Palin Impersonator Crashes Conservative Confab
Mitt Romney Wins Maine Caucus
Forget about the Sports Illustrated jinx, the Madden curse, or even the Campbell's Chunky soup mystery. What today's athletes should really fear is the Gillette Hex.
If you're a human with a pulse, you know full well that Tiger Woods is enmeshed in the sports world's biggest sex scandal since ... ever. What you may know less well is that one of Tiger's endorsement deals is with Gillette, the grooming gear company that's owned by Proctor and Gamble, the Cincinnati-based consumer products behemoth. Along with Swiss tennis champion Roger Federer and French soccer star Thierry Henry, Tiger is featured in Gillette advertisements, TV spots and promotional materials around the world. Since 2007, the three athletes have been the centerpieces of the company's "Champions" marketing campaign, and have appeared together in a series of fairly unmemorable ads.
But over the last month, the sports-marketing gods have had their way with the well-coiffed trio. Federer was the first victim, as tennis' all-time Grand Slam champion lost twice at the recent ATP World Tour Finals in London. Then Henry, the suave Gallic striker, got himself into a hot mess after he admitted to intentionally handling a ball in the waning moments of France's crucial World Cup qualifier against Ireland. The un-penalized infraction led to an all-important France goal -- and howls of protest in the soccer world. FIFA, world soccer's governing body, may even take the extraordinary step of suspending Henry from matches at next summer's World Cup. FIFA president Sepp Blatter called Henry's handball a "blatant and unfair" play.
And now, of course, Tiger has landed in tabloid hell thanks to allegations related to a string of alleged extra-marital affairs.
The British press is already having a field day poking fun at the foibles of Gillette's pitchmen, as evidenced here and here. For its part, Gillette has said that it has no plans to end its affiliation with Tiger.
There is one notable Gillette pitchman who's managed to escaped the Hex so far: New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, who was recently named Sports Illustrated's "Sportsman of the Year." But there's plenty of time until spring training ...
Whitney Houston Dead At 48
WATCH AND LISTEN: Whitney's Hits
Police Arrest More Murdoch Journalists In Growing Scandal
Sarah Palin And Supporters Drown Out Occupiers
Ron Paul Reacts To Maine Caucus Results
WATCH: Woman Confronts Romney About Offshore Funds
AT&T Doubles Fee
Angry Mob Beats Suspected Kidnappers To Death
Family Affair: Dick Durbin Aide's Spouse Lobbied For Illinois Company's Earmark
PHOTOS: The Dictator Yearbook
Michelle Obama: 'At One Point I Was Normal'
WATCH: Breitbart Explodes At Occupy Activists, Calls Them 'Filthy Freaks'
Romney's 'Assault' Attack Contradicts Former Stance
Gunmen Assassinate Army General In Damascus As Violence Spreads
Walker: 'Lord Help Us If We Fail'
Bachmann Blasts Stern Over Criticism
Conservatives Scoff At Obama's Birth Control Shift
Dallas Schools Excluding Girls From Movie Screening 'Not Out Of The Ordinary'
Pundit's Controversial Tweets Draw Attention To Dangers Facing Black Gays
'Demolition Man' Reveals Harrowing Terrorist Attack Details
Trader Joe's Relents To Pressure, Signs Fair Food Agreement
Jerry Sandusky's Wife Nearly Runs Over Reporter With Car
