Kids win pressers -- except in Philly

This week, man …

First in SIDEbar, a public relations story that had me wondering, really? Next, someone’s words hit on something I’d been thinking about.

There’s a maxim among public relations geeks that when you add kids or puppies to an event, media makes time to cover your story and you automatically win the day.

If you’re Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni, maybe not so much? At least that’s what some reporters wrote earlier this week.

It’s not unusual to see kids with their athlete or coaching parents after games and Sirianni is known to have his on hand when he meets the press after the Eagles play.

Although his team notched a 20-16 win over the Cleveland Browns, October 13, Sirianni didn’t have the easiest day on the job. Having lost two of three heading into that game and his team struggling against a lesser team, he was caught on camera “responding” to fans’ taunts. (He publicly apologized the following day, a good preemptive PR move.)

Back to the kids

It turns out meeting the media with his kids wasn’t the automatic W those things typically bring. Some comments … whew. I listened to his postgame presser and Sirianni respectfully answered reporters’ questions. Despite a few not-cool-for-kids words, I didn’t see anything wrong with continuing the Sirianni family tradition. There are a lot worse things in business to find fault with. (The littlest one had me thoroughly entertained, too.)

I understand reporters want answers to game questions, but I also respect that professional sports is time-consuming. Any chance to remind us that it’s a business, but also a game, is well … human. Without a second thought, Sirianni when asked, said he brought his kids to the presser because he wants them to love the game as much as he does and taking them to his job is one way he does that. He also said they were headed to the field to play catch after time at the table. Be still my heart.

Am I too much of a sap that I didn’t see anything wrong with having the kids there? Maybe. But kids and puppies … they’ll always have my heart. 

© 2024 Gail Sideman, gpublicity.com

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Sh** I’ve been thinking about • The quote below echoed some stuff I’ve thought about lately. Read the post behind the link for context, especially the last half.