May 27, 2003

No Coke... Pepsi

The latest front of the Cola War has opened up in China, and the United Nations can't do squat about it to prevent catastrophe...

HOUSTON CHRONICLE: Yao Ming filing suit in pop war - Pepsi fan seeking to stop Coke ads

Yao Ming would not like to buy the world a Coke or even sell it one, because he endorses Pepsi. So, why is his image appearing on bottles of Coca-Cola in China?

Coke won the rights to Yao's face as well because it cut a deal with the Chinese men's basketball team to display Chinese team players, including Yao, on its products.

Now the 7-foot-5-inch center is caught between two cola makers that can be as in-your-face as the Utah Jazz's power forward Karl Malone when it comes to endorsement deals.

So now he's fighting back -- sort of. "I am strongly against Coke's unauthorized use of my name and image to sell its products and for business promotions," Yao said in a written statement.

Yao has sued Coke, demanding an apology from the world's largest soft drink company and for 1 yuan, the equivalent of 12 cents.

Question... is Yao Ming allowed to come out and publicly state that he finds the flavor of Coca Cola to be utterly revolting as a form of retribution/negative advertising?

"I like Pepsi. I think Coca-Cola sucks. I wouldn't wash my pet dog's balls with it, let alone drink it."