New Product Alert!

(New product alerts were a common theme between myself and JMons. We hope to continue them here.)

As I sit here at lunch, I have my first few sips of "Diet Pepsi Jazz Strawberries and Cream." Not gag-inducing, but not memorable either. What gets me about it is that it isn't a strawberry and cream flavored soda--that might have a chance. Its strawberry and cream flavored Diet Pepsi. Strawberries and cola simply do not go together. Try it at your own risk.

And don't get me started on the ridiculously long name and the new "Jazz" sub-brand.

Yesterday I tried "Diet Pepsi Jazz Black Cherry and Vanilla." I don't know what the turnaround time is on a soda from concept to store shelves, but I find it very peculiar that both Coke and Pepsi both have black cherry vanilla flavors currently on shelves, appearing within mere months (weeks?) of one another. And in this race, they were both beat to the punch by black cherry vanilla Dr. Pepper.

Maybe I don't understand the economics of soda flavors, but Coke and Pepsi always seem to play the game of mutual assured destruction when they introduce a new flavor. One comes first, and the other quickly follows. The only times I don't remember this happening are the introductions of Pepsi Clear and Pepsi Blue.

Couldn't either company allow the other to have at least one unique cola?

The New Hallowed Ground

Via guest blogger Didyk…

I wasn't sure how to feel about the groundbreaking ceremony for the new
Stankee stadium.

Overdone as only NY can...absolutely!

I'd luv to bash the organization for knocking down what is arguably one of the greatest parks ever (see also Wrigley and Fenway) all in the pursuit of money. And yes, just because the Stanks sell out now doesn't mean the new stadium isn't about money, rather it is about MORE money. The PR spin is that this is done for the fans, but anything done "for the fans" is really done so that "fans spend more money". The two aren't mutually exclusive.

Yet I do recognize that what benefits ownership also arises from fan satisfaction. And that there will be many benefits to the next generation of fans. Randy Levine has already proclaimed that the new stadium will be the greatest ever built. Can that be true if it is still in the South Bronx?

Of course, we all know what Randy Levine's comments are worth. But even in the face of his hyperbole, the new stadium will obviously provide amenities and comforts that the old park clearly lacked - hopefully seats for extra security personnel. As such, it is hard to take a cynical view of this situation. I'm sure that Wrigley and Fenway will be confronted with similar forces that will inevitably lead to their destruction. Ballparks must eventually be updated.

But for now, I can't help by take a little comfort in the building of a new park. No matter how nice it is, and how much propaganda is spewed, the lasting impression for me is that New York loses some of its cache with this entire affair. Fenway and Wrigley will be the beloved cathedrals of baseball. Baseball is steeped in history. And Stankee fans love to brag about how the history of baseball is intimately linked with Stankee history. Well, a symbol of that will be no more, and I couldn't be happier. No more "house that Ruth built". No more "aura and mystique". No more "hallowed ground".

Now if we could only do something about that 56 game hitting streak.