E-mail Campaign: Jesus Hates the Yankees
Merchants generally like to straddle controversial issues in order to avoid offending any customers. Not BustedTees.com
The humorous online t-shirt merchant yesterday launched an e-mail campaign aiming to capitalize on anti-New York Yankees sentiment as the nation’s arguably most loved and hated baseball team heads into the 2006 playoff season.
“So it’s that time of year again. The leaves are changing, the days get shorter and the Yankees are gearing up for another monumental playoff collapse,” said the e-mail’s body copy. “To commemorate this annual tradition, we’re putting our Jesus Hates the Yankees shirt on sale. But only when you use the coupon code: choke.”
The copy refers mainly to the 2004 American League Championship Series in which the Yankees led the Boston Red Sox three games to none in a best-of-seven series, and then lost four in a row in one of the biggest collapses in postseason baseball history.
Clicking through BustedTees’ e-mail promotion led to a landing page featuring the shirt and the description: “When we think of the phrase ‘act of God,’ usually bad things come to mind: a flood, an earthquake, a tornado. But how often does God get credit for the good things? With our new shirt commemorating his 2006 smite against the New York Yankees, now he will.”
The page also featured a depiction of Christ with a little boy on his lap and the caption: “‘Son, I sure do hate them Yankees.'”
The t-shirt also shows a depiction of Christ standing on a cloud with his arms held out and the copy, “Jesus Hates the Yankees.”
The shirt normally sells for $17.99. But people who use the coupon code “choke” can get one for $13.99.
Ironically, BustedTees’ parent company, CollegeHumor.com, is based in Manhattan. However, Direct was unable to confirm a suspicion that the company’s proprietors didn’t grow up in New York City, and more than likely grew up rooting for the Boston Red Sox. Representatives did not respond to e-mails for comment by deadline.
The last time the Yankees won the series was in 2000. When Boston took the title in 2004, the team ended an 86-year skid.
The Yankees have won 26 World Series Championships. The team begins its run at a 27th title tonight at home against the Detroit Tigers.
