The Blame Lies With 'The Big Lebowski'

Posted Tuesday, January 14, 2003 at 2:24 PM Central

by John Couture

In the United States, the use of movie clips has come to replace the organ as the most utilized tool to generate fan enthusiasm during a sporting event. In Russia, they use movie clips to incite a riot.

Or says a Russian court.

Early this week a Russian appeals court upheld a $10,000 fine against an advertising agency that showed a clip from The Big Lebowski immediately following a World Cup soccer match in which Japan defeated Russia earlier this year. The clip in which a character gets up on a car and 'beats it up' with a baseball bat is said to have sparked similar acts of violent aggression.

I'm sure the Dude would be proud...