College Basketball, Crisis Management, MLB, NBA teams, New York Post, New York Times

Baseball’s Big Picture…The Yanks Got It Again And The Red Sox Almost Didn’t

PR Move of the Day:  For the second time in the last few days, the New York Yankees “got it,” breaking from their regular routine to create one of the great feel good stories of the spring…making the trip to Blacksburg, Va. to play Virginia Tech in an exhibition game, which may have longer lasting meaning than many regular season games.  The event day was a hit from all angles…from the Hokie-colored Yankees hats to the exchange with fans and players to the great media coverage that told the tale not just of the visit, but of the athletes reactions (Newsday) to fan reactions (Roanoke News) to a great overall story by Tyler Kepner in the New York Times.  Most importantly there was not one second where any player or coach looked or acted like this was a chore for them, despite the break in routine…the pictures, actions and words were all genuine, and coming from the biggest brand in the game, with some of the game’s highest profile players, it sent a very clear and positive message (Great job with this and all the Yankees did well this spring goes to Yanks PR guy Jason Zillo).

Now juxtapose that with the potential PR disaster MLB almost had with the Red Sox Wednesday.  The idea that a series of great international significance and good will for the sport could have been potentially canceled because of a few thousands dollars for essential personel for the players…which was promised well in advance…shows that baseball as great a game as it is…still sometimes shoots itself in the foot.  The issue was not what could have been canceled. The issue was having the story break at the eleventh hour over a situation that probably should have been played out and solved internally long ago.  Good for baseball that it was solved, terrible for baseball that it ever became an issue publicly.  Once again, communication, advance planning and covering details need to be key to show everyone pulling in the same direction.

On the political front, MLB also gave Senator Barack Obama, still the candidate to embrace sports as a vehicle, another little bump by banning the sale of MLB-style Obama teeshirts and jerseys by a campaign supporter.  MLB was doing what was within their rights, protecting their licensees.  However the public face this gave the creator of the tees was invaluable to HIS branding, and it also gave the Obama campaign another little boost, some additional “street cred” and makes those tees a very hot item. He also has some good comments on NASCAR and his NCAA bracket in today’s Charlotte Observer.  Kudos by the way to Senator John McCain for supporting his home state Phoenix Suns at a national TV game against the Spurs a few weeks ago.  Hopefully the Senator, a very big sportsman, will also look to sports as a way to garner support over the coming months. 

On the March Madness side, great piece in today’s New York Post on Pitt’s run to the Big East title using a core of New York players (with New York not having a team in any postseason tournament this year), while Peter Yoon has a nice piece on Cal State-Fullerton in today’s LA Times , and the Houston Chronicle’s Terrence Harris has a very poignant piece on Texas A and M’s Donald Sloan, who will play for the Aggies after burying his mom earlier this week.

Lastly, a very special thanks to our friend Ben Hill at MILB.com.  Ben took the time to detail the story this week of Santy Gallone, a 37 year old construction worked killed in the crane disaster in New York last weekend.  I knew Santy as a standout player and person who starred at Fordham University and helped lead the Rams to two NCAA Berths in the early ’90’s.  The story really captured Santy, and was appreciated by the community.  Please remember Santy, his infant daughter and his wife in your prayers, and take the time to read the piece.