Driving down Westcliff Avenue last night I was obstructed by a big RV that was drifting in and out of lanes. The damned thing was so wide it could barely fit in one lane and was bumbling about dangerously. I passed the monster with a wide berth, tapping my horn and thinking “probably some drunk who lives in his RV.” Then I noticed it was painted all over with ads, logos, and signs. Racing team? Soft drink promotion? What the…
Yes, there is such a thing as the American Tailgate Association.
The American Tailgaters Association (ATA) was founded for several reasons. The “sport” of tailgating has become a national phenomenon as a recreational activity, yet there has never been a venue for tailgaters to come together in a single place.until now!
The ATA will allow tailgaters all across our great nation to meet in forums, discuss the best tailgating places, talk about their favorite teams or sports, find discount merchandise, post pictures, and generally be the one stop tailgaters “community”.
[…]
Our desire is to promote ATA membership and our corporate partners and we believe by offering an entertaining, interactive, cost-effective and ever-expanding experience, our membership will in turn promote organizational allegiance, brand loyalty and name recognition for our corporate partners and ourselves.
An outstanding characteristic of my country is our inability to have fun without creating an association with bylaws, getting corporate sponsors, copyrighting and trademarking it, having an annual competition, and finally and inevitably adopting a mission and vision statement. See: Little League, car stereo enthusiasts, etc.
Be My Blog 
ahahahahaha!
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Now that an association has been formed, Nike will be along shortly with some fly “Nike Tailgating” kicks. I remember about three years ago I was talking to a guy doing the score for a documentary on competitive gaming ala “Quake 3” and he said Nike was interested at the time in promoting FPS games as a sport, and releasing a line of shoes thusly.
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I think the more outstanding characteristic is that people will try to make money absolutely any way they can. Clearly this doesn’t exist to “serve” anyone but the sponsors.
Then again I would’ve said the same thing about barbecue competitions 10 years ago.
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That’s true. “Association Disease” serves commercial interests. The nutty part is that the people involved see no difference between an association and a commercial enterprise any more than they can differentiate between a casual hobby and a professional sport.
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Who in the HELL eats CAMPBELL’s chili at a tailgate party anyway?
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Chili
Chilidogs?
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Yeah, right after I wrote that comment I thought about the additonal killing the guy who founded the “association” is making from membership dues. There’s always a fine if not non-existent line involved with all these things, I guess.
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writes: …to have fun without creating an association with bylaws, getting corporate sponsors, copyrighting and trademarking it, having an annual competition, and finally and inevitably adopting a mission and vision statement.
Are you kidding man? That is the national pastime.
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