On his partnership with Good Sports and Equip-A-Kid, Palmer said, “That is something I am really, really excited about. I’ve been a national spokesperson for them for a little over a year now. It is a great organization, whose mission statement hits close to home with me. There are really shocking statistics out there, with respect to the decline of participation of kids in sports. The No. 1 issue is the lack of access to equipment, and that is something that Good Sports has done such a great job of over the years. It helped donate $26 million in equipment, apparel and footwear, that has helped impact about five million kids across the country.”
“Good Sports is able to reach all these kids, in ways that a lot of other people can’t. There are still around five million kids that are on the ‘sidelines,’ that need equipment and the opportunity to go and play, so there is still a lot of work to be done,” he said.
On his plans for the New Year, Palmer said, “New Year’s is going to be a lot of work, especially with college football. There are a lot of ball games around that time. It is going to be a busy time, no doubt.”
Regarding his daily motivations, he said, “I love new experiences and challenging myself, and learning more about myself. I am really lucky with my jobs. I get to work with great non-profits like Good Sports and I get to meet some really unique and interesting people, and hopefully make a little bit of a difference. Every day for me is a blessing.”
For aspiring athletes, he said, “Be open-minded, and try a lot of different sports too. When I was a young kid, I knew that I wanted to play pro football, but by playing baseball, basketball, volleyball and track and field, it honed my skills, and I made so many more friends that I wouldn’t have met otherwise.”
When asked to look back and reflect over the past decade, he said, “Being able to take risks, and stretch myself, and challenge myself.”
He was the first professional athlete on the reality show, The Bachelor. “That was so cool. That was a very unique experience, since it allowed me to step out of my comfort zone,” he said. “I learned a lot about myself along the way. That was a wild ride!”
Palmer defined the word success as “Willing to take chances.” “In life, self-actualization is so important,” he said. “The willingness to try new things, meet new people and go to new places, have been the most fulfilling things for me.”
Digital transformation of sports
On the impact of technology in sports, he said, “Technology has changed it in a lot of different ways. It has made the players and athletes more accessible to the fans, and they can interact with them. More than anything, social media has been a real game changer in sports, and it has connected fans with athletes and teams all around the world. Businesses have been able to build their brands, and information sharing across the board is completely different from what it was 10 or 15 years ago.”
Palmer noted that technology has also helped athletes, especially football players, from a bio-mechanical standpoint. “With respect to football, technology has helped doctors and medical staff monitor athletes with brain trauma and concussions, not just after trauma, but even within game and competition. That has been huge,” he said.
To learn more about Good Sports, check out its official website.
