Holiday Gifts 2017

It’s time to go shopping (and make wish lists) with these sports business execs.

Hoping to receive: Since I travel a lot, I am always looking for a good read on ways to drive our business at the National Lacrosse League forward. I am hoping to get “The Four: The Hidden DNA of Amazon, Apple, Google, and Facebook.”
For gifts: At the NLL, we have the pulse on all things digital, and so for my sons I’m going to be looking at the new phones with AR capabilities. My wife and I enjoy traveling, so I’ll be [looking] into places for our next adventure. I will also be making a donation to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. As a survivor, I know firsthand the importance and impact of these donations.

Getting: It’s not gonna happen, but I would really like a cryotherapy chamber at home, as opposed to having to travel to one.
Giving: All my three boys want are jerseys. They are NBA junkies: My little guy wants a Dr. J jersey, and there will be a Giannis Antetokounmpo jersey in there. My oldest is a bit of a front-runner, so it will be someone from Golden State, probably Steph.

I would like to get a new Callaway Epic driver, because I want that extra 15 yards. As insurance, I am getting my wife a Callaway Epic driver. Maybe she’ll let me borrow it.

For me: I recently moved from Arizona to Colorado, and I’m a total wimp when it comes to cold weather. I’m asking for winter running and cycling gear to motivate me to train outdoors year-round. I’m also asking for a Roka wetsuit to use in my next triathlon.
For others: I’m buying my dad a locker at his favorite cigar bar, and my mom is really sentimental, so I’m going to produce a video for her with highlights from our last family vacation to New Orleans. My wife is into trail running, so I’m getting her my favorite fitness tracking product: a Garmin watch. We are giving my oldest daughter, Hope (7), an American Girl doll, and my middle daughter, Grace (4), a dollhouse. My youngest daughter, Ruby (20 months), is too young to know any better, so she’s getting a flat-screen television for my man cave.

For the holidays, I would either like the Apple Watch 3 or a vintage 1970s soccer jersey, because I collect and wear old soccer jerseys. It will probably be easier to find the Apple Watch …
I bought a “Moana” microphone for one of my nieces and a stuffed animal from “Sing” for my other niece. I am looking to buy my son a “Ghostbusters” toy, because he really liked the movie after seeing it recently.

The thing that I would most like to receive for the holidays is time. More time to spend with my 6-year-old daughter, Trinity, and my husband. More time to work out. More time to read all of the books on my list and see all the movies I would like to see like Guillermo del Toro’s “The Shape of Water” or Aaron Sorkin’s “Molly’s Game.”
The gifts I plan to give include tickets to “The Nutcracker” ballet for my daughter and a bright-red Wayne Gretzky toaster (it adds an image of Gretzky onto your toast) for my husband who has everything! Most importantly, I organize an NHL charity project whereby my NHL colleagues and I buy gifts for families in need. This year, we have four families who will receive clothes, toys and gift cards, and it is such a wonderful feeling knowing you are helping make a child’s holiday a little brighter.

To get: I recently got an old record player from my parents, so records — jazz, blues, rap, NYC rock!
To give: Last month I visited our team in Cape Town and was blown away by the Stellenbosch region — its beauty, people, food and, of course, the wine. I’ll be gifting wines from this region for sure this holiday.

Wish list: A trip to the PXG Xperience in Scottsdale … with a guest.
To give: If I get that plus-one to the PXG, I’d gift that to fellow MKTG exec Dave Grant.

Giving: My son is getting a trip to England to see Man U play in January. They’re my husband’s favorite team.
Getting: Bought it already: Plane tickets to Maui on Dec. 15, where we will close out the year.

This holiday season I plan on gifting my friends and colleagues the new book by Tim Ferriss titled “Tribe of Mentors: Short Life Advice From the Best in the World.” He is one of my favorite authors/podcasters, and it’s intriguing to hear his thoughts on what makes people the best at what they do.
I am hoping to receive a set of PXG golf clubs. With less time to practice these days, maybe the newer and advanced club technology will help me improve on the golf course!