http://www.swansonpr.com/index.php/news/ en contact@swansonpr.com Copyright 2010 2010-07-20T14:01:00-05:00 http://www.swansonpr.com/index.php/site/butler_building_for_the_future/ http://www.swansonpr.com/index.php/site/butler_building_for_the_future/#When:14:01:00Z The Racine Journal Times, home town newspaper of Dallas Mavericks Forward and Swanson Communications client Caron Butler, ran a feature describing Butler’s offseason activities as he spends the summer helping the community and developing business endeavors.  Butler Building for the Future By: Gery Woelfel, Racine Journal Times There is a tendency in our society to place labels on people. Professional athletes are a prime example. Pro athletes are often perceived as dumb jocks. They supposedly lack the mental faculties to excel in a field outside their chosen profession. That, of course, is ludicrous. We have seen that stereotype blown out of the water on countless occasions over the years. Former Green Bay Packers star Willie Davis made a nice segue from the football field into the corporate boardroom. Ditto for Junior Bridgeman and Jon McGlocklin, two former Milwaukee Bucks stars who became successful businessmen. It’s become increasingly apparent the ones who peg athletes as dumb are indeed the dumb ones themselves. Which brings us to Racine native Caron Butler. He is well on his way to proving his talents aren’t exclusively athletic. Butler, a former Park High School and current Dallas Mavericks star, decided several years ago that his abilities extend beyond a basketball court. “Ever since I was 24, I’ve been thinking outside the box,’’ the 30-year-old Butler said. “As an athlete, you don’t know the life expectancy of your career. “I want to do a lot of things with my life. I want to make as much money off the court as I’ve made on the court. “I want to continue to grown and build my net worth.’’ That is a lofty entrepreneurial goal as Butler already is in the high-end tax bracket. He is a millionaire many times over. Butler will be paid $10.6 million this season and could earn even more next summer. That’s when he could be an unrestricted free agent and sign with the team of his choice ... or accept a multi-year extension from the Mavs. Either way, Butler’s net worth will inevitably expand. But Butler is in the process of branching out and attempting to maximize all of his other skills, including those in the business sector. He is the sole proprietor of six Burger King restaurants around the country. “I once worked at Burger King in Racine,’’ Butler said. “I know the business. I know it from the janitorial spot all the way through the management side. “I know that game inside and out.’’ Butler has also had discussions with Mark Cuban, the Mavericks’ billionaire owner, about “shadowing” him and learning more about the intricacies of business. Butler also intends on taking a course in business next summer at Duke University. While Butler was just like almost every other kid growing up who wanted to be “Just like Mike” - as in Jordan - he now wants to be just like Magic - as in Johnson. “Just seeing what Magic Johnson has done and is doing is unreal,” Butler said. “He’s part-owner of the (Los Angeles) Lakers, he owns Starbucks, Burger Kings, LA Fitnesses and theaters. “I’m trying to get more and more involved in different things like him.” Butler then flashed that mega-watt smile of his and quipped, “At 30, Magic wasn’t a Burger King owner yet.” Even though Butler is consumed with broadening his horizons, he remains devoted to helping his hometown become an even better place to work and live. Butler’s contributions to our city over the years have been well-chronicled and, this summer, he’s continued lending a hand. Butler helped usher in the successful midnight basketball league at the Bray Center, bringing along a surprise guest for the occasion, teammate and fellow NBA All-Star Shawn Marion. Butler also held his sixth annual “Bike Brigade,” where he distributed 250 spanking new bikes to youths in the community. There was just one caveat, though. “The young kids had to sign peace pledges,” Butler said. “They pledged to become great pillars in our community. “And they had to abide by the rules, that they ride safely and that they ride with helmets.” Butler also sponsored a free concert at Memorial Hall, one that featured some nationally-renowned hip hoppers, including Waka Flocka and Yo Gotti. Again, there was a caveat. In order to get a free ticket, each person had to bring four canned food items to the concert. Approximately, 1,800 people attended the event; 7,200 canned food items were collected. Butler, who seemingly has boundless energy, is also sponsoring several Amateur Athletic Union basketball teams and even arranged a meeting where former Park High basketball player Josh Cameron got to meet LeBron James. “I’ve been working out Josh, and LeBron is his favorite player,” Butler explained. “So I had LeBron talk to him. LeBron gave him some inspirational words.” Butler’s fondest moment of the summer, however, came a couple of weeks ago. That’s when he and his wife, Andrea, welcomed the newest member of their family into the world: daughter Ava. Ava, whose godfather is Miami Heat superstar Dwyane Wade, joins siblings Camary, Caron Jr. and Mia. “I love kids,” Butler said. “I learn so much being around my children. They keep me young. “They’re the most important thing to me in the world. I always say, ‘Family first.’ I got that tatted on my back.” Butler will be leaving for Dallas in a couple of weeks in preparation for the upcoming NBA season, but he plans to keep coming back to Racine as much as possible. He realizes there is plenty of work to be done in this community and he’s willing to do his part. “Racine has been hit hard by the economy,’’ Butler said. “But we got a lot of great energy in this city, a lot of great people. “One of the things I want to do is bring more opportunity and more awareness to Racine. I don’t want to get into it, but we got some big things coming to the city within the next two years. “I look forward to big things for this city.” And for himself. 2010-07-20T14:01:00-05:00 http://www.swansonpr.com/index.php/site/juan_diaz_houston_chronicle_op_ed/ http://www.swansonpr.com/index.php/site/juan_diaz_houston_chronicle_op_ed/#When:21:05:00Z Swanson Communications placed an op-ed piece written by former Three-time Lightweight World Champion Juan Diaz in the Houston Chronicle on Saturday, July 3 in advance of the Fourth of July holiday.  The piece touches on his feelings regarding immigration, independence, and the American Dream.  The Houston native will face current Unified Lightweight World Champion Juan Manuel Marquez on July 31 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas live on HBO Pay-Per-View.  Below please find Diaz’s op-ed: American dream is not dead I am a Houston native, the son of Mexican immigrants and a professional boxer with a college diploma. I have earned three world titles in my career, and I am training to fight Juan Manuel Marquez for the Unified Lightweight World Championship on July 31. I also own a construction business with my brother and am taking steps to become a lawyer. This is because my parents had the foresight to move to the United States so that I could have these opportunities. As the Fourth of July holiday approaches, it is important to remember that we live in a country where anything is possible, and the American dream is real. As a young boy, I saw the troubles my immigrant family and friends faced while working to become citizens and acquire the same rights that Americans often take for granted. There are millions of Mexican immigrants in this country, and I know that there are others out there like me who are on the brink of greatness and could even be the missing link in solving some of this country’s toughest problems. We have reached a crossroads in the way our country handles immigration. In some ways, it seems as though we are taking a step backward with the passage of Arizona SB 1070, which I feel violates basic rights. Despite my feelings about this specific law, I believe in our system of government. I believe in the people’s right to vote and to choose who represents them. I believe in checks and balances. After my days in the ring are over, I want to be a successful lawyer who champions rights for the people. I want to contribute to our democracy and pay my good fortune forward to those who are seeking the opportunities that our Founding Fathers had in mind. I want to help people see that the American dream is not a thing of the past, but a thing of the present, and I hope that the Fourth of July is a reminder of how lucky we are to live in this country. *Photo Credit: Hogan Photos/Golden Boy Promotions Athletes, Marketing & Promotions, Press Releases, Public Relations, Swanson News 2010-07-06T21:05:00-05:00 http://www.swansonpr.com/index.php/site/photo_gallery/ http://www.swansonpr.com/index.php/site/photo_gallery/#When:17:41:00Z Check out some recent Swanson Communications photos.  In the photo above, Caron Butler shows off his new Twitter account name @realtuffjuice during his visit to the ESPN Headquarters in Bristol, CT. To view our entire photo album click here.  2010-06-08T17:41:00-05:00 http://www.swansonpr.com/index.php/site/washington_freedom/ http://www.swansonpr.com/index.php/site/washington_freedom/#When:13:40:00Z Washington Freedom, the Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) team of Washington, DC has hired Swanson Communications to assist with public relations efforts for the 2010 season.  The inaugural season of WPS kicked off in March 2009 and has eight teams for the 2010 season. Freedom plays its home games at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds, MD, as well as one doubleheader game at RFK stadium. The team hosted its season opener at the SoccerPlex on April 10th, against the Boston Breakers. “Swanson Communications is excited to work with Washington Freedom and will aggressively pursue local and national media opportunities for the team this season,” said Kelly Swanson, President of Swanson Communications. “As a woman business owner who has been in the sports industry for over 20 years, I am thrilled to be helping a women’s sports team find success.” Press Releases, Public Relations, Sports 2010-04-12T13:40:00-05:00 http://www.swansonpr.com/index.php/site/caron_butler_says_goodbye_to_dc_fans/ http://www.swansonpr.com/index.php/site/caron_butler_says_goodbye_to_dc_fans/#When:23:11:01Z When you get traded, you don’t get time to say goodbye. More important, you don’t get the opportunity to say, “Thank you.” Thank you, to some of the best fans in the world. Representing you and representing this city has been an honor I will always cherish. During my 4 1/2 years as a Wizard, I learned many valuable lessons, especially how to give back to the community. The most rewarding part of my time in Washington was meeting the incredible people of this city, and I will miss you all. Thank you to the countless individuals who helped me with the annual Coats for Kids, the Bike Brigade and my basketball camp. The memories are many and will never be replaced. When I came to Washington, I dreamed of winning a championship. I thought I would play the rest of my career in this city, retire a Wizard and one day see my number hanging from the rafters at Verizon Center. I have learned that in basketball, as in life, nothing is guaranteed. Thank you for the memories. My family and I will treasure them forever. Washington will always hold a special place in my heart. Caron Butler, Dallas To view the letter on washingtonpost.com please click here http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/21/AR2010022103133.html Athletes, Public Relations, Sports, Swanson News 2010-02-22T23:11:01-05:00 http://www.swansonpr.com/index.php/site/swanson_communications_welcomes_spring_2010_interns/ http://www.swansonpr.com/index.php/site/swanson_communications_welcomes_spring_2010_interns/#When:16:17:00Z Swanson Communications welcomes its interns for the 2010 spring semester George Bradford, Yoona Park and Lander Alanis-Cue.  The interns will be learning the tricks and the trades of public relations and sports business through hands-on experience for the next fifteen weeks. Hailing from as far as South Korea and as close as Connecticut, the group brings a wealth of diversity to the agency. Bradford and Park are college students; part of the internship placement program at The Washington Center, and Alanis-Cue is a recent college graduate.  Bradford, a Connecticut-native, is a junior Communications and Culture major at Clark University in Worcester, MA. A point guard on the Clark University varsity basketball team, Bradford hopes to learn about marketing and promotions while at Swanson Communications, but someday hopes to be a sports broadcaster. Park, a senior at Hanyang University in South Korea joins Swanson Communications from her native of Seoul, South Korea. Park is a Business Administration major who loves running marathons, swimming, and skating. Alanis-Cue is a recent graduate of Tufts University in Medford, MA; he graduated as a double major in International Relations and Community Health. A former athlete and sports enthusiast, Alanis-Cue is eager to learn about the public relations and sports business industries. While at Swanson Communications Bradford, Park, and Alanis-Cue will serve in a supporting role for all of Swanson Communications’ client work. Swanson News 2010-02-01T16:17:00-05:00 http://www.swansonpr.com/index.php/site/floyd_mayweather_statement/ http://www.swansonpr.com/index.php/site/floyd_mayweather_statement/#When:15:51:00Z “First and foremost, not only do I want to fight Manny Pacquiao, I want to whip his punk ass.  “Throughout this whole process I have remained patient, but at this point I am thoroughly disgusted that Pacquiao and his representatives are trying to blame me for the fight not happening when clearly the blame is on them. “Before the mediation, my team proposed a 14-day, no blood testing window leading up to the fight.  But it was rejected.  I am still proposing the 14-day window but he is still unwilling to agree to it, even though this is obviously a fair compromise on my part as I wanted the testing to be up until the fight and he wanted a 30-day cut-off.  The truth is he just doesn’t want to take the tests.  “In my opinion it is Manny Pacquiao and his team who are denying the people a chance to see the biggest fight ever.  I know the people will see through their smokescreens and lies.  I am ready to fight and sign the contract. Manny needs to stop making his excuses, step up and fight.” Sports, Swanson News 2010-01-08T15:51:00-05:00 http://www.swansonpr.com/index.php/site/floyd_mayweather_featured_in_interview_magazine/ http://www.swansonpr.com/index.php/site/floyd_mayweather_featured_in_interview_magazine/#When:21:21:00Z Interview Magazine is featuring Floyd Mayweather in this month’s issue on newsstands now. The exceptional photos and interesting interview is unlike any Mayweather has been a part of in his career.  To see photos and read the article online please go to: http://www.interviewmagazine.com/culture/floyd-mayweather/. “But while boxing might never again achieve the kind of transcendent place in the culture it had in the days of lumbering heavyweights like Ali, Foreman, and Frazier—who talked smack and pounded the life out of each other with a kind of brutal grace—the future of fighting might very well rest on the shoulders of Floyd Mayweather Jr.” -Floyd Mayweather Interview Magazine Introduction 2009-12-17T21:21:00-05:00 http://www.swansonpr.com/index.php/site/floyd_mayweather_reclaims_his_throne_as_the_ppv_king/ http://www.swansonpr.com/index.php/site/floyd_mayweather_reclaims_his_throne_as_the_ppv_king/#When:19:24:00Z Numbers don’t lie, and the report today that Floyd “Money” Mayweather’s highly anticipated comeback fight on Saturday, Sept. 19 was seen in over one million homes on HBO Pay-Per-View®, cements the elite pugilist and cross-over superstar’s status as the biggest attraction in boxing, and one of the highest grossing stars ever in the sport’s history. Mayweather, who returned to boxing after a 21-month layoff, delivered a masterful performance against the number two pound-for-pound fighter in the world, Juan Manuel Marquez, reminding those ringside and watching from home that he still is the best in the world.  “I am truly humbled by the numbers, and I appreciate all of the sports fans who either came to the fight or bought it on pay-per-view,” said Mayweather. “It felt great to be back in the ring and next time I will be even better.” “These pay-per-view figures show exactly what Floyd brings to the table when he steps into the ring,” said Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions. “The fans wanted to see Floyd’s return to the sport and an incredible number of them tuned in to see him. He put on a special performance.” Mayweather’s record breaking run, which began in 2007 with his mega-fight against Oscar de la Hoya, may finally silence his critics. In his last three bouts, Mayweather has delivered a record shattering total of nearly 4.4 million pay-per-view homes and over $300 million in revenue combined. His dominance in the ring on Saturday, in which he showed off an array of power, speed, intelligence, and phenomenal defense, proved that Mayweather has not lost a step and still is the best in the sport. There is no doubt that Mayweather has his sights set even higher with countless potential mega-fights on the horizon. Mayweather continued, “I returned to boxing to fight the best, and that’s what I intend to do.” Athletes, Marketing & Promotions, Public Relations, Sports, Swanson News 2009-09-25T19:24:00-05:00 http://www.swansonpr.com/index.php/site/recent_photos/ http://www.swansonpr.com/index.php/site/recent_photos/#When:16:15:01Z Take a look at photos from recent events involving Swanson Communications. Floyd Mayweather and Juan Manuel Marquez stand together on the 86th Floor of the Empire State Building at the press conference officially announcing their welterweight fight which will take place September 19 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Photo Credit: Dylan Wilson - Hoganphotos/Golden Boy Promotions Floyd Mayweather poses outside of his Las Vegas boxing gym, wrapped in an American flag in celebration of Flag Day and the Fourth of July. Photo Credit: Ronda Churchill- Hoganphotos/Golden Boy Promotions Fighters and promoters pose together at the Affliction M-1 Global’s “Trilogy” press conference at Trump Tower in NYC. Photo Credit: Ed Mulholland 2008 Manager of the Year Joe Calzaghe and Fighter of the Year Manny Pacquiao pose at the Boxing Writers Association of America Awards Dinner on June 12 in New York City. Photo Credit: Swanson Communications Kelly Swanson poses with Joe Calzaghe, 2008 Manager of the Year, during his visit to New York City for the BWAA Dinner. Photo Credit: Swanson Communications Kelly Swanson poses with Lee Samuels and Ricardo Jiminez of Top Rank, Inc at the BWAA Awards Dinner on June 12. Photo Credit: Swanson Communications 2009-06-23T16:15:01-05:00