ISI's Jamey Crimmins, who handles the marketing for
Saints RB Ricky Williams, said that the ESPN Magazine cover
featuring Williams wearing a wedding dress "will have no
negative impact on Williams' marketing value," according to
Josh Peter of the New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE. Crimmins
referred to the photo as a "blip" and said, "We'll talk
about it, and then it's going to go away. People want to
enter into the marketing relationship with Ricky because of
the kind of person he is and the kind of football player he
is." Peter wrote that the "original idea for the cover
photo was a takeoff on the painting 'American Gothic.'"
Crimmins, on the change: "I found out yesterday they traded
a pitchfork for a wedding dress. I was kind of hoping for
the pitchfork" (TIMES-PICAYUNE, 7/29). Williams said that
the "American Gothic" idea "didn't work out." Williams:
"And then, at the last minute, [ESPN Magazine officials]
said they spent all that money and got the photographer down
there, and I didn't want to rain on their parade. So I went
along with [the wedding dress]" (N.O. TIMES-PICAYUNE, 7/29).
