Advertisers are riding the Hispanic wave. The stock of Latinos is rising in the advertising world.

“The 30-second Pepsi commercial that aired last summer captured the changing mug of the nation’s pastime. Here you had Alex Rodriguez and Vladimir Guerrero — celebrated products of the Dominican Republic (though A-Rod grew up comfortably in South Florida) — in a whimsical home run derby, pitching the popular soft drink.

Before that, it was slugger Sammy Sosa flashing his effervescent smile for everything from Pepsi to Fila to Kmart. Mariano Rivera promoting Nike. Pedro Martinez pitching a McDonald’s lobster roll across New England. Ozzie Guillen doing the same for Subway in Chicago. Francisco Rodriguez selling Pepsi in Southern California and to countrymen in Venezuela. And let’s not forget Viagra pitchman Rafael Palmeiro.”

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