Photo Credit: Topps
It should come as no surprise that our culture's insatiable appetite for celebrity and entertainment is closely linked to marketing products.
This week, Topps baseball card released a digitally altered image showing slugger Derek Jeter. In the background, President Bush and Mickey Mantel can be seen looking on. The interesting thing about the card is that nobody's crying foul. In today's celebrity-crazed culture it's all about branding.
Had the manipulator placed Jeter in the same frame with less savory types, Topps would probably still be on the phone with its army of lawyers. Public Relations stunts in the advertising world are common place and it seems clear that the selection of Mantel and Bush cheering Jeter on was done deliberately and very carefully.
Topps isn't revealing the source of the manipulation, but if they wanted to get the media's attention this appears to be a good way to do it.
In the sports collecting world, the card is already demanding high prices. So, what's next?
Jon Amechi, the first gay NBA basketball player to come out of the closet, shooting hoops with evangelist Pat Robertson?