Last Person to Leave - Please Destroy the Gate

OK. That's it. Inflategate? Inflate - gate? Seriously? Somebody messes with some NFL footballs and we have to hear about Inflategate for two straight weeks?

Forty-plus years after Watergate -- why is it that we are so insistent upon putting the suffix "gate" after every single controversy or scandal?

Nannygate, Troopergate, Bridgegate, Fangate, Antennaegate, Memogate...
Give me a breakgate, will ya?

 
This NFL scandal rears its gately head leading up to the Superbowl, which of course brings to mind Janet Jackson and ... wait for it... Nipplegate! Right? OK, I admit it - Nipplegate is one of my favorite gates of all time. Least favorite? No contest. Say it with me... "Weinergate." Uh, appreciate that, Anthony, but nobody wants to see your junk. Thanks for playing.

Remember Gates Brown, the old Detroit Tigers slugger? How about Antonio Gates, the Chargers dynamic Tight End? Happy to say I don't recall any controversy surrounding those guys. There was though, a different "Gategate" to get all warm and fuzzy about. Wikipedia describes that one as a 2012 incident in which UK political row's Andrew Mitchell allegedly called a policeman a "pleb", after he was asked to use a secondary GATE to leave Downing Street on his bicycle. This "-gate" scandal, gushes the website, is noteworthy for actually involving a gate. (Pause for applause.)

And of course, we can all be thankful that every bit of information on Wikipedia is dead-on accurate. We wouldn't want a Wikigate, would we? Of course not, but something tells me its just a matter of time.

Enjoy the Superbowl, people. And lets hope and pray for no controversy!

FANTASY PLAYOFFS - TOP QUARTERBACKS

FANTASY PLAYOFFS - TOP QUARTERBACKS

Barry LeBrock

It doesn't quite feel like the end of the NFL  season, but as the waning moments of a Thanksgiving hangover meet the reality of a work week Monday, and the last remaining strands of tryptophan are flushed out of the bloodstream, the regular fantasy season comes to a close. The next three weeks of NFL action are the fantasy playoffs.  One move can determine your fantasy fate.

Nobody is suggesting a Peyton Manning for Alex Smith trade proposal, but basing a quarterback's season-ending expectations solely on his season-to-date performance is shallow.  And potentially dangerous. Consideration of each QB's most recent numbers, along with weather conditions. production of Decembers past and the trio of upcoming opponents are all crucial factors in forecasting how the next three weeks play out.

All things considered, here are your top ten QB's for the fantasy playoff season…

1) Tom Brady - Since the week-4 debacle against the Chiefs, Brady has 22 TD passes against just four interceptions.  In the first month of the season, he didn't have a single game with more than 250 passing yards.  Since then, he hasn't had one of less than 250, while averaging 315 through the air. 

Off a bit in the distance is a week-16 match-up against the pathetic Jets that already has Brady high-fiving, chest-bumping and helmet crunching his receivers in celebration.  More immediate is a QB-friendly warm weather match-up at San Diego, followed by a home game against the Dolphins with a revenge-factor.

Watch out, folks -- he's in Brady Mode.  We've seen this before. It often carries the Pats to the first Sunday in February.  Plus, at age 37, he's still dreamy.

Next three: @SD (13), Mia (6), @NYJ (32)

2) Peyton Manning - How do you stop Peyton Manning?  Tell him it’s the Superbowl. Short of that, maybe rush two, drop nine and force him to "Omaha!" his lungs out changing every play to a run.

Manning is averaging 323 passing yards per game with his usual healthy TD/int comparison (34/9).

His most incredible stats though are his ridiculous red zone numbers.

The "Red Zone" as it applies to the Broncos has seemingly become anywhere beyond midfield, but for statistical purposes, let's go with the traditional "Inside the 20," where Manning has completed 56 of 72 (78%) with 22 TD passes and no interceptions. Although he is in large-part immune to quality-of-defense influence, it's the relatively tough match-ups ahead that keep him from the top-spot.

Next: Buff (3), @SD (13) @Cin (9)

3) Aaron Rodgers - Even with the aura and talent of guys like Brady and Manning, somehow its Rodgers that has become the most dependable QB in the NFL.  An absurd ratio of 30 touchdowns against just three interceptions through 11 games will do that for a guy.

I can hear the Rodgers backers going crazy. "So why #3!?!"

All I can say is R-E-L-A-X.

Two potentially nasty-weather match-ups in the final three (Home vs. Atl, at Buffalo) knocks him down on this list.  Yes, he's as good of a winter QB as there has ever been, but winning games in bad conditions and putting up big numbers in bad conditions are two different things and only one of 'em has any meaning in fantasy.

Next: Atl (14), @Buf (3), @TB (22) 

4) Drew Brees - In most cases, you'd shy away from a 4-7 QB who has engineered the general buffoonery of one of the most disappointing teams in the league.  But 4-7 in the bizarro NFL South is right smack dab in contention for a division title.

Only Luck and Manning have thrown for more yards than Brees, who unwraps an early holiday gift of the Carolina, Chicago and Atlanta defenses in his next three games -- two of which are in New Orleans.  Who knows, the high-expectation Saints might even claw their way to .500.  You can almost feel the ghost of Tom Benson busting out some netherworld umbrella and getting ready to boogie on the sidelines.

Next: Car (27), @Chi (31), Atl (14)

5) Andrew Luck - A few more seasons like this and he might need Tommy John surgery.  In week-1, Luck threw 53 passes, and has barely slowed down.  He's been through an 8-game stretch in which he had at least 39 attempts in each.  Add 'em up and it's a league-leading 264 attempts and a third best 29 TDs (Manning 34, Rodgers 30).

He's averaging 29.3 fantasy PPG and has visions of the crumbling Dallas defense in a week 16 match-up dancing in his head.  After nine interceptions in his first eight games, Luck has thrown just one in his last three. 

Next: @Cle (7), Hou (15), @Dal (19)

6) Tony Romo -  The next three match-ups are against the #'s 31, 28 and 17 defenses in Fantasy points allowed (FPA) to QB's.  Those stats say he's your guy.  My eyes say be careful.  I expected Romo to carve up the Eagles on Thanksgiving the way I carved up that poor turkey.  (OK, busted. My wife did it.)

Philly's defense came into that game ranked in the bottom 5 in the NFL in FPA, but shut down Romo from the start (18-29, 199 yds, 0 TD's, 2 Ints). Awaiting the Cowboys in week 15?  That same Eagles defense -- this time at their place.  Throw in a potentially snowy and windy week-14 match up in Chicago, and I can't stack Romo higher than this.

Next: @Chi (31), @Phil (28), Ind (17)     

7) Russell Wilson - Question for ya:  Who was the MVP of last year's Superbowl when Seattle dismantled Denver 43-8?

Hard to believe, but heading into the Thanksgiving match-up at San Francisco, Wilson had averaged less than 188 passing yards in his previous five match-ups.  And after throwing eight touchdown passes in his first four games,  he has managed just seven in the eight games since.

Where Wilson gives you a fantasy scoring boost is on the ground. He has five games of 70+ rushing yards and three of 100+.  Given Seattle's precarious playoff position, you have to believe the ultra-competitive Wilson will be more than willing to run, injuries be damned.

By the way, last year's Superbowl MVP?  Not Wilson… linebacker Malcom Smith.  Remember? Yeah, me neither.

Next:  @Phil (28), SF (2), @Az (8)      

8) Ben Roethlisberger - I never think of Roethlisberger as an efficient QB.  My perception of him is of a caked-in-mud, shrug-off-tacklers for a 9-yard pass on 3rd-and-8, overcome 2 interceptions, win-ugly quarterback whose victory totals usually trump his stats.  The reality of it though is that only Manning, Rodgers and Romo have a better passer rating this season than Big Ben's 105.3.  Yes, he had some monster games, but his 24/6 TD/Int ratio is what it is, and speaks for itself.  He's a proven winner and this is his time of year.

Next: @Cin (9), @Atl (14), KC (10)

9) Ryan Tannehill - Is it me, or has Tannehill actually become an upper-tier quarterback?  Not elite -- upper-tier.  I'm, not saying he's Dan Marino.  I'm just saying he's not Jay Fiedler.  He makes good decisions, manages drives intelligently and puts the Dolphins in position to win just about every week. He has more fantasy points than Rivers, Romo and Stafford, and more TD passes than Wilson, Ryan and Kaepernick. The only thing keeping him from moving higher on this list is the fact that he gets no consideration for facing the porous Jets defense, which he did in week 13 and will again in week 17.

Next: Balt (24), @NE (17), Min (10)

10) Phillip Rivers - He's on pace to throw for more than 4,000 yards for the 6th time in the last seven seasons. With the Chargers almost non-existent ground game (3.3 yds/att, 2nd worse in the NFL) they'll be going to the air more and more as they fight for a playoff spot.  The schedule ahead looks daunting with the Patriots, Broncos and 49ers awaiting.  Look a bit closer though, and rolling the dice with Rivers seems a better bet.  New England is #17 in FPA to QB's and Denver is #30.

Next: NE (17), Den (30), @SF (2)

Dishonorable Mention - Jay Cutler - He's the only QB in the league with three home games in weeks 14-16.  But start Jay Cutler?  I would sooner go with Jay Leno.  Or Jessica Cutler (10 fantasy points for knowing her claim to fame.)

Cutler's Thanksgiving day performance in Detroit was underwhelming and uninspired. It's mind-boggling how ineffective Chicago's offense has been considering their wealth of skill-position talent, and when that is the case, all signs (and fingers) point to the quarterback.

In related news, the Bears have hired the lawfirm of "Weegot, Swindled and Howe" to comb through Cutler's recently signed $126M contract looking for a way out.

Next three: Dal (19), NO (21), Det (4)

 

Dolphins Rewind - A Victorious Loss

  Every once in a while you will hear a story that completely blows apart a long-held belief; discover facts that are contrary to everything you've ever thought on a subject.

     The opposite is also true; occasionally you'll come across some information that solidifies what you already thought.  I had one of those moments recently while watching NFL Network's excellent series "A Football Life." 

    The Focus was Don Shula.   

     Growing up in Miami, Don Shula might as well have been the King. Or God.  He  was a man that seemingly had the whole world's respect. He did not demand it, he simply commanded it by his actions, his successes and the sheer force of his persona. 

     I was watching the show not to learn something new -- what could anyone say about the NFL's all-time winningest coach that I didn't already know? -- but because A) While watching the 2014 version of Dolphins football, I found myself Jonesing for a past, far greater version of Dolphins football, and B) It was on Don Freakin' Shula.  What was I gonna do instead, help my kid with his homework!?! 
     But I did learn something new. Something that reinforced, and even advanced every opinion I have ever had about the man.   

    The revelation came from right under the oft-broken nose of one of the all-time great Dolphins, Larry Csonka.  The former running back told the story of a trip the Dolphins made to Oakland to play the Raiders in the early 70's  (my research shows the game he likely referred to was played on September 23, 1973).  Now, you have to remember; the NFL was not the well-oiled, ultra-efficient league back then, that it is today, so when the Dolphins arrived at the stadium for their Saturday walk-through, they were shown  not to the visitors' locker room, but to the Raiders locker room.   

    Csonka remembered, "I'm using a locker that belongs to one of the Raiders.  I open it... and there's the game plan. The game plan! There's what they're going to do to try to defeat us tomorrow!

     Our offensive line coach, Monte Clark is walking by and I say, 'Hey Monte, look at this!'"  

       The next day, the Dolphins lost the first of only two games they'd drop all season; a 12-7 defensive battle in which 46 year-old George Blanda accounted for all of the Raiders scoring offense with four field goals.

     Back in Miami to prep for the following week's game against New England, Csonka encountered Clark again, wondering how his team could have lost to Oakland despite having the Raiders game plan.  Clark responded, saying when he told Shula about the find, he was instructed to throw it in the garbage.

     "That is Shula," says Csonka. "He said, 'Throw it away.' Because when you have [the other team's] stuff, and you use it, that's cheating. Shula won't cheat." 

    Long story short, after their return from Oakland, the '73 Dolphins went on to reel off fourteen wins in their next fifteen games including a 27-10 AFC Conference Championship victory in Miami over those same Raiders.   Two weeks later, the Dolphins hammered the Vikings 24-7 to win Super Bowl VIII.   

     A season that will be remembered by most for the Dolphins dominance, will be remembered by the precious few who know the truth behind that week-2 loss, for the uncompromising principals and quiet integrity displayed by one of the greatest coaches in the history of sports. 







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Affiliating with Prestige - The Grand Slam of PR and Marketing

Barry LeBrock

    At its very basic core, successful PR and Marketing is simply telling an attractive story about a brand -- finding that unique element of a product or company and owning a space within its sphere by focusing on its appeal to consumers.
    You, as a marketer, can tell the story yourself, or make a deal with a trusted figure to tell the story for you; pay someone with mass appeal to state things -- facts or opinions -- about a product, and bank on that person's star power to equate to credibility, truth and ultimately sales. 

   This is nothing new -- in the late 1800's, Coca Cola hired Music Hall performer Hilda Clark to be its first celebrity spokesperson.  Since then thousands of brands have aligned with thousands of people to pitch their products to the masses.

    "I dare you to knock this battery off of my shoulder."
    Robert Conrad was a bad ass in the 70's. Ever Ready Batteries capitalized on his reputation by coming up with this...
       https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lr-oLQgvcuk 

   Reggie Jackson was baseball's bad boy.  Clark candy didn't just affiliate with Reggie. Clark turned the spotlight away from itself and created the Reggie Bar; a sub-product that allowed Clark to catch the reflective glare from the white-hot spotlight that was constantly shining on the Yankees star. 

    And now, nearly forty years later, just like Reggie and other Yankee legends before him (Joe DiMaggio - Mr. Coffee; Mickey Mantle - Yoo-Hoo, Miller Lite, Viceroy cigarettes(!); Yogi Berra - Aflac) it is Derek Jeter in the spotlight.
  
    This approach though, is something much different... something much more in line with content marketing in which the consumer is not hit over the head with benefits of goods or services.  Instead, the viewer is expected to associate the prestige of Derek Jeter with a brand he represents -- in this case, Gatorade.

    The Jeter ad doesn't pitch a product. Doesn't even mention a product. In fact, the "spokesman" barely speaks. The Jeter ad banks squarely on the legend of Derek Jeter.  He's neither bad ass like Conrad nor bad boy like Reggie, but his appeal is undeniable.
    Without a single scripted word, the ad invokes qualities like greatness, honor, loyalty, commitment, dedication, purpose. The focus of the ad isn't even Jeter himself -- it is the reaction of the masses to Jeter's very presence. It cleverly and beautifully tells the story of a life well lived, adulation well deserved and a sterling reputation well earned. He is admired, exalted and beloved. 

    If you haven't seen it -- it is definitely worth the 90-seconds it takes to watch it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfgS1lvqX8I

   The lesson for brands; choose your affiliations carefully. Tell their stories thoughtfully. The right combinations done properly can be invaluable. 
    

Forget the House -- Protect this LOGO!

An avoidable PR nightmare - By Barry LeBrock

 

    So, your company just spent a gazillion dollars creating a fabulous partnership with a professional sports franchise.  The holy grail of PR and marketing -- an affiliation with the prestige of the NFL.

    Congratulations!

    Now as you focus on the next deal… and the next… make sure to glance over your shoulder every now and then.  Public Relations is never finished.  When the ink is dry on that sterling new contract, you better keep an eye on the rear view mirror -- even as you focus forward, stepping gently around the many potential landmines of properly promoting someone else's business.

   Case in point: Under Armour's deal with the Baltimore Ravens. 

   It's the Baltimore Ravens. What can go wrong!?!

   Well, umm, this…

                                 

      And suddenly, your brand affiliation goes beyond what you signed up for with the Baltimore Ravens.  Ladies and Gentlemen, this episode of domestic violence has been brought to you by…. Under Armour!  

     It has been said that all publicity is good publicity.  It has also been said that a picture is worth a thousand words.  The intersection of those two adages has the above image screaming "THIS is NOT good publicity."  200 times.  

   

    Under Armour is an amazing company; well run, highly regarded and undoubtedly respected in the incredibly competitive sports gear space. This situation though, was at minimum a wake-up call. At maximum, a huge fuck-up.   The company whose slogan is "Protect This House" might want to shift its focus to "Protect This Logo."  

     How someone from Under Armour PR didn't make a frantic phone call to the the team -- or better yet, drive over to nearby Ravens camp to personally yank down the banner that has forever linked them to a despicable man-on-woman elevator punch, is a big mystery and a bigger mistake.

     The entire point of Public Relations is to make people aware of your client's affiliation with something positive. Something  prestigious. Something  admirable.  Checking those lists, I can tell you for certain, domestic violence is not on them.  

Round Trip TIcket

  I don't believe LeBron James. 

  I don't believe he wrote the essay in which he delivered the news of his decision to go to Cleveland.  I don't believe a lot of what was written in the document either. But you know what?  It doesn't matter.

  He could have said "I'm going back to Cleveland because I love marshmallows and there's no better city in this country for marshmallow eating than Cleveland."

   Fine.  Go ahead. Enjoy Cleveland.  Enjoy your marshmallows. It's a free country.

   LeBron James lived up to his contract with the Miami Heat, and by the rules of the NBA, was entitled to choose where he wanted to play next. Two years from now, he could move on again -- maybe he will choose Phoenix. or Brooklyn.  Or Indiana.  Yeah -- Indiana. I hear some key players in the marshmallow industry are thinking of setting up shop there.

    The essay that LeBron "wrote" did resonate with most of the media-consuming public. Really, who can fault a guy who wants to go back to his home city to make a positive difference while making amends for leaving in the first place?

    Thing is, that letter was too perfect.  It has the unmistakable stink of a publicist, manager, agent and ghost-writer all over it. Having learned the hard way how much reputational damage a poorly executed public decision (or, rather "Decision") can do, the James camp expertly crafted the antithesis of "The Decision" television show.  The disastrous made-for-TV special that LeBron put on in 2010 upon his departure from Cleveland taught those cats a lesson -- a lesson from which they learned and adjusted.

   The Bye-Bye Miami essay checked all the boxes: thought, humility, solid reasoning, appropriateness, grace, appreciation… it was as close to perfect as a letter like it can be. Props to whoever actually wrote it. 

   And the Heat, well, they're left to move forward without the best player on the planet.  For a team that demands nothing less than an NBA title, and fell short with that player … good luck with that.

   The issue I would have if I was a member of the Heat, or even a fan of the Heat is … if the decision was so clear to LeBron, and so heart-felt that it (according to the essay) "is not about a roster and is not about an organization. It is a calling far above just basketball," then why didn't it come sooner?  Why did my team have to spend, err, waste the first 11-days of the free-agent signing period chasing this cat around the country with bags of money in tow?

     The Heat's free-agency plan was to fill in the pieces around LeBron.  They signed Josh McRoberts and Danny Granger, and drafted the James-annointed "best point-guard in college basketball," Shabazz Napier -- in large part to appease LeBron.  Those are some nice pieces to an NBA team puzzle, but they are not quite as attractive without the super-duper star to lead them.  The saving grace of LeBron's departure is that the Heat now have a lot more money to spend on big name free agents.  The flip-side of that argument is, "What big name free agents?"

     In the 11-days that Miami spent chasing LeBron, all the other high-level talent either signed elsewhere, or got so deep in talks with other teams that the Heat are left on the outside looking in.   

     So, round and round the free agency wheel spins.  2010's big winners are 2014's big losers and vice versa -- all because of the whim of the best player in basketball.  Surprise, surprise... turns out that Cleveland-Miami trip LeBron booked four years ago was actually a round-trip ticket.

"Man Up?" Try Shutting Up.

 

At what point in our history did it become acceptable to bash people publicly for virtually reason -- or even no reason?  Actually, forget acceptable. In 2014, it has become almost mandatory. In the quest to be noticed -- in the fight for readership, reaction and response, perhaps it is just easier to bang out 100 vitriolic characters of venom than it is to craft 100 insightful sentences of something meaningful.

 

Isn't that the American way?  Easier instead of better?  Anything to make noise that rises above all the … noise.

 

Why is it that the opinion of a 280 pound couch potato with a bag of Cheetos in one hand and a smart phone in the other, holds any weight at all?  And since when does having a forum translate into actually having something to say?

 

Social media went into full flogging mode Thursday night during game-1 of the NBA Finals when LeBron James cramped up so badly that he had to be carried from the court. "Man up!" was the sentiment most often expressed on Twitter.  Sure, some of it was kind of humorous…

                               

And some of it was just an opportunistic way for businesses to get noticed…

                             

 

  But most of it?  Most of it was just mean-spirited nonsense…

 

 Even Jonathan Martin weighed in.  You remember him, right? He's the former Dolphins lineman who left the team, in part because he couldn't handle the verbal taunts of some of his teammates.  Amazingly, Martin tweeted at LeBron, "Bruh, drink some Gatorade and get back in there!"

 

Essentially, "Man up."

 

Muscle cramps are debilitating. Short-lived, perhaps, but debilitating none-the-less. Telling somebody who's having cramps to "Man up and get back in there" makes as much sense as heckling a paraplegic in a wheel chair. "Stand up, ya bum!"

 

Let's all take a step back. Let's all pause a moment for some perspective. And let's all ease up on each other a bit.  Cramps can be a bitch… but so can karma!   




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