Rosen’s PR Scores Big

When the Arizona Diamondbacks traded beloved first-baseman Paul Goldschmidt, he took out a full-page ad in the Arizona Republic to thank the fans for their years of support.   It certainly wasn’t the first time an athlete had done that, but it qualifies as a PR homerun.
When the Arizona Cardinals recently traded quarterback Josh Rosen, he one-upped Goldy’s departure and didn’t have to spend the $15,000 or whatever for the full-page ad.  Rosen posted a video on Instagram thanking the fans for their support during his one season in Arizona.  He complimented his replacement, first-round draft pick Kyler Murray, and even joked to Murray that he had a condo in Old Town Scottsdale that had just opened up.
To top it off, on his last night in the Valley, Rosen played in the even-more beloved-than-Goldy, 9th Annual Larry Fitzgerald Celebrity Softball Game.  Rosen won the home run derby and the game’s MVP honors. He signed autographs for everyone who wanted one and was a true class act.
The only other thing Rosen could have done to run up the score on his outstanding PR efforts on his way out of town Saturday would have been to participate in Pat’s Run, honoring the iconic Pat Tillman.
Athletes and community leaders everywhere should pay attention to Rosen’s words and actions to understand how important reality is when it comes to perception.