The Real Athlete Blog

Athletes in Trouble: PRepare for Crisis Before it Happens

by Wesley Mallette 09-26-2010 05:07 PM Public Relations | Crisis Management | Image Branding

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Once again, the sports headlines of the past week have been filled with high profile athletes finding themselves embroiled in controversy.

New York Jets' wide receiver, Braylon Edwards, was arrested earlier this week for driving while intoxicated. Following a semi-tumultuous exit from his former team, the Cleveland Browns, Edwards reportedly got into a physical altercation with a member of former Cleveland Cavalier LeBron James' entourage.

Professional Athletes and the Media: What Randy Moss Did Right and Where He Can Improve

by Wesley Mallette 09-26-2010 12:17 PM Public Relations | Crisis Management

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Throughout the years, we have witnessed numerous high profile athletes, coaches and spokespersons inevitably stick their foot in “it” by making the decision to “tell it like it is,” “speak their mind,” or “get it off their chest,” in front of the media.

Given one of the cornerstones of our business is media training, we obviously do not advise our clients to just “let it rip” while the cameras are rolling. And as we mentioned in Melinda Travis’ post on the subject (Media Training Defined – What It Is and What It Isn’t), comprehensive media training is far more than learning just the do’s and don’ts of the interview process. It is understanding the role the athlete/coach/spokesperson plays in the process and their ability to influence how their brand is perceived. One of the important ways to influence that perception is to effectively manage the message.

Reputation Management in the Digital Age: What Will You Be Remembered For?

by Wesley Mallette 09-12-2010 09:51 PM Public Relations | Crisis Management | Image Branding

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The digital age clearly provides tremendous opportunity for growth on all levels. But, it also has created a certain “reality TV meets the Internet” type of world, and those in the spotlight should be aware of the long-term effects. For athletes, it will most certainly impact their legacy and ultimately, how we will remember them.

Eileen Wisnewski, a fellow contributor at Access Athletes, makes several great points in her article “Image Strategy for Celebrity Athletes – What About YOUR Image?” She poses the question to college students and recent grads and asks if they have thought about how they are presenting themselves in the public space. Eileen’s piece, combined with the recent passing last month of the late Giants’ baseball great, Bobby Thompson, gave me reason to pause and think about how today’s athletes will be remembered.

Tony Gonzalez Launches 1,000th Catch Twitter Contest

by Matthew Allinson 09-01-2010 02:41 PM Public Relations | Social Media | News

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All-Pro NFL tight end Tony Gonzalez, in conjunction with his all-natural sports nutrition company All-Pro Science, Inc, is running a neat social media campaign to celebrate his 1,000th career catch. The winner of the contest will receive an autographed glove used during the 1,000th catch game and a trip for two to Atlanta to reenact the catch with Gonzalez, along with tickets to a Falcons game.

Gonzalez is only one reception shy of becoming the seventh player in NFL history, and the first tight end, to reach the 1,000 catch milestone. He is expected to make this catch in the Falcons' season opener on Sunday, September 12 at Pittsburgh.

It's always nice to see a professional athlete thinking outside the box to reward his fans and create good will in the community. A clever and fun social media campaign like this will definitely enhance Gonzalez's brand and reputation. This underscores the importance for pro athletes to have a strong PR team. Jen Campbell, All-Pro Science's PR Director, is doing a fantastic job and this campaign will no doubt be highly successful and create tons of positive publicity for her star client.

For more details about the contest, check out the press release that Jen Campbell sent me.

12 Reasons Why Athletes Should Partner with a Strategic PR Team

by Wesley Mallette 08-10-2010 11:58 PM Public Relations | Trusted Athlete Educator | Crisis Management | Image Branding | Marketing

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The start of the 2010 college and professional football season finds us at the intersection of social media, reality TV and sport. Rarely have we seen so many professional and collegiate football players front and center in the media – and not just as the subject of the interview or feature. Given society’s obsession with all of the above, this should not surprise anyone.

Former and current players are trading in their cleats for their dancing shoes and showcasing their talents on ABC’s ever-popular “Dancing with the Stars.” All-Pros Jason Taylor, Warren Sapp and Chad Ochocinco, as well as Hall of Famers, Emmitt Smith, Jerry Rice and Lawrence Taylor, have not only done well on the show, they have boosted their public profile and in most cases, increased their endorsement and business opportunities.

Reputation Rehab: Jeremiah Masoli's Road to Redemption Runs Through Mississippi

by Wesley Mallette 08-04-2010 12:53 AM Public Relations | Crisis Management | Image Branding

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Reputation Management, Rehab and Redemption

It's Really About NBA Brand Imaging; Not LeBron

by Dr. Timothy Thompson 08-03-2010 12:44 AM Public Relations | Image Branding | Sports Business

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Focusing on LeBron James' human imperfections may make us feel better, but it doesn't help NBA fans to understand what we're really dealing with.

On the Record

by Jason Krump 07-15-2010 12:52 AM Public Relations

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What constitutes on the record and off the record reporting? Recently, a news event occurred that raised questions on this topic. It occurred outside the athletic arena, but the lesson the story offers is applicable to the sports world.