As we move into the weekend extravaganza that has become the NFL Draft, it is interesting to see the continued activation, both print and digital, of the NFL machine as fans look to where the future stars will come from. No other off-season “event” has the power for two days that the NFL Draft does. And into the draft cauldron goes some pretty interesting stories, some of which received little attention on the national stage before now. Case in point is the NCAA's leading rusher, Connecticut's Donald Brown. While Brown was a key member of the Huskies building a solid Big East football power, the team was hidden in the spotlight of two mega-power college hoops teams and a market trapped between New York and Boston. Never really able to break through, his exploits were rarely showcased even on a regional stage. However following a great combine, Brown began to use the draft week as a way to tell not only his athletic story but his personal one as well…a personal one which includes a mentoring program for future college student-athletes like himself. The story this week became the feel-good predraft piece, and saw Brown featured in places ranging from the New York Times and Men's Fitness to Bloomberg.com (Scott Soshnick had a great profile) and CNBC among many other local, national and regional outlets. Brown's exposure goes to prove one thing…even in the most crowded market, there is room for a good story with the media, if you can find the right place and all the right angles to tell it.
Some other good reads…the AJC has a good q and a with Hawks owner Michael Gearon…USA Today had a good piece on MLB's efforts to market young players…and Eye Cube has a good look at the new CitiField through the eyes of longtime Mets fan Bryan Harris.
