The announcement that BMW has thrown its name, money, and allegiance to Oracle seems to us like very much the wrong move for them. We know that on paper Oracle is very strong, and clearly must be ranked very high to challenge for the cup. But is that what BMW's sponsorship is all about? Go with the one you think will win, despite any potential setbacks, like say, a PR nightmare that is always a potential with Ellison? If that's the logic, why not throw in with One World? Or take the safe route and go with Prada - they're a good bet.

But of course all of this is very secondary to the real question that must be asked. Why in hell didn't BMW sign up with illbruck? A German alliance would have made perfect sense, especially given that illbruck desperately needed a corporate partner to continue. And the sad ending to that storyline is that illbruck did not get the partner they were looking for and were forced to shut their doors. To sign up with Oracle at the cost of not helping illbruck is to us unconscionable. And bad marketing. And even worse PR.

It's not like illbruck would have had no chance to win the thing. With Kostecki driving a Vrolijk boat with good funding, only a fool wouldn't think that they could go very far. With Ellison, who the hell knows? We know they've got Farr and lot's o' cash, but any guy who effectively fires Cayard and Dickson, and then makes noises about wanting to steer the boat himself is not a safe bet for anything. What's worse is that Ellison doesn't need BMW's 20 million, but illbruck certainly did.

We think BMW's decision stinks. I'm sure we don't know the inside story, but based on what we do know, we don't like it. They could have kept alive and unified a strong German challenge. It would have been great for Germany, and looked good to the outside world. Instead it leaves us questioning the decision making at the top of their food chain. What's next, a partnership with the IRL in auto racing? BMW, you ought to be embarrassed.