Commentary

Just An Online Minute... Punching Madison Avenue In The Face At B.B. King's

Madison Avenue Boxing Championship, B.B. King's, New York
October 1, 2008

Ah boxing, I've never been a fan of you. But for some reason, when I went to Doubledown Media's production of Wall St. boxing this past June, I got into it. It probably had to do with the fighters having so much power with others' money -- just beating the snot out of each other -- that got my motor running. So why wouldn't I go to the Madison Avenue version? Think about it, men and women from media, marketing, and advertising in the ring without sell sheets, upsells, search marketing strategies, and storyboards, hitting each other in the face. You're totally excited now, aren't you?

As I approached B.B. King's, I was surprised that there wasn't a line out the door like there was with the other money-loving crowd. It was raining, so maybe that had something to do with it. Or maybe Wall Streeters are just more bloodthirsty. I wonder if so many $3K+ tables would be purchased in this lovely day and age. You know the day and age I speak of. When you're that white collar, though, I wonder if you're even phased by the plight of the everyman. For instance, Doubledown Media's target is "The Working Wealthy," which I suppose is better than the bonbon-eating, puffy-dog-toting, taking-a-cab-one-block-lazy wealthy. There's a lot of respect in working hard for the money, so hard for it honey.

But something about the wording made me toss a few cookies against my back teeth. Probably because I know that I'm not even an eighth of the way there, one of "those elite readers who make the luxury and freedom of private flight a fundamental part of their lives and lifestyle." Maybe those cardstock brochures are on your chair to make you drink angrily and get in the mood for some aspirating spit and blood blobs. I was ready. But first, to the bar -- where I ordered a water straight up with a lime.

I slid down the thick wood rail and ran into Bert Sugar, cigar-toting (though it isn't lit), fedora-wearing, and disconnected-commentary-spouting boxing writer legend. I have to add "The Great White Hype" to my Netflix queue so I can say "I told that guy I sort of remembered him!" every time Sugar pops up.

Sugar was holding up the bar with Dan Ryan, Managing Director, Capital Markets, Doubledown Media, and Anthony Mazzei, who wouldn't tell me his affiliation, but did utter "That's going to be the best picture tonight. Right, the thumbs up?!," nodding cockily. I Googled the hell out of that kid and uncovered a bunch of associate director/producer film/TV/movie types things, but no picture. So he could just be from the street, you never know.

New circle sharer, William Moran, Vice President, National Advertising, Hercules Networks, was in the house! I met him at the Stars of Madison Avenue Luncheon about a week back and he was there with the deviously gorgeous Amy Elisei of Zenith Media. DIRECTV had clusters of support scattered about BB King's with Casey Dellapenna, Account Exectutive, Sports, heading up the first group I found. His posse contained Barry Correia Sales Coordinator, Joe Lapadula, Manager Planning & Operations and Brandon Mele Sales Planner. Right around the corner from that gaggle I found a female DIRECTV cluster, one of them hailing from Scottsdale, AZ. They were Amy Keller, PR Account Coordinator, Kristen Seldon, Planner, DIRECTV, Lauren Natiss, Sales Coordinator, DIRECTV, and a mystery friend. Sandwiched between two more DIRECTVers was Ed Gentner, SVP/Group Director at Mediavest.

Googlers abounded in support of Brett "Bringing The Heat" Goffin. He was being rooted heartily on by Lee Bryan Stein, who is currently doing some consulting for Citibank but is on the hunt for his place in New York, where's he's been for only six months now. Unfortunately Brett brought the lukewarm and got burned in the ring by Jason "The Annihilator" Alongi. After three rounds without knockouts, listening to "Work the body!!!!" echoing in my cranial cavity, and feeling my stomach gnaw towards my liver (oh yeah, there was no pre-cocktail party munch fest like the Wall Street version), it was time to go. 

But let me end with this. One of the sponsors was The Family Handyman, which confused the "Working Wealthy" mind, and they had women oozed into yellow tank tops, spray-painted with jeans (figuratively, people), and squeezed into stilettos to do the ole objectifying women round announcement strut in the ring. The most fun I had was watching the taller of the two get stuck in the ropes with either her head or her red pointy heels. Periodically she would drop a hammer or even the card with the round number on it. Dear lord, what would we all do if she didn't hold up that card?

Partying it up with a little smacking around? Invite kelly@mediapost.com to get every round in Just An Online Minute

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