12.13.2008

MWPRINCight: ESPN - New York Giants receiver Plaxico Burress attends homeless fundraiser

Crisis Management 101: The first step in fixing public perception is do something that positively impacts the public. This is what Plaxico attempted to do in attending Kevin Powell's fundraiser the other night. I don't disagree with the strategy, but I wonder if it did any good other than giving Powell's event some otherwise absent media attention. It might help him get some points with the judge and that will be good. I don't believe he will do anyone any good going to jail. Shooting himself is probably all the punishment he needed and possibly loosing out on some hefty pay. I just PRAY...this is the final wake up call he needs to get it together. Unfortunately, I think he may have stayed asleep a minute too long. We shall see.

Burress attends fundraiser for homeless at New York club
Associated Press

Giants receiver Plaxico Burress attended a charity fundraiser for the homeless at a New York City nightclub two weeks after accidentally shooting himself in the right thigh.
Burress arrived at Kevin Powell's 8th Annual Holiday Party and Clothing Drive at the Madison nightclub around 8:45 p.m. on Friday with his wife, Tiffany, and son, Elijah.

The suspended Super Bowl hero refused to discuss the Nov. 29 shooting at the Latin Quarter nightclub that led to criminal possession of a weapon charges and his suspension for the rest of the regular season and the playoffs for conduct detrimental to the team.

"I'm just here to support this event, it's a great event, and I thought it'd be a great chance to get my wife out, and my son out, and support such a great event where it helps kids, homeless kids," Burress said in a transcript provided by WNBC-TV of New York City. "This is a wonderful thing for us to come out and be able to help people and we can lend a helping hand. I have a child, I have a son, I couldn't imagine him being in that situation, so that's why I brought him also."

Burress talked about the event when asked if he was remorseful in the wake of the shooting or was thinking about his teammates.

Benjamin Brafman, Burress' attorney, did not immediately return a telephone call by The Associated Press seeking comment on his client's appearance, which is believed to be his first since being arraigned on illegal gun possession charges on Dec. 1.

Burress shot himself at the Latin Quarter when he accidentally pulled the trigger on the .40-caliber Glock that was in his pants after fumbling a drink.

Teammate Antonio Pierce took the 31-year-old who caught the game-winning pass in the Super Bowl to New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center for treatment.

The hospital suspended the doctor who treated Burress for failing to report the shooting to police.

Pierce, the Giants middle linebacker, also was questioned by police a week after the shooting for failing to report the incident, and his decision to bring the gun back to New Jersey after leaving the hospital.

Police say Pierce gave the gun to Burress' wife after returning home.

Burress pleaded not guilty and was released on $100,000 bail. He is due back in court March 31.
Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

ESPN - New York Giants receiver Plaxico Burress attends homeless fundraiser

12.11.2008

Magic Johnson has magic touch in business, too - USATODAY.com


Magic Johnson is the poster child for what Off-The-Field Branding: Professional and Personal Management, LLC, a subsidiary of MWPR, Inc. looks to do to help more athletes create success off the court/field.


By Matt Krantz,
USA TODAY

BEVERLY HILLS — Almost nobody would question Earvin Johnson's skill on the basketball court. But in his second career as an entrepreneur, there were doubters from the start.

Johnson, best known by his nickname "Magic," remains one of the best players to ever don the gold and purple Los Angeles Lakers uniform. Johnson was the star point guard and a key to the Lakers' domination in the 1980s, helping to hand the team five NBA championships. An oversize copy of his No. 32 jersey hangs above the Lakers' home court.

But despite his towering 6-foot-9-inch stature and vise-grip handshake, at first glance, Johnson didn't seem like such a natural in the boardroom.

Executives he pitched on a business idea developed when still a player — opening high-quality movie theaters and restaurants in inner-city neighborhoods — often didn't see what he saw. Instead, "they saw me as just a basketball player," he says from inside his modestly decorated offices in Beverly Hills.
In his recently released book, 32 Ways to be a Champion in Business, Johnson wrote that executives would "hand me a basketball and ask for an autograph, but they did not want to hear my pitch for investing in neighborhoods populated by blacks."

Johnson, 49, isn't your typical buttoned-up executive. He sits comfortably reclined in his chair, speaks casually, and freely flashes his trademark smile. Retired from basketball following his stunning 1991 announcement that he had contracted HIV, Johnson has focused on succeeding in a business world where many former athletes have failed.

But Johnson says he had a dream and a concrete plan. While traversing the urban hearts of cities in team buses to basketball games, he saw boarded-up businesses and a lack of retail outlets. He told himself he'd help revive some of those neighborhoods when he could, he says.

And that's the magic of Magic. While other executives steered clear of urban areas, Johnson saw opportunity. His business plan, his overtime performance after basketball, was to bring established retail brands to the inner cities by tailoring them to the residents.

From experience comes business
It's that niche that has morphed Magic Johnson from a name on the back of a basketball jersey into a brand in its own right. Magic Johnson Enterprises is a private company that owns or helps operate companies ranging from more than a dozen 24 Hour Fitness centers, more than 100 Starbucks locations, food service companies, a T.G.I. Friday's in Los Angeles and other businesses across the country. The company also has a private investment arm, with $1 billion in cash, which Johnson says will help the company expand, especially now that real estate can be bought at low prices.

It's just as Johnson saw it. The inner-city market was a big opportunity for someone with the knowledge to go after it, he says. "I knew that because I lived it. I just turned it into a business."

It's hard to summarize the swath of Johnson's businesses, as they range from food service to job placement and coffee. But the common theme of most is the marriage of his name alongside another well-known brand. Together, Johnson and another company enter urban markets that some have long avoided.

The Magic touch is taking chains with a familiar formula that plays well in the suburbs, and tailoring them so they fit the customers and tastes of the inner city. Rather than having to drive to the suburbs, residents can stay put and frequent Johnson's local twist on a national chain. Completing the circle, Magic Johnson Foundation, Johnson's philanthropic arm, invests in the community by building computer centers and other social services, helping to build goodwill with the residents.

Johnson is scarce on the details on precisely what the things are that he does to make his version of chains different that those in the suburbs, or in his words, "Magicize" it.

But he uses an example to describe how the first Starbucks he opened in Los Angeles is different than others in the sprawling chain. Johnson noticed many regular customers at the Starbucks gathered to play chess. It was a scene reminiscent of the casual chess tournaments that take place in inner-city parks.

So Johnson bent the corporate rules to make the chess players more welcome. After getting approval from Starbucks, he installed several picnic tables outside that not only captured the vibe of the chess tournaments but also let the local residents know they were welcome. Now, the Starbucks draws a loyal following of chess players, who lure friends and other chess players, he says.

Burger King restaurants that Johnson owns are also a little different. Customers hear Magic Johnson's voice on the loudspeaker in the drive-through, instead of a canned anonymous voice.

In plain sight
The fact the inner cities could support mainstream brands may seem evident now, but it was practically revolutionary when Johnson started. Getting investors in the early days of the business was challenging, especially following the riots that tore up Los Angeles following the 1992 Rodney King trial, he says.

Despite the success of his movie theater in Los Angeles, Johnson knew he needed more money to expand to other businesses.

His advisers in 1995 suggested approaching California's massive public pension fund, the California Public Employees' Retirement System (Calpers), for $150 million to develop his first non-theater business, what would be his first Starbucks and T.G.I .Friday's near Los Angeles' South Central neighborhood. He didn't quite get the answer he wanted, though.

Officials at Calpers wanted to know why, if his idea was such a good one, no one else was doing it. That stumped Johnson. "I couldn't answer the question," he says. He'd wondered himself why even the largest U.S. companies were avoiding big potential profits to be made serving urban markets filled with consumers ready to spend but with nowhere to go.

Proof of vision
Eventually, Calpers got on board with $50 million to start. That money helped Johnson finance his dream and show that the concept could work. Another $100 million from Calpers followed shortly after. Johnson's business "has proven to be a successful model," says Calpers spokeswoman Pat Macht.
Johnson is also quick to see opportunities. After several companies called asking for help on ways to tap the inner-city market, he created a consulting and licensing business.

Best Buy, for instance, in February 2008 turned to Johnson for help on operating stores that appeal more to the urban market. "We believe our relationship with Magic Johnson Enterprises will help us learn and apply fresh perspectives, which can strengthen our business and the communities where we have stores — it makes good business sense," the consumer electronics retailer's spokeswoman Dawn Bryant said in an e-mailed response.

Despite the challenging economy, Johnson says some of the best opportunities are ahead. Magic Johnson Enterprises' capital management business, for instance, raised, but didn't deploy, $1 billion last year. "Cash is king," he says, adding that he's constantly approached by real estate investors looking to sell choice properties. Downtown areas are especially ripe for investment, he says.

That's not to say it's nothing but net for Johnson, the businessman. Foot traffic is falling at his Starbucks stores as many consumers, not just in urban markets, cut back, he says. Consumers are seeing Starbucks "as a luxury. (Consumers) may only go once a week or not at all," he says. Starbucks warned on Dec. 4 that sales at stores open a year or more have fallen 9% in the U.S. so far in the quarter started in late September.

Johnson, though, has faced difficulty before, and that hasn't stopped him. Starbucks just needs to reconnect with what it does best, he says, and stop "trying to be everything to everybody."
That's really his key advice to entrepreneurs, and something he follows himself. Pick a niche, something you can be good at, and don't stray. "You need to play to your strengths," he says. "My strength is urban America."

Magic Johnson has magic touch in business, too - USATODAY.com

12.08.2008

The Playbook: Our Argument

Thanks to CNN/SI Vault the argument for why an initative like The Playbook is needed continues to be strengthened. This is a sad state of affairs for the sports industry as a whole. See for yourself.

http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/gallery/featured/GAL1149498/1/index.htm?bcnn=yes

12.05.2008

MWPR Client News

MWPR Client News Report:
Check out Keion Carpenter this Sunday, December 7th at 10:55AM on BET's Bring That Week Back (BET.com/onblast) where he shares his opinions on the Plaxico Burress and OJ Simpson situations.





Athlete Chat:Ex-NFL player Keion Carpenter

by Reeve Cononi

Baltimore is a city full of talent, birthing the careers of high-caliber athletes like Carmelo Anthony, Sam Cassell, and Antonio Freeman. Even while Baltimore has produced several premier professional athletes, the city does not always have the proper resources for student-athletes to receive the necessary exposure to move on past the high school level. Baltimore native and recently retired NFL safety Keion Carpenter looks to bring change to the face of Baltimore and create a doorway for its youth to build successful athletic careers.





At Woodlawn Senior High School, Keion competed as a three-sport athlete in track, basketball, and football. To reach the next level, Keion found recognition early from playing AAU basketball and built a reputation with coaches because of his athleticism. However, it was Keion’s talent in football that began to stand out, and by his junior year, he was a Blue Chip high school All-American and a top-100 player.



After high school, Keion played football for Virginia Tech. He graduated with a Bachelors degree in Residential Property Management and was the school's all-time leading punt blocker. In 1999, Keion signed with the Buffalo Bills as a rookie free agent. Keion had a breakout season in 2000, intercepting five passes for sixty-three yards. In 2002, Keion signed with the Atlanta Falcons and intercepted four passes, returning one for a touchdown.

In 2005, Keion started his own foundation —The Carpenter House, Inc. ("TCH") — before officially retiring in 2007 after an eight-year career in the NFL.







After his retirement, Keion Carpenter became a “man on a mission” with his primary focus on his foundation. Through his foundation, Keion seeks to create opportunities for underprivileged families to become homeowners in the inner-city Baltimore area.

The name Carpenter House represents much more than just a family identity, it represents the lessons and teachings that his grandparents have passed down to him and the rest of the family. The main objective of The Carpenter House is to educate, plan, and prepare people for the future by giving them the necessary means to succeed. The foundation wants to empower individuals by helping them find a job, relieve debt, and manage their credit. What sets The Carpenter House apart from other organizations is that they don’t just give out money, they show people how to keep their house and maintain a stable standard of living.

Keion believes he has the blueprint to teach and encourage anyone who is willing to help themselves.

In keeping with The Carpenter House mission, Keion develops housing for the underprivileged and he expects to have his first home completed by Christmas 2008. However he explained, that even though it doesn’t require much effort to help someone in need, he cannot do it alone.

"Thirty minutes of volunteer work can mean so much to someone who has nothing at all." With a united effort, he hopes to have 50 to 100 homes developed within the next five years. Eventually, Keion would like to have entire blocks and communities developed as a result of his efforts. Keion wants The Carpenter House to become the model for other cities and communities in need of positive change.

It was a dream of Keion’s to take care of his family and to give back to the city of Baltimore. He knows that Baltimore has some of the best athletes in the country, but they are too often overlooked due to poor grades. Keion could not stress enough how important education is and how it became the deciding factor for his future. He wants to make sure younger kids also understand that with the proper focus on education, along with athletic talent, they can open doors to many opportunities.

To spread the message, Keion and his close friend Jerrell Wilson started the For My Kids program. For My Kids mentors and tutors student-athletes to assist them in successfully reaching the next level in life. He wants kids to be students first and athletes second. He believes kids should start taking the SAT's in ninth grade instead of waiting until the 11th grade. This way, they are more prepared to take it during their senior year and will hopefully score higher.
“The bottom line is that colleges have millions of dollars to offer in scholarships. If the kids can do what they are supposed to scholastically, then the good athletes should be all set,” Carpenter said. He also issues this challenge to the students, “If I could do it without help, then you have no excuse not to try your best!”

Carpenter is an excellent role-model not only for inner-city kids aspiring to be professional athletes, but also for other professional athletes looking to make a difference in people's lives. When Keion retired from the NFL, he made a decision to give back to the community where it all started.

Keion Carpenter is clearly making an effort to change Baltimore for the better. However, he cannot do it alone! He needs, and Baltimore needs everyone's help. All you need is compassion, some spare time, and the willingness to do some manual labor. All it takes is one weekend to change someone’s life! If you are looking to get involved as a volunteer, visit The Carpenter House, Inc.'s official website and contact Benkta Robinson at (410) 790-1367.


On behalf of AccessAthletes, we would like to thank Keion for taking time out of busy schedule to do an interview with The Real Athlete Blog. Reeve Cononi can be contacted at reeve@accessathletes.com.

http://www.accessathletes.com/blog/

ESPN - O.J. Simpson sentenced to prison for Las Vegas robbery

The Playbook Commentary:

A sad ending to a former sports great. And, so avoidable. OJ's life, legacy and eventual loss, should be used as a case study for ALL student-athletes who aim to play professional sports. As quickly as it is given, it can be taken. Be good stewards over the blessings, try to not to abuse or take advantage of the advantages you are granted. Learn from others mistakes, don't make the same ones. Future professional athletes need to strive to do better than the ones that came before them. There are enough examples of good players going wrong, for whatever the reason.....stop the negative cycle. Create a new trend.

ESPN - O.J. Simpson sentenced to prison for Las Vegas robbery

12.04.2008

MWPR News

MWPR │News!

Interview with a Sports Professional: Monica Woodby Janelle Finley
AccessAthletes.com

Find full interview at http://www.accessathletes.com/blog/blogdisplay.cfm?blogid=170

12.03.2008

ESPN - New York Giants suspend Plaxico Burress four games after charges

This is just ugly. It is sad. But, it's unfortunately becoming the norm. The facts haven't really changed since the news broke Saturday. However, this situation just continues to have legs and voice. It's a broken record that keeps sounding off prodominently within the NFL. And, now, I am sounding like a broken record....what is the NFL going to do in putting in place a process for long-term practice in order to begin to lessen these blows with other players as they enter in the league? But, let me stop there...I vowed to follow this story through, but probably will not provide too much more commentary. Because there is nothing new to say or suggest.

Just read for yourself....

ESPN - New York Giants suspend Plaxico Burress four games after charges

http://news.google.com/nwshp?tab=wn&ned=us&ncl=1277242740&hl=en&topic=s

12.01.2008

ToTheCenter - News: Michael Vick the scapegoat of an unequal system

MWPRINCight:

Amen and amen! This sums up this whole situation and where we still are in society pertaining to race and economic relations. It is still a broken system, regardless of who is in the White House. And, until we call it out and deal with it boldly and completely, it will remain broke.

Link to Opinion Piece: ToTheCenter - News: Michael Vick the scapegoat of an unequal system

Earlier this week on Tuesday, the fallen superstar Michael Vick appeared in court for a hearing, to determine the manner of his 23-month sentence that he has been serving in Leavenworth, Kansas, since August 2007. A U.S. federal district court had found him guilty of controlling a dog fighting ring at the home he owned in Surry County, Virginia. This most recent court appearance was to deal with the severity of his crimes, by measuring the remorsefulness of the individual. The subsequent charges were dropped after the judge showed sympathy to Vick’s desperate plea.

He is now scheduled for release on July 20, 2009, as that is when the 23 month sentence would have been completed. Pardoned of all remaining charges, he may be able to serve the remaining amount of his charges in a half-way house, since the jail-term has been suspended.Vick the former quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons, who draw massive crowds for the NFL franchise, is no doubt sorry. He has lost, what was, the most lucrative contract in the history of the NFL, valued at 130 million dollars. He was in the top 10 biggest earners among American athletes. Now he has been made insolvent, with his contract cancelled, since the NFL commissioner suspended him indefinitely from the Association. Now earning less than a dollar a day in prison, paying for the considerable expenses for relatives, he has also lost his hefty endorsements, while his current investments have flopped. The No. 1 draft pick in 2001, Vick was a player with bags of talent, and sometimes known as a one-man team, giving the city of Atlanta hope that their team could one day win a Superbowl. The quarterback who ran as much as he passed, was a rarity, he scored more touchdowns than any other quarterback in the league, making him the most entertaining player to watch.

However that was then, and this is now, everything has effectively dissolved for this once-upon-a time success. His material positions are being gobbled up, as his assets were estimated at twelve million dollars but he has now wracked up twenty million worth of liabilities, due to legal expenses and mismanagement of his finances. He is bankrupt, when he finally gets his freedom, he will be in heavy debt – with three kids and some family like his brother and mother who have never made much. The NFL will be the only possible vocation for him to rid himself and his family of their current troublesome situation. It was the NFL that gave him hope and a shot at being something, it was that institution that took it way. Yes, of course, the dog-fighting was the essential reason for his fall from grace, but that grace was only made possible by the NFL, and how easily it could be taken away from him. Going from one extreme to the next, two stories that are all to familiar in American culture, obtaining infinite fortune and then losing the fortune that was proven to be not so infinite. Vick was the role model for many young African-American athletes, and if he can successfully comeback will attain more admirers. Since his upbringing is all to indicative of the African-American populace: growing up in the projects where drug-dealing and violence is common in everyday life; born to a teenage unmarried couple, of whom the father left leaving the mother to bring up the kids while working two jobs. This is unfortunately all too common in America. For Vick like so many of his famed African-American contemporaries, the only way out was being an entertainer, whether it being a sportsman or an artist – not many lawyers and doctors are made from the upbringing these people receive. And when the small minority who do make it, it comes thick and fast, and near impossible to control the speed of progression from having nothing to everything. Yet is it everything, or just regressive? We’ve seen the results with two famous African American icons, Michael Jackson and O.J. Simpson, they are discouraging examples, but real examples.

Jay Z is a more positive example, he’s kept a cool head on his shoulders, and has become a brilliant entrepreneur in hospitality, fashion and of course music. Except he was a drug-dealer on the streets of New York and this gave him opportunities for him to make contacts in the ‘Rap-game’. He well could have never been here due to his battling lifestyle, however he had no other choice this was the nature of the rough streets he was born into. An even more radical instance is the true story of a real hustler 50 Cent, who was shot multiple times before his first record signing opportunity, but somehow got a second chance and subsequently has made it to the top. That second chance is what Vick will be praying on, at 28 he doesn’t have long left, as a professional footballer he is approaching the latter years of his prime. Especially due to his game, he isn’t a solid distributor like Brett Favre was who had a marathon of a career due to his style. Vick’s style is all about athleticism, and one’s speed decreases as one ages, something that hardly affected Favre, as athleticism was never his strong suit.In saying all that, this is just a microcosm, one magnified example of another African American’s descent. It is not the behaviour of these people that is to blame, but the environment they are constructed in. Environment is heavily assisted in how people are made up, and my point is African Americans aren’t privileged to the greatest situations. Nevertheless it is more complex than simply the economic status they are afforded and then addicted with ridding, but the socio-political bias they are subjected to. It is commonly known that the white man controls the Western world, all the corporations, governments, and influential media, are at the will of the white man. And their hold on the world means societies are structured by their viewpoint on how things are to run. So even-though Jay Z has made it to the tune of his own drum, creating an empire for himself, this is minute in comparison to the fact he is still controlled to an extent. Since the music label he founded ‘Roc-A-Fella’ is owned by Universal Music Group, this company makes up about a quarter of music in the popular market. Hopefully now with an African American leading the country we can see more equal footing, but the president of the United States is actually quite small in retrospect, since corporations hold so much sway over governments. My point is the bias does not go both ways, there are double standards. There are countless cases of how white bankers have been made rich off other people’s credit crises’, of how white lawyers have manipulated laws to allow corporations continue doing unlawful dealing, and of how white politicians have used tax funds for their own purposes. And among these countless cases they have got off scotch free and even applauded in some realms of society.

In any case sure what Michael Vick did was wrong, and the animal right groups have every reason to be angry and berate this individual. His behaviour was shocking and nothing to be proud of, but by condoning him they are missing the big picture. That Vick’s case is everything that is flawed about this concept that anyone can make it in America, whereby the idealized ‘American dream’ is not entirely true, where we aren’t all free with equal

MWPRInsight Update: Giants' Burress reports to New York police


This a great case study for The Playbook: Mentoring Initiative. MWPRInsight will follow this one throughout to see how the NFL, the public and others manage the situation with Burress.

MWPR Client News



MWPR Client News:


Ex-NFL player back at Woodlawn
At his old high school, former 'hardhead' helps students get their heads straight




By Arin Gencer arin.gencer@baltsun.com
November 30, 2008




For the past several months, former NFL safety Keion Carpenter has been going back to school.Roaming the halls of Woodlawn High School, he slips into classrooms for lessons on federal versus state government powers. He stops to chat with teachers and students between classes.

And when the dismissal bell rings, Carpenter, 31, joins the varsity football players as they practice, exchanging quips with and shouting instructions at the athletes during grueling exercises.For Carpenter, who graduated from Woodlawn in 1995, the time spent with students as a volunteer coach and mentor is a chance to show them life's possibilities - and teach them what's necessary to turn their potential into reality.

"I want my presence, being here, to be an inspiration to them," said Carpenter, who played football and basketball at the Baltimore County school. "Hopefully, they can look at me and say, 'Wow, this guy, he went to school here, he made it. He went on to college, went on to the pros, and now he's giving back.'"Carpenter's path from Woodlawn is one that many of the young Warriors would like to take: full athletic football scholarship to Virginia Tech, then a career in the National Football League as a safety for the Buffalo Bills and the Atlanta Falcons before retiring in 2006.

"He's just one success story of many, but he's the one that's right there on the front line," said Brian W. Scriven, Woodlawn's principal. "He's achieved what so many dream of achieving."Scriven recently took the lead at the newly restructured school, where about 55 percent of seniors have met state test requirements for graduation - and 46 percent of last school year's students received free or reduced-price meals, an indicator of low family income.

Carpenter credits Scriven, who was head football coach when he played for the Warriors, with saving him, acting as the father he didn't have. He wants to support Scriven's mission to turn the school around, Carpenter said.A self-described "hardhead" with a "terrible attitude" as a student, he said he can relate to the more difficult individuals, too."I tell them all the time, 'I sat in the same classrooms that you sat in, I walked the same halls, I ate in the same cafeteria,'" said Carpenter, who splits his time between Maryland and his home in Georgia.

These days, he's in those classrooms and halls regularly - although he has no plans to revisit cafeteria food.One day, Carpenter stood near Woodlawn's front entrance as students spilled out of classrooms. He easily picked out those he knew."What's up, man? Good luck today," he said as he slapped hands with several junior varsity football players, who had a game later.As the halls cleared, he shouted to a student strolling by, "You need to go to class, chump!"

"My teacher's not in there," the student replied."You've still got to go to class," Carpenter shot back."It's more than just to show up on the football field," he said in an interview, explaining his presence in the building. "I want them to know that it's more of an importance to be a better student. … If you don't take your books just as much as you take practice, then you're not going to be able to play football.

"For many of the teens at Woodlawn, the coaches "are their fathers and their role models," said Michael Sye, the school's athletics director.

Having "Coach Keion" around encourages and motivates them, the athletes said.

"He's been there before, so he knows how to get to where we want to go," said senior Delontai Bruton, a running back. "He's giving us something that most of us thought we'd never have."

"What he is doing is really special," said senior Rudy Lee Daniel, a safety. "He could be doing something else instead of coming back, giving back to his community."Gary Servance, a senior and running back, said Carpenter is "giving us a taste of what the future life could be like - if we just stay on track."His involvement also speaks to a "level of commitment and perseverance that we're trying to transfer to our students," Scriven said. "They really need to understand some of the sacrifices … all of those coaches are making to try to have a positive impact on their lives."

For Carpenter, that relationship extends beyond the football field. He is like a big brother to the students - someone they can text with questions about sports and more personal subjects, including their plans for life after Woodlawn. He plans to work with the basketball team, for which many of his students also play.

"He doesn't approach us as, 'I'm a coach, respect me,' but more so, 'I'm somebody you can talk to,'" said David Williams, the quarterback.Carpenter has also made a commitment to helping them through the college application process, talking to them about colleges they're interested in, what they need to do to prepare themselves academically - and offering to call coaches on their behalf.

"He's right there - you can ask him anything," Daniel said, adding that Carpenter is "the easiest person to get to."Williams said Carpenter's presence is "kind of like that edge that you need.""It's just a hope," Williams said. "Somebody can make it that came out of here - why can't I?"

keion carpenter

Age: 31

Education: Woodlawn High, Class of 1995; Virginia Tech, Class of 1999

Career: Played safety for the Buffalo Bills and Atlanta Falcons; retired 2006

Current activities: founder of Carpenter House, a Baltimore-based nonprofit foundation to help single parents and low-income families become homeowners; volunteer football coach, Woodlawn High School; president of for-profit advocacy organization For My Kids (FMK)

Residence: Splits time between Georgia and Maryland

Family: Father of three

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/education/bal-md.co.woodlawn30nov30,0,7011523.story

11.30.2008

MWPRInsight: Lawyer to AP: Burress expects plea Monday - Yahoo! News

The Playbook Commentary:

Ok, first and foremost, I am thankful that he did not kill himself. But, are you serious? Can this really be happening? How do you shoot yourself? Unless an intruder has just broken in the house WHY do you have a gun near you? This is definitely a "what was he thinking" situation.

However, thanks to Tiki Barber, after just watching him on Football Night in America, let me give a different perspective. Burress and other players come from an environment where having a gun is the norm in order to protect oneself, something that many of us cannot relate to. And, before we begin to judge, we need to first place ourselves in their shoes.

So, let me twist things right here and point the finger back towards the NFL. Here again, we have a situation where the NFL, the sports agents, etc. in my opinion have fumbled the ball. Although, personal responsibility is necessary, expected and important, those who represent and benefit from the talents/skills of these athletes should be more attentive and deliberate in their management of players that they KNOW need a little more "coaching", either due to their background or personnel/personal history.

Now, Burress probably will say, I am a grown "A" man and I don't need constant supervision or need to tell you if I got a gun. Now, although he is a grown man, he is not his OWN man....not while he represents the NFL and plays for an organization which is currently the NY Giants. As long as he gets the multi-million dollar deals he is currently getting, YOU, Mr. Burress, represent those two brands. And, because of that, have a responsibility to them first and you second. I believe this is where the players are missing the mark. And, where they are being given too much rope....a level of expectations is discussed, but very loosely enforced. And, if enforced, it is not enforced fairly across the board.

Not all situations should be thrown in the same boat....consequences should be based on the actions and the number of incidents...period. Not, based on the person's performance, celebrity status, "hook ups", etc.

I throw that out there, because now I am curious to see how the NFL handles this one. What will happen to Burress because of this? And, will it be fair?

Lawyer to AP: Burress expects plea Monday
By HOWARD FENDRICH, AP Sports Writer







LANDOVER, Md. – Plaxico Burress plans to turn himself in to police Monday morning in New York City and plead not guilty to criminal possession of a weapon, his lawyer said.

Benjamin Brafman wrote in an e-mail to The Associated Press on Sunday that he was advised the New York Giants' star receiver will be charged after accidentally shooting himself in the right thigh.

"I do not expect that Mr. Burress will make a statement," Brafman wrote.

He met with Burress for about an hour Sunday at the player's home in New Jersey.

"I would ask that his fans, the Giants and the media withhold judgment in this matter until all of the facts have been disclosed," Brafman wrote to the AP.

Brafman is a well-known criminal lawyer who has defended mobsters and other high-profile figures, including hip-hop impresario Sean "Diddy" Combs on a bribery and gun possession charge in 2001.
Burress shot himself at a Manhattan nightclub Friday night and was released from a hospital early Saturday, the Giants said.

"As far as we know, he's going to be OK," general manager Jerry Reese said before the Super Bowl champions' game Sunday at the Washington Redskins.

Before the shooting, Burress already had been ruled out of the game because of an unrelated leg injury.

New York police and NFL security are investigating what happened Friday. Giants linebacker Antonio

Pierce was interviewed by NFL security at the team's hotel Saturday, Reese said.

Pierce — who started against Washington — reportedly was present for the latest dramatic turn in a tumultuous season of fines and suspension for Burress.

"Antonio is working on trying to beat the Redskins right now," Reese said before kickoff. "That's where his focus is and where it should be right now."

Neither Reese nor Giants president and CEO John Mara would say what Burress' status with the team might be going forward.

"I want to wait until we find out all the facts and circumstances before we make any determination," Mara said. "I don't know what happened there, and until we find out exactly what happened, I'm not going to make any comment or make any decision about what his future is."

Reese and Mara said they hadn't spoken to Burress, who hurt his hamstring two weeks ago and was going to miss the game against the Redskins because of that injury.

"I reached out to him," Reese said. "I did not get a return phone call."

Mara repeatedly said the Giants would cooperate with the police and the NFL in their investigations.
Asked if he knows what the scope of those inquiries are, Mara said: "I do not know, no. I guess the circumstances of how he got shot, whose gun it was. There are a lot of questions like that that are still unanswered."

Burress caught the go-ahead touchdown pass in the Giants' Super Bowl victory against the New England Patriots in February, following a regular season in which he scored a career-high 12 TDs. He was rewarded with a $35 million, five-year contract, only hours before the current season.

But his consecutive-games streak with at least one catch ended at 115 last week against Arizona, after he aggravated his hamstring injury during the first series and did not return.

Burress has 35 catches for 454 yards and four touchdowns while constantly drawing double coverage this season.

Off the field, he was suspended for a game against Seattle in October and fined $117,500 for missing a team meeting and failing to notify the Giants of his absence. He said he had a family emergency.

Burress also was fined $45,000 by the NFL for his conduct during a game against San Francisco in which he abused an official and tossed a ball into the stands.


Lawyer to AP: Burress expects plea Monday - Yahoo! News

11.18.2008

MWPRInsight response to NY Times: When it counts qualifications trump race

The below comment was sent to a fellow LinkedIn member who expressed agreement in what the NY Times writer stated in the piece, "When it counts qualifications trump race". I felt it important to share with my blog readers what I expressed to him. And, I welcome your comments as well to me on this subject.

MWPRInsight Comment:

Unfortunately, I will have to respectfully disagree with your opinion and even that of the NY Times writer. The choosing of the first African American President has not changed a reality that has existed before and since Jackie Robinson entered MLB. And, in stating that the hiring of African Americans is based on skills trumps race because one is looking to positively affect the bottom-line borders on the notion that we are only good to have around as long as we help make you a profit. That strikes a deep cord.

That opinion unfortunatly IS highly visible in sports. The make up on the field/court looks one way, but the make up on the sideline, boardroom, scouting arenas, extend partners, etc. is something totally different. African Americans are accepted in limited and controlled environments...on the field they are seen only for their skills and capabilities. But, let an African American who has the skills and capabilities to manage, identify talent or run an organization come along...that same philosophy is not applied.

As an African American, I am truly proud of what happened on November 4th. But, do be clear, electing Barack Obama does not, by any stretch mean that racism is dead. Opportunities still elude us and will continue to do so until we are all deeply/sincerely honest that it has controlled our actions and decision making through to today.

10.31.2008

The Playbook Chimes In: ESPN - Plaxico Burress insists he's not a distraction to the New York Giants

The Playbook Commentary:
When will they get that? A player's off-the-field actions can either help his brand or hurt his brand. It doesn't matter if you successfully scored everytime you had the ball on Sunday, if by Tuesday you are doing or saying something that is straight negative it wipes out the on-the-field success and takes center stage.

Attention players...one more time...YOU are your brand. That means the entire you....your professional as well as your personal. And, together it can advance or stall or even destroy your future.

This conversation needs to take place on-going and should be a part of the pre-season training camp process. The Playbook is ready to provide this service.


EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- When the topic of Plaxico Burress comes up these days, most people don't talk about what the New York Giants receiver has been doing on the field.

Off-the-field problems and mistakes not related to football are what people remember -- and there have been plenty this season.

It started with Burress' decision to skip a team meeting in September for a so-called family emergency -- and not inform the team. Then, he verbally abused an official two weeks ago before missing a treatment before the Pittsburgh game and being benched for a quarter.

It has cost him money, time and the patience of several teammates.

Despite it all, Burress insisted on Wednesday that he is not a distraction, even as the Giants (6-1) prepare for the biggest game of the season, a showdown with the defending NFC East champion Dallas Cowboys (5-3).

"Like I said, I am human," Burress said after practice. "I have made some mistakes. I haven't made the best of decisions, I am aware of that, and I am the first one to look myself in the mirror, be honest with myself and say that. But as far as me going out and playing hard, I am going to keep going out and competing. Like I said, I just keep going out and doing what is asked of me on the football field, and in whatever that role may be I hope I go out and fulfill it."

Fellow receiver Amani Toomer said it has been hard dealing with Burress this year.

He was suspended for a game against the Seattle Seahawks and fined $117,500 for missing the September meeting. He was fined $45,000 by the league for abusing an official after being called for offensive pass interference against the San Francisco 49ers two weeks ago and then he had to watch the first quarter of the Giants' 21-14 win over the Steelers on Sunday.

"He's his own man," Toomer said. "He makes his own decisions and I have to respect that. He knows his decisions affect the team. It's hard to go up to a grown man [and talk] about doing his business the way everybody else wants him to."

When pressed about what might happen if Burress continues his errant ways, the Giants captain wondered.

"I'll be interested to see because I think that it's still a distraction," Toomer said. "It affects our team."
After getting off to a great start, Burress is no longer the No. 1 option in the offense. He had 10 catches for 133 yards in the season opener against Washington and followed that with five more catches for 81 yards and a touchdown against the St. Louis Rams.

In his last four games, he has had 13 catches for 142 yards and two touchdowns.

"I am not getting frustrated," Burress said. "You have to kind of sit there and expect it, so to speak. You can't just expect teams to come out and let you just run up and down the football field. It has been a slow year for a few of us guys at the receiver position. If you look at it and say if we take those 40, 50, 60 yard plays out of the game, those are big plays that change football games, and if you take them out of the game, you have to work around it."

Burress said he has seen more double coverages this season than ever before.

However, doubling up on Burress has opened things up for other receivers.

Second-year pro Steve Smith leads the Giants with 29 catches for 299 yards, with Toomer third with 22 catches for 277 yards and a touchdown. Domenik Hixon, who started when Burress was suspended, has 13 catches for 220 yards and a touchdown and tight end Kevin Boss is slowly catching on with 10 catches for 118 yards and two touchdowns.

Burress opened last season against Dallas with eight catches for 144 yards and a career-best three touchdowns. He added six more catches and another TD in the second meeting but was limited to one catch for 5 yards in the playoff game against the Cowboys.

Ironically, the Giants won the playoff game and lost the other two.

Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said he does not plan to let Burress run free on Sunday.
"You have to double him, you have to double him," Phillips said. "He is just a good receiver. [Eli] Manning can get him the ball in all kinds of situations. You just have to double him as much as you can. We tried to do that. We will try to do that this game."

Burress welcomes the attention.

"If the team is going to line up and take me out of the game, then those are things that I have no control over," Burress said. "I control what I control and when the opportunities are presented to me to go out and make plays, then I do and because of that we are a 6-1 football team."

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

ESPN - Plaxico Burress insists he's not a distraction to the New York Giants

10.27.2008

A MWPRInsight Publicity: An Example of Athletes Doing Good

MWPR│CLIENT NEWS

Contact:
Monica Wood│MWPR
P: 704-430-6300 or 443-538-4184
F: 443-583-2652
E: clientnews@mwprinc.com
W: www.mwprinc.com


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Baltimore Ravens’ Ray Lewis and Washington Redskins’ Antwaan Randle El Hosts Allied Athlete Group, Inc. Launch Reception in Baltimore

(Baltimore) – Having begun their tour in Atlanta and making a stop in Chicago, Allied Athlete Group founders/partners (current and former NFL players) Ray Lewis, Duane Starks, Reggie Howard, Sam Madison and Michael Stone now bring their launch celebration to “Charm City”. This tour provides an opportunity for the Atlanta-based company to introduce and connect the brand to key influencers in each city. This introduction and celebration will take place in Baltimore on Monday, October 27th.

It is no secret that professional athletes can make tremendous incomes; unfortunately most of them do not fully understand the leverage that is created during their career. This lack of knowledge creates opportunities for various "representatives" to take advantage of the athletes' leverage in a multitude of ways. This often results in the trusted representative making huge profits from the athletes and leaving them abruptly when their career comes to an end. AAG exists to help bridge this gap. Created for the sole purpose of presenting to both current and retired professional athletes key resources, networks and opportunities AAG’s intent is to assist athletes in retaining, extending and creating wealth for both them and their families.

To learn more about Allied Athlete Group, Inc. visit www.alliedathletegroup.com.

EVENT DETAILS

When: Monday, October 27, 2008
7:00PM – 10:30PM

Where: Reginald F. Lewis Museum
830 E. Pratt Street
Baltimore, MD 21202

Media RSVP or Interview Requests: MWPR, Inc., clientnews@mwprinc.com or 443-538-4184


About AAG
Founded in September, 2007 and comprised of a network of athlete owner/members, AAG solidifies and magnifies its athletes’ leverage through the alignment of the collective interests of its owner/members. Allied Athlete Group promotes the lifelong success of the athlete by providing its members with access to a portfolio of best in class business, personal, education, networking, and investment opportunities. Allied Athlete Group’s ever expanding member network is comprised of high profile athletes situated across the country from varying sports properties. Its athletes consistently rely on a top tier Preferred Partner network to help facilitate the evolution of their careers.

10.10.2008

The Playbook: ESPN - Travis Henry posts bail, could get out of jail on Thursday - NFL

The Playbook Commentary:

Henry continues to the trend of what seems to be the longest nightmare for the sports business. From Pacman's recent fight, to Michael Beasely's attitude, and I could go on, but I won't.


DENVER -- Former Denver Broncos running back Travis Henry could be released from jail Thursday after posting a $400,000 bond on federal drug charges.

Henry and another suspect were arrested Sept. 30 in Denver after federal drug agents said they met to buy cocaine from a man who was cooperating with authorities.

Henry and James Mack both face charges of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, distribution of cocaine and conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute.

Henry offered a $360,000 house as collateral toward his bail on Wednesday and was allowed to post an unsecured bond for the remaining $40,000, said Jeff Dorschner, a spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office in Denver.

Henry is expected to be released after a phone line is installed in his house for electronic monitoring, which could be Thursday, Dorschner said.

Neither man has entered a plea.

Neither Henry's attorney, Harvey Steinberg, nor Mack's attorney, James Moore, returned calls.
Mack could be released next week after posting a $10,000 unsecured bond, Dorschner said.
Dorschner said Henry's bail was higher because he is accused of making threats and running when officers tried to arrest him. Judges also can decide how high to set bail to make sure a suspect shows up for court.

If convicted, both men could face 10 years to life in prison, five years of probation and a $4 million fine.

The cases have been transferred to Montana, where authorities say they found six pounds of marijuana and about 6.6 pounds of cocaine that Henry and Mack allegedly supplied.
Jessica Fehr, a spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney in Billings, Mont., said no court appearances had been scheduled.

Henry signed a five-year, $22.5 million deal with the Broncos last year, and led the league in rushing a month into the 2007 season that was marred by a left knee injury and a failed attempt by the NFL to suspend him over a drug test. He finished with 691 yards and four touchdowns.
Henry fell out of favor over what coach Mike Shanahan said was Henry's lack of commitment and was released on June 2.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

AMEN! MCain - You're No Reagan (clarity media group : : blog)

John McCain - You’re No Ronald Reagan
Bill McGowan on Oct 08, 2008

In the second of three Presidential debates last night, John McCain evoked the name of Ronald Reagan, describing him as his hero. After last night’s woeful performance from McCain, it would appear that hero worship is where the connection between the two men begins and ends.

Perhaps John McCain has “Town Hall Burnout” because The Gipper must have been rolling over in his grave. Whatever McCain handler recommended the feeble attempts at humor (talking about hair transplants he needs during an answer on health care) should be fired on sight. This is a Town Hall! The audience is instructed NOT to laugh, applaud or even react. Even the lowest-rent Borscht Belt stand-up comic knows you don’t tell a joke when the chances of getting a laugh are slim. If this is an example of his judgment, I’m not sure I want his “hand on the tiller.” If Ronnie were still here I’m sure he’d give McCain a “there you go again.”

As far as stage presence, McCain looked fidgety. When Obama was talking, McCain, at times, looked like a vulture lurking in the background. At one point he was even caught gesturing and mouthing something to someone in the audience. When McCain was speaking, his movement around the stage had no purpose, and when you’re 72 years old the last thing you want to do is look like your wandering aimlessly. These critiques are above and beyond the problems caused by his physical limitations of which he has no control, but still contribute to a less-than-robust image. In short, he seemed tired, old and cranky. By contrast, Obama struck a calm, cool and unfazed pose on his stool. None of that bogus note taking, no shaking his head while he’s being attacked… it was masterful. He looked completely unflappable and eager to stare down his detractor. And in these settings, unflappable equals Presidential.

Although McCain didn’t flash his legendary temper in its full fury last night, it was pretty clear that Obama has gotten inside his head and under his skin. I didn’t think McCain could appear any more disrespectful and dismissive towards Obama than in the first debate when he did not look at him once and rarely referred to him by name. But then came the now-famous “that one.” In a patronizing tone McCain also called Obama “my friend,” very similar to the way Nelson Rockefeller used to call everyone “fella,” as if to say, “I’m really too important and superior to you to bother using your name.”
If McCain thinks he’s coming across any less mean and crotchety by smiling during his zingers and barbs he’s mistaken. If you’re going on the attack, go on the attack without trying to simultaneously seem like a great guy. Smiling while you’re trying to take somebody apart just makes the viewer think you’re bitter, sarcastic and insincere. When he does that he visually he reminds me of Lionel Barrymore’s character Mr. Potter in “It’s a Wonderful Life,” when he’s pretending to be nice to Jimmy Stewart just to trick him into forking over the ol’ savings and loan. Perhaps that’s why of all the viewer polls taken last night, McCain took the biggest bath on “likability.”

But perhaps the most vexing problem facing McCain (and the most difficult to overcome) is his painful lack of comfort looking at the camera. From the moment he was introduced last night, McCain looked to be in a desperate hurry to break eye contact with the audience and the cameras - that’s why he started scribbling some notes the minute he got to his stool. What on Earth could you need to write down before the debate even begins? It goes back to what our mothers always told us when our credibility was being questioned, “Look me in the eye and say that.” John McCain doesn’t feel comfortable looking the American people in the eye. Given our desperate need to trust and believe in a leader who can get us out of this multi-pronged mess we’re in, that could prove to be a fatal flaw.

clarity media group : : blog

8.04.2008

A Playbook Example: Favre to report to Packers today after NFL's OK | courier-journal | The Courier-Journal


The Playbook Commentary:

This is definitely a good example of what The Playbook looks to address in our "Post-Game Wrap-Up" seminar and what my firm, Off-The-Field Branding: Professional and Personal Management offers in services. Brett Favre seems to not have had an exit strategy planned way before it was time to implement it.

He didn't have his post-NFL career solidified. This is done when you are able to think/act strategically and not emotionally. I truly believe that if Favre had outlined his post-NFL life and felt comfortable in it, when he did decide to retire, he would not have second guessed his decision.

A simple decision like a change of mind can do as much harm to your brand, your future and your legacy as any wreckless act can. Why, because more than yourself is affected by the decision you make.

Favre's change of heart has now caused an organization that had processed and planned a season without him, to now have to, by public force more than good business decision, revamp things in the 11th hour.

No matter how talented Favre is. No matter how much closer the team might be to going to the Super Bowl with him versus without, it doesn't look good to the personal/professional brand called "Brett Favre". He should have been advised by his internal team, back when he began to express the possibility of retirement after the 2007-2008 season, to wait until the emotions were gone before he made anything final. His retirement was announced in the heat of the excitement of his on-the-field accomplishments and the hype of his legacy. It was not made soundly or rationally...and, we must all remember that the NFL is first and foremost a business and should be handled as such.

I am a fan. And, I pray things work out....they probably will. But, it is still a sad situation and one to be viewed more than mainly a great player deciding to return to the field.

Career decisions made by "professional" athletes need to be handled as orderly and strategically as any corporate executive, manager or employee. In the regular world, you can't submit your letter of resignation on Friday and come in Monday as say, "I was just joking". That only happens in a Seinfeld episode....and, even there George didn't get his job back.

Live and learn from this situation student-athletes as much as you should learn from those athletes that have hurt their brand and professional career by placing themselves in crazy situation. Both are important.
Favre to report to Packers today after NFL's OK
Team says he's welcome back
By Chris Jenkins • Associated Press • August 4, 2008

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Though the Green Bay Packers say Brett Favre has put them in a difficult situation, they're prepared to welcome him back.


The NFL announced yesterday that Favre will be reinstated and added to the Packers' active roster today.

"Although we built this year around the assumption that Brett meant what he said about retiring, Brett is coming back," team president Mark Murphy said. "We will welcome him back and turn this situation to our advantage.

"Frankly, Brett's change of mind put us in a very difficult spot. We now will revise many actions and assumptions about our long-term future, all predicated on Brett's decision last March to retire."

A private plane carrying Favre, wife Deanna and agent James "Bus" Cook arrived in Green Bay shortly after 8 o'clock EDT last night. Favre exited the plane and waved to a crowd of a few hundred fans gathered at the airport -- in a severe lightning storm, no less.

He could be on the field tomorrow, but it's unclear whether the team will let him compete with Aaron Rodgers for the starting quarterback job.

"Well, there comes time when (my) mentor and I get to compete, and I guess that's what's going to happen," Rodgers said after a scrimmage last night.

Coach Mike McCarthy wants to talk to Favre today before he decides on opening up the job.

"There have been no promises," McCarthy said.

Favre to report to Packers today after NFL's OK courier-journal The Courier-Journal

8.01.2008

NFL Suspends Chris Henry 4 Games -- Courant.com

Expert of article:

Henry suspended 4 games: Wide receiver Chris Henry was suspended by the league for four games but may play the final 12 games of the season for any team that signs him.

Henry was released by Cincinnati in April after his fifth arrest. Commissioner Roger Goodell had suspended him indefinitely following his latest arrest. The charges against him on that arrest were later dropped.Henry may participate in training camp and exhibition games if he is signed. Henry was suspended for the first eight games last season under the league's personal conduct policy. He returned to catch 21 passes for 343 yards and two touchdowns in eight games. But the Bengals released him after he was accused of punching a University of Cincinnati student and breaking his car window with a beer bottle.

To read full article go to: NFL Suspends Chris Henry 4 Games -- Courant.com

7.30.2008

The Poster Child for The Playbook: Ex-Gopher Dominic Jones: 'My name now is Inmate'

The Playbook Commentary: Dominic Jones should be commended, not for the actions that placed him in jail, but for the actions he has taken since going to jail. Finally, a star athlete who not only accepts his punishment for the choices he made, but one who is taking this negative pause in his life and using it to positively impact others.

He had the same opportunities, distractions, special treatment, celebrity-like status as any other gifted player. And, he fell victim to what many of them do. BUT, the difference between him and them is he says it is his fault. He is not blaming anyone for anything...he only blames himself for what he did. He failed to be a good steward of the blessings afforded him. As many do, they do not see the opportunity for what it is, a priviledge.

What The Playbook: Mentoring Initiative looks to do is showcase these examples through its curriculum to college-athletes, so that they can learn from those who came before them and not repeat this cycle of fame and failure.

Thank you Dominic Jones for your courage and maturity....your future will be brighter and more rewarding after this pause in your life. Stay strong and remain encouraged...all things happen for a reason and divine purpose. I can't wait to see yours manifest.



Ex-Gopher Dominic Jones: 'My name now is Inmate' Photo Credit: KYNDELL HARKNESS, Star Tribune
Dominic Jones spends his days mentoring football players and his nights in the workhouse in Plymouth. He was convicted of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct.

Former Gopher Dominic Jones, once an admired team leader, says he is accepting full blame for his crime.
By ROCHELLE OLSON, Star Tribune
Last update: July 29, 2008 - 1:13 AM


Former University of Minnesota football star Dominic Jones offered some high school football players $100 recently if they could come up with his previous jersey number and his current one.

One raised his hand and said Jones was No. 2 as a Gopher. Correct.

Nobody knew his current number. "Number 00425759. That's my number," Jones said. "My name now is Inmate. It's not Dominic Jones."

In the past year, the 21-year-old Jones has gone from an admired team leader with realistic NFL dreams and a college diploma within reach to a sex offender serving a one-year sentence in the Hennepin County workhouse.

During his first public interview since he was charged last summer, Jones spoke about personal responsibility, college sports and his journey.

"I am not blaming a white man. I am not blaming a prosecutor. I'm not blaming a judge. I'm blaming me. That was hard for me to do at first," he said. "I'm human. I made a mistake."

Jones had a full-ride football scholarship to Texas Southern University. Instead, he reported to the workhouse on July 7, after the state Court of Appeals declined a stay pending his appeal. He can get out during the day for work or studies. (An appeal of the guilty verdict is still pending.)

Jones spent the first seven days in full custody, locked in his cell 22 hours a day, before county corrections got the proper paperwork for his job.

"I am trying to tell you when the bars shut, reality set in," he said. "When I hit rock bottom, I hit it hard." He knows he let team down.

He leaves the Plymouth correctional facility at 7:15 a.m. Monday through Thursday, he is at the E.J. Henderson Youth Foundation in Eden Prairie, working on conditioning and mentoring high school and college players. Friday through Sunday, he works at a clothing store in St. Paul.

He is back in Plymouth for dinner at 6 p.m., then to his cell. He reads, takes a shower. Then it's lockdown and lights out at 11 p.m. Like all inmates, he is subject to random strip searches. It has been humiliating and humbling, he said.

Jones knows he has disappointed people, including the Gophers, who went 1-11 without him last year. "I let those guys down that I worked my butt off in the weight room with," he said. "I was the messiah of the team. With that young team, I needed to be there."

But he wasn't. Last July, Jones was charged with raping a woman too drunk to give consent. A 37-second cell phone video recorded by an ex-teammate shows Jones masturbating over the woman. He was kicked off the football team, then convicted of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct, but acquitted of rape.

Jones did not talk in detail about that night in the room shared by four former teammates. He said in the past he believed the behavior was consensual. Jones was the only one charged, although the woman had sex with three others before he arrived.

Before this, Jones was on track to graduate in December with a degree in sociology. He was kicked out of school shortly after his conviction.

Jones said he had to summon the courage every day to walk into the courthouse during his two-week trial. His lawyer, Earl Gray, would tell him, "No matter what happens, this is not the end of your life."
Jones said he has seen the error of his ways.

He said he used to party to the "extreme," despite his image as role model for the team. He would tell high school kids not to drink while underage, yet he would do it himself.

He doesn't disagree with things prosecutors said after the trial, about athletes being given privileges by society that distort their views of right and wrong. "When you're put on a pedestal like that, you hear a lot of things and you see a lot of things and you think it's OK," Jones said.

He is familiar with the term "jersey chaser," for women who offer themselves sexually to star athletes. "But who is it really on?" he said. "It's on us."

Now he wants to use the clout that came from athletic fame for good. He points to the example of Magic Johnson opening up about his struggle with HIV. This fall, at the urging of his new bosses, he will speak to inner-city kids about his life.

"He's a good person, but he made a bad decision," said one of his bosses, Mark Ellis, a former assistant coach with the Vikings under Mike Tice.

He thinks Jones can reach inner-city kids because he is one. "His message is, 'Look, I had it all right here in my hands. It's all gone,'" Ellis said.

He said he told Jones, "I need you here to be a model, a flawed model. You're someone that made a mistake, and you're working through that."

Jones said his support system includes Henderson and Ellis, his fraternity brothers at Alpha Phi Alpha, former Gophers coach Glen Mason, his mom and God.

Freeman pulls for redemption Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman, whose office prosecuted Jones, said, "If you believe in redemption, and I do, I'm glad to see that's occurring already."

Jones "made a frightful decision that really impacted a person. I appreciate that he's starting to acknowledge that," Freeman said.

Jones said he'd like to play football again, but wants to get his degree. He's hoping to take courses this fall.
"
My purpose in life isn't football," Jones said.

Jones has a 2-year-old son in Ohio being raised by the boy's mother and his mom. Seeing his son is one of many things big and small that he says he sees differently. "To be able to eat a meal of your choice. The value of a hug from your son. The value of an education. One decision, that's all it could take, and everything could be snatched away from you."

Jones already has props for his presentations this fall: his old jersey, a prison-style uniform and a doctor's scrubs and stethoscope. He will tell kids that it takes hard work to get the jersey or the scrubs, but just one bad mistake to end up in a prison jumpsuit.

At his sentencing in May, Hennepin County District Judge Marilyn Rosenbaum talked of the trouble she had reconciling the sincere letters of support she received about Jones with his behavior that night in April 2007.

Jones thinks about those letters and the supporters who wrote them. "I've got a lot of people to prove right," he said.

Ex-Gopher Dominic Jones: 'My name now is Inmate'

6.30.2008

NFL Players in Prison - Football Players in Jail - Esquire

The Playbook Commentary:

The case has been made in this piece by Chuck Klosterman...although he states the problem and offers no solution, the fact still remains that there is a serious problem within the professional sports community. These young athletes, men more than women, are given narrow views of what success can look like....Sports.But, they are not taught the responsibility that comes with that form of success, or for that matter, any type of success.


They are also not given healthy alternatives, just in case they don't make it.....letting them know they can be successful with or without a professional career in sports.


Instead of continuing to illuminate the problem, I wish folks would take the energy and put it where it needs to be....in prevention and problem solving initaitives....like The Playbook: Mentoring Initiative. The professional sports brand will continue to be tarnished until a sincere effort is made to address this issue, and not continue to allow the mighty dollar to influence their decisions and efforts.


When will that happen?



The 2008 NFL Prison Football Preview

Michael Vick and countless other promising young football stars are currently doing jail time. Which is unfortunate, to be sure. But they’d make one hell of a football team.
By Chuck Klosterman


FormerPro Bowl quarterback Michael Vick is in Leavenworth. Rae Carruth, currently serving a nineteen- to twenty-four-year sentence for conspiring to kill his girlfriend, made the NFL all-rookie team in '97. Arena League linebacker Darion Conner got fifteen years for running over a bicyclist. In 2006, Michigan State defensive back Cole Corey was sentenced to two to ten years for sexual assault.


Last January, an offensive tackle and a defensive end for Texas A&M were indicted for felony robbery. And this is only a sampling of the guys who got media coverage; there's no telling how many teenage criminals went to jail before they had a college career. If we selected the forty-four best football players in the U. S. penal system, how much ass would they kick?

Right now, 2.3 million people are incarcerated. This is a social travesty. But -- hypothetically -- if we were to draft and train the best talent from that pool, I bet they could win the SEC or the Pac-10. They could maybe beat the Dolphins in an exhibition. Obviously, the Vick-to-Carruth connection would be key, but I have to believe prisons contain some of the most intimidating, hardest-hitting role-players on the planet. These dudes would make the '77 Raiders look like Tibetan monks.

You know, I don't like The Longest Yard. I don't think it's funny. But this I would watch.


Photo credit: James D. Smith/WireImage.com

6.27.2008

Athletes and Endorsements: A New Way of Doing Business - AccessAthletes :: The Real Athlete Blog

Athletes and Endorsements: A New Way of Doing Business
by Dean Fisk

06-26-2008

Even with the current economic downturn, business opportunities for professional athletes remain plentiful. And the truth is off-the-field success doesn’t just happen to “star” players. There are numerous examples of athletes with average-at-best playing stats that have secured lucrative endorsements and other post-career opportunities. Business success for these athletes is determined by the strength of their personal brand image and the size of their fan base. And while it’s fairly obvious that as an athlete you can maintain control of your own brand, you can also positively impact your fan following through creative Web marketing techniques.

In the business world, the terms “viral marketing” and “social marketing” are buzzwords used to describe methods of a reaching a broad number of people through very personal communications methods. These concepts, used by virtually all Fortune 500 companies, can also be used successfully by today’s athletes. The fact of the matter is today’s sports fan wants their information up to the minute and on demand. No longer is it acceptable to talk to target audiences from the top down. Today, you need to hold virtual conversations with your key audiences, which includes fans and potential sponsors. By doing so, you can not only increase the size of your fan following, but also create a stronger bond with those fans.

Contemporary ways to reach out to your fans include writing a blog, having your own Website, participating in social marketing sites such as Facebook and MySpace and posting videos on sites like YouTube. All can be successful and all can be essentially meaningless without a business plan in mind.

When developing your personal business plan, you need to start by asking three basic questions:

(1) What are the companies I should target as potential sponsors;
(2) Who are the consumers that these target companies care about; and,
(3) How do I best connect with these consumers?

When identifying potential sponsor companies a good starting point is to think about the things you are passionate about. This can include products that you use or activities that you enjoy. For example, a hardcore video game player may consider targeting the game makers and the manufacturers of the game consoles. In this scenario the consumers of interest are most likely young males in the 14- to 35-year-old range. Reaching these consumers may be best achieved through participating in gaming-related blogs and Websites, or by posting viral video clips that feature the athlete and appeal to the gaming community.

A player’s agent once told me the best way for his client to market himself was by playing well. I agree that performance on the field is vital to a player’s overall success. However, I ask you this – if you have two players with similar on-the-field achievements, who is a sponsor company more likely to contact, a player who rests on his stats or a player that finds ways to portray his positive image and already has established relationships with the fans the sponsor covets?

The mistake made all too often by today’s athletes is that they wait for opportunities to come to them. The better approach is to create the opportunity yourself, strengthen your fan following and present a “no-brainer” business proposition to the sponsor company.

As an athlete, you are given a “stage” that is viewed by many. However, the spotlight can quickly disappear once your playing days are over. Don’t let the opportunities slip away. Look at the new ways of doing business that can lead to better off-the-field success.


Dean Fisk is president of X Factor Sports Media and has over 17 years of experience developing communications programs that strengthen brand awareness for athletes, athletic organizations and Fortune 500 companies. X Factor Sports Media is a unique communications agency focused on helping athletes understand and benefit from the numerous opportunities offered by today's new media and social marketing outlets. Dean can be contacted at dean@xfactorsportsmedia.com.


Athletes and Endorsements: A New Way of Doing Business - AccessAthletes :: The Real Athlete Blog

The Playbook: SAD Example...Humphrey dismissed from UGA basketball team | ajc.com

The Playbook Commentary:
A sad ending to what could have been a future professional athlete. And, what The Playbook: Mentoring Initiative TM wants to help prevent.

About The Playbook: Mentoring Initiative TM
A mentoring initiative created by MWPR │Presents, a division of MWPR, Inc., The Playbook looks to bring productive, positive and purpose-driven solutions to the real-life needs that occur during the natural lifecycle of a professional athlete. It will be accomplished through a specified curriculum, presentations, personal player testimonies and extended professional services; all created to address the immediate and long-term needs of the aspiring and current professional athlete, like no other initiative currently available.


Prevailing Assumptions
· A player’s athletic skill is all that is needed to have a successful career in sports.
· There is an effective and organized transitional process, available at all schools, for players leaving high school/college and entering professional sports.
· The player’s agent and team organization provide all the necessary tools/expertise needed to maintain, manage and keep the momentum needed throughout a player’s professional career and beyond.

The Playbook’s formula is “positive personal life = professional success”.



Humphrey dismissed from UGA basketball teamPlayer was arrested Tuesday for DUI and other charges
By CHRIS VIVLAMORE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 06/27/08



In the aftermath of an arrest for DUI and other charges, Billy Humphrey has been kicked off the Georgia men's basketball team.

Humphrey, 20, was arrested Tuesday morning in Gwinnett County for DUI, failure to maintain his lane and purchasing alcohol while under age. Friday afternoon, Georgia coach Dennis Felton announced his decision to dismiss Humphrey.

"We've worked really hard with him in the past to see that he succeeds, but I feel that it's now best for our program to move forward without him."

Humphrey, who was to be a senior in the 2008-09 season, was Georgia's second-leading scorer last season and helped the team to the NCAA Tournament.

A guard, Humphrey played in 30 of 34 games last season, starting 28. He averaged 12.2 points per game, second-best on the team.

According to the police report of his drunk driving arrest obtained by the Journal-Constitution, Humphrey pleaded with police not to arrest him and was later warned that he could be tasered.

Also according to the report, Humphrey said "Please, please, please. I am begging you not to do this. You will ruin my career." The report indicates that Humphrey made the statement after acknowledging that he had "a few drinks" and was responding to the officer's question on what he had been drinking.

Prior to submitting to field sobriety tests, the police report states "the driver told me that he knows that he had been drinking and that he was only gong two more lights up the road and then he was going to his mom's house. The driver then asked me if I could just follow him home."
After agreeing to and failing several sobriety tests, the report states the Humphrey, who is from Dacula, was "slightly hesitant" when asked to turn around to be placed in handcuffs. "The driver was advised that if he did not turn around, he would be shot with a taser," according to the police report. Humphrey was placed in double-locked handcuffs.

According to the police report, an inventory of the silver Chevy Monte Carlo that Humphrey was driving discovered a half-full quart bottle of rum in a back pack on the back seat.

It was Humphrey's second arrest on alcohol-related charges since February. Humphrey was also placed on probation for 18 months and entered into a pretrial diversion program as result of a November felony weapons charge for having a butterfly knife in his dorm room. He was suspended for a total of four games last season for the two incidents.

Humphrey dismissed from UGA basketball team ajc.com

6.25.2008

The Playbook: ESPN - Sources say Heat looking to trade out of No. 2, take guard later - NBA

The Playbook Commentary:
Now here is an example of how your off-the-court (field) personality, attiitude and actions, could neatively affect your professional future, before it even gets started. Beasley's stats speak for themselves. On paper, it is a done deal, he would be your logical pick. However, just like in any job, a potential employer has to see if a potential employee can not only put action behind his words, but also positively "represent" the company he would be working for. And, in this day in age, with the professional sports industry getting hit left & right, non-stop, it makes sense for Riley to pause in deciding if they should take Beasley, if he shows any potential of bringing drama. Again, like in any employment situation, there are other candidates to chose from. And, if they seem to not have the element of drama in them...you more than likely will lean on the side of a safe pick.

So, this needs to serve as an example for all aspiring professional athletes...that you have to bring more than just your game to the table. Who are you when you are not playing? What are your goals in life? What do you stand for? How do you look to grow and progress as an athlete and a person over the years to come? These things are now becoming more important than just your stats. And, need to be taken seriously by these athletes.

The Playbook: Mentoring Initiative is designed to address these areas and more.





Sources say Heat looking to trade out of No. 2, take guard later
By Chad Ford
ESPN.com(Archive)

If the Miami Heat's recent activities are any indication, they are not going to select Kansas State forward Michael Beasley with the No. 2 pick in Thursday's NBA draft.

With the first selection, the Chicago Bulls are leaning strongly toward drafting Memphis point guard Derrick Rose. While the Bulls say they won't announce their decision until draft night, Bulls GM John Paxson admits that Chicago is "probably leaning a certain way."

ESPN.com has been reporting since the draft lottery that Heat president Pat Riley has reservations about Beasley. While Beasley is a talent, Riley seems to be uncomfortable with his personality and seems dead set on finding a point guard to pair in the backcourt with Dwyane Wade.

To that end, Riley staged two separate secret workouts in Miami on Tuesday. The first, a source told ESPN.com, was for Arizona point guard Jerryd Bayless. The second was for USC guard O.J. Mayo, who confirmed to ESPN.com that he worked out for the team.

In conjunction with the workouts, the Heat have been actively shopping the second pick in the draft with an eye on selecting Mayo or Bayless lower while acquiring another asset.

If the Heat don't find any takers, sources told ESPN.com's Andy Katz on Tuesday night that Mayo was told by Heat brass -- which included Riley, general manager Randy Pfund and coach Erik Spoelstra -- that he is in contention to be selected outright at No. 2.

After the Heat were informed that Shawn Marion would not opt out of his contract, sources said Riley began calling teams looking for serious offers for the second pick.

The Heat then brought in Mayo and Bayless. Both workouts lasted about 90 minutes. It's the second time the Heat have worked out Bayless and Mayo, and according to sources, Riley believes both are special talents.

Bayless had an "amazing" workout, according to the source. He "shot the lights" out and performed even better than he had in his first workout for the Heat. They believe he can be a full-time point guard in the pros, similar to Chauncey Billups.

The source said Mayo was also "great," and in addition to shooting the ball well, he performed well in some of the ballhandling drills. The Heat believe Mayo could be a Gilbert Arenas-type point guard.

The same source said Riley is enamored of Mayo's and Bayless' shooting ability and believes both can be a point guards in the NBA.

In addition to any questions about attitude, a number of high-ranking NBA sources told Katz that one of the main reasons the Heat wouldn't select Beasley is the hope that they will land Utah's Carlos Boozer in a year when he can opt out of his contract. Boozer has a home in Miami.

With the Heat now identifying two lottery picks whom they would be comfortable with, and with questions about Beasley, it's looking more and more likely like they are going to trade their pick.
So the question is … who is going to win the Michael Beasley sweepstakes? After talking to numerous sources around the league, here are the top four contenders:

1. Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies have a huge hole at the power forward position (since trading away Pau Gasol) and see Beasley as an elite talent to pair up with Rudy Gay.

The Grizzlies can offer a number of deals that could entice Miami. They could include the No. 5 pick, Mike Miller and the Heat's choice of either Kyle Lowry or Mike Conley. Adding Miller and a point guard would allow the Heat to be very flexible with whomever they draft at No. 5. They could add another guard such as Bayless or they could go big with a player such as Brook Lopez or Kevin Love.

2. Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers can offer the Heat someone Riley desperately covets: Elton Brand. A swap of the No. 2 pick and Marion for Brand and the No. 7 pick works under the salary cap and helps both teams with their needs. Why would Riley pull the trigger on that trade now, when he could just make a run at Brand in free agency next summer? Sources said the Heat would like to get Brand to Miami as soon as they can and lock him up to a long-term extension this fall. At No. 7, it's possible the Heat could still get Bayless.
The Clippers like Marion and Beasley, but they could actually use the No. 2 pick to grab Mayo. Mayo has been coveted by the Clippers for a while.

The Heat would have to weigh their interest in Brand against their desire for Boozer in 2009 in this scenario, however.

3. Seattle SuperSonics
Kevin Durant covets Beasley as a teammate. They were best friends growing up and want to play together. The Sonics think Beasley is the perfect complement to Durant. They'd be willing to take back more salary to make it happen.

Sources say the Sonics are offering the expiring contract of Chris Wilcox, Johan Petro and the No. 4 pick to Miami for the No. 2 pick and Mark Blount. The move would save the Heat some serious money, putting them well below the cap in the summer of 2009.

The Heat would prefer Jeff Green in the deal instead of Wilcox and Petro, but it doesn't appear the Sonics are willing to go that far, even if the Heat dropped Blount from the equation.
A source close to Seattle told Katz that Miami hasn't called about a deal as of Tuesday.

4. Minnesota Timberwolves
The Wolves have been hoping and praying that Beasley somehow falls to them at No. 3. While he's not a perfect fit, they could move Al Jefferson to the 5 and have one of the highest-scoring front lines in the league. However, Beasley falling to No. 3 looks unlikely -- unless the Heat do pull the trigger on Mayo outright at No. 2. Can the Wolves put together a package that works if Beasley doesn't fall?

The Wolves have a few assets that could entice Miami. They actually hold the Heat's 2009 first-round pick, which is top-10 protected. They also have a player who the Heat have interest in: last year's lottery pick, Corey Brewer. If the Wolves really want Beasley, perhaps a return of the Heat's first-round pick and/or Brewer could make it happen.

A source close to Minnesota told Katz, however, that the Heat and the Timberwolves have talked but there was no deal that worked for both teams as of Tuesday night. Sources close to both Seattle and Minnesota also said they would take Mayo if he was on the board when they selected.

Chad Ford covers the NBA for ESPN Insider. Andy Katz covers college basketball for ESPN.com. ESPN - Sources say Heat looking to trade out of No. 2, take guard later - NBA
Photo Credits:
Photo 1:Beasley/Peter Aiken/Getty Images
Photo 2: Mayo/Jamie Squire/Getty Images