What I Like.... With Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Prez David Shoemaker

Shoemaker Names Centre Court At Wimbledon As Facility He Likes

In our continuing series, SportsBusiness Daily/SportsBusiness Journal asks top sports personalities for their thoughts, ideas, aspirations and likes. Today, Sony Ericsson WTA Tour President DAVID SHOEMAKER.

What I like in an insight: Never be complacent.

An influential person in my career: My first ski coach, MARC ALLAIRE, who taught me to treat winning and losing as if they were the same.

An out-of-the-box idea: Selling a cup of coffee for $4.

A timeless idea: Treat people the way you would like to be treated.

A business deal: GEORGE STEINBRENNER's 1973 purchase of the New York Yankees from CBS.
 
A sports facility: Centre Court at Wimbledon.

A sports event: Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony.

A strategy: Splitting the difference.

A hire: The Phillie Phanatic.

A brand: Nike.

A trend: Retro sneakers.

An innovation: Hawkeye for calling tennis lines.

A pro league or team business initiative: The NHL's Winter Classic.

A story that bears watching: LAURA ROBSON.

An idea or invention I wish I had thought of: the iPod.

Shoemaker's Fantasy Job Is F1 Driver For Scuderia Ferrari

A fantasy job: F1 driver for Scuderia Ferrari.

What I like about my job: Working with people who have endless passion for tennis.

Sports: You never know who is going to win (not even when MICHAEL PHELPS is in the pool).

Sports business: Our "products" encourage young people to hope and dream.

Sports media: They want the same thing we do ­-- a great game, race, or match.

Sports technology: Allows once venerable records to be broken.

Competing: Every game, race, or match starts at 0.

The future (or direction) of sports business: Digital Entertainment.

Sports fans: They'll cheer for just about anyone that's on their team.

What I would like to change: One time zone for the entire world (so I can sleep!).

Change in what I do: Reduce the amount of e-mails I send/receive.

See: A Chinese female tennis player winning Wimbledon.

See more of in sports: Bigger rinks in hockey arenas.

See more of in sports business: Team/player loyalty (I'm a purist in this regard).

Shoemaker Wants Fewer Dropped Passes In Football

See less of in sports: Dropped passes in football.

See less of in sports business: Contract renegotiations.

Eliminate: Performance-enhancing drugs.

What I don't like in general: Disrespect.

Pet peeve: People that stand too close to the baggage conveyor at airports.

In sports: Mispronounced surnames by sportscasters.

In business: Dishonesty.

About sports fans: Those that cheer for the Montreal Canadiens.

What I like in people: Every person has a unique perspective based on their life experience.

That would surprise those who know me: I love shoes.

Above all else: Happy people.

Heroes: ARTHUR ASHE.

Players: MIKE WEIR.

Teams: Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Giants, Montreal Expos (ouch!).

City: Paris.

Possession: Nike Air Jordans.

Memento: Beijing Olympics credential.

Time of year (because): The winter in Canada, because there's nothing quite like waking up to a fresh snowfall.

Music: U2.

Books: "Moneyball."

Authors: MICHAEL CRICHTON.

Magazines: Golf Digest, New York, Men's Health.

Shoemaker Likes SeatGuru.com

Web sites: www.seatguru.com.

Gadgets: Sony Ericsson X1 Xperia.

Chores: Keeping my desk clear of papers.

Hobbies: Skiing.

Trips: Any trip that's not a business trip.

Movies: "Forrest Gump."

TV: "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "The Wire."

Concerts: Anything at Madison Square Garden.

Artist: VAN GOGH.

Food: Fried chicken.

Dessert: Banana cream pie.

Molson Canadian Is Shoemaker's Favorite Drink

Drink: Molson Canadian.

Scent: On women: CoCo Chanel Mademoiselle.

Vacation spots: Whistler, B.C.

Cars: Porsche 911 Carrera.

Aftershave: Mont Blanc Starwalker.

Singer: BONO.

Quote: "Come on, Bart! Remember what VINCE LOMBARDI said: 'If you lose, you're out of the family!'" -- Homer Simpson (on mini-golf championships match against Todd Flanders).