Cadillac's Gift To MVP Holmes Takes Place Amid Subdued Buildup

Holmes Selected Cadillac's Escalade Hybrid Platinum

Cadillac Dir of Communications Joanne Krell said that Steelers WR and Super Bowl XLIII MVP Santonio Holmes "picked out Cadillac's most expensive model Monday as his reward for winning the MVP: the Escalade Hybrid Platinum with an $85,200 sticker price," according to Gary Myers of the N.Y. DAILY NEWS. But in a nod to the current economic climate, there was "no Cadillac on the field Sunday night during the awards ceremony and no Cadillac in the hotel ballroom Monday for the MVP news conference." Also, while the MVP typically "marks off on a board which car he wants," the decision was "all done in private." There was "no mention of Cadillac or of Holmes winning the car at the news conference." NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell indicated that the car company "asked not to be mentioned" during the event. Krell said, "Given the current business environment, it was much more appropriate we not do that. We made the decision not to actively participate in the Super Bowl. We congratulate the MVP, it is a great achievement." But Krell said Holmes will in fact receive a car, as the company "will live up to the contract we negotiated" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/3).

BREAKING THE BANK: In Boston, Jay Fitzgerald reports federal bailout recipient Bank of America is "drawing fire" for its presenting sponsorship of the five-day NFL Experience at the Super Bowl. U.S. Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA) said, "From exclusive spa retreats, to million-dollar executive bonuses, expensive corporate jets, and now, lavish Super Bowl parties, Wall Street demonstrates time and time again that they just don't get it." But BofA Senior VP/National Media Relations Joe Goode said that published reports that the bank spent $10M on the event are "flat-out wrong" (BOSTON HERALD, 2/3). Watchdog group Citizens Against Government Waste President Tom Schatz said that the sponsorship of the NFL Experience "should have been abdicated once the bank took billions in bailout funds." Schatz: "The prominent sponsorship of the Super Bowl says to the American people we'll take your money and then we're going to go waste it." U.S. Rep Elijah Cummings (D-MD) added, "They should know better, but obviously they don't" (ABCNEWS.com, 2/2).