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Looking for a company to boycott? How about Blockbuster.

February 7th, 2009 | By: Brooks Peck | 10 Comments »


Laurie posted the image to the left on the mainpage earlier today, but here’s a development that we all seem to have missed — after Radio Shack dropped out of the voodoo doll promotion, a new US based corporate sponsor stepped in as the treasonous distributor of these things:

Blockbuster stores in Mexico City began trading Record newspaper coupons for voodoo-doll likenesses of U.S. soccer players Friday. The back of the dolls’ jersey reads, “Gringos.”

“Gringos” — how quaint.

They should be used to wish for a Mexico goal during the World Cup qualifier Wednesday in Colombus, Ohio, according to the instructions. [...]

“Hold a needle firmly between your thumb and index finger and prick slowly the part of the doll where you want to affect the opponent,” the instructions say. [...]

Record spokesman Daniel Paz said the promotion is lighthearted.

“In soccer, training and practice are what determine the results. The best team will win,” he said. “But without any doubt, this little doll can help the good vibes of the Mexican fans to change the history of Mexico and turn things around.”

Oh yes — the first words that come to mind when I think of jabbing a voodoo doll with with the word “Gringo” across its back in the hopes that the inflicted punishment affects people playing a game are always “lighthearted” and “good vibes.”

When I first heard about this, I thought it was crass, yet kind of funny. But the more details I come across about it, the more I find it to be vile, contemptuous, and in no way a positive addition to an already heated rivalry. I hope Blockbuster goes out of business even faster than they already are and that Mr. Paz and anyone who uses one of these things in the sincere hope that it hurts their opposition suffers agonizing and unrelenting physical pain themselves.

But first and foremost: screw you in a prison shower, Blockbuster. I’m opening a Netflix account right now.

UPDATE: Yahoo! News has an AP video report about all this.

[Source: Soccernet; big thanks to Eric for the tip!]



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Comments
Username By Daryl | February 8th, 2009 at 1:00 am
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I’ve checked the US roster and can’t see any players named Gringos. Maybe he withdrew though injury?

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Username By BMatthews | February 8th, 2009 at 1:08 am
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I just made a bunch of voodoo dolls that say wetback on the back of the jersey…is that cool?

Posted from United States United States

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Username By elle | February 8th, 2009 at 1:32 am
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I’d buy that wetback voodoo doll, but we don’t need that shit to beat mexico

Posted from United States United States

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Username By Brooks Peck | February 8th, 2009 at 1:58 am
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Hey guys, I know “gringo” isn’t the nicest of terms, but lets cool it with the racial slurs. If we’re gonna condemn them for this kind of thing, we can’t do it right back. I’d rather be tagged a gringo than a hypocrite…

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Username By Brooks Peck | February 8th, 2009 at 2:29 am
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Oh, and Daryl — yeah, he’s injured. Something about a metal spike in his leg.

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Username By Jose | February 8th, 2009 at 4:34 am
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“Gringo” is not a nice term.. but it is very dependent on context.

And seriously, for Mexicans (and Blockbuster) this is just light-hearted humor. Nobody’s taking seriously the “voodoo” or the dolls behind it, if anything it’s indicative that there’s enough “comfort” with this rivalry to creatively poke fun at the other side. This shouldn’t be the grounds for boycotting Blockbuster (the fact that they kinda suck is, though).

Posted from United States United States

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Username By Marlon | February 8th, 2009 at 3:56 pm
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I’ve been “boycotting” Blockbuster for years. That’s the same as just never shopping there or renting movies right?

Posted from United States United States

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Username By Nick | February 8th, 2009 at 9:14 pm
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It won’t work anyway,we have blue shorts not black…

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Username By Melissa | February 9th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
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Yeah, Jose is right. Luis Bueno’s been translating some of the hilarious insults tossed out at Alexi Lalas over the past few weeks. And there’s a picture of Torres in full cowboy getup floating around. This is the best rivalry because it’s the funniest.

Also, we all know that’s a John O’Brien doll. Too bad he retired last year!

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Username By asdf | February 9th, 2009 at 8:36 pm
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Yeah those wetback comments aren’t needed. This is not the Mexican fans idea. Sure some might go along with it but it just seems pretty stupid.

Posted from United States United States

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