It's here.

by BrettJMiller on Apr 10, 2008 3:32 PM PDT

From here on out this season I will be carrying this with me to the 100 level RF seats every game.

To get an idea of the size of it, here it is next to a golf club (that what she said):

I actually wanted them to have it go the other way with the picture on the left and white space on the right to write something, but they screwed it up. However, I realized that if they didn't it would be far too small to see, so I ended up taking it like that and just writing "SIGN" above Barry. It's vinyl too, so it's not going to rip or anything. Good times.

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Is this a violation of merchandise?

I remember a while back I was thinking about making a T-shirt and I was told that there is a fine line when last names are added to home-made signs and shirts.

But other than that, this rules.

I reject your reality and substitute my own!

by Phildopip on Apr 10, 2008 3:35 PM PDT 0 recs

Prepare for this to be confiscated

for, while it is indeed awesome, it's also a copyright infringement and the M's and MLB do not take kindly to that sort of thing. But damn, that's a cool sign.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Apr 10, 2008 3:44 PM PDT up 0 recs

Hmm...what about Red's sign then?

That's got a Mariner logo on it and a well-known MLB player...

Plus this is a uniform the player has never worn...

Yesterday's Pants
A blog-thingy about the Mariners and stuff.

by BrettJMiller on Apr 10, 2008 3:49 PM PDT up 0 recs

Also: What if I just cut off the MLB logos on the bottom?

Yesterday's Pants
A blog-thingy about the Mariners and stuff.

by BrettJMiller on Apr 10, 2008 3:50 PM PDT up 0 recs

That's why it's a problem

Beltre's a Mariner, and Red's picture is of him as a Mariner. No problem. Barry Bonds is not a Mariner, the Mariners control the images of their uniforms/logos and players, and Barry Bonds has (or had, I don't know what his status is this year) his own image-rights deal with MLB. So therefore, any image of Barry Bonds in a non-Giant uniform would presumably fall foul of MLB's and Bonds' copyright deals. I'm not a lawyer, so I can't guarantee it's not authorized, but that's probably the stance the M's would take.

A text-only sign would be fine, or a text sign with the Mariners logo and "SIGN BARRY BONDS" would probably be OK too, but putting Bonds in a Mariners uniform may not be cool with the powers that be. I would love to be proven wrong, though.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Apr 10, 2008 3:53 PM PDT up 0 recs

Maybe as a season ticket holder they'll try not to piss me off?

One can hope, but I'm sure Howie and Chuck don't give a shit... I'm getting rid of the MLB logos just in case.

I thought since Bonds wasn't part of the MLBPA things were different for him. Like MLB has no jursidiction over what's done with him, just himself?

Yesterday's Pants
A blog-thingy about the Mariners and stuff.

by BrettJMiller on Apr 10, 2008 3:55 PM PDT up 0 recs

You're right, MLB may not have jurisdiction over Bonds' image

but the Mariners definitely have jurisdiction over what is done with their logos, wordmarks, uniforms, etc., and it's entirely possible they'll frown on a Photoshopped image of a non-Mariner player in Mariners uniform/colors.

Despite all this devils-advocating, though, I think you should definitely take it to the park and see what happens - they won't kick you out for it, definitely, they'd just take the sign.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Apr 10, 2008 4:03 PM PDT up 0 recs

I paid a lot for this. I'll just request that I take it to my car instead...

I don't think the ushers at the front gate will know, but if the wrong people see it during the game, then I'd be worried...

Yesterday's Pants
A blog-thingy about the Mariners and stuff.

by BrettJMiller on Apr 10, 2008 4:06 PM PDT up 0 recs

It's probably best

to refrain from holding it up when any teal-shirt moostapo could see it.

by discovolante on Apr 10, 2008 4:35 PM PDT up 0 recs

and that's regardless of logos and names

by discovolante on Apr 10, 2008 4:36 PM PDT up 0 recs

I haven't been to Safeco because I live in a different state

but are the ushers really that BAD? I keep hearing these stories about them and it sounds like they take the fun out of the stadium experience. Why is that?

by JoeyJoJoJuniorShabadoo on Apr 10, 2008 4:37 PM PDT up 0 recs

Most ushers are old and senile.

As long as your not a paraplegic you can just out run them .

by Robert on Apr 10, 2008 4:43 PM PDT up 0 recs

or Corco

by I'm NOT Corco on Apr 10, 2008 7:34 PM PDT up 0 recs

No idea.

But it seems like if you befriend them and don't swear too loudly they take your side. I've already gotten my usher to like me over in Section 108 and the usher's in Red's normal section like him so he can bet away with plenty.

Yesterday's Pants
A blog-thingy about the Mariners and stuff.

by BrettJMiller on Apr 10, 2008 5:16 PM PDT up 0 recs

Yeah, the key is to be cool

and they're cool right back.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Apr 10, 2008 5:21 PM PDT up 0 recs

And I don't think Bonds would bother ya...

Hell, he might even autograph it for ya, since he'd see it as helpful in trying to find a job in the big league.

Go for it, dude! PDB's thoughts are indeed helpful, but you're not trying to sell anything, and it isn't done in bad taste. People may disagree with the thoughts, but it's not like you're saying "Yankees Suck" or something.

If the "Not even the Yankees can beat our Johnson" sign can make it into a Howard/Chuck-run M's crowd, surely this sign can be admitted...

Ill Ligitamus Non Carberendum

by PositivePaul on Apr 10, 2008 5:31 PM PDT up 0 recs

Here's what it says on the M's site...

Banners and signs are permitted as long as they are not obstructing the view of other guests or ballpark signage, are less than 3 feet in height, are baseball related, are in good taste, and are not commercial or political in nature. The Mariners reserve the right to remove any banner or sign.

by ConorGlassey on Apr 10, 2008 9:12 PM PDT up 0 recs

Let's see.

Under 3 feet....check
Good taste...check (not calling anyone stupid, just saying to sign a player I like)
Won't obstruct view during the game....check
Baseball related....check
Not commercial....check
Not political....depends on if you mean real politics or baseball politics, but I'd say check.

I think I'm good. Plus, the ushers are pansies anyway, they'd just ask me to stop holding it up or something

Yesterday's Pants
A blog-thingy about the Mariners and stuff.

by BrettJMiller on Apr 10, 2008 9:23 PM PDT up 0 recs

Might be a good idea to print out that policy and take it with you.

That way if any of the ushers give you shit, you can show it to them.

Felix Hernandez may be The King, but Justin Upton is a GOD.

by Goose on Apr 10, 2008 9:39 PM PDT up 0 recs

"Less that 3 feet in height"

Mentions nothing about width.

I say just get a 3' high, 30' long message banner.

Accidental Mariner - P3 W1 L2 (.333)
Sponsor of Jamie Burke's baseball-reference page

by MarkE on Apr 11, 2008 5:10 AM PDT up 0 recs

Now we just need

A) A bunch of people with those or

B) One person strategically positioned for the cameras a la Red all of last year

or both.

by Fett42 on Apr 10, 2008 3:35 PM PDT 0 recs

What is that, your great, great, great grandpa's 3 iron?

I'm pretty sure I'm not retarded.

by Thingray on Apr 10, 2008 3:40 PM PDT 0 recs

Hey, looks like MY 3 iron

Of course, mine's my grandpa's old 3 iron, so, uh, point taken.

by marc w on Apr 10, 2008 3:59 PM PDT up 0 recs

I'll put it this way, I'm not seeing much graphite in that club.

I'm pretty sure I'm not retarded.

by Thingray on Apr 10, 2008 4:25 PM PDT up 0 recs

That thing looks like an old "rock wedge".

I'm pretty sure I'm not retarded.

by Thingray on Apr 10, 2008 4:26 PM PDT up 0 recs

I prefer

the Barry's head on Ichiro's body pic. You may want to remove the MLB logo and his last name just in case someone wants to bitch about copyright / trademark rights. Pretty flippin' sweet though.

by AZSEAfan on Apr 10, 2008 3:53 PM PDT 0 recs

Yeah, I like this one because I made it so I'm bias and it's Barry's actual body...

But all the Barry photoshops have been good.

Yesterday's Pants
A blog-thingy about the Mariners and stuff.

by BrettJMiller on Apr 10, 2008 3:59 PM PDT up 0 recs

M's Policy on Signs from the official site

"Banners and signs are permitted as long as they are not obstructing the view of other guests or ballpark signage, are less than 3 feet in height, are baseball related, are in good taste, and are not commercial or political in nature. The Mariners reserve the right to remove any banner or sign. "

I don't understand the copyright concern -- why wouldn't it be fair use? The problem with the shirts was selling them, which you would not be doing with the sign.

by G_ on Apr 10, 2008 5:08 PM PDT 0 recs

I'm not a lawyer

but it seems to me the distinction is this:

Current M's player in M's uniform on sign = fair use
Not current M's player in M's uniform on sign = misuse

But as I said, I could be completely off base. I just don't want Brett to be surprised if/when the ushers decide it's not a sign they want to see.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Apr 10, 2008 5:10 PM PDT up 0 recs

I am a Lawyer...

...although I'm a Canadian lawyer and not one that practices intellectual property law. I don't think there's a copyright issue here. You're not trying to make money off of this. I think it falls into the parody/ satire category. That said, someone from the Mariners might take it away from you anyway thinking that you're not going to do anything about it. The law really has nothing to do with it.

by Vancouver Dave on Apr 10, 2008 5:26 PM PDT up 0 recs

That's the key I think

from what I know, the parody/satire exception is what would be at play here.

by Matthew on Apr 11, 2008 1:04 PM PDT up 0 recs

It's all aboot the parody really.

I'm pretty sure I'm not retarded.

by Thingray on Apr 11, 2008 1:35 PM PDT up 0 recs

I don't think that matters

Fair use is an exception to copyright law that allows the use of copyrighted material for non-commercial purposes like news reporting, education, and public comment or criticism. As long as Brett is not trying to make money off it, that should be fair use.

by G_ on Apr 10, 2008 5:28 PM PDT up 0 recs

Sounds reasonable to me.

and I'd love to see a whole section full of 'em, honestly.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Apr 10, 2008 5:49 PM PDT up 0 recs

I'm not a Lawyer...

I didn't even stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night, but there is nothing nefarious here. You aren't selling the poster/sign.

Make it bigger. The M's can't take the thing away from you.

by PLU Tim on Apr 10, 2008 5:44 PM PDT 0 recs

Sure they can.

Their park, their rules.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Apr 10, 2008 5:49 PM PDT up 0 recs

What seems totally missing from this comment thread

is that this sign if fucking awesome. If you want to write more stuff, get a large posterboard and paste your sign on one side of it while using the other for text.

There may be some kind of copyright violation here, but I very much doubt it and anybody who would invoke that would have to be an asshole several orders of magnitude larger than Bonds himself. If the organization is willing to hire such tremendous assholes, Bonds should be no problem.

the artist formerly known as Mere Tantalisers.

by Bearskin Rugburn on Apr 10, 2008 5:54 PM PDT 0 recs

Like everyone else said...

I would remove the last name (even though Barry would probably be enthused to see it) and the MLBPA logo. I repeat the same sentiments prior because I want to see this damn thing last for as long as physically possible. Awesome job, man.

by cwel87 on Apr 10, 2008 6:27 PM PDT 0 recs

FWIW, you can barely see his first name

But yeah, at the least, somehow remove the MLB logos.

by Gomez on Apr 10, 2008 7:28 PM PDT up 0 recs

I industrial strength sharpied over it.

Yesterday's Pants
A blog-thingy about the Mariners and stuff.

by BrettJMiller on Apr 10, 2008 8:04 PM PDT up 0 recs

Kepp it as is

It rules

by Fett42 on Apr 10, 2008 6:48 PM PDT 0 recs

I say Fuck the Mariners if they don't like the sign.

Felix Hernandez may be The King, but Justin Upton is a GOD.

by Goose on Apr 10, 2008 7:26 PM PDT 0 recs

Like this?

by Gomez on Apr 10, 2008 7:29 PM PDT up 0 recs

HAHA

I LOL-ed

by seattlebruin on Apr 11, 2008 12:18 AM PDT up 0 recs

talk about things that should be on a poster

I think if you could even get away with it with some creativity on the fuck. Perhaps just a good ol' F*** You M's! or maybe go with satire and do FUNK YOU M'S! Then they can't take it away, you're supporting the Funk Blast/Mojo campaign!

by Matthew on Apr 11, 2008 1:06 PM PDT up 0 recs

Is that going to be the game tomorrow (Friday)?

I am going to be there maybe! I'll probably be in the nosebleeds but I am inspired to probably bring a sign too. (It was a last minute thing)

by Fin on Apr 11, 2008 12:30 AM PDT 0 recs

I feel your pain.

Alot of Angel fans floated the idea of signing Bonds during the off season. But then we got Torii Hunter. There is nothing that replaces power on a team.

Scioscia, "Roll the hole!"

by 44FAN on Apr 11, 2008 1:31 AM PDT 0 recs

At this point, the Angels have 2 players that essentially should be

DHing -- Vlad and GA. I think signing Bonds would have merely increased the logjam in the Angels' outfield.

by redwolf75 on Apr 11, 2008 4:05 PM PDT up 0 recs

You know, I don't even like Bonds

But I strongly support this poster. One idea - if you draw something on the back, like "GO M's!" or "Rally Fries!!!" You may be able to pretend that the front side was not the reason for bringing it. If you did it with paper lettering as well, it could be taken off if necessary.

Food for thought.

...and now I'm here

by Librocrat on Apr 11, 2008 1:48 PM PDT 0 recs