Cheaters Not Allowed to Prosper

Russakoff Rules

By Lee Russakoff
Wed, 14 Jan 2009 21:38:26 GMT

Alcohol promotion? Sure. Erectile dysfunction drug-pushing? No problem. But don't expect the NFL to endorse cheating. Apparently, that crosses the line (obvious Bill Belichick joke omitted).

AshleyMadison.com, a dating website that matches married people interested in having affairs, has been denied ad placement in the official Super Bowl program by the NFL.

According to CNBC, the dating website was approached by an ad agency and agreed upon a six-figure contract to run a full-page ad in this year's Super Bowl program. However, the league has rejected AshleyMadison.com's ad and NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy stated that the company will not be allowed to run any promotion in the game program "until the end of time."

"After realizing what the site was, the sales rep called back and told the company there was a mistake and that his company could not sell an ad to the site."

[AshleyMadison.com CEO Noel] Biderman thinks his inability to advertise is hypocritical.

"I find the rejection to be ridiculous given that a huge percentage of the NFL's marketing content is for products like alcohol, which they sell in their stadiums, promote on their air and clearly have in the magazine," Biderman said. "That's a product that literally kills tens of thousands of people each year. So if the NFL is worried about legislating behavior and regulating what their audience should be exposed to then it should start with a ban on all alcohol advertising and products being sold, not AshleyMadison.com."

Seriously, NFL. Don't you know your Revenge of the Nerds? No one's gonna really be free until cheater persecution ends.

Tip of the toupee to Blinded by the Hype for the link.

What do you think of the NFL's decision? Should AshleyMadison be allowed to advertise in the program? Should the company be allowed to advertise anywhere? Should it even be allowed to exist? Sound off here.

Message Edited by Lee_Russakoff on 01-14-2009 04:56 PM

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WIP in Philly aired radio spots for AshleyMadison.com until CBS Radio (which owns WIP) realized what the ads were promoting. And then pulled them. If WIP is pulling ads, you better believe that the NFL is not going to allow it. Which makes the CEO's reaction so comical and brilliant -- his ads have probably been rejected hundreds of times. He knew the NFL was not going to run the ad. But the rejection itself is free publicity. He should send a "thank you card" to Lee.

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 22:04:06 GMT | jrobs7777

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why not run the ad. the NFL let the Patriots tape the JETS practice and it a from of cheating. but legal ? so the coach says ................. lol HYPOCRITES

no one gets hurt and both parties now how it will end with a sack. (no phun intended)

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 22:36:59 GMT | bobo3cat

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congrats for rejecting this scummy ad - I guess money can't buy everything now, can it?

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 22:46:42 GMT | britlady

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I think its great that the NFL has banned the advertisement of "Cheaters Not Allowed to Prosper". The NFL needs to build some morality for the public to see, they do enought law breaking to bring it's reputation to low points.

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 22:59:51 GMT | boniface

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Chalk one up for the right

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 23:15:24 GMT | giddyup3908

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Big time kudos to the NFL for this decision. Also big time kudos to WIP for pulling the ad. AshleyMadison.com CEO Noel Biderman is comparing apples to skunk droppings with the alcohol analogy. Encouraging people to married people to cheat is not a product. It is bottom feeding and should not be endorsed a credible business enterprise. Besides, us single guys do not need the extra competition.

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 23:40:21 GMT | Dragonlorde

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Congrats to the NFL!! I think its great that they are pulling the ad. That website is terrible and promotes the worst in people. I think the NFL has shown a lot of class by standing up and pulling the ad. I also agree with the conduct policy that the commissioner has put in place. Keep up the good work NFL

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 00:04:21 GMT | Eliminator

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Let's take the morality aspect out of the conversation and look at this from a business standpoint. AshleyMadison.com is now receiving free advertising because of the media breaking the story and us talking about them and the NFL is coming out smelling like a rose because they stood up for what's right!!! The CEO of AshleyMadison is a genius!!! I don't know how expensive it is to "join" their site, but if it's something that you're into and you didn't know about the site before this story, you know about it now and I'd bet their membership is going to go up as a direct result. However, I personally think that concept, while brilliant, is sickening!!!!!

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:12:35 GMT | NupeSpr92

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I am coming off a 13 year love-less marriage and heard of this site long before this story broke. I couldn't believe my ears what I was hearing (ad was on radio in the northeast) and was disgusted. As much as I hate my ex-wife, I could't imagine taking part in such a situation as a "fling" site.

Given the state of our nation, I'm not surprized. It is a free market. Someone had the genius to say, "Hey, some married people screw around". It's a whorish version of some reputable online dating businesses.

We are not talking about same-sex sites, swinger sites, dating sites...we are talking about married folks who are too cowardly to end what obviously must come to close if they are so unhappy.

I hate my ex-wife, but I never cheated on her. If I was still with her, I still wouldn't.

Thank You NFL for having some moral backbone. In times like this, we can learn from your example.

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 02:27:09 GMT | Pats_Sox_Bruins

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As far as the banning of the ad, who really cares. Like Sir Charles said, "I didn't ask to be anyone's role model... don't try to be like me... be your own person. If a TV ad causes you to cheat, it really wasn't the TV ad that caused you to cheat, follow me?

The NFL is run by a twit. He allows cheating in the name of raising money for the league. Roger Goofdel gladly accepted the big payments from the the New England Cheatriots and Bill Billicheat in exchange for his help in TRYING to wipe the error of their ways under the rug. The reports were that there was evidence of them cheating as far back as 1999 but not again until 2004 I think it was. Yea, who believes they decided to just quit cheating then continue it again after winning a couple Super Bowls. Let me guess, a CHEATRIOTS fan! Bottom line Cheatriots fan, your mad the money forked over to Roger Goofdel only paid for him to forget and destroy the tapes from 1999 - 2004. Your coach and organization was the only one to think they were above the law and continue to cheat after a league memo was (because of YOUR cheating and IF others were) sent saying NOT to tape. I'll leave you with one question, "Is it possible to descibe the isolation, disappointment and depression you feel when you place your head on your pillow at night knowing your Cheatriots Lombardi Trophies are tarnished and your team will FOREVER only be known as cheaters? Anything you ever accomplish until Billicheat is gone won't be legit because everyone will just think he found another way around the rules." Good luck in Cleveland Eric Mangenius and thanks for opening our eyes for us while you were in NY.
NFL dynasties: Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys... notice who doesn't deserve to be mentioned with the best? Just like AA there Cheatriots fan, the first step to recovery is to just admit you're a cheater. Good luck on your road to recovery as I understand it's probably a difficult one.

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 02:31:27 GMT | phiness13

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Bobo3cat...you realize you are not very intelligent? Your comment is not only vague and beligerent, but non-sensical. You must be a Chargers fan.

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 02:32:30 GMT | Pats_Sox_Bruins

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You need to really look over this statement that you made and try to figure out how it makes sense in any form. Wow...your comment is like an out-of-body experience in type. Wierd.

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 02:35:35 GMT | Pats_Sox_Bruins

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this is just A bunch of loser jets fan Imagin being A fan of a team that hasn't won A Super bowl in over 40 years,thats right not 30 but forty,40 40 40 years of losing ,every season knowing "we probably dont have a chance,knowing the whole country laugh's at your team,because your always not very good,your just jealous,because the Pats are a better organization,and A far superior team,and always will be!!!!!!

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 04:08:01 GMT | gazzzmann

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this thread is specificallyabout the ad, not another chance for jealous, obsessed fans of other teams to rant. stay on-topic, this is win-win for all americans, cheating hurts all family members, mostly the children. cheating spouses who would use this site have no morals. this is not about religion, but vows. legal vows, mostly in a religous setting, with many friends, family in attendance, but even if not in that settng, it is about 2 people in love swearing an oath to each other. so if that is gone, why cheat and remain married? you are only hurting your family, your spouse, and yourself. if that is your attitude, you should be deported to russia, or china. that is only because tarred/feathered does not work anymore. in short, follow the golden rule, you cannot go wrong if you do.

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 04:20:38 GMT | driverdan

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I hope the NFL sticks to it's guns. Good for them!!

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 04:54:56 GMT | Bubba1945

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You all crack me up. First of all everyone in some form or another cheats. Im sure that half of the people that have chimmed in on this has cheated or atleast thought about it at one point or another. Who gives a care that someone that is married wants to have a SAFE and DISCREET encounter with another married person. It is thier decision and thier problem. People are going to have affairs untill the end of time even without the help of a website. It's really none of anyones business but the individuals that makes that decision. The man is marketing a concept that people will buy. Welcome to America.

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 05:01:51 GMT | jrkellow

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Wow a site for cheaters, what new lows will America slip to next? Maybe a murder for hire company? This company should be shut down for good. If I am right adultery is one of main reasons people get divorced, and yet here is a company the promotes it.. just wrong... sorry... I would rather watch beer commercials during the superbowl, then be reminded that most weddings will end because of that company.

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 08:54:49 GMT | Black_Crystal

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The difference between marital infidelity and alcohol? Well, I wouldn't expect AshleyMadison to know. Infidelity means breaking one of the Ten Commandments and drinking alcohol doesn't. How sad for the people who work for Ashley Madison. I sometimes wonder how people who promote breaking up families live with themselves. It slays me how Ashley Madison tries to make their name sound so innocent and feminine, when all they are is trash.

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 10:48:20 GMT | Stephanie2008

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I applaud the NFL for their decision to not run the ad. In this day and time, we need to try to keep marriages together, not give an avenue to tempt and cheat.

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 10:52:47 GMT | tdybr1956