EA announces second cover featuring steroid user in less than a week

by pastapadre
Posted October 17th, 2007 at 2:02 am

Madden 08 espanol Luis Castillo

In a bizarre coincidence, EA has announced a new cover athlete for the Spanish language version of Madden 08, Luis Castillo of the San Diego Chargers. Last Thursday fellow teammate Shawne Merriman won the vote to be on the cover of NFL Tour. That means that in less than a week two players who have been either caught (Merriman) or admitted to (Castillo) taking steroids will be the new representatives for these games.

Electronic Arts announced today that Madden NFL 08 En Español will be available this December for the PS2 and Xbox 360. Fully translated in Spanish, Madden NFL 08 en Español will feature San Diego Chargers defensive end Luis Castillo on the box cover. Madden NFL 08 en Español features exclusive Spanish language content, including additional music tracks, and Spanish play-by-play and game analysis voice-over.

By all accounts Castillo is of high character despite the steroids incident, but combined with Merriman it certainly raises the issue of what type of players should be on the covers.

EA took some criticism over the Merriman announcement, although I was surprised there wasn’t more. Jason Taylor, who felt Merriman shouldn’t have been eligible for awards or the Pro Bowl, probably wasn’t pleased that he ended up losing out to him for the cover.

Yes, the fans voted him in, but it seemed obvious from the start he would be the likely winner. EA chose to make him a candidate when they could’ve easily found someone else to put up, but they were satisfied with him potentially being chosen for the cover.

Oh, and on cue, its already been pondered whether Castillo will fall to the Madden cover curse as well.

So what do you think…should there be a level of credibility to the cover athletes more so than just who is the most marketable or popular?

Tags:

beau21

couldnt agree more.. people complain about steroids in sports all the time now.. but yet help give the users added publicity with stuff like this
beau21

couldnt agree more.. people complain about steroids in sports all the time now.. but yet help give the users added publicity with stuff like this
Always#1

The title is hilarious.
Always#1

The title is hilarious.
Dr Logic

is it me or does his helmet look funny
Dr Logic

is it me or does his helmet look funny
Fort

Yeah, that’s a weird ass cover picture. The helmet and his face look off.

I think it’s ridiculous that they gave one cover to a steroid user, let along two! Unbelievable. Not nearly on the same level of 2K including OJ, but it’s still not good.
Fort

Yeah, that’s a weird ass cover picture. The helmet and his face look off.

I think it’s ridiculous that they gave one cover to a steroid user, let along two! Unbelievable. Not nearly on the same level of 2K including OJ, but it’s still not good.
Bukktown

c’mon. I wouldn’t be surprised if the majority of the past cover athletes have taken steroids at one time or another. Seriously, Neifi Perez got busted 3 times.
Bukktown

c’mon. I wouldn’t be surprised if the majority of the past cover athletes have taken steroids at one time or another. Seriously, Neifi Perez got busted 3 times.
DirtyJerz32

I cant believe that they are releasing this game before they fix the Orig game. I dont understand that.
DirtyJerz32

I cant believe that they are releasing this game before they fix the Orig game. I dont understand that.
Anthony

Why’d they choose Castillo. I would’ve put classic Tony Zendejas on the cover of Madden en espanol.

I don’t think I’ll buy this. I’ll wait for Madden en italiano with Vinny Testaverde on the cover.
Anthony

Why’d they choose Castillo. I would’ve put classic Tony Zendejas on the cover of Madden en espanol.

I don’t think I’ll buy this. I’ll wait for Madden en italiano with Vinny Testaverde on the cover.
CAE

Wow, EA is really going to town on Chargers. Just think this would’ve been the 3rd charger on a EA game this year. Because we all know LT was supposed to be on Madden. EA is located in Cali, so I guess it makes some sense. Look for Lamar Odom live 09
CAE

Wow, EA is really going to town on Chargers. Just think this would’ve been the 3rd charger on a EA game this year. Because we all know LT was supposed to be on Madden. EA is located in Cali, so I guess it makes some sense. Look for Lamar Odom live 09
Sam

EA is known for putting guys involved with scandals on their covers. Why does this surprise anyone?

BTW, pasta are you sure you can post up something like this? Won’t EA take away all the free stuff they give you?
Sam

EA is known for putting guys involved with scandals on their covers. Why does this surprise anyone?

BTW, pasta are you sure you can post up something like this? Won’t EA take away all the free stuff they give you?
bison160

I know this doesnt have much to do with steriods, but honestly, I thought this was a joke when I read it and looked at the picture on teamxbox the other day. The cover picture looks photoshoped together or something. like they took a helmet, body, facemask, face, and let a 2nd grader photoshop them all together. I was laughing because I thought whoever came up with this funny joke really sucks at photo editing.
bison160

I know this doesnt have much to do with steriods, but honestly, I thought this was a joke when I read it and looked at the picture on teamxbox the other day. The cover picture looks photoshoped together or something. like they took a helmet, body, facemask, face, and let a 2nd grader photoshop them all together. I was laughing because I thought whoever came up with this funny joke really sucks at photo editing.
Mighty Boom

There should not be a Madden spanish version released in the US. This is America not a 3rd world country.
Mighty Boom

There should not be a Madden spanish version released in the US. This is America not a 3rd world country.
o’rly

LOL second glitched up game. Pull the cord, EA says” SUCKER!”
o’rly

LOL second glitched up game. Pull the cord, EA says” SUCKER!”
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Phil

Will we be able to get 1,000 new achievements for doing the same things in the regular game?
Phil

Will we be able to get 1,000 new achievements for doing the same things in the regular game?
Castillo

Castillo representing dominicans son, we taking over the all the US sports
Castillo

Castillo representing dominicans son, we taking over the all the US sports