Michael Sam

Charlie Merry

Blog #6:  Gay NFL Prospect Makes History

Marketing

Prof. Popovich

 

            Football has long been considered to be the most brutal and macho sport in existence. The culture of an NFL locker room is no different. Players make crude jokes and off color humor is considered to be the norm. However, recent cases of bullying in the NFL have surfaced, creating a dark cloud over the NFL. Richie Incognito and Jonathan Martin, two players on the Miami Dolphins, have had legal issues with one another stemming from reports that Incognito bullied Martin. Text messages were released by Incognito’s agent, hoping to clear his client’s name. These texts were extremely homophobic and regularly made lewd comments regarding gay people. Michael Sam, an NFL prospect, recently came out as being gay.

 

            Gay people are stereotyped as being sensitive, unmanly, and genuinely soft. Michael Sam is six foot two, 262 pounds of pure muscle. Sam had an amazing career at the University of Missouri. Sam capped his senior season by winning the SEC conference’s defensive player of the year award. The SEC is widely regarded as the best conference in college football. While Sam might be gay, it clearly doesn’t affect what he does on a football field. There’s been a wide range of views on Sam coming out as gay.

 

            Most people are receiving Sam with open arms and laude his coming out as courageous and noble. When the Westboro Baptist Church went to boycott his reappearance on the University of Missouri’s campus, over 2,000 students showed up as well, blocking the WBC’s protest. Sam has also received many votes of confidence from his teammates and coaches, calling him a great person and teammate. However, there have also been some people who’ve said that Sam could create problems in the locker room. The NFL has never had an active gay player, which makes what Sam did historical.

 

            Saying Sam would be a distraction is somewhat preposterous. Sam’s University of Missouri teammates have already said that Sam was one of their favorite teammates. Some NFL players believe that it would be awkward to have him be in the same locker room as them. The NFL should make sure that it’s providing a safe environment for all kinds of workers. Saying “that’s just how it is” won’t work anymore. The league must make sacrifices to make everyone feel safe and comfortable where they work.

 

            Also, the NFL can’t say that Sam isn’t “NFL material.” The NFL has active players who have been convicted of dog fighting, manslaughter, DUI, domestic abuse, and murder. However, someone who’s gay is suddenly being questioned for his character? The overall mantra should be, if you can play, you can play. I’m sure that every general manager will have to consider Sam when the draft occurs in a month. Sam has proven himself on the football field, and hasn’t shown any questionable characteristics. I’m glad that Michael Sam let it be known who he truly is. Sam will surely break down some ancient and barbaric barriers in the NFL.

TJ Sochi

Charlie Merry
Blog #4
Olympic Hockey
Marketing
Prof. Popovich
2/15/14
Words: 528


Throughout my life my favorite sport has always been hockey. Growing up playing and watching the sport was a thrill and I made some of my favorite memories through hockey. Having a father that loves hockey as well as a pond in the backyard definitely helped my passion for hockey grow. I'm a huge fan of the Boston Bruins in the NHL. However, with Olympic hockey in full swing, team U.S.A has my full attention.


Olympic hockey is different than the NHL as the rink is bigger, and the stakes are different. Players aren't performing for a paycheck, but for national pride and bragging rights. These players grew up idolizing members of the national team and they know that the entire nation is watching. Players from different teams in the NHL suit up for the same team, their home country. It's always fun watching these teams assemble as some countries have the ability to create All Star teams. The heavy favorites at the Sochi games are Canada, U.S., Sweden, and Finland. Olympic hockey is when even the most casual fans pay attention to the game. The United States hasn't disappointed so far.


Coming off a silver medal at the Vancouver games, expectations are high for the U.S. squad. Every member of the United States team is an NHL player, solid players at that. The U.S. won their first game of the tournament against Slovakia. Slovakia is a solid team that came in 4th 4 years ago. Led by their goalie, Jaroslav Halak, and superstars Zdeno Chara and Marian Hossa, this game wouldn't be a cakewalk. However, the Americans made it look easy in their 7-1 rout of the Slovaks. However, things would prove to be much more difficult in their next game against Russia, the host country.


Vladimir Putin, Russia's prime minister, has made it known that hockey is the event he cares most about. Russia is a perennial powerhouse that boasts plenty of superstar talent. Led by superstars Alex Ovechkin, Pavel Datsyuk, Ilya Kovalchuk, and Evgeni Malkin, the Russians are loaded. The game was played this Saturday and it was an instant classic. Tied 2-2 late in the game, the Russians scored what appeared to be the game winner. However, the goal was called off much to the home crowd's dismay. Once overtime ended, the shootout commenced. T.J. Oshie, a questionable pick to make the roster, stole the show. Oshie scored 4 shootout goals, made possible by the different shootout rules in International competition. Oshie gained over 90,000 on Twitter and became a household name overnight.


This is why I love Olympic hockey so much. These games showcase hockey to a much broader audience and show people what they're missing out on. The Olympics definitely create more fans of the game and increases the amount of kids who want to play hockey. Furthermore, these players truly care about the outcome of the game. Their passion for hockey shines through and it shows how much they really love the game. Olympic Hockey is a great spectacle and is something that's great for the sport as a whole.

Sochi Olympics

Charlie Merry
Blog #4: Sochi Olympics
Marketing
Prof. Popovich


After a long four year wait, the Winter Olympics are yet again upon us. Hundreds of countries will converge in Sochi, Russia to compete in the 2014 Winter Olympics. The Olympics are a special time for a number of different reasons. Countries forget their differences for a brief time period and are united through sport. These games are as much about celebrating each other as they are about winning and competition. Russia certainly has a lot on the line as they prepare to host the world in what is, the most expensive Olympics in history. The Olympics have also become a large stage for marketers to exploit.


Numerous blue-chip companies sponsor the games or athletes who receive plenty of coverage throughout the spectacle. For example, Coca-Cola ad's are constantly running in between events and make it a point to announce their support of the Olympics. Furthermore, companies have their advertisements strewn throughout Sochi for all of the fans and athletes to see. Companies want to be associated with the Olympics and all that they represent. Companies truly have an international audience when they're marketing to the Olympics. Also, companies who sponsor athletes have certain advantages. For example, Shaun White is sponsored by the snowboard company Burton. Shaun White is one of the most covered athletes at the Olympics, and he's almost always dressed in Burton gear. Burton is receiving exposure through White, and kids will want to buy their products based on White's performances.


While these games certainly are important for marketers, they're also a first-rate spectacle. These games only occur once every four years, the world takes notice whenever they come around. When else will you be able to watch curling or cross-country skiing? Elite athletes from all around the world are shown to us for the first time. The Jamaican bobsled team made their much anticipated return to the Olympics as the try to replicate the success of the team in the movie, "Cool Runnings." Viewers enjoy watching these countries compete in sports that are usually not televised. National pride spikes considerably during the games. People want their country to succeed on this huge stage. Despite all of the positives that come with the Olympics, there has been a dark cloud surrounding these games in particular.


Athletes are complaining about their living arrangements and it's clear that construction wasn't fully completed. Photos have surfaced of hallways with hundreds of dangling wires, live wires have even been found in showers. Since the beginning of the games, over 27,000 tweets have been sent with the hashtag, #SochiProblems. Some hotels have even urged their guests to avoid using the water because it "contains something very dangerous." Reporters have sent out pictures of this water, which is almost completely yellow and definitely looks quite dangerous. The bathrooms have also received extensive coverage for their inadequacies. Hilarious photos have surfaced of bathrooms with two toilets next to each other with no separation, and of signs asking people to dispose of their toilet paper in a bucket. Despite these problems, the Sochi Olympics are underway and promise to be another memorable games.

Superbowl Commercials

Charlie Merry
Prof. Popovich
Blog 3: Super Bowl
Marketing
Words: 655




Another year means another much anticipated Super Bowl. The Super Bowl is without question the most anticipated sporting event of the year in the United States. Over 100 million households tuned in to watch the Denver Broncos battle the Seattle Seahawks for NFL supremacy. The Super Bowl is appealing even to non-football fans due to the popularity of the commercials. This game could also be viewed as a Super Bowl for marketers and the companies whom they promote. Companies prepare all year to make commercials that will be positively received. Making a dud commercial is an extremely costly mistake, a 30 second slot of time will set you back $4 million dollars. However, the sheer size of the viewing audience makes this an investment that could certainly pay off in a big way.


People will talk about their favorite commercials as much as they'll talk about the game in the next few days.


 Companies try to make witty commercials that will utilize the four p's of marketing: product, place, price, and promotion. Product involves where and when can you get across your marketing messages to your target market? Consumers want to know how your product will meet their specific needs. For example, Volkswagen had a terrific ad this year that was both funny and effective. The setting involved a father and daughter taking a drive together, the daughter then suggests that whenever a Volkswagen reaches 100,000 miles, a German engineer gets his wings. German engineers are then shown spontaneously sprouting wings while producing the new edition of Volkswagen's car. This commercial is likely targeted to adult couples who value longevity and quality products. The commercial was funny, and also got across their central message. People watched the ad because it was funny and original, but people will buy their cars because of their image as a quality vehicle.




Place involves where consumers will look for and ultimately, buy your product. Chobani, the yogurt company, had an excellent spot that involves place. Customers are strolling through a general store, and are then shown running outside the store in terror when they spot a bear roaming the aisles. The bear proceeds to destroy almost everything in the store until he finds what he's looking for. Once the bear finds the chobani yogurt, he approaches the counter, apparently trying to purchase the yogurt. This ad shows the consumer where you can buy chobani, while also being a commercial worth remembering and talking about. Furthermore, the ad emphasized how their ingredients are all natural (perhaps why the wild animal wanted it). Chobani showed the consumers where to purchase their product, while also showing their environmental sustainability.


Price involves the amount that consumers must pay to purchase your product. Increasingly, companies are trying to make affordability a focal point of their product. Smart car had a terrific ad that showed the affordability of their product. The ad showcased that their car is made for urban environments and obviously, receives terrific gas mileage. Smart cars are good on gas, and you can get one for payments of $139 a month. Smart car sold to their demographic, while showcasing the low cost of owning a smart car.


Promotion involves communicating the benefits of your product to the consumers. Obviously, the marketers of these companies chose TV commercials during the Super Bowl to promote their products. Marketers prepare all year for the Super Bowl, as almost the entire country is watching the spectacle. Creating a successful ad can pay large dividends for your company. Super Bowl commercials are a topic of discussion, however, it's usually only the really solid commercials that are talked about the next day. Overall, I didn't think the Super Bowl commercials this year were that good. Despite this, that didn't mean I didn't watch them and I will remember the companies who made the rare winner commercial this year.