How to Make an Albino Alligator Smile

Before I get started, yes that really is a living albino alligator. Lisa Cole of the Boston Breakers is in San Francisco this weekend watching games, so last night we took a jaunt to the California Academy of Sciences to take in a little NiteLife. This place is AWESOME. Basically, the Academy is a museum/planetarium/aquarium in Golden Gate Park. Every Thursday, the Academy is transformed into a lively venue filled with music, provocative science, mingling, and cocktails, for visitors 21 and older. Science and alcohol? Whoever thought up this idea is absolutely brilliant. (I’ll drop a few more pics at the bottom of this post)

So I thought I’d also give a brief update on the happenings in the web department at the WPS League Office. The WPS news coverage may be starting to cool off a bit since we’re in the post-season, and the day-to-day workload here at the league office has changed a bit, but make no mistake it’s still fast and furious. One of the projects we’ve been working on is that Karyn Lush and I helped the Atlanta Beat launch their new website. It was really exciting to announce that at the final hour on Monday (which was our deadline – the draft was the next day!) we got it up and running. Christa Mann, Atlanta’s Media Manager really put in the hours to make it happen. Great work Christa!!! Of course I have to mention that if you’re on the site, and you see any weird images or see that links aren’t working properly, send me a message here.

The Expansion Draft was on Tuesday – Check out the results. Working on the website that day was intense. After the call ended (the Commissioner, Our Legal Counselors, and Chief Operating Officer managed the call via a secure conference line here at the League Office along with the Team Representatives dialing in from each of their cities), we had a two-hour window to get the website ready to announce the picks – Creating stories, moving player profiles from old teams to the new ones, and even creating a mock-up roster page for Philly until we have them on the WPS network. The amount of hits we got on the website at that moment was crazy, so things were running a bit slow (sorry folks!) but in the end this is a good thing to have so much interest, right? (haha maybe not if you were sweating bullets like me trying to get the story published.)

Wednesday afternoon brought a multi-hour staff meeting, including a debrief of challenges faced in 2009, and we began our general overview discussion for 2010. Of note, Karyn and I have spent a great deal of time combing through all fan suggestions across our social networks (BigSoccer, Fan Corner, Facebook, Twitter), and those written into the Commissioner herself (If you have suggestions, please feel free to send them to the Commissioner at feedback@womensprosoccer.com She wrote a blog last week asking for input). We made a comprehensive list and discussed it in the staff meeting. Big thanks to everybody for sending in your thoughts – I think it’s pretty cool how seriously WPS takes suggestions from fans and followers.

On the NSCAA front, I know it’s hard to believe, but we’re already gearing up for the 2010 Convention in Philly January 14th-17th. I’ve been working on nailing down the presenter for the Women’s Committee – we’re VERY close, I can’t wait to make the announcement :-) Stay tuned to the NSCAA Women’s Committee page for that, or make it easy – follow the Women’s Committee on Twitter. The NSCAA has also started a Social Media Campaign that I’m uber-excited about. Become a fan on Facebook or follow the NSCAA on Twitter. They’re also beefing up the content on YouTube so I’m sure you’ll start to see promotional videos, informational videos, coaching videos… all that! Are you a member of the NSCAA? Join today!

And of course the NCAA college season is in full swing. I’m always checking in on all the teams I’ve been a part of, and BIG PROPS to Head Coach Danny Sanchez at Wyoming (my alma mater) for starting a Wyo soccer twitter feed. College coaches: I’m convinced this is the BEST way to grow and develop your alumni network. If you want ideas or help, let me know. Seriously.

All righty. Here are a few more photos from the trip to California Academy of Sciences last night, as promised. Cheers.

Above Left: Ethan sits in this big cone thing at the end of the night with the docents, listening to the sounds of the rainforest.
Above Right: The Academy of Sciences is apparently the greenest building in the world. The roof is alive, literally, covered with grass and plants. This part sits above the rainforest.

Above Left: Is that the biggest Sea Bass you’ve ever seen, Lisa?
Above Right: Look closely, that’s one bad-ass Sea Dragon!