‘Sex in the City’ always began with the sensational Sarah Jessica Parker, as Carrie, pondering a moral or sexual or social dilemna facing her circle of friends. Life imitates art, or in this case, once again, TV is becoming Reality TV.
Yogi Berra, the Yankee legend has filed a 10 million dollar law suit against Turner Broadcasting Systems for using his name in a ‘hurtful’ ad for ‘Sex in the City’ reruns. His reaction is said to be ‘very severe’.
Most people, when you see their claims of damage and emotional pain, you wonder, again to quote Carrie, ‘How could that possibly BE?’ But in the case of the 79 year old Hall of Famer, the picture is crystal clear. Yogi Berra is like baseball itself—a diamond,
a man of high standards from another time where character counts, being used in a game of innuendo.
Berra is a married man and has children and grandchildren.’) in fact, it was his granddaughter who first sprung the ad on her unsuspecting Granddad.)’He is a deeply religious man who has maintained and continues to maintain a moral lifestyle, and has a spotless reputation for integrity, decency, and moral character.’ How many people in our culture can make that claim in a court of law?
So how could TBS splash city buses, billboards, and magazines with a ‘rather provocative’ photo of Kim Cattrall as sexy Samantha, and the legend?.
The ad, which appeared on giant billboards and in magazines, invites readers to answer a multiple-choice question on the definition of the word "yogasm."
The choices are: a) a type of yo-yo trick; b) sex with Yogi Berra; or c) what Samantha has with a guy from yoga class.
"The reference to the sexual act made in connection with Mr. Berra engenders a moral taint that has damaged his otherwise spotless reputation," the lawsuit states.
It just ain’t right, say his lawyers. First, on legal grounds. Berra was never asked for permission to use his name, and if permission had been requested, it would have been declined.
But Berra’s lawyer, Lewis Smoley says ‘the direct reference to the sexual act made in connection with Mr Berra …engenders a moral taint that has damaged his otherwise spotless reputation.’
The great honor of interviewing Yogi Berra came to me many times over ten years on WCBS-Newsradio. Public personas can be a performance, it’s true. But one day, in the Governor’s box at the Devil’s game, I had the even greater honor to see the legend as a man, shake his hands, and look into his eyes. His metaphors may be mixed, but the aura of Yogi Berra radiates clear and bright, a warm man with a big heart, simplicity of character, an almost child-like wonder and love of life and people.
I never got to ask him this to confirm it, but just last week, a friend told me an anecdote about Berra: that he was allegedly troubled by the quote most widely attributed to him,
‘If you see a fork in the road, take it!’ As the story goes, the saying came from a real set of directions, and when you reach the fork, you have to take the turn to get to his house.
About the Author
Therese is a broadcaster, motivational speaker, coach, consultant on the Sixth Sense for business, energy channel, and is releasing her first audio book. NY audiences recognize her as the voice of WCBS-Newsradio for ten years as Afternoon and Mid-Day Host, and as a national Radio Network Correspondent and VP, along with numerous appearances as a voiceover artist, singer, and TV Host. Her gift was heightened by 9/11.
