There are barely enough Major League Baseball players engaging with their fans via Twitter to field a team's ball boy/girl arsenal.
I wrote the following post for mashable.com: "MLB and Twitter: A Missed Opportunity": http://bit.ly/zHEGl
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Sunday, June 14, 2009
How are NBA teams using social media?
I wrote the following post as a guest blogger for mashable.com.
"It should come as no surprise that the entire sports world is reaching out to fans with social media tools. But just how engaged are these groups with the latest in communications technology? Because the National Basketball Association (NBA) is in the thick of its playoffs, we’ll use them as a guinea pig.
There are a handful of NBA teams that reach out to fans better than others. The 76ers, Cavaliers, Nets, and Suns all excel at using social media tools to provide fans with information, subscriber-only specials, engage in conversations, and most importantly, share snippets about their teams that followers can’t find on television, radio, in newspapers, or even on fan blogs."
Read the rest of this post at http://bit.ly/uUcQG
"It should come as no surprise that the entire sports world is reaching out to fans with social media tools. But just how engaged are these groups with the latest in communications technology? Because the National Basketball Association (NBA) is in the thick of its playoffs, we’ll use them as a guinea pig.
There are a handful of NBA teams that reach out to fans better than others. The 76ers, Cavaliers, Nets, and Suns all excel at using social media tools to provide fans with information, subscriber-only specials, engage in conversations, and most importantly, share snippets about their teams that followers can’t find on television, radio, in newspapers, or even on fan blogs."
Read the rest of this post at http://bit.ly/uUcQG
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Dance Lessons at the NCAA Basketball Tournament
As the 2009 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament tipped off on Thursday, I was reminded by a Twitter friend, that day marked six years since the start of the Iraq War.
Where were you when visions of bombs bursting in-air shot across your television screen instead of the previously scheduled NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament?
I was in Tampa where I worked with the University of South Florida crew that hosted the South Region of the NCAA Tournament. As I escorted coaches from Florida, Wake Forest, Michigan State and others into the interview staging area, I remember many of us frequently stopped to watch the big screen television in the media room inside the St. Pete Times Forum to monitor the news. Tournament coverage was moved to ESPN so CBS could devote its air to the war. The horror of September 11, 2001 still lingered and the uncertainty of what was happening half a world away in an effort to protect our own country was felt with each rendition of the "Star Spangled Banner."
Life was happening at a fast clip. As we'd experienced in years past, sports helped lift our spirits. They allowed us to keep our goals and senses of humor in tact, even when we felt our spaces encroached when security rummaged through our bags and waved wands in front of our bodies before we were allowed into the arena. (Today we expect it.)
Each year I think about the many exciting NCAA regionals and groups of professionals of which I've been a part. In addition, I remember the feeling that surrounded the first and second rounds in Tampa, and am grateful to Americans in uniform who went to war that day -- and continue to put their country first, today.
Where were you when visions of bombs bursting in-air shot across your television screen instead of the previously scheduled NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament?
I was in Tampa where I worked with the University of South Florida crew that hosted the South Region of the NCAA Tournament. As I escorted coaches from Florida, Wake Forest, Michigan State and others into the interview staging area, I remember many of us frequently stopped to watch the big screen television in the media room inside the St. Pete Times Forum to monitor the news. Tournament coverage was moved to ESPN so CBS could devote its air to the war. The horror of September 11, 2001 still lingered and the uncertainty of what was happening half a world away in an effort to protect our own country was felt with each rendition of the "Star Spangled Banner."
Life was happening at a fast clip. As we'd experienced in years past, sports helped lift our spirits. They allowed us to keep our goals and senses of humor in tact, even when we felt our spaces encroached when security rummaged through our bags and waved wands in front of our bodies before we were allowed into the arena. (Today we expect it.)
Each year I think about the many exciting NCAA regionals and groups of professionals of which I've been a part. In addition, I remember the feeling that surrounded the first and second rounds in Tampa, and am grateful to Americans in uniform who went to war that day -- and continue to put their country first, today.
Monday, February 23, 2009
We can handle the truth!
This post is going to seem off-key for a trained and experienced publicist, but it’s something I had to write.
In December of 2007, New York Yankees’ (http://www.yankees.mlb.com) slugger, Alex Rodriguez, told CBS news (http://www.cbsnews.com) anchor, Katie Couric, that he’d never used steroids. This month, A-Rod is reeling from a leaked report that said he tested positive for steroids, which he finally admitted to using between 2001 and 2003. Former Major League Baseball player, and sitting home run record holder, Barry Bonds, testified that he took a substance years ago that he believed to be flaxseed oil, all the while being closely linked to and reportedly seen by several teammates doing just what he said he didn’t.
Also within the last three years, Atlanta Falcons’ quarterback, Michael Vick, originally said that he knew nothing of a dogfighting operation that had been discovered on his property in Virginia. When it was proven that he was in fact, involved in every facet of the vicious pastime hosted on his real estate, he said that he didn’t think he was doing anything wrong.
So, it comes as a bit of a surprise that recently re-retired National Football League quarterback, Brett Favre, is being criticized for his comments that he unretired and accepted a trade to the New York Jets in part to “stick it to Ted (Thompson).” It was evident as Favre fought to regain his starting spot with the Green Bay Packers last year that he and general manager Thompson did not see eye-to-eye, and animosity that had been rumored within the organization, was only growing.
For all of those who say that they wish that perpetrators would own up to their transgressions and be honest with the public, Favre is doing just that. He was asked why he came back for the 2008 season and he told us why. Instead of being thanked for his openness, however, he’s being called a crybaby, egomaniac and enduring other criticisms.
I therefore ask you, where’s the love for the transparency that we’ve all clamored for from our public figures?
I would love just once to hear a politician, sports figure or other caught doing something irresponsible say, “I’m sorry...for getting caught.” “I took steroids because I knew I’d score a fatter contract if I hit more home runs,” or “I cheated on my spouse because I needed a little excitement in my life.” It may never happen, but how much time, energy and money would we have saved had former President Bill Clinton just said that he fooled around outside of his marriage instead of denying it?
You may not like the fact that Favre returned to the NFL for the reasons he stated, but as human beings, we don’t like a lot of things that people with whom we associated do or say. (And really – tell me you didn’t date the guy with rings in his nose and tattoo on his face simply to "get back" at your parents who forbade you from seeing him!)
The next time you hear an A-Rod type give a scripted press conference with carefully selected verbiage and criticize it for being less than genuine, give some props to Favre. He may not have conducted himself the way many of us would have in the same situation, but he came clean about it. Let's give a shout out to transparency. We can handle the truth!
In December of 2007, New York Yankees’ (http://www.yankees.mlb.com) slugger, Alex Rodriguez, told CBS news (http://www.cbsnews.com) anchor, Katie Couric, that he’d never used steroids. This month, A-Rod is reeling from a leaked report that said he tested positive for steroids, which he finally admitted to using between 2001 and 2003. Former Major League Baseball player, and sitting home run record holder, Barry Bonds, testified that he took a substance years ago that he believed to be flaxseed oil, all the while being closely linked to and reportedly seen by several teammates doing just what he said he didn’t.
Also within the last three years, Atlanta Falcons’ quarterback, Michael Vick, originally said that he knew nothing of a dogfighting operation that had been discovered on his property in Virginia. When it was proven that he was in fact, involved in every facet of the vicious pastime hosted on his real estate, he said that he didn’t think he was doing anything wrong.
So, it comes as a bit of a surprise that recently re-retired National Football League quarterback, Brett Favre, is being criticized for his comments that he unretired and accepted a trade to the New York Jets in part to “stick it to Ted (Thompson).” It was evident as Favre fought to regain his starting spot with the Green Bay Packers last year that he and general manager Thompson did not see eye-to-eye, and animosity that had been rumored within the organization, was only growing.
For all of those who say that they wish that perpetrators would own up to their transgressions and be honest with the public, Favre is doing just that. He was asked why he came back for the 2008 season and he told us why. Instead of being thanked for his openness, however, he’s being called a crybaby, egomaniac and enduring other criticisms.
I therefore ask you, where’s the love for the transparency that we’ve all clamored for from our public figures?
I would love just once to hear a politician, sports figure or other caught doing something irresponsible say, “I’m sorry...for getting caught.” “I took steroids because I knew I’d score a fatter contract if I hit more home runs,” or “I cheated on my spouse because I needed a little excitement in my life.” It may never happen, but how much time, energy and money would we have saved had former President Bill Clinton just said that he fooled around outside of his marriage instead of denying it?
You may not like the fact that Favre returned to the NFL for the reasons he stated, but as human beings, we don’t like a lot of things that people with whom we associated do or say. (And really – tell me you didn’t date the guy with rings in his nose and tattoo on his face simply to "get back" at your parents who forbade you from seeing him!)
The next time you hear an A-Rod type give a scripted press conference with carefully selected verbiage and criticize it for being less than genuine, give some props to Favre. He may not have conducted himself the way many of us would have in the same situation, but he came clean about it. Let's give a shout out to transparency. We can handle the truth!
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Miller Brewing has already won Super Bowl ad war
The biggest game of the National Football League season is over, but I picked the "winner" of the Super Bowl ad debate before the annually anticipated spots aired on NBC (http://www.nbc.com): Miller Brewing.
Anhesuer-Busch has exclusive rights to run beer ads during today's NBC Sports broadcast, but MillerCoors (http://millercoors.com) bought air time on local NBC affiliates throughout the country. About 60% of the national audience saw the High Life blink of a spot. Based on my Twitter feed, peopled liked it and what it stood for.
As advertisers such as Pedigree and Pepsi, just to name a couple of this year's Super Bowl advertisers, spent a reported $3 million for 30-second spots, Miller paid $100,000 for a one-second creative that received more national pregame buzz than any other game promotion. If MillerCoors takes advantage of the early attention its High Life brand attracted before its second-half air slot, it may rank among the tops in Monday Morning quarterback ratings.
Miller began its 1-second blitz online at http://1secondad.com and radio with its now-famous Miller delivery man, played by Windell Middlebrooks, who talks about what makes a high life. His message said that Miller High Life is about quality and value, and it wouldn't make sense in our economically challenged times to spend $3 million on 30 seconds of advertising for the Super Bowl. Just like its consumers, he says, High Life strives to make smart choices. "One second should be plenty of time to remind viewers that High Life is common sense in a bottle."
The one-second spot that simply showed Middlebrooks standing in front of a Miller High Life logo saying "High Life," was created by Saatchi & Saatchi of New York.
The chaotic economy and concerns about how a mega-buck promotion would be perceived caused longtime advertisers to cut themselves from this year's Super Bowl advertising roster. NBC needed nearly every minute leading up to the game to sell out its game spots. By contrast, FOX Sports (http://msn.foxsports.com) sold out the 2008 Super Bowl inventory by Thanksgiving 2007.
Despite the challenges, NBC generated a record $206 million in advertising revenue for the game telecast and $261 for the day.
Anhesuer-Busch has exclusive rights to run beer ads during today's NBC Sports broadcast, but MillerCoors (http://millercoors.com) bought air time on local NBC affiliates throughout the country. About 60% of the national audience saw the High Life blink of a spot. Based on my Twitter feed, peopled liked it and what it stood for.
As advertisers such as Pedigree and Pepsi, just to name a couple of this year's Super Bowl advertisers, spent a reported $3 million for 30-second spots, Miller paid $100,000 for a one-second creative that received more national pregame buzz than any other game promotion. If MillerCoors takes advantage of the early attention its High Life brand attracted before its second-half air slot, it may rank among the tops in Monday Morning quarterback ratings.
Miller began its 1-second blitz online at http://1secondad.com and radio with its now-famous Miller delivery man, played by Windell Middlebrooks, who talks about what makes a high life. His message said that Miller High Life is about quality and value, and it wouldn't make sense in our economically challenged times to spend $3 million on 30 seconds of advertising for the Super Bowl. Just like its consumers, he says, High Life strives to make smart choices. "One second should be plenty of time to remind viewers that High Life is common sense in a bottle."
The one-second spot that simply showed Middlebrooks standing in front of a Miller High Life logo saying "High Life," was created by Saatchi & Saatchi of New York.
The chaotic economy and concerns about how a mega-buck promotion would be perceived caused longtime advertisers to cut themselves from this year's Super Bowl advertising roster. NBC needed nearly every minute leading up to the game to sell out its game spots. By contrast, FOX Sports (http://msn.foxsports.com) sold out the 2008 Super Bowl inventory by Thanksgiving 2007.
Despite the challenges, NBC generated a record $206 million in advertising revenue for the game telecast and $261 for the day.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Sports sponsorship and the bowls
This originally appeared as a Guest Post for The Business of Sports; News and opinions on the business side of sports www.thebusinessofsports.com
“Sports sponsorship is an emotional topic prior to Super activities”
“Now in for General Motors Corporation…Audi and Hyundai… Replacing FedEx in the lineup, and just in time for Valentine’s Day, Teleflora!”
While this reads like fantasy sports corporate style, these companies represent some of the roster changes in the Super Bowl ad lineup. As we approach the National Football League’s title contest February 1, an estimated 100 million NBC Sports viewers will watch more than the game that will pit the Arizona Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers. They may also pay closer attention to the commercials than usual. Super Bowl XLII in Tampa, Fla., will be the first played since the U.S. government announced what many thought for months - that we’re in a recession.
NBC’s Super Bowl advertising rate card for 30 seconds of airtime was listed at $3 million, headed into this year’s game, although industry experts suspect that returning customers and the faltering economy have forced that number closer to $2.8 or $2.9 million. It’s still no bargain for the average business that’s looking to get itself recognized by the masses.
What remains as the Super Bowl begins its countdown to kickoff is a debate about finances that began with the 2008 college bowl season. While corporations stand on proverbial boulevards asking for handouts and are laying off personnel, are they justified in spending millions of dollars for sports sponsorships?
According to most people informally polled for this post, the answer is yes. The consensus is that these companies still have to reach out to consumers and work to attract business and dollar for dollar, sports sponsorships are the most effective ways to do that.
However, the queries and emotions grow from there. Financial management companies and automakers, just to name two frequent big event sponsors, are asking for money from the U.S. Treasury’s Asset Relief Program (TARP). The 2008 college bowl season featured 34 games, many which boasted top billing as a result of big bucks sponsorships. Among them, Citigroup which presented the Rose Bowl; Capital One Financial Corporation whose company name replaced the former Citrus Bowl; Bank of America Corporation, which requested $15 billion from TARP and sponsored the 2008 Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl and Eagle Bancorp, Inc., which asked for $38.2 billion in TARP funds yet saw itself sound enough several months ago to make its resources available for a first-time bowl game in Washington, D.C.
College bowl games are evaluated annually so the 2009 lineup is yet to be announced.
Patrick Ryan Lewis of Winchester, Va., said that allocation of sports sponsorship dollars is not an easy debate. A dissenter of the government’s bailout program, he said one has to look at the intent of the money provided. In hopes that it’s to help companies improve and sustain their businesses, he said that enterprises have to advertise to maintain current clientele and attract new customers. On the other hand, Rep. Scott Garret (R., N.J.) said in The Wall Street Journal that he questions why banks – which reportedly aren’t using federal funds as intended – need to sponsor nationally televised sporting events.
Sports sponsorships have not been immune to the economic slowdown. While it’s far from creating a hardship on network partners – NBC’s “lower” fees are still 5-7 percent higher than FOX Sports’ 2008 numbers – sales have slowed from flood levels to trickles. For the 2008 Super Bowl, FOX sold its entire inventory by Thanksgiving 2007. Approximately 10 percent of NBC’s spots for this year’s game remained vacant as of this writing.
The bottom line is not always the bottom line. In events such as the Super Bowl or college bowl games, companies can reach more eyes at one time than other means of traditional advertising. Throw in a tie-in to a website promotion or produce a spot that creates word-of-mouth buzz, and the publicity alone will double or triple the investment as people talk about the spot(s) and hopefully react at the cash register for weeks to come.
As with any promotional tools, quality production typically reflects value received. If businesses that have suffered during the last year create targeted, meaningful, creative and emotionally charged spots, chances are that its consumers will react in kind.
“Sports sponsorship is an emotional topic prior to Super activities”
“Now in for General Motors Corporation…Audi and Hyundai… Replacing FedEx in the lineup, and just in time for Valentine’s Day, Teleflora!”
While this reads like fantasy sports corporate style, these companies represent some of the roster changes in the Super Bowl ad lineup. As we approach the National Football League’s title contest February 1, an estimated 100 million NBC Sports viewers will watch more than the game that will pit the Arizona Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers. They may also pay closer attention to the commercials than usual. Super Bowl XLII in Tampa, Fla., will be the first played since the U.S. government announced what many thought for months - that we’re in a recession.
NBC’s Super Bowl advertising rate card for 30 seconds of airtime was listed at $3 million, headed into this year’s game, although industry experts suspect that returning customers and the faltering economy have forced that number closer to $2.8 or $2.9 million. It’s still no bargain for the average business that’s looking to get itself recognized by the masses.
What remains as the Super Bowl begins its countdown to kickoff is a debate about finances that began with the 2008 college bowl season. While corporations stand on proverbial boulevards asking for handouts and are laying off personnel, are they justified in spending millions of dollars for sports sponsorships?
According to most people informally polled for this post, the answer is yes. The consensus is that these companies still have to reach out to consumers and work to attract business and dollar for dollar, sports sponsorships are the most effective ways to do that.
However, the queries and emotions grow from there. Financial management companies and automakers, just to name two frequent big event sponsors, are asking for money from the U.S. Treasury’s Asset Relief Program (TARP). The 2008 college bowl season featured 34 games, many which boasted top billing as a result of big bucks sponsorships. Among them, Citigroup which presented the Rose Bowl; Capital One Financial Corporation whose company name replaced the former Citrus Bowl; Bank of America Corporation, which requested $15 billion from TARP and sponsored the 2008 Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl and Eagle Bancorp, Inc., which asked for $38.2 billion in TARP funds yet saw itself sound enough several months ago to make its resources available for a first-time bowl game in Washington, D.C.
College bowl games are evaluated annually so the 2009 lineup is yet to be announced.
Patrick Ryan Lewis of Winchester, Va., said that allocation of sports sponsorship dollars is not an easy debate. A dissenter of the government’s bailout program, he said one has to look at the intent of the money provided. In hopes that it’s to help companies improve and sustain their businesses, he said that enterprises have to advertise to maintain current clientele and attract new customers. On the other hand, Rep. Scott Garret (R., N.J.) said in The Wall Street Journal that he questions why banks – which reportedly aren’t using federal funds as intended – need to sponsor nationally televised sporting events.
Sports sponsorships have not been immune to the economic slowdown. While it’s far from creating a hardship on network partners – NBC’s “lower” fees are still 5-7 percent higher than FOX Sports’ 2008 numbers – sales have slowed from flood levels to trickles. For the 2008 Super Bowl, FOX sold its entire inventory by Thanksgiving 2007. Approximately 10 percent of NBC’s spots for this year’s game remained vacant as of this writing.
The bottom line is not always the bottom line. In events such as the Super Bowl or college bowl games, companies can reach more eyes at one time than other means of traditional advertising. Throw in a tie-in to a website promotion or produce a spot that creates word-of-mouth buzz, and the publicity alone will double or triple the investment as people talk about the spot(s) and hopefully react at the cash register for weeks to come.
As with any promotional tools, quality production typically reflects value received. If businesses that have suffered during the last year create targeted, meaningful, creative and emotionally charged spots, chances are that its consumers will react in kind.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Wishes from the world for Penn State's Joe Paterno
Happy Birthday Joe Paterno! At 82, your spirit is like that of a 20-something. You are a man who knows enthusiasm and determination. You have proven through 43 years of coaching Penn State football that little if nothing will stop you from doing what you love.
Inducted into the National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame in December 2007, Paterno, an undisputed football legend, has worked as head coach at his school longer than any other to coach at one place in the history of college football. It is doubtful that anyone will ever meet that mark again. The five-time National Coach of the Year was selected for induction in 2006, and joined two more legendary coaches - Bobby Bowden and John Gagliardi - as the first active coaches or players to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Don't think that because of his age that Paterno is merely a figurehead at Penn State. This year his 11-1 Nittany Lions are the 2008 Big Ten champs and head to the January 1 Rose Bowl to take on USC.
It's no coincidence that on the day Paterno recently agreed to a three-year contract extension, Penn State football announced the signing of a blue-chip recruit. Young men continue to crave the dedication and knowledge of a coach who does it differently. In this case, different is old school, but this old school is different and often times, more appealing than any other school that recruits football talent. Paterno's old school works better than great.
So, happy birthday, JoePa. Your legions of fans that span literally worldwide, wish you many more happy, healthy and spirited ones!
It's a surprise -- please join us!
Fans are toasting the Penn State coach on his 82nd birthday along with some of college football's legends at http://joepabirthday.blogspot.com. Please join us and add your own thoughts and wishes. It's a virtual surprise that will be presented to Paterno after the Rose Bowl.
Inducted into the National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame in December 2007, Paterno, an undisputed football legend, has worked as head coach at his school longer than any other to coach at one place in the history of college football. It is doubtful that anyone will ever meet that mark again. The five-time National Coach of the Year was selected for induction in 2006, and joined two more legendary coaches - Bobby Bowden and John Gagliardi - as the first active coaches or players to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Don't think that because of his age that Paterno is merely a figurehead at Penn State. This year his 11-1 Nittany Lions are the 2008 Big Ten champs and head to the January 1 Rose Bowl to take on USC.
It's no coincidence that on the day Paterno recently agreed to a three-year contract extension, Penn State football announced the signing of a blue-chip recruit. Young men continue to crave the dedication and knowledge of a coach who does it differently. In this case, different is old school, but this old school is different and often times, more appealing than any other school that recruits football talent. Paterno's old school works better than great.
So, happy birthday, JoePa. Your legions of fans that span literally worldwide, wish you many more happy, healthy and spirited ones!
It's a surprise -- please join us!
Fans are toasting the Penn State coach on his 82nd birthday along with some of college football's legends at http://joepabirthday.blogspot.com. Please join us and add your own thoughts and wishes. It's a virtual surprise that will be presented to Paterno after the Rose Bowl.
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