Grace in Losing and Winning at Wimbledon
But Crisis Comms and Shade at the Espy Awards
This Week …
Summer Shorts: Winning and Losing at Wimbledon: Leadership Insights from Post-Match Actions and Speeches
Before We Go …
Photo Credit: Kirsty Wigglesworth / Associated Press
1. Analyzing Wimbledon’s Speeches
In the high-stakes world of professional sports, maintaining grace in victory and defeat is critical not only for an athlete’s personal brand but also as a model for all audiences and for representing the sport well. Novak Djokovic, despite his numerous titles, faced a formidable challenge in staying composed after his second consecutive loss to rising star Carlos Alcaraz.
Tennis fans enjoyed a great competition during and after the match:
Losing with Grace: Novak Djokovic, Serbia
Gracious remarks:
“Obviously not the result I wanted, especially in the first couple of sets. I wasn’t up to par but credit to Carlos. I tried to push him and save the three match points to extend the match a little bit longer. But he was the deserved winner today.”
Hot Humor
The Mirror: Annabel Croft left red-faced after 'hot' comment to Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz
Croft started her interview by saying: “Novak, I know this is not the result you wanted. But you were up against such a hot and talented player in Carlos Alcaraz.”
“That’s what I was about to say, he was definitely very hot today!” Djokovic quipped.
Puts it all in perspective
Winning with Grace: Carlos Alcaraz, Spain
“I’m so nervous in this speech and I forgot to have some words for Novak and his team. It’s been a difficult few weeks for you. You had surgery after the French Open and you didn’t know if you could make the tournament and you made the final. It is something difficult to realise that you played points and matches just two weeks after your surgery. Great job and keep going.”
2. Before We Go …
Photo Credit: Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press
The ESPY Awards gave viewers a chance to see a variety of communications approaches, from the use of crisis communications response to address a controversial award acceptance to evening a score with cutting humor.
How did these script decisions land?
NYT: “Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, is no stranger to controversy, and he found himself in the thick of another public-relations pickle before he strode to the stage at the ESPY Awards in Los Angeles on Thursday night. But in accepting the Pat Tillman Award for Service at ESPN’s annual made-for-TV gala, Harry graciously acknowledged his critics — including Mr. Tillman’s mother, Mary — while citing the work that his organization, the Invictus Games, had done since its inception in 2014.”
How did he do? What did he say to try and create a new framework in which to view his controversial award?:
HAZ: The truth is, I stand here not as Prince Harry, Pat Tillman Award recipient, but rather a voice on behalf of the Invictus Games Foundation and the thousands of veterans and service personnel from over 20 nations who have made the Invictus Games a reality. This award belongs to them, not to me.
Hat tip to Aaron Dowd.
Yahoo Sports: “A day after the tennis legend roasted him onstage alongside her sister Venus and "Abbott Elementary" creator and star Quinta Brunson, the Kansas City Chiefs kicker issued a statement to NBC News complaining about the joke.”:
The Williams’ and Brunson threw shade as a response to Butker’s controversial commencement speech:
So, go ahead and enjoy women's sports like you would any other sports, because they are sports. - Venus Williams
Except you, Harrison Butker. We don't need you. - Serena Williams
At all. Like, ever. - Quinta Brunson
NBC News: Butker’s response:
I thought Mrs. Williams was a great host and applaud her for using her platform to express her beliefs on a variety of topics. … Sports are supposed to be the great unifier and at an event dedicated to celebrating a diverse group of men and women who have accomplished great feats, she used it as an opportunity to disinvite those with whom she disagrees with from supporting fellow athletes.