Welcome Your 2009 San Jose Earthquakes, Sponsored By Amway!

We’d never hate on a team that has to make money to provide entertainment for you lazy types who hate to read (yes… we’re in that group, too). But the MLS‘ San Jose Earthquakes are taking it too far. We all know that Soccer jerseys, or “kits,” are ripe for ad placements, but this year SJ is selling it to Amyway, which you might remember from your younger years hanging out with your Aunt while your parents went to the movies. Well, they’re trying to get past that whole “it’s a pyramid scheme” thing and be the new hip thing for Latinos in NorCal. Yes, by advertising on San Jose Earthquakes jerseys.

Amway also was attracted to the large and growing Hispanic population in San Jose, which boasts the fourth largest concentration of Amway’s field representatives, Amway’s Lieberman said… Internationally, soccer superstar Ronaldinho endorses Amway’s Nutrilite brand of supplements and that brand also sponsors his club, AC Milan.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but officials familiar with the agreement said it is in the range of $2 million to $3 million a year… The Earthquakes lost $2.2 million in its first season in 2008 and [Earthquakes owner Lew Wolff] said with the help of the Amway deal officials expect the loss to be cut to about $1 million this year.

Damn you economy… don’t you have any remorse for what you’ve done to the world? First you make millions lose their jobs, and now you’re making grown men playing soccer advertise moisturizing products on their chests. Seriously, when will you stop your carnage?
MLS San Jose team in jersey sponsor deal with Amway [Guardian UK]
Image [Amway]