The MVP of the Super Bowl traditionally receives the Cadillac of their choice. It's a grand, post-game spectacle, really, because General Motors loves the attention and PR.This year, however, there was no such pomp for Santonio Holmes. Was it because the car company needed several billion dollars from taxpayers to stay afloat and decided giving away free cars to rich athletes was a bad idea? Or was it because the company simply didn't want anyone to know that's exactly how they were spending their money?
Holmes picked out Cadillac's most expensive model Monday as his reward for winning the MVP: the Escalade Hybrid Platinum with an $85,200 sticker price, according to Cadillac spokeswoman Joanne Krell.Wow. It certainly comes off as a little awkward. After all, no portion of the taxpayers' nearly $10 billion should be going directly into Holmes' garage. It is worth noting, however, that Cadillac and GMC purposely stayed away, citing the decision not to "actively participate" based on the current economic climate.
There was no mention of Cadillac or of Holmes winning the car at the news conference. It was at the request of Cadillac, commissioner Roger Goodell told the Daily News Monday. When asked if Cadillac asked not to be mentioned, he said, "Yes."
Additionally, Krell mentioned that the company had to "live up to the contract we negotiated," implying that they were still required to give the MVP a car, even though it makes horrible fiscal sense. That being said, it's kind of hard to imagine Cadillac breaking the contract with the NFL -- any legal tit-for-tat that ensued would end up costing everyone way more than $83,000.
The good news is that apparently GM at least learned to stop flaunting their expenses to the public. And that, um, it's a hybrid.
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Paul Glasgow, right, defeats Reggie Bush of the New Orleans Saints as they compete in the EA Sports NFL Madden '09 championships in Orlando, Fla., Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2009.(AP Photo/Reinhold Matay)
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TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 01: Head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers holds his daughter Harlyn Quinn as he celebrates their 27-23 win against the Arizona Cardinals during Super Bowl XLIII on February 1, 2009 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mike Tomlin;Harlyn Quinn
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TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 01: Head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers holds his daughter Harlyn Quinn as he celebrates their 27-23 win against the Arizona Cardinals during Super Bowl XLIII on February 1, 2009 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mike Tomlin;Harlyn Quinn
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TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 01: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers talks on his cell phone with President Barack Obama as he celebrates after the Steelers won 27-23 against the Arizona Cardinals during Super Bowl XLIII on February 1, 2009 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ben Roethlisberger
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TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 01: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers talks on his cell phone with President Barack Obama as he celebrates after the Steelers won 27-23 against the Arizona Cardinals during Super Bowl XLIII on February 1, 2009 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ben Roethlisberger
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TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 01: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on against the Arizona Cardinals during Super Bowl XLIII on February 1, 2009 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ben Roethlisberger
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
2-03-2009 @ 11:24PM
Dave said...
Y'know, considering that game-winning touchdown catch Holmes made, I'm sure we could find find a million Steelers fans willing to give 8.3 cents each to this cause. I'd chip in. My bar tab was 300 times this on Sunday.
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2-04-2009 @ 1:51AM
washgtonredskins said...
DOES HE NEED A CAR? HOW MANY DOES HE ALREADY HAVE?
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2-04-2009 @ 3:25AM
Bob said...
Too bad in three years it'll only be worth about $10k.
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2-04-2009 @ 10:13AM
crankbaitin said...
IF IT STILL RUNS.LOL
2-04-2009 @ 10:40AM
Dan said...
The current street price is actually only $14,000. The $85k number is MSRP and doesn't include CEO's own mother pricing minus the "actually wants to buy a car" bonus cash, minus GMAC "I'll tooootally pay you back" credit and further discounts.
Oh, and the floor mats were thrown in free.
2-04-2009 @ 11:44AM
stevedaddybear said...
you mean if it is actually running, id say 10 months!
2-04-2009 @ 9:32AM
Jim said...
notice that whith the struggling economy and many people in financial trouble, He picke "the most expensive model Cadillac makes". He could have been sympathetic and picked a less expensive model. Oh well, next week it will be pimped out and have gold bling bling on the grill.
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2-04-2009 @ 11:27AM
thedutch999 said...
so if you could pick any caddy you wanted it would have been the cheapest one huh? "no just the base model for me thanks the economy is so bad it just wouldn't look right." sure!
2-04-2009 @ 9:34AM
hot dad said...
"Tone" (Santonio) was "busted" a couple months ago for driving around in his "lesser" Escalade tokin' it up by himself during the day for some obviously stupid reason...
well he gave up the ganja, but he's now addicted to Escalades!!!
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2-04-2009 @ 10:23AM
Bhisitkuliam said...
GM needs to build better cars and then PR. will help the sale.
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2-04-2009 @ 10:24AM
nkchrnt66 said...
What difference does it make if GM gave out a car? No one is buying them anyhow. This takes one more vehicle out of their unsold inventory.
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2-04-2009 @ 10:32AM
Grer The Sarcastic Bastard said...
Don't have a problem with GM wanting to stay low-key, but everybody on the planet knows that the MVP gets a car. Other than not flaunting it in the public's face, they're not fooling anyone. And as for "living up to the contract negotiated," will somebody explain this to the morons in office trying to have Citigroup renege on their deal with the Mets?
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2-04-2009 @ 10:35AM
vstlvlvaccaro said...
This SUCKS ..... BIGTIME ... Hey GM, before you act like the BIG MAN ON CAMPUS in the car industry, why don't you learn how to run a CAR COMPANY the RIGHT WAY?? NO Bailouts! You're absolutely PATHETIC !! Bill Mitchell is SPINNING in his grave!
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2-04-2009 @ 10:49AM
gworobey380devel said...
I would have asked for a Lexus
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2-04-2009 @ 11:23AM
michellecoffey89 said...
For Shame on you Holmes! Why don't you take that vehicle have it converted for handicap and donate it to some young person with a spinal cord injury. With your multi-millions you could actually help someone in need.
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2-04-2009 @ 11:29AM
texascactuswow said...
This guy who admitted selling drugs while at OHIO STATE gets a new car for being MVP??? Give me a break. Take the Buckeyes loser off the screen. He deserves nothing but jail time.
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2-04-2009 @ 11:38AM
jim said...
A TRUE AMERICAN HERO I GOT MINE AND THE HELL WITH THE REST OF YOU I DESERVE A NEW CAR BECAUSE I CAUGHT A FOOTBALL. WHAT DO YOU EXPECT FROM SPOILED PEOPLE WHO PLAY GAMES FOR A LIVING AND IF GM WANTS THE TAXPAYERS TO HELP THEM OUT THEY SHOULD CLOSE THE OVERSEASA PLANTS AND BUILD 100 PER CENT AMERICAN INSTEAD OF LAYING OFF THE AMWERICAM WORKER
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2-04-2009 @ 12:57PM
Bob said...
They should've offered your choice of a free Caddy, or a Lexus at, say, 50% off--my guess is the GM would still be on the lot.
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2-04-2009 @ 1:07PM
Jane said...
Americans have to stop thinking this way and learn to say "NO" - General Motors, professional football and the MVP could have all said NO to this waste of taxpayers' money.
I was reading about all the Big Finance bullsh*t and someone was quoted as saying this excess (giant bonuses, perks) is the "culture" of their industry. Well, enough, it isn't your culture anymore when all you've done is go bankrupt and bankrupt your country.
Obama's campaign promise should have been saying NO to all the bull. But instead, he wants to hire the tax cheats!!!!
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2-04-2009 @ 1:07PM
sleepers1427 said...
Santonio Holmes is just another selfish athlete! I mean, you all know he really "needs" a brand new car!! Poor thing might be driving a 2008. I tried to find his website to let him know that he's not a Superbowl Hero!! He already makes millions! How loosely we use the word "HERO" in this country. The pilot they recognized at the Superbowl is a true HERO. He thought about others before himself!!!
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