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LE-BRAWN JAMES: SELF-(BRAND) DESTRUCTION June
12, 2011 (New York) In 1989, KRS One formed the "Stop the Violence Movement" and put out the call to many prominent hip-hop
artists. The result: "Self-Destruction" (click on link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxyYP_bS_6s)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxyYP_bS_6s). Fast forward twenty years later and Jersey City based hip-hop artists re-recorded the classic but took liberty
to amend the title ever so slightly to "Self-Destruction 2" (click on link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsf9oIKvwmQ&feature=related).
This takes us to the one-time, most marketable athlete on the planet (after Tiger relinquished the throne),
Lebron James, who has been on a path of self-destruction regarding his marketabiltiy. He is completely undermining his
own "brand." At one time, it seemed like he had plenty of smarts, lots of brains. But now he seems
to have more "Brawn" than "Brains"--hence, he will be referred to as "Le-Brawn."
One of the greatest situation television comedies ever produced was the "Beverly Hillbillies." The
family patriarch, Jed Clampett, was played marvelously by Buddy Ebsen, who, when referring to his nephew, Jethro Bodine,
would famously shake his head and utter, "I gotta have a long talk with that boy." Well, somebody, "gotta
have a long talk with that boy." Le-Brawn. It started with "The Decision"--a horrible miscalculation
that was played out for the world to see. When people criticized Le-Brawn, including this writer, Renny Ed
injected sense into the discussion. He told me that young people make mistakes. We made mistakes when we were
younger. We weren't perfect. We were just fortunate that our mistakes did not happen on a world stage.
Great point, Renny. Great point. But...
And I do mean, "But." Le-Brawn is compounding
his stupidity. It's like starting out with a penny and doubling your holdings every day. (Do you know how
much that adds up to after 30 days?) That's what Le-Brawn is doing. He is doubling his stupidity every day.
The term "brand" is used recklessly. It is a status that few achieve. You have achieved "brand"
status when you rate highly in all four key areas: association (connections/linkages), recognition (broad), reputation (positive),
and influence (number of people and who/area).
Prior to "The Decision" Le-Brawn ranked high in
all four areas. Since then, his rankings have dropped precipitously. His "Q" score (which reflects the
percentage of people who view a person postively or negatively) hit all-time lows for him in September 2010. It started
to rise in March 2011, but now it is heading in a southernly direction.
Just because Dwayne Wade is stupid
enough to mock Dirk Nowitsky on camera doesn't mean you do it--Le-Brawn. You don't act satisfied with a "statistical"
but not "substantial" triple-double. Not when you put "The Chosen One" on your back. Not when
you put "23" on your back. If you wanted to be Magic Johnson than you should have transposed the numbers (32-get
it?). No, you wanted to have your cake and eat it too. You wanted to be Jordan and Johnson.
Why tweet that
game five was the biggest game in your career? It was true, but why make that proclamation? Do you think State
Farm is happy with you? Or McDonalds? Or Nike? If the Heat win the series, but Le-Brawn does not perform
spectacularly, his image will take a bigger hit than if the Heat lost the series but he played superbly.
Somebody
have a "long talk" with Le-Brawn. He needs to stop going to the press conference as Wade's tag-along.
Either the "three (Wade, Le-Brawn, and Bosh) go together or seperately.
Skip Bayless has been "murder-mouthing"
Le-Brawn for years. Bayless was right. Big muscles, plenty of talent, but no heart. Who wants to wear that
sneaker? You'll be laughed off the court.
Somebody needs to talk with him. Somebody needs to have
a long talk with him. Somebody needs to tell him to use his "Le-Brain" instead of his "Le-Brawn."
FROM METS, TO MESS, TO MUTTS!
WILPON: THE MOUTH THAT (WAS) FLAWED
May 25, 2011 (New York) Fred Wilpon is a self-made billionaire. His comments, as reported
in two articles, are turning him into a self-made buffoon.
As a real estate mogul, he has very few equals, but as the principal owner of a major league baseball franchise
in the most prominent city on the planet, he falls short.
The Mets were in need of some positive P.R. so Wilpon agreed to be interviewed by Sports Illustrated and
The New Yorker.
For those who don't know, Wilpon is being sued to the tune of $1 billion (see Bernie Madoff), seeking
a partner to buy a minority stake of the Mets, and trying to prevent MLB from stepping in and running the team.
During the interview where he should have been trying to put a positive spin on the Mets' outlook, Wilpon
discussed the team's financial woes--mistake, and tainted his star players (Wright, Reyes, and Beltran). The latter
was all the more crazy since the Mets may try to deal Reyes and Beltran before season's end.
The Mets fans want something to cheer about because for too long, they have been the baseball stepchildren
in this city. Maybe it's in the name: Mets rhymes with Jets, which rhymes with Nets. All three have been the little
sibling franchises even though they have had intermittent success. The only one of the three that may be able to supplant
the older sibling is the Jets under Rex Ryan. They're the fun team to watch in this town. They have the New York
attitude.
The Yankees and the Mets could not be more different as franchises. The Yankees built a "cathedral"
that features a new mall (Gateway) and a MetroNorth station. They did not follow the trend of venue naming rights where
they could have pocketed an obscene amount of money. The Mets built a "ballpark" and sold the naming rights to Citi
Bank. There has been no significant effort to surround Citi-Field with a mall or business/shopping district.
Wilpon has to take the hit for that. The Mets needed to construct a stadium that could rival the Yankees,
but they (Mets) opted not to--another curious decision in a long line of curious decisions.
Wilpon probably didn't know what Madoff was up to--even though the off-the-chart return on investment should
have been a warning. But if you go to an ATM to withdraw $100 and the machine kicks out $1,000 and the receipt shows
only $100 was deducted, do you stick the money back in the machine? Do you run into the bank and tell the manager the
machine gave you $900 more than you requested? You do if the additional $900 is deducted from your account, otherwise,
you probably develop a strong case of Sgt. Schultz (Hogan's Heroes "I know nothing, nothing nothing!"). So Wilpon may
have known something was a little off--but he wasn't about to question success.
However, he should have been on "mute" status during the interviews when it came to certain topics.
This may be the death knell for his tenure as Mets owner. He saw fit to apologize to Wright, Reyes, and Beltran--but
the major damage was done. Wilpon eroded the confidence of Bud "Dud" Selig who is Wilpon backer, not detractor.
So, the Mets go from being a mess to being a mutt of an organization, and they have team owner, Fred Wilpon,
to thank. Mr. Wilpon, you passed the "I.Q." (Idiot Quotient) Test by being the "Mouth that (was) Flawed!"
RED SOX-CUBS SHOULD HAVE WAITED UNTIL 2018
May 21, 2011 (New York) Maybe it's the last day on earth, so that's
why they did it. But the MLB schedule makers should have waited until 2018. Even though that gives the Redsox
and Cubs an opportunity to meet in the World Series before 2018, it was definitely worth the gamble.
The entity, unit, and person who have the dubious distinction of passing the I.Q. (Idiot's Quotient) Test
(no they didn't flunk it because flunking the test means your not an idiot) are, Major League Baseball (the Dumb), scheduling
(the Dumber), and Bud "Dud" Selig (the Dumbest).
I thought Bynum (last week's I.Q. winner/loser) was abysmally stupid, but the aforementioned "three dumb mice"
beat 'em.
Unless you believe today's the last day in time (at least our time--and if they're wrong, then we have to
sit through an entire year with the threat of extinction: 2012), why would Major League Baseball have the Cubs and Redsox
play each other this year? The last time these two teams met was in 1918. Why not wait until 2018?
The marketing possibilities were endless. Three-game series in Boston. Anyone born in 1918 attends
free (with travel, lodging and food paid for). Tickets go for three to four times their normal value. Food and
beverages could be sold at 1918 prices (as a sort of give-back). Hats, tee-shirts, mugs, bats, balls, towels, vintage
uniforms, etc., all bearing a reference to 1918 could not be manufactured in sufficient quantity. On Sunday, they could
"encourage" fans to wear the clothing of that era. Endless marketing possibilities.
Now the NFL proved to be as shamelessly idiotic last year. The Giants and Jets opened a new stadium.
The first game of the season usually has the Super Bowl winner playing. They should have broken with that tradition
and scheduled the Giants-Jets as the first game of the season. The marketing theme would have been simple: Whose
house? They could have charged four times the regular price because it was a once in a lifetime event (you can have only
one first game). Rex Ryan and the Jets were the most talked about entity in the NFL. The smack really would
have been flying. Good vs. Evil. Green vs. Blue. Tee-shirts commemorating the game would retail for $40, caps for $50
- $70. Think mugs, pens, lighters, towels, calendars, posters, etc.
With all that said, baseball has such advantages being America's pasttime. It should have never become
second fiddle to football. And it should not have needed steroid-induced players to bring back fan interest (see Exhibit
A: McGuire and Sosa).
If Patience is a virtue then Intelligence is a prerequisite. A mind is a terrible "think" (yes, I mean
"think) to waste. Here's to you MLB--you've passed the I.Q. (Idiot's Quotient) Test.
BYNUM'S BLUNDER
By Prof. Clifford Benton
May 11, 2011 (New York) Does anybody talk to these athletes? Who are their agents or managers?
Fire them. They are taking their money but not protecting them. Exhibit A(ss): Andrew Bynum of the Los Angeles
Lakers. Cheap shot (Dumb!) and then Shirt off (Dumber!!).
Kiss any number of prospective endorsement deals goodbye. Athletes need to understand the principle
of BOYBB (Be On Your Best Behavior). If I am a potential endorser, what am I thinking after that spectacle by Bynum?
Can I trust this guy to not punch someone in the mouth who calls his mother out her name? Where's his self-control?
Bynum needs to take Derek Jeter lessons. Being a professional athlete is a vehicle to make real moves
after you retire. John Salley (former NBA player) told journalist Jason Whitlock during an interview that his life began
after he retired. Check out John Salley's credits and accomplishments. Nothing else needs to be said.
Not following the BOYBB rule doesn't just disrupt your present endorsements; it disrupts your future endorsements.
What does the ad exec think when s/he sees the clip of the blow and then the throw (meaning Bynum tossing his shirt) running
over and over and over and over and over on ESPN and during every sports segment on local and national news?
Then, Bynum trumps his stupidity and apologizes on Tuesday, May 10. Why not Monday morning, May 9?
What a difference a day makes. Time was against him. He needed to apologize right after the game. This points
to the Lakers not being too bright from a management perspective. I would have had him apologizing before showering.
So, Bynum has the dubious honor of "passing" the I.Q. (Idiot Quotient) test.
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