RACY XFL ADS UNLIKELY TO DISPEL TALKS OF NON-CREDIBLE LEAGUE
If the XFL's new series of ads are "any indication,"
the league's games "might be the first televised sports
events in history to earn parental warnings," according to
Ron Judd of the SEATTLE TIMES, who noted that the ads tout
the XFL's "greatest single asset: Its cheerleaders." One ad
shows a cheerleaders' locker room "with strategically placed
towels, heads, locker doors and other moving objects
providing minimal cover, a la ... 'Austin Powers.'" But to
females, that ad is "probably the least offensive of the
XFL's impending perv campaign." Another ad begins with a
close-up of the "alluring eyes of an alleged cheerleader,
with soft lighting, soft music behind a male voice saying,
'Look into the eyes. What lies behind them? Thoughts of
the future, memories of the past?" The music then changes
to rock, and the voice "sneers: 'Who cares? Have you seen
this? The XFL cheerleaders, coming February to NBC. Nimble
little minx, isn't she?'" NBC 2000's Joe Livecchi, co-
director of the spots: "We knew we were pushing the line a
little bit, which is, after all, what the XFL is all about."
Judd: "What a proud peacock moment this must be for NBC
honcho Dick Ebersol, whose hands have been all over this
Vince McMahon travesty from its inception. What's next
Dick: Computerized nipples on those five little Olympic
rings attached to the peacock logo?" Judd concluded that
the "most troubling" aspect about this "marketing strategy"
is that it will "probably be wildly successful" (SEATTLE
TIMES, 11/5). In Toronto, Garth Woolsey, on the XFL ads:
"What's somewhat surprising is that the testosterone-charged
ads were conceived not by the WWF but by NBC" (TORONTO STAR,
11/6). In Montreal, Jack Todd noted the XFL is the "love
child of an unholy marriage between NBC and McMahon. It is
everything a sports league should not be, drawn up on a
marketing man's story board with no respect whatsoever for
the fan, the game or the integrity of sport." But if the
league "works, you can expect a rash of horror-show
imitators" (Montreal GAZETTE, 11/4). CNN/SI's Peter King
reported, "Vince McMahon has said convicted felons will not
play in the XFL. If [Lawrence] Phillips doesn't gain access
in the XFL, he will sue the XFL" (CNN/SI, 11/5).
AFL PHANTOMS ADS NOT MUCH BETTER? Also in Toronto,
Woolsey reports that the AFL Toronto Phantoms ran a full-
page newspaper ad yesterday featuring "a bag of blood, the
type used for transfusions." At various levels of the ad,
from "bottom to top are indications of what the blood might
be used for: 'lawn mower accident ... triple bypass ...
shark attack .. arena football'" (TORONTO STAR, 11/6).
|
