When Brad Norris-Jones moved from the Victoria HarbourCats to Pacific FC, he created something for himself that would not have been possible when he was growing up in Victoria B次元官网网址� a localized pro sports career.
B次元官网网址淚f I was going to work in pro sports in Victoria, I would have left when I was 21,B次元官网网址� Norris-Jones said. B次元官网网址淚 thought of it, thought of going down to the States and doing kind of stuff. Probably could have carved out a career doing that. It probably would have been hockey at that time.B次元官网网址�
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Instead, Norris-Jones started a sports memorabilia store in 1990. He ran that store for almost 20 years, but was forced to close down when the economy went south during the great recession. During the course of his run with the store he supplied wholesale product to the biggest leagues in the U.S, including the NHL.
In the meantime, he had all of his kids playing sportsB次元官网网址攏ine in total. One of his two sons, Kelly, became a late 2010 draft pick of the Toronto Blue Jays. He ended up foregoing the chance to enter the Jays minor league system, instead opting to pursue a collegiate career with the University of Illinois.
B次元官网网址淲hen Kelly got drafted by the Blue Jays, you learn the pro scene real quick,B次元官网网址� Norris-Jones said. B次元官网网址淭he money just wasnB次元官网网址檛 there for his draft position, and the money for the scholarship was a pretty next level scholarship. So as a family we made that decision.B次元官网网址�
When the opportunity came to join the HarbourCats, Norris-Jones said he was uniquely positioned to have success working a collegiate summer league. He had the business acumen through wholesale selling to pro teams, and a playerB次元官网网址檚 perspective through his sonB次元官网网址檚 collegiate career. He became the HarbourCatsB次元官网网址� GM in 2016, and seemed poised to stay in the baseball business.
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B次元官网网址淚 thought IB次元官网网址檇 be with baseball forever, I thought IB次元官网网址檇 end in the baseball game,B次元官网网址� Norris-Jones said. B次元官网网址淚 never thought I could work in a pro league, and when that opportunity came, IB次元官网网址檓 taking it. Because thatB次元官网网址檚 as high of a level as anyone can go.B次元官网网址�
Norris-Jones was announced as the new executive vice-president of operations for Pacific FC on Feb. 2. He cites his business acumen, sports history and understanding of the community as key assets he hopes will bring him success at the pro level.
B次元官网网址淒o I think for a second that IB次元官网网址檓 really fortunate and lucky to work in sports? IB次元官网网址檝e worked in sports all my life,B次元官网网址� Norris-Jones said. B次元官网网址淰ery, very few people can claim that. And does everybody want my job? Oh yeah. IB次元官网网址檝e heard it.B次元官网网址�
jesse.laufer@oakbaynews.com
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