A long time ago (no this is not a fairy tale) in Miami, Florida and Clinton, Oklahoma - I discovered the power of television -- today that power is shared with the internet.

An Oklahoma soccer team, headed to Brazil, was stranded at the Miami airport because of a snafu in their tickets.  After 2 days, it looked as though the players and the parents would have no choice but to return to Oklahoma.  I went to bed that night thinking "who do I know" that can help us.  The next morning, I got the wheels in motion by calling the editor of the Clinton Daily News.  He referred me to one of the wire services.  I knew the "hook" of the story was the stranded kids and that was my lead to them when they called.  I  asked where it would go - the answer was:  it will go out on the wire around the world and anyone who is interested can use it.  I thought for several minutes, then called the CBS affiliate in Miami and asked for the news department.  Luckily, it was a slow news day so the reporter was more than willing to go to the Miami airport to cover the story.   I then called Kelly Ogle at Channel 9 (they had provided pre-Miami coverage of the team's adventure) and, suddenly the news was now running on the Miami TV station and Channel 9, Oklahoma City.  I knew I had to get it on CNN, so I watched CNN for 45 minutes - slow news day - then called them.  I convinced a reporter to look at the news feed from Miami - and 15 minutes later it was the breaking news on CNN.  30 minutes later Pan American sent an airplane to Miami to fly the soccer team, parents and coach to Brazil.  While Pan Am is no longer flying - - that day they certainly made history for a soccer team from Oklahoma.  The Pam American  Airlines  gives an excellent history of a very proud airline :  http://panam.com/default1.asp   The story behind this story is the power of visual - whether it is an interview, a news story, a lucky break or a bad break.

The name Ted Williams no longer means baseball - it also means a  homeless man with a Golden Voice = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rPFvLUWkzs   A chance encounter with a local newsman who had video capability with him in his car.  It will be interesting to see where the new Ted Williams' career takes him - he certainly has an amazing voice for radio.

Then there's Ron Franklin - - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBcREQxjA2Y .  A long career with ESPN derailed because he had trouble editing what he said beforeit came out of his mouth.  Honestly, I hope there is more to this story than that one incident.  Why?  Because everyone at some time has said something inappropriate.  For most of us, though, it's not heard 'round the world on Youtube and does not cost you your job.

Now good news - who can forget this amazing voice - found on youtube....Charice Pempengo - - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opdd-_Z2pRE

The good, the bad, the ugly and the amazing - - when caught on video - can lead to unexpected changes (good, bad, ugly and amazing). 

Think about it the next time you are face-to-face in an interview.   What you say will be important - but so will  how you say it.