Which Way To Fenway?

I know I’m being a bit naive here, but it’s shocking to me that the major American car companies continue to be quoted in the media as being surprised by the sudden downturn in sales, particularly of SUVs and trucks.  This has been coming for years, as outlined in a great piece by Jad Mouawad and Nelson Schwartz of the New York Times (American Energy Policy, Asleep at the Spigot; 7/6/08), and finally has hit a tipping point with the cresting of $4/gallon.  Today’s Times includes a story on GM’s initiatives to build its liquidity position by cutting costs and selling assets, including the elimination of medical benefits for most white collar retirees.  The juxtaposition of a 74-year-old retiree fighting cancer (on a prescription drug costing $2,700/mo.) and a tough quote from Bob Lutz, the well-known GM vice chairman, is startling.  The retiree, William Parker, will lose coverage for his medicine, as part of GM’s moves.  Later in the story, tough-talking Lutz, now 76, in commenting on GM’s prospects, admonishes securities analysts who have been warning of a potential GM bankruptcy: “At some point, these analysts should learn that car companies don’t die that fast.”  Obviously, his quote is not related to the plight of Parker.  But you’ve got to question the forward-thinking and visionary tendencies of GM, whose chief product officer is 76 and long entrenched in Detroit’s insular ways.  I guess it’s because he chomps cigars and is a former Marine pilot.  Guess that makes him qualified to lead GM into the next-generation marketplace.

The synergy of Fox and The Wall Street Journal was in full view on the national stage last night during the 2008 All-Star Game on the Fox TV Network.  Tim McCarver, the long-time baseball analyst and former major league catcher, provided a good three minutes of commentary to a recent Wall Street Journal piece on the rise of great young pitchers from the Dominican Republic.  The July 11 story, by James Wagner, is a look at the young arms coming out of the Dominican, including Edinson Volquez, now an All-Star starting pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds.  Wagner also went into some detail on the emergence of the change-up as the ”preferred” so-called out pitch of young pitchers in that country.  McCarver cited the Journal (”of all places”) as the source of the examination of the trend.  Indeed, Wagner’s story is fascinating and a great read (particularly for sports fans).  I’m now wondering if McCarver knew he was extolling the virtues of a sister company!  Masterful, indeed.  By the way, Volquez went on to give up a two-run bomb to my man, JD Drew of the Boston Red Sox.  As an aside, Josh Groban’s rendition of “God Bless America” during the seventh-inning stretch was incredible, in my humble opinion.  Check it out if you get a chance…

The recession, if we are in one, must be nearing an end.  I just picked up the Zingoz and the chicken iterations of the fast-selling Webkinz plush toys for my two daughters, 7 and 9.  The new versions are in great demand — and prices remain fairly high at about $17 each.  There were literally hundreds of other models to choose from.  I’m not sure that means inventory is high due to slow sales or that the store wanted to ensure all selections were in stock.   I think it’s the latter given the numbers of kids with them in tow….yet another scientific proof point in my ongoing commentary on the economy. 

The death of Tim Russert was a tragedy, no doubt. For someone, anyone, to die at such a young age, 58, is horrible. This might not be a popular opinion, but I’m not quite sure this warranted “breaking news” coverage.  I’m sure he was a great guy, and I’ll miss his work on “Meet the Press.” He was personable, it seemed, on air, and he exuded an everyman’s persona (for me, particularly, through his love of the Buffalo Bills). I guess I’m just not sure the death of an NBC Washington bureau chief warrants breaking news. Regardless, the Russert death is sad, given he was a person who seemed to be a great father, industry colleague, friend and broadcast news pro.

Anne Fisher of Fortune mag’s “Ask Annie” column has a great piece on job interview mistakes made by candidates over the years (June 12, cnnmoney.com).  The story cited a poll of 1,000 executives by Office Team, a staffing firm.  Some of the funniest examples: one job seeker arrived with a cockatoo on his shoulder; another candidate sent his sister in his stead; one applicant asked for a cigarette in the middle of the interview; another fell asleep; while one insulted the interviewer’s tie.   I personally know of a great PR pro (and good friend) who noted a photo of Cal Ripken, the retired Orioles shortstop, on the interviewer’s wall during a job interview a few years ago.   The candidate mentioned something along the lines of Ripken being known as “a high-maintenance pain in the ass” in baseball circles.   To this day, I needle my friend (and remind all job seekers) that if the interviewer has a photo on their wall or desk, it’s probably of someone they admire, like and/or respect.     

According to CBS Sportsline, my main man, Pats head coach Bill Belichick ranked #2 on HR World’s list of “10 Coaches That Could Be Exceptional CEOs.”  As a young PR rep for NYNEX years ago, I think I remember HR World as a rather “ratty, crappy” trade rag, but it’s like my blog.  If you read HR World and/or take a dump in the woods….does anyone see or read it?  Apparently, HR World (short, for Human Resources, that dinosaur-like reference to the corporate personnel department — ergo backwater) listed Belichick’s top trait as a willingness to admit mistakes.  Bill B. is one of the more fascinating personalities on my rather limited horizon, and I’d love to have lunch or coffee with him one day.  However, I think HR World, that so-called pinnacle of human skillsets reporting, is trying to grab a bit of publicity.  Not a bad motive, mind you.   But the poll also cited Denver’s Mike Shanahan, who hasn’t won anything since an Elway was in the NFL. 

I wish someone could explain to me what’s driving the huge marketing push behind groups touting the tax benefits of donating cars to charity.  One of the biggest advertisers, I think, is the American Children’s Society, Inc.  I can’t seem to escape the ads, whether it be morning drive time radio, highway billboards and newspaper print.  I hate to be the cynic, but someone has got to be making money here — given what seems to be the enormous ad sums being spent.

BusinessWeek.com has posted an interesting commentary by one of my clients — Lenovo CEO Bill Amelio.  Lenovo is one of the largest PC makers in the world, an amalgam of the former Legend Holdings of China and IBM’s PC division.  Amelio’s perspective on how today’s global environment and the concept of “worldsourcing” contrast with offshoring and outsourcing has credibility, in my humble opinion, since he’s an American (raised in the Pittsburgh area) now running a company at the fore of the globalization movement.  His leadership team represents the unique cultural composition of Lenovo, with an American CEO based in Singapore, a Chinese Chairman based in Raleigh, N.C., and assorted other executives of different nationalities operating all over the world.  Here’s the link to the piece: 

http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/may2008/tc20080529_101827.htm 
Beyond Outsourcing, to Worldsourcing
We are now in the era of Global 2.0, where successful companies know how to harness ideas and innovations from the fast-growing emerging markets…..

I marched in the Ho-Ho-Kus, N.J., Memorial Day parade yesterday as one of the town’s volunteer firefighters.  My two daughters, Elizabeth, who’s 7, and Julia, 9, also marched with their Girl Scout troops. The scene was right out of a Norman Rockwell painting, with many homes lining the town’s main street adorned with flags and bunting.  The local VFW closed the day with a wreath-laying ceremony to honor U.S. war vets, which included an incredible talk by a local West Point grad, now an Army captain, who has seen service in Afghanistan and Iraq.   He relayed one story about a firefight in Iraq where close air support was called in to protect the soldiers on the ground.  It just so happened that one of the F-16 pilots providing cover that day was one of his closest boyhood friends, a graduate of the Air Force Academy.  It really is incredible when you think about how fate brought these two, who competed as kids in local northern New Jersey baseball and basketball leagues, together years later in battle in a faraway land.  I tend not to get too sentimental/jingoistic, but the parade and ceremony (coupled with incredible weather) really had an impact and made me proud to be an American.   

David Cook’s American Idol victory over David Archuleta this week highlights the importance of image and perception.  While most of the music critics cited Archuleta, 17, as the better singer of the two, the public vote illustrates the power of negative media attention.  Most of the publicity on Archuleta during the final weeks of the contest positioned the poor kid (albeit very talented) as a puppet of an “overbearing and controlling” dad who has been grooming his son since birth for music stardom.  (Does anyone else think Dad is the spittin’ image of Danny Bonaduce of Partridge Family fame?)  Cook, meanwhile, at 25, was by far the more laid back of the two who seemed to be enjoying the surprising ride to fame.  This contrast clearly played into the final voting.