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February 5, 2007

Team Nike v. Team USA

Take a look at the photo for Nike's "The Second Coming" ad campaign. Go on, check it out, and while you're over there, see if you notice anything different about the guy third from the left. Now come on back. What's that? My, you're perceptive. Yes, that's right, he's Canadian.

Which one is not like the other?

The ad is marking the 25th anniversary of Nike's Air Force One sneaker, but there are trappings of Americana everywhere, from the fighter jets to the Team USA-appropriate lyrics ("Together we stand, divided we fall"; "So glorious, victorious"). And six of the 10 players in the ad are part of Team USA. The exceptions are Americans Rasheed Wallace and Jermaine O'Neal (a former Team USA player); Canadian Steve Nash; and France national Tony Parker. (Here's the ad's press release.)

Yes, the 10 players assembled in the ad might well be able to beat the non-Nike portion of Team USA's roster. But a Frenchman? It's less inappropriate than it might seem: The ad's song, by Juelz Santana, samples Hector Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique.







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Comments

- Sports
- posted on Feb 10, 07
mike

what is the song called

- Sports
- posted on Feb 25, 07
thestudent

the second coming by juelz santana

- Sports
- posted on Mar 12, 07
air fare

hi great site great work thank you

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