SIDElines

MLB and Twitter: A Missed Opportunity

2009-07-15T10:54:00.000-07:00

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

How are NBA teams using social media?

2009-06-14T16:50:00.000-07:00

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

Dance Lessons at the NCAA Basketball Tournament

2009-03-21T15:48:00.000-07:00

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.

We can handle the truth!

2009-02-23T06:00:00.000-08:00

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!

Miller Brewing has already won Super Bowl ad war

2009-02-01T15:37:00.000-08:00

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.

Sports sponsorship and the bowls

2009-01-28T00:00:00.000-08:00

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.

Wishes from the world for Penn State's Joe Paterno

2008-12-21T06:21:00.000-08:00

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.

Honoring Jim Valvano and his passionate life

2008-12-09T20:03:00.000-08:00

In 1983, he ran up and down the basketball court in seeming disbelief after his North Carolina State team upset the University of Houston to win the 1983 NCAA Championship. He ran back and forth looking for someone to hug.

Ten years later, Jim Valvano stood on the podium at the inaugural ESPY Awards and accepted the first Arthur Ashe Courage and Humanitarian Award as he battled the final stages of cancer. There he embraced his dear friend, Dick Vitale and sports fans of America, as he spoke with passion, humor, charm and dignity.

It was during his speech at the ESPYs that Valvano announced in tandem with ESPN, the creation of the V Foundation for Cancer Research. Since that day in March of 1993, the foundation has raised more than $80 million to fund cancer research. It has awarded more than 300 grants to the brightest physicians and scientists to help identify causes and develop treatments for what remains a deadly disease.

What makes the V Foundation different from many non-profits is that 100% of all donations go directly to research and related programs. That money has already helped to advance treatment protocols and with continued work and dedication, will hopefully result in what has been an elusive cure.

Jim Valvano's voice continues to be heard via family and friends who work tirelessly to raise money for the V Foundation. This week, ESPN held its second annual Jimmy V Week to help raise awareness for cancer research. While events are organized to raise money throughout the year, last year's inaugural effort raised more than $700,000 during a week highlighted by men's and women's Jimmy V Basketball Classics and awareness campaigns across multiple ESPN platforms.

If you're inclined to make a worthwhile donation this holiday season, I hope you will consider the V Foundation for Cancer Research. Find more information at www.jimmyv.org or call 1-800-4JimmyV to donate.

"To me, there are three things we all should do every day. We should do this every day of our lives. Number one is laugh. You should laugh every day. Number two is think. You should spend some time in thought. And Number three is, you should have your emotions moved to tears, could be happiness or joy. But think about it. If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that's a full day. That's a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you're going to have something special."
Jim Valvano
March 4, 1993

A PR "NEVER" Buried in Another Story

2008-11-09T16:06:00.000-08:00

On Friday (Nov. 7) The Wall Street Journal (http://online.wsj.com) ran a story about why the National Football League "spies" on its players. This is almost no surprise as NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell, is clamping down more vigorously than ever on players that misbehave and threaten to tarnish the league's image.

Buried in a story that among other things, tells how NFL players have spotted league snoops in nightclubs and restaurants, was the real shocker. (Disclaimer: If the following was part of the original coverage of this story, I missed it and apologize that I'm blown away by a team's blatant lie weeks after the fact.)

Here's what happened: Last month, Cleveland Browns tight end, Kellen Winslow, Jr. developed a staph infection, a malady that had made its way through the Browns' locker room. The club disagreed with the diagnoses. Winslow, Jr. according to WSJ reporter, Hannah Karp, received text messages from a press official who "warned it would be 'very bad' to talk about the situation to reporters, and suggested he invent another illness. 'We can give [the media] something, but not staph.'"

Winslow, Jr., did it his way. The Browns suspended him for "detrimental conduct" as it applied to the NFL's new rules. When the player showed the texts to people in authoritative positions within the Browns' organization, the suspension was reversed.

Who, besides me, finds the Cleveland publicity staff in major violation of Human Decency Code 101? Sure, I find it kind of freaky that guard-types follow players -- U.S. civilians -- on their nights out (or they're in the right places at predictable times). After all, there's a lot of sponsor money at stake if a prominent player acts out in public. But, helllloooo....a Browns PR guy told Winslow, Jr. to LIE about his diagnosis!

In every way, shape and form, this was the wrong thing for a public relations person to advise, and I credit Winslow, Jr., for speaking his mind and airing his concerns to higher-ups. It saved him from suspension, but for those of us who preach "nothing but the truth" when answering media queries, it also outed the indiscretion of an untrustworthy Browns press agent.

Lesson No. 1. -- If you don't know the answer to a question asked by the media, say so. Don't make something up and don't speculate. It could hurt your organization and yourself.

Lesson No. 2 -- DON'T LIE! If there is a legal reason that you do not want to answer a question, say that ongoing litigation prevents you from commenting. If the reporter asks if you've got a cold or pneumonia and you've been diagnosed with pneumonia, give the guy a surgical mask and tell the truth.

Nothing knocks an image down faster in sports -- in life -- than a lie. Ok, violence from players and staff can hurt organizations, too, but value the truth, speak it and don't let others convince you otherwise.

NFL Brand University long overdue; provides blueprint for proactive business branding

2008-10-23T07:38:00.000-07:00

I guess Dallas Cowboys' cornerback, Adam "Pacman" Jones, didn't get the memo. Oh, that's right, he was still suspended by the National Football League for last year's infractions...

Someone brought up the question, last week, as to what the NFL's Brand University brings to the NFL's identity.

The query conjured up a spirited thought process for me, as I've long worked to instill athletes/coaches/agents/sports information directors on the concept that if athletes are taught to present their team and league brands coherently and positively, those behaviors would benefit the athletes' individual brands, in the long run, as well. After all, when you consider many of today's professional sports stars - even amateurs - what's good for them is good for them. (Note that I say "many" not "all.")

The Brand University is part of an NFL Player Development initiative to "assist players in taking a proactive approach to their career development by fully utilizing club and league resources to positively position themselves in their community." It launched in May and June of 2008 in the form of two brand boot camp sessions that required mandatory attendance for rookies and were open to veterans who wished to participate. Its objective is to teach new players the fundamentals of brand development by combining their on-field achievements with community and business opportunities they pursue off the field.

Brand University is a great concept that is about 15-20 years past due. Now that it's launched, it's playing catch-up with the NFL's image development that for years, was essentially left to fans while its players made up their own rules.

Businesses can learn from the NFL Brand University in that it is a custom, focused effort with players as messengers -- word-of-mouth and action-focused publicists - - for the league and their teams. Brands in all genres must target specific audiences and use consistent messages to effectively carve spots in the marketplace. That being said, owners must always be in charge of their brands, a la, Brand University/NFL.

If business heads suggest that they don't need concerted image efforts because their employees represent the peak of professionalism and haphazard behavior or publicity can't happen in their domains, I suggest that they rewind the history of the NFL (and other professional sports and amateur organizations) to see their many off-the-field blemishes. Realize the importance of protecting and nurturing a brand every minute each day.

I have great hope that with training and incentive at the forefront, NFL players, as well as the league, will take true ownership and responsibility of their brands.

Ocho Cinco Numero Uno?

2008-09-04T20:23:00.000-07:00

The Cincinnati Bengals today announced that the club has begun "the process of listing the former Chad Johnson as Chad Ocho Cinco for all club business, per the legal change of his surname effected in Florida." That includes the name on the back of his game jerseys.

Johnson, er, Ocho Cinco, is a wide receiver for the Bengals. The name, Ocho Cinco, are the Spanish words for the numbers on his jersey (85) and the nickname he bestowed upon himself.

As Alabama-based writer, Alyson McNutt English, reminded me, however, the number 85 actually translates to "ochenta y cinco" in Spanish. Ocho cinco represent the numbers 8 and 5 separately.

Putting all accuracies aside (in this case, only), in honor of the start of the 2008 NFL season and Chad's legally changed last name, I will now be known as Gail PUBLISideman.

...or siete quatro tres, tres (7433 or SIDE). Bueno?

Olympics teach us about targeted publicity messages

2008-08-24T19:59:00.000-07:00

Media ratings have told the story. The Olympic Games that just concluded in Beijing, China was one of the most popular ever, worldwide, The Games' success went beyond the incredible performances from athletes that included swimmer, Michael Phelps, who brings home an unprecedented eight gold medals or Dara Torres, the oldest American swimmer (41-years-old) and first swimmer from the United States to compete in five Olympics (medaled in all of them) or Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson who showed that the U.S's gymnastics prowess didn't stop with Mary Lou Retton.

Beyond their talents and those of thousands of others, was the media coverage of these games. This was the first Olympics to be broadcast live by NBC via several media sources including Internet, multiple television channels and satellite radio. It was also the first event to be measured with all of these mediums combined. I believe that this is the future of sports and big event coverage. After all, just this weekend, Democratic Presidential candidate officially announced his vice presidential running mate via text message. Stay tuned, because media and the way we use it changes by the day.

One thing that these Olympics continued to prove was that a consistent message may be communicated regardless of what might be happening in the wings. While Beijing certainly put on a beautiful show and reports demonstrated the graciousness by its citizens, it was sad to learn that people who tried to speak their minds were asked to complete pages of permit papers to demonstrate yet were all denied anyway, even detained. Further, the Chinese government reportedly controlled information dissemination from Beijing after it said it would open such access during the games. We, therefore, only heard and saw what the Chinese government wanted us to see and hear. It was mostly sugar and spice and everything a Beijing public relations officer could put in a glowing media kit. Forget that journalists couldn't access websites that weren't government approved; something that we in America take for granted.

I don't by any means would want media coverage of the Olympic Games to become more politics than games -- we know that there's virtually no way to take politics out of any country's effort to host the most spectacular production of athletics that we know. Tonight, however, I am disappointed in the International Olympic Committee for saying, "see, the Chinese said they'd be open" and ... Well, the IOC didn't do anything.

That all being said, history was made, athletes worked their hearts out and win or lose, theirs are efforts that few of us could ever relate. Congratulations, athletes. And to China, which planned an event and executed it in that country's very tailored, no wrinkles way.

A lesson that transcends industries

2008-08-06T10:53:00.001-07:00

I have been pretty vocal about my disdain for the way the Green Bay Packers have handled their relationship with future Hall of Fame quarterback, Brett Favre.

I thought that both sides did themselves a disservice by the way they aired their dirty laundry in the media. This was an issue that began percolating at least three-years-ago when Ted Thompson joined the Packers as general manager.

You can fault Favre for a lot of things, but changing his mind about wanting to play ball is not one of them. He excited people worldwide and brought them into the Packers' fan fold for 16 years. In a matter of months, Thompson made moves sans honest communication with his players, and whether it was in the interest of the team or just to put his stamp on it, he managed to alienate the only three-time MVP in the National Football League.

These things just don't pop up. They evolve. A business' leader, in this case, Thompson, who is supposed to be an organizational head, is responsible for keeping the lines of communications open between the organization and its employees. In this case, hostility set in on between Thompson and Favre. Things festered, and because they weren't tended to immediately, tempers and emotion took over. It became a media debacle with reporters capitalizing on every word, which until this past week, were exchanged via reporters.

There should not have been a buyout offer which was essentially made to keep Favre retired and before that, there shouldn't have been an interview with Favre and FOXNews' Greta Van Susteren to speak his side. The animosity between the two should have been diffused early-on within the family/team confines of the Green Bay Packers. They may have ended up as they did today -- apart and at odds. At least there would have been respect in that parting, and as an outsider looking in, I don't see that.

As Favre returns home to Hattiesburg, Miss., and possibly another team, a relationship that should have endeared fans and been a part of Packers lore for generations is torn with little chance of being sewn together, at least until there is new management in place. The Favre family, which gave so much of itself to people in the communities in and around Green Bay may be irrevocably damaged. There is division among Packers fans who help sustain the "company," and it could affect how the 2008 season is played out.

An ugly business divorce didn't have to occur between Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers, and it doesn't have to happen to your organization, either. Even if you're not a football fan, take the following lessons to heart in your own business: ALWAYS be honest and forthright; air out your differences; engage a mediator if necessary; do what it takes to snuff fires when they start to smolder. As a result your brand is likely to remain unscathed, and while you may continue to agree to disagree, respect will overrule bad blood. Everybody will be better for it.

A PR Debacle in My Backyard

2008-07-15T10:37:00.000-07:00

No matter which way you look at it, the highly documented feud between the Green Bay Packers and its former All-Star quarterback, Brett Favre, who wants to come out of retirement to start for the team on which he achieved successes beyond measure, is a mess at best. The Packers have one of the most storied franchises in the National Football League. Calling it storied these last couple of weeks is an understatement, as the club and its retired quarterback argue through the media about his desire to return to the game.

In reading columns and listening to comments from friends and colleagues in the Florida media (Ira Kaufman, The Tampa Tribune: http://tinyurl.com/577zhs, http://tinyurl.com/6lshmk and David Whitley, Orlando Sentinel: http://tinyurl.com/5hvbf3), what is becoming the Packers worst handling of a public matter in team history, could become the greatest publicity hit for another team.

From the outside looking in, this feud resulted in a lack of communication and stirring emotion that has built up during the course of the last three years. It is unproductive and damaging to allow frustrations to fester in an organization for three days let alone three years. I believe it was the Packers responsibility as an organization to work to repair its cracking relationship with the record-setting Favre, who played hurt, in mourning and with family stresses on his shoulders, during the years. This situation should not even be on the map, internally or in the media. No one wins in this situation unless you count the victorious ego in the end. You've got a public divided and a beloved team and quarterback at odds with little chance for reconciliation as I write.

From this fan, it's sad. As a publicist, it's unnecessary and damaging.

Favre has earned the right to change his mind

2008-07-09T09:58:00.000-07:00

There was a feeling during Brett Favre's retirement press conference that he wasn't the one who chose to make the decision so quickly. A most competitive player who competed in the game for more than 20 years (17 in the NFL), I found it difficult that he'd decide to retire from a game he loved when he was barely thawed from the NFC Championship game.

Favre has every right to change his mind. (If I had more game than most of the quarterbacks in the NFL and threw an interception in the last game of the 2007 season, and got within a play of the Super Bowl, I would probably want come back to prove to fans AND myself that I can still win.)

I agree with Gene Wojciechowski (http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?id=3475850&sportCat=nfl) that Ted Thompson should check his ego at the door and allow Packers fans to enjoy watching this future Hall-of-Famer play his heart out donning green and gold because "there are worse things than having Favre as Green Bay's starting quarterback. Like not having Favre as Green Bay's starting quarterback."

If, in fact, a text from Thompson said essentially, 'don't bother me while I'm on vacation,' he is showing he is the antithesis of what the Packers community represents. Passion for playing the game at a high level is what this should be about. It should not be how to make a personal mark on a team from the front office, one that you've only been a part of for a few years.

NBA needs an assist

2008-06-23T13:12:00.000-07:00

It's a week since the Boston Celtics clinched the 2008 NBA title, and for coach Doc Rivers and Company, I couldn't be more thrilled. It was the trophy presentation that was disturbing.

A typically basketball-loving Boston crowd booed NBA commissioner, David Stern, when he was introduced at the "New Garden" post-game. In the week prior, he'd written off the Tim Donaghy officiating-game fixing incident as an isolated case, which it may well be, but failed to address the problem among his constituents -- the fans. Years ago I marveled at the marketing genius of Stern, but I feel like too much has gotten out of hand regarding the league's reputation. Marketing deals are great, but you have to be honest with your customers -- the fans; you can offer all of the athletic apparel incentives in the world and no one will care.

The world is a different place since Stern took the helm of the NBA, and the league's leaders must live as such. No rumor or near-truth will get past the media, today, thus the fans will learn, form opinions, and react quicker than a statement can be released by the league office. I think the best thing the NBA can do now is be honest with fans about the direction it is taking with potential gambling in the sport, reiterate why it hampers the game and lay out plans about how discipline will be handed down in the future. Fans just want to be heard -- know someone is listening. Maybe next time the NBA World Championship Trophy is presented, all you'll hear are cheers from a dedicated fan base.

It's a maddening wonderful time of year

2008-03-14T15:34:00.001-07:00

As we enter one of the most exciting times of the sports year, take a minute to remember what the NCAA Basketball Tournament was without television. It wasn't much to the borderline fan. Sure, if your alma mater won a title you were a proud alum, and we'll always hold John Wooden's UCLA teams to the highest regard. But, what opened this basketball tournament to become a mass fan favorite and one of the most unproductive weeks for employers when their staffs sneak off and watch television or try to monitor games from their computer screens? It was the hours added to television coverage. This year, you can watch every tournament game from every region on the web. I will enjoy games from the South Region in Tampa where I'll rejoin the department of athletics from my alma mater that plays host to Rounds One and Two next Friday and Sunday. It will be my gagillionth tournament, but that doesn't matter. It's always exciting. And like many people, it was television that turned me onto the Big Dance.

Cheers and More to You, Brett Favre

2008-03-04T20:34:00.000-08:00

Today something happened that we knew would come someday, but hoped it would not be at least for another season. I feel like I grew up with Brett Favre. I saw him star for the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles in college, then in the NFL. I couldn't have been more excited when as an Atlanta resident, I saw the Falcons draft this amazing athlete. Who knew that the birds wouldn't play him? The Falcons' loss was my home team's gain.

I was at the frozen conference title game at Lambeau Field in January when Brett, now as we know it, played his last game for the Green Bay Packers and the NFL. I was also ironically at Milwaukee County Stadium when he beat the Falcons in the last game in that facility. One of Favre's firsts, however, was as cover boy on my award-winning Metro News. As a player at Southern Mississippi, I put him on my football season preview cover. Our Metro Collegiate Athletic Conference did not sponsor a football schedule, but I put out one big football issue each year and updated our readers on the happenings at member schools. Thanks, Brett, for allowing me to enjoy a bit of your early fame.

But, now on the publicity front...

Joan Stewart, aka, "The Publicity Hound" (publicityhound.com) and I talked about Favre's retirement from the Green Bay Packers after 17 seasons. Here is what she wrote in her weekly newsletter:

Gail Sideman of PubliSide Personal Publicity in Milwaukee, who
comes from a sports publicity background, says she thinks this is
an ideal time for Publicity Hounds everywhere to piggyback off
this news. I agree.

The news media's 24-hour news cycle, she says, combined with its
insatiable appetite for copy and film footage, means sports shows
like those on ESPN and CNN, as well as other non-sports programs
and news shows right in your own community, will be looking for
experts who can comment on the retirement. I asked her to
brainstorm with me ways that experts can piggyback onto this
news.

Here are our ideas:

--Authors, speakers and experts on the topic of leadership can
comment on what made Favre such a great leader.

--Are you an expert on grief? If so, comment on Favre's amazing
performance on "Monday Night Football" on December 21, 2003, the
day after his father died of a heart attack and drove his car
into a ditch in Kiln, Mississippi. Favre decided to play the
game, and passed for four touchdowns in the first half and 399
total yards in a 41-7 victory over the Raiders on international
television.

--What can kids learn from Favre's well-publicized problems with
drugs and alcohol? And his rehab?

--Despite their fame and fortune, Favre and his wife, Deanna,
together have experienced more horrific events in just a few
years than most people experience in a lifetime. His problems
with drugs and booze. Her b~reast cancer. A marriage that almost
fell apart. His father's death. The death of Deanna's brother in
an ATV accident in Mississippi. The Favre family home in
Mississippi that was destroyed in August 2005 by Hurricane
Katrina. Brett and Deanna's property in Hattiesburg, Mississippi
that was extensively damaged by the storm. Yet Favre chose to
continue to play. And his wife wrote a book and has established
her own fund-raising foundation to support women with b~reast
cancer. What lessons can we learn from their resiliency?

--Sports experts can comment on whether Favre is the greatest
quarterback of all time. Or one of the top three, or the top
five.

--Bloggers, can your readers learn a lesson about a particular
topic from Favre's long career?

--PR people, how about commenting on Favre's and the Packers'
botched PR moves? Just last week, for example, a Packers exec was
quoted as saying he's confident Favre will return this fall.

Regardless of where you live, commenting on topics such as these
can make you the local angle to this national story. That means
your local TV station might jump at the chance to interview you.
TV producer Shawne Duperon explains the step-by-step process of
"How to Get onto the Local TV News Tomorrow" on a CD or
electronic transcript that you can be reading as soon as your
order has been approved.

Read more about what you'll learn at
http://publicityhound.net/cdgetlocaltvpublicity

Hail Rocky Top!

2008-02-26T19:55:00.000-08:00

Cheers for one of the greatest publicists on Earth. Ok, he's a basketball coach, but University of Tennessee's Bruce Pearl is not just a good spokesman for his program, but he makes every effort to make sure that media are equipped with everything that they need prior to a game. Sure, he has sports information people to do this, but he knows in his heart, that no one can say it like he can, from Xs and Os to describing his players' strengths. Currently ranked No. 1 in the country, Pearl deserves accolades, although he will always dish to his players. After years of coaching at the Division II level and working his way up in NCAA Division I, Pearl is due this gem.

ESPN the Courtroom?

2008-02-19T16:03:00.000-08:00

I certainly hope not, but turn on SportsCenter these last few weeks and you hear a lot about: steroids, Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte and a host of other issues associated with lying, cheating and stealing (wins). Then there is Kelvin Sampson, head basketball coach at Indiana University who is accused by the NCAA of making too many phone calls to recruits. Add to that LSU's quarterback being suspended for breaking team rules and various other professional athletes getting in scuffles, and you've got the makings of a new television target.

I've never agreed with a lot of the NCAA's regulations, as I think many of them keep athletes from living like average human beings. Breaking rules, including team or league rules, is simply wrong, however. When an athlete signs onto play with a school or professional team, they agree to follow the rules of the organization(s) to which they become associated. If they can't abide by those rules, they should decline to sign, or bow out gracefully.

It would certainly put a better face on organized athletics.

And, speaking of, hey, high-crazed parents -- back off!

A new year is a time for renewal in the sports world

2008-01-01T22:19:00.001-08:00

It's officially 2008 and that means we can move forward in the sports world with a clean slate. The effects of the Mitchell Report and other steroid-related blips will turn to stories about the surge in athletes switching to certified organically-grown food diets. All athletes will see the calendar change as an opportunity to live responsibly and on the right side of the law. Coaches will honor their contracts for the duration of the dates on the paper on which they're printed, and owners and athletic directors will do the same. It's a time for renewal. The potential for ESPN the Courtroom will no longer be needed because games will be played in fun and athletes will be all about sportsmanship. So, PLAY BALL -- and make sure it's regulation. Happy New Year!