SPOILER ALERT: This is about soccer. So if you hate the sport? Well, read on anyway. But it won’t be pretty. Just sayin’.So ok, soccer freaks like me are getting ready to stay up late, lose sleep and throw stuff at the TV. First though, Nike rolls out its ‘Beware’ campaign. Guys, Please. Two words: Bode Miller and Kobe Bryant. Because in my twisted fan-logic way, I view self-important ads as having a whacky effect on game mojo. Considering how The Lakers and Us Ski Team did this year when it counted, this may just be a hat trick where the US exits early in group play.
Thanks Nike.
The US team needs to win consistently against the world’s best before you have them chest thumping and talking shit. All of a sudden I hear Woody Harrelson in my head repeating over and over: “...look good and lose rather than look bad and win.”
Maybe WK and Nike should instead focus their efforts on Bruce Arena and help him figure out how to come up with a creative game plan. Is that a 4-4-2 I see? Wow. Sweet. Only he could elevate the NFL’s prevent defense to an art form and call it offensive soccer. Tip to spice things up: they’re called overlapping runs - look into it.
Oh, and did I mention shuffling line-ups constantly as he tries to figure out a mix that plays together well? More better brilliant from Bruce. And hey now, why not stop grabbing MLS players just two weeks before they go before they are to play for the National Team?
Several people have told me that he’s done a lot for the National team and it’s in better shape because of his efforts. I disagree. The talent pool got better - not the coaching. Ironic that Landon is the lead figure in the campaign, especially when it was Arena who inexplicably limited his playing time during Donovan’s first World Cup experience years ago.
Especially when the team could have used his speed. In his limited PT, he was absolutely the fastest player on the pitch who teams had no answer for, yet, he sat for most of the games.
But I digress.
Nike, Nike, Nike. Remember: the rest of the world laughs at the US national team and the quality of soccer in this country, no matter what the campaign says. Only the team has the power to change that, not a cool outdoor. I’m old-school on this: until they overcome that hurdle, act like you’ve been there before and save the metaphorical, proverbial, theoretical, and etc-cettera-cal fucking endzone dance until we win it all.
Tags: advertising, Nike, brands, viral, US National Team
5 comments:
Haven't really seen the spots, or if I did, didn't comprehend or notice,but why abandon something as powerful as an underdog trying harder, trying to earn respect? Seems like an organic story with a life of its own to me (see U.S. Olympic Hockey.) I dind't know all this about you LogoMan. You used the word "pitch," so I know you're into it and possibly not U.S. born. When my son was playing club soccer we had one parent from overseas who actually knew the game. The rest of the parents would shamelessly steal his inventory of cheers and encouragement. All the sudden some soccer mom would be yelling, "Well up!" with no idea what it meant. Good times.
I'm American mister, with a capitol American. But I do have the Euro-UK-Emerald Isle mutt thing in the blood.
Interesting you read the campaign that way though. I'm all for the underdog, absolutely. And we are perrenial underdogs. But I don't think they were going for that here.
It smacks totally of a wide receiver celebrating a late 4th-quarter TD – and his team is down by 35. It’s like, are you kidding? Just shut up and play.
I don’t ever recall Italy or Brazil running virals saying how great they are. They just show up and kick your ass.
Hey now Negative Nellie, we just might beat Brasil since we were able to beat Poland. Oh wait, that made no sense.
We beat Brazil and I shut this blog down.
Wait. Now that made no sense. If I did that, I’d actually have to work during the day.
Nike can't do the 'underdog showing up for work and winning' approach; Gatorade took that angle.
The mojo effect worries me too, but I appreciate the balls hanging off the campaign.
And if the US beats Brazil, I'll ice skate in hell shortly after shooting a few pigs out of the sky.
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