(Image Source - SBNation)
BY JOSH LANDER
ANCHOR LAUREN ZIMA
Who wouldn’t wanna be called “The Man?”
Apparently — Albert Pujols — who’s not so happy with his new team.
The 11-time All-Star signed with the LA Angels in December. The team has ads on 20 billboards across Southern California showing Pujols beside the phrase “El Hombre.”
And if you’re challenged in the language department — “El Hombre” is Spanish for “The Man.” The problem?
Pujols said two years ago that Cardinals Hall of Famer Stan “the man” Musial is the only player that should have the nickname. KSAT has more.
“Pujols met with Musial when he was 90 years old last year while playing for the Cardinals and that is Albert playing, when he was awarded medal of freedom award for his service with the USO.”
A Yahoo!Sports blogger says — bad move, Angels.
“Had he not addressed this issue publicly in the past, it might not be as big a deal. But he acknowledged that using the nickname would be in poor taste; he asked Cards fans not to do it.”
Pujols told ESPN he didn’t like it then — and doesn’t like it now...
“I still have the same respect for him as I had, not just for what he's done in baseball but for what he did for his country...”
NBCSports questions whether the Angels realized they would be upsetting Pujols with their ad campaign.
“...I’m sad that something as cool-sounding as ‘El Hombre’ isn’t fine with Pujols, but it’s certainly reasonable and it sure seems weird that the Angels weren’t aware of the situation before posting the billboards.”
According to ESPN — an Angels rep says management has told Pujols the “El Hombre” slogan is only quote “one prong” of the media campaign — and not its sole focus. Pujols signed a 10 year, $250 million contract with the Angels last December.
