Commentary: Ari Fleischer shows Dolphins how to flip it

[DolFan619]

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/dolphins/content/sports/epaper/2008/06/08/0809stoda.html

Commentary: Ari Fleischer shows Dolphins how to flip it

By GREG STODA
Palm Beach Post Staff Columnist

Sunday, June 08, 2008

DAVIE — The Dolphins don't have a lot of answers.

Ari Fleischer - yes, that Ari Fleischer - is going to give them some.

Fleischer, who was press secretary to President Bush for 21/2 years beginning in January 2001, now is in the consulting business (Ari Fleischer Sports Communications) and conducted a 45-minute session with the Dolphins on Sunday morning during mini-camp at the team's training facility.

"It's nice to be talking to The Palm Beach Post about something other than the re-count," Fleischer joked.

But the hanging chads of Bush-Gore 2000 aside, Fleischer sees an emerging parallel between his new job and his old one.

"The sports press has become as tough and as aggressive as the political press," Fleischer said. "Remember when (Vice President Dick) Cheney was really unpopular in 2004? Bush was asked if he was going to dump him from the ticket. A head coach starts out 0-4; the questions become about firing the coach or benching the quarterback. It's a similar mentality. When something goes wrong, the press zeroes right in on it."

Fleischer, 47, spoke to all NFL head coaches in April at the annual meetings at The Breakers and spoke to Dolphins assistants last month. It's NFL mandatory that every team has media training.

One of Fleischer's primary messages to the Dolphins during their session was that the media have every right to ask questions, and players have every right to privacy. The key, he instructed, is finding a common ground in which the relationship "isn't adversarial and conflict-driven."

Those words came straight off fleischersports.com, which suggests that players, coaches and executives who best understand the give-and-take exercise involved in the interview process "often find their careers are launched to higher, more successful, lucrative levels thanks to the good publicity they receive."

Somebody get this guy an office right next to where new Dolphins boss Bill Parcells has absolutely nothing to say.

Not that Fleischer isn't well-versed in the tactic of spouting blather.

"If it's time to punt," Fleischer said, "I have no problem whatsoever leading a client to a cliché."

He stresses "mental discipline" to athletes, coaches and executives with examples provided in slide and power-point presentations.

"One thing I tell the players is 'You have to expect these questions,' Fleischer said. 'The press is doing their job. They're supposed to ask you the hard questions, but you need to prepare for it, and don't let anyone stir the pot or pin one guy against the other guy.'

"That creates the most disharmony in the locker room that can be taken out on the field. When a player allows himself to get caught in a controversy that involves other people, (it) creates resentment in the locker room, and it festers."

Yeah, that whole Jason Taylor dance stuff, for example, might have been handled better by, say, Dolphins rookie coach Tony Sparano.

"Well," Sparano said, "I've heard my media coach speak twice now, and I think he's outstanding. I really do. I heard a lot of good things. I am not sharing any of my secrets with you guys. You'll just see it out here. You'll see it happen. I'm coachable."

Laughter! Right out loud!

Ah, the genius of Fleischer, who grew up in Westchester, N.Y., a Dolphins fan even.

"I split with my family twice," Fleischer said, "I cheer for the Dolphins instead of the Jets and Giants, and I became a Republican."

The political choice required much consideration, but the football allegiance can be traced to Fleischer's childhood affinity for the a mid-1960s television show.

"It's embarrassing, but I loved Flipper when I was a little kid," Fleischer said. "When there was a football team named the Dolphins, that was it."

He also recalled how one of his most difficult days in the White House was connected to the Dolphins when President Bush choked on a pretzel while watching Miami lose 20-3 to Baltimore in a playoff game in January 2002.

"It ruined what was going to be a relaxing afternoon off," Fleischer said, "and then the outcome of the game wasn't any good."

The Dolphins haven't since qualified for post-season participation and, of course, set a franchise record for failure last year at 1-15.

"Every team has issues," Fleischer said.

Sure, but can Miami's be traced to The Jinx of the Presidential Pretzel? Will the arrival of Barack Obama or John McCain in the Oval Office change the Dolphins' fortunes?

"They instantly start off with negative assumption," Fleischer said. "How do they fight their way through that before they prove themselves?

Umm, the new president? Or the Dolphins?

Answers, please.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

When I think of the areas in which the Dolphins need to improve most --- press conferences is not the first thing that pops to mind. 

[Sunstroke]

When I think of the areas in which the Dolphins need to improve most --- press conferences is not the first thing that pops to mind.

Of course not, but I think that most fans would agree that the Phins' front office does need to get better at handling the media. Fortunately, improving that can be done at the same time, and without detracting from, the development of the on-field product. Viva la reconstrucción!!

[Dave Gray]

Maybe Fleisher will convince Parcells to let Beck run with the shotgun.
The worst that can happen is that he'll shoot someone in the face.