Karl Wiedemann of Pedro's writes a spot on Shut Up and Drink the Kool-Aid! recounting the crap that marketing managers go through this time of year in the cycling industry (or a lot of industries, I'd imagine) with all of the bonehead sponsorship proposals

         Full Disclosure: I used to be one of those morons sending proposals when I was running a 6 person junior mountain bike racing team called the "Peninsula Mountain Goats".

Frankly, I can admit to making a few of the mistakes mentioned, but seriously, so many people seeking sponsorship feel entitled to the goods. Confidence in your abilities - great, just know where you stand in the scheme of things.

Paraphrasing his thoughts:
* Address the proposal to a real person. For shit's sake people, didn't your 10th grade English teach learn you nuthin'?
* Pictures are good, words are bad.
* Use spell check.
* Don't be annoying and call every day
* Yeah, don't mention a lot of competitiors products. Vigilantes need not apply

Thanks again for thinking of us and spotlighting the blog.

Sponsorship is such a crazy, crazy world. I have been a sponsorship coordinator for a large team/ club and then for myself when I was sure I was going to be the next best thing (I was wrong incidentally). Now I get to see the proposals instead of writing them. I can't count the number of times they have brought tears to my eyes- both good and bad.

Tim Jackson
Chief Kool-Aid Dispenser