The NFL TV ad titled "My Name Is Joe," which "pays
tribute to such famous NFL Joes" as Greene, Namath, Montana
and Theismann, "has been pulled after concerns were raised
about the song used on its soundtrack," according to Michael
Miller of the PITTSBURGH BUSINESS TIMES, a correspondent for
the SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL. NFLP President Sara Levinson
"was concerned and ordered" that the ad's rotation be
stopped after the PITTSBURGH BUSINESS TIMES "supplied
copies" of the song's lyrics, which "sketch scenes" of teen
suicide, drug use, rape, assault and drinking and driving,
to the NFL and some of the players featured in the ad. The
ad was created in-house, and rapper Eminem, the writer of
the song, and his publisher were paid by the league for use
of the track (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 11/15 issue). The AP
reported that the ad, which "appeared four or five times" in
spots on game broadcasts, "does not include" references to
drug use or violence. NFL Dir of Corporate Communications
Chris Widmaier: "There was never any intent for association
between a harmless spot back to the lyrics of this song. I
don't believe anybody knew all the lyrics" (AP, 11/13).
