I’m guessing a baseball team hiring service providers like lawyers, accountants and ad agencies from other cities is pretty common, but I’m drawn to this story anyway. Why? Because I was years behind watching “Mad Men,” and in the last month or so I have been catching up, often by watching two episodes or sometimes even three in one evening.
The things we do when we have tons of free time.
Anyway, I’m up to the beginning of season 4, so I’m gonna be all finished and ready when the new season starts in March. And I’m totally ready to tear into this little bit of Chicago Cubs business gossip:In the eyes of a lot of local ad executives, the Chicago Cubs have just struck out. Big time.
The team lost a big chunk of potential fans from Chicago’s advertising industry in recent days when the Cubs rather quietly announced it had retained a New York-based ad agency, quaintly-named The Brooklyn Brothers, to orchestrate its newest ad campaign with the theme line “Baseball Is Better.”
Cut to Don Draper’s office. Don, having just heard some bad news about his wife/mistress/person from his weird past/Roger/Someone, sits back in his chair with an impatient, annoyed look on his face as the creative team pitches him ideas.
Paul Kinsey: It’s simple. A picture of a player hitting a baseball and the slogan “Baseball is Better.”
Don Draper [pauses, takes a drag from his Lucky Strike]: “Baseball is Better?” Better than what? You’re asking me to compare Chicago Cubs baseball to all sorts of things to do in Chicago. I hate to say it, but those other things are going to sound better to me now that I think about them.”
Paul [looks down, sullen, defeated]
Peggy Olson [quickly, hopeful]: Not better than, better when. “Better when the ball hits Waveland Avenune.” “Better when it’s played in front of ivy-covered walls.”
Don [takes a gulp of Canadian Club]: Too desperate. Baseball is better. It’s always better and always will be. By merely introducing these thoughts we’re suggesting that it’s an argument baseball has to make rather than have it be assumed. Get back at it. Try harder. I can’t do all of this myself.
Don leaves to have a meaningless tryst with a woman far more interesting than his wife Betty.
