Episode 12/9/09: Utah Flash Fiasco, Jordan, Ute fans my have class

Joe, Rhett, Scott, and jon recap the Utah Flash fiasco. The boys recap why they went to the game, why they felt lied to (and more importantly when), how the whole thing should have gone down, Brandt Andersen's "apology", and more thoughts on the impostor Michael Jordan. Bryon Russell is a good guy.

Are there classy fans at the U? Apparently yes! Joe and Rhett recap the Utah vs Michigan basketball game. Jon shares his "F off" story from the 2004 season. Holy war discussion. Female Ute fans vs female BYU fans.

Madsen movie minute: Surrogates, MJ: This is it.

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Utah Flash - Dumb Marketing to the Extreme

Tonight the Utah Flash proved how NOT to bring in new fans and did the exact opposite of good marketing.

Quick back story: Michael Jordan mentioned in his hall of fame speech how he owned Bryon Russell in his game winner in the '97 finals. The owner of the Utah Flash, Brandt Andersen, offered $100,000 charity donation to the winner of a Russell-Jordan 1-on-1 halftime challenge at a Flash game. Jordan typically doesn't do stuff like this, but you never know. The Flash marketing team hyped it up, but never actually promised Jordan. The Flash realized that Jordan wasn't going to show, so they cooked up a Jordan impersonator and did a huge halftime intro and made it seem like the real Jordan was there. The fans felt betrayed and the Flash experienced backlash. Here is the explanation from the owner: http://dleagueutah.blogspot.com/2009/12/mj-vs-b-russ-challenge-didnt-go-like.html

My response to Brandt is here:

"I was there tonight. It was a really REALLY dumb marketing move. Here is why.

I had never been to a Flash game before tonight. I bought my tickets for 2 reasons: to maybe see MJ and to see a Flash game. I knew there was only a chance of MJ showing up. I figured that at the very least I might see a good basketball game. Something above college ball but not quite NBA level. I wanted to see a Flash game last year and never had the opportunity and I thought this was it.

As for the stunt, why lie to us? You can lead me on and tease me a bit, but you outright lied. I'm not talking about before the game, I'm talking about halftime. There was another way to handle this and still get the hype, but the halftime intro video montage, the announcer saying "his airness is in the building" and "a man who needs no introduction", and having the stupid impostor was just dumb. You alienated any potential fans, including myself.

The first half was fun and there was some decent ball. It has potential. But there is no way I'm going back. Why do you think fans threw the t-shirts back on the court and there was a mad dash for the exits? I honestly think that had this been handled properly the fans would have stayed after halftime and enjoyed the game. Instead there was a mass feeling of betrayal.

I feel bad for the players and B-Russ, but I'm not going back."

Episode 12/1/09: BYU wins in OT! Joe, Jon, and Rhett's reaction

BYU wins in overtime! The boys breakdown the game, Max Hall's comments, the Ute's reactions and what to make of it all. Includes first hand stories of: Andrew George in the end zone, Hall and Dennis Pitta at dinner after the game, Pitta's helmet, and an Apostle makes a cameo.

Game breakdown: Refs and too many flags?, playing not to lose, helmets coming off now-a-days.

Hall breakdown: BYU fans reaction, Utah fans reaction, facebook... the new watercooler.

Joe and Rhett both recommend "The Blindside" for the Madsen movie minute.

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