I was willing to let the whole governors Island fiasco die a quiet death until I came across one of the worst pieces of fiction I have ever read-Alison Kelley’s “Manhattan Polo Classic” in the July issue of Polo Players Edition.
Now I’ll excuse the use of creative quotes to stroke the disappointed sponsor-Veuve Clicquot, but the mere fact that she attributed a quote to a “Veuve Clicquot senior representative” makes me feel sorry for her. If she couldn’t even get the “senior representative’s” name, then you’ve got to question her PR credentials and her ability to properly take care of a major corporate sponsor.
Now we all know that it was Alison Kelley on behalf of the NAPL who provided the “public relations and marketing expertise” for the event. The fact that those efforts were pedestrian in nature and evoked a thunder of criticism from the polo community itself seems to have fallen on deaf ears at the NAPL headquarters. She refers to the NAPL’s website as being the “focal point for information before the event”, yet if anyone took the time to look, there was nothing more than a clock counting down the moments until game time. God help you if you wanted to know who was playing, what the handicaps of the teams would be, how many chukkers, the size of the field or how many players on a side. That information was not available. In fact, there was NO information on the site except the countdown clock!
You might also notice that Ms. Kelley is backpedaling when she sets the stage with her mention of the field in her mention that the teams would make the “most out of challenging playing field.” She failed to mention that there were only four players on the field for the first two chukkers.
She opens the next paragraph with a description of the “ancient field reduced in size” and “hugely restrictive logistical requirements” and “two severe thunderstorms”, making no mention of the fact that the preparations were ill conceived, planned with the precision of the Bay of Pigs Invasion and poorly exercised.
Understand that the NAPL has a director of polo operations who seemed to be unaware of the event. He’s a veteran of the game and could certainly have been counted upon to help organize the on-field effort, but it seems that Ms. Kelley shouldered the burden herself-another unwise decision on her part. No flag judges, no officials, not enough players, and the list goes on.
She then rambles into the most bogus statistics I have ever endured. She says that “to date, conservative media figures (FROM WHO, I ASK) substantiate that 20 million hits were generated through pre-event coverage by television, the online press and other media”- is she out of her mind. That kind of coverage would have generated more people than Governors Island could handle, but more importantly is the question of how did she manage to account for the 20 million hits, a number that topped last year’s Super Bowl coverage? Somebody needs to tell her that just because she writes it, it doesn’t make it true. BUT, we’re not done yet. She goes on to say that “MySpace.com news had the potential of reaching another 50 million”, are you reading this, “the potential”. This is unbelievable. She then takes credit for 70 million hits! Call Bellevue, make reservations for one!
Then she reports that “the NAPL website recorded 48,800 hits on May 30”-you can’t really believe that for a second, even if she sneaks in at the end of the statement “together with the GIPEC Web site.” NOTHING IS SUBSTANTIATED!
One can only hope that Ms. Kelley is doing this service (or disservice) as a volunteer, for if she were to receive payment for her transparent efforts she could be accused of robbery.
Ms. Kelley, for your inept efforts I say thanks but no thanks. You had the opportunity of a lifetime and blew it. Fortunately the Governors Island facility will recover, and there will be polo played there again but hopefully Ms. Kelley won’t be called upon to “volunteer” again.
And I was going to let it die until I came across this piece of fiction . . .
3 Comments
st000000731pm08, 42008vUTC07bUTCThu, 31 Jul 2008 12:20:02 +0000 11, 2007 at 08:46p07
I liked this quote found at http://www.govisland.com/Press_Room/05-28-08polo.asp, as well:
NAPL Chief Executive Charles Smith officiating the match commented: “Since New York was the birthplace of polo in 1876, it is exciting to see polo return to Governors Island…
Was New York really the birthplace of polo?
Was it born in 1876 ?
News to me…..
st000000731pm08, 42008vUTC07bUTCThu, 31 Jul 2008 18:50:10 +0000 11, 2007 at 08:46p07
I think what the NAPL’s Chief Executive Officer, Charles Smith mean to say was that polo was first played in America in 1876 at an indoor riding academy in New York City (specifically, Dickel’s Riding Academy, on 43rd Street).
st000000801am08, 52008vUTC08bUTCFri, 01 Aug 2008 00:59:28 +0000 11, 2007 at 08:46p08
What a spin doctor! It seems to me that polo is very difficult to sell to the public. Then, when you put someone in a position to promote the sport with an outstanding venue in the best media market in the world and they end up with egg on their face…something is seriously wrong. The numbers quoted in that story appear to be an outright lie. Major league baseball in New York – with two teams – can’t pull those kind of numbers. I’d like to see some honest validation on all of this. Is anyone paying attention?