DETROIT - The withdrawal of erectile dysfunction (ED) ads from this year's Super Bowl lineup has left many football fans feeling shafted. Their dismay is a consequence of a National Football League (NFL) decision not to renew its marketing agreement with Bayer, which manufactures the anti-impotence drug Levitra.
That agreement, which is set to expire in March, allowed Bayer to include the NFL logo on Levitra ads, as well as a referee with his arms raised straight up in the air, the universal symbol of a score.
"The NFL's decision is really spineless," complained Pittsburgh Steeler fan Ralph DiNofrio, Jr. "They've gone soft. Super Bowl XL sure don't stand for 'extra large' in my book."
According to NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy, the league has had "growing concerns" for some time over the thrust of ads for ED drugs.
"Their focus has shifted from a men's health perspective to a lifestyle-performance agenda," said Mr. McCarthy. "We felt the competition belonged on the field, not in some hot tub overlooking Laurel Canyon."
NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue reinforced that sentiment.
"The Super Bowl is huge," said Mr. Tagliabue. "It's way big enough to sustain itself without the help of ED drugs or their advertisements."
Although many men complained of a let down following the NFL's announcement, several women’s advocacy groups were pleased with the league's decision.
Men get Viagra, Levitra, and Cialis, while women just get [nothing]," said Anita Nomer, outreach coordinator for the National Organization for Women.
The popularity of erectile dysfunction ads during football games leads to what Ms. Nomer calls "the postgame syndrome."
"A lot of men take Cialis at halftime," Ms. Nomer explained, "and by the time the game's over and their wives want to watch something else, the husbands have other sports on their minds. A large percentage of the unplanned pregnancies in America happen during the football season."
"Some industry analysts say the NFL's decision is more proof that the fall out from Janet Jackson’s fall out is still continuing two years after the fact. Other observers maintain, however, that people are getting weary of ads for erectile dysfunction drugs.
"Recent ads for Cialis seem to last longer than sex does," said one analyst who asked that his name not be mentioned.
(Various staff members assisted in the production of this article.)
Next Oprah: Liddy Dole Confesses, "Viagra Almost Ruined Our Marriage"
