Title: Like baseball? Like Spiderman? You're in luck! Post by: Kenrick on May 05, 2004, 10:36:07 AM SPIDERMAN 2 to appear on bases in all Major League Baseball games
Wed May 05 2004 11:52:49 ET In a move that has purists howling, Major League Baseball has agreed to decorate its bases -- and pitching-mound rubbers and on-deck circles -- with a spider-web pattern as part of a promotion for the release of Sony Corp.'s "Spider-Man 2" next month. The superhero sequel is set to open in theaters June 30. "`Spider-Man 2' Weekend" will start Friday, June 11, and all 15 MLB teams playing at home have agreed to participate for one or more games, the WALL STREET HOURNAL reported on Wednesday. The deal is baseball's latest attempt to develop a splashier national marketing image. "In an ultracompetitive sports-entertainment environment, you have to take risks," says Tim Brosnan, MLB's executive vice president for business. Developing... Title: Like baseball? Like Spiderman? You're in luck! Post by: WayAbvPar on May 05, 2004, 10:51:43 AM That sounds more like The Onion than the WSJ. If it is true, it is fucking moronic.
Title: Like baseball? Like Spiderman? You're in luck! Post by: Kenrick on May 05, 2004, 10:57:23 AM It was off Drudge... usually reliable. I think it's true. :(
Sports in other countries (and a lot in the US.. nba, nascar anyone?) are commercialized beyond belief. American baseball has done a fairly good job sticking to its roots, but it was only a matter of time before some bullshit like this happened. Next thing you know, the outfield grass is going to be splotched with ads for viagra and doritos. Title: Like baseball? Like Spiderman? You're in luck! Post by: cevik on May 05, 2004, 11:01:03 AM Quote from: Kenrick It was off Drudge... usually reliable. I think it's true. :( People that think that Drudge is "usually reliable" scare me. Please tell me you don't vote. Title: Like baseball? Like Spiderman? You're in luck! Post by: DarkDryad on May 05, 2004, 11:03:06 AM Druge reports the same drivel that the news outlets do so hes no more reliable than the major news media which is absolutly fucking not very reliable.
Title: Like baseball? Like Spiderman? You're in luck! Post by: Kenrick on May 05, 2004, 11:13:49 AM You guys are missing the point of the thread. Let's just assume the "article" is true. Didn't mean for this to be about the reliablity of conservative v. liberal media.
Title: Like baseball? Like Spiderman? You're in luck! Post by: cevik on May 05, 2004, 11:15:23 AM Quote from: Kenrick You guys are missing the point of the thread. Let's just assume the "article" is true. Didn't mean for this to be about the reliablity of conservative v. liberal media. Assuming this story is true, I probably still won't like baseball.. Title: Like baseball? Like Spiderman? You're in luck! Post by: Flashman on May 05, 2004, 11:16:01 AM Why does this surprise anyone? Baseball is a business and has to make money just like everyone else.
Baseball isn't some sacrosanct area free of commercial influences. Its been that way since they stuck Honus Wagers face on a card to help sell some chew. As far as Drudge, I think the "if you read Drudge you are scary/dumb/nutjob" meme has pretty much run its course, don't you think? Its the first thing I check in the morning because he has links to all the breaking news. Very rarely is there any original reporting. It's just a bunch of newslinks. Title: Like baseball? Like Spiderman? You're in luck! Post by: Mr_PeaCH on May 05, 2004, 11:23:05 AM Kenrick, your point is valid. And I happen to be pretty passionate in my belief that "our" major sports (MLB, NFL, NBA) *not* go too far from their geographic-not-corporate-centric roots. I mean, selling TV and stadium ads is one thing... but keep that crap OFF the uniforms and OFF the fields.
I don't follow Hockey but I understand now they have sponsor logos embedded in the ice? I expect that there will be a backlash to MLB's decision and I can only hope it is not a harbinger. Title: Like baseball? Like Spiderman? You're in luck! Post by: HaemishM on May 05, 2004, 11:42:41 AM Ummm, I expect the Drudge report to be reliable in only 2 instances:
1) When linking to an existing media outlet's story 2) When describing the contents of a celebrity's garbage cans Other than that, The Morlocks have more "journalistic credibility." As for this, all I can do is sigh. Getting better steroid/drug testing in place is not a priority, but dropping spider webs on bases to promote a movie I'll be seeing anyway is tacky. Title: Like baseball? Like Spiderman? You're in luck! Post by: Kenrick on May 05, 2004, 11:42:51 AM Quote from: Mr_PeaCH I mean, selling TV and stadium ads is one thing... but keep that crap OFF the uniforms and OFF the fields. Yeah, stadium ads have been around since practically the dawn of sports. In the old days it was for cigars or soda pop. Amazingly, it hasn't changed all that much (except for what they advertise). But tainting the field or uni's would be 100% unacceptable blasphemy. So you can definitely expect it to start any year now. Title: Like baseball? Like Spiderman? You're in luck! Post by: Alluvian on May 05, 2004, 11:53:48 AM The only issue I have with it is that the two subjects don't really have anything at all to do with each other. Baseball and spiderman just don't go together.
Title: Like baseball? Like Spiderman? You're in luck! Post by: Kenrick on May 05, 2004, 11:58:38 AM I dunno, al... Ichiro would make a damn good spiderman. Would the mariners dress him up in the skin tight costume for a game? I think with the record they've managed so far this season, it might not be such a bad idea. =P
Title: Like baseball? Like Spiderman? You're in luck! Post by: Alluvian on May 05, 2004, 12:00:48 PM Spiderman would be a kickass outfielder. He could whip up this web to cover like half the stadium.
Title: Like baseball? Like Spiderman? You're in luck! Post by: cevik on May 05, 2004, 12:10:15 PM Quote from: Alluvian Spiderman would be a kickass outfielder. He could whip up this web to cover like half the stadium. You got your Spiderman in my baseball. And you got your baseball on my Spiderman.. Spiderball, two great tastes that taste great together.. Title: Like baseball? Like Spiderman? You're in luck! Post by: Fargull on May 05, 2004, 12:16:20 PM Quote from: cevik You got your Spiderman in my baseball. And you got your baseball on my Spiderman.. Spiderball, two great tastes that taste great together.. I don't know whether to laugh or hit you with a bat. Will let Haemish decide. Title: Like baseball? Like Spiderman? You're in luck! Post by: Alluvian on May 05, 2004, 12:18:54 PM Don't get the bat out until someone actually makes some kind of Spiderman (the movie) 2 the game (fuck that title) mod that involves spiderball.
Title: Like baseball? Like Spiderman? You're in luck! Post by: HaemishM on May 05, 2004, 12:38:45 PM Why would I ever want to stop some good mindless violence?
SWING, BATTA BATTA BATTA, SWING! Title: Like baseball? Like Spiderman? You're in luck! Post by: Dark Vengeance on May 05, 2004, 02:28:38 PM Advertising on the outfield wall is one thing, advertsing on the field of play is another.
Under the ice in hockey doesn't bug me as much, because it is dulled and obscured a bit as play carries on, and the game moves fast enough that you aren't exposed to a big Labatt's ad for half the game. Do the same thing in football or baseball, with a big logo painted on the field, and you could be staring at that thing on damn near every play. It's bad enough that the NBA has to line the fucking courts with ads....I'd prefer they kept them off the floor. But it'll happen sooner or later....it's a business, and money will talk eventually. Though I'll stop watching the NFL long before the day that the New Mexico Tostitos beat the LA Coca Colas in the Nike Bowl for the Toyota Trophy. Bring the noise. Cheers.............. Title: Like baseball? Like Spiderman? You're in luck! Post by: cevik on May 05, 2004, 02:38:27 PM Quote from: Dark Vengeance Do the same thing in football or baseball, with a big logo painted on the field, and you could be staring at that thing on damn near every play. It's bad enough that the NBA has to line the fucking courts with ads....I'd prefer they kept them off the floor. They've been superimposing ads over the field between plays in football for the last few seasons. Last season it was always a big AOL ad where the guy would like run across the field or something, can't remember it 100%. It was only between plays, however, during play the graphics would go away. Title: Like baseball? Like Spiderman? You're in luck! Post by: HaemishM on May 05, 2004, 02:45:26 PM I love the little greenscreen ads they play in some of the parks now. Like in Wrigley Field, they'll occasionally hang a green screen behind and to the right of home plate, just in the picture from the center field camera. They only do it on days when the networks are broadcasting the game. From the center field camera, you see an ad, but from any other camera, you only see the green screen. Subtle, yet not. It's so deviously ingenious, I have to give them props for squeezing every cent of profitability out of the broadcasts.
Title: Like baseball? Like Spiderman? You're in luck! Post by: Kyper on May 05, 2004, 08:18:22 PM (http://kyper.org/images/spidermanbase.jpg)
All your base are belong to Sony Pictures It's minor league stuff. I expect it from the Portland Sea Dogs, the Durham Bulls, the Toledo Mudhens. I don't expect it from the New York Yankees, the Boston Red Sox or my Detroit Tigers. Next thing you know, Steinbrenner will be firing off the hot dog cannon during the 7th inning stretch. Title: Like baseball? Like Spiderman? You're in luck! Post by: pants on May 06, 2004, 01:27:17 AM I don't understand the big brouhaha
(http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/images/38324000/jpg/_38324831_mcg150.jpg) This is a not-particularly-good photo of one of our major cricket grounds here in Australia. The thin browny strip is cricket's equivalent of the space between the pitcher and the batter, ie the centre of all the action. The little white dots are the fielders (photo was apparently from miles away). The enormous white blob is a big painted ad for an airline, which happens to be right in line for the TV cameras viewing the browny-centre-of-action bit (known as the pitch). We've had this stuff for years, and civilisation hasn't collapsed here yet. So baseball wants to make some more money with advertising, why is that so bad? Title: Like baseball? Like Spiderman? You're in luck! Post by: daveNYC on May 06, 2004, 06:33:45 AM Something about having $95 non-nosebleed tickets plus $7 beers and $4.50 hotdogs.
It's annoying when a sport that's rolling in money decides that it needs more. Title: Like baseball? Like Spiderman? You're in luck! Post by: UD_Delt on May 06, 2004, 08:01:53 AM Just to add a little more stupid to this deal:
Quote Baseball will receive about $3.6 million in a deal negotiated by Major League Baseball Properties with Marvel Studios and Columbia Pictures, a division of Sony Inc., a high-ranking baseball executive said on condition of anonymity. The Yankees and Boston Red Sox will get more than $100,000 each, the team executive said, also on condition of anonymity. Most of the other 13 teams playing at home that weekend will get about $50,000 apiece, the team executive said. Makes perfect sense to me to give most of the money to the 2 teams that need it the least. Of course the Yankees opposed the idea and will only use the adds for one game and batting practice but I'm guessing they'll still get their larger cut. Title: Like baseball? Like Spiderman? You're in luck! Post by: daveNYC on May 06, 2004, 08:44:02 AM That'll cover A-Rod's tab for about six innings.
Title: Like baseball? Like Spiderman? You're in luck! Post by: Nebu on May 06, 2004, 08:50:39 AM I think this is just proof that the NBA and NFL are driving the popularity of baseball down more than MLB wants to admit.
As a purist, this is a stupid fucking idea. It's bad enough that MLB has started building parks to cater to short attention span offensive baseball, but now they are going to hype movies and shit with the bases. I hope to god this is a bad joke. Title: Like baseball? Like Spiderman? You're in luck! Post by: ClydeJr on May 06, 2004, 09:25:32 AM Here's a picture of the base that's on Yahoo (hopefully I got the link right):
(http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20040505/capt.ny16605052033.spider_man_on_base_ny166.jpg) Only way anyone is going to be able to see that is by having cameras focus on it. All anyone in the stands will see will be a big red splotch on the base. I wonder if it will be much of a distraction to the players. Title: Like baseball? Like Spiderman? You're in luck! Post by: HaemishM on May 06, 2004, 09:33:07 AM I think I'd be happier if Steinbrenner was fired FROM the hot cannon.
Title: Like baseball? Like Spiderman? You're in luck! Post by: Kenrick on May 06, 2004, 10:07:48 AM Quote from: ClydeJr Here's a picture of the base that's on Yahoo. Dear lord that's the stupidest thing I've ever seen. How in the hell is that good advertising? Nobody in the stadium or watching on TV is gonna be able to see the damn base closeup like that. Title: Like baseball? Like Spiderman? You're in luck! Post by: Fargull on May 06, 2004, 10:35:07 AM Hello,
It is already doing what they expected it to do, generate word of mouth and arguments that bring attention to the movie. I mean, hell it was on CNN. Not that I needed any additional information on the movie to peek my interest, the fact the movie has Dr. Ock with in its glossy glory is enough for me to go, YEAH. Title: Like baseball? Like Spiderman? You're in luck! Post by: Kenrick on May 06, 2004, 10:38:50 AM (http://msn.espn.go.com/i/magazine/new/040506_quickie.jpg)
Title: Like baseball? Like Spiderman? You're in luck! Post by: daveNYC on May 06, 2004, 10:40:22 AM Quote from: Fargull Hello, It is already doing what they expected it to do, generate word of mouth and arguments that bring attention to the movie. I mean, hell it was on CNN. Not that I needed any additional information on the movie to peek my interest, the fact the movie has Dr. Ock with in its glossy glory is enough for me to go, YEAH. That might be why Sony is doing it, but what was MLB thinking? $3.6M isn't really worth the hate that this will generate. Title: Like baseball? Like Spiderman? You're in luck! Post by: Paelos on May 06, 2004, 11:11:11 AM Tip of the iceberg to put crap on bases. They've already commercialized everything else in sports and even announcing.
-The Dodge Intermission Report -The Pepsi Halftime show -The Bud Light extra point -The Gatorade pre-game roundup Hockey has ads under the ice and on the boards. Football has ads on the field, on the chairs, on the speakers, and elsewhere. Tennis actually recently put Mercedes logos on the nets. NASCAR has always been about ads. Basketball put ads on the top of the goals so you could see them from the sky shots. And now baseball wants to put something on bases? Color me surprised. It's pro sports, made entirely for a business purpose, and if SONY paid $100M to plaster a huge running logos across the warning tracks of every field, you damn well better believe the MLB will take that deal. The tradition of baseball is a nostolgic time that will never return, most likely because Lucas bought the rights and won't release it again in its original form. Title: Like baseball? Like Spiderman? You're in luck! Post by: Kenrick on May 06, 2004, 11:45:02 AM You forgot the all-important AFLAC trivia question.
(http://espnxnet.espn.com/adsales/images/enhancers/sponsor_graphic_aflac_trivia.jpg) Title: Like baseball? Like Spiderman? You're in luck! Post by: Fargull on May 06, 2004, 12:14:16 PM Quote from: daveNYC Quote from: Fargull Hello, It is already doing what they expected it to do, generate word of mouth and arguments that bring attention to the movie. I mean, hell it was on CNN. Not that I needed any additional information on the movie to peek my interest, the fact the movie has Dr. Ock with in its glossy glory is enough for me to go, YEAH. That might be why Sony is doing it, but what was MLB thinking? $3.6M isn't really worth the hate that this will generate. I am wondering if it is not the tip of the iceberg that is SONY though.. wonder if this was a bit dodged onto a bigger deal. Title: Like baseball? Like Spiderman? You're in luck! Post by: Merusk on May 06, 2004, 01:45:24 PM Quote from: daveNYC Quote from: Fargull Hello, It is already doing what they expected it to do, generate word of mouth and arguments that bring attention to the movie. I mean, hell it was on CNN. Not that I needed any additional information on the movie to peek my interest, the fact the movie has Dr. Ock with in its glossy glory is enough for me to go, YEAH. That might be why Sony is doing it, but what was MLB thinking? $3.6M isn't really worth the hate that this will generate. They were probably thinking that with the average attention span being what it is, anyone but purists and hardcore sports fans will have forgotten all about this by tomorrow. Instead they'll be discussing the last episode of 'Friends' or the recent 'Survivor All Stars.' Title: Like baseball? Like Spiderman? You're in luck! Post by: Xilren's Twin on May 06, 2004, 02:01:47 PM Actually I think it's the tip of the iceberg in this manner. The logical follow up to this would be poorly disguised product placements for MLB in the actual spiderman movie itself. Perhaps spidey foils a supervillian who interrupts an actual MLB game....blech. I also expect once the movie hit to have stars throwing out first pitches and tv interviews and whatnot. Typical you blow me and ill blow you quid pro quo stuff. After all, MLB really isn't getting much out of this if it was a straight couple million; 50K a team wont amount to jack.
The sad things is, no matter how much of this they do I fail to see if somehow making baseball more attractive to younger kids, which ostensibly the main reason for doing it at all, trying to drive market share. Xilren Title: Like baseball? Like Spiderman? You're in luck! Post by: Mr_PeaCH on May 06, 2004, 03:19:55 PM Quote from: Xilren's Twin The sad things is, no matter how much of this they do I fail to see if somehow making baseball more attractive to younger kids, which ostensibly the main reason for doing it at all, trying to drive market share. Xilren 'zactly. "Son, wanna go down to the ol' ballyard?" "Nah, dad. Baseball is boring." "But son, I hear they've decorated the bases with Spiderman™ logos!" "... " On a semi-related note, I made it down to the new Padres Petco Park and I was wildly enthusiastic about the prospect of coming back again (and again) with my family (2 small kids) in tow. They have this fantastic outfield section which overlooks right-field. A five acre park with a sloping hill (with nice view of the field), a playground in the back, a pee-wee whiffle-ball field (plastic bats and balls provided; Padres staff on-hand to keep the game going), its own diamond-vision screen for where you can't see the field and even a huge sand-box right down in front of the (chain-link) right-field fence. For five dollars per person you can get in here, throw down a blanket and literally let the kids run wild ('cos mine cant sit still for an inning of baseball). For eight dollars same deal but you get a reserved seat in a little right-field bleacher section above that sand-box. Plus nothing is keeping you from going inside the stadium and walking around, viewing the game from standing room only sections, buying food and drink but outside has it's own vendors plus a really nice barbecue outdoor restaurant. I'm not saying that all this will turn my kids into baseball fans overnight... but over time the exposure just might wear them down. But if I can just make it through one game this season without the kids whining to go home it would be a miracle. Thank YOU San Diego taxpayers and visitors! Title: Like baseball? Like Spiderman? You're in luck! Post by: Rasix on May 06, 2004, 03:51:30 PM Quote from: Mr_PeaCH Thank YOU San Diego taxpayers and visitors! Now if you guys would just upgrade that shithole you call an airport. Title: And in a shocking turn of events... Post by: Kenrick on May 06, 2004, 07:44:53 PM ...Selig sticks to his "purist" roots. (http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/sportsbusiness/news/story?id=1796765)
I am actually a bit surprised. Relieved, as well. If there's going to be any ads on my baseball fields, it damn well better have Elisha Cuthbert (http://comicverse.free.fr/Images/TPCN/TPCN10/ElishaCuthbert4.jpg)at least half-nude. Not some stupid fucking spider webs. Unless those spider webs are draped over the nude body of Elisha Cuthbert (http://home.wanadoo.nl/mvalk99/cel1/ElishaCuthbert.jpg). Title: Like baseball? Like Spiderman? You're in luck! Post by: DarkDryad on May 07, 2004, 07:09:32 AM And a day later.....
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=545&u=/ap/20040507/ap_on_sp_ba_ne/bbo_spider_man_off_base_6&printer=1?partner=google Spidey gets picked off. Wewt. Common sense prevails!! Whodda thunk it? Title: ... Post by: Kenrick on May 07, 2004, 09:06:22 AM Didn't I just say that... last night?
Title: Like baseball? Like Spiderman? You're in luck! Post by: Rasix on May 07, 2004, 09:16:01 AM Yah, but you tried to be subtle and your Elisha Cuthbert pics may have shorted out a few braincells.
Title: Like baseball? Like Spiderman? You're in luck! Post by: HaemishM on May 07, 2004, 09:29:04 AM I can't see what putting the ads on the bases would have accomplished. It really IS too small for anyone but the players to see and make out clearly.
Sounds like publicity stunt to me, especially now that it got pulled off. Title: Like baseball? Like Spiderman? You're in luck! Post by: WayAbvPar on May 07, 2004, 09:34:26 AM The thing that I find hardt to swallow is that this stupid idea ever saw the light of day to begin with. Death to Disco Night (http://weeklywire.com/ww/08-09-99/nash_cl-sports.html) wasn't any dumber.
Title: Like baseball? Like Spiderman? You're in luck! Post by: HaemishM on May 07, 2004, 09:41:38 AM Quote from: WayAbvPar Death to Disco Night (http://weeklywire.com/ww/08-09-99/nash_cl-sports.html) wasn't any dumber. But at least shit got blowed up real good at that. Title: Like baseball? Like Spiderman? You're in luck! Post by: WayAbvPar on May 07, 2004, 09:47:40 AM Quote from: HaemishM Quote from: WayAbvPar Death to Disco Night (http://weeklywire.com/ww/08-09-99/nash_cl-sports.html) wasn't any dumber. But at least shit got blowed up real good at that. And it was also a noble cause. Title: Like baseball? Like Spiderman? You're in luck! Post by: Kenrick on May 07, 2004, 10:31:24 AM Quote from: Rasix ..Yours Elisha Cuthbert pics may have shorted out a few braincells. Point taken. Oops, didn't mean for that 2nd elisha pic link to go to some shitty banner ad. Fixed. Title: Like baseball? Like Spiderman? You're in luck! Post by: Kyper on May 07, 2004, 09:29:23 PM Quote from: WayAbvPar Quote from: HaemishM Quote from: WayAbvPar Death to Disco Night (http://weeklywire.com/ww/08-09-99/nash_cl-sports.html) wasn't any dumber. But at least shit got blowed up real good at that. And it was also a noble cause. Steve Dahl used to be funny. Last I heard from him, he was just whiney. |