Lochte Robbery Story: True or False

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I, like many regulars on DCUM, am a licensed attorney. Robbery is a specific intent crime. You must have the specific intent to 'steal that which is not yours by threats of violence'. In this case, the security officers were seeking payment for the damage to the gas station. That was there INTENT for legal purposes. There WAS NO ROBBERY under US law. I cannot speak to Brazilian law.

They negotiated a deal with these people. There was no 'robbery'. As a lawyer, it is laughable to hear the repeated chanting of this when there is NO legal basis for it. NONE.

In the US, you cannot put a gun to a creditors head and say give me your f-ing wallet. That is ARMED ROBBERY.

Ever heard of a bounty hunter? Please, don't keep piping up about that which have such a feeble understanding.

Goodness. That's not how being a "bounty hunter" works.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Speaking as a publicist, I would NEVER have allowed Ryan to do this interview. At least not yet. He didn't need to "explain himself" to the public or to his sponsors - not like this. There was absolutely no need for him to take more time away from other Olympians and the end of the Olympic games. The proper protocol would have been for him to wait until AFTER the games, as he has already taken so much away from the games and other competitors. So much air time has been devoted to covering his shenanigans, that he just should've laid low for a few more days.

He was also completely unprepared and you can tell he had absolutely no media training prior to this. This is what happens when you use a lawyer for your crisis PR needs instead of pairing the lawyer up with a true publicist who is experienced in this realm. Ryan needed to work with a trainer this weekend on everything from his posture to his language to his enunciation. You can tell that they didn't prepare answers in advance either, as he kept going back to being intoxicated. His sponsors DO NOT want to hear this and they certainly DO NOT want to hear it repeated like an excuse.

It's so unprofessional that he was allowed to do this interview, and that he was allowed to do it without anyone to guide him. He ends up looking like even more of a loser and he did nothing that would make his sponsors think this is a guy they should keep on paying. I feel for him, I really do, and I hope he at least thinks about hiring someone in the PR world - not just for any future interviews he does, but also to control how he re-enters the world of social media and to prevent any future issues like his upcoming birthday party in Vegas that coincides with his gf's paid appearance. He needs to totally avoid any upcoming partying, he honestly needs to send the Playboy playmate packing for now as she's not a good look for him either, and he needs to do some major re-branding and re-imaging before re-emerging in the public eye.

He does have a PR guy, and apparently a well known one: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ryan-lochte-enlists-pr-guru-920853.

Honestly, I didn't think the interview was that bad. Yes, he said he was drunk a lot, but, hey, he was being honest. And he said "tantics," but probably just mixed a couple words (antics and tantrum maybe??) I thought some of his answer were spot on -- e.g., when ML asked him what his punishment should be and he said something like "that's not my call." ML was an ass, IMO -- acting like it's ridiculous for Lochte to think he was robbed -- like it's normal to get a gun pointed at you for damage to a poster. All this ass kissing for Rio is so over the top.

And even the suggestion that Lochte should be banned from swimming for life is absurd. Phelps got a DUI for driving 84 mph in a 45 zone, and he wasn't banned for life. A number of swimmers at the Olympics had previously tested positive for banned substances, yet they weren't banned for life. Kobe Bryant was accused of sexual assault, yet he has represented us at the Olympics more than once. I'm sure the list could go on and on.

As you can see, I addressed the "PR guy" he has in my post. The guy he hired is a lawyer who handles crisis PR situation, but from the legal angle, not from the public relations angle. There's a big difference. Yes, the lawyer is well-known, but in these situations, the best advice is to tag team with a lawyer and a publicist. A publicist knows the nuances of the interviews, a publicist has done so many of these interviews that they can anticipate the questions or even use their connections to get a little inside scoop on the angle of the interview questions, and they can work with the client on how to speak, what words to use and what things to maybe avoid repeating over and over again. The interview was actually really bad and I just hope he holds off on saying / doing anything more for a good while.

Well Hiltzik must have a great PR guy because--even though Hiltzik is not a "real" PR guy, according to you--he's referred to a "PR guru," "PR expert," etc.

I could have anticipated the questions ML asked Ryan. It's not like they were out of left field. Lochte isn't an actor, he's not a politician -- he's a swimmer. He spends hours upon hours with his head in the water staring at a black line. And I don't think he's especially quick or bright. I don't think the best PR expert in the world could have made that interview any better. Maybe the timing was off, maybe the apology in Brazil should have been later. But the bottom line is Ryan Lochte is Ryan Lochte. And while admitting that he was drunk may not be ideal, it's better than saying he was sober and just lied. Plus, Phelps had a serious drinking problem and has plenty of endorsements still.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Speaking as a publicist, I would NEVER have allowed Ryan to do this interview. At least not yet. He didn't need to "explain himself" to the public or to his sponsors - not like this. There was absolutely no need for him to take more time away from other Olympians and the end of the Olympic games. The proper protocol would have been for him to wait until AFTER the games, as he has already taken so much away from the games and other competitors. So much air time has been devoted to covering his shenanigans, that he just should've laid low for a few more days.

He was also completely unprepared and you can tell he had absolutely no media training prior to this. This is what happens when you use a lawyer for your crisis PR needs instead of pairing the lawyer up with a true publicist who is experienced in this realm. Ryan needed to work with a trainer this weekend on everything from his posture to his language to his enunciation. You can tell that they didn't prepare answers in advance either, as he kept going back to being intoxicated. His sponsors DO NOT want to hear this and they certainly DO NOT want to hear it repeated like an excuse.

It's so unprofessional that he was allowed to do this interview, and that he was allowed to do it without anyone to guide him. He ends up looking like even more of a loser and he did nothing that would make his sponsors think this is a guy they should keep on paying. I feel for him, I really do, and I hope he at least thinks about hiring someone in the PR world - not just for any future interviews he does, but also to control how he re-enters the world of social media and to prevent any future issues like his upcoming birthday party in Vegas that coincides with his gf's paid appearance. He needs to totally avoid any upcoming partying, he honestly needs to send the Playboy playmate packing for now as she's not a good look for him either, and he needs to do some major re-branding and re-imaging before re-emerging in the public eye.

Do you know that he doesn't have a professional publicist? Because a publicist could recommend all this stuff, but he doesn't have to listen. (If he wants the Playboy va-jay, he wants the Playboy va-jay.)

Publicist PP here. I know for a fact that he doesn't have a crisis publicist to help guide him through this incident. He hired a lawyer who handles crisis situations, but that lawyer is more knowledgable on the legal side of things, less on the media training / actual public relations side of things. (that lawyer also made it abundantly clear that he didn't want to work with anyone else) And there's a huge difference between the two. Really, it was his team (manager, coach, regular publicist) who pushed for the lawyer, because Ryan didn't want to be bothered with doing it himself. He also didn't feel he needed to spend more money on hiring people, and you can't handle situations like this on the cheap. It does cost money, but it is well worth it so that you don't continue to look like an ass in front of the world. Plenty of talented people offered to help him and his team just let it all ride on this lawyer.

For example, earlier tonight, Lochte issued an apology on Brazilian tv tonight, but anyone in the PR world knows that you don't do that on the same night that Brazil beat Germany for the gold medal in soccer. You let the country have their night to celebrate. You let the country get through the games, and before you do anything with US media, you give Brazilian tv the apology. Then you call Matt Lauer and invite him in your home to do the interview. But you make it about Brazil first. These may seem like subtle or even unnecessary things to some people, but this is how you successfully orchestrate a crisis PR campaign when you are about to get banned from your sport and when sponsors have already said they are watching your every move. You don't leave things to chance and you certainly don't think about the few thousands of dollars you have to shell out now - you think of the long term and what you can gain by having the proper team in place to handle all this.

Very interesting. Thanks for your take.

There's no way he's getting banned from swimming. He'll get suspended like Phelps did for his DUI.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Speaking as a publicist, I would NEVER have allowed Ryan to do this interview. At least not yet. He didn't need to "explain himself" to the public or to his sponsors - not like this. There was absolutely no need for him to take more time away from other Olympians and the end of the Olympic games. The proper protocol would have been for him to wait until AFTER the games, as he has already taken so much away from the games and other competitors. So much air time has been devoted to covering his shenanigans, that he just should've laid low for a few more days.

He was also completely unprepared and you can tell he had absolutely no media training prior to this. This is what happens when you use a lawyer for your crisis PR needs instead of pairing the lawyer up with a true publicist who is experienced in this realm. Ryan needed to work with a trainer this weekend on everything from his posture to his language to his enunciation. You can tell that they didn't prepare answers in advance either, as he kept going back to being intoxicated. His sponsors DO NOT want to hear this and they certainly DO NOT want to hear it repeated like an excuse.

It's so unprofessional that he was allowed to do this interview, and that he was allowed to do it without anyone to guide him. He ends up looking like even more of a loser and he did nothing that would make his sponsors think this is a guy they should keep on paying. I feel for him, I really do, and I hope he at least thinks about hiring someone in the PR world - not just for any future interviews he does, but also to control how he re-enters the world of social media and to prevent any future issues like his upcoming birthday party in Vegas that coincides with his gf's paid appearance. He needs to totally avoid any upcoming partying, he honestly needs to send the Playboy playmate packing for now as she's not a good look for him either, and he needs to do some major re-branding and re-imaging before re-emerging in the public eye.

He does have a PR guy, and apparently a well known one: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ryan-lochte-enlists-pr-guru-920853.

Honestly, I didn't think the interview was that bad. Yes, he said he was drunk a lot, but, hey, he was being honest. And he said "tantics," but probably just mixed a couple words (antics and tantrum maybe??) I thought some of his answer were spot on -- e.g., when ML asked him what his punishment should be and he said something like "that's not my call." ML was an ass, IMO -- acting like it's ridiculous for Lochte to think he was robbed -- like it's normal to get a gun pointed at you for damage to a poster. All this ass kissing for Rio is so over the top.

And even the suggestion that Lochte should be banned from swimming for life is absurd. Phelps got a DUI for driving 84 mph in a 45 zone, and he wasn't banned for life. A number of swimmers at the Olympics had previously tested positive for banned substances, yet they weren't banned for life. Kobe Bryant was accused of sexual assault, yet he has represented us at the Olympics more than once. I'm sure the list could go on and on.

As you can see, I addressed the "PR guy" he has in my post. The guy he hired is a lawyer who handles crisis PR situation, but from the legal angle, not from the public relations angle. There's a big difference. Yes, the lawyer is well-known, but in these situations, the best advice is to tag team with a lawyer and a publicist. A publicist knows the nuances of the interviews, a publicist has done so many of these interviews that they can anticipate the questions or even use their connections to get a little inside scoop on the angle of the interview questions, and they can work with the client on how to speak, what words to use and what things to maybe avoid repeating over and over again. The interview was actually really bad and I just hope he holds off on saying / doing anything more for a good while.

Well Hiltzik must have a great PR guy because--even though Hiltzik is not a "real" PR guy, according to you--he's referred to a "PR guru," "PR expert," etc.

I could have anticipated the questions ML asked Ryan. It's not like they were out of left field. Lochte isn't an actor, he's not a politician -- he's a swimmer. He spends hours upon hours with his head in the water staring at a black line. And I don't think he's especially quick or bright. I don't think the best PR expert in the world could have made that interview any better. Maybe the timing was off, maybe the apology in Brazil should have been later. But the bottom line is Ryan Lochte is Ryan Lochte. And while admitting that he was drunk may not be ideal, it's better than saying he was sober and just lied. Plus, Phelps had a serious drinking problem and has plenty of endorsements still.

Hiltzik DOES have a great PR team behind him, yes. But just because someone is called something, it doesn't mean they have the background or credentials to do that work as well as someone who is immersed in it day in and day out. I'm not going to argue this back and forth with you - you can think whatever you want.

While the questions weren't out of left-field, you could tell that Lauer's tone caught Ryan off guard. Media training doesn't make someone an actor or a politician, but it does adequately prepare them for such interviews and it is even more imperative for people who typically aren't giving interviews, like Ryan. What I posted in no way says that he should have lied about anything or said that he was sober, but you can address the state of mind you were in without repeating that you were intoxicated. It's all about word choice, or lack thereof in Lochte's case. And with regards to Phelps, I distinctly remember that he lost Kellogs in 2009, as a result of his antics. He has much bigger star power than Lochte does though, and Lochte's single gold medal at these Olympics doesn't make him all that valuable to sponsors who can easily move on to another athlete. A younger one, a fresher and newer face, and one without Ryan's track record of being the fun party guy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Speaking as a publicist, I would NEVER have allowed Ryan to do this interview. At least not yet. He didn't need to "explain himself" to the public or to his sponsors - not like this. There was absolutely no need for him to take more time away from other Olympians and the end of the Olympic games. The proper protocol would have been for him to wait until AFTER the games, as he has already taken so much away from the games and other competitors. So much air time has been devoted to covering his shenanigans, that he just should've laid low for a few more days.

He was also completely unprepared and you can tell he had absolutely no media training prior to this. This is what happens when you use a lawyer for your crisis PR needs instead of pairing the lawyer up with a true publicist who is experienced in this realm. Ryan needed to work with a trainer this weekend on everything from his posture to his language to his enunciation. You can tell that they didn't prepare answers in advance either, as he kept going back to being intoxicated. His sponsors DO NOT want to hear this and they certainly DO NOT want to hear it repeated like an excuse.

It's so unprofessional that he was allowed to do this interview, and that he was allowed to do it without anyone to guide him. He ends up looking like even more of a loser and he did nothing that would make his sponsors think this is a guy they should keep on paying. I feel for him, I really do, and I hope he at least thinks about hiring someone in the PR world - not just for any future interviews he does, but also to control how he re-enters the world of social media and to prevent any future issues like his upcoming birthday party in Vegas that coincides with his gf's paid appearance. He needs to totally avoid any upcoming partying, he honestly needs to send the Playboy playmate packing for now as she's not a good look for him either, and he needs to do some major re-branding and re-imaging before re-emerging in the public eye.

He does have a PR guy, and apparently a well known one: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ryan-lochte-enlists-pr-guru-920853.

Honestly, I didn't think the interview was that bad. Yes, he said he was drunk a lot, but, hey, he was being honest. And he said "tantics," but probably just mixed a couple words (antics and tantrum maybe??) I thought some of his answer were spot on -- e.g., when ML asked him what his punishment should be and he said something like "that's not my call." ML was an ass, IMO -- acting like it's ridiculous for Lochte to think he was robbed -- like it's normal to get a gun pointed at you for damage to a poster. All this ass kissing for Rio is so over the top.

And even the suggestion that Lochte should be banned from swimming for life is absurd. Phelps got a DUI for driving 84 mph in a 45 zone, and he wasn't banned for life. A number of swimmers at the Olympics had previously tested positive for banned substances, yet they weren't banned for life. Kobe Bryant was accused of sexual assault, yet he has represented us at the Olympics more than once. I'm sure the list could go on and on.

As you can see, I addressed the "PR guy" he has in my post. The guy he hired is a lawyer who handles crisis PR situation, but from the legal angle, not from the public relations angle. There's a big difference. Yes, the lawyer is well-known, but in these situations, the best advice is to tag team with a lawyer and a publicist. A publicist knows the nuances of the interviews, a publicist has done so many of these interviews that they can anticipate the questions or even use their connections to get a little inside scoop on the angle of the interview questions, and they can work with the client on how to speak, what words to use and what things to maybe avoid repeating over and over again. The interview was actually really bad and I just hope he holds off on saying / doing anything more for a good while.

Well Hiltzik must have a great PR guy because--even though Hiltzik is not a "real" PR guy, according to you--he's referred to a "PR guru," "PR expert," etc.

I could have anticipated the questions ML asked Ryan. It's not like they were out of left field. Lochte isn't an actor, he's not a politician -- he's a swimmer. He spends hours upon hours with his head in the water staring at a black line. And I don't think he's especially quick or bright. I don't think the best PR expert in the world could have made that interview any better. Maybe the timing was off, maybe the apology in Brazil should have been later. But the bottom line is Ryan Lochte is Ryan Lochte. And while admitting that he was drunk may not be ideal, it's better than saying he was sober and just lied. Plus, Phelps had a serious drinking problem and has plenty of endorsements still.

Exactly.

This is not a hypothetical about how you might imagine fixing a PR crisis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Recap for those who haven't heard: Ryan Lochte & three other US Olympic swim team members were allegedly robbed at gun point Sunday evening. Now a Brazil judge has issued an order to seize Lochte & Feigen's passports, as Brazil want to hold both for further questioning.

Lochte's attorney says he is already back in the US and has no plans to return for follow up questioning.

Do you think the account was made up? I can't figure out a motive, and think it's odd that FOUR individuals would be in on a false account. At the same time it seems quite coincidental that out of all of the athletes, this happened to Lochte.

http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/17/sport/olympics-ryan-lochte-robbery-questions/

FALSE - Embarrassing drunk frat boy behavior. And I mean BOY behavior not behavior of a 32 year old man. Why lie? No one would have even known about incident if Lochte didn't lie. I can't believe people on this forum are trying to defend his behavior or justify. Would they do this if it were any of the AA track and field men pissing all over and tearing down signs.

First of all, men in every country do piss outside if they can't find a bathroom. Fact of life.

Second, if AA athletes pissed outside and tore down a sign (even if they embellished about it!), and then got pulled off a plane in Rio and were not allowed to go home? You're absolutely crazy if you don't think Americans would be up in arms, demanding their return.

News flash. Pissing outside on private property you will receive a ticket if caught. I am sure each country has their own set of rules. Regardless wherever you are it's inappropriate behavior but I believe it was the destruction of property that created the problem. I am not defending the security guards behavior anymore than I would defend a US police officer for using unnecessary force when the situation is not called for. But you can't just behave badly in another
country. Pulling the men off the planes for false testimony or needing to interview further for their own investigation is not uncommon. Also, Lochte and the other swimmers said there wasn't a gun pointed at his head. Lesson learned watch your behavior in another country, your rights are not the same as if you were in US.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Speaking as a publicist, I would NEVER have allowed Ryan to do this interview. At least not yet. He didn't need to "explain himself" to the public or to his sponsors - not like this. There was absolutely no need for him to take more time away from other Olympians and the end of the Olympic games. The proper protocol would have been for him to wait until AFTER the games, as he has already taken so much away from the games and other competitors. So much air time has been devoted to covering his shenanigans, that he just should've laid low for a few more days.

He was also completely unprepared and you can tell he had absolutely no media training prior to this. This is what happens when you use a lawyer for your crisis PR needs instead of pairing the lawyer up with a true publicist who is experienced in this realm. Ryan needed to work with a trainer this weekend on everything from his posture to his language to his enunciation. You can tell that they didn't prepare answers in advance either, as he kept going back to being intoxicated. His sponsors DO NOT want to hear this and they certainly DO NOT want to hear it repeated like an excuse.

It's so unprofessional that he was allowed to do this interview, and that he was allowed to do it without anyone to guide him. He ends up looking like even more of a loser and he did nothing that would make his sponsors think this is a guy they should keep on paying. I feel for him, I really do, and I hope he at least thinks about hiring someone in the PR world - not just for any future interviews he does, but also to control how he re-enters the world of social media and to prevent any future issues like his upcoming birthday party in Vegas that coincides with his gf's paid appearance. He needs to totally avoid any upcoming partying, he honestly needs to send the Playboy playmate packing for now as she's not a good look for him either, and he needs to do some major re-branding and re-imaging before re-emerging in the public eye.

Do you know that he doesn't have a professional publicist? Because a publicist could recommend all this stuff, but he doesn't have to listen. (If he wants the Playboy va-jay, he wants the Playboy va-jay.)

Publicist PP here. I know for a fact that he doesn't have a crisis publicist to help guide him through this incident. He hired a lawyer who handles crisis situations, but that lawyer is more knowledgable on the legal side of things, less on the media training / actual public relations side of things. (that lawyer also made it abundantly clear that he didn't want to work with anyone else) And there's a huge difference between the two. Really, it was his team (manager, coach, regular publicist) who pushed for the lawyer, because Ryan didn't want to be bothered with doing it himself. He also didn't feel he needed to spend more money on hiring people, and you can't handle situations like this on the cheap. It does cost money, but it is well worth it so that you don't continue to look like an ass in front of the world. Plenty of talented people offered to help him and his team just let it all ride on this lawyer.

For example, earlier tonight, Lochte issued an apology on Brazilian tv tonight, but anyone in the PR world knows that you don't do that on the same night that Brazil beat Germany for the gold medal in soccer. You let the country have their night to celebrate. You let the country get through the games, and before you do anything with US media, you give Brazilian tv the apology. Then you call Matt Lauer and invite him in your home to do the interview. But you make it about Brazil first. These may seem like subtle or even unnecessary things to some people, but this is how you successfully orchestrate a crisis PR campaign when you are about to get banned from your sport and when sponsors have already said they are watching your every move. You don't leave things to chance and you certainly don't think about the few thousands of dollars you have to shell out now - you think of the long term and what you can gain by having the proper team in place to handle all this.

Very interesting. Thanks for your take.

There's no way he's getting banned from swimming. He'll get suspended like Phelps did for his DUI.

Semantics. I didn't say permanently banned. It could be a one year ban, a two year ban. Hell, it could be an "indefinite ban" and then USA Swimming / USOC can have the option to reinstate him at some future date.

Think back to Phelps and his 2nd DUI in 2014. He was suspended for 6 months but banned from the 2015 World Championships. What Phelps did though is apologize within 24 hours after the news broke, and each time, he accepted full blame with zero hint of an explanation.

The Lochte situation is also happening at a precarious time for the US as organizers are putting together a bid for 2024 Olympics to happen in Los Angeles, and the USOC is heavily linked to it. Industry chatter says that one thing weighing heavily on the USOC and what they decide to do with Ryan is how it will affect this bid. One reason (out of many) Los Angeles loses could very well be Lochte's antics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Speaking as a publicist, I would NEVER have allowed Ryan to do this interview. At least not yet. He didn't need to "explain himself" to the public or to his sponsors - not like this. There was absolutely no need for him to take more time away from other Olympians and the end of the Olympic games. The proper protocol would have been for him to wait until AFTER the games, as he has already taken so much away from the games and other competitors. So much air time has been devoted to covering his shenanigans, that he just should've laid low for a few more days.

He was also completely unprepared and you can tell he had absolutely no media training prior to this. This is what happens when you use a lawyer for your crisis PR needs instead of pairing the lawyer up with a true publicist who is experienced in this realm. Ryan needed to work with a trainer this weekend on everything from his posture to his language to his enunciation. You can tell that they didn't prepare answers in advance either, as he kept going back to being intoxicated. His sponsors DO NOT want to hear this and they certainly DO NOT want to hear it repeated like an excuse.

It's so unprofessional that he was allowed to do this interview, and that he was allowed to do it without anyone to guide him. He ends up looking like even more of a loser and he did nothing that would make his sponsors think this is a guy they should keep on paying. I feel for him, I really do, and I hope he at least thinks about hiring someone in the PR world - not just for any future interviews he does, but also to control how he re-enters the world of social media and to prevent any future issues like his upcoming birthday party in Vegas that coincides with his gf's paid appearance. He needs to totally avoid any upcoming partying, he honestly needs to send the Playboy playmate packing for now as she's not a good look for him either, and he needs to do some major re-branding and re-imaging before re-emerging in the public eye.

He does have a PR guy, and apparently a well known one: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ryan-lochte-enlists-pr-guru-920853.

Honestly, I didn't think the interview was that bad. Yes, he said he was drunk a lot, but, hey, he was being honest. And he said "tantics," but probably just mixed a couple words (antics and tantrum maybe??) I thought some of his answer were spot on -- e.g., when ML asked him what his punishment should be and he said something like "that's not my call." ML was an ass, IMO -- acting like it's ridiculous for Lochte to think he was robbed -- like it's normal to get a gun pointed at you for damage to a poster. All this ass kissing for Rio is so over the top.

And even the suggestion that Lochte should be banned from swimming for life is absurd. Phelps got a DUI for driving 84 mph in a 45 zone, and he wasn't banned for life. A number of swimmers at the Olympics had previously tested positive for banned substances, yet they weren't banned for life. Kobe Bryant was accused of sexual assault, yet he has represented us at the Olympics more than once. I'm sure the list could go on and on.

As you can see, I addressed the "PR guy" he has in my post. The guy he hired is a lawyer who handles crisis PR situation, but from the legal angle, not from the public relations angle. There's a big difference. Yes, the lawyer is well-known, but in these situations, the best advice is to tag team with a lawyer and a publicist. A publicist knows the nuances of the interviews, a publicist has done so many of these interviews that they can anticipate the questions or even use their connections to get a little inside scoop on the angle of the interview questions, and they can work with the client on how to speak, what words to use and what things to maybe avoid repeating over and over again. The interview was actually really bad and I just hope he holds off on saying / doing anything more for a good while.

Well Hiltzik must have a great PR guy because--even though Hiltzik is not a "real" PR guy, according to you--he's referred to a "PR guru," "PR expert," etc.

I could have anticipated the questions ML asked Ryan. It's not like they were out of left field. Lochte isn't an actor, he's not a politician -- he's a swimmer. He spends hours upon hours with his head in the water staring at a black line. And I don't think he's especially quick or bright. I don't think the best PR expert in the world could have made that interview any better. Maybe the timing was off, maybe the apology in Brazil should have been later. But the bottom line is Ryan Lochte is Ryan Lochte. And while admitting that he was drunk may not be ideal, it's better than saying he was sober and just lied. Plus, Phelps had a serious drinking problem and has plenty of endorsements still.

Hiltzik DOES have a great PR team behind him, yes. But just because someone is called something, it doesn't mean they have the background or credentials to do that work as well as someone who is immersed in it day in and day out. I'm not going to argue this back and forth with you - you can think whatever you want.

While the questions weren't out of left-field, you could tell that Lauer's tone caught Ryan off guard. Media training doesn't make someone an actor or a politician, but it does adequately prepare them for such interviews and it is even more imperative for people who typically aren't giving interviews, like Ryan. What I posted in no way says that he should have lied about anything or said that he was sober, but you can address the state of mind you were in without repeating that you were intoxicated. It's all about word choice, or lack thereof in Lochte's case. And with regards to Phelps, I distinctly remember that he lost Kellogs in 2009, as a result of his antics. He has much bigger star power than Lochte does though, and Lochte's single gold medal at these Olympics doesn't make him all that valuable to sponsors who can easily move on to another athlete. A younger one, a fresher and newer face, and one without Ryan's track record of being the fun party guy.

I know Phelps lost some sponsors because of the DUI, but he's still doing fine. And while Phelps is a bigger star than Lochte, in the swimming world, those two men are #1 and #2. But for Phelps, Lochte would be the most decorated Olympic swimmer of all time. He's not just another swimmer -- but you may not understand that if you don't know much about swimming. You're right that the fact that he only won one medal at this Olympics could make sponsors turn away. But, if they want a male swimmer, where are they going to turn? Maybe to Ryan Murphy -- but my guess is most people have no idea who that is. Maybe the guy who beat Phelps in the 100 fly -- but that's only if he gives up his NCAA eligibility, which seems unlikely. Of course, they may not want a swimmer, and then Lochte may be in trouble. But that was maybe going to happen after these Olympics anyway because he didn't do well. Kind of like poor Missy Franklin...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Recap for those who haven't heard: Ryan Lochte & three other US Olympic swim team members were allegedly robbed at gun point Sunday evening. Now a Brazil judge has issued an order to seize Lochte & Feigen's passports, as Brazil want to hold both for further questioning.

Lochte's attorney says he is already back in the US and has no plans to return for follow up questioning.

Do you think the account was made up? I can't figure out a motive, and think it's odd that FOUR individuals would be in on a false account. At the same time it seems quite coincidental that out of all of the athletes, this happened to Lochte.

http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/17/sport/olympics-ryan-lochte-robbery-questions/

FALSE - Embarrassing drunk frat boy behavior. And I mean BOY behavior not behavior of a 32 year old man. Why lie? No one would have even known about incident if Lochte didn't lie. I can't believe people on this forum are trying to defend his behavior or justify. Would they do this if it were any of the AA track and field men pissing all over and tearing down signs.

First of all, men in every country do piss outside if they can't find a bathroom. Fact of life.

Second, if AA athletes pissed outside and tore down a sign (even if they embellished about it!), and then got pulled off a plane in Rio and were not allowed to go home? You're absolutely crazy if you don't think Americans would be up in arms, demanding their return.

News flash. Pissing outside on private property you will receive a ticket if caught. I am sure each country has their own set of rules. Regardless wherever you are it's inappropriate behavior but I believe it was the destruction of property that created the problem. I am not defending the security guards behavior anymore than I would defend a US police officer for using unnecessary force when the situation is not called for. But you can't just behave badly in another
country. Pulling the men off the planes for false testimony or needing to interview further for their own investigation is not uncommon. Also, Lochte and the other swimmers said there wasn't a gun pointed at his head. Lesson learned watch your behavior in another country, your rights are not the same as if you were in US.

So, the main thing I'm loving here is how confident you are! Sounds like you got it figured out more than probably almost anyone!

Men usually don't get a ticket for pissing outside. Even if they did, it usually wouldn't be paid at gunpoint.

I wonder how many PPs actually live in DC. I have seen many men piss outside and commit minor vandalism (including black men). No consequences!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Speaking as a publicist, I would NEVER have allowed Ryan to do this interview. At least not yet. He didn't need to "explain himself" to the public or to his sponsors - not like this. There was absolutely no need for him to take more time away from other Olympians and the end of the Olympic games. The proper protocol would have been for him to wait until AFTER the games, as he has already taken so much away from the games and other competitors. So much air time has been devoted to covering his shenanigans, that he just should've laid low for a few more days.

He was also completely unprepared and you can tell he had absolutely no media training prior to this. This is what happens when you use a lawyer for your crisis PR needs instead of pairing the lawyer up with a true publicist who is experienced in this realm. Ryan needed to work with a trainer this weekend on everything from his posture to his language to his enunciation. You can tell that they didn't prepare answers in advance either, as he kept going back to being intoxicated. His sponsors DO NOT want to hear this and they certainly DO NOT want to hear it repeated like an excuse.

It's so unprofessional that he was allowed to do this interview, and that he was allowed to do it without anyone to guide him. He ends up looking like even more of a loser and he did nothing that would make his sponsors think this is a guy they should keep on paying. I feel for him, I really do, and I hope he at least thinks about hiring someone in the PR world - not just for any future interviews he does, but also to control how he re-enters the world of social media and to prevent any future issues like his upcoming birthday party in Vegas that coincides with his gf's paid appearance. He needs to totally avoid any upcoming partying, he honestly needs to send the Playboy playmate packing for now as she's not a good look for him either, and he needs to do some major re-branding and re-imaging before re-emerging in the public eye.

Do you know that he doesn't have a professional publicist? Because a publicist could recommend all this stuff, but he doesn't have to listen. (If he wants the Playboy va-jay, he wants the Playboy va-jay.)

Publicist PP here. I know for a fact that he doesn't have a crisis publicist to help guide him through this incident. He hired a lawyer who handles crisis situations, but that lawyer is more knowledgable on the legal side of things, less on the media training / actual public relations side of things. (that lawyer also made it abundantly clear that he didn't want to work with anyone else) And there's a huge difference between the two. Really, it was his team (manager, coach, regular publicist) who pushed for the lawyer, because Ryan didn't want to be bothered with doing it himself. He also didn't feel he needed to spend more money on hiring people, and you can't handle situations like this on the cheap. It does cost money, but it is well worth it so that you don't continue to look like an ass in front of the world. Plenty of talented people offered to help him and his team just let it all ride on this lawyer.

For example, earlier tonight, Lochte issued an apology on Brazilian tv tonight, but anyone in the PR world knows that you don't do that on the same night that Brazil beat Germany for the gold medal in soccer. You let the country have their night to celebrate. You let the country get through the games, and before you do anything with US media, you give Brazilian tv the apology. Then you call Matt Lauer and invite him in your home to do the interview. But you make it about Brazil first. These may seem like subtle or even unnecessary things to some people, but this is how you successfully orchestrate a crisis PR campaign when you are about to get banned from your sport and when sponsors have already said they are watching your every move. You don't leave things to chance and you certainly don't think about the few thousands of dollars you have to shell out now - you think of the long term and what you can gain by having the proper team in place to handle all this.

Very interesting. Thanks for your take.

There's no way he's getting banned from swimming. He'll get suspended like Phelps did for his DUI.

Semantics. I didn't say permanently banned. It could be a one year ban, a two year ban. Hell, it could be an "indefinite ban" and then USA Swimming / USOC can have the option to reinstate him at some future date.

Think back to Phelps and his 2nd DUI in 2014. He was suspended for 6 months but banned from the 2015 World Championships. What Phelps did though is apologize within 24 hours after the news broke, and each time, he accepted full blame with zero hint of an explanation.

The Lochte situation is also happening at a precarious time for the US as organizers are putting together a bid for 2024 Olympics to happen in Los Angeles, and the USOC is heavily linked to it. Industry chatter says that one thing weighing heavily on the USOC and what they decide to do with Ryan is how it will affect this bid. One reason (out of many) Los Angeles loses could very well be Lochte's antics.

But why is the focus on the apology rather than the bad behavior in the first place? Phelps committed a serious crime and put people's lives in danger. Of course he immediately apologized...what else could he do? Lochte pulled a poster off the wall at a gas station, had a gun put to his head, and then paid some money (or his friends did). Lochte screwed up on the apology, but the underlying behavior doesn't even compare to what Phelps did.

If Lochte's punishment is driven by our hope to get the Olympics in 2024, that is messed up. I think Janet Evans is one of the people instrumental in that effort. Let's hope she supports her fellow swimmer.

[Anonymous]

I mean a gun pointed at him, not "put to his head"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Speaking as a publicist, I would NEVER have allowed Ryan to do this interview. At least not yet. He didn't need to "explain himself" to the public or to his sponsors - not like this. There was absolutely no need for him to take more time away from other Olympians and the end of the Olympic games. The proper protocol would have been for him to wait until AFTER the games, as he has already taken so much away from the games and other competitors. So much air time has been devoted to covering his shenanigans, that he just should've laid low for a few more days.

He was also completely unprepared and you can tell he had absolutely no media training prior to this. This is what happens when you use a lawyer for your crisis PR needs instead of pairing the lawyer up with a true publicist who is experienced in this realm. Ryan needed to work with a trainer this weekend on everything from his posture to his language to his enunciation. You can tell that they didn't prepare answers in advance either, as he kept going back to being intoxicated. His sponsors DO NOT want to hear this and they certainly DO NOT want to hear it repeated like an excuse.

It's so unprofessional that he was allowed to do this interview, and that he was allowed to do it without anyone to guide him. He ends up looking like even more of a loser and he did nothing that would make his sponsors think this is a guy they should keep on paying. I feel for him, I really do, and I hope he at least thinks about hiring someone in the PR world - not just for any future interviews he does, but also to control how he re-enters the world of social media and to prevent any future issues like his upcoming birthday party in Vegas that coincides with his gf's paid appearance. He needs to totally avoid any upcoming partying, he honestly needs to send the Playboy playmate packing for now as she's not a good look for him either, and he needs to do some major re-branding and re-imaging before re-emerging in the public eye.

He does have a PR guy, and apparently a well known one: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ryan-lochte-enlists-pr-guru-920853.

Honestly, I didn't think the interview was that bad. Yes, he said he was drunk a lot, but, hey, he was being honest. And he said "tantics," but probably just mixed a couple words (antics and tantrum maybe??) I thought some of his answer were spot on -- e.g., when ML asked him what his punishment should be and he said something like "that's not my call." ML was an ass, IMO -- acting like it's ridiculous for Lochte to think he was robbed -- like it's normal to get a gun pointed at you for damage to a poster. All this ass kissing for Rio is so over the top.

And even the suggestion that Lochte should be banned from swimming for life is absurd. Phelps got a DUI for driving 84 mph in a 45 zone, and he wasn't banned for life. A number of swimmers at the Olympics had previously tested positive for banned substances, yet they weren't banned for life. Kobe Bryant was accused of sexual assault, yet he has represented us at the Olympics more than once. I'm sure the list could go on and on.

As you can see, I addressed the "PR guy" he has in my post. The guy he hired is a lawyer who handles crisis PR situation, but from the legal angle, not from the public relations angle. There's a big difference. Yes, the lawyer is well-known, but in these situations, the best advice is to tag team with a lawyer and a publicist. A publicist knows the nuances of the interviews, a publicist has done so many of these interviews that they can anticipate the questions or even use their connections to get a little inside scoop on the angle of the interview questions, and they can work with the client on how to speak, what words to use and what things to maybe avoid repeating over and over again. The interview was actually really bad and I just hope he holds off on saying / doing anything more for a good while.

Well Hiltzik must have a great PR guy because--even though Hiltzik is not a "real" PR guy, according to you--he's referred to a "PR guru," "PR expert," etc.

I could have anticipated the questions ML asked Ryan. It's not like they were out of left field. Lochte isn't an actor, he's not a politician -- he's a swimmer. He spends hours upon hours with his head in the water staring at a black line. And I don't think he's especially quick or bright. I don't think the best PR expert in the world could have made that interview any better. Maybe the timing was off, maybe the apology in Brazil should have been later. But the bottom line is Ryan Lochte is Ryan Lochte. And while admitting that he was drunk may not be ideal, it's better than saying he was sober and just lied. Plus, Phelps had a serious drinking problem and has plenty of endorsements still.

Hiltzik DOES have a great PR team behind him, yes. But just because someone is called something, it doesn't mean they have the background or credentials to do that work as well as someone who is immersed in it day in and day out. I'm not going to argue this back and forth with you - you can think whatever you want.

While the questions weren't out of left-field, you could tell that Lauer's tone caught Ryan off guard. Media training doesn't make someone an actor or a politician, but it does adequately prepare them for such interviews and it is even more imperative for people who typically aren't giving interviews, like Ryan. What I posted in no way says that he should have lied about anything or said that he was sober, but you can address the state of mind you were in without repeating that you were intoxicated. It's all about word choice, or lack thereof in Lochte's case. And with regards to Phelps, I distinctly remember that he lost Kellogs in 2009, as a result of his antics. He has much bigger star power than Lochte does though, and Lochte's single gold medal at these Olympics doesn't make him all that valuable to sponsors who can easily move on to another athlete. A younger one, a fresher and newer face, and one without Ryan's track record of being the fun party guy.

I know Phelps lost some sponsors because of the DUI, but he's still doing fine. And while Phelps is a bigger star than Lochte, in the swimming world, those two men are #1 and #2. But for Phelps, Lochte would be the most decorated Olympic swimmer of all time. He's not just another swimmer -- but you may not understand that if you don't know much about swimming. You're right that the fact that he only won one medal at this Olympics could make sponsors turn away. But, if they want a male swimmer, where are they going to turn? Maybe to Ryan Murphy -- but my guess is most people have no idea who that is. Maybe the guy who beat Phelps in the 100 fly -- but that's only if he gives up his NCAA eligibility, which seems unlikely. Of course, they may not want a swimmer, and then Lochte may be in trouble. But that was maybe going to happen after these Olympics anyway because he didn't do well. Kind of like poor Missy Franklin...

At least they don't know who THAT Ryan Murphy is!

All this banned-from-swimming talk is pretty funny to me. In 2020, Lochte will be 36. Not competitive. Anthony Ervin was an exception this Olympics, and he only had to chug 50 meters to his gold at age 35. Lochte's career was over before all this began.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Speaking as a publicist, I would NEVER have allowed Ryan to do this interview. At least not yet. He didn't need to "explain himself" to the public or to his sponsors - not like this. There was absolutely no need for him to take more time away from other Olympians and the end of the Olympic games. The proper protocol would have been for him to wait until AFTER the games, as he has already taken so much away from the games and other competitors. So much air time has been devoted to covering his shenanigans, that he just should've laid low for a few more days.

He was also completely unprepared and you can tell he had absolutely no media training prior to this. This is what happens when you use a lawyer for your crisis PR needs instead of pairing the lawyer up with a true publicist who is experienced in this realm. Ryan needed to work with a trainer this weekend on everything from his posture to his language to his enunciation. You can tell that they didn't prepare answers in advance either, as he kept going back to being intoxicated. His sponsors DO NOT want to hear this and they certainly DO NOT want to hear it repeated like an excuse.

It's so unprofessional that he was allowed to do this interview, and that he was allowed to do it without anyone to guide him. He ends up looking like even more of a loser and he did nothing that would make his sponsors think this is a guy they should keep on paying. I feel for him, I really do, and I hope he at least thinks about hiring someone in the PR world - not just for any future interviews he does, but also to control how he re-enters the world of social media and to prevent any future issues like his upcoming birthday party in Vegas that coincides with his gf's paid appearance. He needs to totally avoid any upcoming partying, he honestly needs to send the Playboy playmate packing for now as she's not a good look for him either, and he needs to do some major re-branding and re-imaging before re-emerging in the public eye.

He does have a PR guy, and apparently a well known one: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ryan-lochte-enlists-pr-guru-920853.

Honestly, I didn't think the interview was that bad. Yes, he said he was drunk a lot, but, hey, he was being honest. And he said "tantics," but probably just mixed a couple words (antics and tantrum maybe??) I thought some of his answer were spot on -- e.g., when ML asked him what his punishment should be and he said something like "that's not my call." ML was an ass, IMO -- acting like it's ridiculous for Lochte to think he was robbed -- like it's normal to get a gun pointed at you for damage to a poster. All this ass kissing for Rio is so over the top.

And even the suggestion that Lochte should be banned from swimming for life is absurd. Phelps got a DUI for driving 84 mph in a 45 zone, and he wasn't banned for life. A number of swimmers at the Olympics had previously tested positive for banned substances, yet they weren't banned for life. Kobe Bryant was accused of sexual assault, yet he has represented us at the Olympics more than once. I'm sure the list could go on and on.

As you can see, I addressed the "PR guy" he has in my post. The guy he hired is a lawyer who handles crisis PR situation, but from the legal angle, not from the public relations angle. There's a big difference. Yes, the lawyer is well-known, but in these situations, the best advice is to tag team with a lawyer and a publicist. A publicist knows the nuances of the interviews, a publicist has done so many of these interviews that they can anticipate the questions or even use their connections to get a little inside scoop on the angle of the interview questions, and they can work with the client on how to speak, what words to use and what things to maybe avoid repeating over and over again. The interview was actually really bad and I just hope he holds off on saying / doing anything more for a good while.

Well Hiltzik must have a great PR guy because--even though Hiltzik is not a "real" PR guy, according to you--he's referred to a "PR guru," "PR expert," etc.

I could have anticipated the questions ML asked Ryan. It's not like they were out of left field. Lochte isn't an actor, he's not a politician -- he's a swimmer. He spends hours upon hours with his head in the water staring at a black line. And I don't think he's especially quick or bright. I don't think the best PR expert in the world could have made that interview any better. Maybe the timing was off, maybe the apology in Brazil should have been later. But the bottom line is Ryan Lochte is Ryan Lochte. And while admitting that he was drunk may not be ideal, it's better than saying he was sober and just lied. Plus, Phelps had a serious drinking problem and has plenty of endorsements still.

Hiltzik DOES have a great PR team behind him, yes. But just because someone is called something, it doesn't mean they have the background or credentials to do that work as well as someone who is immersed in it day in and day out. I'm not going to argue this back and forth with you - you can think whatever you want.

While the questions weren't out of left-field, you could tell that Lauer's tone caught Ryan off guard. Media training doesn't make someone an actor or a politician, but it does adequately prepare them for such interviews and it is even more imperative for people who typically aren't giving interviews, like Ryan. What I posted in no way says that he should have lied about anything or said that he was sober, but you can address the state of mind you were in without repeating that you were intoxicated. It's all about word choice, or lack thereof in Lochte's case. And with regards to Phelps, I distinctly remember that he lost Kellogs in 2009, as a result of his antics. He has much bigger star power than Lochte does though, and Lochte's single gold medal at these Olympics doesn't make him all that valuable to sponsors who can easily move on to another athlete. A younger one, a fresher and newer face, and one without Ryan's track record of being the fun party guy.

I know Phelps lost some sponsors because of the DUI, but he's still doing fine. And while Phelps is a bigger star than Lochte, in the swimming world, those two men are #1 and #2. But for Phelps, Lochte would be the most decorated Olympic swimmer of all time. He's not just another swimmer -- but you may not understand that if you don't know much about swimming. You're right that the fact that he only won one medal at this Olympics could make sponsors turn away. But, if they want a male swimmer, where are they going to turn? Maybe to Ryan Murphy -- but my guess is most people have no idea who that is. Maybe the guy who beat Phelps in the 100 fly -- but that's only if he gives up his NCAA eligibility, which seems unlikely. Of course, they may not want a swimmer, and then Lochte may be in trouble. But that was maybe going to happen after these Olympics anyway because he didn't do well. Kind of like poor Missy Franklin...

DP here. But yes, Missy Franklin really did miss out. It wasn't for lack of privilege, but I do kinda still feel bad for her.

[Anonymous]

All the publicity coaching advice is very interesting to read, but everything I have ever read or seen of Ryan Lochte indicates that he is genuinely a very unintelligent person. He seems to have only a rudimentary understanding of cause-effect and every time he tries to express himself it comes out as meandering, incomprehensible drivel that has only a tangential relationship to the English language. Giving PR advice to someone is useless if they can't absorb and apply it. Talking to someone about their word choice only helps if they have the vocabulary to make that choice. I'm sure he has plenty of strengths in other areas but he makes Michael Phelps look like a Rhodes Scholar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Speaking as a publicist, I would NEVER have allowed Ryan to do this interview. At least not yet. He didn't need to "explain himself" to the public or to his sponsors - not like this. There was absolutely no need for him to take more time away from other Olympians and the end of the Olympic games. The proper protocol would have been for him to wait until AFTER the games, as he has already taken so much away from the games and other competitors. So much air time has been devoted to covering his shenanigans, that he just should've laid low for a few more days.

He was also completely unprepared and you can tell he had absolutely no media training prior to this. This is what happens when you use a lawyer for your crisis PR needs instead of pairing the lawyer up with a true publicist who is experienced in this realm. Ryan needed to work with a trainer this weekend on everything from his posture to his language to his enunciation. You can tell that they didn't prepare answers in advance either, as he kept going back to being intoxicated. His sponsors DO NOT want to hear this and they certainly DO NOT want to hear it repeated like an excuse.

It's so unprofessional that he was allowed to do this interview, and that he was allowed to do it without anyone to guide him. He ends up looking like even more of a loser and he did nothing that would make his sponsors think this is a guy they should keep on paying. I feel for him, I really do, and I hope he at least thinks about hiring someone in the PR world - not just for any future interviews he does, but also to control how he re-enters the world of social media and to prevent any future issues like his upcoming birthday party in Vegas that coincides with his gf's paid appearance. He needs to totally avoid any upcoming partying, he honestly needs to send the Playboy playmate packing for now as she's not a good look for him either, and he needs to do some major re-branding and re-imaging before re-emerging in the public eye.

He does have a PR guy, and apparently a well known one: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ryan-lochte-enlists-pr-guru-920853.

Honestly, I didn't think the interview was that bad. Yes, he said he was drunk a lot, but, hey, he was being honest. And he said "tantics," but probably just mixed a couple words (antics and tantrum maybe??) I thought some of his answer were spot on -- e.g., when ML asked him what his punishment should be and he said something like "that's not my call." ML was an ass, IMO -- acting like it's ridiculous for Lochte to think he was robbed -- like it's normal to get a gun pointed at you for damage to a poster. All this ass kissing for Rio is so over the top.

And even the suggestion that Lochte should be banned from swimming for life is absurd. Phelps got a DUI for driving 84 mph in a 45 zone, and he wasn't banned for life. A number of swimmers at the Olympics had previously tested positive for banned substances, yet they weren't banned for life. Kobe Bryant was accused of sexual assault, yet he has represented us at the Olympics more than once. I'm sure the list could go on and on.

As you can see, I addressed the "PR guy" he has in my post. The guy he hired is a lawyer who handles crisis PR situation, but from the legal angle, not from the public relations angle. There's a big difference. Yes, the lawyer is well-known, but in these situations, the best advice is to tag team with a lawyer and a publicist. A publicist knows the nuances of the interviews, a publicist has done so many of these interviews that they can anticipate the questions or even use their connections to get a little inside scoop on the angle of the interview questions, and they can work with the client on how to speak, what words to use and what things to maybe avoid repeating over and over again. The interview was actually really bad and I just hope he holds off on saying / doing anything more for a good while.

Well Hiltzik must have a great PR guy because--even though Hiltzik is not a "real" PR guy, according to you--he's referred to a "PR guru," "PR expert," etc.

I could have anticipated the questions ML asked Ryan. It's not like they were out of left field. Lochte isn't an actor, he's not a politician -- he's a swimmer. He spends hours upon hours with his head in the water staring at a black line. And I don't think he's especially quick or bright. I don't think the best PR expert in the world could have made that interview any better. Maybe the timing was off, maybe the apology in Brazil should have been later. But the bottom line is Ryan Lochte is Ryan Lochte. And while admitting that he was drunk may not be ideal, it's better than saying he was sober and just lied. Plus, Phelps had a serious drinking problem and has plenty of endorsements still.

Hiltzik DOES have a great PR team behind him, yes. But just because someone is called something, it doesn't mean they have the background or credentials to do that work as well as someone who is immersed in it day in and day out. I'm not going to argue this back and forth with you - you can think whatever you want.

While the questions weren't out of left-field, you could tell that Lauer's tone caught Ryan off guard. Media training doesn't make someone an actor or a politician, but it does adequately prepare them for such interviews and it is even more imperative for people who typically aren't giving interviews, like Ryan. What I posted in no way says that he should have lied about anything or said that he was sober, but you can address the state of mind you were in without repeating that you were intoxicated. It's all about word choice, or lack thereof in Lochte's case. And with regards to Phelps, I distinctly remember that he lost Kellogs in 2009, as a result of his antics. He has much bigger star power than Lochte does though, and Lochte's single gold medal at these Olympics doesn't make him all that valuable to sponsors who can easily move on to another athlete. A younger one, a fresher and newer face, and one without Ryan's track record of being the fun party guy.

I know Phelps lost some sponsors because of the DUI, but he's still doing fine. And while Phelps is a bigger star than Lochte, in the swimming world, those two men are #1 and #2. But for Phelps, Lochte would be the most decorated Olympic swimmer of all time. He's not just another swimmer -- but you may not understand that if you don't know much about swimming. You're right that the fact that he only won one medal at this Olympics could make sponsors turn away. But, if they want a male swimmer, where are they going to turn? Maybe to Ryan Murphy -- but my guess is most people have no idea who that is. Maybe the guy who beat Phelps in the 100 fly -- but that's only if he gives up his NCAA eligibility, which seems unlikely. Of course, they may not want a swimmer, and then Lochte may be in trouble. But that was maybe going to happen after these Olympics anyway because he didn't do well. Kind of like poor Missy Franklin...

At least they don't know who THAT Ryan Murphy is!

All this banned-from-swimming talk is pretty funny to me. In 2020, Lochte will be 36. Not competitive. Anthony Ervin was an exception this Olympics, and he only had to chug 50 meters to his gold at age 35. Lochte's career was over before all this began.

Wait, I forgot about Nathan Adrian....he would be a good choice.