Digital Marketing Trending in Sports

Marketing has reached a whole new level in the world today-- especially in the world of sports.  Sponsorships used to be a major source when it came to marketing a big company.  For instance, NIKE would sponsor popular, big name athletes to get their brand advertised across the country.  But they are actually changing the way they market and advertise their brand.  Marketing with new digital technology is a new direction that not only NIKE will go in, but a lot of other areas of the sports world as well.

For example, in an article I found called, "Nike's New Marketing Mojo".  It discusses the new program that NIKE created in 2010 and the new direction they want to go in as far as marketing in concerned.  They discuss the new technologies their team is creating, such as The Fuelband, which is a wristband that tracks energy output.  They want to make it known that they aren’t about just creating new gadgets but gadgets that will help bring an online, social community together in hopes of earning their trust well enough to keep bringing business back to them.  Creating partnerships with other brands is a huge way of creating a community.

An important part of digital marketing in sports is fan interaction.  Fans love being involved, and it’s easier to do this more today than ever.  Companies and brands are taking advantage of this marketing tool.  For instance, Doritos held a contest for fans to make their own commercial.  The winner would be able to have their video air during the Super Bowl.  This contest got the word out about Doritos as well as had the fans interact during one of the biggest games of the year.  They placed the rules on Facebook and still have the winners posted there today.  You can view the videos on their page at:  http://www.superbowl-commercials.org/15486.html.

These are just a few ways that digital marketing is taking over.  Not only is it more cost effective, but it is becoming more effective today.  Everyone is on the internet, has a smartphone or tablet, so it only makes sense to move in this direction when it comes to promoting and selling your business and brand.

Good Sportsmanship Is Still Alive

The news is usually filled with bad news.  I mean, kids can’t even go to a junior high or high school sporting event without a fight breaking out or something bad happening.  So, when I hear an inspiring story that happened during a middle school basketball game, I get goose bumps and find myself smiling.

It was the last home game for Van Hoosen’s boy’s basketball team and it was important to let one player play.  That player’s name is Owen Groesser.  Groesser was unable to play because he has down syndrome so the coach hired him as the team’s manager instead.  Not only did Groesser help the coach with his duties but also practiced with the team everyday.  On the night of the last game, the coach talked with the coach of the opposing team and told him he wanted to let Groesser play.  They both agreed and in the last two minutes of the game, Groesser was able to come into the game. 

Oh, but that’s not even the best part of the story.  The players were all set-up so that Groesser was able to get the ball and shoot it.  The team called this play, “The Owen.”  Little did they know that Groesser would get the ball, take a step, shoot a 3-pointer and sink it in the basket!  The crowd went wild!  Not only did he do this once, but twice in the last two minutes of the game!  

As in any other game, it was caught on camera.  Groesser’s team, family and friends all thought that he deserved to be recognized.  Instead of just posting his video on YouTube, they started a campaign on Twitter called, #GetOwenOnSportsCenter.  Of course, ESPN saw it and had to air it.  It was a huge success and his highlights were shown on ESPN’s “SportsCenter’s” Top-10 highlights on January 23, 2013. 

It’s finally nice to see inspirational news!  It’s important to show that with hard work and dedication, you can do anything!  The last thing I want to point out is that this team showed the definition of good sportsmanship.  Not only with Groesser’s team and coach, but with the opposing team and coach.  I love seeing the younger generation still has it in them to do kind acts for other people.  Even if that means “giving” 6 points to the opposing team in order to let a player with a disability play his last game. 

This blog has nothing to do with professional or college sports, but sometimes those stories aren’t the most important ones at the end of the day.  This one has a good lesson to learn from it and I thought I’d share my views on it.  Just in case you haven’t seen the video of the game, I’ve posted that link below as well as the link of Groesser and his father on ESPN for a live interview.  I hope you enjoy!

Owen Is In The Game
ESPN Interview

Team Teo: Manti is Innocent

For anyone that knows me personally, they know I’m a HUGE Notre Dame fan.  I was blessed to be a fan of such an amazing team this year (2012), because, as most of us know, it’s been a long time since they’ve had a winning season.  Manti Teo and the rest of the front seven defensive players were a huge part in the success of the team this year.  Teo did so well this season that he was one of the top NFL drafts picks and even the runner up for the Heisman Trophy.  It’s not every year you see a defensive player up for the Heisman.  He also won numerous awards during the year because of his proven leadership and his athletic ability.  So, my question is, why is the media making him out to be such a bad person because of a “catfishing” hoax? 

            Okay, no one is perfect, especially people in the media.  Manti Teo fell in love with a girl he’s never met.  And?  What’s the big deal?  He’s not perfect either.  He isn’t the one that ran story after story about himself on every station after the death of his loved ones.  He isn’t the one that brought the story up after every victory they had.  The media did it.  And now since this hoax came about, the media is making him become the bad person by reporting news without having the facts.  I mean, why not throw away everything he did for the team this year.  Also, let’s forget all the charity work he did too.  The “REAL” news is Manti Teo could possibly be a liar.  Oh no!  Not that!  I understand that scandal sells, but come on.  Catfishing happens everyday.  There was a documentary made about a real-life situation as well as a show on MTV that follows real-life people that do this all the time.  In case anyone is wondering, catfishing is where someone makes up a fake social media page and pretends to be someone they are not for months and even years.  Since he is a well-known individual, he was an easy target.

            I was finally happy when Teo sat down for an interview and explained everything.  You can find this interview HERE.  To me, everything made sense.  I felt like he was too embarrassed to admit he was dating someone he never met, especially since he is well known.  Even though Internet dating is so popular today, I could see how it would look bad for such a well-known athlete.  Athletes are known to have ladies throw themselves at them so there really isn’t a need for him to date online and especially someone he’s never met.  In his defense, he is a man of faith and he probably thought he found a woman that was on his same level. 

            My point is that no one is perfect.  Even though the media wants to make Teo out as a bad person now because of how they portrayed him as being a “perfect” man before, he is still a good guy.  Well, at least in my eyes he is.  Maybe he did lead people to believe he met this girl, but honestly, why is that anyone’s business anyways.  I think it’s time to let this go in the news because, after all, he still did lose someone he loved, his grandmother.  This was a hoax done by friends of his family that just went too far.  People will think what they want regardless, so there is no point in pressing the issue and trying to get facts.  Enough is enough.