Monday PSA: Fred Finds a Way!
Filed under: Comics
I know this is supposed to be an uplifting public service ad, along the lines of “You didn’t make the team, but you can still contribute!” — but the cynic in me sees it as advice to youngsters to give up their dreams and settle if they don’t succeed at first. Or if you want to be really, really cynical, the ad is basically saying, “Sorry the girl of your dreams is going to marry someone else, but you can still be the photographer at the wedding!”
When Fred grows to become a bitter disillusioned sportswriter, with a divorce and an ulcer by the age of 35, we’ll all know why.
Other thoughts:
It would have been nice for the coach to tell Fred that he didn’t make the team before he went out and bought the uniform, including those spiffy striped undershirts.
Of course, Fred should have actually practiced during the off season, instead of just reading about baseball.
This PSA was written by “King of the PSAs” Jack Schiff, with art by Bernard Baily. It can be found in DC comics from June 1959. This particular copy was scanned from Adventure Comics #261 (which has a couple of good stories in it, including Lois Lane first meeting Superboy, and Aquaman winning the day by telepathically commanding a water buffalo — get it: a water buffalo.)
More PSAs
July 21st, 2009 at 2:59 am
Lol. So right doctor. It’s totally “settle for being the geek”. Then again the guy IS a bit of a loser. This one misfired badly.
July 21st, 2009 at 8:18 am
Nowadays Fred’s parents would have sued the coach for discriminating against their son. So what if he’s a book worm who probably couldn’t field the ball, and would only be an out whenever he got to bat. The coach would be pressured to put him on the team, along with the other kids who were cut, and the team would go on to have it’s worse season ever. But at the end of the season all the kids would get tropheys and told they are #1 just for showing up.
The team who actually won all their games(because they only had kids with talent on their roster) would be referred to as elitists and shunned throughout the league.
Remember kids, you’re special and unique. Just like everyone else.
:-P
July 22nd, 2009 at 3:32 pm
Is it just me, or did Jimmy ask Fred out in the last panel?
July 23rd, 2009 at 7:14 am
Douglas: Maybe, didn’t notice that before.
But that is
A) A very awkward way of inviting someone to join you for a drink. or
B) A totally flirty way of asking your life partner out on a date.
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