I feel like someone just bulldozed Aunt Ida's house. Or worse, that house in Cleveland from A Christmas Story. Or, even worse, the outdoor tiki patio at (insert naming rights of your favorite sports bar here).
Where does it end, people?
From the "We Knew It Was Coming But I Was A Lot Happier With My Head Buried In The Sand" Department: It was announced today that the Cleveland Indians have sold the naming rights of Jacobs Field (a.k.a. "The Jake") to the Cleveland-based auto-insurance company, Progressive, for around $3.6 million.
Well, sure, that makes sense. Layoff hundreds of employees before the holidays and plunk down millions of dollars on "naming rights" in "the poorest city in the nation."
All that is missing now is an objective reporter screaming at the top of their lungs "Why aren't you people supporting the Indians? Why aren't you people selling out The Jake???" ...from The Plain Dealer Pavilion in Cleveland (Hint: See above-mentioned item about that "poorest city in the nation" thingy ...or, as painful as it may be, read your own hometown newspaper once in a while, won't you?).
It may be a sign of the times... but these times make me sigh.
So this is how it goes down in Cleveland (and around the country), huh? Some billionaire "philanthropist" living in his hollowed-out volcano/secret underground lair takes time out of his busy day from developing a "doomsday weather machine" (or something) to plaster the name of his mega-corporation all over THE JAKE for millions of dollars ...yet cannot afford to retain 300 of his own henchmen (and, um, henchwomen) in the meantime.
That's the major public relations blunder calling the kettle black! So with all due respect to the "Progressive" CEO, allow me to get my cyber-panties in a bunch ...because I have an axe to grind.
Article comments
1 - Aaron Kemp
Your headline actually fooled me...I thought they were going to ban hot dogs and start selling soy dogs because they are unhealty for all of the little fat kids in America. Too bad about the name though, at least your not in Oakland. "Network Associates Coliseum" is still the worst name out there
2 - Chris McVetta
Actually, I'm... "Not in Portland."
3 - Igor's Hunch
Maybe the monster from "Cloverfield" could have knocked the Jacobs Field name off the hinges for a few more bucks, huh? The Jake is no more!!!
4 - Chris McVetta
I just saw "Cloverfield" ...and BOTH are so bad it hurts!