College football, Crisis Management, MLB, Minor League Hockey, NFL, NHL, New York Times, Washington Post

The Military, Don Cherry and Ugly Jerseys Create A Hit In Kingston…

Much has been made of the NFL’s use of anniversary AFL jerseys this season. The created buzz and although luckily most of the Denver Broncos striped throwback socks won’t be at retail, the jerseys raised some extra interest. Whether that buzz is needed for the NFL to raise awareness who knows, but it certainly created a little more water cooler talk. However many other leagues and brands do need buzz, and one, The Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League, took three big steps this past week in helping a cause, identifying with a legend and creating some great exposure for the brand and for hockey in general. The Frontenacs hosted a Military Appreciation Fundraiser and brought in hockey legend Don Cherry on the same night, using Cherry’s appearance to move tickets and raise money for Soldier On, a charity which assists injured soldiers. However the team went one step further by creating a Cherry ugly jersey, looking like one of the legends, suits, and auctioned off each one, signed by Cherry himself, as an added fundraiser both online and in arena. The result…by creating a collectable, it was a “one time game used wear,” the team created buzz, and coupled that with a strong grassroots fundraiser that the community could rally around…to make this promotion another great example of how even in the smallest of markets a great idea promoted well can get national play.

Some other good reads…the New York Times’ Pete Thamel has a good profile of Myron Rolle and his quest for a Rhodes Scholarship in England in his year away from football…the LA Times TJ Simers has a good look at the mess unrolling with the Dodgers and the divorce between owner Frank McCourt and now fired team exec and soon to be ex wife Jamie McCourt…and the Washington Post’s Michael Wilbon has a solid profile of Redskins new offensive coordinator Sherman Lewis…