MarketInk: Tony Lovitt’s Marketing Career Spanned ’84 Olympics to U-T to Children’s Books

Tony Lovitt is looking forward to watching on TV the volleyball competition this month at the Olympic Games in Paris.

Lovitt, 69, has fond memories of working as the lead English and French public-address announcer for indoor volleyball at the Olympics in 1984 in Los Angeles and in 1996 in Atlanta, as well as at the 1990 Goodwill Games in Seattle and Spokane, Wash.

“I speak conversational French, at least well enough to read the scripted announcements at the Olympics,” Lovitt told Times of San Diego. “I started learning French in the third grade. French is the official language of the Olympics. All announcements must be made in English, French and the language of the host country.”

Lovitt says he pioneered radio play-by-play of volleyball in El Paso in 1975 with the El Paso-Juarez Sol, a team that played in the professional International Volleyball Association. He also was the announcer for the IVA’s first-ever match played May 30, 1975, at the San Diego Sports Arena.

He also claims to be the first, play-by-play TV announcer for a volleyball match that aired on ESPN-TV in September 1979.

“Since 1975, I’ve been the venue announcer at hundreds of international, intercollegiate and professional volleyball matches throughout North America, as well as the 2011 pre-Olympic volleyball tournament at Earl’s Court, London,” Lovitt said.

Lovitt moved to San Diego in 1981 to serve as a media relations consultant to the USA men’s national volleyball team, which had relocated from Dayton, Ohio, to train for the 1984 Olympics.

This month, over the weekend of July 13 and 14, Lovitt will be part of a reunion of players and coaches from the 1984 men’s U.S. Olympic volleyball team, which won their first Olympic gold medal on Aug. 11, 1984, at the Long Beach Arena.

“Most of the 12 players from the 1984 team are expected to attend an informal team dinner on Saturday, July 13, at the Hilton Long Beach Hotel,” Lovitt said. “The next day, on Sunday, July 14, when the USA women’s volleyball team plays the Netherlands at The Pyramid in Long Beach, the players, coaches and key staff members who contributed to the team’s success in the years leading up to 1984 will be recognized at halftime. I’m really looking forward to reminiscing with everyone, including Karch.”

Karch Kiraly, head coach for the 2024 Olympics USA women’s volleyball team, is a three-time Olympic gold medal winner who played on the men’s team in 1984 and 1988 (Seoul, South Korea), as well as the men’s beach volleyball team in 1996. He also coached the USA women’s indoor volleyball team to the gold medal in Tokyo in 2021.

Lovitt lived in San Diego from April 1981 to April 2021, when he relocated to Las Vegas.

“People still think I’m insane for leaving San Diego,” said Lovitt. “But, I’ve completely assimilated, made new friends and enjoy playing golf two or three times each week right here in my community. Life is great right now. I have no regrets whatsoever about leaving San Diego.

“During the three years of my son-in-law’s orthodontic residency at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, I discovered a 55-and-above community called Sun City Summerlin, which has three golf courses and dozens of wonderful amenities. In March 2021, I bought my current house for all-cash from proceeds of the sale of my condo in La Jolla. I’m living better and less expensively here than at any time during my four decades in San Diego. Sure, I miss the proximity to the ocean, especially the La Jolla Cove, but little else, really.”

During his 40 years in America’s Finest City, he founded TALENT (an acronym for Tony A. Lovitt Enterprises), a San Diego-based marketing and media relations firm he operated from March 1986 until retiring in 2021. His firm’s clients included Cox Communications, ProKennex, ASI Hastings, Pacific San Diego Magazine, The San Diego Union-Tribune and Grossman-Symington Public Relations. He also lent his voice-over talent to broadcast ads for Cox, the San Diego Padres and National City Mile of Cars.

Additionally, Lovitt served as a PA announcer (1985-91) and radio play-by-play announcer on KFMB 760-AM (1991-92) for San Diego Sockers games. He also worked as a senior advertising copywriter for The San Diego Union-Tribune from 2003 to 2009.

“I took the job at the U-T because of the downturn my business suffered in the aftermath of 9/11,” Lovitt said. “We won numerous awards at the U-T, but I was laid off in 2009, after David Copley sold the newspaper to Platinum Equity, a private investment firm. I continued with TALENT until retiring in 2021. It wasn’t easy, but I’m proud to have been primarily self-employed for 35 years.

Lovitt, who has two granddaughters and a third on the way, has written two children’s books, which were published during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Lovitt, “Five Trees for Mina” was written to help young children cope with the loss of a pet. It was published in April 2020.

Lovitt explained, “When my daughter left home to attend the University of California at Santa Barbara, I inherited her 12-year-old Persian cat. Even though I’m allergic to cats, I accepted the cat thinking it didn’t have long to live. In fact, Mina lived with me until she was nearly 20 years old and I grew very fond of her. When she was euthanized, it was tremendously difficult.

“When Mina’s ashes were returned to us, the veterinarian included a card from the Arbor Day Foundation that said five trees had been planted in the Chippewa National Forest in Minnesota as a living tribute to Mina. I was deeply touched and was motivated to write a book that promotes purposeful grieving, when someone pays tribute to a deceased loved one. Many of my readers are adults who have told me the book greatly helped them to assuage their grief.”

Lovitt’s second children’s book, “The Cat with Twenty Toes” was written as a tribute to his late brother, Brad, a 30-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department who was diagnosed with cancer in 2020. Brad’s cat, called Sookie, would yowl loudly and seemed empathetic and compassionate during his convalescence. The cat was polydactyl with five, fully-developed pads and claws on every toe. The book celebrates the physical differences in all living things, Lovitt said.

“The Cat with Twenty Toes was published in November 2021, 11 months after my brother passed away,” said Lovitt. “Brad spent his final days at the City of Hope in Los Angeles. I donate one dollar from every book sale to the Sgt. Brad Lovitt Memorial Foundation at City of Hope.”

Lovitt’s books are available at www.tonylovittpublishing.com.

“I’m contemplating writing another children’s book,” said Lovitt. “I promote and sell my books in local book fairs. I enjoy interacting with readers who send me notes through Amazon. I’ve had a wonderful, eclectic career, but nothing is as gratifying as signing one of my books for a child. To me, that’s greater than any monetary reward.

“I’m also planning to throw my hat into the ring to do public address announcing at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Hopefully, my pipes will still be good four years from now.”

Crowe PR Adds Fierce & Kind

Crowe PR, a San Diego-based public relations agency, has announced it is representing Fierce & Kind, a San Diego-based, spirits brand with a product portfolio that includes an 86 proof straight bourbon whiskey, a six-times distilled American vodka and a single-barrel, cask-strength bourbon.

Crowe PR said it will work to amplify the company’s awareness regionally and across North America through media relations, social media marketing and other strategic integrated PR initiatives.

Founded in 2020, Fierce & Kind is a minority-owned and woman-led spirits company led by Basem Harb and Cyndi Smith.

“The Crowe team is a valuable partner which truly understands our mission, energizes our team and helps tell our story behind Fierce & Kind,” said Harb, who serves as CEO of Fierce & Kind. “We’re certain our work with Crowe PR will allow Fierce & Kind to reach new audiences and increase awareness around the impact we strive to make.”

Fierce & Kind said it supports underserved entrepreneur communities through its foundation, the Fierce & Kind Equity Foundation, which receives 25% of the company’s profits to fuel educational and economic opportunities in historically-excluded communities.

“We knew we had something special to talk about the minute we connected with Cindy and Basem, heard their passion and tested the product,” said Anna Crowe, CEO of Crowe PR. “As a purpose-driven company, we, too, understand what it takes to build a brand tied to impact and we’re honored to share their story and help take this incredible brand to new heights.”

Crowe PR’s spirits and beverage client roster including Skrewball Whiskey, Rabbit Hole Whiskey, Mary Dowling Whiskey, Mash & Mallow Whiskey and Suntide.

NHL’s Anaheim Ducks Select New Creative Agency

The National Hockey League’s Anaheim Ducks team, based in Orange County, has selected Battery as its creative agency of record.

An integrated brand campaign, including social media, broadcast TV, TV streaming services, radio, outdoor and experiential, is expected to launch later this summer and throughout the 2024-2025 season, which begins in October. Also planned is a brand refresh with redesigned logo and jerseys.

The appointment by the NHL team reportedly followed a competitive pitch. Hollywood-based Battery, owned by the Paris-based Havas Group, has offices in Los Angeles, Chicago, Toronto and Shanghai. Other clients include Warner Bros. Games, Royal Bank of Canada and Gran Coramino Tequila.

The Anaheim Ducks were born in 1992 and played the first game on Oct. 8, 1993. The team says it has played to more than 90% capacity crowds in its history at the 17,174-seat Honda Center. The Ducks were the first California team to win the Stanley Cup in 2007.

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Logo on Manchester United Uniforms

Qualcomm Technologies has announced its Snapdragon logo has been added to the player uniforms of the Manchester United Football Club, the prestigious Premier League soccer club based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, England.

The Snapdragon logo will appear on shirts worn by both the men’s and women’s Manchester United teams for home games during the 2024-2025 season.

A Qualcomm statement said fans will be able to access an augmented reality experience by scanning the Snapdragon logo on the front of the shirt. The experience will bring fans onto the pitch of Old Trafford and feature exclusive Manchester United content throughout the season.

The new uniforms, called “kits” in Europe, will be worn for the first time by the men’s team during a pre-season tour in Europe and the U.S., including a July 31 game at Snapdragon Stadium in Mission Valley against Real Betis Balompie, a Spanish professional football club based in Seville, Andalusia.

“The launch of our new home kit is an exciting moment before the start of every season and especially so this year as we welcome Snapdragon as our new principal shirt partner,” said Jean-Claude Blanc, Manchester United CEO.

“We are excited to expand on our existing collaboration with Manchester United and see the Snapdragon brand featured on the Manchester United kit,” said Don McGuire, senior VP and chief marketing officer at Qualcomm. “With 1.1 billion passionate fans and engaged followers around the world, Manchester United is one of the most celebrated names in global sport. As the club’s new front of shirt partner, we aim to catapult the Snapdragon brand to new heights, building not only increased awareness, but also understanding and affinity for the role that Snapdragon plays in powering amazing experiences across billions of devices.”

Snapdragon processors can be found in more than 3 billion devices globally, powering premium experiences from the world’s biggest digital brands across smartphones, next-generation PCs, extended and virtual reality glasses, gaming, wearables and cars.

Manchester United, winner of 67 trophies during its 145-year history, is one of the world’s most popular and successful sports team claiming a global audience of more than 1.1 billion fans and followers.

Rick Griffin is a San Diego-based public relations and marketing consultant. His MarketInk column appears weekly on Mondays in Times of San Diego.