Andrew Bogut - His Big Media Blunder And What You Can Learn From It

Andrew Bogut, the Australian basketballer is now officially in the top four of Australia's sporting rich list after signing a five-year deal with the Milwaukee Bucks worth about $37 million.

This comes after being selected No. 1 overall in the NBA draft recently.

Media reports suggest "his earnings are expected to soar even higher when endorsements and sponsorship deals are factored in."

For example, the 213-cm or 7-foot tall basketballer has already picked up a Nike contract that is reportedly worth $6.7 million over the next five years and Bogut is in line for a sports drink endorsement.

But his media comments critical of famous Australian names such as Luc Longley, Andrew Gaze and Shane Heal, could damage his personal brand.

What he needs is media training to be able to handle the world's media spotlight.

Here's what he said in the media limelight on signing.

"I think I'm much more competitive and much more of a winner than a lot of those guys.

"With those guys, over their careers they didn't really show much improvement,"

Ouch! When you throw comments like that out in the public arena you can't take them back.

And, while he may be confident, the media love conflict, especially a cynical Australian media.

And he's learnt fast how undisciplined comments can come undone.

Especially at critical moments such as his signing when he's in the public eye.

He's now having to clarify his comments every time he speaks to the media as his comments at a recent media conference indicate.

"I wanna say something before I start, to everybody," Bogut said. "I'm not answering questions about the whole Luc Longley issue. I'm not commenting on it. It was taken out of context."

So, a tough lesson for the 20-year old from Melbourne with Croatian parents.

How could he have handled it better?

Here are five lessons from the Bogut Media Blunder.

1. Don't Pass Judgments On Others In Public
Keep your personal views to yourself.

2. Compliment, Don't Criticise
Always compliment others and be positive.

3. Be Humble
Confidence is good but those who are most influential link this with humility.

4. Let Your Actions Speak For Themselves
Enough said.

5. Get Good Advisors Around You
In this case, this whole stoush could have been avoided with good advice and some clear thinking and coaching prior to his media conference.

Thomas Murrell MBA CSP is an international business speaker, consultant and award-winning broadcaster. Media Motivators is his regular electronic magazine read by 7,000 professionals in 15 different countries.

You can subscribe by visiting http://www.8mmedia.com. Thomas can be contacted directly at +6189388 6888 and is available to speak to your conference, seminar or event. Visit Tom's blog at http://www.8mmedia.blogspot.com.

---

This is the Power of PR

The power of public relations is its ability to alter... Read More

PR - More Than News Releases

Public relations and news releases are synonymous in the minds... Read More

A Guide to Optimizing Public Relations Content

This guide to "SEOing" your PR efforts can help you... Read More

Publicity Wont Thrive on Press Releases Alone

Press releases are a useful tool for announcing news and... Read More

Do-It-Yourself PR: An Accident Waiting to Happen

Early in my career as a public relations consultant, I... Read More

Cultivating Positive Media Relationships

Some people think that publicity is all about paparazzi snapping... Read More

CD ROM Business Cards

Created properly, an extremely effective marketing tool.It's a great concept,... Read More

Want To Join the Bandwagon? Be Sure It Has Wheels!

Here are two to-the-point questions recently posed by several association... Read More

Write Press Releases That Dazzle

When a reporter is wowed, intrigued, surprised or captivated by... Read More

Making the News - Tips from A News Journalist

What makes a good media release and how do you... Read More

Can Your PR Do This?

Can your PR do something positive about the behaviors of... Read More

Attention Owners of Food Related Businesses: How to Get Publicity Any Time You Want

Attention: Who Else Wants To Get Publicity Whenever You Want... Read More

Media Training: Three Reasons to (Almost) Always Stay On-The-Record

The words are pop culture heroes.Movies such as "The Insider,"... Read More

Same Old, Same Old PR Still Tops

Like human nature over time, the power of good public... Read More

Public Relations Productivity

Should it be measured in "publicity by the pound," or... Read More

How PR Helps Fiercely Competitive Managers

Fiercely combative business, non-profit and association managers use every PR... Read More

Public Relations: Power Tool for the 21st Century

I address this article to businesses, associations, non-profits and public... Read More

What Does Your Telephone Say About You When You Are Away?

Business to Business relationships come to expect a certain level... Read More

5 Critical Tests Every Press Release Must Pass

You've heard "them" say it, haven't you?By "them" I mean... Read More

7 Tips to Get More Mileage Out of Your Online or Offline Publicity

You worked hard to get a story on your business... Read More

A Blueprint for Managing your PR

OK, as a manager, your goal is to show a... Read More

Media Relations: Making Your Story More Newsworthy

During my career as the head of media relations for... Read More

A Sensible Way to Use PR

The most sensible way for business, non-profit or association managers... Read More

Publicity - What to Say to a Reporter

You can have dozens of marvelous ideas to get free... Read More

Advertising and Community Relations -- Get the Best of Both Worlds

Have you ever noticed that in communities without big universities,... Read More

How To Get Radio-Active PR For Your Non-Profit Cause-Part One

"We are in the communications business, the business of conveying... Read More

Life After Press Release Distribution?

A few weeks ago I was participating on an on-line... Read More

Public Relations Primer Part III: 10 Donts

There are all kinds of smart moves professionals can make... Read More

The Most Important PR In America

Just happens to be public relations activity that alters individual... Read More

How To Get Radio-Active PR For Your Non-Profit Cause: Part Three of Three

HOW TO BE RELAXED AND EFFECTIVE ON-AIRHow does one stay... Read More

The Increasing Power Of Publicity - And How It Can Benefit Your Business

The call came into my office and the voice on... Read More

Media Savvy - How To Lead, Persuade, And Influence

Media management has become one of the strategic tools for... Read More

Do I Really Need a Publicist?

Are you hesitating about hiring a publicist or, if you... Read More