GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. -- Have you ever walked out of a job interview and you just know you blew it? I have. Turns out it really didn't matter because in this case at least, the better candidate got the job.
I was interviewed by then Minnesota Wild CEO Jac Sperling for the position of Media Relations Director for the startup franchise. During the interview process I was asked what I thought about the finalists for the team name and instead of telling him what he wanted to hear that "Wild" was the obvious choice, I flushed any chance I had at the job by being honest.
I told Mr. Sperling that I knew the correct answer was "The Wild." Correctly anticipating that they would take this vague concept and apply it any way they wanted, which would allow them to change the logo and colors as often as they liked, which would in turn allow them to sell more merchandise. Then I finished by telling him exactly how I felt and how everybody I knew felt about the finalists. That they should throw out the names and start the whole process all over again.
Game over. Thanks for coming. Don't let the door hit you on the way out. And best of luck with that broadcasting thing.
The truth is I knew that being honest was my only shot because I couldn't match the credentials of Billy Rob.
"Billy Rob" is the nickname for Bill Robertson, a local product who was at the time in charge of media for the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and the California Angels.
Everybody in the local sports scene knew Billy Rob, and everybody in the local sports scene knew that nobody did media relations as well as Billy Rob. It didn't matter of you were from KARE 11 or from WKBT in LaCrosse, Wis., Billy Rob treated you the same, and made sure you got what you needed. I know, because I dealt with Billy Rob in both capacities.
The truth is Billy Rob changed media relations in the Twin Cities and he did so for the better. Prior to Billy Rob's arrival the Vikings were impossible to deal with and the Twins were simply clueless.
It wasn't until Billy Rob showed everybody that the media could actually be treated with respect and allowed to do their job rather than be impeded at every turn that things began to change. But it wasn't until Billy Rob went to the Wild that things really changed.
Heck! The Wild didn't even have a team at first and when they did get one the only people you had ever heard of were head Coach Jacque Lemaire, and former Golden Gopher Darby Hendrickson. Yet, that was the assignment you wanted because you knew the organization would treat you with class and Billy Rob would make sure you got exactly what you needed for your story.
Billy Rob was such a force that the Wild even named their dining center "Billy Rob's Cafe" but Billy's impact was much bigger than that.
Since Billy moved east across the river the T-Wolves media department has never been the same. The Twins were smart. They became clones of the Wild and suddenly dealing with them became better than ever. The Vikings? They still don't get it and I'm starting to doubt they ever will, but now at least they have a chance.
I found out Thursday that Billy Rob is "leaving the organization to pursue other career interests and opportunities." Come on, we all know what that means, but I can't imagine how it happened? In full disclosure I still have lunch with Billy a few times a year even though I no longer cover the Wild on a regular basis, but I did not see this coming and I can only hope that Bill did.
My dream job? Playing tailback for the Minnesota Vikings, but we all know that that is never going to happen. Maybe, just maybe, a more realistic job would be to help that hopelessly out-of-touch franchise connect with their fan base on the same level the Wild and Twins have. Then again, maybe there's a better man for the job.
(Copyright 2011 by KARE. All Rights Reserved.)