OT - Blazers gift crosses ethical line

[LittleOzzy]

But nothing prepared me for what arrived in the mail the other day.

To help promote Brandon Roy for this year's All-Star Game, the Blazers sent me an iRoy.

What's an iRoy, you ask?

It's a special edition iPod nano. This nano is just like one you might buy in a store except it's customized to promote Roy. It features a picture of the Blazers' second-year phenom on the front and "#7 Brandon Roy, Special All-Star Edition" etched on the back. When you push the play button, a preloaded video shows a Roy highlight package accompanied by music.

It's very cool.

And very wrong.

Even if we don't have a say in the All-Star voting, we do have a forum in which we can influence opinions in the future. It's not hard to believe some of us might think more kindly of Roy when it comes to voting for MVP or All-NBA teams at the end of the season when we've got a free iPod in our back pocket. After all, what did Baron Davis or Manu Ginobili ever do for me?

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/w ... index.html

I know this has nothing to do with the Raptors but I thought it was a very interesting article.

What do you think of teams sending out gifts on behalf of their players? Should it even be allowed?

Did the Blazers cross a line with the media and the coaches they decided to send the IRoy to?

[Silk Wilkes]

Not even, whatever they want to do is up to them. It's not like they committed a crime or anything, they're just trying to promote their guy.

[UpTopTdot24]

I would gladly take an Ibosh anyday

[The Letter V]

iRoy? Wow that's corny.

[swede]

It is a creative way to get some attention from Eastern media. Our games are on at the earliest like 6 P.M.. and he doesn't put up insane numbers that stick out in box scores so they want to show his affect on the team.

[raptorsfan13]

i want my imartin asap

[bakafool]

iRoy sounds pretty lame.

iRasho ... now that's better.

[LittleOzzy]

Edited to add link,

now you guys can have a look at it.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/w ... index.html

[Raptors90102]

lol.. a Microsoft guy sending out Ipods? interesting..

[The Letter V]

It is a creative way to get some attention from Eastern media. Our games are on at the earliest like 6 P.M.. and he doesn't put up insane numbers that stick out in box scores so they want to show his affect on the team.

That's fine and dandy but how does an iPod show his affect on the team lol? They could've just as easily put up a highlight real of Roy on a DVD and sent that out to the media. Giving out an iPod is clearly bribery.

[The Letter V]

lol.. a Microsoft guy sending out Ipods? interesting..

Nice!

[jaymeister15]

I don't see a problem with it, maybe if they had a vote or real say in the selection I could see an issue. But, don't coaches always talk up their guys when All-Star games come around? I know it's a bit different giving gifts than talking about it in interviews, but they both have the same effect imo.

edit: well after thinking about it for another second, and seeing that the sent it to coaches too....I'm kinda torn. I still don't think it's a huge deal, but I can see why people would be against it.

[HumbleBumbleBee]

iRoy sounds pretty lame.

iRasho ... now that's better.

/thread

[Death Knight]

I want iDrea.

[from24ft]

[Raptors90102]

and so what if Portland is sending out iRoys? The raps are sending out some Spanish Onions trying to campaign for Jose.

[bakafool]

I think I'll go buy the iHump. It might make me look sexier.

[5DOM]

i want an igay

[bakafool]

i want an igay

yes, you are.

[bakafool]

How bout this. Pretty good bargain I think.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Phbe8mEDMe4