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The guys are such good guys. In the case of tight end Ray Hamilton, he found a per- “ fect opportunity with one of the NFL’s licensees in Panini It’s similar to a locker room in America and spent three weeks at the company’s Dallas office learning about what goes into making trading cards. terms of making sure that you “I just started to think about life after football,” he said. get your work done, but also “I was hurt a little bit this year and after some time work- ing out and rehabbing, I started to explore my options and The Intern having a good time.” the NFLPA does a good job of giving us some resources NFL prospect Ray Hamilton gets and it’s just a matter of us utilizing those resources. I saw that there was an externship program for three weeks with different companies in the off-season and thought it would opportunity to work for Panini be the right fit for me.” The 2015 season was a challenge for the Iowa alum as he signed as a free agent with the Dallas Cowboys before moving on to the Pittsburgh Steelers on waivers. Toward the end of the year, he found a new place with Washing- ton’s practice squad. He revealed why he chose Panini over several other promising options for his externship. “I just thought it was the right fit for me. I really enjoyed collecting cards when I was younger, and that’s what I knew Panini from, but I had been out of touch with their product for close to 10 years. At the time I was collecting, I didn’t think about the process until I saw the opportunity here, to know what actually goes on behind the scenes, and I thought it would be a good mix of sports and business. I’m obviously very passionate about sports, it’s what I’ve been do- ing my whole life. I enjoy building relationships with people, so I thought that this would be a good fit.” Hamilton noted why he instantly felt com- fortable among his new co-workers. “The atmosphere of the place. The guys are such good guys. It’s similar to a locker room in terms of making sure that you get your work done, but also having a good time. I felt like I was at home from the first day, just based off the guys. I tried my first conference call with Jason (Howarth) and Tracy (Hackler) before Hamilton quickly settled into his position with Panini and spent time within several I even got here and got that vibe. When I departments learning about how trading cards are made. showed up, it was true. I just felt comfortable with the guys and thought if I stepped into a BY STEPHEN LAROCHE | BECKETT SPORTS CARD MONTHLY EDITOR meeting, from a player’s perspective, I could add something to it. I wasn’t afraid to speak ife after football can sometimes be a difficult adjustment for a player, up and they were genuinely interested in what I was saying.” but the National Football League Players Association is looking to Over the course of three weeks, make the transition easier for active talents with an externship pro- he was able to experience different Lgram which will help them gain workplace experience. aspects of what goes on at Panini. 20 www.beckett.com PHOTO BY AL MESSERSCHMIDT/GETTY IMAGES Beckett Sports Card Monthly 21 The Intern “In the first week, I was with the Prod- Hamilton and uct Development Team and I got to see Panini’s Scott the creative that goes behind it and the Prusha went to the 2016 NFL strategic thinking that goes on, like what’s Scouting worked in the past and will work better in Combine in Indianapolis. the future. Panini does a great job making sure their product is the best it can be for each individual set and each individual card once it hits the collector’s hands.” Following the first week, he got to move on to the acquisitions department and also attend the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. “The acquiring was really interesting, because from a player’s perspective, you’re not too involved in that. You usually just hear from your agent and he kind of works it out. So, it was kind of interesting for me to see behind the scenes. I was mostly working on football, so it was cool for to see them get off their bus from their in Pittsburgh, and Jordan Reed in Wash- me to see on the football side that they’re shoot-around and watch Ivory try to grab ington. Ultimately, it’s going to make me a closing out some rookie deals and getting those guys and bring them in and make better person because I got to build more rookie signatures in for some different sure they were signing their cards for the relationships each place I was and interact things. It was cool to see the process of set- collectors.” with different guys on different teams and ting up and negotiating the deal with the Finally, Hamilton spent his final week get to see how organizations are run.” agent and seeing how that process plays with Hackler and Scott Prusha in the Moving toward the 2016 NFL season, he itself out from negotiating to getting the marketing department. remains optimistic and realistic about his signatures.” “I’ve been working on the blog every chances to catch on with the Redskins. With access to some amazing pieces of day. Today, I was sitting here putting “We’ll see what happens. I’ve still got to memorabilia, he took a moment to try on a together a set with Scott on the market- get cleared here, so we’re just taking it day shoe worn by a basketball legend. ing side that could be out. We’ve been by day and go from there.” “Shaq’s shoe was enormous,” he said. “I working on different things and maybe, When asked about appearing on his have a pretty big foot. Typically, I wear a we’re doing one more Twitter question- first NFL trading cards, he turned to his size 15 and he made me feel a Tracy-sized and-answer here. That was something that co-worker for confirmation. shoe. It was enormous and I was blown we did when we were at the combine last “We’ve got Tracy right here. I’m ready away by how-big the shoe was. It just week and it was really enjoyable for me to for it. Are you, Tracy?” speaks to having big feat, it’s hard to be interact with some of the different collec- “I think we are,” said Hackler. “We’re athletic and it kind of goes to show you in tors and give them some insight about me, looking to find the right pose, the right set. the NBA, how athletic the guys are. That’s about the product, and about my experi- But I definitely think it can come to fruition.” the thing I took away from it. I also got to ence here so far.” Once his playing days draw to a close, see Dwight Howard’s shoe, Patrick Ewing, Overall, being part of an NFL team the 23-year-old is open to considering a and some other really big guys and watch- appears to have been a great experience for return to Panini. ing those guys move on a nightly basis Hamilton. “Absolutely! It’s something I would during the NBA season is ridiculous.” “It was great. It was very challenging, be interested in in the future. Obviously, He was also able to witness a pair of but I wouldn’t trade it for the world the right now I’m focused on playing, but I’ve NBA players signing autographs for up- way the first year worked. I got to experi- enjoyed my experience here so much and coming releases when the Oklahoma City ence three different locker rooms, three had such a positive experience that this Thunder came to town. different groups of tight ends, three differ- is something I definitely could see myself “I got to go with Ivory (Tabb) to the ent coaches. I think it’s going to make me getting into with this company and this signing and sit in and meet Cameron a better player in the end, getting to learn industry. I could see myself being very pas- Payne and Enes Kanter. It was cool. I got from guys like Jason Witten, Heath Miller sionate in wanting to excel in this.” 22 www.beckett.com.

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