Now, that's GAME.
- The Coach
Check out this commercial featuring Curry...Are you convinced?
Let's go.
With a MVP caliber season filled with amazing shots and plays that have defied the laws of physics, and sometimes gravity, NBA Super-star and Under Armour signee Stephen Curry has single-handedly elevated the Under Armour Basketball brand. In addition to an amazing season thus far, he has starred in commercials featuring Academy Award-winning Actor Jamie Foxx to promote his first signature shoe --- Curry One. With looming rumors of Under Armour competing for the NBA endorsement contract against Nike in 2017, Steph's branding and marketing attack is helping UA state their claim as a successful basketball brand, whose products match the performance of their athletes. Check out this link to Forbes.com and check out their take on Under Armour's newly charged basketball brand, as well as Curry's impact. Now, that's GAME. - The Coach Check out this commercial featuring Curry...Are you convinced?
0 Comments
It's no secret that Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose has been bogged down with a series of unfortunate events dating back to the 2012-13 season where he suffered his first serious injury - a torn ACL. The following season, the same thing --- just the other knee. This year, Rose suffered yet another injury that has kept him from playing and wheeling his team to victory and contend for a NBA championship. Despite all that has plagued Rose, he's still a star player and prior to his injury this season, he managed to be a force to be reckoned with throughout the league. Deep in his mind, the Chi-town native knows that his concrete roots spawned more than a Rose. He learned a lot about himself and persevering through adversity --- which is exactly what Wieden + Kennedy aspired to convey in their latest creation for Coca Cola's signature sports drink - PowerADE. "Just a Kid" explains that we're all just a kid from some where. We all have to work in order to get where we want to be. Everyone's road is different, but the journey is what unites us all. With Tupac's poem "The Rose That Grew from Concrete" painting the canvas and a young man riding a bicycle (symbolic of a journey we've all endured as children --- blazing our eventual path to adulthood), W+K did an excellent job channeling the fuel and drive that pushes all of us. Which is parallel to the fuel and drive that PowerADE aspires to provide to its athletes. Check out this commercial and decide for yourself whether you're flourishing from the concrete, or just withering away. Continue to grow and never stop pushing your way to the top...even when no one else cares. Check out Tupac's poem "The Rose That Grew from Concrete". Excellent poem, 'Pac. Now, that's GAME. - The Coach Battle for the Association: Nike & Under Armour battle for the new NBA sponsorship contract3/30/2015 Adidas has announced that after the 2016-17 NBA season that it will not seek to renew or reclaim its sponsorship with the NBA. In 2006, Adidas signed an 11-year sponsorship contract with the NBA making Adidas the official supplier of NBA apparel. With Adidas out of the picture, athletic apparel and apparent "King of Basketball" Nike appears to be the front-runner for the prized contract offered by the NBA. With a roster of athletes such as LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, and Kyrie Irving to name a few, as well as serving as the plateau for Brand Jordan, Nike seems like an obvious, no-brainer, no-contest choice for the most coveted sponsorship deal in the basketball world. Right? Well Under Armour, though rooted in football, as well as being a product that combats all seasonal elements, in recent years, through endorsement deals with NBA stars Stephen Curry and Brandon Jennings, their basketball presence has skyrocketed. Checkout the link about the breakdown of Nike and Under Armour. Though Nike seems like the obvious choice, Under Armour could be a late-game surprise. Now, that's GAME - The Coach http://finance.yahoo.com/news/nike--under-armour-could-battle-for-nba-contract-as-adidas-bows-out-170721862.html On March 5, Portland Trail Blazers' shooting guard Wesley Matthews suffered a torn achilles tendon in a non-contact play versus the Dallas Mavericks. It is very ironic that Matthews was injured while wearing a pair of basketball shoes specifically designed to protect the achilles heel and evade the possibility of suffering that injury, Nike's intricately designed Kobe 9 (High) is the sneaker of choice for Matthews, as well as for some of NIke's laundry-list of basketball players they endorse. Not much has been reported regarding the quality of the Kobe 9 (High). It appears to be a well-put-together, durable, and supportive basketball shoe. Matthews is a supporter of the Kobe 9 (High) --- making that shoe his weapon of choice after switching from Nike Hyperdunks. Since we're on the topic of sneaker-blowouts (in this case, "season-ending, achilles tearing" blowouts), this is not the first malfunction that Wes has endured at the hands (more like feet) of the Kobe 9 (High). According to a TwitPic tweeted by the Portland Trail Blazers' Equipment staff, the sole of Wes' Kobe 9 (High) ripped --- giving a slightly ironic play-on-words to Portland's moniker --- "RIP CITY". I'm sure Nike has corralled this issue as soon as it occurred. I mean, after all, this product is the signature item of one of their most highly endorsed athletes and achilles impaired ballers, Kobe Bryant. So, anything negative that's already surrounding an injury ridden superstar at the tail-end of a celebrated career could be damaging to his brand, as well as Nike Basketball. But, needless to say, the Portland Trail Blazers have taken an immense blow to their squad, as well as their chance to make a deep playoff run. Hopefully, Wes can make a full recovery and can come back better than before --- however, this injury isn't to be taken lightly, seeing that this injury has impacted careers of NBA players such as Pistons' Great Isaiah Thomas and Kobe Bryant. Though without one of their star players, the Blazers are making it known that they are standing with Wes and are hoping for a speedy recovery. Below is the "WITH WES/RE2URN" t-shirt worn by Blazers' All-Star Damian Lillard. I wish you a speedy recovery, Wes. Hopefully the Blazers will prevail, defy all odds, and make a run in the playoffs...but, the road is not easy. Stay up, 2. #WithWes
So, It's no secret that lately the pride and joy of Canada --- other than Sidney Crosby & the entire sport of hockey --- is no other than former Degrassi star, Canadian superstar, OVO Sound reppin', entertainer known to some as Aubrey Graham, but hailed by the world as Drake. It's very funny that as an emerging force in the NBA, the Toronto Raptors, comprised of a talented roster led by Kyle Lowry, are the Association's coolest and popular team! Could it be because of their talented basketball team? Sure. Toronto is playing some great basketball. Partly reminiscent of the days of "Vinsanity". But, maybe it's because they have landed a sure-fire branding and marketing piece by making Canada' s own and self-proclaimed "6 God", Drake, their Global Ambassador. Great move, huh? With Drake's ever-so-popular super record label/brand/movement/secular cult October's Very Own being mapped all over the 416, or "6", to include it in the Air Canada Centre, along with a courtside-Drizzy, paints the perfect picture of success for the NBA's most-northern and international franchise. Sure, every good thing comes with a downside. A few months ago, Drake cost the Raptors a good chunk of change by openly soliciting NBA superstar and Oklahoma City Thunder Forward Kevin Durant. Drake "know yourself" and play your role. Your a face of a franchise's front office, not the general manager. In short, Drake appears to be a great acquisition for the Raptors. Check out this article and form your opinion on the direction of the Raptors. Regardless of how their season ends, at least they can say that Nothing Was The Same. Nice move, T.Dot. Now, that's GAME. - The Coach Both are premiere point guards in the NBA. Both found their way in the Association early in their career. Both have commanded leadership of their respected squads, as well as leadership in their respected conferences. The tale of the tape between Chicago Bulls' Point Guard Derrick Rose and Portland Trail Blazers' Point Guard Damian Lillard are extremely parallel, which their paths to the dominance and supremacy vary in slight detail. Of course, I'll state the obvious: Rose's college --- University of Memphis --- is a collegiate basketball powerhouse throughout the mid-south and as an undergrad, Rose led a championship-contending squad as a FRESHMAN and decided to forgo the rest of college days and enter the 2008 NBA Draft, where the Chicago Bulls selected him with the No. 1 overall pick. DAME, on the other hand, attended a mid-major institution --- Weber State University located in Ogden, Utah. Not a lot of attention, or sex appeal coming from that area. But Damian was a serious threat to all competition in the Big Sky Conference and was one of the nation's top scorers. This caught the eye of the Portland Trail Blazers who selected him with the No. 6 overall in 2012 NBA Draft. Over the course of the last few seasons, an injury-ridden Derrick Rose has been questioned based on his sustainability. A series of knee injuries, including a recent one from last week, has the game wondering about the durability of the former-MVP. in 2011, Adidas figured they would continue to issue their stamp on the basketball by signing Derrick Rose to a 13-year, $185 Million endorsement deal. Soon thereafter began a series of misfortunes for Rose. Multiple knee injuries have left him fragmented mentally, as well as limited physically. With that being said, Adidas is concerned. After a Rookie of the Year campaign in 2012-13 and by solidifying his presence a premiere young talent on the rise in the NBA, Adidas corralled Lillard and signed him to an endorsement deal said to be worth north of $100M. Adidas' acquisition of Lillard to their camp, as well as their engulfing of former-Reebok athlete and Washington Wizards Point Guard John Wall, solidified three-stripe nation as a relevant force in basketball, while trying to compete with Nike's big three --- LeBron, Kobe, & Durant. Thanks to Rose's industry, one can't help but wonder what's next? Will brand attention shift from Rose to Lillard? Since Lillard's signature line of Adidas apparel and shoes launched last month, DAME is clearly popular, relevant throughout all media platforms. What about John Wall? Who's signature line was released just last year. Since Lillard and Wall have turned graveyard organizations into championship contenders in only a few years, and since they're free from injury, it seems logical for Adidas to grow concerned think about the next face of Adidas Basketball. Rose is scheduled to return from his injury within the next 4-6 weeks --- just in time for the playoffs. With all three players playing for clubs that will make the playoffs, it seems that these three will have a lot more to be playing for than just a championship. Perhaps the face of a brand and surviving on a roster of one of the most highly recognizable brands in the world could be at stake. I'm sure they will rise to challenge. Get well, D. ROSE. Now, that's GAME. - The Coach Recently, devastating news about the Jackie Robinson West (JRW) Little League Baseball team broke the hearts of millions nationwide. They were forced to vacate all wins during the 2014 Little World Series, including their route to a United States Championship. The reason for the their sanction is because their coaches allowed players who lived in districts outside of Jackie Robinson West to play on their team. Before I get to my subject matter, allow me to say two things: ONE, It's not kids' fault, it's the adults. And TWO, to the adults who outed the team, why was it so important for you to obtain multiple documents (driver's licenses, voter's registration, etc.) in order to expose JRW? I mean, what's wrong is wrong, however, I can't help but wonder if their motives for exposure were spiteful and not because it was the right to do. This entire situation caused me to wonder about Little League Baseball. Not on the game itself, but on the culture and business of the league. ESPN has been televising the Little League World Series for years and initially it did not include all 32 games. So much revenue is generated through advertising and marketing for Little League Baseball, as well as its partners --- including ESPN. With the millions of dollars generated, I entertained the question: "Should Little League Baseball players be compensated for playing in the Little League World Series?" Much like the NCAA, the images and likeness of the kids playing are advertised and marketed across multiple platforms and aiding the revenue generated by ESPN and Little League Baseball. I'm not saying the kids should be put on payroll. Of course not. That's the difference between being an amateur and a professional. But, I do feel that their teams or leagues should be awarded a donation from ESPN and Little League Baseball for making it to the Little League World Series and if they win, the sum could be greater. At the end of Little League Baseball's fiscal year in 2012, they saw almost $80 Million dollars in revenue. With that being said, I would like to think there is plenty of money to go around to award leagues and teams for their hard work. Check out this interesting article on this matter. It could shed some light on what should be done about giving teams a financial reward for competing on such a grand stage at the expense of millions of dollars. And to Jackie Robinson West, you played and you won. Keep yours heads up. Now, that's GAME. - The Coach Sorry for being redundant, but I could not pass on this opportunity to deposit my two cents. I find it funny that last week I gave my spill on the Air Jordan lineage while negligently forgetting that 2015 is the 30th anniversary of Brand Jordan. Just in time for NBA All-Star Weekend 2015, Nike and Brand Jordan are aiming to launch a special commemorative campaign in honor of Brand Jordan turning the big 3-0. But instead of the standard nostalgic approach, the guys in Beaverton, Oregon have different plans. While piddling around on Twitter I stumbled upon a tweet by Kicksonfire.com. The tweet referenced the idea of Jordan "As a State of Being", rather than focusing on the six-time NBA Champion himself. In short, Brand Jordan's roster of pro-basketball players primarily consists of Russell Westbrook, Blake Griffin, Chris Paul, and Carmelo Anthony. So, it's not a big surprise that they will be the marquee features (other than Jordan, obviously) for the commercial/campaign. The article stated that the players will no longer hold themselves to the stigma that they have to "Be like Jordan", or "Be better than Jordan", but instead realize that their reason for being endorsed by Brand Jordan is not to be "Like Mike", but to continue to embody and represent that passion, zeal, and hard work that the brand illustrates. It's not about MJ after all, it's about the true message of the brand. Granted, the message was instilled and inspired by MJ, but who wasn't inspired by 23? Kudos to Nike/Brand Jordan for this campaign. I'm excited to see the commercial! Now, that's GAME. Enjoy your NBA All-Star Weekend. - The Coach A little over 30 years ago, Nike embarked down a path that would change their company forever. After signing Naismith Hall of Famer and six-time NBA Champion Michael Jordan, Nike set out to produce a legendary line of signature sneakers featuring the mantra --- "AIR JORDAN" and the forever-iconic "Jumpman" represented by "Your Royal Airness" himself. Once produced, the sneakers were not just shoes to sport for athletic purposes; These delightful sole ornaments came with a high price -- a price so expensive that you would not want to scuff, rip, or run-down your sneakers at the expense of schooling your friends in a pick-up basketball game. People were wanting these shoes simply for the fashion. Three decades and 28 signature shoes later, nothing has changed. People still want to sport these retro sneakers as if it were 1988. But, how does Nike and Brand Jordan continue to garner so much revenue by releasing the same sneakers? From what I've gathered, it's all based on three things: 1. Exclusiveness - By charging nearly $200 and releasing special edition color schemes, Nike and Brand Jordan are able to channel those methods by choosing one date and only delivering a small number of products. That creates the demand. Stores are forced to either sell at a "first come, first serve" rate or make the customer's one-day-rivalry versus other customers fair by having a raffle; 2. Brand recognition - Michael Jordan is celebrated as the G.O.A.T. --- Greatest of All Time. To wear a pair of his signature sneakers (whether the original color, or not), you are able to indulge in a piece of history; 3. OLD is the new "NEW" - Nowadays, we love the retro look. To be fashion forward, you have to go backwards to pick up your swag ingredients for your sauced apparel. I hope I was able to shed some insight on how Air Jordan's, though remastered and rebranded, are still able to have the same market impact, if not better, more than 30 years later. Now, that's GAME - The Coach When it comes to digesting literature, I make sure that whatever I am reading is either about sports (obviously), my profession, or something that is funny and worth my time. UnMarketing By Scott Stratten, though not about sports, captures my interest by relating to three out of four of my requirements. This book captures the essence of modern marketing. Stratten focuses on the objective of not just marketing your products to your consumers. That's what you are supposed to do. Instead, he focuses on effectively building relationships with your consumers by establishing trust with your publics. He gives an in-depth look at social media usage, a marketer's mentality, as well as various do's, don'ts, should's, and could's to help any marketer or business reach its maximum potential and get the most out of their business and services. It's a great read and if you want to take your GAME to the next level, I suggest taking a peak. Enjoy your GAME day, - The Coach |
AuthorA PR/Marketing professional who channels his craft through sports & entertainment. Archives
March 2015
Categories |