Sports Media and Public Relations

Being a Sports Fan Can Be Tough Sometimes. Winning Makes It All Worth It.

2011-02-08T13:15:00.000-08:00

The Green Bay Packers won the Super Bowl on Sunday making it the first time one of my favorite sports teams won a championship in its respective sport since I have been of an age where it actually could mean something. It felt great. Aaron Rodgers put together a historic performance as the Packers pulled together in the second half despite several key injuries.

But it got me thinking how close several of “my” teams have gotten to winning the big one over the years and why sticking with a team through the tough times makes it all worth it. So excuse me for a minute while I talk about my favorite teams.

Lets start with the University of Oregon Ducks football, the most recent highlight and heartbreak in my sports fandom as they made it to the National Championship only to lose to Auburn last month. Growing up in Oregon as a Duck fan as been an incredible experience as the program has gone from average to elite over the last decade (all thanks to Phil Knight). The Duck football program will only continue to get better as long as Knight is around and making the best athletic facilities in the country even better. While a majority of the powerhouse college football programs build their brands on tradition (Texas, USC, Alabama, etc.), Oregon has branded itself as a brand of change and innovation. As annoying as the rest of the country may think the constantly changing uniforms are, they appeal to the group of people that is most important: elite high school recruits. Watch out for Oregon Duck basketball over the next few years as well. Matthew Knight Arena, the new and appropriately named $230 million unique facility, opened this year and will surely help get the basketball program back on track.

Next you have the Portland Trail Blazers, my beloved hometown NBA team. Talk about a franchise having its ups and downs. Let’s start in the late 90’s when the Blazers made back-to-back Western Conference Finals only to lose to the Spurs and Lakers. The 15-point meltdown in the fourth quarter of game seven against the Lakers is still, and likely will always be, the most devastating moment for me as sports fan. Not only did it lead to the Lakers first string of NBA titles, but it began a half decade of bad basketball and the Jail Blazers era in Portland. The last four or five years have had promise with several emerging young stars, but the dreams of an NBA title has derailed by several key injuries.

My MLB team is the Seattle Mariners. It’s been tough decade as the last relevant season was in 2001 when Seattle won a MLB record 116 games. But the Mariners are great test of my fan loyalty. I can’t just switch favorite teams because it wouldn’t feel right, and when the organization finally turns the corner it will be that much more rewarding for me as a fan knowing I still followed them when they were at their worst.

Overall, being a sports fan can be the most frustrating or the greatest thing ever. That’s what makes it so fun. Watching organizations rise and fall is part of the business, so appreciating the good while dealing with the bad is part of being a loyal fan. Thank you Packers for putting an end to my championship drought. Go Ducks. Go Blazers. Go Mariners.

National Signing Day: It’s Fun for a Day, but Worth the Hype and Potential?

2011-02-04T14:38:00.000-08:00

Wednesday was National Signing Day for high school football players who plan to take their talents to the next level and announce where they will be playing college football (see what I did there?). The Decision(s) are broadcast live on ESPN all day with 17 and 18-year old kids holding puppies and putting on the hat of the school they have decided to attend.

It’s like Christmas for die-hard college football fans as we get to find out who could be the next big star on our favorite team. But overall, the idea of having these kids make an announcement on national television is pretty ridiculous, especially when about a third of them (ESPN's Top 150 from 2007) won’t end up living up to the “hype.”

No one is criticizing them like they did LeBron after his Decision, who was already a proven superstar. In fact, top recruit DeAnthony Thomas chose to go to Oregon on Wednesday after verbally committing to USC last spring (not that I am upset about that, considering my hatred for Lane Kiffin and USC. Go Ducks.).

The fact is, this has been going on for years and it has suddenly become normal for top recruits to hold a press conference to make an announcement. So whose fault is it? The players? The Media?

Football is America’s sport, and that has trickled down from the NFL and college to high school over the years. There are websites exclusively dedicated to ranking top recruits and ESPN regularly televises big games with potential future stars. The media undoubtedly puts the spotlight on high school players at a very young age, and with colleges trying to make a big impression during the recruitment period it’s not surprising that some kids can develop a little bit of an ego.

The reality is that no one is really going to care or remember what these kids did on signing day. Football is more of a team sport than any other sport and finding a role on a team is critical. The most important thing for these young kids to do is check their ego at the door when they arrive on campus. No one is going to care what you did in high school or that you were a top recruit because everyone is fighting to get time on the field.

Overall, National Signing Day is a fun day for college football fans to look forward to, but the attention these 17 and 18-year olds receive only puts more pressure on them to succeed and if they fail to live up to the hype it only leads to disappointment for everyone involved.

The Rush for Answers That Aren't There Yet

2010-11-21T13:48:00.000-08:00

The way this Cam Newton story has played out in the media has really frustrated me. The amount of hearsay, the release of private records, and uncited sources being used has made several major media outlets, including ESPN, look very bad.

It’s just another example of how journalism is changing in the sports world. Even if it does turn out that Newton violated NCAA rules, I am sure not all the facts that have been reported as the story plays out have been correct. It seems that getting the story first rather than getting it right is more important because people want to rush to judgment before letting a difficult situation like this run its course.

It is understandable with so many unanswered questions that people want to find out what is going on, but sometimes it takes more than a few days, or even a few weeks, to sort such complex situations like this out. With 24-hour news and sources like Twitter, people expect answers almost instantaneously when that is rarely ever how things like this work out.

Deep down, Cam Newton obviously knows what the real story is, but it still is hard not to feel bad for him. This is going to stay with him for the rest of his life regardless of how it plays out. People are digging into some of his most personal information on him, which has got to be tough on anyone, especially a college kid.

There are so many layers to this story and so many people and organizations it’s going to affect. Other than Newton and Auburn University, the Heisman Board and NCAA undoubtedly are feeling the heat. Since Newton is by far the leading candidate to win the Heisman trophy and Auburn is on its to the National Championship, both the Heisman Board and NCAA could be end up having to lay down the same uncomfortable punishment that Reggie Bush and USC received.

Overall, I hope this is the last time we have to hear about a college athlete allegedly taking money, but I know I am wrong. It’s unfortunate how many people are affected by the allegations of one person’s misconduct.

NFL in Tough Spot

2010-10-23T13:11:00.000-07:00

Hard hits have always been a part of the NFL and that is never going to change. But with what seems like a rise in big hits recently, Commissioner Roger Goodell has decided he has seen enough and is going to start fining and suspending players who make illegal hits.

It’s a very tough situation for everyone involved. The players just want to go out and play the game the way they always have without worrying about how they make a tackle, while the League has the players’ safety in its best interest. Coming to a compromise isn’t going to be easy, especially since what is deemed an illegal hit is different depending on whom you talk to.

Fans love big hits, and it’s always been one of the NFL’s top selling points, but with new evidence about how bad it can be to receive repeat concussions, the League is trying to do more to protect its players during their careers and after they retire. As a player, you know football is a very violent game, and the risk of injury is certainly much higher than other sports and professions. They know what they are getting into when they decide to play in the NFL.

But what scares me is that these hits are only going to get worse as players naturally continue to get bigger, faster, and stronger. I think that’s why the NFL is trying to send the message now to try to change the culture before it gets too out of hand. I feel like there is the potential for something really bad to happen in the near future, but what is the solution? Try to change the way players make tackles risking other injuries? Equipment upgrades?

This is why the NFL is in such a tough spot. It’s a violent game and head injuries are going to happen regardless of any rule change. Trying to change the way players play the game will be difficult, but we will see if fines and suspensions make a difference.

Getting Rid of the Bowl System Would Be a Mistake

2010-09-22T16:49:00.001-07:00

Every year the debate rages on, and as conference play begins this weekend for most teams across the country the arguments will start to heat up again. BCS or playoff?

Before I began working for the Valero Alamo Bowl a few months ago I went back-and-forth on the issue, however, since being a part of the bowl system, I have been able to see first-hand the work that goes into making each bowl game unique and the benefits that they have on their respective communities.

There are 35 bowl games in 28 communities scheduled for the 2010-11 season, meaning 35 teams will finish the season as bowl champions and 28 communities will experience an economic lift during bowl week. Aside from the economic benefits, I think the unique thing about the BCS is that so many college football players get to end their season as a champion. Even though they may not be the national champions, I think it’s a better to end the season on a winning note rather than losing in an early round of a playoff system.

Also, why mess with the system of arguably the second most popular sport in the country behind the NFL? The bowl system has been in place for over 100 years and it makes every regular season game important for teams who are looking to contend for the National Championship.

Michigan Head Coach Rich Rodriguez makes a great point about the BCS: “In Division I-A football, every game is a playoff. Once you lose one game, you’re mostly out. If you lose two, you’re definitely out. We got 12 playoff games. Teams take that approach. That’s probably why there’s so much interest.”

Oklahoma Head Coach Bob Stoops on why he believes college football is more successful than college basketball: “In basketball there is far less interest in the regular season than there is in the tournament. Everyone gets March Madness for the tournament. You don’t want everyone to get January madness for football and forget about everything else that’s happening in the regular season.”

A recent survey by ESPN The Magazine of 135 college football players across the country showed that 62 percent of players would prefer a playoff system, but 77 percent would prefer multiple bowl trips during their college career rather than just one trip to the playoffs. If you think about it, a playoff system would only allow a limited number of teams, likely 16 at the most.
As one SEC player put it: "How many fans are actually going to travel to these road playoff games? I'd like to see a playoff, but we're not going to get that without answering a lot of tough questions."

Not to mention that college players have academic obligations and potentially adding up four games to their schedule would undoubtedly set them back in the classroom and put unnecessary extra strain on their bodies physically. Remember, these kids aren’t getting paid (at least the ones following the rules) and adding more games for them to get injured would be a mistake.

Overall, the bowl system isn’t perfect but a playoff format would cause more problems than it would fix. There are certainly areas the BCS could be tweaked, but a complete overhaul would ruin college football. As one player surveyed said: "The whole bowl experience is great. It's just like bowl camp, a good time to bond with the guys after a long season. Then when you go to the bowl destination, it's even better. I'm not sure with a playoff system you have that."

Instant Replay Becoming a Necessity in Major League Baseball

2010-09-06T13:19:00.000-07:00

It seems that the issue of instant replay in baseball has become much more prevalent this summer with several critical and potentially game-changing calls being missed. The use of instant replay in the sport has long been discussed as technology has improved; yet little has been done to make the necessary changes.

Bud Selig took the first step in the right direction when he added instant replay for questionable home run calls, yet it is still not enough. There have already been numerous occasions where replay on important home run calls has helped ensure the correct call is made, yet there are several other areas of the game that need to be looked at as well, mainly safe or out and fair or foul calls.

There are always going to be the “old timers” who will never want the game to change, but with the available technology, extra unfair pressure is put on the umpires. Since fans and announcers can view a play multiple times and scrutinize the referees, why shouldn’t the officials they be allowed to correct their own mistakes and look at a play again?

Another argument that I hear a lot is that it would slow games down. While this is true to a certain extent, instituting replay doesn’t mean you have to review every single questionable call. For example, in baseball reviewing balls and strikes would be ridiculous, but fair or foul balls and safe our out calls would be reasonable. Only allowing a certain number of “challenges” would be appropriate as well, just like in the NFL.

What it really comes down to is if Major League Baseball wants to get the call right. If that’s what they really want, than the use of instant replay should be used. The argument that human error should be part of the game is reasonable, but why should we have it if it is very simple to avoid?

Not too long ago, Outside the Lines, an ESPN program, did a two-week study of every close call in each MLB game. The results were rather surprising, as almost 20% of all close calls were missed. If this isn’t a sign for change than I don’t know what is.

I think we are one missed game-changing call in this year’s playoffs from replay being expanded in baseball. Major League Baseball has gone too long without realizing that changes can be made to help make the game better with instant replay. Fair and foul calls, as well as out or safe calls are all objective and there is no reason a team should lose a critical game because of the misjudgment of an umpire.

Tough Way to Learn a Lesson

2010-08-16T17:20:00.000-07:00

The Internet was buzzing today about Dustin Johnson grounding his club on the final hole of the PGA Championship. He was given a two-shot penalty, which took him out of a playoff with Bubba Watson and eventual winner Martin Kaymer. He finished in a tie for fifth and earned almost $1.1 million less than if he had won the tournament.

There has been so much talk about Johnson’s gaffe that Kaymer’s first major win was on the backburner of today’s golf discussion, and 60% of people who voted in an ESPN.com poll thought the PGA shouldn’t have penalized Johnson.

It’s really hard not to feel bad for Johnson. The small error of putting his club in the sand before he shot likely played no factor into how he hit the ball from the sand, yet it turned out to be a devastating mistake. However, after reading about how it was clearly stated to the players that there were over 1,200 sand traps at Whistling Straits wouldn’t you at least question yourself if your ball landed in a sandy area that could potentially be a bunker? Also, it has been reported that the first item listed on the rules sheet posted all over the locker room described how the sandy areas like the one Johnson was in were to be played like normal bunkers. Johnson said he didn’t read the rules sheet.

To the average fan, resting a club in the sand before a shot may seem like a very silly rule, but in reality, golf is full of obscure regulations. Heck, you can be disqualified for accidentally signing a scorecard in the wrong place after a round. I played competitive golf for several years and I can’t tell you how many times I was in, or heard about a situation where a penalty could be given for a seemingly ridiculous reason. But in a competitive tournament “rules are rules” as they say and everyone has to follow them.

The PGA has done a tremendous job in handling the situation. Even though the rule is cut and dry, it was important for the Tour to make sure everything was made clear to avoid further controversy and backlash. David Price, the rules official with Johnson’s group when the incident took place, discussed openly today about the details leading up to and following the incident. Price described how Johnson had asked him several questions regarding rules in holes prior to the incident and Johnson knew he simply needed to ask if he had a question.

“You don't remind a player on every hole that you can't ground your club," Price said.

Overall, the whole incident was unfortunate for everyone involved. It shouldn't take anything away from Kaymer’s win, he certainly deserves it, but it casts a shadow over a very exciting finish to a tournament where there were no big names in contention. For Johnson, it’s one of those incidents that you live and you learn from and at least he got the experience of being right there to win a major championship on the final hole.

Hey, at least he didn’t make his final putt and have the outright victory taken away.

NFL Rookie Contracts are Frustrating for Fans

2010-08-01T14:33:00.000-07:00

After following another NFL offseason, I am sure I am not the only one who cannot wait until there is a new collective bargaining agreement. The ridiculous rookie contracts and training camp holdouts are awful for the League and makes fans like myself hopeful for a change next March when the current CBA deal expires.

I admit I don’t know the details of how the CBA works, but I do know that five rookies who were taken in the first round of 2009 NFL Draft shouldn’t be in the top 50 highest paid athletes in all of sports (Darrius Heyward-Bay made more money than Albert Pujols last year). These spots should be reserved for highly marketable and talented athletes rather than 22-year-olds coming out of college. Instead, the current circumstances have forced NFL owners to pay on potential rather than what a player has proven on the field, which is unfair for veterans who have shown that they can stay in the NFL for years, yet still may not ever end up making as much money as a first round pick.

Sam Bradford just signed a contract that guarantees him $50 million over the next six years, and it could be worth up to $78 million. Coming off a fairly serious shoulder surgery, Bradford hasn’t played a single down in the NFL and has forced the Rams to put all their eggs in his basket for the next several years. It’s not surprising that players like Tom Brady, a three-time Super Bowl winning quarterback, is frustrated to be making substantially less than Bradford.

It’s nothing against Bradford because the current system puts him and his agent in the driver's seat. Everybody is looking for as much money as they can get, but the chances that Bradford lives up to his contract value and becomes the as good or better a quarterback as Tom Brady is very small.

There have been far too many examples over recent years as to why the current CBA is flawed when it comes to rookie contracts. JaMarcus Russell is the poster boy as he made over $30 million in his short career in Oakland, which calculated to $100,000 per completion and $5.6 million per win.

I realize there is no perfect system for contracts when they are worth millions of dollars and the chance of injury is very high, but the NFL certainly could look into creating a rookie scale much like the NBA. It would help avoid giving huge contracts based on potential and ensure that rookies would be in camp on time without days, weeks, or sometimes months long holdouts.

LeBron and A-Rod Going Down Same Career Path

2010-07-12T17:53:00.000-07:00

With the LeBron Sweepstakes over, I don’t think I am the only one who is critical of the way he handled his short time as a free agent. In the grand scheme of things, I don’t think LeBron James’ brand will be hurt because of the decision he made, but I certainly lost some respect for LeBron James as a human being.

Taking away his tremendous ability as a basketball player, I always admired the way LeBron handled himself off the court. He never seemed to let anything take away from his focus on basketball and didn’t let his much-anticipated free agency distract him from his mission with the Cavaliers. Even though he never won a championship in Cleveland, he still showed commitment to his hometown. Until last Thursday night.

First, I understand that LeBron wanted to go to Miami to play with his friends and have a much better chance of winning a championship. But the way he stabbed the city of Cleveland in the back with a one-hour television special and tried to cover it up by donating to charity really struck a nerve with me. I don’t think he realized how much he meant to Cleveland.

As far as LeBron’s career goes, it is now headed down a completely different path. A comparison that keeps coming to my mind is the career of Alex Rodriguez. I don’t think many people dispute that A-Rod is one of the most talented players of our generation, much like LeBron is one of the most gifted players in NBA history. Both players were largely considered the best player on their respective teams, James in Cleveland and Rodriguez in Seattle and Texas, but neither could carry their team over the hump and consistently failed to live up to expectations in the post season.

When Rodriguez joined the Yankees, it was still clear that he was one of the most talented players in the game, but there was a big difference. The Yankees were Derek Jeter’s team and the surrounding all-star players took away from the glory of A-Rod winning his first World Series last year. The same can be said for LeBron. Even though he may be the most talented player in the league, the Heat are always going to be Dwayne Wade’s team and the addition of Chris Bosh makes it seem like James couldn’t do it on his own. That is if they do go on to win multiple rings.

So take it as you wish. I know a single player can impact the game a basketball more than a position player can in baseball, yet I think the comparison is fair. There is a difference between talented and great players. Players who are simply talented, like James and Rodriguez, seem to be lacking something. Truly great players, like Derek Jeter, Kobe Bryant, and Michael Jordan all show loyalty to their cities and always put winning above everything else.

Overall, I understand it was a tough decision for LeBron to make. I would have loved to see him stay in Cleveland and win multiple championships while, but clearly he didn’t see that as a very high probability. I wish him the best of luck, but it’s a shame he will never be remembered as a great player.

Chip Kelly Did the Right Thing and Other Programs Should Follow

2010-03-22T13:41:00.000-07:00

Last week, the star quarterback at the University of Oregon, Jeremiah Masoli, was suspended for the entire 2010 season after he pled guilty to felony burglary. Running back LaMichael James and kicker Rob Beard were also suspended for the season opener after pleading guilty to separate misdemeanor harassment charges.

In all, five players in the Oregon football program were charged with a variety of crimes within a month of each other, and every one of them received a suspension. Not a statistic you want your football program to have, but Oregon is not alone. From 2005-2008 the University of Florida football team had a startling total of 24 arrests, and several other major programs have had a high number of incidents as well. The media almost always covers the arrest of college football players, but the fact that the incidents at Oregon occurred within such a short period of time didn’t help the cause.

The recent string of arrests and troubles for the Oregon football program led to a great deal of negative media coverage, both locally and nationally. Head Coach Chip Kelly appeared on ESPN’s Outside the Lines discussing the state of the program and he has had some heated encounters with local newspaper columnists.

Unfortunately, arrests have become fairly common amongst major college football programs, yet suspensions like those that Kelly issued are rare.

Personally, I am pleased with the lengths of the suspensions that Kelly handed down, and would have even preferred two-game suspensions for James and Beard. Regardless, with all the negative coverage that the Oregon football program received in such a short period of time, Kelly certainly felt pressure and was forced to react quickly.

When all was said and done, Kelly did the right thing. Masoli and James were the two biggest stars in the Oregon offense last year, yet Kelly put the image and integrity of his program before wins. The first year coach, who already had to deal with the LeGarrette Blount incident, undoubtedly felt pressure to react sternly. The media hounded him for answers, and he was accused of losing control of his football program in the first year.

Despite all the negative press, Kelly waited for the facts to become clear before making a decision on suspensions. Perhaps the situation would have played out differently if all the arrests weren’t within such a short period of time. Regardless, the fact that Kelly didn’t want winning football games to be his only obligation as a college football coach is something other programs should consider as well.

Punches Damage More Than a Player's Reputation

2010-03-07T19:36:00.000-08:00

Over the past several months there have been punches thrown by college athletes in the heat of competition. In September, University of Oregon football player LeGarrette Blount punched a Boise State player during a confrontation after a game. Then last Wednesday, Brittney Griner, a star 6-foot-8 freshman basketball player at Baylor University, punched an opponent during a game after a foul was called.

Blount and Griner were suspended, and the punches certainly hurt their reputations. However, the violent actions don’t simply hurt the player, but they can have both short-term and long-term effects on the athletic programs and universities as well.

In the days following the incidents, coaches had to answer difficult questions from the media and the universities were left doing damage control over all the negative media coverage. Even though a player is responsible for their own actions, the University of Oregon and Baylor University don’t want to be seen as places that recruit athletes who let their fists do the talking instead of their play. While both universities suspended the players, the damage was already done to the brand of the schools.

A college athlete not only represents the team they are playing for, but the entire university, including students, staff, and alumni. Universities don’t want to be seen as places where violent actions are acceptable, especially amongst athletes, which is likely why Blount received such a lengthy suspension.

While the athletes are young, there is never an excuse for violence in sports. It may seem like Blount and Griner are only hurting their own reputations and futures when they commit these violent acts. However, it is often the athletic programs and universities that are left the clean up the media mess, and the negative reputation of the school could last long after the player graduates.

It can take years to build a reputation and only seconds to ruin it. An athlete acting violently during a sporting event can be those seconds that take away years of hard work that universities put into building a positive reputation.

Media Coverage of Less Popular Sports

2010-03-07T17:22:00.000-08:00

The NFL, NBA, MLB and men’s college basketball and football clearly dominate sports media coverage today in the United States because television stations, such as ESPN, are dedicated to the coverage of what is most popular. However, less covered sports such as hockey and many women’s sports don’t receive much coverage at all, and when they do it’s often negative.

The good and the bad of the most popular sports leagues are always reported because it’s what the audience wants to see. While I don’t expect, and don’t want there to be even distribution of coverage of all sports, it bothers me when the only time less popular sports appear in the news is when something bad happens. I, like many others, may not particularly care who wins the women's college basketball championship later this month, and there likely won’t be much coverage of the event. However, it’s not fair to the brand of the sport when there is more coverage of Brittany Griner punching an opposing player than there is of the national championship game.

Think back to what you heard about women’s college soccer last fall. The only thing I remember was the University of New Mexico player who was suspended for her dirty play on the field, yet I have no clue who won the national title. Now think about professional golf. Do you know who won any of the recent PGA tournaments, or do you only hear questions about when Tiger Woods will come back from his fiasco?

I know networks like ESPN are not going to change the way they cover sports, and they shouldn’t because it would only drive its audience away. I also realize that negative stories will always be reported because people love controversial issues. However, it only seems fair to give some positive coverage to less popular sports because negative stereotypes are developed when they only shown when something bad happens.

Tiger's Comback: Step One

2010-02-21T18:27:00.000-08:00

I have read a lot of opinions about Tiger Woods’ press conference on Friday, and a majority of it has been pretty negative. I know he sounded robotic, which some would call insincere, and I know he didn’t answer any questions or address when he would return to golf. However, it was good to actually hear him acknowledge his mistakes in person, which will now allow him to slowly begin rebranding himself.

Woods set up the press conference in a way he felt comfortable, with only three reporters and a several close family members and friends (his wife, Elin, was notably absent) in attendance. I think he said what he needed to say, and made it clear he wasn’t going to handle private matters publicly. While he didn’t really address many of the lingering questions many people have, such as when he will return to golf, he did acknowledge that he is receiving therapy and continuing to rebuild his family life.

If Woods had answered questions after the press conference it would have been like going all-in on the first hand in a game of poker. It would have been far too risky. What many people fail to understand is that this was the first step of many for Woods in a reestablishing himself. He hadn’t made an appearance in public in over two months, and trying to do address too many things at once wouldn’t have been very smart.

The proverb, “actions speak louder than words” could never apply more than it does to Woods right now. During his press conference he laid the foundation for how he will act when he returns to golf. Before this whole fiasco, some of the biggest gripes about Woods were his temper tantrums on the golf course and his stinginess when it came to giving to charity. These are both easy fixes if Woods is serious about wanting to seen as a better person. Everything he does will be under the spotlight even more than before, so maintaining a clean image through his actions will be crucial.

So what will Woods have to do next before he returns to golf? First, he’s going to have to at least answer some questions he won’t want to. His relationship with Elin will have to be addressed, as it will be obvious whether they stay together or separate. Also, I don’t think it would be a bad idea for Woods to make a few public appearances, such as at charity events, before he steps back onto the golf course.

Overall, the opportunity is there for Woods to come out of this situation as a better person. He acknowledged his mistakes, and even though he gave vague plans about how he’s is going to fix them, it’s a start. Woods said in his press conference that all the money and fame made him feel like he was invincible. This is because the media today builds up superstars like Woods superhuman levels. When these stars make mistakes that help us realize that they are humans after all, the media destroys them. It will take a while, but this press conference was the first step of many for Woods to reestablish himself as a well-behaved, giving, and normal person.

Dealing With Change in Sports Media

2010-02-18T15:47:00.000-08:00

Bill Simmons, one of my favorite columnists, wrote a piece about a month ago regarding the current role that the media industry plays in sports. In short, he discusses how reporters in the 20th century developed much closer relationships with the players they were covering. Now, there is 24/7 media coverage, which makes athletes put up a shield when talking to reporters. The ability for direct communication with fans through online social networks has also changed media in sports.

I couldn’t agree more with Simmons and I don’t blame the athletes for putting up a shield.

I feel like when an athlete is going into an interview I already know what he is going to say before he is asked any questions. Saying how much they respect their opponents and how they don’t care about their own stats at all are both staples in post game interviews. This happens because anything said that is remotely controversial will be blown way out of proportion and made into a news story that could land on the front page of ESPN.com. The next day a statement will be released apologizing for the remarks and assuring the public it will never happen again. I guarantee the athlete never has any part in writing these statements.

Since athletes have had to watch what they say in front of reporters, many have turned to social networking to better communicate with fans. Now, even those comments are being monitored by the media and several athletes have gotten in trouble for what they say on Twitter or Facebook. Instead of using quotes in articles now, some reporters will use what athletes have tweeted as quotable material.

While it may not be a good thing or a bad thing, it’s a reality that media will never be the same again. As newspapers are beginning to fade, a new era of journalism is upon us and athletes have gained more control. Just look at Tiger Woods. He had complete control of the media and never let anyone ask any questions or know what was going on in his life outside of golf. No one even bothered asking anything about his family or personal life because they already knew he wouldn’t go there. I think that is perfectly fine because we have no right to know what Woods is doing on his own time, but the way media is now, everything gets exposed once there is a lead (i.e. car crash). Anyways, that’s a whole different story, but I am curious to hear what he has to say at his press conference tomorrow.

Overall, media is simply different now and we have to accept it for what it is. It will never be how it once was, but both journalists and athletes are making adjustments along the way. That’s what makes the sports media world so interesting.

Tough Start for Vancouver 2010

2010-02-14T20:16:00.000-08:00

On the first day of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics a 21-year-old luger from the country of Georgia, Nodar Kumaritashvil, was killed. Towards the end of a practice run Kumaritashvil flew from his sled, off the track and into an unpadded pole. He died later at the hospital. It wasn’t the start Olympic officials were hoping for, as the track had already received complaints that it may have been too fast, as some lugers reached speeds of over 90 miles per hour.

The two organizations that dealt with the incident, the International Luge Federation and the Olympic Committee, handled the situation very differently.

The International Luge Federation blamed Kumaritashvil. They said there were no deficiencies in the track and that he "did not compensate properly to make the correct entrance into the curve.” In my opinion, this is an awful approach to take when handling a crisis situation. Even if Kumaritashvil did make a mistake, no one should ever die because of human error during a sporting event. Those mistakes should be factored into the construction of the track and blaming the victim immediately after a tragedy is truly sad.

The Olympic Committee took immediate measures to try to fix the situation. They didn’t blame Kumaritashvil, but instead made the track 190 yards shorter to limit speeds and ensured any potential hazards directly off the track were covered. This is a much smarter approach to take when handling a crisis situation, as they fixed what caused the problem to ensure it doesn’t happen again.

It’s always easy to look back on these kinds of situations and ask why the problem wasn’t fixed before the accident occurred. In reality, sometimes freak accidents do happen, especially during dangerous sports. The most important thing is to take responsibility for the accident and take appropriate measures to make sure it doesn’t happen again. Blaming the victim is heartless and reflects poorly on the organization.

Tim Tebow's Superbowl Commercial: Will It Hurt His Marketability?

2010-02-14T17:51:00.000-08:00

With all the hype about the Tim Tebow Super Bowl commercial I was a little surprised about how subtle the message ended up being. There was so much controversy in the media about whether it should be shown, but in reality the commercial was simply directing the audience to the Focus on Family organization’s website. If I hadn’t heard so much about the commercial ahead of time I don’t think I would have even known what message the advertisement was trying to promote.

Now the timing of the commercial is what confuses me. More power to Tebow for standing up for what he believes in during a time when many athletes don’t often get involved in controversial issues. However, as one of the more marketable players coming out of college in quite some time, I am not sure why Tebow would want risk putting some of that marketability at risk.

Overall, the commercial wasn’t nearly as big of a deal as it was built up to be. I think the media hype before hand was probably more significant than the actual advertisement. I am sure Tebow gave plenty of thought about losing some of his marketability, but he obviously felt strongly enough about the issue that is was worth the risk.

When Will Tiger Be Back?

2010-02-07T13:50:00.000-08:00

It’s been over two months since Tiger Woods made his first and only public statement about taking time away from golf. He hasn’t been seen in public since then and rumors have swirled about a possible stint in rehab for sex addiction. Now that the 2010 PGA Tour season is in full swing, everyone is asking: when will the number one golfer in the world be back?

My guess is Woods will be back in time for the Masters in April. I have a hard time imagining that he would miss the year’s biggest tournament. Not only do I think he will return for the Masters, I think he will win it. Woods is one of the most competitive athletes on the planet, and since he will have to focus so much more because of all the extra media attention, I don’t see any way he loses if he decides to compete.

But before Woods’ comeback, regardless of when that is, he has some work to do to repair his public image, and that is not going to be easy. It’s likely that he may never fully recover from this fiasco, but I don’t understand why it is taking so long for Woods to say anything, either publicly or through a statement. What is he going to say in a month that he can’t say right now?

Just like anybody who has had a negative impact on their public image, Woods is going to have to acknowledge his mistakes, but not through a statement. If Woods simply comes back and starts playing golf again without addressing the media and fans first it would be a huge mistake. I think the best way to step back into the public light would be to hold a news conference in which he is prepared to answer any question he could be asked. Coming clean and answering questions before trying to move on is the only way Woods could try to get back in good standing with the public and many of his fans.

That being said, Woods shouldn’t have to, and will not share every detail. Just like everyone else in the world he has the right to keep private what goes on in his personal life. However, there have been so many unanswered questions over the past few months and I hope Woods will step up and take accountability for his actions.

What's Next for Gilbert Arenas?

2010-01-31T19:58:00.000-08:00

Now that Gilbert Arenas knows that he will be suspended from the NBA for the rest of the season, what should his next move be to restore his public image? First, he will have to wait until his sentencing in March to find out whether he will receive probation and community service or if he will spend up to six months in jail for bringing four unloaded guns into the Washington Wizards locker room and pointing one of them at a teammate.

Next, Arenas will have to figure out what is going to happen to the remainder of six-year $111 million contract he signed in July 2008. It is possible that the Wizards could void the contract, but a more likely situation is a buyout, which won’t be easy either considering the amount of money that Arenas is still owed.

After all of that is sorted out, Arenas should get back to reshaping his public image. He has always been known as a guy who jokes around a lot and doesn’t take anything seriously. While that is good for the NBA, Arenas seemed to have the same care-free attitude when it came to the extremely serious gun situation. He constantly played it off as a prank gone wrong, and didn’t seem to think it was a big deal. David Stern and the NBA weren’t amused, as they didn’t want the league’s image to be a bunch of players running around with guns, so they made an example out of Arenas with the lengthy suspension.

The most important thing for Arenas when he makes a public comeback is to acknowledge the seriousness of the situation. As a role model, he must take full responsibility for the incident and show that he has learned from it. I hope he doesn’t end up going to jail because I think it would be much more beneficial for him and the public if he was given community service to talk to kids about guns and violence.

Regardless, I think Arenas’ career in Washington is over. The unfortunate incident has been a letdown and distraction for the organization and they will likely look to move forward without Arenas. There is no doubt that the incident will cast a shadow on Arenas’ legacy, but the opportunity is there for him to turn this negative situation into a positive one as long as he mature enough to acknowledge his mistakes.

Sports and Ethics: Lane Kiffin

2010-01-31T19:14:00.000-08:00

When Lane Kiffin recently left the University of Tennessee Volunteers football program for the University of Southern California Trojans it raised many questions about ethics in the coaching profession. Kiffin signed a six-year contract with Tennessee in November of 2008, but when what he saw was a better job became available he was quick to take it and leave the Volunteer program in shambles. Money was likely a factor, even though Kiffin won’t admit it, but sometimes it is important to think about ones obligation to a job. It shows little trust between the employee and the employer when the employee says he is dedicating at least the next six years of his career to an organization then jumps ship a year later. It bothers me, especially in the world of sports, how some people can get so caught up with their own goals that they don’t take a step back and look at the bigger picture and realize how their decision affects others.

It’s not as if Kiffin was running an ethical program at Tennessee either. Besides several players having legal issues off the field, Kiffin had almost as many recruiting violations (six) in his one year at Tennessee as he did wins (seven). Within his first week at USC he managed to keep it up, as he committed another recruiting violation. This likely won’t sit well with the NCAA as the school is already likely to face sanctions for previous violations.

Even if the USC job is better in the mind of Kiffin, he should have given some thought about the program he was leaving behind and the shot to his public image that was already questionable in many people’s minds. It’s a shame in the world of sports when there is often so much money involved that people like Lane Kiffin don’t look at the big picture.

Whenever sports and ethics are mentioned in the same sentence it’s usually a negative thing. I wish more coaches and players would realize their obligations to their employers because the organizations are shelling out millions of dollars for their services. Tennessee gave Lane Kiffin a tremendous opportunity and it is sad and unethical that he didn’t live up to the obligations that he promised the University.

Mark McGwire Came Clean. Who's Next?

2010-01-22T14:34:00.000-08:00

Mark McGwire recently came out and admitted he used steroids for much of his 16-year baseball career. Despite his record-breaking home run campaign in 1998, McGwire is seen as one of the devils of the steroid era because it was so blatantly obvious that he was using performance enhancing drugs, but he never admitted it until now, nine years after he retired.

Now, should have McGwire have taken steroids? No. Can you blame him for taking steroids? I don’t think you can do that either. He played in an era where some players and analysts estimate that over half of all major leaguers were using steroids. I doubt nearly as many players would have taken steroids had they known how bad of a situation has become. It has tainted the last 20 years of baseball and has cost many players a chance at the Hall of Fame as well as hurting their image in the eyes of the public.

More players should follow McGwire’s lead. We live in a very forgiving culture where we hate the people we think could be lying and take people back who tell the truth and try to move on. Barry Bonds has a horrible public image because there is overwhelming evidence that he used steroids, yet he refuses to talk about it. Alex Rodriguez admitted his use of performance enhancing drugs immediately after his name was brought up in steroid talks and people quickly moved on.

McGwire’s public image took its biggest hit in 2005 when he took the stand at a congressional hearing and refused to say much other than “I am not here to talk about the past.” He recently said he wanted to admit his steroid use then, but he wasn’t given immunity by congressional leaders and was told not to talk about it by his lawyers. I don’t know why he didn’t decide to talk about it between then and now but I am glad he finally admitted it so we can move on. Regardless whether it was just something he wanted to get off his chest, or he thought it would increase his chance to get in the Hall of Fame, it is a step in the right direction for all of baseball and hopefully more players will do the same in the near future.

Welcome!

2010-01-17T17:42:00.000-08:00

Thank you for checking out my blog! This is the first time I have decided give blogging a shot, and I am excited to write about my two passions in life right now: sports and public relations. Since many athletes are considered role models in our society, public perception can play a crucial part in their success. Just look at Tiger Woods. If you are a sports fan and enjoy talking about how decisions athletes make can affect their career, this is the place for you! Right now I am a senior at the University of Oregon and am looking to get into a career in sports media when I graduate in June 2010. I am also currently interning at the Tri-County Herald, a small local newspaper, where I write several stories each week covering high school sports. If you would like to find out more about my working and education background please check out my LinkedIn profile.