Sense or Nonsense of Humor?

What was the big story stemming from media day at The Super Bowl, the most important sporting event of the year in the USA?

A wedding proposal to New England quarterback Tom Brady from a TV Azteca (Mexico) entertainment reporter, dressed in a wedding gown, no less.

That is not good.

The issue that I bring-up to the blogosphere today is whether the NFL public/media relations department should have stepped-in and denied access to the 'bad excuse' of a reporter, who was obviously calling attention to herself while having fun (a.k.a. making mockery) at an official media session. (Also, the outside chance that TV Azteca was doing a little outbound PR blitz of their own, as another branch of the station had a reporter dressed as "Carnac the Magnificent" in order to 'predict' the outcome of the big game.)

Now, everyone knows that the NFL media day has become a joke. It is a shame, as the average 'working' stiff of a reporter actually needs a half-hour to 45-minute period of decent access to be able to provide fans with some insight into the big game.

The NBA All-Star Game media session - held the Friday before the game - has turned into a similar circus, but at least it is a media session for an exhibition game. The media availability sessions around the NBA Finals remain large, but very professional and the game is the center of attention, not the media circus.

So, what's a PR guy to do?

I tend to think the TV Azteca folks took it a bit too far... make it, way too far.

"Okay Sherlock," you say? "What would you do about it?"

Well, the NFL has the hammer. They can deny future access or they could seek out a new TV partner in Mexico, possibly losing some revenue in the process, as TV Azteca is a major player and has been doing the NFL regular season and playoffs/Super Bowl since I can remember.

One thing is for sure, even though the reporter (I am choosing not to use her name) was acting in fun, I would politely inform her of the fact she is welcome to remain in Arizona at the media hotel, but she would no longer be in possession of a media credential, nor would her crew.

Maybe I would be called "No Fun League" names, branded as a "suit" without a sense of humor. But, I would take the heat with knowledge that the day-to-day NFL media need a professional working atmosphere and, as crazy as the Super Bowl media day has become, I would hope that taking a stand and getting the word out on a 'professional' atmosphere would be the result nearly everyone 'really' wants to see.

To that fact, we'll see what the fallout will be, if any? The NFL 'rep' is as strong as the "Teflon Don's." The media tend to let alot go, knowing it's not in their best interest to knock the league and its operation.

My view, in the end, is that the true fans enjoy insightful stories like NYT reporter Karen Crouse's cover story take-out on the Manning family in the 1-29-08 paper and I would put stock in the reporters who want to get quality time with the players, rather than with the "Ms. Look-at-Me's" who want to become the story themselves at the expense of their working colleagues.

So, tell me a little more about this game? How the coaches will address the match-ups, how the Giants will look to blitz Brady and limit the time he usually gets to throw? Don't tell me who is dating who and that a QBs girlfriend has any connection to the outcome of the game.

Thanks, Roger.