I am a pretty big sports fan. I am always watching ESPN to see what's going on in the wide wide wide wide world of sports, because something always is. With the NBA's All-Star Weekend coming up there is a lot going on. Aside from the game itself, there is the tradition Slam Dunk Contest, 3-Point Contest, and Rookie Vs. Sophomores Game. There has been a call for a game of H-O-R-S-E over the last few seasons to give a little something extra for the fans to watch. This is a game I think most everyone has played in which you try to mimic someone's shot and if you miss you get a letter (H,O, and so on). Finally the NBA agreed to add a traditional game of HORSE to the festivities. I was happy to hear it. The very next day after the annoucement, the NBA announced that the game would still take place but it was going to be called GEICO, after the insurance company. Everything would be the same but instead of the letters of HORSE they will use G,E,I,C,and O.
When I heard this I felt like vomiting. It is complete shameful and the NBA should be embarrassed. I understand we live in a sports world where advertising and endorsements sully the integrity of the sport(s) but there is a line. We are talking about a game that most remember fondly playing as children. Is it really necessary to change the letters to an insurance company? Couldn't it be "NBA's All Star HORSE, brought to you by GEICO"? It just really angers me how nothing is sacred these days. I can't say I blame GEICO because it is good advertising. My beef lies with the NBA for even considering such a farce. It is completely disgusting and something should be done about it. Where do we draw the line, is the basketball itself going to have a big McDonald's Arch on it, or the backboard to have a Coca-Cola logo on it. It sounds funny, but wait a couple years, you never know what may happen.
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It's all about the money. Isn't everything? it's sad to say but it's true.
ReplyDeleteOr.. maybe they just want to distinguish their game of "horse" from what we used to play in our backyards because it's the NBA and it is a more extravagant game??
Or.. Maybe they'll add some cool twist to it because it is a different name??
I don't know.. I was just trying to see the positive side of things but then again.. no. It's about the money..
I agree that it's ridiculous. It's starting to get to the point where it just gets annoying when EVERYTHING is an advertisement. They just keep trying to make those extra dollars. The funny thing is is that more of this intrusive advertising is more likely to just drive people away instead of help them sell more products. But I guess the don't really care as long as they're getting the checks from the companies who are paying for these advertisements...
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. As I said you can't blame the companies because they are trying new ways of reaching people, it's the NBA who said yes. That being said, companies such as Geico are building a legion of anti-Geico people. If I had to choose a new insurance company I would have a sour taste in my mouth when I would hear Geico's name.
ReplyDeleteI am a HUGE fan of ESPN.com's Bill Simmons who has been asking, praying for HORSE to become the keystone of All-Star Weekend. I totally agree with him on that. I love the game and the idea of LeBron James and Allen Iverson hitting behind the backs from half-court. The out right selling out of HORSE to Geico really saddens me. It is a bastardization of one of my child hood pastimes
ReplyDeleteOMG. Vomiting is right. It's bad enough that they have to name places (stadiums, arenas, etc.) after companies, but now this?? I hope no kids start playing GEICO instead of HORSE.
ReplyDeleteI honestly wouldn't be surprised if the basketball itself started having a big McDonald's arch on it, or the backboard having a Coca-Cola logo on it.