Has the paper still owned by a consortium led by PR guru Brian Tierney bailed out on the hometown baseball team? Wasn't Team Tierney going to boost the interest of Philadelphia and the surrounding burbs?
The Inky has apparently now gone to the dark side, tossing Philadelphia’s beloved Phillies overboard. The paper has apologized for a Macy’s ad in today’s paper, congratulating the Phillies for being “back-to-back” World Series champs and offering commemorative gear. A repeat is quite a feat. No baseball team has pulled off a back-to-back since the sainted New York Mets fell to the New York Yankees in 2000, a loss that sent much of New York City to despair and gnashing of teeth.
The Inquirer regrets the "error" for running the Macy’s ad. "We apologize for this error and any inconvenience this causes," wrote Howard Griffin, VP-National Advertising at Philadelphia Media LLC. The Inquirer "incorrectly offered Phillies 2009 World Championship merchandise."
With fans like that...
True fans of the "Fightin' Phils" are outraged with the Inky's loss of loyalty after last night's fluke defeat at the hands of the Yankees. If the Yankees must depend on Alex Rodriguez and his measly.143 Series batting average to be Mr. November, the Bronx Bombers are in bad shape.
The Phils have their ace, Cliff Lee, on the mound tonight. In his last start, Lee was as good as it gets.
Instead of apologizing for the Macy's ad, the Inquirer should say sorry to the rabid fans of Philadelphia for displaying little faith in the comeback effort of their team, which is down three games to one. The Phils believe they have the Yanks right where they want 'em.
As for turncoat Macy's, which runs the "biggest store in the world" at NYC's Herald Square, there are many Yankees fans here who are disgusted that you have thrown your corporate support to the Phillies of Philadelphia. You better not try to sweet talk them with deals on Yankees championship stuff if the team goes on to its 27th title. Yankee fans can buy all their gear at hometown sports store, Modell’s.
On second thought, though Morris A. Modell opened his first sporting goods store in 1889 on Cortlandt Steet in downtown Manhattan, the family-owned chain now has 140 stores, including eight in Philadelphia. Will those stores be stocking Phillies gear if the Phils pull it out? You can count on it.
May the best team win.
(Image via PhillyTalk)