MasterCard Perpetuates Athlete-As Slave-to Coach Stereotype
Monday is never a good day to analyze why so many commercials featuring athletes always portray said athletes as mindless idiots. Poor Vinny Testaverde, back-up quarterback for the New England Patriots is the latest to receive the jock-as-buffoon treatment. Setting aside for a moment the lunacy of a professional football player ordering food from a stadium's fast food counter while in full uniform, MasterCard, while promoting its PayPass card, felt it necessary (with advice from McCann-Erickson/New York) to capitalize on the stereotype of athlete as slave to coach.
Oh sure, it's funny but would any actual overpaid, ego-centric, self-important professional athlete ever put up with menial shit like this? Oh wait, this is a commercial. We're sorry. Of course they would. How else can a struggling creative make themselves feel superior if they don't chastise everyone they can through their work? And after all, Vinny's second string. He needs the money.
Comments
Vinny's actually the third string, but I guess that's not really the point.
I think watching Vinny make food runs for the coach is hilarious no matter how improbable it is. As a long-time Vinny fan, I think it's pretty cool that he's's a humble enough guy to poke some fun at himself. He's obviously got a better sense of humor than your standard washed up blogger that never made it in advertising.