May 26, 2013

Mike Polk Takes on the Indians’ “What If?” Campaign

August 2, 2012 by 26 Comments

Well, it was really only a matter of time…

After the campaign provided nothing shy of a vitriolic backfire this season, it’s fairly safe to estimate that the team will at least consider a different approach in 2013.

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  • Eric G

    Perfect

  • Jay

    Not really a whole lot there to disagree with.

  • The_Real_Shamrock

    I bet noone with the Indians will ever wanna hear the words “what if” again! Just add that to the FAIL pile. Maybe they can recycle that pile and use it in the construction of the Jim Thome monument.

  • Jared in LA

    I haven’t even watched yet, but I love Mike Polk’s humor with Cleveland sports. The guy just “gets it”.

  • Matt Yager

    Thank you Mike!

  • Vindictive_Pat

    Simply the best.

  • boomhauertjs

    Worst local sports ad campaign since the pre-LeBron “This is Cleveland. This is our town. This is our team.” with that old guy and Darius Miles, Z, Boozer, etc.

  • MrCleaveland

    I like Mike a lot, but this isn’t one of his better efforts. Criticizing the Indians for spending money on fireworks shows and advertising instead of some mythical free-agent savior? Come on, Mike, you’re way better than that.

    What would Mike be saying if the Indians cancelled all fireworks and pulled all advertising? I’m guessing he wouldn’t think that was a very good idea.

    As for Sizemore, Damon, et al, the Tribe front office must be amazed by the sheer number of people around here who can predict the future with absolute clarity.

  • BenRM

    Seriously though, who thought it was going to be a successful campaign. It opens itself to stuff like this way too easily.

    Bad job PR department.

  • Garry_Owen

    Quit raining on my hindsight.

  • MrCleaveland

    I knew you were going to say that.

  • Garry_Owen

    You know, in all fairness, Polk’s “what if” criticisms are as fair as the original add campaign, which itself asked questions just as specious. It was a ridiculous campaign deserving of ridiculous parody.

  • Harv 21

    agree.
    What if … Don Draper was at the marketing firm presentation to smirk that the ad is destined to morph into self-mockery as soon as the Tribe water find its own level, whether that will be in May, June or July? What if …

  • MrCleaveland

    I liked the What If campaign at first, but now they’ve pretty much beaten it to death, and they’ve put in some things that don’t make any sense. Now it’s just annoying.

    Of course, we’ll never see my favorite What If regret on the air: “What If he hadn’t loafed home?”

    In the top of the 9th inning of Game 7 of the ’97 World Series with the Tribe up by 1 run, Sandy Alomar tried to score from 3rd on an infield grounder. For some reason, Alomar didn’t think the Marlins were going to throw home, and so he didn’t run as hard as he could and he didn’t slide. And he got thrown out. What If.

    Man, if you aren’t going to hustle in the 9th inning of Game 7 of the World Series, when are you going to hustle?

  • Garry_Owen

    My favorite: “What if” Joel Skinner remembered that Kenny Lofton was Kenny Lofton?

  • clevefan4life

    If you’re seriously criticizing Polk for taking a shot at advertising and fireworks, then I’m not sure you get his point or his humor.

    The best part is about paying a guy $5 million to walk on a treadmill for the year. That’s classic. Again, well done Mr. Polk. Thanks for being the voice of the fans.

  • clevefan4life

    you’re blaming it on Sandy? Really? The Indians aren’t in the world series without Sandy in ’97.

  • MrCleaveland

    Are you saying that Alomar didn’t cost us a run?

  • MrCleaveland

    I get his humor, but not his point. Why take a shot at fireworks and advertising? These are necessary for attracting crowds. To say the Indians should stop spending money on these things in order to buy a free agent doesn’t make any sense.

  • matt underwood

    Can some one forward this onto Chris Perez piggy backing off the open letter? Seems he got a kick out of the open letter, he’ll probably love this.

  • http://www.facebook.com/j.p.martynowski J Philip Martynowski

    Dude, that was a shot at getting absolute zeros to play left field. Not at the fireworks. Come on.

  • MrCleaveland

    Some of you guys are not listening!

    Here is the verbatim quote:

    “What if the Indians had used all the money they spent on these fireworks to pay someone — anyone — to play left field?”

    This is ludicrous. Do you really think that the Indians could sign a real left fielder for what it costs to buy fireworks?

    Why is he blaming fireworks? That’s as trite as blaming Snow Days.

    Look, I love this guy. I bought two different styles of Factory of Sadness tee shirts last Christmas.

    But his latest effort is lame. There’s nothing clever or original or funny about it, except the treadmill line. You or I could have made a video that is just as tired as this is.

    But he’ll bounce back, and I’ll love it when he does.

  • markn95

    Those damn dirty Dolans deserve every bit of this ridicule. It’s been a long time coming and I’m glad people are catching on. Sell, Larry, Sell!

  • royals20

    Well done. As a Kansas City Royals fan I’m
    pretty embarrassed by the “Our Time” campaign this year. Like saying
    we were going to be relevant would just make it happen. Apparently it was
    “Our Time” this year to lose our first 10 home games (14 in a row
    total) and finish last in the worst division in baseball. Someone please make a
    parody video for that.

  • clevefan4life

    Dude, you clearly don’t get it. The fact that you’re actually trying to do the math to prove that the cost of the fireworks don’t add up to a left field only demonstrates further that you don’t get the humor. This is clearly over your head.

  • MrCleaveland

    There is no humor to get. It’s not funny. It didn’t work.

    Every comedian bombs on occasion, and Mike bombed on this one. No big deal.

    But let us agree to disagree.