Timing Is Everything
Isn't it interesting how one day after the Red Sox reveal that their uniforms will carry the EMC corporate logo for the opening series of the 2008 season in Japan, out comes a story describing how nearly all sources of revenue for the Olde Towne Team have dried up?
For so long, advertising has been verboten in the most sacred areas of the game. The ballpark walkways and scoreboards are alright, as are the programs and officially sponsored spray bottles, but when baseball tried to put movie advertisements on the bases to promote "Spider-Man", fans revolted and the gimmick never came to fruition. When ads were being discussed for the cleared sections of the ivy-lined outfield fence at Wrigley Field, the entire whole of Chicago's North Side worked up a frothy lather of outrage. So why is it deemed acceptable for the Sox to brand themselves with the mark of this sponsor overseas? Why, frankly, does it bother me as much as it does?
The world's biggest sport, soccer, has plastered its players with ads in abundance, so much so that a lot of teams have become more synonymous with the company emblem than with the team logo. That hasn't stopped the frenzy or tribal allegiances that soccer produces in its fan base. It makes sense for the team to maximize its advertising profits, even if it means using the logos to proclaim ownership over the players' bodies themselves. The Red Sox and every other team could certainly use the revenue, right? If it all goes to player development, then I should say "Go, team!", right? Only thing is we all know the money doesn't go straight to the players or farm system, so "Rah rah corporate logos!" will not be coming out of my mouth any time soon.
I think the root of my dislike stems from the fact that, unlike soccer (or any other sport for that matter), baseball has been recognized by government as more than just a game. That's why everybody gets so worked up about everything. Steroids, drug abuse, amphetamines, gambling, all of it has been attacked from the highest points of government. Of course, all of it is based on this completely false notion that baseball is something sacred and pure, but still, it's cute right?
That's why I don't like having corporate logos on the player uniforms or movie ads on the basepaths. I know it's imperfect, I know it's completely illogical, but when I turn on the TV at 6 AM on March 25 and see "EMC^2" on the shirts, I'm going to feel like I've just been turned out by baseball. Granted, only three games, but I'll feel used and just a little dirty.
Is the extra revenue worth more than that little bit of idealism?
For so long, advertising has been verboten in the most sacred areas of the game. The ballpark walkways and scoreboards are alright, as are the programs and officially sponsored spray bottles, but when baseball tried to put movie advertisements on the bases to promote "Spider-Man", fans revolted and the gimmick never came to fruition. When ads were being discussed for the cleared sections of the ivy-lined outfield fence at Wrigley Field, the entire whole of Chicago's North Side worked up a frothy lather of outrage. So why is it deemed acceptable for the Sox to brand themselves with the mark of this sponsor overseas? Why, frankly, does it bother me as much as it does?
The world's biggest sport, soccer, has plastered its players with ads in abundance, so much so that a lot of teams have become more synonymous with the company emblem than with the team logo. That hasn't stopped the frenzy or tribal allegiances that soccer produces in its fan base. It makes sense for the team to maximize its advertising profits, even if it means using the logos to proclaim ownership over the players' bodies themselves. The Red Sox and every other team could certainly use the revenue, right? If it all goes to player development, then I should say "Go, team!", right? Only thing is we all know the money doesn't go straight to the players or farm system, so "Rah rah corporate logos!" will not be coming out of my mouth any time soon.
I think the root of my dislike stems from the fact that, unlike soccer (or any other sport for that matter), baseball has been recognized by government as more than just a game. That's why everybody gets so worked up about everything. Steroids, drug abuse, amphetamines, gambling, all of it has been attacked from the highest points of government. Of course, all of it is based on this completely false notion that baseball is something sacred and pure, but still, it's cute right?
That's why I don't like having corporate logos on the player uniforms or movie ads on the basepaths. I know it's imperfect, I know it's completely illogical, but when I turn on the TV at 6 AM on March 25 and see "EMC^2" on the shirts, I'm going to feel like I've just been turned out by baseball. Granted, only three games, but I'll feel used and just a little dirty.
Is the extra revenue worth more than that little bit of idealism?
Labels: Commentary
Ryan Brodeur at 4:34 PM
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