ESPN FLASHBACK

I've been very fortunate in my life. As with many of us, now that I have a young child in my life I've been a bit more reflective, even closing many of my communications with the line 'enjoy the journey more than the destination.'

UN-fortunately, I don't always heed my own advice of course. Since I moved to the Bay Area with YourSports, a lot of people have been asking me about my experience overseas with ESPN and my various domiciles in Manhattan and Honolulu. So here's a tiny bit of background about the UK and Ireland, including the departure story.

Embarking on an actual journey to Dublin following ESPN's purchase of NASN (somewhere in the area of 80M+ Euro or more, I ended up as the only person ever sent from headquarters in Bristol, CT to Ireland). Within 2 years of my arrival, the Premier League rights became available and soon thereafter we moved the operations to London to launch ESPN UK in eight weeks. (Yes. 8. Weeks.) The story of how I had been in Ireland on holiday prior to the NASN purchase and met my future boss and friend (he was aware of the pending deal, I was not), is better told over pints.

In any case, before departing I foolishly decided to send out a goodbye email to the entire company. A few people have brought this up to me recently as I have been reconnecting with my ESPN colleagues in the US to ask for support in this new sports social media venture. So, for the very few people that would remember, and even less that would care, I am sharing here. I'll share my UK departure 'prose' next week.

(Not sure why I used an English reference, maybe I knew London was on the horizon.)

Date: February 2008 [Departing for Dublin, Ireland]

To: Most of ESPN [More people than you should ever CC in your life]

Subject: Bakers Dozen

May you have the hindsight to know where you've been the foresight to know where you're going and the insight to know when you're going too far. - Irish proverb

Bakers Dozen: In lieu of a traditional goodbye email (since I am not actually leaving the Disney 'umbrella'), I have decided to share 13 things that I have learned in my life over the past 6 1/2 years. Not necessarily the top 13, but 13 nonetheless.

I have learned....

.. it's ok to have a career AND a life, although it's a tough balance 

.. that it can be fulfilling to merely go and talk to someone, even when it is easier to contact them electronically

.. it's ok to find a commonality, instead of a difference, when meeting 'a stranger' 

.. it's ok to 'not know what you are doing' as long as you ask for help along the way

.. that trying to eliminate the unknown in the present... is impossible 

.. it's ok to take risks, albeit more advantageous when they are calculated

.. it's ok to show weakness, as long as you are building strength 

.. that it can be rewarding to go out of your way for someone, without expecting anything in return

.. its ok to be inspired by the seemingly insignificant

.. that maintaining eye contact will have more impact than you realize 

.. its ok to be scared; as long as you don't have fear in your heart

.. that free will is one of the greatest characteristics in life, and this profession allows us to execute it on a daily basis

.. I've learned... it's ok..... to be revealing

As I prepare to send this out, I realize I left out one of most basic, yet pertinent lessons in my life. A simple 'thank you' goes a long way.

So thank you to everyone who I have had the pleasure of working with, regardless of the level of interaction, as every detail in this place makes a difference in my mind. Honestly.

I am clearly idealistic in nature, and have been humbled by the congruent work of such a large contingent of people working in cohesion. Respect.

I look forward to more ventures, and continued learning, with any and all of you. 

Be safe.

Eamonn is the Vice President of Corporate Development and Partnerships at YourSports in San Mateo, CA. He has spent 16 years working at the cross section of content, operations, technology and business development, including ESPN. You can contact him to pontificate about sport, humans, life, liberty and the pursuit of a utopian sports community that reflects the true depth and connected nature of the sports ecosystem.