Univ. of Alabama to display national championship trophy at Walmart

[OneGrassRoot]

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WKOW) -- Fresh off their victory in the BCS National Title game, the University of Alabama says it will display its national championship trophy at a place where most of their fans can see it: Walmart.

The school says the Coaches' Trophy will be on display at a Walmart Supercenter in Tuscaloosa on Saturday and another Walmart store in Gardendale on Sunday.

http://www.wkowtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=11793578


(I have family in Alabama, so this was brought to my attention. Wow.)

[krispos42]

1. Um... what? n/t

[MineralMan]

32. Why are you surprised. I'm sure the University will be displaying

the trophy in lots of places where people congregate. The taxpayers pay for the University. They're fans of the sports teams. Lots of people go to Walmart. So, the University is displaying the trophy for a day each in two of them.

[krispos42]

38. It seems inappropriate

Simply because I feel it should be someplace less... propriatary? Corporate?

More neutral, perhaps is a better term.


This isn't a small town's football team winning the state championship. If my town won, then you could make a case for a display in the local Wal-Mart; we aren't that big. But these are fairly large cities with many venues for display. If the trophy is going to go "on tour", then I could see doing things like visiting shopping malls and making appearances a local school sporting events (like HS basketball games).

But this seems... it almost seems like Wal-Mart is paying for the rights to display this somehow. As if this will be the next big money-making sports plan... selling off the rights to display trophies.

[MineralMan]

39. There is a sponsorship agreement. But the trophy will be on

display in just two Walmarts, one day apiece. Interestingly enough, it seems a lot of folks in Alabama will get to stand next to the trophy and take photos. Seems pretty down-home and friendly to me.

I think we have to be very careful about conflating Walmart and its customers. That would be a very stupid thing to do, since many Democratic voters are also Walmart shoppers.

After the two-day display, the trophy goes into a showcase at the University. That will be accessible to the public, too, but perhaps a different segment.

I do not support Walmart as a company. I do support people who shop there for whatever reason they shop there. The two are not the same.

[OneGrassRoot]

41. I can see both sides....

I hear what you're saying, MineralMan. Yet there is an element to this that reminds me of when all the corporations began buying stadiums and bowl games. It seems to take away from the sport itself, and it becomes another corporate commodity.

Like I said, I see the other side of the equation of making it accessible, too, so I'm torn.

[krispos42]

45. Oh, I'm a WallyWorld regular as well.

And seeing as how I usually go after work in my grubby work clothes, I guess I stand a fair chance of showing up on peopleofwalmart.com one day.

:D

Limited budget + plebian tastes + indifferent cook + open 24 hours = Wal-Mart for me.



This action does seem to elevate Wal-Mart even further. It feels more and more like the intertwining of government and corporations.

[bbinacan]

2. Wow is right. n/t

[QC]

3. Terrible. Why didn't they display it at the yacht club? Or perhaps the polo grounds? n/t

[anonymous171]

4. I know. Walmart is far too vulgar a place for such a pristine trophy.

:sarcasm:

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[QC]

8. So where do you live?

I notice that, like most people who spend all their time here trashing Southerners, you have carefully scrubbed your profile of any clues as to where you might be.

[MineralMan]

13. Oh, for pete's sake! Give it a rest, please.

[NashVegas]

26. + 85

Best troll ever :)

[Name removed]

6. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[mdmc]

7. Wal mart is like their town hall or library..

The place of highest regard..

[cherokeeprogressive]

51. Give me a fucking break.

What if Walmart was one of the university's BIGGEST DONORS?

I'm sure you don't patronize gas stations that aren't unionized, right? You don't buy your groceries from grocery stores that aren't unionized, right? You don't buy from, or patronize, ANY business that doesn't pay more than minimum wage... right?

You don't fraternize with neighbors who would work in non-union jobs, and you don't work overtime when given the chance because the company you work for doesn't offer EVERY one of its employees the same opportunity, right? You go out of your way to support your union brothers and sisters, right?

The attitude toward the EVIL of Walmart here is one of the best devices for exposing hypocricy I've ever seen.

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[OneGrassRoot]

10. To me, this isn't necessarily a commentary on the South...

but more a commentary on society. While football and other sports trophies are highly coveted in many states, for them to be displayed in Walmart says a lot about how highly Walmart is also valued, rather than displaying it somewhere on the campus or at a convention center or something.

On the other hand, it makes sense from a marketing/revenue generating perspective: they'll have tons of merchandise ready to go, with the mechanism in place to sell a lot of stuff.

:)

[DBoon]

20. it also says something about the total lack of true community, public space

Instead of displaying it at a library or a town hall, they display it at a mega-retailer

Our public identity is purchased at the mall

[QC]

22. That's an excellent point.

We have gone from a market economy, which is arguably a good thing, to a market society, which is undeniably a bad thing.

[MineralMan]

23. I'm not that sure you're right.

A library or town hall simply does not get as many visitors as a Walmart. It's not like they're making Walmart the permanent repository for this trophy. It'll be there for a short time. In that short time, more people will see the trophy than ever would see it in a year at a library or in a town hall.

The thing is, people who live in Alabama are fans of the team from their University. They'd like to see the trophy. They go to Walmart. They'll get to see the trophy.

It just sounds like it's being displayed for a little time in a place where thousands pass through every day. I'm betting people in Alabama will be glad that they have the chance to see it.

Walmart-bashing is a lot like region-bashing. You may not go to Walmart, or live in some region. That does not mean that the people who do are of no value.

Thank you for your attention.

[Lint Head]

11. Deleted

[tammywammy]

14. What's wrong with trailer parks? n/t

[Lint Head]

17. Nothing.

[tammywammy]

18. Then I don't get your post. What was the point of showing a picture of a trailer park? n/t

[Lint Head]

19. Not everyone gets every reply to a post.

[tammywammy]

21. I asked as well, what was the point you were trying to make? n/t

[dixiegrrrrl]

12. Bless their little hearts.....

[NashVegas]

27. And Their Pointy Little Heads

[MineralMan]

15. Well, more people are likely to see it in Walmart than almost

any other place. If the goal is to have people see the trophy, it makes a lot of sense. A case in some University building won't get it seen.

It's fun to trash Walmart, but a higher percentage of people will see it there than anywhere else it might be displayed.

[tammywammy]

16. And it's only two days at Walmarts

It's just fun to trash Walmart/Alabama/the South. I think it shows that the university wants the public and their fans to be able to see it and came up with a solution to bring it out to the public in a place a lot of people shop at. I see nothing wrong with this.

[Lint Head]

24. Walmart is a place that takes advantage of people that cannot afford

some things. Walmart takes advantage of their workers and has lower prices because they do not offer sufficient health care. People that live in trailer parks are generally low income, proven statistically, and are generally the ones Walmart exploits. I have nothing against people that live in trailer parks any more than I have anything against people that live in mansions. A trailer park would be a good place to display the trophy because it would honor some of the people Walmart exploits and uses for their greedy profits.
http://www.sullivan-county.com/id2/wal-mart/not_paid.htm
http://www.uniglobalunion.org/unisite/Sectors/Commerce/Multinationals/Wal-Mart_sued_for_unpaid_overtime.htm
http://www.attorneyatlaw.com/2009/12/wal-mart-will-pay-mass-workers-40-million-for-overtime-violations/

[MineralMan]

28. I am not defending Walmart. I am defending the people who find that

Walmart meets their needs for low prices. Should people who cannot afford to shop at the mall not be able to see the trophy the team from their state's University won?

There is a difference between a corporation and its customers. The University is trying to show their trophy to people, not to a corporation. Where are the people? Well, lots of them are shopping at Walmart.

Please try to see the difference. You don't shop at Walmart. Good for you. Neither do I. I'm very fortunate to be able to shop elsewhere. For lots of people, Walmart makes the difference between having what they need and not having it.

Do not conflate the corporation with its customers, please.

You may wish to note that your trailer park post has been deleted now. Please consider the reasons for that.

[Lint Head]

50. I deleted it. I do not wish to offend anyone even if the offense

is absolutely unfounded. The paraphrased words I posted was, 'maybe this would be a better alternative place for the trophy.' I then posted the picture.

Because it was a picture of a trailer park you jumped to the conclusion that it was a put down to people in trailer parks. You seem rather judgmental.

I do not judge people based on a photographs. Obviously you do.

How do you know I don't live in that very trailer park in the photo?

Feel better now.

[MineralMan]

25. Well, it appears that a some people enjoy feeling superior to

some other people. Hence the belittling of people in some regions, people who shop at Walmart, and people who live in trailer parks. It makes some people feel superior. Little do they know that the very thing that makes them feel superior is actually an indication of the exact opposite.

It's all akin to racism or any other sort of ism. I'm not like them, and I'm obviously superior.

[Lint Head]

30. Your statement is a statement of superiority.

You must be very intelligent.

[MineralMan]

31. Your retort has cut me to the quick.

Please note that I'm not making fun or slurring anyone. I'm sure you're a very nice person, deep down, bless your heart.

[paulsby]

48. i've spent a lot of time in trailer parks

as a beat cop...

the people there are just like people elsewhere. good people and bad people.

some trailer parks are actually very well kept, very proud, and very social communities. others less so.

trailer parks are an economical place for a lot of people to live.

i have seen some people who keep their trailers very tidy and have a lot of pride in ownership. and good for them.

i will NEVER look down on somebody because of where they live.

[Omaha Steve]

29. I won't go in a Walmart or Sams Club for any reason, even if it cost them $

IF NU won a title and did, I would be raising a lot of hell. And I mean a lot.

[fishwax]

33. that doesn't seem like a big deal to me

I'm glad the public will get a chance to see it -- maybe a mall would have been a better place to do it, but having it at walmart doesn't seem like a big deal to me :shrug:

[MineralMan]

34. It'll probably go into some malls, too. It sounds to me like

the University of Alabama is trying to get it out so people can enjoy seeing the trophy. It is, after all, the taxpayers of Alabama who pay for the University. All of the taxpayers.

[fishwax]

44. exactly -- and lots of teams do this kind of thing

I was in Norman when Oklahoma won the national title nine years ago, and they had it on display at Sears (back then Sears sponsored the trophy, so it was only natural). I think they had it on display other places too, before retiring it to the trophy case.

[MineralMan]

35. More information:

Apparently, Walmart has a sponsorship agreement with University of Alabama. Apparently this display is part of that agreement.

[OneGrassRoot]

40. Interesting. Thanks for that. :)

:hi:

[spanone]

36. i like it ...the real people will get a chance to see it.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

37. Well the Anaheim Ducks displayed the Stanley Cup at Disneyland

In pirates of the Caribbean of all places,

[Yunomi]

46. Heh. That's funny! nt

[MadHound]

42. Tacky in my taste, but the bigger question is how much is WalMart paying for this "privilege"?

I'm willing to bet that there were large sums of money passed from hand to hand on this one. So much for the purity of "amateur" college sports.

[OneGrassRoot]

43. See post #35... it seems there is a sponsorship agreement

:hi:

[uppityperson]

47. Rather like having other trophies at shopping malls. Whatever. nt

[joeybee12]

49. Apparently even the football team is too embarrassed at not having earned the title...

...to display it anywhere else.

[proteus_lives]

52. Football? Alabama? Walmart?

:rofl:

This is going to bring out the DU elitist brigade like the promise of organic cheese, a bottle of Chardonnay and a free NPR tote-bag.