VERITAS: FUMBLE -BASEBALL STAR'S PR BLUNDER

As communicators, we aim for the perfect sound bite: one that is short, sweet and to the point. From my years in television, the good clips jump out at you instantly and they don’t require much editing or a lot of explaining. That’s why it’s so important to pick your words wisely. After a sub-par season on the mound, Cole Hamels, a pitcher with the Philadelphia Phillies, struck out with the media this week as well. In his postgame comments after Saturday’s loss in Game 3 of the World Series, Hamels was quoted by reporters as saying, “I can’t wait for it to end. It’s been mentally draining.” His comments sparked outrage amongst many Phillies fans who couldn’t believe an athlete could wish for the season to end when his team is in the midst of the championship of Major League Baseball. It turns out the 2008 World Series MVP’s comments were taken out of context. But before we go and slap the hands of the reporter, we should acknowledge Hamels’ communications Fumble. Here at Veritas, we counsel our clients never to “parrot” outrageous or inflammatory language. If you say it, they can put quotes around it. Hamels was asked if he “couldn’t wait for the season to end” so he could reflect on it. Rather than repeat the reporter’s directed choice of words, Hamels would have been better off talking about how he’s focused on winning the World Series, which is what his fans want to hear. The sound bite can be your best friend or your worst enemy. Don’t say something you don’t want to see in print because as this Russian proverb so aptly states, “Once a word goes out of your mouth, you can never swallow it again.”