Ex-Vikings coach to deliver revolutionary technology

MANILA, Philippines - Former Minnesota Vikings coach Dean Dalton said the other day he’s excited to introduce to the Philippines a revolutionary, computerized, data-based sports technology guaranteed to enhance the performance of athletes of all ages and competitive levels.

“We’re ready to break through,” said the 47-year-old Dalton who was in Manila with East West Private chief executive officer Patty Scott to negotiate business partnerships in relation to the technology launch. “We’re bringing in patented technology that we’ve worked on the last three years with extensive research and development. The technology extends to multiple sports, including basketball, the martial arts and soccer. Our scientific method has to do with evaluation and analysis. We can apply the technology to kids starting out as athletes all the way to professionals in the elite level.”

Denver Nuggets center JaVale McGee is a beneficiary of Dalton’s technology which uses a wide assortment of software packages linked to motion capture, 3D analysis and a 360-degree portrayal of an athlete in action.

Dalton said teaming up with East West Private has made it possible for his Minnesota company 3D Sports Technology to reach out to elite US athletes and to expand overseas. East West Private, a Cincinnati wealth and investment management firm with a strong sports portfolio, organized the two-game All-Star series in Manila last July with stars like Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Chris Paul, Derrick Rose and McGee during the NBA lock-out.  

“East West Private is a highly respected group quietly recognized in the inner circles of professional sports,” said Dalton. “It’s an organization known to represent athletes selflessly and we’re happy to be partnering with East West Private to bring our technology to the Philippines.”

Scott said the launch will happen soon. “We’ve been talking with the MVP Sports Foundation, our partner in the All-Star series and the JaVale ‘Flying Buddha’ tour that took him to different provinces last year,” she said. “The plan is to use the technology for the Filipino athletes going to the London Olympics. We’re also hoping to bring over JaVale to climax the launch with a ‘Flying Buddha Slam Jam’ event. It’s a matter of timing. JaVale is now playing with Denver in the NBA playoffs. His offseason training plan is to work out in Los Angeles and Denver then in Manila. We’ll try to time the launch when he’s here but we understand there is urgency to use the technology for the Filipino athletes going to London.”

Scott said the launch will be attended by Dalton, strength and conditioning coach Chris Thomas and incoming Michigan State freshman Gary Harris Jr. Thomas has worked with NBA stars LeBron James, Bryant and Durant. Harris Jr. is a 6-4 guard who was recently invited to attend the US under-18 tryouts for the FIBA Americas Championships in Brazil on June 16-20.

“The technology is an analytical, teaching, evaluation and communication tool,” said Dalton, a former high school principal who earned a Master’s degree in education administration at the University of Wisconsin. “It’s applicable to any sport and in fact, we’re thinking of an application to billiards. We don’t focus only on individual skills. We look at teamwork, too, with our 3D playbook software where we study nuances of movement in executing the pick-and-roll or any other play. We can evaluate and analyze or evaluate and emulate. With our 360-degree perspective, we can even check out foot movement from a looking up view.”

Dalton said the technology will improve the performance of elite professionals and also train young athletes to put them on the right track early. “I’ve been involved in professional sports for about 14 years, seven with the Minnesota Vikings in the National Football League,” said Dalton. “I’ve also coached at the NCAA level with Western Illinois, Wisconsin, Texas Southern and Purdue. Now, I do a weekly radio show on the NFL network. I used to host an NFL TV show but now that I’m immersed in our technology company, I find myself spending more time making it grow. It’s a blessing that I’m able to go to a country like the Philippines to introduce this new technology with East West Private.”

Dalton said he has worked with several football stars like Michael Bennett, Mewelde Moore, Matt Birk, Koren Robinson and Korey Stringer but singled out John Randle and Chris Doleman as special for inviting him to the private celebration of their Pro Football Hall of Fame induction. He said running back Robert Smith was a player who touched his life. Smith ended an eight-year NFL career on the verge of signing a new multi-million dollar contract to pursue medicine studies and spend more time with his family.