The decision by The Gazette of Colorado Springs last week to stop covering the Denver Broncos with a dedicated beat reporter has caused a stir not only in Colorado sports media circles, but also among NFL reporters in other cities.
It is a tribute to the respect within the industry for the Gazette's (now former) Broncos beat reporter Frank Schwab. It is also a reaction to the curious decision made by a newspaper that while not originating in Denver proper, does represent a large community in the Broncos "secondary market," where there is a strong Denver Broncos fan-base and a large number of season-ticket holders.
Schwab, who did an outstanding job and consistently got better during his seven years on the beat, will now cover the Air Force Falcons. Air Force football is huge in its home city of Colorado Springs, so putting Schwab on that beat is a wise move journalistically. The team deserves great local coverage and Schwab will provide that.
Schwab also gets a gift in the form of a reunion with Falcons head coach Troy Calhoun--not only an extremely talented and successful coach, but a true gentleman and first-class guy. I had the pleasure of working with Coach Calhoun when he was on the Broncos staff (2003-05) and have enjoyed seeing his ascension from quality-control coach to coordinator to collegiate head coach. A true example of good things happening to good people.
The timing of the Gazette's decision to drop the Broncos beat is odd too, because Schwab had gained even more of a foothold on the Broncos beat with last year's shuttering of the Rocky Mountain News and the relationships he had established through his longevity in that spot. Competing against the Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News was not always easy, but Schwab made his mark and made those papers' coverage better in the process.
Schwab was also the most active reporter I've seen engaging readers/fans on Twitter. He worked hard to inform them and generate debate, but always maintained an even keel, took criticism in stride and never made it personal. Those who followed him as @fs3142 can now do so as @GazetteAirForce.
What remains to be seen is whether the Gazette experiences any drop-off in readership by replacing beat reporting on the most popular sports team in the region with what will presumably be a mix of AP stories and Gazette columns. The assumption is that the paper believes the work of its fine columnist David Ramsey will provide the personalized local touch on the Broncos beat.
Viewed through that lens, it could prove to be a financially savvy way for a newspaper to confront the economic challenges of its business by deploying its best people in places where they can make the most impact, while trusting they won't experience a drop-off in the process. But it does seem like a questionable decision given the immense popularity of the Denver Broncos in the state of Colorado and beyond. My suspicion is that it is a gamble on the habits of readers, not a statement that they believe that popularity has waned.
Time will tell, but what is certain is that it is time to salute Frank for his excellent work on the Broncos beat, and for being a true professional to work with (except when he kept my VHS copy of Super Bowl XXXII for more than a year for a piece he was researching; he did return it in proper working condition, though maybe not rewound). He appears to be the last in a line of outstanding reporters with whom I enjoyed working in that role, preceded by Kamon Simpson, John Branch, the late Jim Lassiter and Mike Burrows since 1995.
--Paul Kirk/ProLink Sports
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Monday, July 19, 2010
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Lonie Paxton's Celebrity Sporting Clays Challenge Set For Sept. 28, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
CONTACTS:
Paul Kirk, ProLink Sports: (303) 929-4686 / pkirk@prolinksports.net
Judianne Atencio, ProLink Sports: (303) 886-3950 / jatencio@prolinksports.net
LONIE PAXTON’S CELEBRITY SPORTING CLAYS CHALLENGE SET FOR SEPT. 28, 2010
Event Features NFL Stars Teaming Up to Support Active Force Foundation
DENVER—The First Annual Lonie Paxton Celebrity Sporting Clays Challenge is coming to Colorado Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2010. Join Denver Broncos long-snapper Lonie Paxton and a number of his teammates and sports figures for this one-of-a-kind event at the Kiowa Creek Sporting Club in Bennett, Colo. (46700 E. County Rd. 30).
This event benefits Paxton’s Active Force Foundation and its mission to provide opportunity for physically challenged individuals to engage in a healthy lifestyle through sports experience and education. Active Force Foundation provides camps for disabled athletes to experience the unique four-wheel mountain bikes they have designed and built.
“I’m excited to have an event of this kind in Colorado,” Paxton said. “The people here have been terrific in supporting Active Force Foundation, and we’re looking to build up our programs to reach even more disabled athletes and give them outdoor experiences they’ve never had before.”
The 2010 Celebrity Sporting Clays Challenge is an event you don’t want to miss. Participants enjoy the opportunity to test their skills on Kiowa Creek’s professionally designed sporting clays course. You don’t need to be an expert marksman—this event caters to all experience levels, even those who have never shot before. Lunch and dinner are provided, as well as entertainment and a special opportunity to mingle with some of Colorado’s most recognizable athletes.
“Come out and enjoy a great time with my teammates and me in support of a great cause,” Paxton said. If you’ve never shot before, don’t let that stop you. There’s something for everyone, and you might just like shooting clays more than you expected.”
Sponsorship and ticket information are available by visiting www.prolinksports.net or calling Judianne Atencio of ProLink Sports at (303) 886-3950. There are several levels of sponsorship packages available, and they can be tailored to meet a company or organization’s unique interests.
To learn more about Active Force Foundation please visit www.activeforcefoundation.org.
# # #
ABOUT ACTIVE FORCE FOUNDATION
NFL player Lonie Paxton launched Active Force Foundation in 2003. Its mission is to implement its downhill four-wheel mountain bikes into adaptive sports camps and programs throughout the world in order to better serve the disabled sports community. Paxton is in his second year with the Denver Broncos in 2010 after playing eight years with the New England Patriots, where he won three Super Bowls.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
CONTACTS:
Paul Kirk, ProLink Sports: (303) 929-4686 / pkirk@prolinksports.net
Judianne Atencio, ProLink Sports: (303) 886-3950 / jatencio@prolinksports.net
LONIE PAXTON’S CELEBRITY SPORTING CLAYS CHALLENGE SET FOR SEPT. 28, 2010
Event Features NFL Stars Teaming Up to Support Active Force Foundation
DENVER—The First Annual Lonie Paxton Celebrity Sporting Clays Challenge is coming to Colorado Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2010. Join Denver Broncos long-snapper Lonie Paxton and a number of his teammates and sports figures for this one-of-a-kind event at the Kiowa Creek Sporting Club in Bennett, Colo. (46700 E. County Rd. 30).
This event benefits Paxton’s Active Force Foundation and its mission to provide opportunity for physically challenged individuals to engage in a healthy lifestyle through sports experience and education. Active Force Foundation provides camps for disabled athletes to experience the unique four-wheel mountain bikes they have designed and built.
“I’m excited to have an event of this kind in Colorado,” Paxton said. “The people here have been terrific in supporting Active Force Foundation, and we’re looking to build up our programs to reach even more disabled athletes and give them outdoor experiences they’ve never had before.”
The 2010 Celebrity Sporting Clays Challenge is an event you don’t want to miss. Participants enjoy the opportunity to test their skills on Kiowa Creek’s professionally designed sporting clays course. You don’t need to be an expert marksman—this event caters to all experience levels, even those who have never shot before. Lunch and dinner are provided, as well as entertainment and a special opportunity to mingle with some of Colorado’s most recognizable athletes.
“Come out and enjoy a great time with my teammates and me in support of a great cause,” Paxton said. If you’ve never shot before, don’t let that stop you. There’s something for everyone, and you might just like shooting clays more than you expected.”
Sponsorship and ticket information are available by visiting www.prolinksports.net or calling Judianne Atencio of ProLink Sports at (303) 886-3950. There are several levels of sponsorship packages available, and they can be tailored to meet a company or organization’s unique interests.
To learn more about Active Force Foundation please visit www.activeforcefoundation.org.
# # #
ABOUT ACTIVE FORCE FOUNDATION
NFL player Lonie Paxton launched Active Force Foundation in 2003. Its mission is to implement its downhill four-wheel mountain bikes into adaptive sports camps and programs throughout the world in order to better serve the disabled sports community. Paxton is in his second year with the Denver Broncos in 2010 after playing eight years with the New England Patriots, where he won three Super Bowls.
--Paul Kirk/ProLink Sports
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Friday, July 9, 2010
On LeBron James, ESPN--and Dan Gilbert
Much criticism has been lobbed toward LeBron James and ESPN in the wake of last night’s one-hour “Decision” special to reveal which NBA team James would choose in free agency.
Much of it has been deserved, but when you analyze the motives and the desired outcomes of each, I think ESPN probably deserves the least, James a moderate amount, and a late entry into the spectacle, Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, probably the most. He may have been late to the party but he made his presence felt in spectacular fashion.
ESPN and James achieved what most brands ultimately want: Everybody is talking about them.
Overall, it was a good business decision by ESPN to participate. Above all, ESPN is in the entertainment business and the goal is to attract viewers. That they did, with a 7.3 rating according to early Nielsen overnight figures.
Journalistically, however, ESPN created an awkward situation for its NBA reporters and analysts by creating a special for James to announce his decision. Even if no actual edict was issued to them to preserve the suspense for the show, they created the appearance of a compromise among most logical folks who were certain ESPN reporters would not scoop an ESPN special.
While that concern is valid, it’s debatable whether the perception of journalistic compromise by a TV network even matters to anybody besides those in the industry. It is viewers that ESPN cares about, and the perception of a such compromise is unlikely to hurt viewership to any degree.
James has been called everything from narcissistic to an out-of-control egomaniac for dragging out his decision and then choosing to place even more attention on himself with the special. Understandably so.
I don’t fault him for exercising his right to play anywhere he wants. It is the manner in which he went about it that did the most damage to his image. Choosing to deliver a figurative punch to the solar plexus of long-suffering Cleveland sports fans on national television was a choice that lacked sensitivity and heart.
It was evident in James body language and facial expressions that he felt as much pain for leaving his home and fans behind as he felt excitement for going to Miami. There was a somber tone to the whole debacle. So why did he choose this method to make his announcement?
Some have said he deserves praise, not criticism, because he used the opportunity to provide funding and awareness for Boys & Girls Clubs of America. That’s nice, but then why wasn’t there any mention of that dynamic or the specifics involved with it in the special? Unless I missed it, James was simply sitting in a Boys & Girls Club branch in Greenwich, CT, with kids around him, who in the end were more out-of-place props than named beneficiaries of James’ self-indulgence.
If James wanted to be sensitive to those in his home state he could have orchestrated this much differently. Once he made a decision, he simply could have planned the signing and press conference with his new team and then called the Cavaliers (and his other suitors) to deliver the news personally. The press conference takes place in Miami, giving time for Cleveland media to travel there, allowing opportunity for Cavaliers fans to hear his answers to questions being asked by their hometown media.
While I think it would have been a nice story for James to stay in Cleveland, I’ve seen enough in professional sports to lose most notions of idealism I had while following sports growing up. But I don’t believe James deserves, as some have said, to be the “most hated man in the NBA.” Outside of Cleveland, what beef do other NBA fans and sports fans in general have with James choosing after seven years in Cleveland to sign a free-agent contract to play elsewhere?
I defend those Cleveland fans because as a Seattle native I felt the pain of watching both Ken Griffey, Jr., and Alex Rodriguez bolt from the Emerald City. Neither was even a true hometown hero, though we felt like they were, having seen each grow from 18-year-old signees to major superstars. Griffey’s departure was easier to take because he actually went home with his move to the Cincinnati Reds. Rodriguez is another story. At least I can understand the vitriol that accompanies the feelings of betrayal when a long-time star leaves a city by his own choice.
Surprisingly, the one deserving the most criticism for his actions relative to his role and the expectations that go with it, is Gilbert. His unhinged written rant—in the font Comic Sans, no less—came out of nowhere just as the aftermath of this spectacle was winding down, and AFTER the Cavaliers organization had issued a very professional, well-reasoned statement to the media.
It is understandable Gilbert would feel betrayed and want to rally his team’s fans when things seem to crumbling around them. That’s what leaders do. But his approach was so bizarre for a team owner that it probably did him more harm than good.
Sure, it’s refreshing for media and fans to receive such candor from an owner of a professional sports franchise. And for his part, while Gilbert wants to win, he also wants to sell as many tickets and cash in on as much devotion as possible from the team’s fans and potential fans.
A big part of that, however, is built on signing players to deliver those wins and championships he’s promising, and if there’s one thing professional athletes are most loyal to—besides themselves and their families—it is their fellow players. After witnessing Gilbert’s epic blast at James’ back as he walks out the door, what player is motivated to come play for him? And it is those players who will determine whether the Cavaliers win even that first championship Gilbert is promising his fans.
Among PR directors’ worst nightmares is dealing with an owner or executive who is ruled by his emotions when speaking publicly (perhaps only topped by working with one who comes in the next day—or calls at 5 a.m.—with complaints about the negative stories you’ve allowed to be printed, or failed to prevent).
Either way, this whole LeBron James free-agent spectacle has given sports fans and media much to talk about during one of the slowest sports periods on the calendar (and don’t tell me about the World Cup, because while it’s huge globally, most sports fans in the United States truly don’t care beyond hoping the USA wins).
For all the criticism lobbed in his direction, LeBron James will be fine. He will make boat-loads of money, live in a great city and win a lot of games. He could have handled the whole process with a greater degree of humility, but his overall brand will not suffer, and clearly that is what is most important to him.
Those championships, however, will not come easily, no matter how much talent is around him.
--Paul Kirk/ProLink Sports
www.prolinksports.net
Follow us on Twitter
Become a Fan on Facebook
Much of it has been deserved, but when you analyze the motives and the desired outcomes of each, I think ESPN probably deserves the least, James a moderate amount, and a late entry into the spectacle, Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, probably the most. He may have been late to the party but he made his presence felt in spectacular fashion.
ESPN and James achieved what most brands ultimately want: Everybody is talking about them.
Overall, it was a good business decision by ESPN to participate. Above all, ESPN is in the entertainment business and the goal is to attract viewers. That they did, with a 7.3 rating according to early Nielsen overnight figures.
Journalistically, however, ESPN created an awkward situation for its NBA reporters and analysts by creating a special for James to announce his decision. Even if no actual edict was issued to them to preserve the suspense for the show, they created the appearance of a compromise among most logical folks who were certain ESPN reporters would not scoop an ESPN special.
While that concern is valid, it’s debatable whether the perception of journalistic compromise by a TV network even matters to anybody besides those in the industry. It is viewers that ESPN cares about, and the perception of a such compromise is unlikely to hurt viewership to any degree.
James has been called everything from narcissistic to an out-of-control egomaniac for dragging out his decision and then choosing to place even more attention on himself with the special. Understandably so.
I don’t fault him for exercising his right to play anywhere he wants. It is the manner in which he went about it that did the most damage to his image. Choosing to deliver a figurative punch to the solar plexus of long-suffering Cleveland sports fans on national television was a choice that lacked sensitivity and heart.
It was evident in James body language and facial expressions that he felt as much pain for leaving his home and fans behind as he felt excitement for going to Miami. There was a somber tone to the whole debacle. So why did he choose this method to make his announcement?
Some have said he deserves praise, not criticism, because he used the opportunity to provide funding and awareness for Boys & Girls Clubs of America. That’s nice, but then why wasn’t there any mention of that dynamic or the specifics involved with it in the special? Unless I missed it, James was simply sitting in a Boys & Girls Club branch in Greenwich, CT, with kids around him, who in the end were more out-of-place props than named beneficiaries of James’ self-indulgence.
If James wanted to be sensitive to those in his home state he could have orchestrated this much differently. Once he made a decision, he simply could have planned the signing and press conference with his new team and then called the Cavaliers (and his other suitors) to deliver the news personally. The press conference takes place in Miami, giving time for Cleveland media to travel there, allowing opportunity for Cavaliers fans to hear his answers to questions being asked by their hometown media.
While I think it would have been a nice story for James to stay in Cleveland, I’ve seen enough in professional sports to lose most notions of idealism I had while following sports growing up. But I don’t believe James deserves, as some have said, to be the “most hated man in the NBA.” Outside of Cleveland, what beef do other NBA fans and sports fans in general have with James choosing after seven years in Cleveland to sign a free-agent contract to play elsewhere?
I defend those Cleveland fans because as a Seattle native I felt the pain of watching both Ken Griffey, Jr., and Alex Rodriguez bolt from the Emerald City. Neither was even a true hometown hero, though we felt like they were, having seen each grow from 18-year-old signees to major superstars. Griffey’s departure was easier to take because he actually went home with his move to the Cincinnati Reds. Rodriguez is another story. At least I can understand the vitriol that accompanies the feelings of betrayal when a long-time star leaves a city by his own choice.
Surprisingly, the one deserving the most criticism for his actions relative to his role and the expectations that go with it, is Gilbert. His unhinged written rant—in the font Comic Sans, no less—came out of nowhere just as the aftermath of this spectacle was winding down, and AFTER the Cavaliers organization had issued a very professional, well-reasoned statement to the media.
It is understandable Gilbert would feel betrayed and want to rally his team’s fans when things seem to crumbling around them. That’s what leaders do. But his approach was so bizarre for a team owner that it probably did him more harm than good.
Sure, it’s refreshing for media and fans to receive such candor from an owner of a professional sports franchise. And for his part, while Gilbert wants to win, he also wants to sell as many tickets and cash in on as much devotion as possible from the team’s fans and potential fans.
A big part of that, however, is built on signing players to deliver those wins and championships he’s promising, and if there’s one thing professional athletes are most loyal to—besides themselves and their families—it is their fellow players. After witnessing Gilbert’s epic blast at James’ back as he walks out the door, what player is motivated to come play for him? And it is those players who will determine whether the Cavaliers win even that first championship Gilbert is promising his fans.
Among PR directors’ worst nightmares is dealing with an owner or executive who is ruled by his emotions when speaking publicly (perhaps only topped by working with one who comes in the next day—or calls at 5 a.m.—with complaints about the negative stories you’ve allowed to be printed, or failed to prevent).
Either way, this whole LeBron James free-agent spectacle has given sports fans and media much to talk about during one of the slowest sports periods on the calendar (and don’t tell me about the World Cup, because while it’s huge globally, most sports fans in the United States truly don’t care beyond hoping the USA wins).
For all the criticism lobbed in his direction, LeBron James will be fine. He will make boat-loads of money, live in a great city and win a lot of games. He could have handled the whole process with a greater degree of humility, but his overall brand will not suffer, and clearly that is what is most important to him.
Those championships, however, will not come easily, no matter how much talent is around him.
--Paul Kirk/ProLink Sports
www.prolinksports.net
Follow us on Twitter
Become a Fan on Facebook
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