August 12, 2010

ZinfandEllsbury wine

Wine named after Sox player to benefit Navajo charity

By Brenda AustinBoston Red Sox outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, No. 2, is the first Native American of Navajo descent to reach Major League Baseball. Being blessed with the ability to be a professional athlete, Ellsbury, a member of the Colorado River Indian Tribes, wanted to find a way to give back.

He is now doing that through the sales of his new wine, ZinfandEllsbury–one of two new releases from Charity Wines. Partnering with several athletes, including eight current or former Red Sox players, Charity Wines created a vintage vino picked by Ellsbury with the proceeds going to three charities of his choice.

Sales of ZinfandEllsbury will provide support for the Navajo Relief Fund, Project Bread and the Ellsbury-Read Character Strength Project. While the last two will provide nourishment for New England children and promote child abuse prevention, the first of the three has a special place in his heart.
Some commenters made the connection that the article missed:That's just great. A native promoting alcoholism to help Natives. Huh?

Totally ironic. The very thing that is plaguing the rez is the very thing that is going to help make it better. Hahaha. What a joke. If they get more money, do you think they will buy more wine or other alcohol products?

A real Native would think of a more positive way to help his people. Selling wine to benefit his people. Very funny. Well I guess it is much like Navajo nation open[ing] a casino that is suppose to benefit the people but yet the same people [are] playing the same dollars that they are getting from the casino.

Why does it have to be wine? Why not some charitable work with the Boys and Girls club. I am a Native and I do see alcoholism all around me. Where is his PR guy at? Don't you think someone should tell him that this potentially good opportunity won't make a difference if it isn't handled right.
Along with the inevitable backlash:Wine does not imply alcoholism. This is wonderful!

Selling a bottle of wine for $14.00 does not promote alcoholism. I found that to be a very bigoted remark. I suppose no Irish player should sell "spirits" to promote charity either. This is about being as generous with help to OUR OWN as we are to other countries.

@Jeanr: Really?! Get your head out of the sand. Not all Native American are alcoholics. It is a very bigoted remark and sad that the stereotype still stands in this day and age. I applaud Jacoby for giving back to his people.

First of all...YEAH finally a Native is being recognized for something. Second...oh its OK if it's a non-Native selling or doing commercials on alcohol....I see nothing wrong with it. Third...NOT ALL Natives drink...all races have issues with drinking wine...so ya'll DEAL WIT IT.
Comment:  To the last commenters I'd say: Any type of alcohol implies alcoholism. And Jeanr didn't say "All Natives are alcoholics" or anything like it. Try to address what she said, not the "bigotry" you've made up in your mind.

Actually, I don't mind this wine much. It's a high-end product that won't contribute much to alcoholism. The proceeds will go to charity. And the label promotes Ellsbury the baseball player, not Ellsbury the Indian. There's no phony Plains chief to create an inappropriate linkage.

I just think it's interesting that neither Ellsbury nor the article addresses the elephant in the room. The pink elephant in the room, that is. Whether you agree with the first commenters or not, they've raised a legitimate issue.

For more on Ellsbury, see Ellsbury Blogs About Losing. For more on Indians and alcohol, see Chief Oshkosh Saloon Renamed and Beer Maker Apologizes for Koff Ads.

1 comment:

dmarks said...

"That's just great. A native promoting alcoholism to help Natives. Huh?"

As you said further in your comments, high-end wines have nothing to do with alcoholism. The alcoholics go for the cheap stuff.

Our nearby Native government is looking into producing high-end wine. No doubt once this effort gets further along, there will be those who will bash these Indians for producing wine, while bringing up "Indian alcoholic" stereotypes in both negative ways, and in the supposed positive ways that still rely on the stereotype.

There are white vintners all over the area, and they don't get this type of criticism.