Martha Burk Strikes Again…and has NO ammo!

September 23, 2005

SHARE

Martha Burk is right on one thing: the NHL spot is selling the sport, which is to say it’s selling violence. But sex appeal? C’mon. This tame ad has nothing on Paris Hilton’s soft core porn burger commercial. Ladies, if you want to make a point, choose a better target. Now YOU read the story and click on the link that will take you to the NHL website and the commercial and tell me if ol’ Martha’s done stepped in it again!

Updated: Sep. 23, 2005, 12:38 PM ET

Burk plans to protest new NHL ad campaign
ESPN.com news services

The NHL’s new advertising campaign is getting attention, but not the kind it was likely hoping for.
According to a report from The Canadian Press, Martha Burk, the chair of the National Council of Women’s Organizations, said she intends to write letters of protest to the NHL and NBC over the NHL’s new ad campaign, which is set to begin next week.

The first spot, titled “It’s Time,” shows a player (an actor, not an NHL player) in a locker room, surrounded by candles and accompanied by a woman who ceremoniously helps him don his hockey garb. The ads feature quotes from Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War” along with dramatic camera work and music reminiscent of the film “Braveheart.”

Burk told The Canadian Press that the ad is “offensive on many levels.”
“The woman is dressed provocatively and when she asks the player if he’s ready, it’s a double-entendre in my view,” Burk told The CP. “She’s in the ad as a groomer, a sex object.
“The commercial is clearly selling sex and violence and the last image in that commercial is a young boy watching this, so he’s clearly the customer they’re after, or it’s a misguided attempt to draw in families.”

NHL spokeswoman Bernadette Mansur told The Canadian Press that was not the case.
“This ad shows no disrespect for women,” Mansur told The CP. “On the contrary, the woman is the spiritual and physical trainer for the ‘Warrior’ and is his mentor.”

Here’s the link. Watch it and give me a call on my show 503 225 0860, 877 774 KPAM
http://www.nhl.com/

Tell ’em where you saw it. Http://www.victoriataft.com