a stretch to be a season-long starter, but who can spot-start when necessary. Batch might not be a bad option, but making him the starter would unlikely be able to last for a whole season due either to durability or productivity.BYRON LEFTWICH
Career Stats: 60 Games, 78.9 Passer Rating, 57.9% completion, 58:42 TD-INT
Leftwich has good size, better than average arm strength but is badly limited in his mobility must operate from inside the pocket and can’t make much happen outside the tackle box when the play breaks down. He has average accuracy but does have good vision and the ability to read a defense.TYLER THIGPEN
Career Stats: 29 Games, 72.5 Passer Rating, 54.0% completion, 21:18 TD-INT
Average size and arm with solid athleticism, Thigpen tends to force the ball into coverage trying to make a play and during his time with the Bills, he hasn’t shown enough to demonstrate that he could be a front-line starter in the NFL.TRENT EDWARDS
Career Stats: 38 Games, 75.5 Passer Rating, 60.6% completion, 26:30 TD-INT
A journeyman with smarts, but limited athleticism to move and scramble Edwards can demonstrate accuracy when given time in the pocket to set, or slide and step into his throw. Edwards has been proven to make errant passes when forced to throw off balance or not properly set. Edwards returned to football with the Eagles in 2012 after a year away and he was a good backup who can tutor younger quarterbacks. Edwards is a bad judge of his ability to fit the ball into tight spaces and doesn’t have much more value than as a backup.JAMARCUS RUSSELL
Career Stats: 31 Games, 65.2 Passer Rating, 52.1% completion, 18:23 TD-INT
Russell hasn’t played football on a team since 2009 and he was a poor player at that time. Weight issues and his work ethic were significant concerns about Russell, but when last we saw him, he did have excellent arm strength and the ability to make all the throws.
- May 18, 13
“You just gotta move forward. You can’t pout about it. It’s a business. I think my job here is just to make sure, for one, that I’m ready to go out and play and make sure that the younger guys are ready to come out and play. That’s the kind of role I’m trying to take on, and make sure guys are doing what they’re supposed to do.”
– Antonio Cromartie on life after Revis
- May 18, 13
Valid point made in this New York Post article about Mike Goodson about the release of Claude Davis and Cliff Harris a few weeks ago.
Three weeks ago, the Jets cut two lesser-known players that they were not as significantly financially invested in — defensive end Claude Davis and cornerback Cliff Harris – after they were arrested and charged with possession of marijuana.
The situation also contained a third man who had a handgun and whom had a hollow point.
Last night the Jets spokesperson made a terse statement. “This is a pending legal matter,” the spokesperson said. “There will be no further comment until the legal process has run its course.”
Brian Bassett, theJetsBlog.com
So it would seem we’re to assume that the Jets are going to let the matter play out and as best we can tell, with Goodson still on the roster I’ll have to assume that he’ll participate in OTAs, minicamps and training camp. It’s probably going to be a bit before the matter goes to court and then any lawyer could get the matter continued a few times … this might not come to resolution until after the season ends.
- May 18, 13
- Mark Sanchez Ready to Keep Job, No Words for Steve Smith [Fansided: The J-E-T Press]
- What to do with Mike Goodson? [ESPN New York: Jets Blog]
- Cribbs: ‘Not sure why’ Jets GM discussed my health [New York Post]
- Jets Announce Minicamp Practices, Fan Activities [The New York Jets]
- Rob Gronkowski could need back surgery [USA Today]
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Posts
Mark Sanchez Visits USC
Jets QB Mark Sanchez visits USC spring practice Video Rating: 4 / 5
Click on the Thumbnail to watch the video
Or visit http://klknews.info/mark-sanchez/mark-sanchez-visits-usc/“The media don’t make me and the media don’t break me,” Holmes told the Daily News, tapping his chest and extending his arms. “I’m Santonio Holmes … and that’s it.”
By Manish Mehta / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Joe Namath at his home in New York, which featured a white llama rug.
Photo via: Bettman/CORBIS
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Tweets
- The Bassett Daily is out! http://t.co/bR6fKOZKXK ▸ Top stories today via @CAASports
- RT @SBJLizMullen: NFL player agents Pat Dye & Bill Johnson have signed NY Jets 1st round pick CB Dee Milliner. He was formerly repped by Im…May 18, 13 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- The Bassett Daily is out! http://t.co/bR6fKOZKXK ▸ Top stories today via @MarkDuplass @JasonKirkSBN @themantz
- RT @KristianRDyer: Jets running back Mike Goodson is still in jail. Bail has been set at $50,000.
- The JetsBlog Podcast – Episoder 32: Going, Going, Garr-on…and Goodson http://t.co/BTqmcy8ZDn #Jets #NFL
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Photos
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Checkins
- South of the James MarketNew Kent Ave
- Shyndigz5716 Patterson Ave
- Mekong6004 W Broad St
- Lamplighter Roasting Co.116 S Addison St
- Rappahannock Restaurant320-322 E Grace Street
- Pony Pasture7500 Riverside Dr.
- New York Penn Station1 Penn Plz
- Crif Dogs113 St. Marks Pl
- Hop Devil Grill129 Saint Marks Pl
- Radio City Music Hall1260 Avenue of the Americas
- Burger Joint119 W 56th St
- SNY StudiosTime-Life Building, 6th ave
- Radio City Music Hall1260 Avenue of the Americas
- The Westway75 Clarkson St
- Radio City Music Hall1260 Avenue of the Americas
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Posts
Nothing like waiting to the last minute to see the Chihuly exhibit. #Art #VMFA #GlassArt #ChihulyBeLike (at Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA))
Ada, Ohio - where the footballs from the Super Bowl come from!
With a little over a week left until the Super Bowl, allow us to take you on a visual tour of the birthplace of the football — Ada, Ohio, USA.
Here’s the panel that Don Povia from HHR moderated from the BWB event from last weekend alongside Cyd Zeigler from OutSports, Amanda Rykoff formerly of espnW, Tennessee Titan linebacker Tim Shaw & Fox Sports Bernie Kim.
- Professor Bassett's Office Hours
Some times the best way to find your own purpose is to give purpose to others.
Now granted, I’ve got a narrow scope of places I can help others …
So do you have social media questions? Trying to figure out how to make it work for you or your business? I’ve worked with Nike, Procter & Gamble, MetLife and plenty of others along the way covering the NFL.
I have to guess that most of you reading this are probably avid users of the tools, but are you using them the best effect in your business? Need some ideas? Need a kick? Just want to bounce your thoughts or questions off someone who’s been doing this stuff since way before it was called “social media”?
I’d be only too happy to help.
Just check my “office hours” on ohours.com!
Day 3: Make something out of paper, but don’t use scissors or glue or draw on it.
This one was easy, a paper airplane!
Catching up on my create something every day … here was Day Two. The challenge is to create something with your favorite animal. Mine for sheer randomness of it has to be the duckbill platypus. So why not a Jets-logo themed duckbill platypus?
Have to admit I’m kind of proud to add writing for another renowned publication to the list today. :)
Ever get a chance to talk with people who are truly funny and you get to realize how unfunny you are? I got that opportunity yesterday on MachinaSports’ CONSTANT CONFLICT show.
We talked about the SI Sportsman of the Year, Alex Morgan’s hothouse yoga video and of course … the Jets quarterback conundrum.
Help, I’ve fallen in a Jets-related hell and I can’t get up!
Sometimes the only ways to start something, is to just start. Right now I feel like I’m searching for something new vocationally, but I’ve no idea what it is and I have no idea where to even begin. Lately, I’ve been feeling a little bit stifled creatively and in something of a chicken-or-the-egg scenario. To get a fresh start, I decided I’m going to try to create something everyday. I hope I can stick with it, I hope I can catch up on days that I know I will forget, but the simple fact is that you have to start somewhere and this is my first step.
I’m using Noah Scalin’s book A Daily Creativity Journal as a springboard. I am not sure how far I can go with Jets things, but we’ll see where this journey takes me. The Day One challenge is just create something out of the objects you have in the environment immediately around you. Pictured is what I came up with. I found a carpenter’s pencil nearby the desk, used the Moleskine notebook and I added some stupid stickers meant to sync up my Moleskine with Evernote that came in line with the “concept.”
It’s terrible, I know… but that’s not the point. The point is just creating something, anything and seeing where it leads.
Wish me luck.
- Check My Interview on The Last Call
Here’s me talking with Tomm Bauer & Chris (Bassett!) on their radio show The Last Call from last night. We talk about sports, football, being a blogger and being a dad. My interview starts at the 18:30 mark.
Oh and hey check out how I totally missed on who would be the starting quarterback for the Jets this weekend. It’s not like it’s the only single topic I write about almost every day of the year …
Foggy Morning + Historic Cemetery = Creepfest 2012 #RVA #Fog #Cemetery (Taken with Instagram at Hollywood Cemetery)
The @edtrask #mural is coming along nicely for #rvajelly day! (Taken with Instagram at 804RVA)
- Right on the Verge ... But of What?
I have no idea what the next month is going to look like, but I can guarantee you that my life WILL look a lot different. I hope to chronicle the next few months of my life more closely, because I think it will be more interesting than it has been in the past few months, but also because I am going to need all the help I can get from my friends & family!
In thirty days, I most likely will be unemployed by the business that currently keeps my family in diapers, doctor visits, and dijon mustard.
I had a pretty cushy job in the tech industry … I am fully aware I didn’t love it … the love eroded over six years as the job got progressively more difficult to do with increasingly less financial incentive. But it paid the bills and allowed me the time outside work to focus on TheJetsBlog or whatever else I liked.
I most likely will be continuing interviewing with new companies. I also will most likely will do freelance work and trying to create products like mobile apps or online content with little prior experience or knowledge of the process.
So I feel like I am two people all day long … awesome.
Recently I read “The Four Hour Work Week” and confess it’s tempted me to think about creating a product over service based business … which basically opposite of what I’ve done my whole career. So I’m trying to re-orient my brain about ways to make money in a creative and potentially self-sustainable process that requires less time than more.
It’s almost pornographic to me.
In other words, in the past few weeks I’ve kind of felt like I’m on the verge of something … but what exactly?
It’s hard to explain every time I talk to friends and family, but if there’s hope, it’s that I just got a big boost from a few things that I’ve been spending time on recently.
I’ll try and explain.
RVA Hackathon — Friday night and Saturday day, I spent time at a local event which allowed programmers, designers and then idle curious like me to try and create stuff out of code. The process was geared towards organically working with, and going through the process of creating a product. I worked on a team that was creating an app to prove your manliness … think of it as “Foursquare for Dudes.” Our team leader (the guy who’s idea it was) talked a lot about the MVP strategy for startups - the Minimal Viable Product. This was something that was new to me, and really helped me focus my mind on what it takes to create a successful product … often it’s not doing everything in the first release.
There’s An App for That — While Hackathon didn’t provide a team of minions for me to create an App that I have in mind that stands up to the MVP concept and could be pretty lucrative. I’ve been put in touch with a designer/programmer who has some impressive Apps already under his belt … so keep your fingers crossed on that one.
Video a Go-Go — I think we are REALLY close to finishing up the production for my web-based documentary on competitive eater Takeru Kobayashi. With that, we’re going to try and apply some of these “MVP” principles in distributing it … I can’t wait to share it with you.
Work Opportunities — I’m still in the running for a few 9-5 jobs that I’ve applied for … but I think the next week will be make or break for the few options I currently have available to me. The more I think about it, the more I hate the idea of going to work for some other company that can determine my worth and value and effectiveness … but I also have to be reasonable and do what’s right for my family … so I confess I’m in something of a quandry when it comes to where I spend my time … interviewing for inane jobs, or trying to create something new …
My Wife — My wife has been amazingly supportive. It’s certainly not been easy, but she’s really been a trooper in letting me take this time to really look at what I am doing work-wise. She’s been a great sounding board, given me all the support I could ask for … I’m really blessed to have her.
