Mixed Metaphors

Seen on a billboard about 4 miles north of Eugene:

Think Running of the Bulls
Only the Bulls Are Wearing Nikes

— an ad for Eugene '08 (aka the Olympic Trials Cash Cow)

A few thoughts:

Will there be a running of the Nike-wearing bulls as part of the festivities? If so, I vastly underestimated the creative thinking going into Eugene '08.

• Does this bullboard er, billboard, imply that Olympic hopefuls are like stampeding bulls, gonna charge right through Eugene, collect their qualifications, kick some ass and then leave?

• Or does this imply the tourists and spectators will be like the running of the bulls, in that the tourists are more likely to be wearing Nikes than the athletes and that they, too, will be charging (their credit cards) through Eugene's shopping districts and wonderfully landscaped malls during the Olympic Trials?

• Or better yet: this billboard implies that if you enjoyed nearly getting gored while running at high speeds through Pamplona, Spain's narrow cobblestone streets you will certainly enjoy sitting your ass in a bleacher and watching a flurry of arms & legs flash around in the field below you.

I can't really figure out the metaphor... Help!

You are right-the

You are right-the "infiltrate the culture" branding efforts are really bullshit. EW needs a cover story on sports hype gone wild.Your editor Ted has my copy of the book "Whos Afraid of Niketown" . Please consider purchasing(or you can borrow mine from Ted) this book used online and reading it. As Nike seeks to rebrand Eugene this book can warn people of other B.S. to expect. The book is fascinating and you must read it.

Submitted by Zachary Vishanoff (not verified) on Tue, 05/27/2008 - 13:59.

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