Jim Rome came to Cleveland and it SUCKED.

August 30, 2009 at 4:37 pm (Uncategorized)

If you listen to Rome, you know that he is famous for saying, “have a take, and don’t suck.” He did not suck, but the event did.

Marketed as Dinner with a Legend, for Rome and one hundred of his best friends, or those willing to pay to hear and see him in person. The promise was that he would visit each table for photo opps.

Worse than not visiting each table? He visited some! Everyone paid the same amount although not everyone received the same value. Over-promised and under-delivered. It sucked.

Three hours and only 15 minutes of Rome. It sucked.

He finally arrived, spoke for five minutes, and was spirited away to a private room with his sponsors. It sucked.

Forty-five minutes later, he came back to the microphone for vintage Rome.

For fifteen minutes. Then whisked away in a waiting limo for the airport.

Rome rightfully calls out athletes when they act like spoiled children.

This was Rome acting like an athlete!

The lesson here is about our value. We put into our bank of credibility in pennies and nickels. We take out of our bank of credibility in hundred dollar bills. Rome’s visit to Cleveland did not protect his credibility. He came as a thank you to a town that first helped put him on the map of sports respectability, and has helped keep him there. Cleveland, C-Town, is a sports town.

The way his visit was organized hurt his value. Our job is to wake up every morning with the goal to identify our value, protect our value, and communicate our value. No one else has that goal. Not our PR people, not sponsors, not radio stations.

Rome, you did not protect your value. Here is my take, it sucked.