“One Man’s Opinion” by Gordon Curvey

Something wrong is happening here in Seattle and I guess I will be the first to write about it. And that is the lack of marketing of a superstar in Seattle, Mariner pitcher, Felix Hernandez.

Felix is one of if not the best pitcher in major league baseball. He is the only pitcher I would pay to see or want to watch on TV every time he hits the mound here at Safeco Field or on TV from the road. He is a true Seattle star and MLB star that is not seen on any commercials in the Seattle area except for the corny Mariner commercials.

In my opinion Hernandez should be seen on commercials like former Mariner Jay “The Bone” Buhner who for some reason is seen on TV and heard on radio selling trucks saying “Tell em The Bone sent ya” all the time.

Yes Felix does not talk the best English but he is much better speaking than he used to be and again in my opinion Felix Hernandez should be seen more on tv and radio selling cars or what ever. Or seen in magazine ads or newspaper ads or online ads selling products. Why this is not happening is beyond me.

The only marketing I see for Felix is his “King’s Court” which are fans who show up at Safeco Field in one area holding “K” cards “King” Felix. And that’s about it when it comes to the marketing of “King” Felix. This is wrong.

Here in Seattle we had Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp and Matt Hasslebeck and Ken Griffey Jr as superstars over the years and in my opinion Hernandez should be added to the list. Kemp and G.P. and Matt and Shawn did commercials for local and national outlets. So way not Feliz? This fella recently tossed the first perfect game in Seattle Mariner history.

Local businesses should be calling up Hernandez management to do a commercial for them. But like I said here in Seattle you only see Felix on a Mariner commercial that was filmed months ago in freakin spring training!! Give me a break!

The fella should be all over the place. He has charisma, has personality and most all of is the only true sports star in Seattle right now. He is in the running right now to win his second Cy Young Award. I do not know who is at fault for the lack of marketing of Feliz Hernandez. Is it the Mariners? Or is it his management? Or is it local and nation outlets who do not want to hire a person whose english is not the very best. I don’t know readers.

Hopefully with myself bringing this topic up, it may be the start in a small way of seeing the superstar Felix Hernandez not just on the mound of a MLB park but also a billboard or TV or website or newspaper ad. I guess a question should be asked would this be going if Felix was pitching in New York or Chicago or L.A.?