Just had the TV on for a moment and saw one of White Spot’s latest TV ads, and I just couldn’t pass up the chance to throw a minor hissyfit about it.

First, some history - Nat Bailey was instrumental in the creation of the stadium that was subsequently named after him, as well as the teams that played within its confines. Thus, he’s considered a bit of a Vancouver baseball legend.

He also started the White Spot restaurant chain. So there’s two things to be proud of, if you’re one of his ancestors.

But here’s the rub; while the White Spot restaurant chain utilizes the Nat Bailey name often when trying to drench itself in west coast history, they also use baseball in the same way. Order a coke and you’re likely to get it in a glass that has ol’ Nat’s face on the side, bookended by a pair of baseball bats, in front of a baseball diamond… heck, anyone would think that White Spot has the same passion for baseball that their founder did.

Only, that would be a lie. A bald-faced one, at that.

For years, the Vancouver Canadians called on the owners of White Spot to come back to The Nat and play a part in the success of the team. Open a burger counter, take out an outfield advertising sign, run a promotion.. anything! Just be a part of things!

But no. White Spot had no interest. In fact, they weren’t just uninterested, they were emphatically so. Year after year, they didn’t want to know. Nat Bailey’s grandkids were off playing golf or something, and couldn’t be bothered about this odd game played on dirt by people without trust funds.

And yet, here they are today, running an ad on TV in which their newly trained gourmet chefs are ‘preparing for spring training’, complete with ‘Take Me Out to the Ballgame’ background music. 

White Spot, just cut it out already. Stop. You have NOTHING to do with baseball. Your natural position in baseball heaven has duly been taken over by A&W, who haven’t just gone and sponsored a bunch of Family Fun days over the coming Canadians season, but one of their owners went and BOUGHT THE FREAKING TEAM.

You’re done, White Spot. You no longer have any claim to baseball in this town. You’re McDonalds with nicer decor. You’re Wendy’s without the pig-tails. You’re as relevant to baseball as the Pirate Pack is to pirates. 

In fact, if White Spot doesn’t stop whoring their tenuous connection to baseball, I’m going to be the first one to stand up and suggest it might be time to rename Nat Bailey Stadium. 

Jeff Mooney Stadium… has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?