Once again Alexei Auld is back to grill Eugene S. Robinson, author of Fight: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Ass-Kicking but Were Afraid You’d Get Your Ass Kicked for Asking and myself with some PR stumpers from the world of combat sports.
Today’s puzzlers include:
- You’re the UFC. Nate Diaz told ESPN’s Brett Okamoto that he feels conflicted about fighting Robbie Lawler and GSP. “Those are Nick Diaz fights. I’m not trying to step on his shoes. We’ll see how things play out.” With Nate still basking in the glow received from conquering Conor McGregor, and his brother Nick’s eligibility to return from his suspension in August, how do you make them play out?
- You’re Paige VanZant. You endeared yourself to hardcore MMA fans with a bloody, gutty performance against Rose Namajunas. Now, you have a chance to endear yourself to a wider audience as a member of Dancing with the Stars. What preparations are you making to maximize this marketing opportunity?
- You’re Kellogg’s. A two year old video surfaced on Worldstarhiphop last Friday showing one of your workers urinating in a production line where Rice Krispies treats are made. You responded with a statement that any affected products would have been “very limited and past their expiration dates”. Is this enough PR to prevent a new gnome addition to Snap, Crackle, and Pop?
- You’re Brietbart News. Your failure to support one of your reporters who accused Donald Trump’s campaign manager of roughing her up at a Trump event in Jupiter, Florida has resulted in numerous resignations. Your resigning National Security Correspondent went so far as to claim that you are “no longer a journalistic enterprise” but “something resembling an unaffiliated media Super PAC for the Trump campaign”. A resigning editor added, “Brietbart News is becoming less of a news site and more of a propaganda organization dedicated to the Trump campaign”. Buzzfeed reports that multiple others shall follow their lead and leave in shame over your weak leadership. What internal and external PR moves must you make to stop your brand’s hemorrhaging?
- CURVEBALL (KEEPING IT UNDER WRAPS)
- TEACHABLE MOMENT: You’re NJ Governor Chris Christie. After establishing a reputation as a bully by standing up to unions and Democrats, you appeared to be a reasonable Republican by hugging President Obama in wake of his Hurricane Sandy aid, which arguably aided his reelection efforts in 2012, and your presidential prospects in 2016. Until your poor performance in the Republican Primaries ended with a snarky Kamikaze attack that crippled Marco Rubio’s campaign. Your helpless endorsement of Donald Trump not only reminded people of Reek and the gimp from Pulp Fiction, it inspired six newspapers to call for your resignation. On Friday, The Record reported that your security detail for pursuing the presidency, cost New Jersey taxpayers $600,000 for 190 full days you spent out of state in 2015, plus another 71 partial days. And on Monday, Matt Friedman of Politico tweeted that you missed a State Trooper’s funeral to stump for Trump…your third missed officer funeral during this campaign season. Is going full Trump and hoping for a VP slot the only play you can make in wake of your damaged brand?
- EUGENE’S LOST BATTALION/PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH
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Enjoy!