Wambach: Endorsements coming? Can one of the mods here fix the thread title to spell her name right? Otherwise, she'll never get any deals.
Re: Wambach: Endorsements coming? I clicked on the thread this time to make this exact same request. ---- I think Abby will get some marketing deals regardless of her sexual orientation. In fact, we've reached a point where there are plenty of mainstream companies that are marketing to the gay community and using gay iconography to market to the straight community. How long as Will & Grace been on TV? Graham Norton has relocted to the U.S. and Queer Eye for the Straight Guy has turned into a hit program. I think the important things for marketing purposes are that 1) she's attractive, 2) she's a top player, 3) she doesn't freeze up on camera. Abby will do fine.
Re: Wambach: Endorsements coming? Yes, she probably will. But I think the question remains what kinds of endorsements? I'd be pleasantly surprised if she got the same caliber as Mia, for example the Gatorade spots. Unfortunately I think overt sexual orientation does play a role in determining how Madison Avenue packages a spokesperson and to whom. I doubt Middle America would rush out to buy, say Powerade, if Ma and Pa Bible Thumpers thought Abby was a lesbian. "Wouldn't want their kids growing up to be like her, now would we?" You also have to consider the likes of huge and traditionally conservative chains like Wal-Mart. They may not be so keen about carrying something promoted by someone with a perceived deviant lifestyle that is antithetical to family values. For good or for better, sports, politics and economics are entwined. There's no doubt that Wam will do well and benefit from her relative celebrity but the question is how well. I think the answer is not as well as if she were straight. Incidentally, how do people know if she is gay? Has she been outted. Admitted as much? I don't remember ever hearing anything along those lines but then again, I don't pay too much attention to what's up with her. Any insight helps. Thanks
Considering Abby went to school where Gatorade was invented, I would hope she'd get an endorsement deal with them.
Yeah...uhhhh. Thanks. I'm not sure I'm following your reasoning or logic behind your comment. I'm taking it to mean that you hope Gatorade will tap her BECAUSE she went to school wherever that drink was invented. From a business point of view, that would seem awfully sentimental and lacking much business sense. Where did she go to school? U of F? Didn't Heather Mitts go there? If Gatorade was looking for a spokesperson based on alumni relations then I would think she's a slam dunk. All American looks, Gold medal Olympian, dating a pro football quaretrback and is ESPN's Hottest Female athlete. If it was between the two of them, and presumming both are straight, then I think the smart move is to go with Mitts. Of course, this is all speculation and hypotheticals which is what makes this fun. But, again, I'm not following your line of reasoning and hopefully you can enlighten me. Also, I can't think of an OPENLY GAY SPOKESPERSON pitching products. But I'm sure they are out there. Can anyone remind who is out there? Thanks.
I dont see how so many people believe that a player has to be hott and sexy in order for them to be successfully endorsed, and in order for them to draw a large crowd. I believe that that is not true, and if hott and sexy soccer players are what endorsers want, then they are definitely not doing their jobs. Of course, sex appeal is part of what lures fans in, but I believe that for the most part, womens soccer players should be advertised for what they do in the eyes of young little girls (and boys) who hope to soon be like the stars-not for middle-aged guys who just watch the game for the pretty women and their looks. These young children look up to players lke Abby Wombach, and so she shouldn't be advertised for her looks!!
Why do people even think she is gay? My kids went to a soccer camp where she was very involved. Yes, she is a big girl, but not extraordinary. I thought she was a very attractive girl. She seemed kind of like the "girl next door" the way she carried herself. To me, that is marketable. I'm the last one to notice these things, but if she was gay I certainly didn't notice anything about her that would give me a clue. I just thought she seemed like a very likable person.
But, who would know? I have no clue that any members of the WNT have boyfriends. I know Mia married that Red Sox guy (I know his name I just can't spell it.) I just don't see how people jump to the conclusion that she is gay if she isn't offering it up. OK, that was funny.
Not because she went to UF, because of what she has accomplished on the field. It's just an added bonus that she went to school where it was developed. How is it lacking much business sense? It's not like she's a hack who no one knows. For at least a moment, most of the world knows who she is, having seen at least the highlight of her game winning goal and she's one of the best players in the sport of women's soccer. Yes, Mitts also went to UF. Yes, she's also more likely to get an endorsement based on her looks alone. She's certainly already much more famous off the field than a lot of soccer players who have done more on the field than she has. This would be a chance for those who aren't as blessed in the looks department, but just as blessed, if not moreso, with their talent, to capitalize. Maybe Gatorade could do a dual endorsement with the 2 Gators. I don't know. I just think if people aren't going to give Abby endorsements based on a this perception that's she's gay or that she's not pretty or girlie enough, then it's pretty silly. It certainly hasn't stopped male athletes from getting endorsements who aren't exactly camera friendly.
For the sake of trivia, it's Nomar Garciaparra. And he was traded to the Chicago Cubs at the deadline back in July. Nice guy, good ballplayer, unfortunately had a bad relationship with Red Sox management this past year plus. Anyway. Carry on.
Ohhhh. OK. Now that makes more sense to me. Thanks for taking the time. I thought you were saying they should sign her just because she was/is a Gator (once a gator always a Gator?). I agree, if they're looking at folks based solely on accomplishments, then hell yeah. book her. But I think the question or supposition that was thrown around earlier somewhere was that she wouldn't do as well if it was widley known (or true) that she was gay. HAVE WE EVEN FIGURED OUT WHERE THAT ASSUMPTION CAME FROM? OR IF IT'S TRUE? Anywho, because it was all speculative I was offering theories as to why she might not do as well if she were openly gay. I wasn't making personal or moral judgements, just throwing ideas out there as to why she might not do as well if she were gay.
I am so sick of this can we please see that Mitts is also a good player.I am so tired of she only get what she get because of her look.She can play the game.
Sandon Mibut started it. And I don't really care about Abby's sexuality. I agree that looks do sell and I think Abby is an attractive lady. She is a very good representative for women's soccer.
I don't think anybody is implying she got to where she is by her looks. She just happens to be very attractive. Some think that makes her a better spokesperson.
Well, just because you attend or participate in an "alternative lifestyle" function doesn't automatically "qualify" you as a member of their select club. Participation and attendance, in this era, are actually kind of di rigeur (sp?). Regarding Abby's or anybody else's sexuality. No, it doesn't matter in the long run. Whom she sleeps with doesn't affect her game. Doesn't change the kind of person she is. BUT, I think the interesting point that is made is that overt sexual preference does, in fact, affect who approaches you to endorse their product, regardles of you're being a soccer, basketbal, softball or any other player/athlete. Agree or not? Who are some high-profile openly gay spokespeople out on the landscape today?
Sorry you got post who say that she is only on this team because of her look and then you have post that can't see pass her look to see that she can play the game.She is on this team because she has put her butt on the line to be there
If I implied that in my post, I didn't mean it. I'm one of Heather's biggest fans, having followed her since she was a freshman at UF. Her game has improved greatly from then until now and I think she'll only get better. She earned her spot on the roster through hard work and playing well. Whether fair or unfair, however, she has gotten most of her attention from her good looks.
For the record, I was just pointing out where the rumor started and who may have added fuel to the fire. I don't give a flying fig about Abby's sexuality. To me, she is a very marketable person. I do think being openly gay could be harmful to someone's marketability (I have now invented a new word.) I don't think Abby has been obviously gay, or even if she is, and I think she is charismatic enough to be a very easy sell to mainstream markets.
Agreed. But I think that's good for a) women's soccer, b) soccer in general and c) women's sports. Agree?
Cool. You think so? This is one of my many faults but I tend to be a little pessimisstic and at times don't give Miswesterners the benefit of the doubt. By that I mean, marketers and PR guys might think that other than on the progresive West and East Coasts, Abby would be a hard sell. I hope I'm wrong. I hope she wouldn't be hard to justify for being a flak. But again, I can't recall off the top of my head there being an openly gay spokesperson. Can anyone help me out? Wait, I just thought of one: Rosie O'Donnell for K-Mart. But that was BEFORE she admitted to being a lesbian. Sure, there was speculation but I haven't seen her pitching anything since that day not too far back.
I don't have any clue about her sexuality and I do follow the women's game pretty closely. If she was openly gay, I think there would be problems. But, assuming she isn't openly gay, I think she would do well on the marketing scene. She has a very American attractiveness about her - I made that one up too, but it works for me. She seems very wholesome to me. I just think she has a very "next door girl" aura about her. Can it sell? I'm sure there is a way it can.