Sol Update: Of Kobe and Correspondents
You're a marketing executive with the third of three pro soccer franchises in the L.A. market fighting for media attention while playing a sport - soccer - often overlooked by the media in the best of times and in fact the Associated Press has informed you they will not cover any of your home games.
If you're the L.A. Sol of Women's Professional Soccer what do you do?
You leverage the star power of an employee of co-owner AEG - Lakers guard and noted soccer fan Kobe Bryant - to introduce the team at a press conference Thursday at Home Depot Center.
It's a meaningless event with no news value, but then it's not aimed at the soccer fan or even the soccer media, it's merely a shameless way to get the Sol on local and perhaps national TV for a few seconds. And good luck to them.
And the pics will be good - 6' 6'' Bryant standing next to 5' 4" Marta - as cameras roll. How calculated is that (and I'll make sure I post a picture).
Considering that, it's no wonder the Sol is seeking a hungry (but not too hungry since the job is unpaid) college writer to cover the team. Here are the details from the Sol:
We are selecting talented, young college writers to encapsulate the organization, players, and community involvement of the Los Angeles Sol.As an Official College Sol Writer you will:
• Cover select games and events for the 2009 Inaugural Season.
• Be published in the Official Sol website.
• Your article will be featured in a weekly Sol Newsletters, sent directly to season ticket holders and fans.
• Have exclusive event, locker room and behind the scenes access.
• Have the opportunity to represent fans and the community.Most importantly the stories are yours to create! You have creative freedom to develop the stories of your choice and we encourage you to build your professional persona. This is an opportunity to showcase your talents for a professional sports organization, network, and build your resume.
Each applicant must submit a portfolio piece [class essay or article] that exhibits their exemplary writing and include a short statement [150 words or less] of what motivates them most about sports writing.
Send all portfolio pieces and statements to ndiaz@aegworldwide.com.
So here's your opportunity for um, little fame and little fortune. And if you get the "job," please, remember us little people.
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About 100 Percent Soccer
Sportswriter Nick Green has written the 100 Percent Soccer column since 2005 for the Daily News, Daily Breeze and other Los Angeles area newspapers. The blog of the same name began in 2007. A native of England, he began writing about soccer in the mid-1980s and in 2000 permanently exchanged a seat in the stands for one in the press box. He lives six miles from Carson's Home Depot Center, home of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Chivas USA and the training headquarters for U.S. Soccer and is married to a long-suffering soccer widow. Join Nick on FaceBook and follow him on Twitter.
WPS and the Sol will really have a hard time with so many distractions. Hope they manage them all though.
Thanks for the support. As a soccer journalist, knowing the challenges any new league faces, to dump on the WPS and their marketing plans is seemingly childish and unfortunate.
As an attendant of the Press Conference today I would say you missed out. It was great and packed with media, from AP to the LA Times to various soccer websites. I guess they didn't get your memo about this being a "meaningless event."
And, at the same time Kobe, is a true soccer and Marta fan. Check your facts. He grew up in Italy and has been a huge soccer fan. He even shared that he had 3 things he wanted to accomplish at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, one of which was to see Marta play. He loves her skill and is excited that she is in LA. He was a fan, who happened to be an NBA star, introducing his soccer idol.
The LA SOL is working to boost women's soccer. Maybe you should to.
Nick replies: Glad you could attend the event. I was busy covering the city of Torrance, which is what I do four days a week.
One day a week (Mondays) I write a soccer column. I also blog (as I'm doing now) before work, at lunch time, and after work. I am not permitted to blog during regular work hours. I also attend all Galaxy, Chivas USA, U.S. national team events and, during this upcoming WPS season, Sol games, unpaid and blog as I do it.
How many hours do you put in to report on soccer unpaid, I wonder?
I know Kobe Bryant is a major soccer fan and noted that in my post. It was still largely a publicity ploy and as a soccer fan, I'm fine with that. As a journalist, it doesn't mean I jump mindlessly at any PR event (but I won't ignore it either - so see the next post).
My job is not to "boost" women's soccer. It is to report on it and place it in the proper context. Precious few journalists in the nation have devoted as much time and space to women's soccer as I have. I respect the game and will continue to do so. Considered criticism is not childish; mindless hype is.
" the Associated Press has informed you they will not cover any of your home games."
Wow, I have to ask, is that true for the entire WPS?! I understand if you can't or don't reply to an individual query but I find this a stunner.
Thanks for your coverage of women's soccer.
Nick replies: I honestly don't know. I, too, find that dispiriting.