Comeback of Dennis Dixon

Dennis Anyone?
In an article posted by sportswriter, Lee Jenkins on Inside the NFL on si.com, April 8, 2008, Sports Illustrated outlines an unusual marketing ploy taking advantage of the Internet's immediacy by injured University of Oregon quarterback, Dennis Dixon. For the last 5 months, Dennis Dixon has taken advantage of high tech resources to keep NFL coaches, scouts and fans informed of his rehabilitation. After a sports injury shattered any hopes for a Heisman Trophy & national title, Dixon's dormant Heisman website was resurrected to "rebuild Dixon's image as trainers rebuilt his knee." Jenkins runs a great play-by-play documenting Dixon's tenuous fate taking us to the sidelines of his Internet broadcast to woo NFL scouts. Perhaps this online booster club will revive the "electrifying athleticism" we've come to expect from Dennis Dixon.

Risky Proposition for the Comeback of Dennis Dixon
While it sounds like a cool, high tech way to communicate, what happens if Dixon's rehabilitation takes a turn for the worse? Then again, Dixon has more to lose than gain and if it is his rehabilitation team that is choosing the images then he does have some control of his images.

Internet Diary as Motivating Influence
Does knowing his workouts are going to be immediately posted provide a psychological boost to keep Dennis Dixon motivated and on track? Further, sports is more than just statistics and sports history is filled with emotional comebacks based on hard work. Documentation of the rehabilitation may provide an emotional connection and an immediacy to keep Dennis Dixon in the hearts and minds of fans and NFL coaches so that when he is ready for training camp, he is still a valued sports commodity.

Previous Awards
Prior to his injury, Dennis Dixon was awarded numerous sporting awards including the Pacific-10 unanimous Offensive Player of the Year, Three-time Pacific-10 Offensive player of the week, the Bill Hayward Amateur Athlete of the Year award, ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District quarterback, National Football Foundation's Scholar-Athlete Award recipient and National Player of the Week for his winning performance.

Leading the Way For Other Athlete Comebacks
The concept of using the comeback to post your progress seems like a foreign idea right now, but it is a proactive measure by an athlete anxious to save his career. It is no different than a newspaper reporter filing ongoing progress reports on a favorite athlete. In this respect, Dennis Dixon doesn't have to wait for a reporter to come calling. It paves the way and sets the tone for other possible athletes to remain in the limelight and stay the course with their rehabilitation taking advantage of today's online resources, the immediacy and connection it provides.

SOURCE:
Sports Illustrated, si.com, "Dennis Anyone", Lee Jenkins Inside the NFL, April 8, 2008