PGA golfer Steve Elkington knows how to tick off a lot of people
While I wish I would have been quicker to write about the exemplary presser NFL Draft prospect Michael Sam conducted at the NFL Combine during the weekend (it’s a must-watch for ALL athletes), it’s the negative that drives me to write before a Twitter violator hits “SEND” again. Multiple PGA Tour title winner Steve Elkington, […]
An open letter to Seahawks cornerback, Richard Sherman
Dear Richard — I was wrong. I experienced a knee-jerk reaction during your rant to FOX Sports’ Erin Andrews and all of us in TV Land, I retweeted something about a Stanford education not teaching you how to act intelligently. I watched you with a “WTF?” look on my face and to those in the […]
Colts owner fails the big game PR test
There are times when someone just shouldn’t speak. If tempted, zip it. Are you reading this, Jim Irsay? Irsay is a football team owner. He’s not a player, not a coach and not someone who in most circumstances, has to comment more than a public-relations appropriate, “We love(d) our players and we look forward to […]
You didn’t make the NFL cut and you’re ticked
No one can blame you. You’ve just spent the last six weeks working out in an NFL training camp trying to earn a coveted roster spot. You dreamt of playing pro football since you were a kid; there were hours of conditioning, missed family events and nights out with the guys because you were training. […]
Athletes in NFL training camps: keep comments classy
Athletes competing for NFL roster spots or higher positions on the team ladder face daunting challenges in training camp. The No. 1A task that ranks next to the top priority to stay healthy, is not to make headlines for the wrong reasons. The first thing that comes to mind in our salacious world is the […]
Milwaukee Brewers, team owner step up to meet PR challenge
If there was any doubt that Milwaukee Brewers owner Mark Attanasio wants to make good on not only a losing season but an unfortunate one for fans after leftfielder Ryan Braun accepted a 65-game suspension for violating Major League Baseball’s drug program, look no further than words and actions from the club’s front office during […]
Ryan Braun will always have a PR challenge
Maybe you’ve heard… Brewers left-fielder Ryan Braun was suspended for 65 games, the balance of the regular season, by Major League Baseball for violating the organization’s drug program. While neither party specified the violations for which Braun was suspended, that Braun accepted the verdict without resistance gives the public a perception that he is guilty […]
Louisville’s Kenny Klein occupies the penthouse of sports PR professionals
Editor’s Note: I intended to post this one week after the Final Four. With all that happened in the sports world, including the tragedy at the Boston Marathon, there never seemed to be a “good” time. While I may have waited too long, the fact remains, Kenny Klein’s picture is next to the definition, PR […]
When it absolutely has to be there in 44 hours – a missed PR opportunity
The public has had several days to digest the news that Brewers left-fielder, Ryan Braun, became the first player to successfully appeal a Major League Baseball positive drug test. To date, Braun emphatically reiterated his innocence in a press conference at the Brewers Spring Training facility; Major League Baseball spoke out with its own words […]
When social media is cruel, keep communication lines open
You’ve heard the phrase “if you can’t say something nice, don’t say it at all.” Most of us were taught that lesson before kindergarten, but it escaped some people who hide behind screen names and spew mean-spirited comments on social media pages. Among those frequently targeted are public personalities including professional athletes and media. While […]