USA TODAY's Martin Rogers writes Egypt G Mohamed el Shenawy refusal to accept an World Cup award sponsored by Budweiser has "created a level of awkwardness that FIFA should have seen coming." No one is "suggesting that Budweiser’s sponsorship of the Man of the Match award should be scrapped, but several alternative variations should be available if a Muslim player is selected." Any of them "would be welcome, including the availability of a substitute trophy without the Budweiser name" (USA TODAY, 6/19).
BLUE AIN'T YOUR COLOR: In S.F., Scott Ostler notes MLB teams on Sunday were "wearing identical baby-blue caps, socks and sleeves" to promote prostate awareness. Ostler: "Promoting prostate awareness is great, but not by making every Father’s Day game look like a pajama party." Instead, how about having someone "give a brief talk during the seventh-inning stretch" about what men should "know or do to prevent/treat prostate problems?" But when MLB "latches on to a bad marketing gimmick (those caps are on sale), it does not let go" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 6/19).
GLAD TO HAVE YOU: In Omaha, Christopher Burbach notes having Mississippi State in this year's College World Series with other "good-traveling fans" such as Texas, Arkansas and Texas Tech has "brought a lot of smiles" to local vendors. Custom apparel company Blue 84 National Sales Manager Joe Hauser said that CWS sales through Saturday afternoon "were up" close to 25%. Ticket Express President Chad Carr said that Texas and MSU fans were "leading the demand for CWS tickets, with Arkansas fans right behind them, followed by Texas Tech" (OMAHA WORLD-HERALD, 6/19).
