The AP's Rob Harris noted FIFA yesterday "came under pressure" from sponsors adidas, Coca-Cola and Visa to "push Qatar to deliver reforms for migrant workers as the country rapidly expands" to host the '22 World Cup. Visa in a statement said, "We have expressed our grave concern to FIFA, and urge them to take all necessary actions to work with the appropriate authorities and organizations to remedy this situation and ensure the health and safety of all involved." Harris noted the Visa statement is the "strongest public expression of unease yet from a FIFA sponsor about the plight of workers" in Qatar (AP, 5/20).
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Hershey has sent the Nationals more than
130 bottles of chocolate syrup |
STICKY SITUATION: Hershey's Senior Manager of Brand PR & Consumer Engagement Anna Lingeris said that after hearing about the Nationals' "new tradition of dumping a bottle of chocolate syrup on the head of the player whose bat won the game," the company "sent 24 bottles to the team last week and another 108 will arrive" today. ESPN.com's Darren Rovell noted Nationals P Max Scherzer "started the practice last month" when 2B Dan Uggla hit a three-run home run in the ninth inning to top off a 13-12 victory. Lingeris said that Hershey's and the Nationals "have no official partnership, so the relationship is completely organic" (ESPN.com, 5/20).
BOTTLE OF REDS: In Cincinnati, Shauna Steigerwald notes two "just launched" MLB wines commemorate the '15 All-Star Game at Great American Ball Park and the Reds, respectively. The '15 MLB All-Star Game Midsummer Classic, a '14 Monterey County Pinot Noir "bearing the All-Star Game logo," is the "third annual All-Star Game wine." A "limited run of 600 cases was made," and it has a "suggested retail price of $24.99 a bottle." Also newly released is the Cincinnati Reds Clubs Series, a '13 California Cabernet Sauvignon "sporting the Reds logo." That wine, which "will be available all season, has a suggested retail price of $19.99 a bottle." Like the 20 other MLB teams that "have branded wines, the Reds will get a new wine each season" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 5/21).
