Not only is having athletes endorse products a risky business, according to “Athletes’ fall from ad grace capped by Lewis” (Business, Jan. 31) by Jim Kirk, but an expensive one as well. I never pass a Hertz Rent-a-Car without thinking of O.J. Simpson in a business suit doing his “Hertz spurts” while flying through the air terminal.
Although I have nothing against Michael Jordan, I will not buy Nike shoes because I feel he is getting paid more per pair than the workers who put them together.
This low point should be a window of opportunity for advertisers to seek out more reliable, and therefore more worthy, celebrities to endorse their clients’ products. Sure, sports sells, but what is wrong with having a race car driver or a professional coach? What other professions provide role models as good as any athlete? The possibilities are endless.
