Time out!

Finally, someone said "enough." The National Football League conceded this week that there can actually be too much of a good thing. In this case, it's pink. The NFL's breast cancer awareness initiative includes pink "cleats, wristbands, gloves, sideline hats, helmet decals, captains' patches, chin cups, shoe laces, skull caps, sideline towels, eye shield decals and quarterback towels," as well as coins, socks, equipment and even goalpost padding. But when the league tried to introduce pink penalty flags, it turned out to be the final straw. (Read more about it here.)

Photo courtesy of RoshSillars.comThere's no question that pink's association with breast cancer awareness is one of the most successful partnerships in cause-marketing history. It seems like small businesses and giant corporations alike are eager to invest in the cause, because they know it will enhance their image with consumers and strengthen their bottom line. Case in point: Norma's Café. The wildly popular Dallas diner has been serving up Texas-style home cooking since 1956. Yet for some reason, the folks at Norma's thought it would be a good idea to capitalize on its famous biscuits and gravy by offering to "take a bite out of breast cancer" with "Biscuits for Boobies." You've surely seen similar efforts. Last week, upon picking up my cholesterol medication, I discovered that my pharmacy is using pink prescription bottle caps throughout the month of October. I think most folks are pretty much aware of breast cancer. What they may not be aware of is that obesity, which causes high cholesterol, is also a risk factor for breast and many other types of cancer.It doesn't take much effort to list the myriad ways we're awash in pink this month. If you've come across something you want to share, take a picture with your cellphone camera and send it to my email. I'll post it here with your comments.UPDATE: Kathy LaTour received this from a friend in Washington State. They're called "mammo-grahams" and are intended to raise awareness about the importance of mammography. Are they better when served with milk?