Promotion is not just self-promotion

[Reginald Rutledge]

In the hey days of the DFW, we were 28 strong with a farm system in its developmental stages, but the thing that made the DFW reach that type of fun was the promotions by all involved. Promotions is how you recruit others to be a part of your organization. It happens in business, sports, and even marriages to a certain extent. All my life, I've been a promotions guy. From my holding "Rasslin' Matches" at lunch time in the 8th grade and awarding "World Championship" belts to creating leagues, the Texas Shootout, and even my daughter's foundation concert.

These things were not done simply for self-indulgence but all had a cause and effect. While I really can't compare something so precious as the AmazingRhianna Foundation to anything else in existence, the effect of such promotions is utmost to getting a message out and recruiting people to do good works or just have fun.

Yesterday, I had the chance to speak to 5 of my former coaches in the DFW area. All of these guys came up through the ranks of the DFW and some became champions and great players in this style of play. To a man, what they mostly missed about "the heyday" was the hype surrounding the league. For the most part, these were the guys willing to give me that latitude to put them out in the spotlight, to create the characters of as my wife puts it, "The Monsters". They had a twinkle in their eyes when they talked about us doing things on Internet Radio Live 365, and the early hit and misses of Internet TV.

One thing I always use to tell guys was "Promotion and hype was good for the league, that we all had a responsibility to go out there and sell "We are the DFW" to the masses"." It was crucial that one person was not the only one doing it. When that happens, you create a thought of "lack of appreciation" and "I am so good that I win and that's all the promotion that I need to do".

The term "Road Warrior" was again, originated right in my office and I targeted Frank "The Professor" Johnson for that role. I told Frank many years ago, "We would be friends for life" at a Chicago convention. I saw that gleam in Frank's eyes when we began discussing "electric football". I asked him to come be a part of the DFW League. Frank accepted that role. As the years went by, more and more Road Warriors came aboard. At one point, we had 16 coaches traveling from as far as Los Angeles to Florida and DC. These were great times in the DFW but a lot of that could be attributed to "the hype", the fun of playing here in the DFW.

All these guys knew that the game was meant to be fun but if we could make this look as close to real as possible, what the heck!! There was a spirit of sharing (I always shake my head in utter puzzlement when I hear this "self-promotion or selfish" thing about myself). The spirit of sharing came from when guys coming into the league, I would open up my entire MF/EF collection and tell people to pick and choose what they want it's there's free.

Yes, maybe I did to much for people but I was raised in a big family and charity was always a part of the equation. You were only as weak as your weakest link. So in the DFW, you helped everyone who came through the system.

So before I left, I was disenchanted in where the league was being taken. I had seen "that act" before. I had warned guys of situations who only would learn after they got burned. But the promotions and hype surrounding the league was what made the league special. It was VERY easy for us to get media coverage. "If you've got the props such as stadiums and other things which attract the camera, it is an easy promo".

More than anything, I think guys knew if they came to Texas, they would be well taken care of. If I am a player in your town, I feel an obligation to make sure your time spent is worth your trip. But you on the other hand, can't come to town thinking, "I am God's gift to the DFW and they need me". TOTALLY FALSE!

That guy came because he saw the excitement and wanted to be a part of the entertainment value. Heck, my days are numbered and I make no bones about that but while I am still alive, it's important for me to try to laugh a little. If I can see guys become "Characters or Monsters" and know this is like "Rasslin" and not that you are any better than the next guy, you're who I want to be around!

But it is an important element that EVERYONE and I do mean EVERYONE promote their league. A presence has to be established. In my next attempt to establish a competition league, it would be such a priority that everyone in the league have a presence on line (and not just one line and gone).

Guys look at my nephew RJ and think, "This guy is a psycho or an idiot" but RJ does exactly what would be needed in a league I would have. He plays the role of a "Black Hat". He sells papers or airtime because he's filling a void of "Bad Cop". Guys want to read "controversial" figures. But when we go home, RJ and I are going out to dinner eating Mexican food and having a good time. People may have thought, "These guys hate each other". But that's where the hype and promo comes in at.

The problem that some get to is to take this stuff so seriously that it becomes "life or death" in their eyes. That's why the "peanut gallery" was established, to lighten the mood.

We've been fortunate to have guys come here just to watch the big games and understand what the promotion/hype was all about. For me, it's never been about self-promotion, but moreso about promotion of leagues I am a part of and the people who are in it.

So if you've got that chance to put out "for entertainment purposes only" hype, do so as this is a game that is done in jest, not life or death.

Just my opinion

Reg