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Showing posts with label athletes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label athletes. Show all posts

Foot Locker's Week Of Greatness Is Introduced By "All Is Right", A Hilarious TV Spot About Making Wrongs Right.




"I kept that in formaldehyde" says Mike Tyson of Evander Holyfield's ear, which Tyson partially bit off in a Championship fight 16 years ago, and now returns in a gift box to the former Heavyweight fighter.

Sound funny? It is. And it's just one of the brilliant moments in Foot Locker's new tv spot to promote the stores' Week Of Greatness and the premium shoe releases which begin on November 23rd.


above: Kyrie Irving's dream brings together some of the most eclectic stars past and present to proclaim once and for all that “All is Right” during Foot Locker's Week of Greatness.

The minute long television commercial by BBDO New York and directed by Jim Jenkins brings back NBA's Kyrie Irving as a spokesman, dreaming of righting the world's wrongs - which also include sending Dennis Rodman to North Korea permanently, seeing Brett Favre finally walk away, and Craig Sager's decision to finally change his wardrobe.



CREDITS
Client: Foot Locker
Spot: "All Is Right"
Agency: BBDO, New York
Chief Creative Officer: David Lubars
Senior Creative Directors: Chris Beresford-Hill, Dan Lucey
Senior Content Producer: Tricia Lentini
Creative Director, Copywriter: Alex Taylor
Creative Director, Art Director: Jason Stefanik
Executive Music Producer: Melissa Chester
Senior Account Director: Troy Tarwater
Account Director: Janelle Van Wonderen
Account Executive: Nick Robbins
Assistant Account Executive: Samuel Henderson
Production Company: O Positive Films
Director: Jim Jenkins
Executive Producer: Ralph Laucella
Executive Producer, Line Producer: Marc Grill
Director of Photography: Ramsay Niokell
Music House: South Music
Edit House: Mackenzie Cutler
Editor: Ian Mackenzie
Assistant Editor: Nick Divers
Visual Effects House: Schmigital
Sound Mix: Heard City
Sound Mixer: Keith Reynaud

New Cream Soda in "A Big Can for the Big Man." Introducing Soda Shaq.




AriZona Beverages has teamed up with Shaquille O'Neal to launch an all-natural cream soda line. SODA SHAQ, named for the basketball legend known for his personality, has hit the market in AriZona's signature single-serve 23.5oz. can from Rexam.

SODA SHAQ contains real vanilla from Madagascar, is sweetened with pure cane sugar and has just 90 calories per serving. Like all AriZona products, it is made with no artificial colors or preservatives and is available in Original Vanilla Cream, Orange Cream, Blueberry Cream and Strawberry Cream flavors.

"We are excited to expand our offerings to include a great carbonated beverage innovation based on a soda shop classic," said Don Vultaggio, Chairman of AriZona Beverages. "With nearly a third less calories than the competition, SODA SHAQ's great-tasting and all-natural cream sodas are perfect for consumers looking for variety. And through our continued partnership with Rexam, we are bringing them to market in another great version of our iconic big cans."



The new can designs (of which there are 8 for the flour flavors) include the tagline "A Big Can for the Big Man" and prominently feature Shaq's famous likeness.



Rich Grimley, president and CEO, Rexam BCNA, says, "As the industry leader in 24oz. 'big' can production, we continue to grow our relationship with AriZona Beverages, supporting this brand extension with an ideal packaging choice that delivers superior recycling and environmental benefits as well as filling and distribution economics."

SODA SHAQ is currently available at retailers nationwide at a suggested retail price of $.99 per can.

www.drinksodashaq.com

Athletes Recreate Iconic Album Covers For ESPN. All The Images, Side by Side Comparisons and Behind The Scenes Shots.




ESPN Magazine's Music Issue has a fabulous photo editorial that I simply had to share with you (along with some 'behind the scenes' shots). Photographed by Mattias Clamer, 14 athletes, all with a good sense of humor, let themselves be transformed to emulate musicians and recreate iconic album covers from the past few decades.

Below are the shots for ESPN, the original album covers, side by side comparisons and images from the set.

NFL Players Trent Richardson, Marshawn Lynch and LaMarr Woodley as Run-D.M.C. (Album: Ultimate Run DMC, 2003):


Side by Side:

Behind The Scenes:


NFL Players Trent Richardson, Marshawn Lynch and LaMarr Woodley as Run-D.M.C.(Album: Run DMC's Greatest Hits, 2002):


Side by Side:

Behind The Scenes:


Olympic Gold Medal Sprinter Allyson Felix as Beyonce (Album: Dangerously In Love, 2003)


Side by Side:

Behind The Scenes:


Olympic God Medal Swimmer Ryan Lochte as the baby on Nirvana's Nevermind Baby (Album: Nevermind, 1991):


Side by Side:

Behind The Scenes:


Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Josh Freeman as Michael Jackson (Album:Thriller, 1982):


Side by Side:

Behind The Scenes:


Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Josh Freeman as Michael Jackson (Off The Wall, 1979):


Side by Side:

Behind The Scenes:


NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson (and wife Chanra) as Bob Dylan (Album: The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, 1963)


Side by Side:

Behind The Scenes:


Motocross Racer James Stewart as Rick James (Album: Street Songs, 1981)


Side by Side:

Behind The Scenes:



U.S. Women's National Soccer Team Forward Alex Morgan as Katy Perry (Album: One Of The Boys, 2008)


Side by Side:

Behind The Scenes:


MLB Players J. Upton, E. Longoria, B. Phillips, G. Stanton and S. Victorino as Devo (Album: Freedom Of Choice, 1980)


Side by Side:

Behind the Scenes:



The Cover of the ESPN Magazine February Music Issue:


Another cute feature is that the athletes have each compiled playlists you can find here.


Super Serious Super Bowl Ring Bling Info. New Details, Pics and Facts About All The NFL Championship Rings.




Each year I run this post, updated to include the latest NFL Championship Ring. This year, I've also updated several of the specific jewelry design facts and added new images.

One of the most recognizable pieces of bling are given to the players of the National Football League's annual championship game, the Super Bowl. Who makes them? Who gets them? What are they worth?

What's On Each Ring?

The rings almost always include the team's name, logo, and Super Bowl number (usually in Roman numerals), the final game score and the names of the particular player. Several include inscriptions of team's mantras or mission statements such as the Baltimore Raven's "Set the Standard."

Most of the rings also have larger diamonds or diamonds made into the shape of the Lombardi trophy, that represent the number of Super Bowls that franchise has won.

For example, Pittsburgh's 2008 ring has six trophies and six large diamonds, representing the six Super Bowls they have won to date:

above: The Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl XLIII ring weighs 104 grams and incorporates 63 round, brilliant cut diamonds totaling 3.61 carats. The colored gems appear to be citrine, pink tourmaline and blue topaz.

What Are The Rings Made Of?

Gold:
The rings are predominantly crafted of 10k or 14k yellow or white gold (in some cases, both). The varying degrees of yellowness in the gold depends both upon its purity and the other ores with which it is mixed (brass adds yellow, copper adds red, silver adds  white).

Diamonds:
Earth-mined white diamonds are clearly the stone of choice for the Championship rings. Many feature Marquis cut stones because of their resemblance to the shape of a football. Brilliant cut (round) stones in many sizes from solitaires to pave (chips) cover the majority of the rings. Some feature tapered baguettes and still others square or princess cut stones.


above: The Super Bowl XXIX San Francisco Forty Niners ring (by Balfour) shown above features 5 large Marquis cut diamonds and 5 tapered baguettes along with pave diamonds.

Enamel:
Many of the rings, especially the earlier ones, feature accents of single colored enamel such as the examples shown below:


All three New England Patriots rings featured 2 colors of enamel:


Colored Diamonds:
The Denver Broncos seem to favor colored diamonds as an accent. You can see the use of the cognac, brown or yellow diamonds found in their two consecutive Championship rings for Super Bowls XXXII and XXXIII, made by Diamond Cutters Int'l and Jostens, respectively:


The Baltimore Ravens Championship Ring from Super Bowl XXXV, made by Jostens, has enamel, cognac or yellow diamonds and a ruby for the eye:


Rubies:
The Washington Redskins Championship Ring from Super Bowl XXII was the first to feature rubies along with diamonds and the first ring made by Tiffany & Co.:


Sapphires:
Adding some blue to the bling, there are 37 sapphires (and some blue enamel) in the most recent ring for the NY Giants from Super Bowl XLVI by Tiffany & Co.:


I don't know how much the total carat weight varies from year to year or the actual market value, but here are some facts about the rings:

Who Pays For Them?

•The NFL pays up to $5,000* per ring, with up to 150 rings per team. The NFL pays for the cost of 150 rings to the winning team, at roughly $5,000 apiece, depending upon the fluctuating cost of gold and diamonds. If the rings are over the $5,000 limit, the team owners must make up the difference.

* I suspect, with the increase in the price of gold over the past five years, this number is now higher

•Recent rings have been appraised in excess of $20,000, with some valued at $45,000. but manufacturers keep this information confidential.

Who Makes Them?

•The rings are made by the company of the winning team's choosing. The majority of the Championship Super Bowl rings have been manufactured by Jostens in Denton, Texas. They've made 30 of the past 46 rings.

•The Indianapolis Colts' Super Bowl (Super Bowl XLI) rings were manufactured by Herff Jones (based in Indianapolis), at their Warwick, Rhode Island ring plant.

•Austin, TX based Balfour Company has manufactured nine Super Bowl rings to date.

Diamond Cutters International of Houston, Texas has manufactured two of the rings thus far; for the Dallas Cowboys (Super Bowl XXX)  and the Denver Broncos (Super Bowl XXXII)

Tiffany & Co. has now made five of the rings; Washington Redskins (Super Bowl XXII),  Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Super Bowl XXXVII), New York Giants (Super Bowl XLII), New Orleans Saints (Super Bowl XLIV) and the most recent for the New York Giants (Super Bowl XLVI).

Tasteful? No.
Impressive? Yep.

The rings are made after the game for obvious reasons, so this years' ring is not included among the images below, shown in chronological order.

Rings from 1966-1974:


Rings from 1975-1983:


Rings from 1984-1992:


Rings from 1993-2001:


Rings from 2002-2010:


The 46th Super Bowl ring:


And now, added on June of 2013, The 47th Super Bowl Ring:


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