This blog is definitely a rant… but it is an important one… and one I think that many others (hopefully) agree with me on. It seems that every time I purchase a ticket these days, it is virtual. I have to buy it online, which in result sends me an email to download my ticket into my iPhone’s “mobile wallet.” Believe it or not, technology does not simplify everything, and I cannot think of a more crazy thing to make 100% virtual.

It’s that time of the year again! April reminds me of three things: warmer weather, Easter, and the Masters Tournament. In 2020, the Masters was moved to the fall because of Covid, which was the first time the tournament had been played during this season! However, now it is back to its regularly scheduled programming, and I am going to take you on a trip to Augusta, Georgia to look at why the Masters is such a unique tournament and who some of my predicted favorites are to win it all. This blog is basically me doing something I love: talking golf!

Whether a “get to know you” game or a personal branding activity, one of my favorite exercises is the classic, “If you were a [insert category], what would you be?” (...or at least some iteration of this question). Not only do I think this exercise reveals a lot about someone’s personality, but I think it is so fun because there are so many categories to pick from: animals...cars...flowers… you name it. I also think this exercise is not just useful for personal identity, but it is a unique way for a business to establish its brand, as well. So what fun things do I identify with? It’s time to find out!

One thing I have treasured about living in Greensboro, North Carolina all of my life is that we are quite often the proud hosts of the ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament, and I have been able to attend many times in my life! Some of my most memorable sports memories were created there, including the rush of having my team (the Tar Heels) win and then scrambling to buy tickets from someone for the next day. In fact, this blog was inspired by my time at the 2021 (limited-capacity) ACC Tournament and how much I have missed the tournament being in Greensboro.

Continuing with my blog’s theme (Maris’ passions from mini to humongous), this blog will expound upon one of the biggest pieces of me: my affinity and love for sports. I talked about a fun sports experience I had recently in my first blog, but I have gone far too many posts without mentioning my passion for sports again! Who are my favorite teams? Who are my favorite athletes? What are my favorite moments in sports? Why do I like these sports/teams? It’s time to find out!

This week I did something that was very out-of-character for myself… something totally spontaneous. Even though this year I told myself that I wanted to fill my life with more spontaneity, I did not know how that would look. Honestly, I thought I would just end up trying a new menu item at a restaurant. Instead, on Tuesday, the night before the UNC vs. Clemson basketball game, I made plans with my boyfriend to travel from my hometown of Greensboro, NC to Clemson, SC to watch my Tar Heels.