I saw a blurb by Gabe Lacques in the Detroit Free Press and thought it was worth a few more words.  In my years of media training, I’m always trying to get my attendees to understand how to respond to the media in a positive light even when negative coverage surrounds them.  I always tell them you can manage the media, but you can’t control it. (More on managing the media in a later blog).  The following is a good example of this.

Bengie Molina is a Gold Glove winning catcher for the San Francisco Giants.  He understands and accepts that he is the slowest player in the major leagues.  What he couldn’t accept was the fact that ESPN made fun of his slow running.  They showed him trying to score from second base after an error by the Florida Marlins.  The play was backed by the theme music from The Chariots of Fire and Molina getting tagged out at home plate was the punch line according to Mr. Lacques.   

Molina was quoted as saying, “I have always been the slowest guy.  I can’t challenge that criticism.  But ESPN’s intention was not to criticize but to humiliate.  I take what I do very seriously, which is why–despite my obvious lack of speed–I have manged to play in the major leagues for 11 seasons.  I play hard.  I play hurt.  I respect the game, my teammates, the press, the fans….”   He went on to say, and I’m paraphrasing, that he realizes he’s a public figure and he’s going to be scrutinized,  but he’d like the folks at ESPN who tend to make fun of athletes from a protective distance “to remember that players are actual people”.  Congratulations to Molina for an eloquent quote and thanks to Gabe Lacques for bringing it to our attention.