So hopefully you have all seen this.
Amazing. In a bold statement, Nike VP-Brand and Category Management Trevor Edwards proclaimed the commercial is "among the best we've ever done." With 7.8 million views its debut week, the ad set a new record for most views of a viral video ad in a week...Two weeks later the video has had almost 14 million hits and is still at the top of the viral ad video chart. The features futbol super stars Cristiano Ranaloo, Didier Drogba, Wayne Rooney, Tim Howard and others. Along with futbol players, the ad also feautes cameos by Kobe Bryant, tennis player Roger Federer and Homer Simpson.
Nike is capitalizing on the frenzy and hype around the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The World Cup is an opportunity for the world to come together and rebel in the world wide competition. At the last World Cup, 26 billion what ESPN's coverage from Germany. ESPN expects that viewership will surpass that. Everyone from the high class English buisness men to the small village in Africa with one generator will be tuning in to watch their heroes defended their countries honor. Peter Winn said "I remember being in Bolivia, and where a woman of indigenous origin had her nose pressed up against the glass of a store selling computers and watching on the screen Brazil and Germany play in Korea. That is globalization of popular culture. That shows how globalization has affected all of us, no matter where we are and no matter who we are, all around the world."
To much of the world, Futbol is far bigger then just Futbol. 12% of soccer fans in Britain would give up sex for a year if it meant England would win the World Cup. Its a way of life to them. You don't really understand it until you have been outside the country. When I lived in Mexico, life revolved around futbol. The city would shut down when ever a game was on. The statium would fill with all kinds of people looking for an escape from everyday life. Culture revolves around that sport. Its played in the streets, people talk about it, boys decorate their rooms with posters, adults want to be them. It brings them together.
First of all, Do you think that "Write the Future" is the best ad ever created? What is your reaction to it? How does Futbol differ in the eyes of Americans vs the rest of the world? What else brings the world together like the World Cup?
15 comments:
I think that Write the future is a great ad but would not say that it is it eh best ad ever. I believe that Nike is smart for capitalizing on the World Cup.
I have been excited for the world cup for months, mainly because I love soccer, but also because I love the sense of unity that happens when the world unites over sports. Yeah there is still fighting between fans but as I watched some clips from the opening celebration, I was so excited to be a part of the world cup, even though I'm not there. I am sad that the U.S. doesn't embrace soccer as much as other countries, but the enthusiasm of other countries makes me feel a part of the soccer culture.
I think that Nike's ad was excellent, because it evokes strong emotion and really stresses that this is a world event. That being said, I think that there are already very strong feelings of national pride surrounding the World Cup, which is why it is such a popular event. The Olympics brings the world together, but not on the same level because they are more about celebrating individual athletes, whereas soccer is a team sport and the athletes are playing for national pride.
I really, really liked this ad and I'm not even a soccer person. But in the last few weeks I've wanted to be. Just to sorta see what its all about, to see why its the world's sport.
I think Nike made an excellent choice to jump on the band wagon with this one.
And I'm not sure what else brings the world together like soccer. Maybe the Olympics. Maybe Harry Potter.
I agree with some of the other commentators here when I say that the ad is ok, but far from what Nike is trying to promote as "ZOMG THE BEST AD EVAH!!!!11!" Their promotion of their own ad is almost comical in its earnestness. Despite the hype, the fact is that soccer is just not that big in American culture, and I don't see it making major inroads against traditional "American" sports such as Pro Football, Basketball and Baseball. Consider for example that pro-hockey in the USA has several million fans, but the US has 300 million citizens; in such a case even a few millions are pretty minuscule. And hockey in the US actually has a much larger TV market, fanbase and ticket sales than does soccer. I can't stand watching soccer myself, as much as I find myself wanting to enjoy it. I even appreciated my time in Italy, where fans go nuts for Calcio. What brings the World together like the World Cup? Probably nothing. But when you say together, just realize for the majority of US sports fans, they aren't part of that togetherness; good or bad, American fans just aren't that enthused. So if we're talking "entire" world, probably the next best thing is the Olympics.
i really like the ad but i don't know if its the best ad ever, its cool though. I think futbol is much different to americans than it is to the rest of the world. Everywhere it is the main sport and everyone loves to watch and play it. i feel like America feels the same way about basketball or football as other countries do about Futbol.
It makes me sad that the US doesn't embrace the world cup like many other countries around the world but I think these Nike ad's are eye opening to non-soccer fans. I think this Nike ad is great because it captures the sense of unity the world cup brings. I hope the US can see this as something they are missing out on and in the future embrace more of the world cup, if not for the sport itself, but for being a part of the world community. The only other thing I can think of that is similar to the unity the world cup brings is the Olympics.
I don't know if it is the "best ad ever" created, but it's inspiring and makes the world cup seem more appealing to me. I think as Americans we don't care near as much about soccer as the rest of the world does. What other country in the world has a major sporting event coinciding with the world cup? None. But of course we do-- the NBA finals.
I was really lost throughout the entire thing. Regardless, I was still entertained. I really dont see why they wouldnt try and capitalize on the world cup and I think they kinda do that for everything.
I think futbol is progressing into a more respected sport in the US. I just think that in a lot of cases it just isn't seen as a "cool" sport, while football is. I feel in the next couple of decades futbol will continue to gain popularity in the US.
I am also not sure the World Cup brings the world together at all. It is about competition. I was watching a clip from a game right before the World Cup started and the fans were just chanting "england sucks," despite playing a completely different team.
Also only a small number of countries even qualify for the world cup so I really dont think it can even claim to bring the world together. The two biggest countries, China and India did not qualify, along with the entire Middle East. When half the world doesn't show up to an event it isn't bringing the world together.
the world cup is a wayyyy bigger deal in other countries because they don't have american football. I feel like the only people that are really into it here in the states are people who have lived in foreign countries (ex. RM's) or immigrants. I thought the commercial was cool, didn't blow my mind though. Good use of emotion and hype for the world cup.
Its a great commercial that feeds off of the world hype surrounding the World Cup. It is one of my favorite commercials, but I have a large bias towards sport commercials, even though I am not the biggest football fan in the world. I agree that the world cup is extremely important for many accross the world. The only comparison American's really have is the Superbowl, and that doesn't even come close to the passion and drive these fans have for their country's teams. What saddens me is that even an event that brings the world "together" is manipulated and used by the corporate world in order to make a profit. Yes, ESPN does sports and is dedicated to showing the most important sporting events in the world, however, at the end of the day, ESPN is about the bottom line, and the World Cup is adding billions to their bottom line.
I don't think that this ad was one of the best ever created. While clever, it was too long to hold my full attention. I just got lost and confused in everything. However, because it is different it has caught thousands of viewers attention. I don't think we view soccer in the US the way the rest of the world does. In the US our biggest sport is football, which hasn't really caught on in other countries.
I think it is a very good ad, and one of the best I have seen, but in a sense, it just shows how much impact pop culture has on our society. While soccer brings together many countries, you don't see many people in the U.S. coming together. I think there is more excitement here when the Olympics are on because it includes many sports that more Americans watch on a regular basis.
Personally, this commercial does not speak to me. I guess it was a good idea to ride the wave of the World Cup because so many people all over the world are tuned in. During the World Cup it seems that people are more willing and even eager to be part of something that the entire world is participating in. Perhaps this desire to be part of a huge movement is why Americans suddenly are interested in soccer every four years.
It is a good ad, but maybe not the best. I think that Nike, and others, are just making bank on the hype around the sport. I love watching it! I like soccer and enjoy the World Cup, and because me and millions of other enjoy it, companies are racking in the dough. I think that the US will catch up in the love of soccer, but since we have so many other sports to enjoy and prefer, I don't think we will ever by like all the other countries in their love of the game.
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