Sports

Beverly's Barror leaves Celtics for Big Apple opportunity

By Bill Kipouras
Staff writer
Published: December 2, 2008

Bill Kipouras

Sean Barror of Beverly is changing his corporate address, leaving Causeway Street in Boston for the Big Apple.

Specifically, he's leaving the world champion Boston Celtics for 7th Avenue in New York and the position of senior vice president of sales for Madison Square Garden Sports.

Barror will have a major role is corporate partnerships, the building itself, control of marketing for Radio City Music Hall and marketing responsibility for the New York Knicks, New York Rangers and the New York Liberty of the WNBA.

"A gentleman I've known from the NBA in sales and marketing, Scott O'Neill, left the NBA in July to become president of MSG Sports, a holding company that manages all the sports there," the 42-year-old Barror said. "He explained what he was up to, we had a couple of conversations, there was a meeting and then a job offer."

The Celtics expressed a sense of disappointment about his resignation after six-plus years. But Barror said it was too good an opportunity to pass up, and the Celts weren't about to match the offer.

"Personally, it was rough to leave my hometown team, I've made a lot of great relationships with the people in the front office here," Barror said. "But this job is broader and a bigger opportunity."

The Tufts football and baseball alumnus starts his new job next week. Initially, Barror will focus for 18 months on securing naming rights for the renovated MSG.

In terms of his career, it's another step up the ladder in his long-range ambition of becoming president of a professional sports team.

He is one of five brothers who played football at Beverly High. One of them, Patrick, is a Beverly High Sports Hall of Famer, as is his sister Debbie.

"I wanted to be a professional athlete when I was a kid, but reality changed that desire," said Barror. "I got into the financial sector after college, and being on the business side of things it was a different crossover into sports. This gets me there quicker.

"MSG has greater possibilities. It's a bigger stage with bigger responsibilities, and it puts me on that track. Had I stayed with the Celtics it doesn't mean it wouldn't have happened, but it's a clearer path for me now."

"There has to be a willingness to move from time to time," he added, "if you want to get to that level. I could spend my whole career in Boston and not that have become a reality."

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Erik Groszyk was known for his love of basketball around Salem since the time he first picked up a ball. Never has that belief been stronger.

Remember the severe concussion that knocked him out of the Harvard basketball program two years ago? He was told not to play again because of a dangerous risk. Well, now he's back.

Without medical permission.

"They suggested I never play again back when I got hurt. Now they told me they wouldn't clear me. I had to get a waiver as a school liability," Groszyk said.

He had to start out on the Crimson's junior varsity team. The new Harvard head coach, Tommy Amaker, made it clear the JVs would be his only channel to the varsity.

But for the past three weeks Groszyk's been practicing with the varsity. This past Saturday the junior guard dressed for his first game and got into the final minute against Army.

"I missed it; that's why I came back, said Groszyk. "I've enjoyed the junior varsity; it's been a good experience against top prep teams. I felt a little out of place at the start; it was like I forgot how to play. I guess it was calculated risk, but I was supported by my family. I'm truly glad to be back.SDRq

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Contact Bill Kipouras at bkipouras@salemnews.com.

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