Corporate America Still Loves Ron Mexico

The Atlanta Falcons' quarterback may be an even bigger hit with corporate America following his encounter with airport security in Miami.

Less than a week after the bottle was confiscated, Vick and the bottle were cleared when lab tests found no evidence of marijuana. For cutting-edge athletes such as Vick, any exposure is good exposure, even a potentially damaging incident with a happy ending.

First, I love that both Vick and the water bottle were cleared of any wrongdoing. Like if the police found out the water bottle was complicit in the airport ruse, it could face prison time. Anyway, the AP reports Vick is more desirable than ever: "Strangely enough in our society today, when an event like this happens, he makes that crossover from sports to mainstream, and now he's even more marketable than before, particularly since the charges were dropped," said Brooks Downing, president of Game Seven Sports Marketing, based in Lexington, Ky.

For a sense of how much of a non-story marketers think the whole water-bottle incident is, consider this quote from AirTran marketing director Ted Hutcheson: "At least he wasn't boarding a Delta plane... I'm just glad he used the product he endorses." Aquafina had no comment.

In the scheme of things, Vick's off-field issues are relatively benign. He's not accused of shooting people at strip clubs, killing dogs, or housing a small arms depot in his basement ... just calling himself Ron Mexico and smoking weed (though that wasn't the case in the airport-water bottle episode).

If Vick can keep his endorsements, good for him; and if we've learned anything, it's that if there is an opportunity to make money, marketers have very short memories.