by: Scott Sommers
As most of us by now, Michael Vick is hurt and may never be the
same player again.
For those not knowing, Vick is this year’s cover-boy for the Madden 2004
game, which is very popular all around the world. What happened to Vick is
not uncommon .The curse of being on the cover of the Madden games is well
documented. From Eddie George to Duante Culpepper to Marshall Faulk and now
Vick. All of whom were injured while on the cover and suffered sub-par
performances.
I am NOT blaming Madden for all of the woes. Chunky Soup gets just as
much blame.
Last year, Donovan McNabb was promoting Chucky Soup and what happens? He
breaks his ankle, ruining many fantasy owners’ season, including mine. A
year before that, it was Kurt Warner and how he fell down the fantasy ladder
several hundred notches.
Chunky Soup isn’t just for offensive players. After Chicago Bears Brian
Urlacher did his stint, the Bears defense, which was one of the best in the
league, went down the porcelain throne. Urlacher was still good, but the
Bears’ defense was miserable last year. Michael Strahan set the
single-season sack record and disappeared from the headlines and around the
quarterback soon after his commercial ran.
Of course, Chunky isn’t just obliged to ruin a year or two of a career.
Just ask Terrell Davis how it can ruin a career. Davis was the spokesman and
was on, I swear, every five minutes on the TV during NFL games.
What happened to Davis after his Chunky Soup run, was just downright
disheartening to fantasy owners and NFL fans alike.
Someone needs to be held accountable. I understand that there is a lot of
money involved, but does every company looking to push a product have to use
football players? I understand Madden can’t because it is a football game.
So how about using someone like Zeron Flemeister on the cover of the game.
He is a football player and his fantasy impact won’t be so bad if in fact he
were to get hurt.
If Chunky wants a quarterback, how about a Bill Volek or a Josh Booty?
For running back, how about a Mike Cloud or a Greg Comella? That way the
fans still get to see a pro football player in the commercial and all the
fantasy studs are left alone.
I like Chunky Soups and all the Madden games. I buy the game for the play
not for the player on the cover. But most of all, I like playing fantasy
football and I want the competition level to be at its best. So, I am asking
Madden and Chunky to stop the madness now and find some different spokesmen.
At least, then we are assured some fantasy stud is going to last the
entire season. |