Ralph Nader Calls MLB Uniform Ads ''obscene embarrassment''

wilheim · May 4, 2004

WASHINGTON (AP) Presidential candidate Ralph Nader called the advertisements on uniforms during major league baseball's season-opening series an ''obscene embarrassment'' and sent a letter of protest Tuesday.

''This overcommercialization is sapping the fun out of being a fan of major league baseball,'' Nader wrote in his letter to commissioner Bud Selig. ''Now, you have sunk to a greedy new low.''

The ads appeared on the uniform sleeves and caps of the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Devil Rays during their two-game series in Tokyo on March 30-31.

While the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs wore similar ads when they played in Tokyo in 2000, and baseball said in advance that the Yankees and Devil Rays would wear patches, Nader said the ads this year ''ambushed fans across the country and left them shaking their heads at this obscene embarrassment.''

Tim Brosnan, baseball's executive vice president for business, has said he is open to considering additional uniform advertising in the future, but Selig and chief operating officer Bob DuPuy have said it is not under consideration.

''We urge that you immediately put this issue to rest once and for all and eliminate any current or future possibility that major league baseball will accept advertisements on uniforms,'' Nader wrote.

On the Net:

http://www.leagueoffans.org

oldmantime · May 4, 2004

What were the ads for? Any obscene wording, etc?

If not --who cares?
It's the money stupid?

wilheim · May 4, 2004

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> If not --who cares?
It's the money stupid? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

OMT - I think a lot of fans care, its about tradition, have you ever watched Mexican league baseball on cable? Personally I would hate to see a VISA or MC ad on Derek Jeter's pin stripes.

wil.

oldmantime · May 4, 2004

As one who enjoys gaming--I also believe in others right to advertse . As long as it's nothing harmfull (alcohol -cigs or sexually explicit)

$$$$---It's the Capitalist way!

Mr NJ Sports · May 4, 2004

I guess he has never watched international football (soccer)

jaypaw · May 4, 2004

I love nader

bulldog77 · May 4, 2004

I can see what Nader means. The whole trend of corporations over people is Orwellian.
Prime example is Penn State grid uniforms: No names of either individual or university they represent on jersey but do have the Nike swoosh on them.

winkyduck · May 4, 2004

to me, the more "obscene embarrassment" was ralphie running for Prez in 2000 when he had NO PRAYER of winning and costing al gore the election then running AGAIN this year and maybe costing john kerry the election.

Marco · May 4, 2004

Nader writes "This overcommercialization is sapping the fun out of being a fan of major league baseball"......

Maybe because the game is boring and lacks the action or actual physical violence that takes place in football games....

baseball is America's game? Check out the ratings and I think you'll disagree...

As long as it isn't something grossly offensive I don't see much harm in advertising, even products that sell legally like alcohol and tobacco should be able to advertise.....why discriminate against those industries....

Look at all the advertising with the golfers wearing hats....all the stickers the nascar races run with....hell, they even sell rights to name the circuit after a company same as you see bowl games sold off, and names of stadiums.....does that really take away from an event if the sponsors change from year to year?

I could care less about ads and sponsorships...give me a good game to watch....name the stadium or the game whatever you wan't....wear some ad patches if you want....I'm like most American sports viewers, give me some action and violence and I'm a happy guy....

Mr NJ Sports · May 4, 2004

WINKYDUCK " to me, the more "obscene embarrassment" was ralphie running for Prez in 2000 when he had NO PRAYER of winning and costing al gore the election then running AGAIN this year and maybe costing john kerry the election."

And I am sure you hated when Perot ran in 1992 and cost BUSH 1?

wilheim · May 4, 2004

Deep economic recession cost Bush 1 that election. You must remember the slogan "It's the economy, stupid".

wil.

jaypaw · May 5, 2004

winky

you gotta love nader

thank god for third parties

RobFunk · May 5, 2004

its bad enough looking at all the ads on the NHL ice

oldmantime · May 5, 2004

I didn't see the ads so I don't know how they looked or if they looked untastefull to Nader or not. But, if they were advertizing everyday products nothing harmfull like booze or tobacco; then do you REALLY want the government involved in what players wear??
Folks-I tell you the more you want the government to regulate the less freedom you have. Think about it!

RobFunk · May 5, 2004

"...Now, you have sunk to a greedy new low. Bending Baseball to the demands of advertisers and accepting more than $10 million (according to Advertising Age) for a corporation to plaster ads on the uniforms for the two-game series in Tokyo..."

here we are a group of gamblers who pay attention and watch the game more closely than your avg. fan and no one has any idea what the damn ad was. I'm sure whomever forked over the 10 million will be happy to know that.

oldmantime · May 5, 2004

I half-way like Ralph Nader, but if there was ever a guy that LOVES the attention it's him!!

TheMDKid · May 5, 2004

Don't these politicians have anything more important to worry about? First it was the steroids in baseball issue - now this. Is there any facet of our lives that these guys don't want to control? Oldmantime is right - the more you want the government to regulate the less freedom you have. Think about it!

PatPatriot · May 5, 2004

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> ''This overcommercialization is sapping the fun out of being a fan of major league baseball,'' Nader wrote in his letter to commissioner Bud Selig. ''Now, you have sunk to a greedy new low.''
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

First time in my life I agree with R Nader

Ralph Nader Calls MLB Uniform Ads ''obscene embarrassment''

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