Thu 1 May 2008
The recent flap in Pittsburgh surrounds a bobblehead of Pirate Pitcher Tom Gorzelanny. In the pose, Gorzelanny appears to be giving you the finger through his glove hand. It’s getting attention nationally in print and TV, including Countdown with Keith Olbermann.
This is where I think the team did themselves a real disservice, in a comment on the flap here is what Pirate spokesperson had to say:
Pirates spokesman Jim Trdinich said the likeness was not meant to be in poor taste and that the company that makes the dolls work from a photo giving to them. While I am not sure, my guess is that these dolls came from China and you get what you pay for.
The Pirates have not been in contention for over a decade and are still giving their fans the finger. (Clevelandleader.com)
You get what you pay for? Really? The fans didn’t have the comparison shopping opportunity on this bobblehead, so it’s bizarre to blame the fans for ending up with a “sub-par” bobblehead that’s giving you the finger.
And to suggest that this bobblehead “came from China” smacks of xenophobia, hints at potential dangers of lead poisoning risk, and shows this spokesperson to be a little naive regarding where practically all bobbleheads originate.
I am not sure which I think is worse, the gift of a bobblehead that seems to be giving me the finger, or the Pirate spokesperson blaming the fans for getting what they paid for and blaming everyone else for the gaffe.
In the mean time, I have checked the Pirates Promotion calendar and don’t see a foam finger giveaway night planned….so that’s good news.
–Cudo
May 6th, 2008 at 12:32 am
Hi Jon.
I read the article / quote a bit different — I thought that whoever wrote the article was offering his opinion about China, etc.
So I agree, it was an irresponsible comment — but I think it came from the writer, not from the Pittsburgh spokesperson.
-G.
May 8th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
Ah…good point Glen. I think I agree now that I look at it again. This comment appears to be from the author of the Cleveland Leader, rather than the Pirates Spokesperson.
Apologies to the Pirates Spokesperson.
Apparently the naivety rests with the blogger, not the Pirates.
I thought more about this after posting and I think the Pirates would have been wise to offer an exchange program. Accepting these bobbleheads back from any fan, in exchange for a Team Shop voucher or ticket voucher. It would probably not have been activated by many fans, but would have shown the Pirates to be sensitive to offended fans.
-jc