Post by teri on Sept 3, 2008 0:47:44 GMT -5
Katrina woke up feeling groggy. Here she was still crying over Apolo after all this time. No more, Katrina thought. I will get over this. She jumped out of bed and into the shower with new determination. He wants to be friends he said. Fine friends it is. Time to get through this and move on with my life, Katrina thought as she got ready for the day.
Katrina and her team worked furiously the next few days to put together marketing plans for the individual skaters. The workload just to compile data on all the skaters including bio’s, statistics, photos and current sponsorships was staggering and Katrina was glad she could leave most of it up to her staff.
In between meetings, Katrina worked on a new plan for Apolo as well as the plan for the short track team as a whole. Katrina was actually enjoying the workload. Drafting plans, making calls to different news, sports and entertainment shows, as well as the meetings with prospective sponsors, left little time for her to dwell on how she would handle spending more time with Apolo.
On Friday David, Suzie and Katrina left for the airport along with several large cases containing the plans and contracts they would have to work through over the next few days. They were arriving at a hotel near the training center in the evening and would be meeting with the skaters and coaches Saturday morning.
The first meeting Saturday was an introduction session with all the skaters and coaches to explain the marketing ideas and concepts. Katrina knew many of the returning skaters and greeted them all warmly as she prepared to start the meeting. Scanning the room she saw Apolo at the back staring at her. She felt her nerves twitch and quickly looked away and started the meeting.
Katrina led off the meeting explaining how a full marketing campaign for the team as a whole and featuring each skater individually would help bring short track to the attention of corporate sponsors. Everyone knew the real way to support the skaters and increase the potential of short track was through sponsorships. Katrina explained they would meet individually with each skater and get to know them, determine a human-interest byline and review the contracts and marketing plans for each of them. At the end of this process they would meet again and review the plans for the team as a whole. Dave & Suzie were introduced and everyone was given an interview time that worked around their training schedules. Everything was well underway and people started scattering to different activities.
Katrina walked back to where Apolo was sitting. She took a deep breath and gave him a bright smile. “Hi Apolo. Are you ready to start working on the plans for you and the team?”
Apolo could see Katrina was trying to act friendly. At least that is an improvement, he thought. Taking her hand he gave her one of his cutest smiles and said, “I’m glad you’re here. How about we go up to my rooms and we can sit comfortably and talk.”
Katrina felt her arm tingle from her fingers to her elbow as he held her hand. Easing her hand out of his she turned to gather up her briefcase. “That’s fine. It may take some time to work through everything,” Katrina said. “I still have some questions to ask you about how you envision the marketing helping you move forward after the Olympics.”
Once upstairs seated with Apolo on his sofa, Katrina outlined the plans she had drawn up for the team.
“This looks really amazing,” Apolo told her has he looked over the list of possible sponsors and media events. “If we accomplish even half of this we will be on our way to really helping the sport.”
Apolo put down the papers and looked down into Katrina’s eyes. “I really appreciate your doing this Katrina. I know you didn’t want to get involved again but I am so glad you are here.”
Katrina gave Apolo a genuine smile. “Actually I didn’t realize how much I’ve missed this part of the work. I mainly locate new talent now and don’t get involved in personally working with the clients. The last few days putting this together has been fun. Apolo, can I ask you some questions”, Katrina requested a little timidly.
“Of course, ask me anything you want,” Apolo said.
“How is training going? How do you think you will do at the Olympics this time?” Katrina asked quietly.
“You know you slow down as you get older and it gets harder to keep up the training. I feel like I’m still in good shape, training is going well. I’ll do my best and hopefully that will be good enough,” Apolo said.
“Are you really going to stop competing after this?” Katrina still couldn’t believe he would stop racing.
“Yeah, I’ll always love skating but I feel like now is the right time to move on. I’d like the opportunity to do other things with my life,” Apolo said as he turned to look into her eyes.
“I told you my plans for the future. I’d like to own several rinks, coach, and maybe organize some short track competitions. I wouldn’t mind working as a broadcasting expert for short track at big events once in a while.”
“Katrina, I’ve changed,” Apolo said turning towards her and taking both her hands in his. “I’m older, more mature and have learned a lot the last few years. I’m looking to have time for friends and family. I realize I’ve spent so much time working to be the best at my sport that I missed out on some of the more important things in life.”
Katrina gently removed her hands from Apolo and looked away. “Apolo you know I’ll always be your friend and will support you in your new plans.” She brought her eyes back up to look at him, “I am sure you will do well at the Olympics. You are still the best skater I have ever seen. We will work to make your new dreams come true, I just want you to think about this some more. Please be sure this is what you want before we get started. I can’t afford to start this and then have to change plans again. It wouldn’t be fair to you, me or the people I will be working with.”
“I have to check on Dave & Suzie. How about we meet for lunch. Give some thought to what I’ve said and we will talk again later,” Katrina said getting up and gathering her things.
Apolo went with her to the door and watched her walk down the hall. She is working hard to try to keep this all business, Apolo thought. She is not going to make this easy at all. Well back to being friends is a start. I’ll just have to come up with some plans of my own.
Katrina and her team worked furiously the next few days to put together marketing plans for the individual skaters. The workload just to compile data on all the skaters including bio’s, statistics, photos and current sponsorships was staggering and Katrina was glad she could leave most of it up to her staff.
In between meetings, Katrina worked on a new plan for Apolo as well as the plan for the short track team as a whole. Katrina was actually enjoying the workload. Drafting plans, making calls to different news, sports and entertainment shows, as well as the meetings with prospective sponsors, left little time for her to dwell on how she would handle spending more time with Apolo.
On Friday David, Suzie and Katrina left for the airport along with several large cases containing the plans and contracts they would have to work through over the next few days. They were arriving at a hotel near the training center in the evening and would be meeting with the skaters and coaches Saturday morning.
The first meeting Saturday was an introduction session with all the skaters and coaches to explain the marketing ideas and concepts. Katrina knew many of the returning skaters and greeted them all warmly as she prepared to start the meeting. Scanning the room she saw Apolo at the back staring at her. She felt her nerves twitch and quickly looked away and started the meeting.
Katrina led off the meeting explaining how a full marketing campaign for the team as a whole and featuring each skater individually would help bring short track to the attention of corporate sponsors. Everyone knew the real way to support the skaters and increase the potential of short track was through sponsorships. Katrina explained they would meet individually with each skater and get to know them, determine a human-interest byline and review the contracts and marketing plans for each of them. At the end of this process they would meet again and review the plans for the team as a whole. Dave & Suzie were introduced and everyone was given an interview time that worked around their training schedules. Everything was well underway and people started scattering to different activities.
Katrina walked back to where Apolo was sitting. She took a deep breath and gave him a bright smile. “Hi Apolo. Are you ready to start working on the plans for you and the team?”
Apolo could see Katrina was trying to act friendly. At least that is an improvement, he thought. Taking her hand he gave her one of his cutest smiles and said, “I’m glad you’re here. How about we go up to my rooms and we can sit comfortably and talk.”
Katrina felt her arm tingle from her fingers to her elbow as he held her hand. Easing her hand out of his she turned to gather up her briefcase. “That’s fine. It may take some time to work through everything,” Katrina said. “I still have some questions to ask you about how you envision the marketing helping you move forward after the Olympics.”
Once upstairs seated with Apolo on his sofa, Katrina outlined the plans she had drawn up for the team.
“This looks really amazing,” Apolo told her has he looked over the list of possible sponsors and media events. “If we accomplish even half of this we will be on our way to really helping the sport.”
Apolo put down the papers and looked down into Katrina’s eyes. “I really appreciate your doing this Katrina. I know you didn’t want to get involved again but I am so glad you are here.”
Katrina gave Apolo a genuine smile. “Actually I didn’t realize how much I’ve missed this part of the work. I mainly locate new talent now and don’t get involved in personally working with the clients. The last few days putting this together has been fun. Apolo, can I ask you some questions”, Katrina requested a little timidly.
“Of course, ask me anything you want,” Apolo said.
“How is training going? How do you think you will do at the Olympics this time?” Katrina asked quietly.
“You know you slow down as you get older and it gets harder to keep up the training. I feel like I’m still in good shape, training is going well. I’ll do my best and hopefully that will be good enough,” Apolo said.
“Are you really going to stop competing after this?” Katrina still couldn’t believe he would stop racing.
“Yeah, I’ll always love skating but I feel like now is the right time to move on. I’d like the opportunity to do other things with my life,” Apolo said as he turned to look into her eyes.
“I told you my plans for the future. I’d like to own several rinks, coach, and maybe organize some short track competitions. I wouldn’t mind working as a broadcasting expert for short track at big events once in a while.”
“Katrina, I’ve changed,” Apolo said turning towards her and taking both her hands in his. “I’m older, more mature and have learned a lot the last few years. I’m looking to have time for friends and family. I realize I’ve spent so much time working to be the best at my sport that I missed out on some of the more important things in life.”
Katrina gently removed her hands from Apolo and looked away. “Apolo you know I’ll always be your friend and will support you in your new plans.” She brought her eyes back up to look at him, “I am sure you will do well at the Olympics. You are still the best skater I have ever seen. We will work to make your new dreams come true, I just want you to think about this some more. Please be sure this is what you want before we get started. I can’t afford to start this and then have to change plans again. It wouldn’t be fair to you, me or the people I will be working with.”
“I have to check on Dave & Suzie. How about we meet for lunch. Give some thought to what I’ve said and we will talk again later,” Katrina said getting up and gathering her things.
Apolo went with her to the door and watched her walk down the hall. She is working hard to try to keep this all business, Apolo thought. She is not going to make this easy at all. Well back to being friends is a start. I’ll just have to come up with some plans of my own.
