Gelski’s

Several groups and people need to make some smart public relations moves.  Here are my suggestions:

National Basketball Association — What are the odds that referee who bet on games gets whacked by some underworld hoodlums?  The NBA, once this situation settles down, needs to make a donation to a gamblers’ anonymous organization and then air some public service announcements about how to get help if you have a gambling problem.

National Football League — Michael Vick, Atlanta’s star quarterback, owned land where they found dead pit bulls.  I doubt Mr. Vick will be the NFL’s “Man of the Year’ this year.  The NFL needs to make a donation to some national animal abuse prevention group.  Public service announcements during NFL broadcasts would help, too.  And the Kansas City Chiefs should have a pet of the week.  After the “Star-Spangled Banner” is played, TV weatherman Gary Lezak and the designated pooch  could appear on the big scoreboard along with information on how to adopt the dog.

White House — The University of Tennessee women’s basketball team, the NCAA champion, should visit the White House soon.  President Bush could win some image points by asking the Rutgers’ team, too.  Rutgers lost to Tennessee in the final.  Then talk show Don Imus, since fired, insulted the Rutgers’ women on the air.

John Rocker — Several years ago Mr. Rocker, then an Atlanta Braves’ pitcher, said he did not like New York because of all the weird people who lived there.  I thought Mr. Rocker missed a chance to help his image after 9-11.  He could have assisted in the rescue and recovery effort at Ground Zero.  Wearing a hard hat and carrying a shovel, he could have looked into the TV camera and said, “Estamos Americanos todos.”  The scene would have made for grand TV theater, especially if some gay Asian women with purple hair and tattoos had lifted their shovels and smacked Mr. Rocker upside his head.