Eric Bledsoe to the Timberwolves? Not likely this year...

With the FIBA World Championships over and NBA training camps starting in a few days, there's been a bit of a gap in the news department for NBA fans. So when it came out that the Minnesota Timberwolves were exploring options to acquire Eric Bledsoe in a sign and trade from the Phoenix Suns, the basketball world's collective heads turned and took notice.

Bledsoe is convinced that he is a max-offer type of player. Whether you agree with this or not (I wholeheartedly do not agree), the two sides are apparently pretty far apart in negotiations. The Phoenix Suns offered four years and 48 million dollars. This would help maintain cap flexibility for a young team that played well in the second half of the season and has hopes to crack the playoffs in the west this year. Bledsoe, however, wants a max deal which would pay him 64 million over four years. Neither side intends to yield ground and it has been widely assumed that Bledsoe will sign the qualifying offer and become a unrestricted free agent next year.

But in came the Timberwolves, who have already made a substantial number of moves this summer, saying that they're engaging with the Suns in a sign and trade deal for Bledsoe. This just seems like quite a bit of smoke and no fire to me. The Suns aren't going to let Bledsoe go for anything less than an all-star in return and I am sure that the Timberwolves know this. But now the Timberwolves will definitely be on Bledsoe's radar later in the season and/or next summer if Phoenix doesn't find a suitable deal during the season. This was never about making it happen now. It was about later in the year.

The Timberwolves aren't in any rush to resign Ricky Rubio and many speculate that the organization may not be as in love with him as they were just two years ago. By making noise about Bledsoe and pushing a max offer his way, Minnesota has purposely shown its hand and revealed just how serious it is about making Bledsoe its starting point guard in 2015. It is a move that makes great sense for them as an organization and I think that they made a great decision to start planting the seeds in Bledsoe's mind now. A max contract for him is still a little rich for my blood, but it would be hard to argue with a Wiggins and Bledsoe combo.

LeBron & Woods Swoosh Art Will Likely Land Artist Additional Work

Well, Andy Gellenberg may just land himself some additional business after pulling together pieces of art consisting only of Nike swooshes that make up the faces of LeBron James, Tiger Woods and Paul Rodriguez. To say that they are impressive would be an absolute understatement and I highly recommend that you check them out in the link above.

The German artist shows just how effective simplicity can be in advertising and I wouldn't be surprised if he picked up some ad copy work as a result of these pieces. Kudos to him for a really great project.

Of course, I am sure that Nike doesn't mind the free press at all.

The Arby's Meat Mountain - A Well-Executed PR Campaign

Anyone who has been on the internet in the last two weeks has seen or heard about the new Arby's Meat Mountain - a Frankenstein concoction of greasy meats that would make even Joey Chestnut think twice before attacking it.

Seriously, look at that thing. I felt my heart skip a beat when I laid eyes on it. Image credit: CBS Chicago

Arby's claimed that this off-the-menu item only became an internet phenomenon as more consumers stated hearing about it and demanding its official existence. That this would become an organic request from customers isn't an entirely shocking way for the Meat Mountain to be put on the menu. When I worked at Jamba Juice, there were so many "secret" smoothies that customers would order that we ultimately had official recipes for all of them. I would go to random Jamba's around Portland to see if I could get the same ones and, sure enough, they all made them the same way. 

With this in mind, it wouldn't shock me if this was something that a few customers asked for, told their friends about and unintentionally started a grassroots effort to make the Meat Mountain an official Arby's sandwich. Customer is always right in the service industry, right?

Slate's L.V. Anderson didn't seem to think that this was an organic request from consumers, but, rather, a well-orchestrated PR campaign from Arby's that the company planted in a few strategic areas and watched the story go viral. She essentially concludes that it does look like that there was some organic demand for the sandwich, but that Arby's likely played a big part in pushing it forward.

Going off that premise, this is one hell of a job from the Arby's PR team. I am willing to bet that they heard from a few stores that said customers were requesting this and they saw an opportunity to turn it into a full-blown campaign. Landing pieces in major outlets across the country over a two week period is the definition of viral. The sandwich had its own hashtag on Twitter for a day or two.

Companies are always looking to take a campaign or story viral. It is enough to make a PR person's eyes roll so hard that they freeze. That response is generally warranted because what it takes for a story to go viral these days is still a bit of a mystery. There are certain elements of a viral campaign that will be essential for companies to have in place, but, at the end of the day, if customers don't take up the cause then the campaign will fall flat on its face. A lot of times it is dumb luck what catches on and what doesn't. But a company can help propel a campaign to viral status if it takes off with the public initially.

Arby's executed particularly well on a couple of tactics that helped the Meat Mountain really explode. First, they let the customers have control of the creation. As a consumer, if I hear that this product is being pushed solely by the company, it's motivations are obvious - sales and greater revenue. But since this demand and request for the sandwich came from the consumer and Arby's then gave in and added it to the menu, it gave it authenticity that wouldn't have existed from a traditional introduction. Putting the power in the hands of the consumer is a risky strategy, but it can pay huge dividends ultimately.

Second, Arby's let the buzz build for a while before it really addressed the sandwich. The company was fairly mum on it when it first started appearing across social channels and eyes slowly started turning towards them on when they would officially respond. Arby's timed its response well and extended the news cycle around the sandwich, which is no small feat when we're talking about fast food.

Third, they played the hero by giving the customer what they wanted. Obviously Arby's had to do cost-profit analysis to make sure that this sandwich made sense for them, but that's not how it is presented when the company "gives in" to the consumer demand. It demonstrates that the company values its customer base's opinion and is committed to making the sandwiches that they want to eat, gimmicky or not.

Sure, this campaign was a little too smooth and effective to have simply been organically created, but who cares? Arby's PR team should treat themselves to a steak dinner to celebrate because they earned it.

Nike Just Made Kevin Durant A Very, Very Rich Man

Can't blame Under Armour for the attempt, at least.

The company offered Kevin Durant a ten year deal that would pay him more than $260 million dollars over that time in an effort to steal away one of the most valuable pieces of Nike's army of athletes. Unfortunately for Under Armour, Nike had a clause in Durant's original contract that would allow them to match any offer from a competitor. I sure hope that lawyer who included that clause in the contract got a nice bonus as a result.

Nike, unsurprisingly, decided to match the offer. While Under Armour bet the house by going after Durant, resigning him was an absolute no-brainer for Nike. Under Armour is certainly going to make Nike pay a little more than it was hoping - reports were that Nike offered an initial deal that would pay Durant only $20 million - the Swoosh really only had one choice in the situation.

Some experts speculated that the steep price may keep Nike from resigning Durant. They already boast the biggest collection of valuable marketing assets in the world when it comes to basketball, so if they had to let one go, it wouldn't be the end of the world. But Nike is smart enough to know that while shelling out a little extra money may hurt the bottom line at the end of the day, keeping the third most recognizable basketball player in the world (LeBron and Kobe being #1 & #2, respectively) under their contract and not a major competitor like Under Armour is critical for future success.

Under Armour is trying to break into the basketball market that long has been held by Nike and Adidas. It recently picked up Steph Curry as an endorser, but it knows that it needs to land a whale in order to really make a splash. That's why the aggressive move to go after Durant made sense. It would give them immediate credibility and open up the company to greater international reach, somewhere where the company has lagged behind Nike and Adidas, especially in basketball.

But I would not be surprised if Nike was prepared months earlier for a massive bid and simply needed to see exactly how much it would cost the company. Because at the end of the day, this really won't cost Nike too much. Durant's signature shoes fly off the shelves. As long as he continues to perform at the same level he has, which following an unbelievable MVP season isn't unlikely, those shoes will keep selling and Nike will keep stacking cash.

Sure, $300 million is no small amount. But Nike has proven time and time again that it makes the most out of every single dollar it puts into sponsorships. The company's marketing panache practically ensures that they'll get ridiculous ROI from Durant. And, perhaps more importantly, it's left a competitor empty-handed and pondering the next big move it must make to take on the king.

Tips for internal communications at a PR agency

In the short time that I have been in the PR field, I've found that sometimes, unfortunately, PR people can be some of the worst when it comes to communications. We become so wrapped up in serving our clients that we lose track of how we conduct business internally.

One of the areas that is frequently overlooked is how we handle internal communications. It should be a safe assumption that those who specialize in communicating with external audiences would have no issues communicating with each other. But that would make both me and you an ass.

When there are changes or developments taking place within an agency, generally the first thought becomes what effects they will have on the clients. This is a reasonable thought process given that PR agencies depend on the clients they serve. This can become the spotlight, however, and push aside the issue of addressing your own workforce. But missing out on this critical step can reduce the trust between management and the rest of the company.

Many of the same rules for external communications apply when distributing news across internal teams:

Be as transparent as possible: there is no catch-all for how much information you should divulge to your teams, but I believe in erring on the side of as much detail as possible where possible. If you don't present enough facts, rumors will develop and spread faster than a wildfire. Identifying the key points that you can share with limited repercussions is a good place to start.

Roll out any communications by level accordingly: while transparency is extremely important, understanding that some discretion for who learns the news when will help with message control. Start with management and work your way down. This will also make sure that teams can find out directly from their managers, rather than other teams or executives that they do not personally know.

Move quickly: this one also has to do with message control. Just as with any type of communications, you want to be the one who sets the dialogue's course. Emphasize the most important points, but don't ignore or deflect the tough questions. If these are not answered at the start, it may appear that you're hiding facts.

Consider the medium: depending on the news and the size of the agency, it may make sense to simply send out an email. Other issues will call for an in-person meeting or video conference. Before executing on a plan, think carefully about what medium will be most likely to foster a healthy discussion and create trust between you and the workforce.

One of the most important things to remember when communicating internally is that there is no one-size-fits-all approach. We don't (or, at least, shouldn't) do a cookie cutter approach for our clients and we shouldn't use one for ourselves. Plans should be made in advance, when possible, to outline the objectives, strategies and tactics for your internal communications platform. As with most parts of this job, having a framework prepared ahead of time will help expedite this process. 

Don't get caught with your pants around your ankles. Or your first step will leave you flat on your face and your workforce wondering what the hell just happened. 

TTBG #7 - The service industry is not a punching bag

There are very few things in this world that irritate me as much as when I see an individual being rude to a waiter, bartender, server, cashier or any other of the almost 120k service industry employees in the United States today.

The sense of entitlement that I have seen from some individuals and groups is downright disrespectful. Yes, when you go out to eat or order something like ice cream, you are paying for the service in addition to the product that you receive (note: if you argue that you are just paying for the product and are therefore exempt from something like tipping at dinner, please, show yourself the door). And with this exchange of goods comes a certain level of congeniality from the service provider that we have come to expect.

Unfortunately, some people seem to think that they deserve greater amounts of respect than the average customer. Some don't see the value of reciprocating this respect. Many don't even bother attempting to hide their blatant disinterest in the service employee.

This is not what a gentleman does.

A good rule of thumb that I abide by is to treat any service employee with the same amount of respect that I would a friend of a friend. If I am out to a restaurant, I have either been there before or have an interest in it. The server/host/waiter then becomes an extension of the restaurant. Just as I am willing to give the restaurant a chance, I will give their employees one too.

This is the same of a friend of a friend. I have a direct relationship with my friend and I will extend that same level of respect to his friend as I would him. Odds are that you may never see your friend's friend again, but you certainly do not want to cause any problems or leave a negative image lasting in his mind. This should be the same mentality when speaking with individuals in the service industry.

I'm not saying that you need to become best friends with every cashier, waiter or teenage ice cream scooper you encounter. Nor am I saying that you don't have a right to be upset if an order is mistaken or you are treated rudely. This is strictly for your first interactions with the individuals. Treating these employees with respect from the onset will leave a lasting impression on that individual, as well as any others around you, and that's what a gentleman does.

TTBG #6: Matching Your Leathers
TTBG #5: Thankful All Through The Year
TTBG #4: Hats Are For Outside, Not The Restaurant

Damian Lillard cut from team USA and I'm okay with it

Team USA made its final cuts just ahead of the FIBA World Championships and the last of those who missed the cut were Gordon Hayward, Chandler Parsons, Kyle Korver and Damian Lillard.

As a Portland Trail Blazers fan, my first instinct is to be upset about Lillard getting cut. I understand why he was since it was essentially between him and Kyrie for the final point guard spot. There was no chance that either Derrick Rose or Steph Curry got the axe. So between Irving and Lillard, one had to go. I think that you can make a strong argument for either point guard deserving the nod, but Irving certainly benefitted from Mike Kryzewski and his Duke connection. Regardless, team USA enters the tournament with a host of offensive options with Rose, Curry and Irving as the ball handlers.

Now, I am sure that many Blazer fans are upset about team USA's decision. But when I stop and think about it, I'm strangely okay with it. First, the World Championships are not the Olympics. While they certainly have a degree of prestige, at the end of the day, I care significantly more about team USA bringing home the gold at the Olympics than I do at the World Championships. Most countries do not field their A teams at the World Championships (case in point, team USA), so while winning is exciting, it certainly isn't an indication of the best basketball country in the world. Sure, it would be great to have seen Lillard don a USA jersey, but I have much less invested as a USA fan in the World Championships.

The other main reason that I'm okay with Lillard missing the team is tied to the above: I would rather see Lillard get the additional rest in the months of August and September before heading into the NBA season in October. The Blazers will have to battle through the Western Conference, which is deeper now than it has ever been, for 82 games before hitting the playoffs. Lillard is only entering his third year and last year was his first in the playoffs. It is tough to stay sharp for 90+ games of an NBA season, especially after playing competitively through the summer months, and I'd bet that he can attest to that after the Spurs series in May.

My interest level for team USA at the World Championships is definitely lower than that of my interest in seeing the Blazers make an extended run in the playoffs in 2015. Lillard already got some of the benefits of practicing and playing with team USA and I hope that he absorbed what it really looks like on the most elite level. He's made incredible strides as a player, but he can still achieve a great deal more, especially on the defensive end.

I'd like to see Lillard take his experience in this winning culture and bring it back to the Blazers. Aldridge is the unquestioned leader of this team, but there's no doubt that Lillard made his mark on this franchise. Use the cut as motivation because now the Blazers' expectations are higher. The competition is more fierce. And I want my point guard fully ready to go on day one, even if it means missing out on team USA.