Not that I’m an avid reader of Phil Mushnick, but I thought this was interesting today…
Monday, as several readers noted, ESPNews conducted phone interviews with some of Puckett’s distraught ex-teammates. As they spoke, the photo that appeared on the ESPN Mobile screen was Puckett’s. That’s right, shortly after learning of Puckett’s death, ESPN used him to sell ESPN cell phones.
That’s… that’s just not good. I really haven’t noticed if ESPN does the same thing for everyone they interview via telephone, but you know… you can’t put a dead guy’s picture on your cell phone. If you’re interviewing Kent Hrbek, put his picture in there. If you’re interviewing Gary Gaetti, put his picture in there. You can’t use Kirby Puckett’s picture to promote your cell phone. You just can’t. I don’t care how few people are buying it.
Mushnick also notes that a company called Stiner Sports, just hours after Kirby’s death, sent an e-mail to their customers selling baseball’s with Kirby’s Autograph for $800. “The sports world has lost a great one,” and Steiner Sports “still has five Batting Champ balls that have his signature.”
Just disgusting.
The Dar Says:
March 10th, 2006 at 1:15 pm
But God forbid we put a logo on a jersey right?
SteelyJack Says:
March 10th, 2006 at 8:23 pm
Calm down, folks. ESPNews has been using an ESPN Phone whenever they are interviewing someone over their phone lines for the past month. I think it’s tacky and looks atrocious, but the Puckett photo was not their first use of this on-screen graphic.
Insomniac Says:
March 11th, 2006 at 12:52 am
Yeah, I gotta admit that I wasn’t too offended by this either.
Of course, I sold my soul to the devil at my bachelor party so that might be a factor…
anonymous Says:
March 11th, 2006 at 6:30 pm
no, the ESPN mobile phone is so good it can call dead athletes.