Matsuzaka Chugs Asahi, MLB Jealous

[Captain Japan]

[YT]5gkn4bAdHx0[/YT]
Matsuzaka ad raises eyebrows in U.S.
USA Today

The Boston Red Sox have expressed concern about pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka being featured in a commercial aired in Japan in which he's seen chugging a beer, the Boston Herald reported.

Matsuzaka, who had an endorsement deal in place with Asahi before he signed with the Red Sox in December, is seen drinking an Asahi in a commercial in which he's clad in a Red Sox uniform.

MLB players are not allowed to endorse beer domestically, but those rules do not apply to international advertisements. This ad was approved by Major League Baseball International.

"I called them, talked to their marketing people and explained the situation, and I believe they understand the situation and will probably be more careful in the future," Red Sox spokesman John Blake told the Herald.

[canman]

I saw that add I think and I was impressed the way they photoshopped in the Red Sox uniform. It didn't take them very long, and I was wondering about it. But as the saying goes, "now we have the rest of the story."

[Captain Japan]

I think the commercial was made in Japan with him wearing a Red Sox jersey. I seem to remember seeing that somewhere...Anyway, permission must have been granted by the Red Sox to use their logo. Maybe they didn't know Asahi made beer?

[Greji]

Maybe they didn't know Asahi made beer?

Ya, right! Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think Asahi Export was about the first J-beer imported to the US. This was along time ago, so I don't remember clearly, except there was a lot of gnashing of teeth at the time about quarantine requirements which called for certain additives to clear quarantine. The other makers did not want to use these additives. Asahi who was the then bottom of the barrel in Japan complied and was able to import.

At any rate, I believe that the individual clubs have a requirement to cede certain uses of their logos to MLB, which could ligitimately account for the club not knowing if this were the case. But then again, who knows? Outside of cable, hardly anybody is allowed to guzzle booze, do a stoogie, or the neighbor's wife on public TV any more, that's why they're have all their viewer problems and everyone is going to cable.

[Captain Japan]

At any rate, I believe that the individual clubs have a requirement to cede certain uses of their logos to MLB, which could ligitimately account for the club not knowing if this were the case. But then again, who knows? Outside of cable, hardly anybody is allowed to guzzle booze, do a stoogie, or the neighbor's wife on public TV any more, that's why they're have all their viewer problems and everyone is going to cable.

Check the Asahi page here to see Matsui of the Yankees doing the neighbor's wife...er, pounding a beer.

[Kuang_Grade]

It is worth keeping in mind that some of this has to most of this has to do that he's on camera drinking and more than that, polishing of a big glass of it in hurry. Like many things American, US beer ads have a conflicted persona...while you can show all sorts of fun things in your ads, for the longest time, federal laws prohibited showing someone actually drinking beer in an ad...I don't know if this is still the case, since the ATF/DHS loosed up a few years back and even started to allow TV ads for hard booze to be shown, but you'll see lots of frothy glasses or tight shots of ice sheathed beer cans and bottles shooting across the screen, but you won't actually see anyone drink the product on screen.

[kamome]

It is worth keeping in mind that some of this has to most of this has to do that he's on camera drinking and more than that, polishing of a big glass of it in hurry. Like many things American, US beer ads have a conflicted persona...while you can show all sorts of fun things in your ads, for the longest time, federal laws prohibited showing someone actually drinking beer in an ad...I don't know if this is still the case, since the ATF/DHS loosed up a few years back and even started to allow TV ads for hard booze to be shown, but you'll see lots of frothy glasses or tight shots of ice sheathed beer cans and bottles shooting across the screen, but you won't actually see anyone drink the product on screen.

Back in the day when you would see cigarette commercials on TV, I think it was the same deal - you couldn't watch someone smoking a cigarette in the ad. It's always fun to watch old Ed Murrow interviews when he has the ciggie in his hand and smoke curling up in front of his face while he chats with celebs of the time.

[lolhahaha]

They really do get riled up about stupid shit. Who gives a fuck if the guy drinks a beer on tv?