PROFESSIONAL
What I like …
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Photo: COURTESY OF TWITCH
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■ An insight: For every one thing different about esports, there’s two things that are the same with traditional sports.
■ An influential person in my career: My aunt, Lauren Anderson. As a successful woman in the world of collegiate athletics she showed me that anything was possible and to believe in myself. She was also directly responsible for many of the most impactful fan moments I had growing up, that fueled my passion and desire to work in sports.
Nathan Lindberg
Director of esports,
Twitch
■ What I Do: I introduce brands and partners to the emerging world of esports. I’m one part salesman, one part evangelist and two parts enthusiast.
■ Where I’m From: I originally hail from Norwich, Vt. I have found roots in New Jersey after an eight-year stint in San Francisco.
■ Where I Went to School: Ithaca College, B.S. in sport media.
■ My First Job: I sold ice cream bars for $1-$2 out of a Good Humor cart for a local charity. I set the record for sales in one day at $176!
■ An out-of-the-box idea: What if virtual reality actually renders stadiums irrelevant?
■ A timeless idea: Fans create sport, not the other way around.
■ A business deal: The Bud Light All-Star program (Bud Light’s first foray into competitive gaming).
■ A sports facility: Sucker for the friendly confines of Selhurst Park. Miss the old days of Olympic Stadium in Montreal.
■ An esports facility: I’m excited to
finally visit the Spodek in Katowice, Poland, this year. Certainly one of the most unique esports venues to date.
■ Game to play: Golf and “Rocket League.”
■ Game to watch other people play: From an esports perspective,
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Spodek in Katowice, Poland.
Photo by: GETTY IMAGES
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I love “Rocket League” and “Magic: The Gathering”; from a sports perspective, I’m not sure I can consume enough golf content.
■ A strategy: NBCSN’s broadcasting deal with the EPL in America, one of my favorite Saturday morning traditions with my daughter.
■ A hire: I’ve been fortunate to hire some incredible people. I just hope half of them will hire me once they take over the world.
■ A brand: I have two favorites! Nando’s restaurants and Loudmouth. Both brands are playful, but both products are fantastic (in my opinion).
■ An innovation: Augmented reality, to me, is the next massive thing in sports and, frankly, everything.
■ A pro league or team business initiative: Biased here, but the NBA’s steadfast and continuing investment into esports is something that should be regarded as industry leading and the blueprint for how to evolve with technology.
■ A story that bears watching: Collegiate esports and the rise of scholarships being given to esports athletes by universities.
■ An idea or invention I wish I had thought of: Minecraft.
■ A fantasy job: I’m told by friends and colleagues that what I have already is a fantasy job, but I’d love to be the lead commentator for the Masters..
What I like about …
■ My job: I’m at the evolutionary crossroads of video games and sports.
■ The future of sports business: The blending of traditional and electronic sports.
■ Sports fans: A passion lacking reason, but full of confidence.
What I would like to …
■ Change in what I do: Spending less time having to rationalize esports and more time on how brands and partners execute in the space.
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Storming the court / rushing the field.
Photo by: GETTY IMAGES
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What don’t like …
■ Pet peeve: “e-gaming.” Please don’t ever call it that, ever.
■ In sports: When it becomes all about the money.
■ In business: When it becomes all about the money.
■ About sports fans: Rushing the field.
PERSONAL
What I Like …
■ About myself: My supreme confidence in wearing loud and outrageous-colored trousers (both on the golf course and off).
■ Heroes: My parents. They are the ones who always encouraged me. As well as those choosing to serve in our armed services — no higher calling and service to others.
■ Players: Larry Bird, Roger Clemens, Vlad Guerrero, Phil Mickelson and Kevin Garnett.
■ Teams: Boston Celtics and Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals.
■ City: Sydney, Australia.
■ Possession: Omega watch (bought when the first startup I worked for sold).
■ Memento: “Sportsman of the Year” NHIAA State Officials Award, 2002.
■ Music: Country and anything from the 1980s.
■ Books: “Values of the Game,” “John Adams,” “Darth Bane: The Rule of Two.”
■ Authors: David McCullough, Timothy Zahn, David Eddings, Bill Bradley.
■ Magazines: Esquire, Travel and Leisure, and Golf Digest.
■ Apps: Untappd, Waze, Clash Royale, Amazon Instant Video.
■ Hobbies: Golfing, gaming, cooking, rare beer, wine and spirits.
■ Movies: “Star Wars,” “Old School,” “Transformers: The Movie” (1986 animated film), “Hoosiers,” “Caddyshack,” “Gladiator.”
■ TV: “24,” “Lost,” “Transformers,” “Star Wars: The Clone Wars,” “Doug,” “Friday Night Lights,” “Feherty.”
■ Concerts: Dave Matthews Band, Toby Keith, Tim McGraw.
■ Artist: Michael Godard.
■ Food: Brussels sprouts.
■ Drink: Old fashioned.
■ Scent: Freshly cut greens and fairways.
■ Cars: BMW i8.
■ Singer: Jimmy Buffett, Toby Keith, Eminem, the Grateful Dead.
■ Quote: “Play hard and good things can happen.” — Paul “Doc” Donohue
