Archive for November, 2009

Hi Blog, it’s me…Krissi.

Tuesday, November 17th, 2009

Hi Blog, it’s me, Krissi.  I know I haven’t been around much lately, I’m sorry.  I don’t know how to tell you this, but…there’s someone else.  Really I guess more than one.

It’s not you, it’s me.  There’s no excuse, but things are just really taking off for our clients.  Where do I even start…?

St.Vincent Sports Performance is busier than ever.  They are gearing up for their NFL Pre-Combine Training Program (it’s the only program of its kind in the country); just launched their new blog (not better than you, just different), Twitter and Facebook pages; and their Director, Ralph Reiff, has recently been featured on numerous prestigious media outlets across the country.  They really are Defining Sports Performance.

SVSP Logo

Honda Performance Development and American Honda have just launched their new (and first) official licensed merchandise online store.  It’s the only place race fans can get Honda Racing and HPD gear, like really cool shirts, coats, hats…really anything you want, Blog.

HPD Merch Store Header

And, this week, we introduced new athlete clients to our brand management services.  I’d tell you who they are, but I don’t want you to be mad at them.  It’s not their fault I haven’t been around.

I know you’ve recently met Luke LaBeau too.  I hope you like him, Blog, because you’ll be seeing a lot more of him.  He’s the newest member of the U/S Sports Advisors team as our PR Coordinator.  He’s good people…Butler grad like me.

USSA Logo

We have three more teammates coming on board this month.  They’ll be working in the athlete brand management group.  They’ll round out the U/SSA team at eight, which means we’ll be moving soon too.  We’ve just outgrown our space, and need more room to serve our clients.  I hope you understand.  We can still visit though, Blog.

I know this is all hard to hear, but please try to be happy for us.  Just because there are new things happening doesn’t mean I love you any less.  You were here before all of them, and I’ll never forget that.  I just wanted to tell you myself, before you had to read about it in Sports Business Journal.

I’ll try to write more often, Blog.  I promise.

Krissi

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Posted in All-Star, Athletes, Branding, Elite Athletes, Professional Advisors, Sports Business, Sports Consultants, Sports Marketing, Uncategorized

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He’s got a lil’ Captain in him!

Monday, November 16th, 2009

As a fairly recent college grad and an avid sports fan, this topic is one I simply have to address.  For those of you who watched the Eagles-Cowboys game last weekend, you may remember Eagles’ receiver Brent Celek’s celebration following an 11-yard touch down catch from Donovan McNabb.  Celek celebrated the TD with the widely known Captain Morgan pose (right knee up, hands on his hips, shoulders poised).nfl-captain-morgan

What you may not yet know is that this move was part of a guerrilla marketing campaign secretly put in place by Captain Morgan.

According to a spokesperson for Captain Morgan, every time an NFL player was caught on camera in the Captain Morgan pose, the company would donate to the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund, a nonprofit organization aimed at helping retired NFL players who have fallen on hard times.

When the NFL caught wind of this campaign, they immediately banned the Captain pose.  Naturally.  An NFL spokesperson said, regarding the pose, “Whether it’s rum or soft drinks or any other commercial product, that type of promotion is prohibited.”

Penalized or not, it was a unique idea.

Personally, I am a fan of these types of guerrilla marketing tactics.  Whether this celebration was banned or not, it was an interesting outside-the-box marketing idea on Captain Morgan’s behalf.  We’ve seen a lot of similar guerrilla marketing tactics in sports, but to my knowledge, never has a player actually incorporate part of a company’s logo or “motto” in a touchdown celebration.

This is a prime example of guerilla marketing, and of how even the smallest marketing move can get a player noticed.  And remember, getting noticed is one way to get Ahead of the Game.

I am in no way encouraging players to break league rules, but sometimes you need to think outside the box as a player to get exposure.

Regardless of the penalty called on him for the celebration, I can only imagine the spike in his social media and Google stats.

Posted by Luke LaBeau

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Posted in Athletes, Behavior, Branding, Elite Athletes, Intellectual Property, Licensing, and Merchandising, Sponsorships and Endorsements, Sports Business

How to Tweet Your Way Out of a Job

Thursday, November 5th, 2009

I realize I’m a bit late in mentioning this, but I just can’t believe the trouble Larry Johnson has gotten himself into over his recent ill-advised posts on Twitter.  The Kansas City Chiefs’ “star” running back has further burdened the already struggling team, and reduced his fan base to, um, zero.nfl_us_johnson_195

LJ’s initial tweets indicated his frustrations with Chiefs head coach, Todd Haley and included the following comments:

“My father got more creditentials than most of these pro coaches. … google my father!!!!!!!

My father played for the coach from “remember the titans”. Our coach played golf. My father played for Redskins briefley. Our coach. Nuthn”

WOW, I guess the days of sucking up to your coach are over.  A disgruntled fan later replied to this tweet calling out LJ on his lack of productivity saying:

“Interesting comments by Larry Johnson (@toonlcon) about “coaches.”  Hey LJ, is it Haley’s fault you fall when D-Linemen blow on you?”

LJ replied to this fan’s comments ever-so-gracefully with a homosexual slur directed at the fan’s twitter avatar photo.  Really, LJ?!  Social media training anyone?  Sure, being 1-6 is a legitimate reason to be frustrated, but one of the most highly used social networking sites is no place for a professional athlete to vent these frustrations, or at least not in this manner.

An athlete’s presence on Twitter can oftentimes make that person more successful off the field, as it’s a great way to gain exposure/publicity, and help fans get to know you as a person, not just an athlete.

However, just as easily as social networking can make an athlete’s career, it can just as easily break it.  One bad post and you can lose fans, get slapped with a hefty fine and even lose your job.

LJ’s situation is a prime example of why professional athletes need advising in the social media realm.  The use of these sites has become just as important to athletes’ careers as press conferences and appearances.  Athletes need to be trained on the do’s and don’ts of social networking to not only build and maintain a solid fan base, but also to protect their brand.

With the right education and proper training, social networking can help promote and build any athlete’s brand.  At U/S Sports Advisors, we ensure that our clients understand the proper use of social networking as a tool in brand building, as opposed to the not-so-hot LJ demolition.

Moral of the story: think before you Tweet.

Posted by Luke LaBeau

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Posted in Athletes, Branding