NFC Championship Game 2012: Retailer Gives 49ers Bulletin Board Material

We have a guarantee for the NFC Championship Game. It is the kind of trash talk that we all eat up every time it happens. 

Only this time, it's a little different. The man talking is not Victor Cruz, Patrick Willis, Vernon Davis, Jason Pierre-Paul, or anyone like that. Nope, this trash talk is coming from Dick's Sporting Goods. 

Thanks to Yardbarker.com, we can see that a Dick's Sporting Goods in the New York area has no doubt that the Giants will beat the 49ers on Sunday. 

Apparently the good people at Dick's don't remember that the 49ers have already beaten the Giants in San Francisco this season. That is a little puzzling. 

Actually, the result of this game doesn't matter. The Giants can win this game, and this would still be a ridiculous ad to run. It is one thing when a player or coach gives his opponent bulletin board material; they at least have direct influence on the game. 

But a sporting goods retailer in the metropolitan area of one of the teams giving the opponent potential bulletin board material is just stupid. If you think this ad has gone unnoticed by Jim Harbaugh and the 49ers, you're kidding yourself.

Ordering the shirts for sale is fine. That is the only way that the stores can guarantee they will be available for sale on Sunday night or Monday morning. But to print an advertisement is just a little arrogant. 

And a few words would make all of the difference here. Instead of "Immediately following the Giants win," something like "If the Giants win" would get the same message across. It is hard to believe that people in New York would be flocking to the stores for a game that will end at about 9:30 local time. 

Are people in New York really that hard up for an NFC Champions t-shirt? This is the team that won the NFC Championship (and Super Bowl) only four years ago. I understand wanting new apparel and all, but it can wait until Monday. 

In all seriousness, there is nothing wrong with having a plan in place. In reality, it is bad business to do anything but that. But going forth and posting it in such a brash way only puts the 49ers more on edge. That is the last thing that anyone associated with the Giants should want. Let the brashness come from the men on the field.

Retailers can afford to be a little humble. 

Photo Courtesy of Yardbarker.com.

Follow @mdixon1985