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Welcome to the MVPMemories.com blog. Here at MVPmemories.com, we create products that capture and preserve your greatest sports milestones. Simply upload your favorite action shots to create custom wall graphics, posters, and art on canvas. We offer a variety of sports themed templates that can be customized with your athlete’s name, picture, jersey number, and team colors. Be sure to check back often as we will be updating the site frequently.
What makes the perfect MVP photo? We often receive questions regarding photo size, quality, and compatibility with our products. Our best answer is that the ideal MVP photo combines high resolution and image quality with basic photography skills. This article is meant to serve as a guide for those planning to reproduce sports photos as MVP products.
SELECTING A DEVICE & SETTINGS
The making of a great MVP Memory starts with the device and settings. Thanks to modern technology, the average consumer can purchase a relatively high quality digital camera for a minimal investment. The Nikon Coolpix L120, which offers 14.1 megapixels and 21x zoom, currently sells for $279.99 at Best Buy. In addition, many modern smart phones, such as the iPhone 4S and the Droid Razr by Motorola, offer relatively good image quality at 8 megapixels.
Low resolution photos lose detail at large sizes.
Most cameras are labeled according to a specific number of megapixels. Each megapixel contains 1 million block shaped pixels arranged in rows and columns. An image with more pixels contains more data and therefore allows us to view detail at large sizes. A camera’s megapixel label indicates the maximum number of pixels it can produce. In general, higher megapixel devices produce the highest quality images and are the best choice for large format printing.
Congratulations Winners of the 2011 FLYF Golf Outing
Recently, the staff from MVPmemories.com had the opportunity to be part of the Finish Line Youth Foundation’s 9th Annual Golf Outing, held at the prestigious Bridgewater Club in Carmel, Indiana.
Through the support of sponsors at events like this outing, the Finish Line Youth Foundation strives to make a positive impact in the lives of kids in communities across the USA. The Foundation’s programs are focused on the development of active, healthy lifestyles through participation in youth programs.
In 2011, FLYF will provide support to over 100 non-profit organizations. As part of its mission, the Foundation funds camps throughout the country that tailor to special needs children. For organizations like Beyond the Ball of Chicago, they have made possible the construction of basketball courts for the kids of Little Village. In Oklahoma, they recently built a universally accessible “Dreamcatcher Playground” for underprivileged and disabled children.
The golf outing was a big hit with the 160 players in attendance. The weather was perfect and the Bridgewater Club’s facilities were outstanding. Prior to the shotgun start, players had an opportunity to interact with the tournament’s special guest, Jim Flick. Jim is an ambassador for TaylorMade and the well-known coach for PGA greats, including Jack Nicklaus and Tom Lehman. After their round, the players participated in a putting contest for a chance to win $10,000. The tournament also featured a “19th hole” where closest-to-the-pin winners and others competed in a shootout to win a brand new 2011 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara. The evening ended with “An Evening of Hope on the Green,” a dinner and live auction. Some of the auction items included a Super Bowl package, a golf trip for two including new clubs and a custom club fitting, and many sports memorabilia items.
The tournament was won by Chris Susott, Todd McCullough, Kyle Bloom, and Scott Miller. The team, which represented PNC Bank finished with a score of 15 under par. While team PNC got to savor their victory, the real winner was the charity and the kids it supports.
According to Glenn Lyon, CEO of the Finish Line, “The 9th Annual Finish Line Youth Foundation Golf Outing was a great success this year, and thanks to the generosity of our sponsors we raised over $250,000; a new record! This support is integral as our Youth Foundation continues to benefit children’s organizations across the country that promote active and healthy lifestyles, as well as camps for sick and disabled children. I thank you for your continued partnership and generosity that allows us to make an immeasurable impact on the lives of thousands of children.”
MVPmemories.com caters to families with kids in sports and allows them to create their own instant replay on custom photo products like wall graphics, trading cards and canvas prints. MVP Memories was proud to participate in an event that will undoubtedly have a positive effect on many young people. We look forward to the opportunity to participate in future Finish Line Youth Foundation events. With enough practice, maybe next year will be the year Team MVP brings home the champion’s trophy.
To learn more about the Finish Line Youth Foundation, please visit their website.
3.8 million. It’s the number of recreation and sports related concussions reported in the United States each year. Dick’s Sporting Goods recognizes that when it comes to concussions, knowledge is power. They recently launched the PACE (Protecting Athletes through Concussion Education) program, an initiative dedicated to generating awareness and educating schools, athletes, and parents on the benefits of baseline concussion testing. Continue reading
Last weekend, Madeira, Ohio hosted the Madeira Centennial Criterium, a series of amateur and professional bicycle races. The event, which was sponsored by PNC Bank and the Madeira Chamber of Commerce, drew bike racing talent and spectators from across the Midwest. Although the race series was the main attraction, the event also included entertainment and activities for families and spectators, as well as opportunities for local businesses.
Merriam-Webster defines “criterium” as a bicycle race of a specified number of laps on a closed course over public roads closed to normal traffic. The Centennial Criterium course led participants on a quest through the streets of downtown Madeira for periods of 30-75 minutes. The amateur races kicked off the afternoon at 4:30 and led up to the men’s professional race at 8:15. The men’s professional race, which was the main event, lasted approximately 75 minutes. First place was awarded to Clay Murfet of Breinigsville, Pennsylvania. The complete list of race results is posted to the USA Cycling web site. Although the men’s professional race was the main event, the action was not limited to adults. Children had the opportunity to compete in a one-lap “Fun Ride” for bragging rights and award ribbons. Continue reading
Car wash. Bake sale. Auction. Door-to-door sales. What do these have in common? They are all traditional fundraising models that are very popular with youth sports organizations. However, thanks to the Internet and modern technology, these methods now have new competition. Several Internet based businesses or “e-tailers” now offer affiliate programs.
Many local sports organizations have established web sites where parents and fans check scores, game times, and practice times. Internet affiliate programs present an opportunity for those organizations to generate revenue from their existing web traffic. The process is actually very simple. An organization signs up for an affiliate program and places one of the retailer’s banner ads on its web site. The organization earns commission each time a user clicks on the banner and makes a purchase. Continue reading
Since we launched MVPmemories.com we’ve seen a lot of photos of kids engaged in their favorite sports. We expected to see a lot of football, baseball, soccer, basketball, and hockey images…and we have. But what is more intriguing are the number of photos we get of kids playing individual sports like swimming, skating, tennis and golf. We’re even seeing photos of extreme sports like motocross. All of this lead to the inevitable question – what separates a “sport” from every other outdoor activity?
We’re attempting to answer this question from two different perspectives. Melissa Molyneaux argues that “sports” are contests that require athleticism and provide an opportunity to win. John Hauer takes the stance that a “sport” must also feature some objective measurement, like a score, goal or finish line. Whats your opinion? Take our survey or weigh-in in the comments below!
Point – A Sport is a Sport – Melissa Molyneaux takes the stance that while the judging process is not always perfect, a sport should be defined by more than its scoring system.
Counterpoint – Sports Need Objectivity – John Hauer argues that we should reserve the title of “sport” for activities that can be played on the field, court, course or even in the back yard without the need for a “judge.”
I remember it like it was yesterday. When I close my eyes I can still feel my heart pounding. I couldn’t help but anticipate the outcome. I was 11 years old and on deck in my first figure skating competition. Looking back, I realize that it was all part of the excitement and adrenalin rush that only competitive sports can produce.
Despite their ability to produce excitement and promote competition, many believe that activities such as gymnastics, figure skating, and diving should not be classified as sports. The bulk of this argument is based on the fact that the winner is determined solely by judging, which allows for human error. While I agree that the judging process is not always perfect, I can’t help but think that a sport should be defined by more than its scoring system.
For me, the night of April 6, 1987 will live in infamy. It was the night that “Marvelous” Marvin Hagler and “Sugar” Ray Leonard went 12 rounds in one of the best fights of all time. I watched the entire fight and was certain Hagler had won. Then the judge’s cards were read. The first judge scored the fight in favor of Leonard. The second scored it to Hagler. The third and final judge sealed the fate of both fighters by ruling it to Leonard. I was outraged! Leonard went on to an outstanding career and Hagler retired from boxing and never returned.
Years later I’m still bothered by that experience. I see a need for judges in boxing, but also see the opportunity for mistakes and fraud. Officials are supposed to judge boxers in four different categories: clean punching, defense, effective aggressiveness and ring generalship. The problem is, even those terms are pretty subjective.
Here at MVPmemories.com we’ve been working hard to share our value proposition – we help people celebrate their greatest sports memories. How? Visitors to our site can upload their favorite sports photos and use them to create custom products including trading cards, wall graphics, posters, and canvas prints.
As you can imagine, our products are very appealing to parents, grandparents, and others looking for great gift ideas for the children in their life. The stars of many of the photos we’ve received are kids in action, playing the big team sports – soccer, baseball, football, basketball, and hockey. Growing team sports like lacrosse, softball, and cheerleading have also been well represented. We’ve also received photos of young athletes in individual sports such as gymnastics, swimming, ice skating, tennis, and golf.
While all of that was somewhat expected, we’ve been a bit surprised by some of the more extreme sports images people are submitting. For instance, we recently received a photo of Jack P. He’s 12 years old and already receiving serious attention as a BMX and motocross rider. His Dad, Jim submitted a photo of him on his dirt bike in mid-jump, and asked us to create a custom cut wall decal. When the product arrived, the family hung it in Jack’s room. According to Jim:
“My son thinks it’s the best thing ever, and all of his friends now want their own.”
Whatever their favorite sport, our unique products are designed to celebrate your child’s all-star moments. They make great gifts for birthdays, holidays, and more. Ordering from MVPmemories.com is easy! Select the perfect product, upload your photo, and place your order. We’ll quickly manufacture your custom photo products and deliver them straight to your door. You’ll be amazed by their reaction!
I have to admit…I wasn’t exactly eager to try it. My ideal football experience is freezing temperatures, 80-yard kick returns, and thousands of passionate fans. I doubted that a local arena football team could produce the same level of excitement. However, I couldn’t resist going along for the ride when my friends decided to attend a Cincinnati Commandos arena football game.
We chose the April 29th game vs. the Dayton Silverbacks. I learned through our conversation before the game that the Commandos were the 2010 CIFL champions. Perhaps this would be more exciting than I originally thought. Continue reading
