Ewa featured in Sports Business Journal

Ewa featured in Sports Business Journal
August 2009

Ewa Mataya Laurance, “The Striking Viking”, Hall of fame pool player,
world champion trick shot artist and ESPN analyst

What I Like …

• An insight: The tougher the climb, the more rewarding the view.

• An influential person in my career: My daughter. She inspires me to work harder and is a constant reminder that I need to always be the role model.

• An out-of-the-box idea: Women’s pool on ESPN.

• A timeless idea: Always try to do the right thing, whatever that means to you at that time.

• A sports facility: Wrigley Field, Boston Billiard Club.

• An ad: American Express’ “Don’t leave home without it.”

• A business decision: A sneaker company making golf clubs (Nike).

• A TV ad campaign: The E-Trade talking babies.

• A print ad campaign: PETA’s “Be comfortable in your own skin.”

• A hire: The Chicago Bulls hiring Vinny Del Negro as head coach.

• A brand: Brunswick.

• A trend: Going green.

• An idea or invention I wish I had thought of: Liquid-resistant pool table cloth.

• A fantasy job: Caddying for Tiger at Augusta (Can I use a pull cart?).

What I Like About …

• My job: Everything! I get to compete, entertain and travel around the world while meeting and inspiring people from all walks of life.

• My sport: The fact that there’s only me and the table; no excuses.

• Sports: How it challenges and encourages you to improve and to reach higher.

• Sports business: Opportunities to expand, grow and envision. The business of sports is limitless when it comes to creativity.

• Sports media: The feel-good stories.

• Sports technology: That it allows me to drive the ball 200 yards plus!

• The future of sports business: Paying attention to the next generation.

• Sports fans: Their loyalty.

What I Would Like To …

• Change in my sport: More prize money.

• See less in my sport: Preconceived notions about pool from people who don’t even know the sport.

• See more of in sports business: Responsibility and awareness of impact on kids.

• Reintroduce: Straight pool.

• Eliminate: Speed pool.

What I Don’t Like …

• Pet peeve: The fact that most people don’t understand and appreciate what an intelligent, beautiful, fascinating, yet difficult game billiards is.

• In sports: Money having such a big role in school sports.

• In my sport: Hustling.

• In media: In-your-face television hosts.

• In technology: When it compromises the game’s integrity.

• In sports facilities: Dirty rest rooms.

• In sports journalism: Being misquoted.

• About sports fans: When they forget that, in the end, it’s just a game.

Personal

What I Like …

• That would surprise those who know me: I’ve become a Facebooker.

• Hero: Bono.

• Players: Efren Reyes, Willie Mosconi, Annika Sorenstam, Tiger Woods.

• Teams: Blue Devils, Yankees, Brynäs (the hockey team from Gävle, Sweden).

• City: Stockholm, Chicago and Charleston, S.C.

• Possession: My Brunswick Montebello table.

• Memento: The gold medal from my first European Championship.

• Time of year: Spring. The weather is perfect for golf during the day and for playing pool at night.

• Authors: Jodi Picoult, Khaled Hosseini.

• Magazines: Self, Newsweek, People, Vanity Fair.

• Gadgets: My BlackBerry.

• Trips: Anywhere! Partial to going home to Sweden for family visits.

• Movies: “Forrest Gump,” “The Hustler,” “Spartacus,” “Slumdog Millionaire.”

• TV: “American Idol,” “The Daily Show,” “The Colbert Report,” golf tournaments.

• Artist: Leif Formgren.

• Food: Sesame-seared tuna.

• Dessert: Pear ice cream.

• Drink: Water, coffee and wine. Not necessarily always in that order.

• Scent: Flora by Gucci.

• Vacation spots: Sweden, Ireland, Scotland, Mexico, South Africa. Pretty much anywhere I can bring my clubs.

• Cars: Volvo (and maybe a Porsche for the weekend).

• Singer: Tom Petty, Duffy, Sade.

• Quote: “Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up” — Jimmy Valvano.