Newsgroup: it.sport.formula1.moderato
Titolo: [ENG] Bernie gets stitched up

Source: pitpass
http://www.pitpass.com/news2/news.cfm?newsid=7096
Bernie gets stitched up
12-08-2003
Bernie Ecclestone has been well and truly stitched up over the Canadian
GP cancellation by a pair of radio disc jockeys notorious for making
prank calls. Previous 'victims' have included Microsoft Bill Gates and
pop stars Celine Dion and Britney Spears.
Yesterday, as confusion over the future of the Canadian GP mounts, the
'Masked Avengers of Justice', which comprises Sebastien Trudel and
Marc-Antoine Audette spoke to F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone while
pretending to be the Prime Minister of Canada, Jean Chritien.
The conversation begins with the 'prime minister' asking Ecclestone what
can be done about the situation:
"The situation is that with their tobacco sponsors they (the teams) have
to compete in so many races or at least mustn't miss so many races," says
Ecclestone. "If not they reduce their sponsorship. That's what the
problem is, it's that simple.
"We had a beautiful relationship with you over the years," he continues,
"for which I thank the Canadian government very much indeed for the
(tobacco) exemption, and I was hoping we could continue this. When I was
informed that it had stopped it put us in a very difficult position.
"We are not trying to blackmail you, believe you me," says Ecclestone.
"We have enough people that want races but it's not that. We love Canada,
we love Montreal, we love everything there.. everybody's happy."
The 'prime minister' calls Bernie "a gentleman", and clearly the F1
supremo feels comfortable.
"Is there any way we can continue the exemption we had in the past?" asks
Ecclestone.
"This would be tough," replies the 'prime minister', who adds that he has
spoken to his advisors. "The Canadian public is very firm about this
issue right now," he adds.
"The last thing I want to do is cause you problems," says Bernie.
The 'prime minister' then says that a lot of bad things have happened to
Canadians this year, and mentions that Jacques Villeneuve is having a
terrible time.
"I think the problem is he was grossly overpaid," says Bernie, "and he
was there just to take the money. I'm a very good friend of his and I try
to help him as well."
Bernie then asks the 'prime minister' if he'd like to think what the two
of them could work out together: "Do you want to think about what we can
do between us?" he asks.
"What would be the best thing for you?" asks the 'minister'.
"Just carry on the way we were," replies Bernie.
"With the tobacco industries and all?" enquires the 'minister'.
"Yes, like it was in the past, with the restrictions," says Bernie. "But
basically so the teams can compete without losing a large amount of
money. What we don't want to do however is put you in a position where
you're compromised."
Bernie asks if the Canadian public is that serious about the tobacco
issue, to which the 'prime minister' replies that it is. He then says
that to all intents and purposes it does appear that Canada is being
blackmailed by Bernie.
"That's why we didn't come to you first and say 'if you don't do this we
will do this'" says Bernie. "As far as I'm concerned we wouldn't put you
on the calendar. Whatever you want is OK with me."
The 'prime minister' suggests a press conference at which point Bernie
reveals that he is currently travelling and won't be back in his office
until Wednesday. He suggests that if he's unable to travel to Canada
perhaps a radio interview could be organised - not realising that he's
already in the middle of one.
At this point the 'interviewer' goes for the kill. Still pretending to be
the 'prime minister' he advises Bernie that he is due to retire in
November this year and as an F1 "lover" would very much like a job within
the industry. Bernie bites, just a little, but he bites.
"Maybe we could manage to arrange something," says the 'minister'. "I
like to travel a lot. I was wondering if maybe I could have another
career with your organisation," he asks.
"Yup, yup," Bernie replies.
"I like F1," says the 'minister'. "It's a passion for me."
"Let's see what we can do," says Bernie. "I'll call you on Wednesday
morning and we'll speak to your advisors and see what we can do."
"So if I was to seek a communications job maybe in the next year, this
could be arranged?" asks the 'minister'.
"Maybe for north America," says Bernie, "we're not strong in north
America, maybe this would be good."
"Maybe you could have something official for me," says the 'minister',
"and maybe we could have something official for you."
"Let me call you on Wednesday," says Bernie.
"OK it looks like we have a deal," says 'minister'. "In November 2003 I'm
going to retire and maybe one year after that we could work together."
"That would be nice," says Bernie.
"I'm sure I can convince Parliament to maybe soften a little bit the
laws," says 'minister.
"Super, super, super, super," replies Bernie. "I'll call you at nine on
Wednesday."
At this point the 'minister' breaks into a fit of mad shouting and also
starts coughing, leaving Mr F1 slightly perplexed.
pitpass suffered it's own attempted 'stitch up' last week when a clearly
deranged reader sent an e-mail to editor Chris Balfe pretending that it
was from FIA Max Mosley in response to the editor's recent ' open letter
' to him.
Thankfully editor Balfe was on the ball and realised within seconds of
opening the mail that it was not from the highly intelligent FIA
President but from a person with poor grammar, spelling and an even
poorer grip on reality.
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Copyright 2003 Pitpass.com
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No alla pubblicità sigarette. Giusto. Sacrosanto. La battaglia del
parlamento Canadese (e della EU) è nobile. Il risultato sulla F1
(Marlboro, West, BAT, B&H, ecc.) è che avremo un calendario composto da
Malesia, Cina, Bahrain, India ecc e le immagini televisive mostreranno
nelle case dei canadesi e degli europei gli stessi marchi che vediamo
ora. Bisognerebbe abolire la pub tabacco sulla F1 (purtroppo per ora
non se ne parla) ma pare che a sostituire i tabagisti verrano gli
alcolisti (Warsteiner, Labbatt's)... Quindi il problema verrà solamente
spostato di qualche anno quando ci saranno nuove leggi anti-alcohol.
La soluzione sarebbe una grande riduzione di costi in F1 da non renderli
necessari questi grandi (e sporchi) sponsor.
BTW, voi ci credete che milioni di europei si alzeranno in massa
regolarmente nelle più disparate ore della notte per seguire qualche
soporifera gara di F1? La F1 asiatica non può avere successo e IMHO la
F1 è in un vicolo cieco a meno che i troppi $$$ che girano nell'ambiente
spariscano. Ma Max&Bernie vedono solo i $$$ che indubbiamente i
tabagisti offrono nell'immediato (e che tengono in vita attualmente il
carrozzone) invece di prendere il toro per le corna (stop alle
pubblicita fumo&alcohol e drastica riduzione costi).
Ironia della sorte I:
I governi dicono no pubblicità però poi sono i maggiori profittatori
della vendita di sigarette (fino al 75% del prezzo di vendita). Ci sono
morti e costi sociali a causa del fumo e i governi fanno una lotta di
contrasto più simbolica/elettorale che reale IMHO
Ironia della sorte II
In F1, nonostante gli sponsor, nessuno fuma.
(Se qualcuno vuole ispirarsi ad un novello James Dean non lo troverà
certo nel mondo asettico della F1).
Comunque W L'ABOLIZIONE DELLA PUBBLICITÀ FUMO E ALCOHOL, e, già che ci
siamo, per quanto mi riguarda, basta fumo nei luoghi pubblici al più
presto. Grazie prego non c'è di che.
-- 
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 In F1, nonostante gli sponsor, nessuno fuma.
Schumacher sě
Fluored

 Schumacher sģ
un sigaro ad ogni campionato del mondo...
Montoya, da bravo ragazzo, vuol farlo smettere ;DD


 contrasto più simbolica/elettorale che reale IMHO
Infatti, le tasse sulle sigarette in teoria hanno spesso la funzione di
coprire le spese sanitarie e sociali legate al fumo. Almeno in teoria, se
poi l'uso che se ne fa è diverso da quello "indicato", purtroppo non è
l'unico caso, ma non è un buon motivo per rinunciare ad una lotta giusta.
L'alternativa impraticabile penso che sia vietare il fumo...
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