Can Mark Sanchez do for the NFL what Tiger did for the PGA?
by Paragon SC on Jul 16, 2009 7:00 AM PDT
in USC Football
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PrintI realize that the title of this post is pretty provocative but this is a big deal for the NFL.
In their quest to tap into the Hispanic market, a population base which is the fastest growing in the United States...The NFL wants to use Mark Sanchez to tap into that fan base.
The NFL has spent a lot of time and money taking mighty swings at the multi-billion dollar Hispanic market. The result? It's been as if the league has been blindfolded, spun around in circles, and told to hit a piñata with one-hand tied behind its collective back.
Arriba, Mark Sanchez.
Not since Yao Ming, perhaps, has one player been so important to a league's effort at expanding and entrenching itself into virtually un-mined gold. Indeed, this is one of those rare exceptions when the potential value of a player on the field is exceeded only by his value off of it.
Of course, it is huge pressure to heap onto Sanchez' shoulders. And, of course, Sanchez must produce for the New York Jets. He must play well, put up the numbers and win. But if he can handle both demands, put it this way: New York would be only the second-largest market Sanchez would conquer. And it would be a distant second at that.
I would agree that there is a lot of money to be earned by getting that fan base interested in the NFL.
All professional sports leagues want to increase their viewership. They all want to reach new audiences. One good example of that was the NBA. They embraced the hip-hop crowd in their attempt to go after a whole new group of fans. I think many have shown just how risky that type of a move was.
The Hispanic fan base is a little more of a discerning customer. Soccer and baseball are the two sports that Hispanics keep an eye on and soccer is far ahead of baseball. American football on the other hand is not a sport that the fan base follows religiously on any major level.
Its not like the NFL hasn't had hispanic players in the league before...
The NFL has had numerous big-time Hispanic players over the years, including Hall of Fame tackle Anthony Munoz, All Pro tight end Tony Gonzalez and defensive stars Luis Castillo and Tony Casillas.
Sanchez though, comes into the league while the NFL is riding high. He is also in one of the biggest media markets in the world and he is a QB, The NFL's Glamor position. There websites, blogs and a million different TV shows on ESPN and on the NFL Network not to mention all the local shows each team has in their individual markets.
There is a lot riding on Mark's success. Obviously for the Jets but also for the NFL. His demeanor and personality will go a long way to breaking those barriers down...especially here in the NYC area with a huge Dominican and Puerto Rican population.
Based on what we have all seen in the past in how he has handled the spotlight I see no reason why he can't be a positive role model for a new and emerging hispanic fan base.
The NFL is good hands...
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It can’t hurt.. but…
Hispanics that are gonna like football already do. They like their local teams. If Sanchez isn’t on their team, it’s not gonna help. So at least it might help in NYC, but not a whole lot outside of it. Honestly, how much interest in the african american community or the african community do you see/hear about for Tiger Woods? The tennis chicks? They have a much better chance cracking the hispanic market with Sanchez cause at least football is watchable as opposed to tennis & golf :-P
by impaulv on Jul 16, 2009 7:20 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Fair points, but Sanchez did draw Hispanic fans to SC, to the point that when he wore a custom mouthguard colored like the Mexican flag, it caused a stir of both approval (from the new fans) and disapproval (from some of the more, ah, old-line fans). It may be localized as you say, but having someone in the marquee position might work.
Agree Paul
I think SI’s premise is all wrong. I don’t believe that Tiger has caused explosive growth in golf from African-Americans. Tiger has caused explosive growth from all races because of his talent. Talent transcends race, for the most part.
Mark might be a good NFL QB, but he does not have the talent to be the Michael Jordan of the NFL. Mark’s impact will be minimal and localized.
Reggie Bush, if he can stay healthy, has better potential to grow the NFL fan base. Or, someday, Matt Barkley.
At least the Sanchez clan have class!
his father being a fireman and going to New Orleans and helping out, but the Tennis Chicks family is a peace of work father always playing the negative race card.
Paul D. Kelley
by so.cal.native1952 on Jul 16, 2009 8:07 AM PDT reply actions
As someone who is Hispanic
I’m not exactly sure how this works. Mark is Mexican by descent (I think). I can see some identification that can be made with Mexican fans.
But that being said, there isn’t a monolithic hispanic/latino identity that exists. Will Mark Sanchez’s success really bring over more fans of the NFL that are Costa Rican, Peruvian, Cuban, etc.? I have absolutely no clue. Pau Gasol is Spanish and I know every Hispanic in Los Angeles, regardless of their country of orgin, love the dude. I do too, but only because he’s way better than what people give him credit for.
I would gather though that the large Hispanic fanbase and support of Mark Sanchez occurred because Los Angeles has a huge Mexican population. The identification exists. New York has a large Puerto Rican population (I think) as their dominant Hispanic group. I’m not sure if a lot of Mexicans live in the North East.
Would they immediately be fans of Mark even though they don’t have the country of origin?
This is a really interesting question. You know what will help him? Being really, really good.
These things usually work better when they aren't forced
See: Nomomania, Fernandomania, Ichiromania etc.
They also like you said work better when the player in question is really, really good.
[DELETED ZOMG NO POLITICS]
True that!
Even native Mexicans and “chicanos” don’t get along so well.
by Locoweed 1.1 on Jul 16, 2009 2:30 PM PDT up reply actions
No!
I’m American. But yeah, my parents were born in Mexico & are of mexican/spanish decent. I was born at USC :-)
That makes you
a WHITE MEXICAN! AND A TROJAN BABY! OMG… :-P
by Locoweed 1.1 on Jul 16, 2009 9:48 PM PDT up reply actions
As far as Mexicans, Salvadorenos, Boricuano, Cubanos, Columbianos ???
If it involves futbol? Sure- there’s no love lost. If it involves certain parts of inner-city life and living? Probably, there’s a little tit-for-tats in there. As BruinFan1 stated, if a “Hispanic” athlete is exceptionally good at his sport- chances are, his fanbase crosses many borders and ethnicities. Some of my favorite boxers are Alexis Arguello (RIP), Roberto Duran, and Tito Trinidad- Salvadoran, Panamanian, and Puerto Rican respectively. Do Mexicans not like Alex Rodriguez because he’s Dominican? Did Salvadorenos hate Jim Plunkett because he was half-Mexican?
It would seem a stretch that the predominant East Coast Latino populations (Dominicans, Cubans, Puerto Ricans, Columbians & Cubans (FL), and the newly emerging Mexican/Central American influx of blue-collar labor throughout the South would shun Mark Sanchez simply because he’s Mexican, or dislike him off the top because he isn’t “one of them”. And to that end, what about Jeff Garcia and Tony Romo? They are descendants of Mexican parentage and are already in the NFL, but. . . . why didn’t the NFL puts some effort for marketing their image? based on being pretty damn good QB’s who hardly have much negative-press in the years since they’ve become professional footballers.
I don’t really have a dog in this fight over brown vs. brown interactions. Like you Pablo, my lineage only comes up if someone asks me where I’m from- “originally”. Otherwise, not only do I respond (rather proudly) that I’m American when asked, “Where are you from” (like last year, when I vacationed/visited Australia for the first time)- but I am one of but a handful few “Latinos” who attend international soccer matches/friendlies AND ROOT FOR OUR AMERICAN BOYS! (fwiw: I find it shameful that all those “hard-working” Latinos- be it Honduran, Guatemalan, Mexican, or whatever? root for whatever “hispanic” team and boo our “truly hard-working” American team. this goes beyond shameful, for me. i want to kick each and every “hispanic” ass who attends those games and boo our boys. beat the shit outta them, really!)
Enough said.
Comer4tide to Nico2.0: "How come I've never heard of any of your random songs?"
Todd to Comer: "Because if you had, he wouldn't listen to it. BOOM. Roasted."
Nico to Todd: "Shouldn't you be off voguing somewhere?"
by BixBeiderbecke on Jul 18, 2009 11:23 PM PDT up reply actions
They don't?
I’m Mexican and never heard of such a thing. On the other hand, I love everyone just so dang much by golly.
Yo no soy Latino!
Soy CHILENO!
I’m a pretty fair-skinned “Latino” (exactly where is this country called “Latin” and what language do they speak?)- and granted, this has only happened on about 20 occasions in my entire life, but when people find out I was born in La Serena, Chile- some (mostly guys, believe it or not- some Trojans) have said to me, “So, you’re Mexican?”. The first asshole who said that was a Trojan Delta Kappa- I was so aghast- I said, “Yeah, I guess you’re right when I really think about it. I am Mexican here in America. You pinche puto puto!” (he didn’t ask me what “pinche puto puto” meant. i was ready though. this time)
It doesn’t really matter WHAT country you’re from, south of America- all brown people get treated similarly by those who elect to try to bring them down. They’re few and far in between these days, but it was pretty prevalent all the way up and in through the ‘80s. So yah mi hermanos/as- we’re all wetbacks here- I’m the biggest one- all the way across a vast ocean!
Only if Mark Sanchez marries Carrie Underwood, leads the Jets to the Super Bowl THIS YEAR, buys back The Alamo for Mexico, and single-handedly negotiates a peaceful truce to the deadly drug-war on the frontera WILL HE ACTUALLY COME CLOSE TO BRINGING IN A LARGER SHARE OF THE LATINO MARKET FOR THE NFL.
Otherwise, we’re already INTO THE NFL! We just happen to appreciate futbol more than we do football. (wink)
Comer4tide to Nico2.0: "How come I've never heard of any of your random songs?"
Todd to Comer: "Because if you had, he wouldn't listen to it. BOOM. Roasted."
Nico to Todd: "Shouldn't you be off voguing somewhere?"
Bix most rich frat boys are annoying jerks
Dude that issuper I been to a lot of countries but never Peru, Argentina, and Chili, so want to go on a wine adventure down there. Well someday before I’m too old, people like that don’t get it that unless you are a native american all are ancestry came from some ware else.
Paul D. Kelley
by so.cal.native1952 on Jul 18, 2009 12:51 PM PDT up reply actions
I've got nothing against frat-boys, per se
I rushed for the Sigma Nu’s- my kinda guys. And to that end. half my friends from under-grad to through Keck- were frat boys. The first-time I encountered such boorish behavior, it just so happened to be when the asshat was drinking and we’re at an after-hours party near Crenshaw/Adams.
You’ll love it in Chile. I go back every-other year. Most all my family still lives there (on Dad’s side, my mom is natura-born American- her family is on the registry for Daughters of the Revolution. the truth)
There is nothing like Chile, unless you want to mix in the Mojave Desert, Swiss/French Alps, Barcelona, Spain/Nice, the Loire Valley/Napa Valley, France, Oslo, Norway, and Anchorage, Alaska and wrap it all up into one country. Besides, for-it’s-worth, the best-kept secret in THE WORLD is that- the extremely wealthy either vacation in Chile or on the Seychelles Island. If they wanna spend their money in a fiercely wasteful way. . . .they travel to Sin City, South Africa.
Comer4tide to Nico2.0: "How come I've never heard of any of your random songs?"
Todd to Comer: "Because if you had, he wouldn't listen to it. BOOM. Roasted."
Nico to Todd: "Shouldn't you be off voguing somewhere?"
by BixBeiderbecke on Jul 21, 2009 1:59 PM PDT up reply actions
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