Ellington

Maybe, sort of, Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning set an example for others when he and fiancee Abby McGrew chose the new Escalade Hybrid as his reward for being named Super Bowl MVP. Some greenies, though, are accusing the SUV of being "greenwashed." But, hey, it could have been worse:

The hybrid SUV is a classic example of the "how much is good enough" issue inherent to so much of corporations' going green efforts. Okay, so the Escalade is greenER, but isn't this really just a green marketing spin on a bigger issue? Should we applaud GM for even making such efforts or scold them for their continuous production of such an unnecessarily large and inefficient vehicle? The fact that it's given as the prize for winning America's biggest sporting event is even more troubling- we're essentially sending the message that the best reward is misrepresented, irresponsible luxury.

I suppose the silver lining is that Eli Manning chose the hybrid SUV from a variety of Cadillacs. The Hybrid Escalade, which will be available later this year, was Eli's "responsible" choice, however clouded in materialism it may have been. "I know it comes out in the summer. I want the first one."

Previous Comments

ID

116790

Comment

He didn't choose it. That was what GMC donated. He wasn't given a choice.

Author

Droite

Date

2008-02-05T12:43:29-06:00

ID

116791

Comment

That's not what I read, including in The Clarion-Ledger's article today.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-02-05T12:44:46-06:00

ID

116792

Comment

I could be wrong but I think I heard the game announcers, Aikman and Buck, say Eli won a hybrid escalade as a result of being named the mvp. Surely, under the circumstances he likely could have chosen a gas guzzler any way had he wanted one.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2008-02-05T12:52:14-06:00

ID

116793

Comment

I saw at least two stories that said he got to choose from several options.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-02-05T13:05:30-06:00

ID

116794

Comment

Well, I saw the actual post-game ceremony on the field where Terry Bradshaw handed him the keys before interviewing him and said "Congratulations, as MVP you've won a Cadillac Escalade Hybrid. That's what the MVP gets this year. It won't be out until this Fall." He then points & the camera pans to a Escalade Hybrid parked next to the stage. Manning obviously had not chosen the car. He had a "For real?" look on his face.

Author

Droite

Date

2008-02-05T14:05:17-06:00

ID

116795

Comment

OK, Droite, let me first say that I don't really care what the correct conclusion is on such a trivial point; I posted this thread to, ostensibly, get people talking about green stuff and hybrids. However, here is a link to Billy Watkins' Clarion-Ledger story today (dateline: Phoenix) in which he describes Eli choosing his hybrid. (I'm not a big believer in Ledger accuracy, but this doesn't sound like it was pulled out of thin air.) Meanwhile, the man she will marry in April had a tough decision Monday morning. In the green room at the Phoenix Convention Center shortly before the press conference, Jim Taylor, general manager of Cadillac, was going over the vehicles Eli had a choice of for bringing home MVP honors. He finally called McGrew over to help make the selection. Their choice: the Escalade Hybrid, an SUV that is supposed to get nearly 30 miles per gallon on the highway. "I know they don't come out until the summer, but I'd sure like to have the first one," Eli said to Taylor. "I think that can be arranged," Taylor responded with a smile.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-02-05T14:12:30-06:00