Seth Shuman is a 2003 graduate of Bentley University in Waltham, MA. While at Bentley Shuman majored in Managerial Economics with an Entrepreneurship focus and earned a Law minor. In the summer of 2005, Shuman worked as a Clubhouse Attendant for the Boston Red Sox and was a long time employee of the Boston Celtics working as a Ball Boy and Locker Room Attendant from 1995-2008, and experienced winning Banner "17" with one of the most prestigious NBA teams. Shuman currently works for the Maine Red Claws of the NBA Development League as a Senior Account Executive.
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Here is Seth's advice:
Since the age of 15, I have worked in professional sports. I'm one of the lucky ones. I always knew that, and it's the reason I worked hard to remain among the lucky ones. I'm a fan first; like all of us we bust our butts and spend ungodly hours doing anything and everything asked of us because we're fans. So when I was given the opportunity at 15 to leave the stands where I sat next to my dad and cheered for my heroes to work alongside them I jumped at the chance without hesitation.
Over the years I ran when someone asked something of me and I asked for a little. Overtime, from proving myself reliable and from simply being there - being there when something was needed, and even more importantly being there for both good and bad times - I became part of the team. It was the greatest reward I could have asked for, one I will forever be grateful of. While most of us dream to establish a career in their sport and with their team, as I myself do, I can tell you just being part of the team is a far richer reward.
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| Seth with Kevin Garnett |
Whether you push a broom, take out the trash, or whatever your role, each member of the organization has value and is an intricate piece of the puzzle working together to reach their goals. While we might never score a basket or hit a home run, the work we do allows others to excel at their highest possible level. As a fan and someone who believes in that organization it was a job I took serious and was passionate about. I'm grateful that the organizations I worked for believed and trusted in me to be a piece of their puzzle. It is a trust one should take seriously. I don't have to tell you how sacred a locker-room is. Things said and done inside the locker-room is strictly for the eyes and ears of those trusted enough to be there. And having been there through both frustration and celebration, having sweated alongside of the rest of the team, you become part of it. You become a part of the players' routine, a part of their celebrations and a part of how they deal with the rigors of a long season. Sure it could be someone else, but it's not, you're the person they rely on.
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| Seth Celebrating An NBA Championship |
Take it seriously, work hard, and when someone says, "oh wow, you work for the team, that's cool", smirk knowing, yea it is. It's cool because it is and it isn't. The work is hard, it's dirty, and it doesn't come with a lot of gratitude, but whether you're popping champagne after a championship or have your arm around a teammate who just missed a game winner, you know it's cool because you're part of the team, something bigger than yourself; It's what sports is all about and you and I get to see it up close and personal from the inside.
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