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After six years of tertiary education and numerous part-time positions within sport and recreation, Daniel secured an ideal full time role within local government in November 2010.
Away from work, Daniel has 18 years of cricket experience under his belt and has coached and served on committees at numerous clubs. He also plays baseball in winter and is again a member of the club committee.
Sport and recreation is an obvious interest for Daniel and his articles reflect that, especially his knowledge of cricket and football.
The owner, manager and editor in chief of Pen & Paper Sports, Daniel hopes to see the site grow from strength to strength in the future.
I was at the Starry Starry Night Charity Dinner a few weeks ago and bumped in to Gary Ablett Jnr (a fantastic guy and great player), and it reminded me of a very funny story to do with him, his father and his brother Nathan.
Gary Ablett Snr had just come to me for management in1994 - I had only been in the industry a short time. I was eager to prove myself and to show Gary that I was “the man”.
Fortunately I managed to secure Gary his first endorsement deal within days and it revolved around Gary doing a photo shoot next to a lifesize cardboard cut-out of himself.
Gary had to come to a photo studio in North Melbourne one Saturday and decided to bring Gary Jnr (aged 13) and Nathan (12). Now, these little shits of kids (Haha, joking!) use to give me hell because they would always be doing typical kids stuff - Like stuffing around breaking things, getting in my way and general punching the living suitcases out of each other. Nothing was about to change.
Whilst Gary Snr was being prepared for the photo by the photographer, the boys were going beserk, running around everywhere and kicking a footy at my head. Just as I was about to bop them, they knocked a lighting stand over and it smashed on the floor.
The photographer went beserk. He went in to another room where he printed off two photos of Gary Snr, taking the so-called 'Mark of the century' over Gary Pert at the MCG. He then marched back in to the room, handing the photos to the boys and saying, “Now go away and leave us alone whilst we get this photo done!”
The boys excitedly ran up to their dad, both screaming, “Dad, dad can you autograph these for us?” - Now I must admit this was a bit strange to me because I’d never asked my old man for an autograph…Mind you, he only played for Provincial Seconds in a Bendigo Minor League! To my sheer amazement Gary Snr said, “No definitely not... Go away I’m not signing them!”
The kids asked and asked, again and again, but still Gary Snr said “NO!”
The photographer was now very irritated and he turned to me and said, “Ok Mr Hotshot Manager, I’m fed up with this. I’m taking these kids into the next room. You have two minutes to sort this out or this job is all over red rover!”
Now I’m starting to think, what the hell do I do here? So I turned to Gary Snr and I said, “Please Gary, sign the photo for your kids!” Gary responded, “No!”
I again said, “Please Gary, I’m on my knees begging you!”
Gary said, “No!"
Shocked, I said, ”Gary, please its your own kids!”
Gary turned to me and said, “Ricky I’ve been up to the school principals office three times this week. These little buggers have been bringing home footy cards, I’ve been signing them and they’ve been selling them at school for $70 bucks!!"
I must admit, Gary Jnr had a good laugh when I recalled the story a few weeks ago!
Ricky Nixon
Image courtesy of Herald Sun
