Friends for a Non-Violent World
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Posted on 07/01/2004 7:58:28 AM PDT by Pikamax
Twins' G.I. Joe giveaway criticized
Peaceniks rip team's idea to honor military
BY ARON KAHN
Pioneer Press
In another sign that the war in Iraq has permeated virtually all aspects of life in America, your hometown ball club will introduce the major leagues' first patriotic giveaway of this era — a G.I. Joe action figure.
The Minnesota Twins will present Duke, "the calm and determined battlefield commander of the G.I. Joe team,'' to the first 5,000 children at Monday night's game against the Kansas City Royals as a way of honoring local military personnel.
But while the Twins hand out more freebies than sample day at the grocery store, this rock-jawed promotional trinket with resolute stare and Popeye forearms will meet some resistance from fans blowing through the Metrodome airlocks.
"I think the Twins are way off base with this idea,'' said John Varone, a Vietnam veteran and president of the Twin Cities chapter of Veterans for Peace. "For gosh sakes, the last place we need to promote war is at our national pastime.''
The Twins say Joe isn't glorifying war, but celebrating the efforts of servicemen and women. As part of that mission, the team asked Duke's maker, Hasbro Inc., to remove the customary gun from his side, bringing him in accordance with the Metrodome's no-gun policy. Hand grenades are still visible.
"I know there are people who are adamant about opposition to the war, but this is not about politics,'' Twins marketing vice president Patrick Klinger said. "And it's not just about this war. It's about what happened 60 years ago.''
Indeed, there's a link between baseball and war. The game's history is dotted with missed seasons by sluggers such as the Detroit Tigers' Hank Greenberg, who left baseball to fight in World War II, and the Boston Red Sox's Ted Williams, who fought in that war and later in the Korean War.
To honor them and others, the Twins will admit current and former military personnel and their families at half price Monday, as part of what the Twins are calling Armed Services Appreciation Day. There also will be a flag ceremony involving Gov. Tim Pawlenty before the game.
The Twins' first such day was held last year, when, on the eve of the assault on Iraq, a soldier from Minnesota threw out the first ball to a fellow soldier from the state. The throw and catch occurred in Kuwait and were broadcast to Minnesota at the beginning of the game.
"I looked around the ballpark that night and there were tears everywhere,'' Klinger said. "It was the highlight of my career.''
Still, more than one peace group believes the combat-ready G.I. Joe, measuring just a bit shorter than 4 inches, is a big mistake, and they would like the Twins to cancel the promotion.
"It's not a credible way to honor those who've suffered the inhumanity of war,'' said Phil Steger, executive director of Friends for a Non-Violent World, a St. Paul-based group with about 4,000 members in Minnesota.
"One wonders whether a desire to increase ticket sales is masquerading as good intentions. We hope not. Minnesotans' moral sense and empathy with those who have lost life, limb and loved ones in war — soldier and civilian — rejects this kind of opportunism,'' Steger said.
Mary Beaudoin, a leader of Women Against Military Madness, Minneapolis, said she's "appalled'' by the giveaway.
"This is hideous … a bad message to send kids,'' she said. "Kids need to be raised with the values of life, not killing.''
Klinger, the man behind the Twins' bobblehead invasion over the past few years, stands by his decision to go with the military figure.
"I was looking for something unique that would pay tribute to Minnesota soldiers,'' he said. "I thought G.I. Joe was perfect for that.''
The Twins provide more giveaways than most sports teams, using the promotional items to boost attendance and enhance the name identification of the club's corporate sponsors. Of 81 home games this year, the Twins will give away 86 items on 46 days.
The giveaways usually carry the names of corporate sponsors, which pay the entire cost of the promotion. For example, Hormel's name appears on the bobbleheads, and Dairy Queen's logo appears on ball caps. But G.I. Joe will go without a sponsor's name, mostly because Klinger came up with the idea as the season started, long after sponsorship packages were sold for the year, he said.
Klinger would not say how much the Twins are paying for the figures, but Hasbro's Web site shows they retail for about $10 each.
Reacting to the discontent of the peace groups, the Minnesota National Guard threw its support squarely behind the Twins.
"We're sorry that a small number of Minnesotans are offended by the doll and don't see it as the tribute that it really is,'' said Col. Denny Shields, the guard's spokesman. "The doll itself is just small component of what the Twins have planned for Monday night.''
The debate illustrates the sensitivity of our times, said David Carter, who teaches sports business at the University of Southern California.
"We are in an era when everything you do is politicized,'' said Carter, co-author of "On the Ball,'' a text on sports marketing. "Whether this is a marketing oversight on the part of the Twins or just browbeating on behalf of the left is immaterial, because at this point the Twins may be dealing with some bad public relations.''
Patrick Courtney, a spokesman for Major League Baseball in New York, said he's unaware of any other team that's providing G.I. Joe to their fans. A Hasbro spokesman could not be reached Wednesday.
these vermin would probably prefer a Karl Marx doll giveaway.
Glad I was a kid in the 80's instead of today with all the pansies ruining everything.
(I guess this is sort of RI-related, as G.I. Joe is made at Hasbro)
Please FReepmail me if you want on or off my infrequent Rhode Island ping list.
I don't remember anyone bitching about ball teams giving away Beanie Babies. I guess they were politically correct mushy plush toys.
Hey it better than BAT night.
Bwaaahaha!!!
Ooooh that's a goody :-)
Mary Beaudoin, a leader of Women Against Military Madness, Minneapolis, said she's "appalled'' by the giveaway.
"This is hideous … a bad message to send kids,'' she said. "Kids need to be raised with the values of life, not killing.''
I would asume then that Ms. Beaudoin is a member of the Pro-Life movement then. You wanna bet?
BTTT
Hmmmm. Am I missing something here, or do the opinions and words of these liberal nutjobs directly contradict their “we support the troops” spiel?
I'm suprised they don't spell it "Womyn".
I work in Minneapolis and live in St Paul, yesterday i rode bike to work like i normally do and on the way home i crossed the mississippi and ran into a mini anti-bush rally. as i was coming over the bridge i was getting thumbs up from the pseudo-hippies that obviously thought i was riding bike because i care about the environment thus making me a democrat. i had to stop after seeing the "Stop Bush" signs and the "bring the troops home" I like to bite my tongue with strangers but i just didnt have the will power. I asked a 30 something lady with the Stop Bush sign who should I vote for then, she replied "um um, I dont know" Then I told her I was going to vote for Nader and some guy next to us went ballistic on a rant about how a vote for Nader is a vote for Bush. I smiled and told him that I sure hope so.
A few protestors further in the "Bring the Troops Home" camp I asked which troops do you want brought home? a guy said all of them, which suprised me since he obviously meant those in Afghanistan, and Italy and Alabama, I told him that we have already brought troops home from these foreign places including Alabama. He didnt believe me, evidently when a soldier, sailor or marine goes over there they never get to come back...ever. He actually said with conviction that none of our troops have came back from Iraq. I responded by asking him if that was true, why was i here since a year ago i was in the gulf. he had no responce obviously.
sorry for the rant, but at least understand the rhetoric that you are spewing people!!
When will these so-called "peace activists" realize it's not always about them? I'm not holding my breath.
I always try to find a G.I. Joe doll to include in my annual Toys for Tots donation. Little boys love them!
Cool! Collectors Item!!
It's not like the Joe team didn't have babes also (Scarlet and Cover Girl).
Alabama is a foreign place!!?? Maybe you meant Albania or the Balkans in general.
I went to their website and told them I supported their giveaway.
I guess even Phillies fans can get it right sometimes!;-)
Cheers!
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