October 15: The Problem of Pink Goalposts

A year ago today, Business Insider released an article highlighting some rather questionable business practices.

For the last few years, throughout the month of October, football fans have grown accustomed to seeing pink everywhere, and merchandise advertised to go toward breast cancer research can be purchased.

After running the numbers for the cuts taken by the NFL itself, by the retailers, manufacturers, and the American Cancer Society administration, article author Cork Gaines arrives at a shockingly low number for what actually goes toward research. 8.01%.

That means if you spent $100USD on Pink NFL merchandise, only eight dollars and one cent would go to research. Fifty dollars goes to the retailers themselves. Manufacturers take thirty seven dollars and fifty cents. That right there totals up to eighty seven dollars and fifty cents out of your $100 purchase. And of the remaining amount, still less than ten percent goes to breast cancer research. The way it's set up isn't to get research funding, it's a marketing ploy.

It should also be noted that the most common place for pink NFL merchandise to be sold is through the league's online store, individual teams and at the stadiums. Therefore, the NFL or the individual teams act as the retailer in this case and therefore receive a portion of the 50 percent that goes toward the "retailer."

By putting the spotlight on the pink ribbon, the NFL is boosting its corporate image and gaining female fans, as well as lining their own pockets.

If you want to buy the pink NFL merchandise for the sake of having it, then by all means go ahead. But don't delude yourself into thinking you're contributing to breast cancer research. If you truly wish to make a difference, look at the product you might buy, look at the price tag attached, and donate that amount to METAvivor's campaign, #GiveItUp4Mets. 100% of your money will go toward metastatic breast cancer research.

Which is worth it, another t-shirt, or hope for 155,000 Americans who are living with metastatic breast cancer? And isn't your money worth more than 8 percent?