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Get To Know Everyone On Stage At The BSM Summit

“I hope you enjoy learning new details about these distinctive people in the sports radio business.”

Brian Noe

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The 2020 BSM Summit is here, baby! There is a plethora of on-air and programming talent in attendance at this year’s conference. Many of these people happen to be featured in this piece that you’re about to read, retweet, print out and frame. (Two out of four ain’t bad.) You’re sure to recognize many names and might already know plenty of details about these people. However, there are so many facets to a person that you might not be aware of other noteworthy qualities.

I asked each person to provide a fun fact about themselves — something that isn’t widely known. It could literally be about anything; something funny, a passion they have, or maybe a quirk that many people didn’t know existed. Something like Scott Shapiro once having a mullet and Maggie Gray liking broccoli on her pizza. I mean goodness; that’s worth the price of admission right there. I hope you enjoy learning new details about these distinctive people in the sports radio business.

Gregg Giannotti – WFAN, New York
I was an All-State musician in high school playing the string bass. Went to college as a music education major for three years before I changed to a communication major. I also was robbed at machete point in the Dominican Republic on vacation. Doesn’t sound all that funny but the full story is. All good, didn’t get hurt. Went to the beach right after.

John Mamola – WDAE, Tampa

Once worked as a parking attendant at the Ballpark In Arlington. Once taught Ozzie Smith how to run a radio soundboard. Also introduced Grammy-nominated band Hatebreed when I worked for Rebel Radio out of Chicago!

Peter Rosenberg – 98.7 ESPN, New York

I’m incredibly passionate about my dog, Bear, and take him all over the city with me. I can regularly be seen shopping for sneakers or clothes with an adorable corgi mutt.

Scott Masteller – WBAL, Baltimore
Many people may not know that I spent five years calling minor league baseball at the AA level. I called games for two years in my hometown of Williamsport, PA. I then took a job as the play-by-play announcer with the Wichita Wranglers in the Texas League for the San Diego Padres affiliate. Our team won the Texas League Championship in 1992 and I even got a champagne shower after the final game!

Matt Nahigian – 95.7 The Game, San Francisco

I was on The Newlywed Game and lost because I didn’t want my grandma to know what our secret term was for sex.

Jason Barrett – Barrett Sports Media
Something that isn’t commonly known about me is that I’m a huge memes guy. Every morning before I get out of bed to dive into the day’s news and my responsibilities of running BSM, I try to take 15-20 minutes to browse stupid stuff on social media that makes me laugh. It doesn’t matter if it’s cheesy, mildly offensive, or flat out disturbing; humor is different to everyone and I don’t take many things personally. I enjoy the social distraction before the avalanche of work appears in my inbox. It certainly puts me in a better mood starting off my day.

Bomani Jones – ESPN

I’ve had malaria twice when I was three years old. Michael Cohen once tried to call me in for something I said about Donald Trump in 2014.

Michael Kay – 98.7 ESPN, New York

I am one of the worst eaters of all time. I don’t eat condiments. Never had mustard, mayo or ketchup. And never had fish or an egg. I’m very odd.

Howard Deneroff – Westwood One
I do not go to the movies because I will ALWAYS fall asleep when sitting still in a dark room after a few minutes. The last real movie I saw in the theaters may have been Titanic…seriously.

Despite having produced network radio broadcasts of Super Bowls, NCAA Tournaments, Stanley Cup Finals, Olympics, World Series, and other sporting events for 30 years, if you Google my name, you will more likely find entries for me being a passenger/witness on a JetBlue plane in 2010. That’s when the flight attendant, Steven Slater, jumped off the aircraft while cursing on the intercom to quit his job. In the week that followed the incident, I appeared as a guest on the CBS Evening News, The Today Show, CNN, the BBC, the CBC, and too many other shows to mention.  I prefer being behind the scenes for sure.

Maggie Gray – WFAN, New York

I once ate an entire large NYC pizza in two hours while simultaneously hosting a radio show. I realize how sad that is. It was a plain pizza from Joe’s in the West Village — and it was the size of a wagon wheel! My favorite pizza is mushroom, broccoli, and black olive (an odd combo, I know). 

Phil Mackey – SKOR North, Minneapolis
I was a band geek in high school. I won multiple awards as a jazz trumpet player, including a soloist award at the New Orleans Jazz Festival. Although I haven’t picked up a trumpet in years, I now get my music fix through belting out high harmonies at karaoke dive bars around the Twin Cities. 

Tony Bruno – Tony Bruno Show

I consider myself somewhat of a foodie, yet don’t like many common foods. I love eggs prepared every way except hard boiled; they gross me out! Also, despite being Italian, I’m not a big fan of cold meats like charcuterie (i.e. salami or pepperoni) although I like them on pizza. Same thing with tuna; I’ll eat seared filet, but can’t be near canned tuna fish or cold salads with tuna in it. I leave the room when someone is eating it near me and have thought of opening the emergency exit doors if someone brings one with raw onions on an airplane.

Bruce Gilbert – Cumulus/Westwood One
I’m not even close to being the most talented person in my own marriage. I’m married to the former Amy Williams who many of you knew as one of the ESPN Radio Affiliate sales reps from 1999-2006. Prior to that, Amy was very successful as a promoter in the music industry. She is currently co-hosting the First and Tens podcast with long-time Dallas radio personality Jasmine Sadry. In addition to being an amazing mom to our son, Hudson, Amy has become an established artist. She is a self-taught glass mosaic artist, specializing in customized, one-of-a-kind art pieces, using acoustic guitars as her canvas. You can see her amazing work at glassaxes.com.

Chris Canty – 98.7 ESPN, New York

I went to four different high schools in two different cities. I started out as a freshman in the marching band (playing the clarinet) to an All-State tight end on a state championship football team.

Don LaGreca – 98.7 ESPN, New York

I love movies. Have no problem watching a movie 100 times if I love it. Drives my wife crazy.

Justin Craig – ESPN Radio
When I was in high school, I once spent six weeks working for the town highway department where I grew up. I was part of one of the road crews that would go around picking up sticks, leaves or whatever junk was put out on the curb by residents. I only lasted six weeks because I couldn’t take the ridiculous amount of breaks that they took. It felt like we spent more time at McDonald’s on coffee breaks than actually doing anything. Not to mention it was cutting in to my time of listening to the great Brother Wease on WCMF.

Erika Nardini – Barstool Sports

Realizing that Starbucks lets you put heavy cream in your coffee has been a personal game changer. A venti red eye is my favorite.

Dave Tepper – Altitude Sports 92.5, Denver
I got into talk radio from being a professional stand up comic at the Laugh Factory in LA. Some coworkers are surprised because they don’t find me funny. My most memorable boos and heckles came when the club manager had me MC Latino night. They started on me right away. After plowing through my act and battling hecklers the best I could, my time was mercifully up. First act I introduced was Carlos Mencia who took the stage and destroyed the crowd for not giving me a chance. That meant a lot. Best memory — Green Day was at a show and pulled me aside to say I was their favorite comic of the night.

Chris Carlin – 98.7 ESPN, New York
I found my love of broadcasting because a drunk guy punched out an off-duty cop in a bar. He did color for football on the student station. He was asked to not return to the broadcast. They needed someone quickly and a friend at the radio station knew I loved sports and football, so I gave it a shot. Fell in love.

Gavin Spittle – 105.3 The Fan, Dallas
I have a huge passion for sports logos. So much so that I created a t-shirt line of fake, funny sports logos and made a business out of it — awesomesportslogos.com. My favorite logo is The Macon Whoopee. My favorite logo that I’ve created is The Cocksville Blockers.

Ryan Porth – 102.5 The Game, Nashville

Outside of sports, my #1 passion is music, which makes living in Music City that much better! My favorite genre is country and my favorite performers are Luke Combs, Eric Church and Foo Fighters. I’m not afraid to admit that a close second is The Bachelor / The Bachelorette. Go ahead, take away my man card.

Carl Dukes – 92.9 The Game, Atlanta

I love Frank Sinatra. I still practice in the mirror. I’m a good golfer. I love being on the water — fishing and boating. I also collect and love unique bourbons.

Fred Jacobs – Jacobs Media

I had a bagel route at the age of 12 in Northwest Detroit. I also danced with Little Steven Van Zandt and a group of go-go girls at a Jacobs Summit in Cleveland.

Julie Talbott – Premiere Networks

My brothers, sisters, and our families have had the same Christmas tradition since we were born. No matter where we are all living, we meet for Christmas Eve at our parent’s home and our grandparent’s farm for Christmas — all in Kentucky. We are up to 62 people!

Jason Fitz – ESPN Radio

I’m presuming most people know about the music stuff. Non-music: I don’t know how to swim OR ride a bike. I also have a crazy love of toys. Funko pops to vintage. Always out of the box. Not collected! Played with!

Spike Eskin – 94WIP, Philadelphia

I was in a band in my mid-20s called Project Mayhem (Fight Club reference). My roommate and I had never been in a band before, and we somehow found a bass player and a drummer who had never been in a band either. We did mostly covers of nu-metal songs from bands like Godsmack and Papa Roach. We played a total of four gigs, one in a WYSP listener’s backyard (called Backyard Fest). We wrote one original song, called “Tony Blair,” named after the British Prime Minister.

Demetri Ravanos – Barrett Sports Media

My dad is a chef. He made me start going to work with him when I was nine. The first thing I ever got paid to do was wrap baked potatoes and peel onions. I don’t even think he gave me minimum wage.

Amanda Gifford – ESPN

I played on the boy’s golf team in high school. To be fair, anybody was able to play, but I was the only girl. In the four years I played, I think I only played against another girl one time. I was usually the #4 or #5 golfer (top six played in the matches) and there are no “ladies tees” when you play in high school — everybody hits from the same tees no matter male/female. I never felt weird playing against male competition; it was part of the fun, but always funny to see their expressions when I showed up on the tee.

Mark Chernoff – WFAN, New York

My son, Mike, and I (he’s the general manager of the Cleveland Indians) make sure we have a baseball catch at least once a month. (Remember he lives in the Cleveland area and I live in the NY metro), but we make sure we do and have been doing it since he was a kid.

Armen Williams – Sports Radio 610, Houston

I played tuba for 12 years. In college, I marched in the Goin’ Band from Raiderland at Texas Tech University. My first game was inside the Horseshoe at Ohio State. During the halftime show, I was so nervous — pretty sure I played a total of six notes — I had to look straight up just to see the sky. The atmosphere was incredible. 

This was also the first game for Ohio State freshman running back Maurice Clarett. He had a record-breaking day with 175 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 8.3 yards per carry. Guess we know which true freshman had the better debut. 

Scott Shapiro – FOX Sports Radio

I was that 3rd grade kid who played basketball with a headband, wristbands, and goggles. Yes indeed! Oh, and a mullet to top it all off. When you have no shame even at a young age, you just let it all go. Now that I think about it, I was Kurt Rambis just without the mustache (nor was I ever clotheslined by Kevin McHale)!

Chris Kinard – 106.7 The Fan, Washington, DC

My first big sports memory was the 1988 Redskins Super Bowl victory. When I started in the business 10 years later I certainly never expected it would be 20 years in sports radio before I worked a championship parade. Or that two would come in consecutive years!

Freddie Coleman – ESPN Radio

I was at Live Aid in Philadelphia in 1985 THE WHOLE DAY!!! Saw so many of my favorite bands and had a chance to shake hands with Billy Ocean, Phil Collins, Ron Wood and Tina Turner.

Rodney Lakin – Arizona Sports 98.7, Phoenix

The BSM Summit will be my first trip to NYC. Never been before, which would probably make me the only person in America excited to leave sunny 70-degree weather for the cold and rain in New York. Happy to be here, though.

Mitch Rosen – 670 The Score, Chicago

Guilty pleasure; I read People magazine every Friday as it’s delivered to my house. I also reflect on one of my fondest memories in radio — producing Game 7 of the World Series when the Cubs won live on the Score. The first World Series Championship since 1908 and it happened on the Score — the first season the station had the broadcast rights. Sitting next to Pat Hughes and Ron Coomer on the call. It was radio and sports history. That was special and I was able to watch and hear it live along with over half of the listening audience in Chicago per Nielson.

Don Martin – FOX Sports Radio
I grew up an Army brat. Born in Nuremburg Germany to an American GI and a German mom. Thus I was raised speaking English and German.

I was the TV play-by-play voice of the now defunct “CAC” (Colorado Athletic Conference), which was absorbed into the RMAC in 1996. My analyst was legendary high school coach Sam Pagano. Both of his sons are NFL coaches (Chuck now with the Bears, and John is with Denver).

Jeff Rickard – 93.5/107.5 The Fan, Indianapolis

Like many before me, I have become a full-time limo driver with daily stops to the Orchard School, basketball practice, piano lessons, Math Bowl and Mathnasium with twice weekly appearances at the Indianapolis Children’s Choir. I have also been a board member at Fishers Montessori School.

Heather Cohen – The Weiss Agency

I sometimes respond to the name ROB because years before I became a programmer, and then broadcast talent agent, I started as a board operator. I found myself running the board for the legendary syndicated talk host, Bob Grant, on WOR in NY. He refused to call me Heather and would refer to me on-air as ROB. So, I became known as ROB during that period of my career.

Mike Thomas – ESPN 1000, Chicago

Long before my sports radio days I did afternoon drive on a country station in Southwest Michigan. I was known as Mike “Bubba” Thomas. Garth Brooks was HUGE and I would answer to someone shouting “BUBBA” at me!

Brandon Tierney – CBS Sports Radio

I attended an all-boys semi-military high school in Manhattan and played the glockenspiel in the military band as a freshman. I’m an avid fisherman — hooked an 800-plus-pound shark last summer in South Carolina and a 23-inch brown trout in Utah a month later on my second ever fly-fish cast. I’ve visited 45/50 states so far. My musical tastes are pretty eclectic, but I have a few go-to artists since college when it’s time to dig in/write/tap into creativity: Billy Joel, Simon and Garfunkel, Cat Stevens and Pink Floyd.

Justin Dove – Core Image Studio

I’m a born and raised Newfoundlander (east coast of Canada) in a small fishing town called Too Good Arm — population 80 people. Currently residing in Calgary, my wife Karla and I give a lot of time to the local rescue called Pawsitive Match. In 2019 alone, they have fostered and helped find homes for over 30 cats.

Brian Noe – FOX Sports Radio / NBCSNW, 620 Rip City Radio – Portland

I never set my alarm clock at the top of the hour. Instead of something like 8:00am — it’s 8:01. I have no idea why this feels right.

I also don’t drink. My dad struggled with alcoholism when I was growing up. I could see myself likely fighting the same battle, so I just stayed away from it. I’m very proud of my dad; he’s been sober for over 13 years now. It doesn’t bother me when friends and other people drink around me. I’d actually be rich if I received a nickel each time a friend jokingly asked before a liquor store run, “B, Jack and Coke? Jack and Coke, right?”

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How to Help Your Clients with Low Website Conversions

Don’t assume there isn’t enough traffic; focus on optimizing user engagement once visitors arrive on the site.

Jeff Caves

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Graphic for how to increase website conversions
Credit: WPDesigner.Biz

Are your clients dealing with low website conversions? Whenever a marketing campaign is run, and the goal is to convert website visitors into leads, the temptation is to blame low traffic, amongst other issues, for low form fills or appointments being generated.  Just spend more money, you may think! Sometimes, you must look at at least four other potential issues to tackle poor conversion rates. Here are some actionable steps using the IT services industry to increase website conversions.

IT Solutions specializes in providing products, services, or solutions related to technology, particularly in areas such as software development, hardware sales, IT consulting, cybersecurity, cloud computing, networking, and digital transformations. They faced challenges with their website conversions. Despite driving substantial traffic through Google Ads and other SEO tactics, they struggled to convert website visitors into form fills for appointment requests. A 2% to 5% conversion rate could be considered reasonable. Of course, conversion rates can vary based on various factors, such as the competitiveness of the local market, the quality of the website (and radio stations help most to fix that) and its user experience, the effectiveness of marketing campaigns, and the reputation and offerings of the IT solutions business. Focusing on improving the quality of leads and providing exceptional customer service can be just as crucial as achieving high conversion rates. Don’t blame EVERYTHING on the marketing tactics! 

The Diagnosis

Upon thorough analysis, several critical issues were identified with IT Solutions’ website:

1. High Bounce Rate: Nobody was checking out the business. If 70% or more of website visitors only visit the landing page, that is an issue.  It could be slow loading times, irrelevant content, poor user experience, or unclear calls-to-action that prevent them from wanting to know more about IT Solutions. You can check the bounce rate on the Google Analytics page for the website in the left-hand sidebar, click on “Behavior” to expand the menu, then click on “Site Content,” and finally, click on “Landing Pages.” You’ll see a list of landing pages and their respective bounce rates.

2. Complex Navigation: It was hard to move around the website to find relevant information about IT services, and it was unclear who they were initiating contact with and for what purpose.

3. Unclear Calls-to-Action (CTAs): The website lacked clear and compelling CTAs guiding visitors toward requesting an appointment. Simply stating “click here for an appointment” is like asking for a meeting whenever or without establishing value. Here are 28 CTAs for free.

4. Lengthy Forms: The appointment forms were long, without qualifying information, and requested excessive information upfront, deterring potential leads from completing them.

Action Plan

1. Optimize Landing Pages:

   – Redo high-traffic landing pages with clear messaging and compelling CTAs.

   – Showcase IT Solutions’ services as benefits, making it easier for users to request appointments, thereby increasing user engagement and conversions.

2. Simplify Navigation:

   – Reorganize the menu and add more action-oriented links.

   – Provide additional options for users to access relevant information, such as “Get a free IT Solutions 15-point checkup NOW” and “Take this 5-question survey to diagnose your IT issues,” motivating them to book appointments.

3. Enhance CTAs:

   – Utilize concise and persuasive messaging throughout the website.

   – Encourage visitors to take action, whether requesting a free download about “5 things you can do to solve your IT issues on your own” or “get a free pizza for booking an appointment.”

4. Improve the Form Fill:

   – Add a further line about the number of employees who qualify for incoming leads.

   – Highlight the value of leads based on company size, prioritizing forms with higher potential impact.

Review landing pages, navigation, CTAs, and form experience to address website conversion issues. Don’t assume there isn’t enough traffic; focus on optimizing user engagement once visitors arrive on the site.

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‘NHL on TNT’ Gives Hockey Fans the ‘NBA on TNT’ Treatment

Watching Albert and Olczyk call a hockey game is like watching Picasso paint and da Vinci sculpt. They are masters of their respective crafts.

John Molori

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NHL on TNT studio

Let’s play a little word association, sports media style. If I say TNT, what is your response? Chances are it will be a three-letter abbreviation of your own, namely, NBA. Over the years, TNT has built a reputation as arguably the premiere network to telecast the National Basketball Association.

The NBA on TNT pregame and halftime shows have become the gold standard with stars like Ernie Johnson, Jr., Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley, and Shaquille O’Neal. Still, it’s not just this quartet of roundball royalty that has fortified TNT’s hoops coverage.

The rep was also built on tremendous play-by-play announcers like Bob Neal and Kevin Harlan, color analysts like Doug Collins and Reggie Miller, and courtside reporters like the late Craig Sager and current sideline star Allie LaForce.

Indeed, TNT and the NBA have become synonymous, but I have some news for you. This network is not just about professional basketball. This past week I went off the grid with TNT looking at their in-game and studio coverage of the NHL.

On March 24, the NHL on TNT provided coverage of the Pittsburgh Penguins at Colorado Avalanche matchup. Kenny Albert did play-by-play with Eddie Olczyk on color. Albert is not as noted as his legendary broadcasting father Marv Albert, but he has certainly staked his claim as one of the best in the business – able to cross over to multiple sports with equal aplomb.

Hockey is a strong suit for Albert. His rat-tat-tat, drama-building style draws viewers in and keeps us on the edge of our seats. Similarly, Olczyk is one of the top four or five NHL game analysts in the business. His style is understated, providing calm and clear analysis of key plays. They work really well together.

Albert eschews any kind of hackneyed and trite catch phrases for his goal calls. An emphatic, “He shoots and scores!” is plenty enough.

Hockey is a different beast when it comes to play-by-play. Unlike basketball, baseball, football, or even soccer and tennis, there is a minimum of breaks in the action. With hockey, a play-by-play announcer has to know the names of the players like he or she knows her kids’ names.

To me, it is the hardest sport for play-by-play and equally difficult for a color analyst. In basketball, after a team scores, the play-by-play announcer will keep silent and give the color analyst time to talk until the play crosses center court. In baseball and football, there is ample room for commentary.

Hockey does not offer such space, but Olczyk gets the most out of the minimal amount of time. Watching Albert and Olczyk call a hockey game is like watching Picasso paint and da Vinci sculpt. They are masters of their respective crafts.

Coming back from a break in the game, Albert and Olczyk provided on air commentary and then tossed to ice level reporter Brian Boucher who has grown into a tremendous asset to the TNT broadcasts. Boucher provided real talk about Colorado’s objectives of staying on top of their division and vying for the top seed in the Western Conference.

The Penguins, squarely in a rebuilding year having dumped talent at the NHL trade deadline, surprisingly jumped out to a 2–0 lead in this game, and the TNT between periods studio crew was all over it. The excellent Liam McHugh hosted alongside Colby Armstrong, Anson Carter, and Keith Yandle.

Armstrong was especially entertaining. With Pittsburgh outshooting the Avs 16-4, Armstrong noted that it’s the best he’s seen Pittsburgh play in a long time. His reasoning was that teams get geared up for playing Colorado even if it’s out of fear. Great stuff.

Both teams tallied two goals in the second period giving Pittsburgh a 4-2 lead heading into the final frame. When Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon set up Jonathan Drouin for a goal to make it 4-3, Albert and Olczyk showed their strengths.

Albert called the pass from MacKinnon and one-timer goal from Drouin, and immediately noted that MacKinnon now had a point in all 34 of Colorado’s home games this season. On the goal replay, Olczyk showed how the play developed pointing out how McKinnon allowed Pittsburgh’s Evgenii Malkin to come in close before making the past to Drouin.

The TNT production team then showed a graphic displaying that McKinnon is now second all-time in longest home points streaks trailing only Wayne Gretzky. This was a sublime sequence of symmetry between talent and technicians like a songwriter, musician, and singer creating beautiful music.

What was supposed to be a blowout win for Colorado had now become a hockey barn burner, and the TNT crew was up to the task. Every goal and key play was followed up with replays from multiple angles showing the genesis of the action.

TNT has certainly taken to the velocity of the hockey broadcast with movement that challenges directors, graphics professionals, and videographers.

When there were breaks in this non-stop action, Olczyk was at his best. No hockey analyst draws on his experience as a player and explains that experience better to viewers. The TNT broadcast also lets Boucher freewheel and join in the flow of discussion without having to be introduced.

TNT does not merely rely on the traditional wide shot of the entire rink. We see close-up shots of each goaltender after a great save and the sweat of players on the bench or in the penalty box.

When McKinnon tied the game at 4-4 with 4:38 left in the third period, we got a series of tremendous crowd shots showing the Colorado fans going absolutely berserk. The sage Albert and Olczyk wisely remained quiet for several seconds, letting the cheers do the talking.

When Drouin scored the game winner at 4:06 of overtime, Albert exercised controlled enthusiasm, raising his voice on the call of the goal, but not becoming the show and overshadowing the play itself. He is definitely in the mold of Dan Kelly, Gary Thorne, and Sean McDonough, announcers who enhance but do not supersede the game.

Putting a cherry on top of this hockey Sunday, TNT showed a graphic that the Avalanche now led the NHL in comeback wins this season with 25 and that they were riding a 9-game winning streak. In analyzing the goal, Olczyk opined that the altitude of playing in Colorado was prevalent as the Penguins seemed to tire as the game progressed – really interesting insight.

In the postgame show, Anson Carter made a great point that the chemistry between Drouin and MacKinnon stems from the fact that they have been playing together going back to junior hockey. McKinnon joined in from the arena for a postgame interview. The analysts asked solid questions and even did a funny MVP chant together as the interview ended.

The NHL on TNT takes no back seat to its elder NBA sister. The broadcast provides viewers with flash, dash, and serious hockey talk from every angle – in studio, from the broadcast booth, and on the ice.

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Kim Mulkey Now Has Everyone Anticipating Washington Post Story

I can’t imagine what headline, under normal circumstances, the Washington Post would have to put on a Kim Mulkey story to make me want to read it.

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photo of LSU women's college basketball coach Kim Mulkey
Credit: Dailymail.co.uk

The Washington Post, you might’ve heard, has a story coming out about controversial LSU women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey. The reason you might’ve heard is because Kim Mulkey told you. The Tigers coach read a fiery prepared statement just before her team started the Women’s NCAA Tournament. In the statement, Mulkey threatened to sue The Post for defamation before the first word was even published.

Now, I’ve never run a public relations firm but that did not seem like a good idea. The Washington Post story on Mulkey is one of the bigger stories in sports right now and nobody even knows what’s in it. The reason the story, apparently unflattering to Mulkey, is even on anyone’s radar screen is Mulkey herself.

It all started with an innocuous social media post by Sports Illustrated’s Pat Forde right in the middle of the most anticipated two days in sports, the NCAA Tournament Round of 64. On his X account, Forde posted: “Hearing some buzz about a big Washington Post story in the works on LSU women’s hoops coach Kim Mulkey, potentially next week. Wagons being circled, etc.”

You know what generally will go unnoticed at 4:00 on the first Friday of the NCAA Tournament? A post on X about a women’s basketball coach. But don’t tell Mulkey, she saw Forde’s post and decided to fight fire with nuclear weaponry. The result: the average person like me now is really interested in what has Mulkey so incensed. By “average person like me” I mean that I can’t imagine what headline, under normal circumstances, the Washington Post would have to put on a Kim Mulkey story to make me want to read it. Maybe:

“LSU Women’s Coach Discovers Ark of the Covenant”

Or:

“Mulkey Reveals True JFK Assassin(s)”

Perhaps:

“Famed Women’s Basketball Coach Reveals the Mystery Behind Slow Drivers in the Left Lane”

Literally any of those catch my attention more than whatever will likely be the Washington Post headline about Mulkey. But now Mulkey is “Mad as Hell and is not going to take this anymore” so I now have an interest I would never before have had in this story. It has been fascinating to watch the online speculation about the subject of the article and all we really know, as of now, is that it will be written by Kent Babb. This is a dream come true for Babb; he writes an article that is, presumably, not flattering about Kim Mulkey and, before it is even published, she gives the article the greatest commercial anyone could give it. Babb couldn’t have entered into a business agreement with Mulkey and had this turn out better for him.

For those who don’t follow Babb, he is a former NFL reporter who now is an award-winning writer for the Washington Post. In his 14 years with The Post, he has written sports features and authored a couple of books. One of those sports features stories was a deep dive into what he viewed as a large inequity in the level of pay for LSU head football coach Brian Kelly and his LSU players. It is this piece Mulkey described as a “hit piece” and, based on that piece, referred to Babb as a “sleazy reporter.” Babb, and many others, resented the fact his story was labeled as a hit piece. In fact, Babb essentially confirmed he was the author Mulkey was referencing when he shared the original article on X with the comment: “Hit piece?”

Whether a printed piece or a recorded interview, I can’t imagine a better promotion for it than the subject of the interview threatening a libel/slander lawsuit, especially before it is even released. That simply screams “This piece is salacious!!” Also, libel and slander suits get settled all the time, right? Of course they don’t, they seem to never even get filed. That little thing called discovery is a scary thing for most public figures.

The NCAA Tournament has been very entertaining, and I think the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight will be terrific. For only the fifth time ever, the top two seeds have advanced to the third round which sets up for a remarkable weekend. For me, I guess it will now include a Washington Post article, not a sentence I’d normally say.

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