Fox All-Star ad frightening children, players

The FOX advertisement for the 2009 St Louis MLB All-Star game began airing several weeks ago and has been criticized for scaring children and the players headed to the gateway to the west. The ad shows the famous St Louis Arch being used as an enormous magnet to attract All-Star players and fans from across the country and depositing them in Busch Stadium, site of the this year's mid-summer classic.

A large hand, possibly a giant, is shown lifting the arch from its base and moving it around the country gathering all it can. Towards the end of the commercial the "magnet" arrives in St Louis where the magnetic force is shut off, therefore dropping the hordes of people attached 50-60 ft down to the playing surface.

"My 9-year-old son is terrified that a giant metal arch is going to come out of the sky and carry him away," said Don Hafner, a Philadelphia Phillies fan. "He has refused to attend a game since the ads began."

As a single cloud passed in front of the sun over the weekend, casting a shadow on the first level seating at Citizens Bank Park, a minor panic ensued as several fans pushed towards the safety of the concourse yelling, "ARCH."

Although most traumatized by the promo have been children, players have also been affected by the advertisement.

"I have to admit that I often find myself looking up at the sky during games," said New York Yankees shortstop, Derek Jeter, a starter in this year's game. "It could really come from any direction."

Jeter's teammate Alex Rodriguez said he too watches for the Arch from the corner of his eye while in the field. The third baseman should relax as the arch only pulls in all-star players.

FOX issued a statement saying the ad would be changed so that the Arch lands on the field and players and fans will enter and exit the landmark through a small door at the base. The magnet theme will be nixed. Also, military helicopters, one being piloted by Cardinals all-star Albert Pujols, will replace the giant hand that violently tears the Arch from its base.

"We didn't think this through all the way," said a FOX Representative. "We never intended to upset young television viewers with the promo. I told them to use flying clydesdales instead, which would travel the country rounding up players and fans. Fans could feed the horses hay after landing in St Louis."