Always ready to cover any and all technology related topics the Cube had a visit from the one and only Mr. October, Reggie Jackson at the SAPphire 2012 conference (see full interview below).  A Hall of Fame MVP Yankees and A’s legend, Jackson is also an accomplished business man and he shared his experiences with the SAP organization and how he is sharing his knowledge with the people that make the company tick.  Donning a Callaway/SAP golf cap, Reggie retraces how he came to be associated with SAP.

Several months ago, Reggie was invited by Callaway Golf Company, a global sporting goods publicly-traded company that is a significant customer of SAP.  With some fifteen to twenty thousand worldwide clients in attendance, he began to learn the customer and company success stories around SAP.   After a brief meeting with CEO Bill McDermott, a relationship developed where it was found that Reggie was a good fit to represent the company.

Reggie on Teams, Leadership, People and SAP

Reggie shared some of the SAP vision and the push to be successful.  The winning formula is of course the team principle- something Jackson knows much about.  During his career as a professional baseball player with the Yankee’s and the A’s, as Reggie puts it, the blend of culture of winning, team principles, and pride of brand are critical.  On to SAP – and in finding out what it represented to different people a number of definitions came his way  – “Software and Programs”, “Somebody Always Pays”, and “Solutions Applications and Programs”.  All of those variably good or bad, he has found the meaning “Software and People” to be the best most important one.

Expanding on Software and People, Reggie shares that the people make the company work.   Leadership, players and talent are special pieces that have to be in place.  It is people that execute the plan or the best of business plans go nowhere.

Furrier brought up the topic of transitioning from his baseball career to Jackson’s business career.  In speaking to that transition, Jackson states that the key is to add your personal value, humble yourself, finding your fit and be grateful in trying to penetrate the environment -especially when there is already a successful history in place.

On the role of data, data analysis and its relationship to sports, a topic raised by Dave Vellante, Jackson responds with some insight. While data and the information that can be gained from these are very important, Jackson feels that without people to implement decisions that are made, it just doesn’t won’t work. People have to have the right character, leadership, management and an understanding of their role in the big picture.

A little more about Reggie

On to some more fun stuff, Reggie talked about his decision to play baseball despite the opportunity to play football.  Providing for family was a chief concern to him because of family financial situations and the ready opportunity to play from college immediately.   This was not an option at the time for football, though he alluded to a contract matter during which he thought about crossing over sports.  He obviously made up his mind to stay with baseball and is happy with that decision.

Crazy Twitter question about the hip move

Furrier pulled out a question from Twitter for Reggie on whether the infamous “Hip Move” during the 1978 World Series game 4 versus the Dodgers was intentional, the sentiment being he could “be honest about it now”.    The controversial play involved Jackson in a base play situation where it is alleged Jackson intentionally jutted out his hip to get hit by the ball, rendering him safe and allowing the tide of the game and series to be turned on that moment in time.  Legendary manager Tommy LaSorda of the Los Angeles Dodgers famously exploded during the incident.   I’ll leave it up to the viewer to see Reggie’s response to the question, surmise it to say that Reggie’s position is unchanged.

Reggie on Twitter

To find out more about Reggie and what he’s up to go to www.reggiejackson.com – also Reggie Jackson is coming to Twitter.  This is something new for Reggie and despite some nervousness about it, he is getting help from Jack Dorsey, the founder of Twitter.  @octoberreggie.   Growing up in the 70’s in Queens, Reggie Jackson #44 was an idol for me and the king of NYC.  It was an honor to cover his story and his time on the Cube. 


Watch live video from SiliconANGLE.com on Justin.tv