they ply bloggers with beer and crab cakes!!

then we root for team!!!!

NEFARIOUS

So, when is our training session?

As a former full-time and now part-time freelance journalist and full-time PR person for more than 23 years, I find this very heartening. I'm always amazed when I see the gaffes and outrageous behavior of professional athletes and wonder, "Didn't this guy get any kind of media training? Don't they know any better?" Plus, consider the whole Bergesen shoulder injury/commercial filming fiasco. In this case, it's not so much the player at fault as the PR department--why wasn't someone from PR on hand to ensure this didn't happen? The marketing/advertising folks are going to push for what they think is going to look best in the commercial. They're not thinking about the athlete, they figure that guy "knows what he's doing." Someone needs to be on hand to safeguard the player(s). Of course, training the players to think about these things too isn't a bad idea. If I had five minutes with the players I'd give them this advice: When it comes to media, remember, never say (or do) anything you wouldn't be happy to see in print with your name next to it (or on national TV) the next day (or in today's internet world, in the next five minutes). Remember also that you represent an organization. Remember when LA Dodger executive Al Campanis made his famous blunder on Ted Koppel's NIGHTLINE about African-Americans "not having the necessities" to be field or general managers in baseball? Ken Burns explored this in his famed documentary and included an interview with black tennis star, Arthur Ashe, who noted that what was so upsetting was that this "came from the Dodgers...MY TEAM!" Note, he didn't say it was terrible because Al Campanis said/thought this, but that the DODGERS said this, thought this. People may be hard pressed to remember Al Campanis, but they remember the Dodgers. Whatever you say or do in a public setting (and nowadays with video/picture cell phones EVERYWHERE, EVERYWHERE is a public setting it seems) reflects on the organization you represent. People making millions of dollars who have been told since they were little kids that they were the BEST and have been treated like gods due to their prowess in the sport have a difficult time thinking about this simple fact, that sometimes it isn't about them, it's about the team. So, I'd say, remember, you're a BALTIMORE ORIOLE FIRST, and Nick Markakis or Brian Roberts or Matt Weiters or whomever, SECOND. Take that to heart and you may save yourself considerable heartbreak, pain and embarrassment down the road.

Right, because it is their fault you will run the story into the ground.

Go back and watch that Nightline episode. It is one of the most misunderstood quotes in history and it cost a good man his job and reputation

Ted Koppel asked Al Campanis why he thought there weren't more blacks in baseball management and Al said it was because there is a perception that blacks don't have the necessities.

Al never said HE thought that, but that was the perception through out baseball.

He illustrated how crazy that perception is/was by saying "it's like saying blacks can't swim because they lack buoyancy."

But, his remarks got all twisted and I don't think represented his true feelings at all, not from a guy who was instrumental in helping Jackie Robinson.

Question asked and question answered, but the media distorted the whole thing.

I can see it now. If the O's had one of those spring training Cams like the Red Sox.

All the O's in a meeting, and Roch & Pete standing in front of the camera eating doughnuts...

I wonder how much training journalists get in dealing with pro athletes...it's a two way street...I would LOVE hear from the players about who the good guys and the jerks are amongst the fourth estate...