As a public relations agency located in the Boston area, I could not help but weigh in on the media circus surrounding A-Rod’s appearance here this past weekend, and the overall, unfortunate PR mess surrounding the sport of baseball. We are a far cry from from the simpler times of, “buy me some peanuts and cracker jack.” One could argue that Ryan Dempster hitting A-Rod was a bit of vigilante justice, regardless of whether you like A-Rod or not. It certainly created a PR conundrum for Boston Red Sox management that, perhaps, should be more worried about winning games, especially in light of the team’s precarious hold on the lead in their division.
One might also question the manner in which Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig is handling the whole suspension issue – is anyone thinking about the future of the sport and its heritage as a cherished American past time? Don’t think so. (more…)