After Wimbledon

AKA2D '91 · #1 07-11-2000, 04:10 PM

Sorors and Friends...

Now that we are elated that Venus and Serena dominated Wimbledon this year with their Victories, I wonder what is next. This morning, I saw Later Today or MSNBC and they were interviewing Pete Sampras. Pete made history when he won in 13th or so Grand Slam title of something. Anyway...I saw something that had forgotten existed. A Wheaties Box. After everything that Venus and Serena had done at Wimbledon, the Powers that Be decided to put MR. Pete on the cover! To me that was another SLAP in the face to the sisters, at least Venus, since she did win the Singles match. I wonder if they will put her on the cover? I am sure that the sisters are not bothered by it, but I am! It's jsut the principal of the matter.
Sorry, it's so long, but I had to vent!

AKAtude · #2 07-11-2000, 04:29 PM

Hhhhhmmmm....intersting point. I remember when Tiger Woods won the Masters he was featured on the cover of the Wheaties box. It seems what Venus has accomplished is also pretty great. She is the first black women to win the Wimbledon title since 1958. Maybe their excuse is that she isn't the first, however, I would think her popularity would be considered.

Anydaynow · #3 07-11-2000, 05:47 PM

Who needs Wheaties anyway? Well the other guy did make history so I guess its okay...besides, they are going to have so many other endorsments that they won't even have time for old Wheaties....hopefully

AKA2D '91 · #4 07-11-2000, 05:54 PM

Soror:
Their campaign slogan is "Breakfast of Champions", not "Breakfast of Firsts". It has nothing to do with firsts, it has to do with being a CHAMPION. Isn't Venus a champion, too? I want to see if Venus will be on the cover anytime soon. The next time they issue a new champion cover could be during the Olympics. Venus may get accepted because Billie Jean King is going to be the coach for USA....interesting!

mizzkes · #5 07-11-2000, 09:02 PM

Well, maybe Venus turned Wheaties down. They may have made her an offer. Maybe she wants to come out with Venus Flakes or something.

You never know. Who eats Wheaties anyway? I have never been to anyone's house who had a box of wheaties on the shelf (or on top of the refrigerator like many of us do).

[This message has been edited by mizzkes (edited July 11, 2000).]

AKAtude · #6 07-11-2000, 09:29 PM

Misskes,

Yes, my Frosted Flakes are on top of the fridge. LOL!

Soror AKAD,

Isn't Pete Sampras also the first man to win 13 grand slam titles? That is the only reason that I could think of that Sampras was chosen over Venus. Then, again she could have turned them down. I didn't think of that before. But she would have been my first choice.

By the way, didn't Wheaties once put out more than one champion on a box at one time? I think that happened during the 96 summer Olympics. They couldn't decide which Olympians to use, so they used them all and people were collecting the boxes.

AKA2D '91 · #7 07-11-2000, 10:19 PM

That's true, soror.

Mizzkes:
I NEVER ATE WHEATIES, BUT WHEN SOMEONE HAS REACHED A CERTAIN "HEIGHT" THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THEM, I AM JUST SAYING THAT WITH ALL THIS HATER-AIDE THAT'S GOING AROUND, GIVE A SISTER HER PROPS!

Maybe she turned them down, maybe she did not. Maybe she and Serena will have advertisement offers coming out their...
then again, maybe they won't...
I started this topic because I had an opinion to express. I know how corporate America can be. Remember when Carl Lewis won all those Gold medals back in 84 and he was thought of as being pompus and arrogant. What sponsorships did he receive? Very little! I am not saying that Venus and Serena are arrogant, let me clarify!

mizzkes · #8 07-11-2000, 10:37 PM

AKA2D '91... I agree with you. I think that they definitely deserve to be on every box of Wheaties,Gatorade,Powerade,Vitamins,Boost,Tennis shoes,etc. Venus absolutely deserves that.
If she did not receive an offer, I would think that there were some racial motivations behind that. I was just being facitious about the Wheaties. You know, it really does not surprise me anymore when Black people are wronged by the powers that be. We have to acknowledge our own achievements (therefore the need for Image, Essence, the Source,& SoulTrain Awards). I am sure that Venus knows that the black community is glowing with pride due to her recent accomplishment, who needs Wheaties? This sister should realize that she is all that without Wheaties. Just a thought, we couldn't even boycott Wheaties or anything because none of us eat them anyway.

deja · #9 07-11-2000, 10:50 PM

I believe the Williams' are contemplating battling in the Olympics......

I understand your point but we have to remember, America is still having a difficult time dealing with Black Females from Compton beating the world at this "White Sport". Some people just could not understand......and they are not even

COB/LA/NATION LIKE TIGER WOODS....THE ARE JUST PLAIN OLD BRAID WEARING, DARKING SKIN, KICK BUTT ON THE COURT, "SISTERS". DON'T YA LOVE IT? THERE IS A GOD!!!!

DEJA

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TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN....MUCH IS EXPECTED.

Catwoman · #10 07-12-2000, 08:56 AM

Good Morning Sorors and SisterFriends!

I was just as excited as anyone else about the accomplishments of Venus and Serena. So excited I am thinking about taking lessons...anyway....I didn't see the Later Today Show with Pete or the Wheaties box. I will say this much. Pete Sampras has accomplished a lot in the sport of tennis. He has won several major titles and I think this is his 4th straight yr as the Wimbeldon Champion. If he was chosen over Venus - I can understand that. Now before anyone jumps on me...I LOVE VENUS! I have never tried to market a product - but if I was in the marketing department at Wheaties I would be trying to figure out how to get Venus on the box too! She is a lovely very personable young lady and fits the image of what any marketer should/would be looking for.

Now about AKA2D'91's comment regarding Carl Lewis...(I ran track from 6thgrade-senior in college) I love the sport and I love to watch it. Carl Lewis was a great runner but he was very arrogant and full of himself. I understand to a point - but I never liked his attitude. If I was a marketer at that time I wouldn't have cared if he won 6 gold and set 5 records. I wouldn't have wanted him.

Eclipse · #11 07-12-2000, 09:48 AM

Good morning!! Venus & Serena are definately awesome!! In terms of endorsements, one of them, (Venus I think) endorses Reebok and the other (Serena) endorses Puma. They wear the clothes, shoes, etc. I am not aware of any other endorsements. You better believe though, if they begin to DOMINATE grand slam events and you have little white girls at the local country club saying they want to be like Venus/Serena the companies will come knocking at their door, a la Tiger and Mike. Like some one said on a different question, it's all about the benjis!! If the one-eyed crack dealer down the street could entice people to buy shoes/clothes/etc. without significant backlash from the public someone would be tryin' to sign him/her up!!