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July 21, 2006

Sox Fan: Gimmie My Baby Bibs Back

From KFMB in San Diego, California -

A Red Sox fan angry that Johnny Damon defected to the New York Yankees has fought off an attempt by his high-powered agent to stop her from selling baby bibs with a very grown-up insult.

Tucked among the "I Love My Mommy" bibs and "Pregnant Princess" maternity clothes, Ann Sylvia also offers bibs and onesies adorned with the ballpark epithet "Damon Sucks." Last month, eBay pulled the listings after the Scott Boras Corp. complained that they violated Damon's right of publicity, a legal claim that allows celebrities to control the products they endorse.

"I'm just a stay-at-home mom. I just want to raise my children, sell my stuff," said Sylvia, who works part-time at The Standard-Times of New Bedford, which first reported on her struggle. "It's all a little nerve-racking, a little scary."

If so, she didn't show it in her negotiations with Boras' staff. During an hourlong phone call, she pointed out to attorney Ryan Lubner that there are other baseball players named "Damon"; how did he know, after all, that she wasn't the world's biggest critic of Tampa Bay's Damon Hollins?

"Then I knew I had him," she gloated. "So I said, 'Let's make a compromise.'"

Lubner agreed to lift his objection _ and clear her eBay record _ if Sylvia agreed not to use "Johnny," "Boston," "Red Sox," "New York," or "Yankees" in the listing.

Now Sylvia's bibs are back on eBay.

So, does this mean it's OK for me to start selling stool sample receptacles that have "Schilling Speaks" printed on them?

Posted by Steve Lombardi at July 21, 2006 01:17 PM

Comments

That's positively hysterical.

As an aside, this is a classic case of lawyers overthinking an issue. Instead of letting the lady sell her crap in peace, they made a big deal and, as a result, gave her the free publicity she needs to now sell this stuff faster. Lawyers...

Posted by: MJ [TypeKey Profile Page] at July 21, 2006 01:41 PM

You know, that RSN market is such a booming enterprise and the need for vulgar clothing and accessories that villify the Yankees so great there...I've been trying to get some seed money to produce t-shirts that have photos of any number of hated Yankees emblazoned on the back (Jeter, ARod, Damon, etc.)with the following printed in large block letters -- KICK ME! Could be a real big seller in Fenway. Perfect for a late September game in the Fens when the Yankees are booting those blowhards out of the pennant race. I'd even send ex-Pats hero Adam Vinitieri there as a celebrity pitchman to..uh...kick things off.

Posted by: JohnnyC [TypeKey Profile Page] at July 21, 2006 04:06 PM