Oct 15 2008

News Travels Slowly to Australia

Published by Dave at 12:36 pm under Australian Football, Gaelic Football

From the Who-thought-THIS-was-a-good-idea dept.:

RICHMOND is poised to share the same jumper sponsor as the world’s biggest sporting club, Manchester United.

The Tigers are set to announce a lucrative deal with global insurance and financial services giant AIG (American International Group). Richmond has signed a heads of agreement with the Australian arm of the American-based company. …

The arrangement was struck despite AIG being hit by the credit squeeze, requiring an $85 billion bailout by the US Government.

There it is, America. Your tax dollars are now paying for the logo of a failed investments company to be sewn into the jumper of an Aussie Rules team that hasn’t had a whiff of the AFL Finals Series since 2001. Hey, that’s a perfect match!

Here in the states, people who have never heard of Manchester United are yelling insults at guys Wayne Rooney jerseys solely because of that AIG logo. If you’re a Richmond supporter, I highly recommend you contact the club and tell them you won’t be buying any Tigers gear with AIG’s logo on it. That’s the last logo anyone anywhere wants to see right now.

UPDATE: AIG has pulled out of the deal.

5 responses so far

5 Responses to “News Travels Slowly to Australia”

  1. # Ryanoon 16 Oct 2008 at 9:53 am

    So George Bush is a Richmond “supporter” …who would have thunk it.

    MAYBE OF Interest: Former German Womens Soccer star Eva Roob turns to Porn for a career change…(NSF most Workplaces)

    http://hottiesinthenews.blogspot.com/2008/10/samira-summer-more-pictures-of-former.html

  2. # Rob de Santoson 16 Oct 2008 at 5:36 pm

    Great post. Dave. In general, this is the issue with any sponsorship… it’s only as good as long as the sponsor has credibility. Once that’s gone, it’s value is moot. And I would say, AIG (or any company in similar straights) might consider where to be spending their money these days.

  3. # a different Daveon 17 Oct 2008 at 1:41 am

    I’m surprised AIG is still signing sports sponsorship deals, but seriously, Dave, enough with the hyperbole already. The vast majority of Americans still don’t know what AIG is, and those that do aren’t going to be yelling at someone just because they are wearing an AIG sponsored ManU jersey. The only people doing any yelling at people wearing ManU jerseys are football fans who hate ManU.

  4. # Daveon 17 Oct 2008 at 9:31 am

    Dave: If you took a poll right now, I’m pretty sure that more than 50% of Americans would know who AIG is. It’s been in the news way too much.

    And I’ve heard a few stories of Man U fans getting the business for that logo on their jerseys or other gear. That’s all I’m saying. It might have come off as hyperbole in the post, but it has happened.

  5. # Simonon 20 Oct 2008 at 7:43 pm

    Countdown to the fight of the year! Also some football may take place

    http://www.hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=102644