12/21/24
March 31, 2003
Toronto Blue Jays tell fans to boo Matsui.: I have two (obvious) problems with this--one, is this the way any major-league team should treat its peers, especially a newcomer from another continent? And two, is this the message the Jays want to give their fans, that there is really no other reason to go to the Skydome?
if you really do crap in a hat, wfrazer, I say you take a pic and put it in your profile. A picture's worth a thousand words, you know, and I think that would speak volumes.
posted by Ufez Jones at 12:08 PM on March 31, 2003
Ufez, you are just too funny!
posted by billsaysthis at 12:42 PM on March 31, 2003
Here's the ad. Wellllll.... uhhh... at least it's not a picture of Matsui with bird crap on him.
posted by jerseygirl at 12:45 PM on March 31, 2003
Oh come on. I can't believe that this is any sort of controversy. Booing the opposing team is part of being a fan. Just wait until Clemens or Wells makes an appearance at a Jays game. Choosing Matsui is strictly because he's the big name signing. If it wasn't him, they'd have chosen Contreras (if he was starting) or whoever else they signed for big money. The Yankees are the "big bad guys" of baseball. It is who you want to beat every time. The Jays used to be that way (1992/93) so it's no big deal. And if Matsui is worried about fans booing him, just wait and see what happens if he goes 0-for-16 to start the season.
posted by grum@work at 12:52 PM on March 31, 2003
Thanks, jerseygirl. Now I don't agree with the ad, because you aren't trying to beat Godzilla. You're trying to beat the Yankees. I was just in Toronto, and I really don't think anyone up there gives a crap (haHA!) about the Jays anyhow. If it ain't Leafs, it ain't shite. Ufez: Well, you're talking about my performance-art alter ego, Jonathan Dumpenstein. Posting just one picture would short him of his whole range of work, including the Republican Contract with America, the Eiffel Tower and, ironically, a portfolio of Robert Mapplethorpe's work. I say we leave him out of this.
posted by wfrazerjr at 02:04 PM on March 31, 2003
Us Torontonians (and surrounding areas) don't care about the Jays as long as the Leafs are in the playoffs. The moment they are out (and hopefully not before June), we take notice. So any publicity is important for the Jays, and I think that it was part of the reason for the "risky" advertisement idea. Small story on the popularity of the Leafs in Toronto: Back when the Jays were playing the Phillies in the World Series (1993), I went to Skydome to watch Game 5 on the JumboTron (with about 25,000 other people). It was being played in Philly, but they opened up the dome for everyone to come in (for a small charitable donation). It was a great time, but the Jays lost. The biggest cheer of the night (including times when Toronto scored or got out of jams) was when between the 6th and 7th innings the Jumbotron showed the final score of the Leaf game. They had won, beating Tampa Bay and had set an NHL record for winning their 10th game in a row to start the season. World Series be damned, the Leafs stole the show.
posted by grum@work at 02:41 PM on March 31, 2003
Insane, ain't it, grum? I know there has to be backing for the Jays, because of the attendance records. The Leafs are it, though. I was stunned that fully 25% of Toronto males were wearing Leafs' jerseys on game day. Amazing. I still think "risky" is being nice ... "tasteless" is a better word. And why attack Matsui? Why NOT Clemens or Wells, who were a couple of knobs in leaving Toronto?
posted by wfrazerjr at 03:21 PM on March 31, 2003
RBI single on the first pitch. Take that, Boo Birds!
posted by Bernreuther at 06:36 PM on March 31, 2003
Oh my god ... The Yankees are upset about someone booing one of their players?!? Hello, pot, this is the kettle! Seriously, though ... I think it was somewhat unclear as to exactly HOW the Jays targeted Godzilla. Does the ad specifically say, "Come boo Matsui?" If so, that's a little much. Targeting one person is crossing the line. Crapping on a Yankee hat, though? I do that every year in a special ceremony to start the season. :)