No Colts Car At the 500

ESPN.com: PDM angry NFL won't allow Colts-colored Indy car

In a brilliant PR move, it seems that local resident's can't see a "Go Colts" race car circling the track at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Indianapolis 500. The team owner of Jimmy Kite's #18 (appropriate for a race in Indianapolis) car had requested permission to paint the car Blue and White (the team colors of the Colts) and generically put "GO COLTS" on the car. The idea was squashed when Indianapolis officials blocked it due to 'sponsorship concerns'. This is apparently due to another No Fun League ruling that prohibits the 'cross sport promotions'.

Ironically, there was no problem that Colt Tight End Ben Utecht sang the National Anthem or that Peyton Manning would be the Grand Marshal of the race and be the official race starter. The official response from Tom Zupanic (The Colts VP of Sales and Marketing) included:

"You could end up on the car with someone who's a competitor of one of our sponsors"

Huh? He wasn't using a trademarked logo, just the words "GO COLTS" and wasn't planning on putting it anywhere but on the side of the car as a "Thank You" from the fans. The team however felt that he would use the Colts connection to strum up support from real sponsors wanting to be in association with a 'Colts Team'. Come on. That is just silly. So silly, the frustrated primary owner of PDM Racing Paul Diatlovich said:

“I’m extremely upset with the narrow-minded, pin headed leadership of the Colts team and the NFL, it’s inexcusable. All we’re trying to do is say thank you.”

Narrow minded indeed.

Frankly, I don't understand why he couldn't paint the car Blue and White (as far as I know there is no trade mark on color combinations), he already owns #18 so there cannot be an 'official objection' to it from anyone out side the IRL, and paint the Phrase "GO INDIANAPOLIS" on the side. As far as I know, advertising ones own hometown on a race car is still allowed in America....Isn't it? I suppose the lawyers and so-called officials could probably tie the phrase "GO COLTS" to all the fan support signs common around the city though, so perhaps "THANKS INDIANAPOLIS"? Nah, I am in support painting it blue and white with the #18 on it and then writing "NA-NA-NA-NANA" on it.

Emergecy Alert System Tests

Is anyone else frustrated with the local cable companies Emergency Alert System? This morning like most Friday mornings the kids cartoons were interrupted by the screeching of the Alert System being activated. As usually it displays a text message on the screen but never any audio to tell you if its a real emergency or only a test. This is particularly frustrating on days when the "Tests" occur and there are actually Thunderstorms in the area. Don't get me wrong, I am all for testing the alert system but who reports back if its working? The test it and it rarely is working properly IMO. Is there really a point to testing the system if no one is reporting back the problems? Since I don't know how it is supposed to work. I cannot possible be expected to report when its not working, can I?
The last time the there was a Sever Thunderstorm Warning, the cable went to flashing and the Emergency Alert System has been activated in your area only to have dead silence. No verbal message, no on screen text message, just silence. Nice. A few years ago, I stood on my front porch and watched the funnel cloud form nearby (thankfully it never touched down) and the cable went to the Alert activation and again nothing. I would be more happy to do what I always do during a storm-watch the weather or news channel for alerts and warnings. Even that is rendered difficult by the poor cable television over-ride. The screen goes all wavy, screeches and goes to a screen telling you its been activated. No message about why or where. Nothing to indicate when its expected to be or what you should do about it. At least the news will occasional flash the National Weather Service Bulletins and show you a map of where the storms are.