I have read with interest the many viewpoints on the Dema incident but have made no comment as I still have not seen the tackle. MY point exactly!!!! MLS should have had this all over the news. First, we need to sell the product. No, I am not in favor of hacks, but it happens in every sport and it gets peoples interest. Let the incident itself educate people on soccer. Yes, get some decent commentors to analyse the tackle to death. Debate whether it was clean or a hack. This educates people. I have never played one down of American football but feel like I could get in the lockerroom with any coach after all this years of exposure. I am not a coach and don't pretend to be. My point is TV exposure has given me a pretty good idea about the game. MLS should have been all over this. Press conference at latest Sunday, for the Sunday evening news making this a big deal. Smooze it up. Then have the verdict at latest by Tuesday while there is still interest. Ban Dema and get full responce from he and his team. Pardon Dema and let the Burn get on stage and vent. Which ever way it goes you have great stuff for TV. Get player's opinions. Guess what, it gets their face on TV. People can now talk about players and debate what they said. Who the hell cares who is right as long as people are talking about soccer players. And please,this thread is about marketing, not whether or not it was a clean tackle. But so you'll know, if I was commish and it was a hack Dema is out till O'Brien returns.
In a twisted sort of way, I agree with you. ANY opportunity to use an opportunity to get additional press should be used. It sounds in poor taste in this example to focus on an unjury, but I see your point..
About the only thing missing from your scenario is the part where Chad Deering smacks Dema from behind with a folding chair or throws him into the Spanish announcers' table.
Re: Re: Has MLS missed a great marketing opportunity with Dema incident Just what we need: a televised public lynching. That would certainly draw national interest. Who's volunteering for the hangman role? Posters?
spanish broadcaster Not my point at all. Remember Jack Tatum and the frozen rope. NFL played it to the hilt, showed /educated everyone why it couldn't continue and that as rough as football is, that tatic was dangerous and not in the spirit of the sport. Again, without ever playing a down of football I came to better understand a clean hit from a back as opposed to a dirty hit. Now let me ask what one of the big attractions to this board is. I'll bet one of the attractions to everyone is controversy. The Dema incident is a great example, many different viewpoints. Now I am a soccer fan, but until this incident I couldn't give two hoots about Dema. But now I am interested. Is he as big a hack as everyone says? One way to find out, I'll make an effort to watch next game televised he is in. Even better, if I was in one of the team's areas, I'd go see him play. Of course, if he is a hack I hope I have to wait a while before I can see him. Now for all you purists, myself included, that go to a match for the thrill of geat skill, touches, well timed and executed tackles. Years of watching or playing has taught us to appreciate the good and detest the bad. We get frustarted when we finally get a nonsoccer friend to a game and the only thing we hear is, "now what is that offsides rule again." Here was a great opportunity through making a big deal of this event to show people the skill and timing of a good tackle.
What's covered in the press is decided by the press. If they think it's newsworthy, they'll cover it, if they don't, they won't. MLS can have all the press conferences they want-that doesn't mean that anyone will cover it.
Re: spanish broadcaster I don't think "Kovalenko curiousity" is going to increase ticket sales at all, except for possibly a few additional fans who come to boo the next time the Burn go to Southlake. Even that should be pretty moderate. It's pretty unseemly to try to exploit a season-ending injury. Stoichkov's tackle got the league some additional press, too, but I don't think it sold any tickets, and I'm almost certain it didn't bring in any lifelong fans.
NHL I believe they do. Seems there was an incident just a few years back that could parallel Dema. Got tons of news time, debating at first the intent, then after the intent was decided debating the punishment. The way it was done no one mentioned WWF or the NHL sacrifing a player for news. Just watch Sportscenter. If a player crosses the line it is shown repeatedly, then news of fine or suspension. To me NHL is a perfect argument for my side, have you not seen ads for games with players faces pushed up against the glass, hard checks, as well as great assists and goals.
news worthy Again my point. Espn is in bed with MLS. It is in their interest to promote interest so more people watch games. MLS marketing people should know the ropes of getting things in the news. Next point, I agree one event will not bring people out of the woodwork. But that is what marketing is about, constantly putting your product in the publics eye. This good news event makes it easier for the next.