Thursday, December 4, 2014

Legal But Still To Young

Recently the topic of age has resurfaced in the NBA world. Commissioner Adam Silver has voiced his opinion multiple times about the current age minimum for young men to enter the draft. Currently the age requirement is 19. I have never felt like this was an appropriate age and agree strongly with the commissioner to change it. He believes the new age should be 20. This idea has been on the table for a long time, however the NBA has had a hard time making a final decision.

A recent article by CBS Sports stated "If the age limit actually weeds out the players who don't really belong in the NBA and you avoid situations like Leon Smith back in the late 90's, then it does help create a better product of player for the NBA to market and employ. However, it's not that simple and many people believe it's unethical to limit the possibility of the work force based simply on the age of the person."

Changing the age could possibly make the draft less appealing to players who do not truly want to play. One topic that is not being emphasized is the education of these young men. It would be a good idea to project the impact of furthering education before being drafted to ensure players have a plan to fall back on once their time for playing basketball is over. A more positive outlook projection would make it easier to put this idea into action.

Check out this article by CBS Sports to see what else was discussed Age Limit for Draft Eligibility  


Can They Do It?

The start of the season has been far from easy for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Many fans we excited to hear that their beloved player, Lebron James, was returning back to Cleveland. Unfortunately they have not exactly lived up to their expectations. With a current record of 9-7, they have managed to slowly but surely push through the season. One could say many were depending on Lebron James to lead them to an undefeated season. It is quite obvious that things are different. Although there is good chemistry with the team, it still has not had the outcome that many wanted to see. However, there is still time to turn things around. They could potentially switch things up and improve their record and image as a good team.

It is very difficult to paint a pretty picture for the fans in terms of articles, tv and other forms of media. One must be very wise when choosing verbiage that will not deter the current fan base. There are still faithful fans who have not lost hope, but there are also others searching for a reason as to why they should remain optimistic. Media is one of the primary was to control the fan base. That is why, when working in PR for a team performing poorly, one must be clever with the different things that are put in the atmosphere.

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Student Clubs to Careers

Over the course of this class, I have had the opportunity to complete volunteer hours with a great organization. I chose to volunteer with the Sport Marketing Association at Queens University. When most students go to athletic events, they have a good time but never think much of it after the fact. By working with SMA I was able to plan and coordinate ways for the game to run smoothly and make it the best experience for the students. I was able to be hands on with decision making about promotional activities and items, game scripts, as well as event planning. This organization works very closely with the athletes, students, and athletic departments.

Working with SMA taught me many valuable lessons that I will continue to use. No matter how much planning is done prior to an event, there will always be something unexpected that arises. This organization taught ways to plan and handle unexpected changes during athletic events. It also taught me how to step away from my own thoughts and opinions and consider what the people truly want. To be truly successful in reaching a target audience it is important to incorporate what they consider important and valuable. Lastly it taught me get people's attention by way of creative writing on flyers, emails, and other ways of communication.


Monday, December 1, 2014

Hands Up Don't Shoot

When most people see athletes, they do not  take into account their potential views on society. All they care about is how they will perform on the field. Recently there has been a great deal of turmoil within Ferguson, Missouri. In lieu of Officer Wilson being acquitted for the shooting of Michael Brown, players on the St. Louis Rams felt they should show their opposition.

Jared Cook, Tavon Austin, Kenny Britt, Steadman Bailey, and Chris Givens all stood together with their hands up, imitating the "hands up, don't shoot" pose. It is nice to see athletes supporting different movements taking place in the world. However, there may be some backlash for their actions. They did not inform the coach or anyone else of their intentions prior to the game. This can impact the organization negatively and may even cause possible consequences for the players. As a professional athlete, although they are citizens too, it is not widely accepted when they give their input on issues of the world. The Rams organization will most likely have to issue a statement to explain the players actions as well as what may take place in the future.

'Hands up don't shoot'

Sunday, November 30, 2014

Hey Hey Hey, I Don't Roll That Way

In recent weeks many allegations have surfaced concerning Mr. Bill Cosby. Multiple women have come forth stating that Mr. Cosby drugged and sexually assaulted then. In the midst of it all, Bill Cosby has remained silent. In an interview with Associated Press, when asked about the allegations, he repeatedly said "I don't talk about that."

By maintaining his silence he has not confirmed nor denied the allegation. Some are confused by this action. It seems strange, however from a PR standpoint it is a good choice. By not feeding into the rumors and allegations, he has not had to do any damage control. Unfortunately some schools and company's are cutting ties with Mr. Cosby. Knowing this is not the first time he has dealt with these allegations, I believe that it is only temporary and he will be able to repair the damaged relationships. Being silent has allowed him to continue with his own comfort level of peace. He's made it clear he will not give the public the satisfaction of feeding into the rumors and continues to stick by that.

However, it's interesting that multiple different woman have come forth with allegations but nothing more. Repeated allegations, but no proof. Without proof, Bill Cosby still has not received any charges for the alleged acts. I believe this is his primary reason for being silent. He does not want to feed negative energy that appears to be nothing more than rumors. By doing such he does not have constant damage control to do nor have to continue making statements about the situation.

Check out his interview with AP:

"I don't talk about that"

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

To Bet or Not To Bet?

In recent sports news, the topic of legalizing betting has surfaced. Although it is not publicized at all time, gambling and betting in sports takes place each day. The NBA commissioner, Adam Silver, has vocalized his views on legalizing betting. Currently betting in sports is not legal. The decision to make betting legal can potentially cause multiple conflicts. From a PR standpoint this could create a great deal of work for them. Legalizing betting and gambling could open the door for game fixing, unfair bets, and potential monopoly amongst fans within sports. They would have to continuously speak on the actions of the players, coaches, and referees who decide to play for the bets instead of winning games. It takes place within sports each day but once it is legalized it would change the outlook, aspect, and atmosphere of sports. There have been numerous scandals in the past due to betting and gambling. In recent years there has been an issue with referees fixing games and making calls to purposely benefit the bets they made. Check out this video on what is to come if betting in sports is legalized.


Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Never Give Up

Recently in the collegiate sport world, a wonderful athlete was given what she perceives as the chance of a lifetime. Lauren Hill is a college freshman attending Mount. St. Joseph University in Cincinnati, Ohio. During her senior year of high school she was diagnosed with a form of pediatric brain cancer. "The tumor causes migraines and has weakened the right side of her body. The medicine makes her nauseous; it makes her joints ache and her face and body swell and does little to dampen the pain. She has good days and awful days and she tries to make the most of both."

She has been through many trials and tribulations with her illness and was recently given the unfortunate news of being expected to only live until December 2014. Although the road she has traveled has been far from easy, she has maintained a very positive outlook on life and other people who are dealing with the illness just like she is.

It is very refreshing to see the world of collegiate sport come together for such a good cause. From a PR perspective this moment has brought pediatric cancer to the attention of people all over the country, as well as established a gracious place for collegiate sport in the hearts of Americans. Those involved in collegiate sports truly value their players, their well being, and the image they maintain for themselves. This continue to instill an aspect of hope and preserving in their athletes.

Lauren's story