Baseball, ESPN and shameless promotion

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So maybe this is a bad evaluation but into the in-box came this promotion from ESPN’s public relations department.

‘ESPN will launch a global promo campaign in support of the World Baseball Classic beginning Saturday, Feb. 14. Tagged, ‘National pastime, international stars,’ the multimedia rollout will feature some of baseball’s top names -- Jorge Cantu, Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Ichiro Suzuki -- paying homage to their heritage and the pride it instills in them as they prepare to participate in the global baseball tournament. ESPN and ESPN2 will televise 23 games of the 2009 World Baseball Classic beginning March 5 with all games in high definition and simulcast via ESPN360.com and ESPN Mobile TV. Additionally, ESPN Deportes will televise all 39 games with ESPN International distributing up to 39 games.’

Okay, was it pride in his heritage that filled Rodriguez with a steroid overload back in the day, a slip up Rodriguez admitted to after a reporter wrote about his failed test? And is that really the best way to sell the world baseball championships? Heritage and pride and ignore what that guy said earlier this week about the little doping issue?

Or maybe it’s the smartest promo ever. Tune in and root for your heritage and your love of baseball and check out the size of those muscles on A-Rod! In HD!

ESPN also said its new campaign, in English and Spanish, will target ‘local sports radio and out-of-home executions such as billboards,’ in Los Angeles, New York and Miami. So watch for those billboards some time after Feb. 23.

Without further comment, here are the World Baseball Classic mantras from each player:

Cantu (Mexico): ‘I’m not just playing for my sport. I’m playing for la raza (the people).’

Jeter (United States): ‘There’s one title we still haven’t won. The one for our country.’

Rodriguez (Dominican Republic): ‘I’m playing for my country. I’m playing for quisqueya la bella (the Beautiful Quisqueya).’

Suzuki (Japan): ‘Japan is the reigning world champion. My job is to defend that title.’

Really, no further comment.

-- Diane Pucin