Bio from Ralph W. Baker Jr's website-http://www.newyorkshockexchange.com/content/view/21/35/

check out the Fun Facts near the bottom in bold...interesting

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - Ralph W. Baker, Jr.

Educational Background

Mr. Baker received his B.A. in Economics from Hampden-Sydney College ("Hampden-Sydney") in 1989 and his M.B.A. from the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia in 1993. Mr. Baker currently serves on the Board of Trustees at Hampden-Sydney.

Business Experience

Mr. Baker has over 10+ years of M&A experience and currently works for the Transaction Advisory Services Group of a leading accounting firm where he performs sell-side and buy-side due diligence for clients looking to divest companies or to make acquisitions.

Mr. Baker was formerly a member of Prudential Financial's Corporate M&A Group where was involved in acquisitions and divestitures across all businesses, including but not limited to, asset management, brokerage, life insurance, property & casualty insurance, and corporate relocation. Prior to Prudential, Mr. Baker worked at GE Capital Corporation where he was involved in insurance M&A and LBO lending.  Ralph has been involved in transactions from cradle to grave, including business development, financial modeling, due diligence, and negotiating sale & purchase agreements.

Mr. Baker has closed transactions throughout the U.S. and abroad, including, the U.K., Switzerland, and South Korea.

Athletic Experience

Tony Shaver and the young stunner winning conference championship. Circa 1989.

Ralph starred in basketball at Hampden-Sydney, a private liberal arts institution in central Virginia. Hampden-Sydney is also (i) the tenth oldest college in the country and (ii) one of only three all-male schools in the country. Ralph earned Division III All-America status in 1989 and was considered to be one of the best guards in the country.

Mr. Baker is currently the third leading scoring in Hampden-Sydney's history with 1,760 career points, and ranks third in career assists and first in steals.

Mr. Baker was an assistant coach for the Stamford Express, a travel basketball team in Stamford, CT with Dave Cooks (Duke MBA) and Warren Spann (Wharton MBA). Mr. Cooks who started the program in 1993 is now the head basketball coach at Milwaukee Marquette High School in Milwaukee, WI. Mr. Spann is currently an executive for Philip Morris in Richmond, VA.

Mr. Baker was the head basketball coach of the Hustlas, champions of the Sophomore Division (10-11 year olds) of the 78th Precinct Youth Council basketball league in March 2006.

A defensive back on his high school football team, Ralph was recruited to play football at Randolph-Macon College ("Macon") outside of Richmond, VA. Ralph eventually attended Hampden-Sydney, Macon's arch rival. Needless to say, Ralph was a favorite target of the Macon fans during Macon/H-SC basketball games. A few Macon defensive linemen even asked Ralph to "step outside" after the game so they could get his autograph, but out of modesty, Ralph always declined.

Fun Facts about Ralph

“Ralph Baker Night” at H-SC. Straight bananas! Circa 1989.

While at Hampden-Sydney Ralph played basketball for Tony Shaver, currently the head basketball coach at the College of William & Mary. We asked Coach Shaver his thoughts on his former star player to which Shaver replied, "Ralph should make an excellent basketball coach. After all, those who can't do, teach."

Mr. Baker claims to have gone to elementary school and high school with the famous rapper the Lady of Rage. The Shock Exchange asked Ms. Rage about her memory of Mr. Baker to which she replied "I have never heard of Ralph Baker. Furthermore, I wish he would quit calling me up and asking for free stuff."

During Ralph's senior year in college, his favorite commercial featured a pair of L.A. Gear sneakers with the flashing lights in the back. Ralph was known to chastise his teammates on several occasions with "See, if you had worn your L.A. Gear with the flashing lights you probably would not have missed that dunk." At the basketball awards banquet, Ralph was rewarded with a brand new pair of L.A. Gear signed by the entire team. Never worn, the sneakers are kept in a safe at an undisclosed location where no one person knows the combination – half of the combination is kept in the state of Virginia and the other half in the state of New York. Look for Ralph’s vintage L.A. Gear at a sneaker battle near you.

While in high school, Ralph earned the nickname "Silk" from his many female admirers because he was so smooth on an off the basketball court. However, while performing its own "due diligence", the Shock Exchange learned from Ralph's former classmates that: (i) it was Ralph who actually gave himself that nickname, to everyone's bewilderment and (ii) the only person who ever referred to him as "Silk" was his grandmother . . . bless her heart. Mr. Baker had no comment on these allegations.
You can contact Mr. Baker at coachbaker@newyorkshockexchange.com.