It doesn’t make it better when one analyzes the product name or history. The original name was “Gator-aid.” It was invented at a university lab in Florida with the intent of haloing improve performance of their team, the “Gators.”
When the scientists behind the discovery decided to commercialize the product they settled in the more marketable and legally protectable name “Gatorade.”
Therefore regardless of wether we discuss the comer dialog named product or the originally termed product, the name DOES refer to “Gators.” In the context of the original posters question however- the “Gators” they’d be extracting fluids from would be members of the “Gators” football (American) team. While obviously they don’t extract fluids from gators of any sort directly (which was largely the joke,) it might be more disturbing to many in context that said “Gators” would be human athletes in context to the joke if we analyze it behind the surface level.
As both a fun fact and possibly to add to the potentially disturbing thought of “Gatorade” being extracted fluids of human athletes, the original formula for “Gator Aid” aka “Gatorade” as a functional sports beverage is said to taste like urine.
The modern commercial version contains very high levels of sugar and other compounds to improve flavor and overall pleasantness to cater a product to consumer tastes vs. being a specially formulated beverage with a primary intent of providing sports medicine to those who’s priority is hydration and long term athletic performance and conditioning. It is true in fact that a large percentage of professional athletes rarely if ever drink Gatorade. Many have sponsorship deals with Gatorade or similar competitors, but even then they can often be said to only drink such drinks to a level to fulfill contractual obligations for endorsements. Athletes without sponsorship deals often will drink water, protein drinks, or functional electrolyte drinks…
more similar to the original version of “Gatorade”/Gator-Aid.” The high sugar content of even “sugar free” Gatorade and other “sports drinks” and large fluid intake of most pro athletes makes such drinks generally incompatible with the long term nutrition plans high level pro athletes must stick to for optimal performance for their role and position. Alkaline waters, “coconut water” and other sorts of waters with specific properties are also often found as either a “go to drink” or professional athletes or a sponsored beverage. Since athletes often drink from sponsor labeled cups and bottles it often isn’t possible to know what they are actually drinking. Food coloring or other means and containers swaps can be used to make many beverages of choice appear as whatever the athletes sponsorship might require, and what they drink away from cameras isn’t easily tracked.
When the scientists behind the discovery decided to commercialize the product they settled in the more marketable and legally protectable name “Gatorade.”
Therefore regardless of wether we discuss the comer dialog named product or the originally termed product, the name DOES refer to “Gators.” In the context of the original posters question however- the “Gators” they’d be extracting fluids from would be members of the “Gators” football (American) team. While obviously they don’t extract fluids from gators of any sort directly (which was largely the joke,) it might be more disturbing to many in context that said “Gators” would be human athletes in context to the joke if we analyze it behind the surface level.
The modern commercial version contains very high levels of sugar and other compounds to improve flavor and overall pleasantness to cater a product to consumer tastes vs. being a specially formulated beverage with a primary intent of providing sports medicine to those who’s priority is hydration and long term athletic performance and conditioning. It is true in fact that a large percentage of professional athletes rarely if ever drink Gatorade. Many have sponsorship deals with Gatorade or similar competitors, but even then they can often be said to only drink such drinks to a level to fulfill contractual obligations for endorsements. Athletes without sponsorship deals often will drink water, protein drinks, or functional electrolyte drinks…