Apparently the billion-dollar oil giant Unocal thinks that upgrading their trademark spinning orange ball is a good idea. Clearly it's not. That giant orb is iconic, brilliant, simple, and classic. But as long as we're paying north of $3 a gallon for gasoline, drawing attention to anything oil-related without a clenched fist and an angry mob is foolish.
If Unocal -- or their parent company ConocoPhillips -- wants to de-ball themselves, fine. Screw 'em.
No matter what that cultural leader Zippy the Pinhead threatens to do to save the balls.
No matter how many people sign the Save the Balls petition.
No matter how much sense Michael Madsen made when he told the BBC last week, "There seems to be this driving force to tear down everything that's a little old. These are things that were landmarks, it's a symbol that I remember from childhood. What's the point of smashing them and putting up flat signs?"
The guy who cut the ear off the other guy in "Reservoir Dogs" is lobbying against destruction?
Mr. Blonde actually heard-tell of a facility in Fresno where the 76 balls were being rounded up and then destroyed. He put in an offer to buy one of the balls, adopt one, as it were, but was refused. Not for sale. Will be taken around back and smooshed.
"I get so mystified by things like that." the actor told the Brits. "Not only do they want to take them down, but they are going to make sure they smash every one of them into pieces."
Madsen has lived in LA for how long, while hanging out with Quentin Tarantino since '91 -- and this is what mystifies him?
Photo: J. Eric Freedner, savethe76ball.com
