Okay so, officially nothing is sacred. Do you want to see some purple mountain majesty? How about a nice mural of a doddering old guy with his grandchild and a catch phrase like: “You are going to die soon but this mountain will still be here, invest in their future! Mutual of Omaha.”  Wouldn’t that be sweet, awe inspiring, and completely and utterly ridiculous and out of place? Well hang on kids ’cause it’s coming!

Under Armour posted its logo on the side of Federal Hill over the weekend and for the record, I think it’s disgusting. I am not a Pollyanna and I don’t believe that advertising is the beast in the basement.  I do, however, think that common sense has flown out the window both for the folks from the City of Baltimore that gave this deal the thumbs up, and for Kevin Plank and his crew that think world domination starts at home. What’s next Kevin — a batman-like light shining through the dark of night proclaiming all of Baltimore to be “Under Armourland”?

I don’t live in “Under Armourland.” I live in Baltimore. And, yes, it is home of the Baltimore Ravens — the last logo to adorn this spot. That logo had more to do with city pride, with a feeling of belonging, with a feeling of togetherness. Ask the woman trudging down the street to the bus stop after a long, hard day of work if she feels as though she is “one with Under Armour.” She’ll probably reply, in her own way, that it is an exclusive brand that she neither has the money for, or the shape.

If you want to welcome athletes to Baltimore, do what everyone else does — spend your advertising dollars on a bus, or on a guy with a megaphone, or a pony and a clown, but please, I beg you, don’t mar our city parks with free advertising for your multi-million dollar company. You’re no Google.