Downtown Stadium becomes Minute Maid Park (Company endorses homosexuality in commercial)

USA Today ^ | 5/11/01 | Michael McCarthy

[truthandlife]

Do Popeye and Bluto love juice

[truthandlife]

Bluto swings his new pal, Popeye, in a Minute Maid ad.

[truthandlife]

Houston-based Minute Maid Co. agreed Wednesday to pay the Astros an estimated $170 million over 28 years for naming rights to the team's 3-year-old downtown ballpark plus an array of other advertising and marketing opportunities. The festive ceremony included a fireworks display and the team's vintage locomotive pulling a cart of giant "oranges" along the left-field railroad tracks.

Astros owner Drayton McLane Jr. called the agreement with the Minute Maid Co. a "new partnership but an old friend," noting that Minute's Maid's parent company, Coca-Cola, has been involved with the team since Houston got a major-league franchise in 1962.

The agreement comes about four months after Enron Corp. sold the naming rights back to the Astros, a move that followed the energy company's bankruptcy filing in December. In the interim, the ballpark has been known as Astros Field.

[Clemenza]

That has got to be ONE OF THE FUNNIEST ADS I have ever seen. Ever notice how Popeye and Bluto/Brutus always spent more time fighting with each other than with Olive Oil (who was boyish looking to boot)?

Remember also that our tax dollars go to support those two queens Bert & Ernie at PBS.

[smith288]

In the real world, Popeye would have gotten killed by that beheamuth Bluto.

[finnman69]

When did Popeye become Pluto's bitch? I guess I can't drink minute maid anymore as I will get homo cooties or something. Wow, people can read there homophobic fears in anything these days.

[Servant of the Nine]

This story is a month old. The subject has been covered here extensively.

So9

[dighton]

Charles Torrey, Minute Maid's director of marketing for refrigerated products, believes people are reading too much into the spot. "You're giving us far too much credit. We're certainly not targeting any one group."

Dave Linne, who wrote the spot at ad agency Leo Burnett, Chicago, says he "never intended" to depict the two as a gay couple. Not that there's anything wrong with gay and lesbian consumers liking the spot, says art director Mark Oosthuizen. "If people see it and think it relates to them, that's great," he says.

Nudge nudge, wink wink.

Lying is very strong word, so I'll say they sound less than truthful.

[Dimensio]

Month? The Daily Show with Jon Stewart was covering this well over a month ago.

Some people will read "homosexual recruitment" into anything these days.

[bloodmeridian]

Actually Bert was killed off a while back, apprently to teach kids about the feeling of loss, but your point rings loud and clear nonetheless.

[SkyPilot]

"Gay people are raising their eyebrows — and winking right along with the ad."

These people need constant attention, constant reinforcement of the choices, constant validation of their "lifestyle."

They only love themselves. For the narcissist, there is no "other"----just selfishness.

[Dimensio]

The Internet rumour was that Ernie would be killed off, not Bert.

I still remember Mr. Hooper. I'm old.

[Semper Paratus]

Minute Maids marketing have come full circle from Anita Bryant.

[Paul Atreides]

Well, blubbery Bluto probably had those big man-breasts as opposed to Olive's chest-acorns. I wonder if he ever used the Mansseire?

[Diddle E. Squat]

Bert IS evil.

Here's all the scoop on Bert & Ernie. Be especially sure to check out posts #12, 59, 60, 62, and 64.

So is "Minute Maid" the latest term for the Rainbow Warriors down on Montrose?

[Clemenza]

See also Post #8 on same thread for a link to Snopes discussion of Bert & Ernie's "special relationship."

[Paul Atreides]

It also showed Popeye and Bluto getting tattoos that read Buddies for Life.

On the other hand, it could just be another example of the way they are ruining politically incorrect cartoons. I remember, a few years back, that they ruined Tom and Jerry by having them be pals instead of enemies. They ruined Beetle Bailey when they took away General Halftrack's lecherousness.

[bribriagain]

Gives new meaning to Popeye's favorite phrase: "Well blow me down!"

[Diddle E. Squat]

I wonder if Tinky-Winky will be the new Astro's mascot?

[truthandlife]

No this story is a year old. I posted it again because Minute Maid Co agreed Wednesday to pay the Houston Astros an estimated $170 million over 28 years for naming rights to the team's 3-year-old downtown ballpark plus an array of other advertising and marketing opportunities.

I have not bought Minute Maid in over a year because of this ad.

[tall_tex]

I remember hearing this a long time ago. Pals are pals, friends are friends, but buddies go to be together.