[Flyer Fan]

I have a friend who is originally from Sarnia, ON. He attended college in the US and came to work in my company's Columbus, OH, office upon graduation. Earlier this year he transferred to our Toronto office. Yesterday he sent me the following e-mail message about a Rogers Wireless TV ad:

So there is an ad playing in Canada right now. It goes like this:

There is a giveaway at a soccer game. A lady comes down the aisle with a big check and asks the question where the first world cup was played. This dorky/socially awkward guy jumps up, says he knows, and then fumbles to find the answer off of his cell phone - however it takes too long to load. Suddenly this socially awesome looking guy jumps up with the answer and ergo wins the prize. Then they get into all of this crap about how their 3G speed is the fastest......

Anyways, of interest is this:

Colour of the fan's clothing = Red (no biggie (you think), as Rogers (like Verizon) logo is all red)
Colour of the socially awesome looking guy = Red ( makes sense, he uses Rogers and the ad is for Rogers)
Colour of the dorky/socially awkward looking guy = Yellow and Black.

The colours of all other wireless carriers in Canada are blue and green.

Think about it.

It might be a mere coincidence, but maybe not. I hope it's not because I just think it's pretty funny if a Toronto-headquartered company is poking fun at the Crew and Crew fans in ad. Nothing malicious, just something we might see in Columbus with Michigan and Michigan fans as the target.

[YITBOS]

I first thought you were talking about Robbie Rogers. It took me a minute of searching for Robbie's logo that I realized he doesn't have one and Rogers isn't really awsome at all.

[invalid]

Those bastards!

[mateo319]

Others hate the Massive. I am totally ok with this as it shows their frustration and pain.

[CrewBeat]

someone get on finding this on you tube, canadians make me laugh

[bradd]

Their telecom industry will never beat our telecom industry.

[Timon19]

This thread has been up for 3 hours and we haven't been invaded by a horde of Canuckistanis looking for Archer because he insulted them (yes, I realize FF is the one who posted this, but remember, we're talking about the far-too-easily-offended, unnaturally earnest, and none-too-bright Canuckistan crowd)?

Unpossible.

[TheUltra]

Those damn Canucks are after our precious bodily fluids!

and now our wireless!

[SweetOwnGoal]

It absolutely is a reference to TFC and the Crew. There is no doubt about it. Although you're likely giving yourselves a wee bit more credit than you deserve if you think it's using the Crew as a selling point. It's more of a reference to the popularity of TFC games amongst the most desired demographic in the cell phone market. That the dork is wearing yellow is an inside joke that few will get, but those that do will laugh out loud at.

At any rate, Timon19, I'm not sure why you would think anyone in Toronto would give a rat's ass about this thread. But, anyway.

Personally, I think it's great that a cell phone company sees the value of using a reference to MLS as a way to sell its product. It shows progress in the acceptance of the game.

I tried to find a video of the spot, but there doesn't seem to be one up yet. It's part of an ongoing campaign that stars the same two guys. Here is another one if you are at all interested:

YouTube - Rogers Wireless Network Elevator :30

YouTube - Rogers Wireless Network Elevator :30

[Bill Archer]

Of course the author of the above, notorious Crew basher Duane Rollins - the guy who says that MLS should move our team to another town where our pathetic small town bullshit won't keep holding TFC back from the true greatness which is their destiny - is from Toronto and he does, in fact, obviously give a rats' ass about this thread, but irony and self-awareness aren't his strong suits.

Those would include whining and saying stupid stuff.