Resolving the Dot Race Colors (or not, we'll see)
by The Dogfather on Apr 2, 2008 7:14 PM PDT
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PrintRegular readers of these electron arrangements will recall that there are several of us, 67Marquez and YT among us, who detest the blue-white-and-red dot racer color scheme. To us, it characterizes a slapdash approach to the stadium experience. As such, it's an affront to an outfit that does all those little things on the baseball operations side -- maybe better than anyone. It's something that troubleth the soul of the team we love. Please note that this is quite apart from actually cheering for the stupid little orbs -- to me it ranks only inches above The Wave in proving PTBarnum's theorem. But I digress.
So. Last evening I corralled one of the comely, young marketing assistants, who gave me the name of one David D, who, she assured me, could address this matter of deep and lasting ennui. I emailed him today, as follows:
To: David D
Subject: Please change the Dot colors!
At the pregame event last night, one of the hostesses gave me your name as
someone who might be able to help.
Why, oh WHY, are the dots red white and blue (Red Sox colors, no less -- at
least you arranged for the red dot not to win, but cripes)?
Why, in a day when you can get custom-made M&Ms in A's team colors, can't
you-all customize the dots to be team colors -- then we'd always win!
Plus the crowd, which goes nuts for that silliness anyway, would REALLY go
nuts for this.
Howsabout it?
Thanks,
And, scoring big points for timeliness and politesse, if still blind to the eye-popping brilliance of the solution thus succinctly presented, he responded as follows:
Thank you for your interest in Dot Racing. Dot Racing has had Red White and Blue Dots since it's [sic] inception in 1987. The colors are based on the colors of our nations [sic] flag [Note: also France's ] It is part of the tradition of the unique ballpark experience. There has been some discussion internally about changing the colors but Red White and Blue won out. This feature is sponsored and therefore ultimate approval lies with our client. Thanks again and we thank you for your support of the Oakland Athletics as we celebrate our 40th Anniversary.
He's very welcome. And, of course, he's very wrong.
He did make the error of indicating that The Client has final authority on this issue. A little further digging revealed that said client has an executive VP in charge of just these matters:
... Vice President of Marketing, has over 10 years of marketing and sales experience[!]. Mr. K is responsible for FusionStorm’s corporate marketing, branding and communications strategies. He joined the company in 1998 and under his direction FusionStorm has grown to be one of the most recognized and respected... [yadayada]
Still with me? Okay, then it seems to me that a diaristo might be deputized to convey the results of a poll to this Mr. K, on behalf of the citizenry of AN, hopefully to the effect that he could single-handedly rejuvenate the tired marketing, branding and communication strategery , by changing that stoopid-from-the-inception dot color scheme. Not that I'm trying to drum-up support.
Now, it may be that nobody 'cept 67Marquez and YT actually gives an Angels fan's patoot about this issue. If so, nobody will vote and Marquez and YT will retire to our respective corners, muttering and shaking an occasional angry fist at an indifferent deity. Or, I might argue passionately that such a show of indifference is prima feces PROOF that the strategery is old-n-busted. So what if I'd lose.
On the assumption that this screed has now gone on long enough that I can avoid getting Nico's goat, as it were, 'tis time for a thoroughly biased and unscientific poll of the AN cognoscenti (note that indifference is not an option -- express it, if you must, by not letting your voice be heard on this important topic):
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Comments
No, it's not just you...
...I detest dot racing... in concept... in principle... in practice... in all ways real and unreal.
"Rebuilding" is loser mentality.
I disagree
on the grounds that the dot races engage kids at the game, but at least you used "it's" correctly.
Sure, it engages them...
...for all of 15 seconds.
The local single-A team here has the races sponsored by an eye doctor, so three people dress up in huge bloodshot eyeballs and race around the foul territory... similar to what they do in Milwaukee with the brats.
It's corny, but not detestable. Did I mention that I detest dot racing?
"Rebuilding" is loser mentality.
while not a huge fan of dot racing
I can't say I really mind it. And I LOVE it when Roy Steele gets really nutty with his racecalling.
"Don't be an ass!" --Bill King
That used to be the only thing I liked about it,
but he doesn't do it much, if at all, anymore. :(
"There is an HR in Hanrahan." ~ mikeA
+1000
I'm writing to Josh K. to tell him that, so long as his company sponsors dot racing, I will boycott their products and encourage all right-thinking consumers to do the same.
As reassuring as Bud's words were, the dulcet tone of his voice and his dashing appearance really sealed the deal for me. ~ GreenNGoldSooner @('.')@
I am willing to make the sacrifice ...
... of remaining dissolute and clement.
As reassuring as Bud's words were, the dulcet tone of his voice and his dashing appearance really sealed the deal for me. ~ GreenNGoldSooner @('.')@
I'd rather see people cheer for the team
as vigorously as they cheer for the effing dots... but if we're going to have them at all, they should be TEAM COLORS!
"There is an HR in Hanrahan." ~ mikeA
I share that opinion
Crowd: Go! Go! Go! Yeahhhhh!
Me: Did someone on the A's just homer?
But yes, since some (most?) fans have this incessant need to be entertained, you know other than some silly game on the field, at least give them green, yellow, and white dots to choose from.
I know there are more important things in life, but this is a no-brainer.
I'm here to talk about the past.
I think it's embarrassing...
...that quite often the loudest cheers the whole day are for dot racing.
I guess I'm getting old... I go for the baseball.
"Rebuilding" is loser mentality.
agreed 100%
President of the Joey Devine fan club as of 1/15/08. Accepting applications for other positions. "He has no equivalent." -Paul DePodesta on Jeremy Brown
I'm not alone after all!
I NEVER liked dot racing. Whenever it comes on, I pull the bill of my cap down so I don't have to watch. I always bugged me how loud the crowd gets, but remain quiet during the game. I am so happy to see that I am not the only one who has disdain for that@#&% racing.
Stomp,em, stomp the piss out of em.Then pound the budweiser after the game. Joe Schultz Seattle Piolts Mgr 1969
by billyball1981 on Apr 4, 2008 6:01 PM PDT up reply actions
I would rather the game be the main focus, but I realize that...
...puts me in the minority when seeing how much people at the games react to stuff like dot racing.
If they can put that much energy into rooting for a dot or trying to find the ball under the cap, why can't they put more into rooting for the A's?
I like the dot race
Every team has a lame race of some sort (usually slightly less lame than the BART race) and I like that the dot race stands out. I support your idea.
The A's colors are green and gold.
I did vote for a color change
I think the whole "Yeah, it's red white and blue because those are the colors of the American flag!" excuse is weak, especially when other teams have their own colors for various between-innings stuff like that. They do it with boat races in San Diego, so if they're going to keep the dot race in Oakland they can make it green, gold and white.
I always root for white anyway
but I think a color change would be nice.
"God doesn't pay attention to your cute little hypotheticals." -- Jeff from LL
then you win all the time
I can't statistically confirm this, but I would guess white wins about 70% of the time. And red NEVER wins when the Bosox are in town.
back in the early/mid 90's there was a rotation
my best friend and my sister both worked for the A's back then, so i got to go to a lot of games. soon we figured it out - red, white, blue, red, white, blue - all season long.
There's no crying in baseball!
And the ice cream still ends under the cap directly to the left of where it started.
They need to make that game tougher.
"There is an HR in Hanrahan." ~ mikeA
THAT, at least, we ought to be able to make money on ...
... betting with the unwashed casual fan.
The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus
by The Dogfather on Apr 3, 2008 11:06 AM PDT up reply actions
But they're not Tollhouse cookie ice cream sandwiches,
which are my favorite.
"There is an HR in Hanrahan." ~ mikeA
on the topic of food sponsors
When did the 10 @ 10 start handing out Tyson chicken fingers batons? If Dave Morey thinks I'm waving one of those on my birthday, he's crazy.
"Don't be an ass!" --Bill King
Appease the oppressors!
"God doesn't pay attention to your cute little hypotheticals." -- Jeff from LL
BART Race
Is better than the Giants Cable Car race.
The dot race needs more colisions, and they should change the colors. Too many times I have to give up rooting for "red" becuase there are a lot of red teams. There are too many teams with all three colors.
Makes A's fans seem
a little kiddish cheering for just the dots and stuff while the game is still going on.
I don't think Trumpet Time is going to catch on at all, it's like the A's answer to the Rally Monkey...
All Games and Comments are Subject to Blackout
Trumpet Time
can someone explain to me exactly what Trumpet Time is? It came on the screen while I was at the game yesterday and I had no idea what was going on. "Make noise and he will come" but no one made noise, and no one came.
by thingswecarry on Apr 6, 2008 12:44 AM PDT up reply actions
Countries flying the old red, white & blue
Australia
Burma
Cambodia
Chile
Costa Rica
Cuba
Czech Republic
Dominican Republic
El Salvador
Fiji
France
Iceland
Laos
Liberia
Luxembourg
Nepal
Netherlands
Netherland Antilles
New Zealand
North Korea
Norway
Panama
Paraguay
Puerto Rico
Russia
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia
Taiwan
Thailand
UK
USA
Western Samoa
Yugoslavia
by green star oakland on Apr 3, 2008 12:23 AM PDT reply actions
Crimson, white, and indigo
There is an A in Whimsy.
by FreeSeatUpgrade on Apr 3, 2008 9:38 AM PDT up reply actions
Chartreuse, lavender and marigold
;)
"[Moneyball] is huge [in Japan], I guess, so I'm like a David Hasselhoff type or something..." -- Billy Beane
by FormerHuntsvilleStar on Apr 3, 2008 4:58 AM PDT reply actions
Darling!
The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus
by The Dogfather on Apr 3, 2008 7:58 AM PDT up reply actions
I and I would like to see
Red, green and gold dots. And I'd prefer them to be 2d. Who ever heard of a 3d "dot"?
Perhaps we should change it Yakko Wakko and Dot racing
"Camelot sure fell apart, didn't it?"-Steve McCatty
Loser gets baloney in their slacks...
"[Moneyball] is huge [in Japan], I guess, so I'm like a David Hasselhoff type or something..." -- Billy Beane
by FormerHuntsvilleStar on Apr 3, 2008 9:48 AM PDT up reply actions
This is a brilliant suggestion.
and should be implemented immediately.
------ 84.6% of all statistics are made up.
http://feeds.feedburner.com/athleticsnationpodcast
by gallopingael on Apr 4, 2008 10:31 AM PDT up reply actions
My favorite part of dot racing
is that the Fusion Storm display which appears on the scoreboard has remained unchanged for like 10 years, with four bullet points of the firm's aspects which somehow are able to say absolutely nothing about what the company actually does. What the hell are "Managed Services?"
There is an A in Whimsy.
I bet Fremont fans will know what it is.
/no idea, either
The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus
by The Dogfather on Apr 3, 2008 10:28 AM PDT up reply actions
What I want them to do...
is take a leaf out of Milwakee's book and have it be a race.
Hell, why not do this instead. Why not get 3 people, can be Kids, Women, Men, 3 of the same so they can keep up with each other, and have them carry a Green, Gold and White Dot or Ball or whatever costume, and race from Center Field to the back of Home Plate. Give the winner a Jersey, the losers a Baseball.
Everybody wins.
The kids like it because its a distraction. The Contestants like it because they can win something. The fans like it because its a competition that isn't fixed, and involves them, the fans, as possible choices to contend.
Kids needing a distraction from a ball game?
Say it ain't so, Zo!
Actually, I must admit, your idea sounds pretty damn good.
But how about we say screw the kids and just do a Beer Batter?
I'm here to talk about the past.
You want reactions???
"Yes folks, it's time for the 6th inning keg stand. If a selected member of the A's makes it to second base, everyone gets a free drink!"
"Camelot sure fell apart, didn't it?"-Steve McCatty
unfortunately
it should probably any member of the A's in any inning of any game....
I'm not still grouchy about yesterday-honest.
"Camelot sure fell apart, didn't it?"-Steve McCatty
speaking of which
but not exaclty on topic
I hear the Shark's are giving away autographed jerseys as part of their Fan Appreciation Day. Fans go on the ice, the players remove their jerseys, sign them, give them to the fans.
I would link it, but any button I touch right now, except for original comment, takes me back to the top of the page.
I'm here to talk about the past.
My brother lied
Or was misinformed. Lied sounds better.
It was an auction, not a giveaway.
I'm here to talk about the past.
I was actually riffing on George Costanza's "shrinkage" excuse...
"There is an HR in Hanrahan." ~ mikeA
oops
I meant to reply to myself.
But I didn't want anyone to think I was weird.
I got the shrinkage reference :)
I'm here to talk about the past.
I read your book, so I don't hafta think.
/didn't get the reference, though. I thought it might have to do with yellow ice.
The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus
by The Dogfather on Apr 3, 2008 11:58 AM PDT up reply actions
I'm quite normal
compared to some of the others listed in there.
/but thanks!
I'm here to talk about the past.
I need to start going to more
women's soccer games.
"God doesn't pay attention to your cute little hypotheticals." -- Jeff from LL
If they think fans prefer the red white & blue
how's about they do a few races with green, gold & white and test the reaction? I'd be willing to wager the crowd would love the change.
"Don't be an ass!" --Bill King
Also, if they're going to keep Dot Racing, they should at least...
...bring back the Win/Place/Show stats.
How many of you remember those?
This Poll is Flawed
Its biased in that it favors the choice to change the colors. Who is really going to pick: "No -- keep the dreary old Red Sox color scheme: blue, red and white."
If you really want to see what people think change it to something like:
Keep the colors that represent the United States of America: Red , White and Blue
No matter how it's worded...
...I think it's clear people would rather have it be related to team colors, regardless.
Of course it's flawed. Sez so right in the text.
... 'tis time for a thoroughly biased and unscientific poll of the AN cognoscenti ...
If you want "fair," go to Pleasanton in July.
The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus
by The Dogfather on Apr 4, 2008 1:05 PM PDT up reply actions
Another option for "fair"
Go watch Carlton Fisk '75 Series highlights
I'm here to talk about the past.
I like the real race idea, but with more people. Don't horse races have 10 spots?
I'd like to see a race between;
A bat boy from the A's
A bat boy from the visiting team
Stomper
Visiting Mascot
Whoever tossed out the cerimonial first pitch
a concession vendor w/gear
A visiting broadcaster
Larry Davis (what else does he have to do?)
A fan picked at random
Robert Buan
"Last night, Darth Vader came down from planet Vulcan and told me that if I didn't take Lorraine out that he'd melt my brain." - George McFly
by GreenAndGoldFish on Apr 5, 2008 12:07 AM PDT reply actions
There is no bat boy from the visiting team. It's the same bat boy for every visiting team, he just changes uniforms for each series.
this is true
it's my neighbor. he was pissed that he wasn't the home team bat boy because he has to wear red sox and yankees stuff this season
President of the Joey Devine fan club as of 1/15/08. Accepting applications for other positions. "He has no equivalent." -Paul DePodesta on Jeremy Brown
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