Braun over Brains

With another school year in session, it's only appropriate that we start the year with some textbook PR. Spin the PR machine. Ryan Braun has done something that will go down in history, one way or another.

If you don't know the story (See: Bio-genesis scandal) Braun was suspended 65 games after accepting admission to PED use. He was accused of this before and rubbed the names of the sample collector and MLB commissioner in the dirt (Laurenzi Jr; Bud Selig). His admission cost him both a Nike and Muscle Milk sponsorship.

In order to make amends with Milwaukee Brewers fans, the team that has his rights until 2020, he did something that should be commended:

He called every Brewer season ticket holder - personally - to apologize.

Braun wasn't looking for pity. According to various sources, he legitimately apologized to fans and wanted to clarify that he made a mistake. Most of the callers were sympathetic but as the best player on the BrewCrew, he ruined their season half way through the year so some will remain upset for the time being.

So what, you ask? His reputation was drastically damaged and this stunt will exponentially help. He looks like a good guy now. That he cares about his fans. He's admitting and addressing his mistakes personally, through a phone call - not Twitter. He's connecting with fans on a personal level. A cheater is hard to forgive but at least he's over turning his public perception and doing it on his own terms.

Class dismissed.

Had to include this shot...what a jerk.

Brian Urlacher: A Case Study on Athletes & Media Training

Yesterday, Brian Urlacher rejected an ultimatum of an offer from the Chicago Bears. After spending his entire, 13-year career with the Bears, along with winning NFL Rookie of the Year, 8 Pro Bowl appearances and acting captain, Urlacher is now a free agent.
Why? The Bears simply did not offer him anywhere close to his expected contract.

Whether or not he deserves the money, what's interesting is Urlacher's quiet response to the press release the Bears sent out about not signing him. An obviously personal issue, Urlacher has clearly held back his feelings [with this great and practiced response on 'M&M in the Morning']: 

From a PR view; B.U. dealt with this maturely and responsibly. Boring in entertainment standards but this all begs a bigger question:

What happened to big personalities in sports?

No emotion, no curse-words, no overreactions, no Mohammad Ali-moments.
My hunch says that teams of PR pros have 'dumbed' them down over the years. As much as I like to see athletes speak perfectly, it's nice to see their true emotions. Sports are emotional, after all. Let the wild rumpus start!

 

All this training is turning athletes into robots.

Hooter's Ball Girl Picks Up Fair Ball - Gives it to Fan

It's much funnier when a Hooter's Ball Girl catches a live, fair ball and gives it to a kid in the stands.

 

The saddest part is that the Phillies are actually paying her.

So the question becomes: Where is the PR value in this? She's definitely attractive but she's not the main event. Fans don't go to the games hoping Hooter's will bring out their finest talent (I hope not, anyways); they're watching for the players talent. What's the ROI? What's the point? She had her 15 seconds of embarrassment (fame, whatever) but the Phillies still lost.

At least it's only Spring Training.

Chicago Blackhawks rule the NHL

Undeniably, the Chicago Blackhawks are the best team in the NHL. With one regulation loss this year as of last night, the team of Toews, Kane, Sharp, Hossa, Keith, etc are an unstoppable force. Even more, they have almost clinched a playoff spot at this point (read: this early!) in the season. To make it into the Western Conference playoffs last year, 95 points were needed. Two years ago: 97 points. Three years ago: 95... in 82 games.

This year in 48 games, it's anticipated that teams will need 56 points to make it into the playoffs (at the 8th seed position).

As of March 9, the Blackhawks have 45 points in 25 games (over half the season) and obviously sit in first place. This means that they will only need to win 6 games, anytime in the remainder of the season (which is 20 games) to clinch a playoff birth.

To top it all off, in 2009-2010, Chicago were crowned Stanley Cup Champions. 

Enough about the on-ice PR gold mine. The team has also had some great PR success off the ice:

• Blackhawks Charities: Have raised over $9-million to support programs and institutions throughout Illinois that work towards creating a better tomorrow for the youth of today. A recent example is the bid for a Marian Hossa 1,000th Game Jersey.
• Hossa's Heroes:

The team's only blemish in the last few years was bad tempered Patrick Kane. 2009, the summer before they won the Cup, Kane was charged for assaulting a Buffalo cabbie after the driver was unable to return Kane and his brother change of $0.20. Yep, 20 cents. Both men were charged with felony robbery and misdemeanour counts of theft of services and criminal mischief. Although this was a hot topic at the time, their PR team handled this beautifully and Kane's on-ice performance and eventual Stanley Cup winning goal erased the nightmare.

Chicago Blackhawks will win the Stanley Cup - you heard it here first.