Hockey Ad--for Moms?

Part of an ad for the services of an online hockey store that appeared in both the USA Hockey magazine and The Hockey News:

"Personal Order History: Prove to Mom that she hasn't bought you new skates in a year and a half."

It should surprise no one that I found this interesting. It assumes that moms are the ones who buy new equipment. In my limited experience, moms DO do the shopping, the keeping track, and the organizing of equipment. But saying it like that just reinforces that moms *should* do that shopping. That kids *should* ask their moms about new equipment, or that kids *should* need to convince mom to part with the money.

I wouldn't exactly want them to write "Prove to your parents" instead. You can cover up how much moms do if you try to be gender-neutral and call them parents instead. (there was a USA Hockey article doing just that a month or two ago, I need to write about that)

It'd have been cool if they could've made some small statement about gendered hockey parenting, instead of falling back on old (but based in reality) stereotypes. I don't know what, but I'm not paid to write ads (I just like picking them apart!).

There's also this line:

"90 Day Return Policy: Not everyone has a secretary to schlep a package to UPS."

Since the other line is directed towards moms, I wonder if this line is for the same audience. If it assumes women run errands and they either don't have secretaries (because they don't have the top jobs) or that they don't use them as simple errand runners the way businessmen are stereotyped as doing. Or that they *are* in secretarial positions themselves, therefore not having anyone to run their own errands.

For once, I don't feel emotionally charged about a noticing of gender, just kinda pointing it out.

R U SRS

In an ESPN Page 2 article on in-game entertainment in NBA arenas, Peter Sorckoff, the senior director of game operations and creative services for the Atlanta Hawks, is quoted as saying the following:

"The hardcore fan's emotion is going to be based on the game, but we can send his wife home giggling about the Kiss Cam. The trick is to help entertain the casual fan without alienating the hardcore fan."

Doing some quick checking, Mr. Sorckoff works for both the Hawks and the Thrashers. This line has really got my blood pumping on this lazy Saturday morning.

Obviously no wives are there as hardcore fans themselves. Pretty much just there to keep an eye on their hubbies and giggle at the kiss cam!!!!!!!

I hate the kiss cam anyway because it's so heteronormative. Definition: defending the status quo of heterosexuality being normal/right/widespread. One time I went to a game and they put two big "manly men" up there, and everyone thought it was hilarious. Because guys being in love is hilarious!

It also reinforces the idea that kissing is something private, something to be hidden, something to giggle at. Instead of taking kissing and other forms of sexual expression as

On my road trip to either Scottrade Center in St Louis or Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, they had a "Fist Bump Cam" instead of a Kiss Cam. YES. Whoever that was, they get it.