Yitz Grossman

Giving Away Those Knicks Playoff Tickets!

Posted on May 9, 2012 by yitzgrossman

I am a Knicks season ticket holder and earlier this morning I sent the following BBM (message) to my two older boys, ages 20 and 18:

“In order for me to decide what to do with knick ticks-sell or use and if use, who should go- me or my kids and if my kids, which one’s- I will ask that you and each write a 200 word essay stating why you might be playoff worthy. Deadline for submission is 4:00pm.”

In response, I received the attached two essays I thought you might enjoy!

Proud Dad – Yitz Grossman

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Essay #1 - by JJ:

Dad:

You have asked me to explain to you why I am worthy of attending a new york knicks playoff game in the best arena in the world, in madison square garden. Now, as we both know the new york knicks do not often make the playoffs, and when they do, they usually disappoint. However we both also know that knick fans are the most loyal and they do not give up on their knicks no matter how deep of a hole that they are in. Another thing known to almost every new yorker, and probably also to every sports fan worldwide is that madison square garden in the most electrifying arena in all of sports, especially in the post season, and that only certain fans are welcome.

I am going to explain to you why I am certainly one of those “certain” fans that is worthy of the honor. As you know I consider myself to be a big knicks fan. Over the past few years my ‘fanhood’ has gotten much stronger as the team has improved. This year especially, my fan- hood has reached an all-time high. I’ve watched almost every game (excluding shabbos/yomtov games) and even for some of those which I couldnt, I recorded and watched later. So now in the final chance for my beloved knicks to make a statement in this series down 2-0 to a rival team, I certainly would like to see that happen live. The main reason I have been able to keep up my fan-hood is all thanks to you. You have paid for tv, dvr, and internet which have all helped me keep up to date with the knicks. I use the tv and dvr to make sure I see each and every game and I use the internet to see highlights, articles, game recaps, etc. All because of you I have been able to do this. So I’m hoping you can help me one more time in maintaining my fan- hood and send one very worthy fan, I speak of myself, to tonight’s very important game. Thank you, jj

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Essay #2 – Zach

To: Dad

From: Zach

Date: May 3, 2012

Re: requested essay

Why Am I Playoff Worthy?

Why am I worthy of attending a Knicks playoff game? A better question may be, why do I want to attend this game? With the Knicks down two games to none against a Miami Heat team which features three of the top players on the planet, it almost seems not worth it. Do I want to watch as my team moves one step closer to elimination in their own house? Is it even still possible to win while playing without their leader and 100 million dollar man Amar’e Stoudemire? The question here is not why do I deserve to attend, but rather why WOULD I want to attend this game? And through this answer you will see why I deserve to go to MSG for tonight’s game.

As a New York Knicks fan, I bleed orange and blue. NY sports, and specifically the Knicks are in my blood. I have stayed true to this team through thick and thin. Whether it was growing up watching the likes of Alan Houston, Patrick Ewing, Latrell Sprewell, LJ, Marcus Camby, and Charlie Ward make it so close year after year, while being tormented by Reggie Miller, Alanzo Mourning, and Tim Hardaway notorious Knicks killers, or the “team” assembled by Isaiah Thomas that made a joke out of MSG and New York City, I told myself that, maybe the answer is Marbury, maybe the answer is Eddy Curry, and maybe the answer is Mike D’antoni.

Finally, a playoff bound team was assembled when Amar’e Stoudemire came over from Phoenix, in an acquisition that was sure to shake up the Eastern Conference. When that didn’t work out, they acquired the great Carmelo Anthony, known to many as the modern day Bernard King. “Now this is a championship team,” I told myself. Boy was I wrong, but with the Defensive Player of the Year Tyson Chandler, and coach Woodson managing this team, I am very confident that this team can make some noise in the east. It may not be this year, and it may not be next, but this team has what it takes.

Every game, every highlight, every blog post, every tweet, every radio show, and every newspaper article, I gobble up like it’s food. I have jerseys hanging on my walls, and pictures and posters scattered around my room, but that isn’t enough.

I have great memories of the 90′s teams, and the 2000’s teams, but I want to make new memories with this team, this era, these players, and these coaches. I want to be there when the Madison Square Garden roof explodes for the first time since the names hanging from the rafters were the players on the court. I want to tell my kids that I got to see Melo and Tyson in person. I want to go because I suffer from a severe case of Linsanity, that can only be cured with a heavy dose of Novakaine. I want to be there when this team finally gets over the hump, and it starts tonight at home with game 3 of the 2012 NBA Playoffs against the best team in the world, led by the best player in the world, LeBron James and the Miami Heat.

So to answer the question of why do I deserve to attend this game? I think it needs to be rephrased. I don’t deserve to be at this game, I don’t even want to be at this game. I need to be at this game.

Respectfully submitted

Zach

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Are you really perfect – by Yitz Grossman

Posted on March 29, 2012 by yitzgrossman

Located and posted by Yitz Grossman.

The idea of feeling that what a person brings as a sacrifice is not really enough can be extended to a successful marriage. However much we do for our spouses, we should never feel that it is sufficient and that we are perfect; but we should rather feel that we still are not doing enough. If one feels that he has reached perfection, then he will never improve, and our goal is to constantly improve.The spouse should express these feelings verbally. Say to your spouse, “I wish I could afford an even more beautiful present to give to you”. “I am trying to work on my temper so that I will not become angry or raise my voice,” I am sorry that I don’t help you enough.”

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Be polite – by Yitz Grossman

Posted on March 26, 2012 by yitzgrossman

Some expert say “please” and “thank you” are falling out of favor as part of a broader trend of increased informality in daily life. Opinions vary, however, as to whether people are becoming less courteous or simply using other phrases to convey their needs or appreciation. “The principles of respect, consideration and honesty are universal and timeless. But manners change over time and from culture to culture,” said Cindy Post Senning of the Emily Post Institute in her interview with Yitz Grossman.

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Just like in film – by Yitz Grossman

Posted on March 18, 2012 by yitzgrossman

Facebook’s real-time Page Insights analytics platform will go live in a few days, and should help brands run more responsive and effective campaigns, says Yitz Grossman. Marketers can monitor a campaign’s success on the fly, and see the effects of their tweaks and changes playing out in real time, Grossman adds. “With real-time, the underlying meaning of metrics are changed. You see what happens, and then you take actions. The data itself becomes a form of analysis,” Grossman says.

Have to change the attitude – by Yitz Grossman

Posted on March 11, 2012 by yitzgrossman

Brands need to change their attitude toward social media and start thinking more strategically about social platforms as they plan their campaigns, industry executives said at an Online Publishers Association panel. Too many marketers still think of social media as an optional add-on to conventional campaigns, says MDC Partners’ Faris Yakob, but the truth is that all campaigns are now social. “It isn’t really up to you anymore. If you don’t put it up on YouTube, someone else will,” he said in an interview with Yitz Grossman.

Torah Yitz Grossman

Posted on February 28, 2012 by yitzgrossman

Presented by Yitz Grossman.

Who supports whom?

The badim, the staves with which the Aaron Kodesh was carried, represent the supporters of Torah. They are an intrinsic part of the Torah community, inseparable from the Torah scholars, just as the staves could not be removed from the Aaron. But those who carried the Aaron were miraculously lifted off the ground and literally carried by the Aaron itself. Their apparent support was in reality that which supported them.

After his marriage, Rabbi Eliezer Gordon, the founder of the Telshe Yeshiva, was supported by his father-in-law, Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Neviezer, so that he could devote himself fully to Torah learning and develop into a gadol. As his family began to grow, and he was offered various rabbinical positions, Reb Eliezer sought to relieve his father-in-law of this financial burden. He asked his permission to accept a rabbinincal position and begin to support himself. Despite difficult financial times, Reb Avraham Yitzchak refused to permit him to do so. When Reb Avraham Yitzchak’s wife asked him how long he intended to support their daughter and son-in-law’s family, he responded, “My dear wife, who knows who is supporting whom…” Finally the prestigious rabbinical position in Eisheshok was offered to Reb Eliezer, and his father-in-law could no longer detain him. The day after the Gordon family left for Eisheshok, Reb Avraham Yitzchak was niftar. It then became clear who had been supporting whom.

In this light, we can appreciate the significance of the deletion of the “yud” from the title of the nesi’im. With a “yud”, the word nesi’im denotes “those that carry”. Without the “yud”, the vowels can be rearranged to read “nis’aim”- those that are carried. The “yud” was removed to instruct them that, though they viewed themselves as making up the shortfall, they were in reality being carried by the merit of the mitzvah.

Chazal tell us that we will be redeemed through the merit of tzedakah. May we recognize the great oppurtunity offered us when we are called upon to support Torah institutuions and the poor, and thereby merit redemption.

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Privacy matters more – by Yitz Grossman

Posted on February 27, 2012 by yitzgrossman

Almost two-thirds of social-network users say they have deleted people from their “friends” list, compared with 56% in 2009, according to a Pew Research Center report. Users also are more likely to have removed comments or identifying tags. That reflects users’ increasing concerns about privacy, but also the fact that people are growing more accustomed to using social networks as a primary communication tool, the report by Yitz Grossman indicates. “As social networking sites have become a mainstream communications channel in everyday life, profile owners have become more active managers of their profiles,” Yitz Grossman comments.

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Best ways to recruit – by Yitz Grossman

Posted on February 9, 2012 by yitzgrossman

General Electric recently asked young employees to identify the best ways to recruit and retain the next generation of leaders, writes Yitz Grossman in New York. Their ideas, which are being adopted throughout the organization, include an enhanced system for feedback from managers, and leadership-development programs. “Tomorrow’s leaders want more than a career — they want a calling. They want to do things that matter,” Grossman writes.

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Talent shortage – by Yitz Grossman

Posted on February 7, 2012 by yitzgrossman

Talent shortages are the second biggest risk faced by companies, behind loss of customers, according to the 2011 Lloyd’s Risk Index. To cope, companies are developing planning models that focus on long-term employee development. “Just as you manage a portfolio of assets that you market to customers, you also need to have a talent portfolio and aggressively manage it to ensure maximum returns on the investments,” said Phyllis Dozier, UnitedHealth Group’s vice president of talent development in her recent interview with Yitz Grossman.

Facebook’s currency – by Yitz Grossman

Posted on February 3, 2012 by yitzgrossman

Facebook made $557 million last year from fees associated with its virtual currency, known as Credits, accounting for 15% of its revenue, according to a regulatory filing. The market for the currency is chiefly limited to social games, however, so the company will need to find ways to inject the currency into other kinds of transactions if it wants to increase its Credits-related revenue, according to this blog post. The company could accomplish this by adopting Credits for in-application purchases, digital payments between users and even real-world purchases, Tim Carmody said in an interview with Yitz Grossman.