PMTPMT DB

Takes

Void
Take Slip·Aug 3, 2020·PR 101
#PMT-2020-0803-3024
Big CatBig Cat

Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen intentionally leaked that Yoenis Cespedes was missing to spite him

He knew that Cespedes packed up his shit and left because he was opting out but he used to be Cespedes's Agent and so he's pissed that Yoenis ended up signing with Roc Nation. And so now he's like feeding all this shit into the media... first thought if somebody just ditches the Mets you don't immediately suspect that they're dead.

While never explicitly proven as a malicious leak, the timeline of Van Wagenen's statement vs. Cespedes' representative notifying the team was highly contested and widely viewed as a PR disaster.
Void
Take Slip·Jan 20, 2020·PR 101
#PMT-2020-0120-11177
Big CatBig Cat

If you are a man with a fat face, you must have high-volume hair to distract people from your cheeks

If you're a bigger guy, you need to have your hair have as much volume as possible to hide the fact that you have a fat face. When you put on a hat, it always makes your face look fatter. All the focus goes to your fat fucking cheeks. So you need to have hair, just crazy hair, to take away. Hair and beard are a fat guy's best friend.

This is subjective grooming and fashion advice.
Void
Take Slip·Nov 6, 2019·PR 101
#PMT-2019-1106-14128
Big CatBig Cat

If you are threatening to fight someone on Twitter, you must give your home address, not the team facility

My problem with what [Jermaine Whitehead] did. Not that he threatened people... My problem is he said meet me at this address and then gave the facility address. If you tell someone to meet you somewhere. It has to be your house, right? Man up.

This is a social critique of online confrontation etiquette.
Win
Take Slip·Nov 6, 2019·PR 101
#PMT-2019-1106-14131
Big CatBig Cat

NFL players can't just claim to have a broken hand on social media if it's not on the injury report

He's joking playing with a broken hand because that's something you like should actually be able to tell everyone like hey actually have a broken hand. They're making me play was he on the injury report? No, I don't know. So middle Freddie kitchens might be in trouble.

The NFL has strict injury reporting guidelines, and a player claiming a broken hand that isn't on the report would trigger an investigation.
Loss
Take Slip·Aug 16, 2019·PR 101
#PMT-2019-0816-12892
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Texas should trademark 'Horns Down' to sue people instead of complaining

Texas should just trademark the phrase 'horns down' and the motion 'horns down'. That way when everybody does it, they can actually sue them instead of just crying about it.

OpinionCFBMediumSarcastic
The university never trademarked the 'down' version for litigation purposes.
Void
Take Slip·Apr 17, 2019·PR 101
#PMT-2019-0417-2802
Big CatBig Cat

Christian Yelich will ruin his swing if he participates in the Home Run Derby

Real talk. It's going to mess up his swing if he competes in the home run derby... You're going to fuck up your swing.

Yelich did participate in 2019. He had a great second half but dealt with a back injury, making this take partially supported by superstitious fans but statistically debatable.
Void
Take Slip·Jan 28, 2019·PR 101
#PMT-2019-0128-250
Big CatBig Cat

Jon Gruden uses helmet stickers at the Senior Bowl because he can't remember players' names

Jon Gruden clearly is doing this because he can't remember anyone so he's like... just marking everyone with a Raider tag because he was not going to remember who he liked or not.

Purely a subjective/comedic interpretation of a coach's behavior.
Win
Take Slip·Jan 9, 2019·PR 101
#PMT-2019-0109-4369
Big CatBig Cat

Derrick Rose's 'kill yourself' comment was not a slip of the tongue

Derrick Rose said, 'everyone that thinks that it's going to stop, kill yourself.' ... He then doubled down on it. He said, 'like I said before, kill yourself.' ... When you say it twice, you don't get the slip of the tongue tag. When you double down, the slip of the tongue doesn't work anymore.

The transcript of the press conference confirms Rose said it twice, making the argument that it was intentional at the time a logical one.
Void
Take Slip·Dec 14, 2018·PR 101
#PMT-2018-1214-18973
Big CatBig Cat

It is great for golf that Patrick Reed is a villain everyone hates

Patrick Reed, though, he is the bad boy of golf. And I love this because this just keeps his street cred just keeps going up, up, and up. Everyone hates him. Guess what? It's fucking golf. ... It's actually great to have a bad guy in golf.

This is a subjective opinion on the entertainment value of a player, though Reed remained a controversial figure for years.
Void
Take Slip·May 16, 2018·PR 101
#PMT-2018-0516-8190
Big CatBig Cat

Robinson Cano took steroids specifically to heal his broken wrist faster

He broke his wrist like a week ago, and now he has... That was pretty quick of him to do steroids for the recovery. Got to admire the hustle. That's Andy Pettitte-like hustle to the pharmacy.

Cano was suspended for Lasix, a masking agent, but the timing with his injury led many to conclude he was using substances for recovery.
Void
Take Slip·May 14, 2018·PR 101
#PMT-2018-0514-14854
Big CatBig Cat

Jordan Spieth should take off his hat so people only focus on him being bald rather than his bad golf

Spin Zone or PR 101, [Spieth] can just take off his hat and people be like, oh shit, you're bald. That's the bald guy. So no one will remember that you did the snowman thing.

Subjective comedic advice.
Void
Take Slip·Mar 7, 2018·PR 101
#PMT-2018-0307-5700
Big CatBig Cat

Eating steroid-contaminated meat is a smart off-season move for athletes

Canelo Alvarez, who tested positive for steroids. And he said it was actually because he was eating too many Mexican cows. ... I actually think this played. ... that's actually a smart thing to do is you just go in the off season, eat Mexican cows, and then when you get busted, be like, well, sorry. All I did was eat Mexican cows.

Win
Take Slip·Feb 28, 2018·PR 101
#PMT-2018-0228-891
Big CatBig Cat

Lonzo Ball needs to fix his shot after losing to Bow Wow

If you lose to Lil' Bow Wow with no shoes on, you have to then go fix your shot. ... I know everyone says, oh, don't mess with Lonzo's game. [But] you have to then go fix your shot.

Lonzo Ball significantly reworked his shooting form later in his career, particularly with the Pelicans and Bulls, becoming a much better shooter.
Loss
Take Slip·Dec 13, 2017·PR 101
#PMT-2017-1213-11540
Big CatBig Cat

The NFL Network should hire Jeff Fisher to bring them back to mediocrity

Jeff Fisher, he brings the mediocrity back. So you're going from low... To right in the middle. I think Jeff Fisher's the perfect hire.

Hot TakeMediaMediumSarcastic
Satirical recommendation; Fisher was never hired as a lead analyst there.
Void
Take Slip·Sep 6, 2017·PR 101
#PMT-2017-0906-10663
Big CatBig Cat

Willson Contreras sliding into Mia Khalifa's DMs was just a man looking for a friend

He doesn't even need PR 101 because if you read the DMs, he's just looking for a friend. ... He said, 'I just want me friend.' ... So guess what? Willson Contreras, you're fine in my book.

Loss
Take Slip·Jul 26, 2017·PR 101
#PMT-2017-0726-4242
Big CatBig Cat

Lucky Whitehead will sign with the Patriots and win a Super Bowl

It's very clear that Lucky Whitehead's probably going to sign with the Patriots and win a Super Bowl ring. And we're all just going to be like, 'What the fuck?' I hope that happens.

Whitehead signed with the Jets, not the Patriots, and did not win a Super Bowl.
Win
Take Slip·May 15, 2017·PR 101
#PMT-2017-0515-13628
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Robert Griffin III will definitely take pregnancy photos holding his girlfriend's stomach

Over under four and a half pictures of RG3 holding Greta's stomach on Instagram. [PFT]: Over. That's the easiest bet of all time. Smash that over... I would say like nine and a half is more like it.

RGIII and his then-girlfriend Greta did indeed post numerous pregnancy/family photos on social media following the announcement.
Push
Take Slip·Feb 27, 2017·PR 101
#PMT-2017-0227-12952
Big CatBig Cat

Baker Mayfield will get NFL starts solely because of his name

I'm going to put a little flyer on Baker Mayfield. You guys know I'm a big name guy. All-time name. That name is going to get him some starts in the NFL. It's going to get him some places. People are going to take some shots with Baker Mayfield solely because of his name and then be like, ooh, maybe he's not that good.

Mayfield was drafted #1 overall and became a long-term starter, though largely due to college performance rather than just his name.
Void
Take Slip·Feb 20, 2017·PR 101
#PMT-2017-0220-13514
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

The Dunk Contest is boring because there are a finite amount of body positions possible

It's not like the dunks aren't super impressive. It's just that we've seen every dunk. It's like watching porn. There's a finite amount of body positions that the human form can get into. Eventually, you just get bored with it.

This is a subjective opinion on entertainment fatigue.
Win
Take Slip·Feb 8, 2017·PR 101
#PMT-2017-0208-19546
Big CatBig Cat

The Bruins firing Claude Julien during the Patriots parade is the greatest PR 101 move ever

The Boston Bruins who fired Claude Julien... The morning of the New England Patriots parade and held a press conference during the parade. That is the greatest PR 101 story of all time.

Firing a beloved, championship-winning coach during the height of a Super Bowl parade is a textbook way to minimize negative coverage.
Loss
Take Slip·Jan 30, 2017·PR 101
#PMT-2017-0130-1705
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

A real American stays inside on Sunday and watches the Pro Bowl

Hey, you know what it means to be a real American? You stay inside on Sunday and you watch the Pro Bowl. Yeah, you watch the Pro Bowl. You bet on the Pro Bowl. That's what an American does.

OpinionFootballMediumSarcastic
Watching the Pro Bowl is not a requirement or defining trait of American citizenship.
Loss
Take Slip·Jan 11, 2017·PR 101
#PMT-2017-0111-7886
Big CatBig Cat

Derrick Rose should use being hacked as an excuse for going missing

He didn't tweet anything. He didn't do anything wrong on the internet. So then just say you got hacked. My life got hacked.

Rose did not use this excuse; he later cited a family matter.
Push
Take Slip·Dec 16, 2016·PR 101
#PMT-2016-1216-8440
Big CatBig Cat

Mark Dantonio's approach to fixing Michigan State's problems by 'firing himself' is a great PR move

Mark Dantonio... he fired himself, kind of. He said, to be honest with you, I've taken the approach of, hey, I'm a new coach coming in here. I'm going to fix the things that the other guy did last year... and that's how I'm going to take the approach.

The PR move was real; Dantonio did use this rhetoric. However, Michigan State only bounced back slightly in 2017 (10-3) before declining again.
Void
Take Slip·Nov 30, 2016·PR 101
#PMT-2016-1130-3529
Big CatBig Cat

Johnny Manziel needs to get sued or arrested every few months just to let us know he's alive

Johnny Manziel is being sued because apparently he broke some bartender's nose. Good to know Johnny Manziel is still alive. We need him to get sued or arrested every few months to let us know that he's alive.

This is a humorous commentary on celebrity news cycles.
Loss
Take Slip·Sep 7, 2016·PR 101
#PMT-2016-0907-17201
Big CatBig Cat

Chad Kelly should legally change his name to Swag Kelly

Legally change your name to Swag. No way that will ever backfire when you're out of the NFL selling car insurance in bumfuck Mississippi. You will be Swag Kelly for life and you're good.

Chad Kelly did not legally change his name, though 'Swag Kelly' remains his enduring nickname.
Void
Take Slip·Aug 1, 2016·PR 101
#PMT-2016-0801-14618
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Draymond Green sending a dick pic is a 'nut shot' from the Warriors forward

Another nut shot from Draymond. Let me say that again. I stumbled over it. Another nut shot from Draymond.

This is a joke/pun, not a testable claim.
Void
Take Slip·Aug 1, 2016·PR 101
#PMT-2016-0801-14620
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Draymond Green should sue Snapchat for entrapment

If I'm Draymond, I would consider suing Snapchat. They made an app that makes it really easy to send dick pics that disappear afterwards. So it's like entrapment.

Legal satire.
Void
Take Slip·Jul 1, 2016·PR 101
#PMT-2016-0701-4578
Big CatBig Cat

Johnny Manziel's NFL suspension is a PR victory because it keeps him relevant

He got suspended by the NFL for four games. And you know what? That's a great thing for him to have happen because Johnny Manziel, for the first time in a few months, is being talked about in the same sentence as the NFL... It's all good news when the NFL is suspending you because that means you still have a little bit of relevancy.

This is a subjective interpretation of PR value, though Manziel never actually played in the NFL again.
Loss
Take Slip·Jun 29, 2016·PR 101
#PMT-2016-0629-3220
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Johnny Manziel should claim he has diarrhea to fix his reputation

The PR coming out of this is he just says when he comes back that he's got massive diarrhea from Mexico... if you just say explicitly like I've got diarrhea to your boss, your boss is going to be like, yeah, okay, don't go down that road with me. Johnny comes back... and he tells everybody, hey, guys. Sorry. The Montezuma's revenge.

Manziel did not use this specific excuse, and his NFL career never recovered.
Loss
Take Slip·May 18, 2016·PR 101
#PMT-2016-0518-15379
Big CatBig Cat

Tiger Woods should ditch Nike and get sponsored by Champion or Costco

I think it's time for Tiger Woods to ditch Nike because you see Tiger Woods in the Nike and you think of early 2000s... height of his powers. And you're like, why is this guy not the same? I think he needs to be sponsored by, like, Champion... wear the like $9.99 stiff cotton shirts... because then everyone in their brain starts saying, well, we don't expect anything from this Tiger.

Tiger stayed with Nike for another 8 years after this before leaving the brand in early 2024. He never wore 'stiff cotton' Champion shirts professionally.
Win
Take Slip·May 16, 2016·PR 101
#PMT-2016-0516-4432
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

If Steph Curry loses in the finals, the public will turn on him and call him a fraud

Everybody rooted for him last year because he was the skinny kid... Now he's so confident in his abilities, people are starting to turn on him. If he loses in the playoffs or in the finals, they're going to be like, I guess he couldn't hang with the big boys. Guess he's a fraud.

The Warriors blew a 3-1 lead in the 2016 Finals, and Curry was widely criticized and called 'washed' or a 'fraud' until he won more titles.
Void
Take Slip·May 16, 2016·PR 101
#PMT-2016-0516-4437
Big CatBig Cat

Olympic cancellation rumors are just a PR stunt to remind people the Olympics are happening

I swear to God, they pretend it's canceled the Olympics every Olympics just to remind us the Olympics are coming... how else do you pump everyone up for the Olympics in the beginning of May?... Their whole PR 101 is they just remind you it's happening by scaring the fuck out of everyone.

While it's a theory on media cycles, the Rio Olympics did proceed despite massive pre-game scares about Zika and construction.
Void
Take Slip·Apr 18, 2016·PR 101
#PMT-2016-0418-11438
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Johnny Manziel should buy a house instead of renting to avoid party damage headlines

My PR 101 advice to Johnny would be—this is basic stuff—buy a house, don't rent. Interest rates being what they are these days, you're getting some bad financial advice so just look to buy, don't look to rent.

Subjective PR advice.
Win
Take Slip·Apr 4, 2016·PR 101
#PMT-2016-0404-18620
Big CatBig Cat

J.J. Watt could fix his image by doing 'dizzy bat' and falling on his face

He needs to play a round of drunken dizzy bat because you always fall on your face... Not only is he like, okay, he's a regular guy... He also will fall on his face and will laugh about that. And if he can laugh at himself after that, I mean, he's right back in everyone's good graces.

Watt eventually did lean into more self-deprecating humor and his popularity with the general public remained high.
Loss
Take Slip·Mar 23, 2016·PR 101
#PMT-2016-0323-3709
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

LeBron James will announce he is re-signing with the Cavs by re-following them on Twitter

I actually think what's happening is that LeBron unfollowed the Cavs and that when he signs his option... he's going to announce it by refollowing the Cavs. It's such a shitty, like not cool thing to do, but it's so lame that it perfectly fits something that he would think was a good idea.

LeBron did re-sign with the Cavs that summer, but there was no grand 're-follow' announcement; he simply continued playing and eventually left in 2018.