THE DEAN'S LIST

Is Honda Behind the Ferris Bueller Resurrection?

2012-01-27T20:03:00.001-05:00

Jalopnik Reports It Has Solved the Mystery of the YouTube Teaser

Ferris Bueller's back, and this time he's driving a Honda. Maybe.

The short-lived mystery about a Super Bowl ad teaser put up on YouTube Thursday may have been unraveled on Friday, when Jalopnik reported that Matthew Broderick's character, the sausage king of Chicago, would be central to a spot for the company's refreshed mini SUV, the 2013 CR-V.

The 10-second clip echoes a scene from the original film, when Broderick, who was 24 at the time, looks at the camera and says, "How can I possibly be expected to handle school on a day like this?" In the teaser, a much more mature Broderick, wrapped in a white robe, exclaims, "How can I handle work on a day like today?" The date of Feb. 5 -- Super Bowl Sunday -- then flashes on the screen.

The clip set off a whirlwind of speculation on the web, leading some to believe a sequel to "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" was in the making, though Broderick himself has in the past said a sequel wouldn't make much sense.

A source at American Honda Motors in California would not confirm that Broderick is in its ad and would only tell Ad Age that the company expected to issue a press release about the ad on Monday. Honda agency RPA has not responded to a request for comment. American Honda's Acura division also has a spot in the game. And online sleuthing yesterday had a couple of Ad Age staffers leaning toward Chrysler as the culprit.

Even if Jalopnik turned out to be wrong -- and the site seems pretty confident in its reporting -- it seems unlikely that the marketer behind this tease would be able to keep the secret safe until game day. It's one thing to keep your campaign under lock and key, another to put a teaser on YouTube in 2012 and not expect someone among the millions of people on social media and blogs to ferret it out.

According to Jalopnik, the spot, which was the work of Todd Phillips, who made "The Hangover," would use the 1986 comedy as a theme, updated to 2012 sensibilities. The auto-enthusiast site reports that during the iconic scene of the two valets jumping a hill, the red Ferrari will be replaced with a CR-V.

Honda -- or whatever company is behind this -- could be playing with fire. The top two comments on YouTube at the moment are from people outraged that a sequel is not in the offing.

The first reads: "If this is a commercial for honda, im keying every honda car i see in the street."

And the second: "Surely this can only fail as an advert. I hate Honda more than I can say right now. They show us a glimpse of something we can only dream about, then replace it with a crappy car. FUCK YOU HONDA. SAVE FERRIS."

Steve Stoute Hires Chief Creative Officer at Translation

2012-01-23T20:51:00.000-05:00

Indie Shop Poaches Chris Cereda From KBS&P

As part of his plan to evolve Translation from a multicultural agency into a general-market shop, Steve Stoute has tapped Chris Cereda to serve as the agency's new chief creative officer.

The executive has in the past worked at traditional creative shops such as McCann. Most recently, Mr. Cereda served as executive creative director at MDC Partners-owned KBS&P, working on accounts such as BMW and Steak & Shake. The move means going from a big pond to a small one. New York-based KBS&P has a total of about 500 staffers, while Translation, which has doubled in size in the past year, has less than 100. Both agencies made Ad Age's list of 10 standout agencies for 2011.

According to Mr. Stoute, the talks have been going on for about two months. But the agency's been in need of a new top creative for more than a year, ever since its previous leader, Jason Peterson, defected to Havas' Euro in Chicago.

"I was probably being snobby about it but also looking for the right character fit, since I'm really highly involved with the agency and the creative that leaves this place," Mr. Stoute told Ad Age. "As Translation started to win more business and gain more clients' trust, it also put the agency in a place where the right level of creative talent would consider coming to the agency."

Translation has been around since 2004, but it was only last year -- coinciding with its buyback from former parent Interpublic Group of Cos. -- that the shop seemed to really find its footing and begin playing on a larger stage. It convinced A-B InBev that it was worthy of handling Bud Light work and will be doing a Super Bowl spot next month for the Platinum product line. Its other clients include McDonald's, State Farm, Coca-Cola and Nokia.

Mr. Cereda, who officially starts in mid-February, will join a newly formed management team at Translation that includes President Leeann Leahy and Chief Strategy Officer John Greene. "I've worked on a lot of spirits brands and lifestyle brands throughout my career so the fit feels natural," Mr. Cereda said.

Mr. Stoute noted that there's more staff additions coming. "There will be a lot of hiring going on," he said.

NaVier: A Creativ+ Story

2012-01-23T19:59:00.002-05:00

Jim Jones Featured In Deron Williams Red Bull Ad

2012-01-22T23:19:00.000-05:00

Jay-Z Signs Deal to Become Partner & Spokesman for Duracell Powermat

2012-01-11T01:09:00.000-05:00

Jay-Z has more good news to announce. Duracell Powermat, LLC, a joint venture formed in September 2011 by Protcter & Gamble's Duracell brand and Powermat Technologies, announced today that the Grammy award-winning rapper has signed a multi-year agreement as an investment partner and spokesman for the brand.

"I believe in the future of wireless energy and I believe that Duracell Powermat is the company to bring on the revolution," said Shawn Carter in a press release. "I'm partnering with Duracell Powermat because they're providing the solutions for the future."

Duracell linked up with Powermat in September of last year to help the wireless charging company better reach the consumer market. When first released, Powermat's main product, a strip that allowed users to power their gadgets with inductive charging negating the use of plug-in chargers, was cool but failed to make a large dent in the consumer market. With the help of Duracell and, now, Jay-Z, the hope is that will change in the future.

'We are proud to work with such an inspiring icon, whose music and success speaks to an entire generation all over the world. Our common vision and voice will pave the way for the upcoming wireless power revolution," said Ron Rabinowitz, CEO of Duracell Powermat, LLC.

Ikea U.K. Hosts Sleepover at Store for 100 Facebook Fans

2011-12-26T17:32:00.000-05:00

Fans Spend a Relaxing Night Surrounded by Retailer's Products

Ikea has listened to what its customers want and given it to them -- a night in an Ikea store. Nearly 100,000 people signed up to a Facebook group called "I wanna have a sleepover in Ikea," and the dream came true for 100 lucky winners in the U.K., chosen at random from the 100,000 entrants.

Like at top night clubs, the late-November event had a minimum age of 25 and a strict dress code, although for this occasion it was pyjamas-only. At 8 p.m. on the dot, Ikea's guests ran into the store in Essex, in southeast England, like it was the first day of the sales, keen to bag the prime beds and the best linen choices.

Ikea sponsored a similar event in Australia in March, when it recruited "50 female flat-pack fans" on its Australian Facebook page for a night out of chick flicks, pampering massages and waiter service from handsome men -- along with the chance to assemble small pieces of furniture.

Both men and women were welcome at the U.K. sleepover, and they were given goodie bags containing an eye mask, windup flashlight, midnight snack, towel and slippers. Massages, manicures, and a movie were all on the entertainment agenda for the evening, with cocoa, cakes and nonalcoholic mulled wine available from the cafe. Guests could watch the film "Monsters Inc" from the comfort of their own beds, and to round off the evening, Ikea brought in a minor reality-TV celebrity to read a bedtime story: Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

A sleep expert was on hand with tips for getting a good night's rest, including how to test a mattress and choose the right bedding for your sleeping style. Ikea recently conducted a survey of 3,000 adults, finding that more than 70% don't think they get enough sleep. More important for the seller of beds and bed products, 72% spend less than 10 minutes selecting the mattress they'll probably sleep on for the next eight years. That's about the same amount of time they spend choosing their lunch each day.

Ikea turned the lights off at 11 p.m., and guests were awakened promptly at 6.30 a.m. by "soothing" sounds played over the Ikea speaker.

Not every Ikea would be likely to host a sleepover, but it's a clever way to get busy fans to focus on what Ikea has to offer.

Lois Blenkinsop, Ikea's U.K. PR and internal communications manager, said in a statement: "Social media has opened up a unique platform for us to interact directly with our customers. Listening to what they want is what we do best, and the Big Sleepover is just one example of how we're using such instant and open feedback to better inform our marketing activity."

Harvey Nichols Dresses Up Walk of Shame in U.K. Holiday Ad

2011-12-26T17:18:00.000-05:00

As the Christmas party season gets into full swing, upmarket British department store Harvey Nichols reminds us of the dangers of an ill-chosen outfit in a new spot, "Walk of Shame."

Set to an instrumental version of "Morning has broken" -- accompanied by the dawn chorus of birdsong -- the spot shows a series of party girls making their way home on the morning after the night before, still dressed in their best party clothes.

Self-conscious women are seen pulling down short skirts, tugging at low necklines, and clutching the killer heels that had seemed like a good idea 12 hours previously, as they limp home in disgrace.

One passes an early morning jogger, one eats greedily from a paper bag as she waits at a bus stop, one clumsily descends the steps of a subway station, and another is submitted to wolf whistles as she passes construction workers sitting on some scaffolding. All avert their gaze in their shame as they try to avoid eye contact with morning commuters.

Finally, we see a girl who bought her very flattering party outfit at Harvey Nichols. She still looks gorgeous in the morning light and, holding her head high, she smiles flirtatiously at the mail carrier as she arrives home at her apartment block, replacing the walk of shame with the "stride of pride."

The viral ad for Harvey Nichols womenswear was created by DDB UK. It ends with a call to action, asking people to share their own experiences at #walkofshame on Twitter. The film is inspiring plenty of tweets, including one from FrannyCatZ, who says, "left my flat this morning at 9am only to bump into an old friend doing the #walkofshame home after annihilating raffles last night." PerryDaPlatPuss tweeted, "Before the walk of shame they scientifically plan the quickest way from point A to point B!"

Most of the tweets praise the ad, comment on how we've all been there, and pass on the link, although @franscorer noted, "Seriously -- if you could afford to shop in Harvey Nichols wouldn't you just PAY FOR A TAXI?"

Julia Bowe, group press and marketing director at Harvey Nichols, said in a statement, "We love taking something true to life and having fun with it and seeing how Harvey Nichols can make things better. We know that a fabulous outfit can cover a multitude of sins."

CES Watch: Monster's Noel Lee to Launch New Lines

2011-12-24T21:54:00.000-05:00

Marketer of Beats by Dr. Dre Seeks Shop to 'Market This Stuff Properly'

It's not easy to sell people things they usually get for free. But dating back to the 1970s, Noel Lee has found a way.

The stereo systems popular back then -- amplifiers, turntables, FM tuners -- were connected by hookup wires that cost maybe 10 cents a foot and sometimes came in the box with the speakers.

In 1979, Mr. Lee founded a company, Monster Cable, and created a proprietary audio accessory: 10 feet of Monster Cable speaker wire that cost 20 times as much. "You're kidding," the retailers said. "Sounds better," he claimed.

It did.

Exotic cables are still part of the package, but today, Monster (the "Cable" was recently dropped) is best known for an accessory far more hip than wire: Beats by Dr. Dre. And retailers, which will be flocking to Mr. Lee's suite at the upcoming Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show, are believers.

His legendary parties have become a fixture at CES. This past January, Lady Gaga stopped by the Monster suite to chat up Mr. Lee. In the past, Mr. Lee has hosted Rod Stewart, Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles to serenade his dealers. Next month at CES, it will be '60s popsters band Chicago (or what remains of them).

Mr. Lee, who in a prior life was a design engineer at the Lawrence-Livermore National Laboratory, is an unabashed self-promoter. In 2004, he bought the naming rights to Candlestick Park, home of the San Francisco 49ers. For four years it was Monster Park. He spent about $50,000 for his first CES event in 1979. "The cost was extravagant then," he said, adding that it consumed most of his marketing budget, and still does.

Monster Cables didn't fly off the shelves. "We did it the hard way, a demo at a time," said Mr. Lee, 63. "I went out to retailers and did thousands of demos. I used a switch box, Monster Cable on one side, regular cable on the other. People didn't believe what they heard."

While electronic accessories aren't particularly hot topics among consumers, they generally offer higher profit margins -- up to 40% or more -- than big-box items like TVs or computers. Apple retail stores do especially well with his merchandise, Mr. Lee said.

Audiophiles question the sonic integrity of the Beats line (the most expensive pair sells for $500), but annual sales are estimated at $500 million, and Beats have expanded the headphone market. Rappers 50 Cent and Ludacris have endorsed their own brands, and more are grabbing onto the branding trend.

A study earlier this year by the NPD Group, a marketing research firm in Port Washington, N.Y., found that artist endorsements ranked high in headphone purchases. Those priced at $100 or more grew to 3.5% of the market in 2010 from 2% the year before.

"Headphones have become as much of a fashion statement as an audio accessory," said Ross Rubin, executive director of industry analysis at NPD.

"The deal with Dr. Dre was collaborative," said Mr. Lee, who leveraged his relationships with high-profile musicians to get access in 2000. The rapper (real name Andre Young) and longtime rock producer Jimmy Iovine "were looking to do their brand on some product," he said. "They were looking at loudspeakers, but people don't buy loudspeakers any more. And we were already developing headphones at that time."

In a life-imitates-art twist, Monster has just released a slick, $750 speaker system-cum-iPod dock that's designed for music lovers who grew up listening with headphones. The company also plans to release a slew of new headphones and accessories at CES.

"Now we got to market this stuff properly," said Mr. Lee, who says he's never employed an ad agency and is actively shopping for one now to handle his account. Any takers?

JANET JACKSON NAMED NEW FACE & BODY OF NUTRISYSTEM + COMMERCIAL

2011-12-24T21:45:00.000-05:00

After writing the self-help book, True You: A Journey to Finding and Loving Yourself, Janet Jackson has decided to use her personal experience to motivate women to conquer their battle with weight gain. How is she doing this you ask? By stepping forward as the newest spokesperson for Nutrisystem!

A few days ago, Janet stopped by ABC’s Good Morning America and revealed why she decided to be the face and body of the popular weight loss program:

“It’s a matter of learning how to keep it off, that maintenance and they have a program for that. My success plan is to just be healthy and feel good about me. All of us, we have that one pair of jeans that we have a relationship with…I’m able to look in the mirror. I couldn’t do that before. I’m very grateful to be able do what I love most, what I really feel I’m was here to do and that’s to help others.”

A few photos from her photoshoot were released earlier this week and Janet looks great! Check out her official commercial for the diet program below as well. I must say, Ms. Jackson has been glowing and looking very happy lately! I’m sure the new boo, Wissam Al Mana had a little part in this, too. *smiles*

JENNIFER HUDSON x WEIGHT WATCHERS

2011-12-24T21:08:00.000-05:00

McDonald’s Ad Features Craig Mack’s “Flava In Ya Ear”

2011-12-21T13:12:00.000-05:00

Off top, this one isn’t an obvious example of tanning. A major corporation dropping a rap song in a commercial filled with African-Americans in an attempt to tap into the “urban” market isn’t exactly ground-breaking or all-inclusive. Target marketing is about as old as..well…marketing. At worst, this spot may be considered a bit generic.

To really grasp the underlining tanning taking place in McDonald’s latest Big Mac/Mac Snack ad, a brief foray into the annals of hip-hop history is necessary. In 1994, a visionary businessman and burgeoning label executive, Puff Daddy, came up with a novel marketing idea to promote two of his new acts: Craig Mack and The Notorious B.I.G. Craig Mack had just snagged a hit record with “Flava In Ya Ear,” which featured Biggie on the remix. To help push his two artists, Puff distributed CDs in actual McDonald’s Big Mac cartons—one side for Big, one side for Mack. It was a genius idea at the time, and helped build the buzz for one of the greatest emcees ever to do it: The Notorious B.I.G.

Although McDonald’s inclusion of Craig Mack’s “Flava In Ya Ear” is targeting a specific market, in a sense the company is paying tribute. Whether this homage is intentional is uncertain, but it is a complete role reversal. 17 years ago, Puffy leveraged Mickey D’s to sell his artists. 17 years later, Micky D’s is leveraging Diddy to sell its burgers. Watch the full spot below.

Source: www.TanningofAmerica.com

DIDDY PRESENTS FULL LENGTH CIROC “RAT PACK” COMMERCIAL

2011-12-21T11:35:00.001-05:00

CÎROC Ultra Premium Vodka and Sean “Diddy” Combs just released a full length commercial in celebration of the holiday season. The shorter version was released last week, but here is a version with a little more dialogue.

In rat pack style, Diddy along with a lot of his celebrity friends head to a holiday party in Las Vegas. The advert features music from the late Frank Sinatra’s song ‘Luck Be a Lady’ and features a plethora of stars including: Chad Michael Murray of ‘One Tree Hill’, Michael K. Williams of ‘Boardwalk Empire’, Jesse Williams of ‘Grey’s Anatomy’, Breaking Bad’s Aaron Paul, models Eva Marcille, Jessica White, actress Dania Ramirez and a list of others.

BLEU DE CHANEL - THE FILM

2011-12-16T23:28:00.000-05:00

Directed By Martin Scorsese.

The Key to Reserva (2007)

2011-12-12T14:38:00.000-05:00

Directed by Martin Scorsese.

Starring Simon Baker, Kelli O'Hara, Michael Stuhlbarg, Christopher Denham and Richard Easton.

Collaborating with screenwriter Ted Griffin (Ocean's Eleven, Matchstick Men) and long-time editor Thelma Schoonmaker, Martin Scorsese directed and starred in The Key to Reserva, a 10-minute short film which was created as a long-form commcercial for Spanish wine company Freixenet.

The film begins with Scorsese giving an interview about a supposedly unfinished three-page screenplay by Alfred Hitchcock which has recently been discovered. Scorsese intends to produce a screen version, faithfully recreating Hitchcock's style as a tribute to the legendary British director, with the remainder of the short then intercutting between the interview, the production stage and the final 'film-within-a-film', The Key to Reserva.

Joining Scorsese in the cast for the short are Simon Baker (The Killer Inside Me), Kelli O'Hara (Sex and the City 2), Michael Stuhlbarg (A Simple Man), Christopher Denham (Shutter Island) and Richard Easton (Revolutionary Road), along with appearances by Griffen and Schoonmaker as themselves.

Robert DeNiro American Express TV Commercial - 2006

2011-12-12T14:33:00.000-05:00

Directed By Martin Scorsese

Al Pacino - Vittoria Coffee

2011-12-12T14:31:00.000-05:00

REVEAL BY HALLE BERRY

2011-12-12T13:01:00.000-05:00

LINDSAY

2011-12-10T11:55:00.000-05:00

Jay-Z On Taxes And Occupy Movement! "I'll Pay More Taxes"

2011-12-10T11:50:00.000-05:00

The Nets unveil the final ‘New Jersey Nets’ logo

2011-12-07T21:39:00.000-05:00

The New Jersey Nets won't have new jerseys for their final season in New Jersey, but they will have a new logo to go on their old jerseys, one that celebrates the 35 years the team spent in New Jersey following time in New York, before they develop new jerseys for their move next year to New York.

With more accuracy and fewer annoying plays on words, the New York Times (via Pro Basketball Talk) sums up the addition:

The Nets will unveil a special logo as early as Wednesday to coincide with the announcement of the 2011-2012 season schedule. The logo is actually pretty snappy. In the center is a tri-color basketball with the Nets name written in 1970's era script, an homage to the team's A.B.A. past. The number 35 in the middle. Below are the years 1977 and 2012, bookends to the team's often-withered years in the Garden State. A tiny outline of the state is at the bottom in white.

It's an open question is whether true blue Nets fans in New Jersey will want to shell out $20, $30 or more for merchandise produced by a team that is leaving town in the spring. The Nets, however, feel that it is the right thing to do.

"It will be our farewell moniker," said Fred Mangione, the team's chief marketing officer. "As we go out, we want to go out the right way."

"Jersey strong, Brooklyn ready," though? That would be tough to take, even if New Jersey fans haven't exactly made the Nets part of their stately pride, so to speak, as the team has moved from East Rutherford to Newark.

Any move to recognize New Jersey, though, is a good one. The Nets upset some a few years ago when it moved to take the words "New Jersey" off of their uniform before prepping for the move to Brooklyn, and it's the least they can do in another quasi-rebuilding season (a shortened one, at that) to throw Newark a wave.

And anything that involves something remotely hinting at an ABA existence (the Nets won the 1974 and 1976 ABA championships as the New York Nets) is a major plus, in our eyes. Sound addition, Netsies.

TNT Makes Shaquille O'Neal a Big Part of Campaign Promoting NBA's Return

2011-12-07T17:56:00.000-05:00

Network Aims to Draw Casual Fans With Shaq's Fame and Christmas Day Opener

TNT is launching a major marketing campaign ahead of the NBA's Christmas Day tip-off for its lockout-shortened season, leveraging its newest piece of big-name broadcasting talent as the network tries to draw more casual fans and make up ratings points that were lost to cancelled games.

Three new TV spots, which start airing Friday, feature retired basketball star and marketing giant Shaquille O'Neal, the latest to join the Turner network's NBA broadcast. The campaign started last weekend with a spot on CBS's NFL broadcast but adds heavier national advertising on TNT and elsewhere this weekend. The ads promise that "big things are coming" -- a nod to Shaq's seven-foot-one, 300-plus-pounds size.

The campaign places a heavier emphasis on digital and social media than in previous years, fueled in no small part by Shaq's 4.6 million Twitter followers. It also includes print ads in The New York Times starting Dec. 23 (TNT's first game pits the New York Knicks against the Boston Celtics) and TNT is in talks with national retailers about in-store holiday promotions. Unlike previous promotional campaigns that focused more on the actual team match-ups, this year's puts the spotlight on Shaq and his larger-than-life persona. That, combined with the Christmas Day opening that resulted from the lockout, has the network hoping to draw more casual fans into the mix.

"The difference with a Christmas tip-off is a chance to bring in more casual fans, so we've built our campaign around that," said Christina Miller, senior VP of Turner Sports for strategy, marketing and programming.

The first spot, airing Friday, features Shaq entering the TNT studio to a hyped-up, pre-game player-style introduction -- to the chagrin of on-air colleagues such as Charles Barkley. Later spots show Shaq lamenting that he's no longer playing, until Barkley shows him he still can't make a free throw -- just like he's still in the game -- and Shaq running over two of his colleagues' cars with a monster truck that needs two parking spots.

ESPN, for its part, started promoting its Christmas Day games Tuesday night with a spot highlighting some of last season's key storylines. It's shooting more spots this week that will include both ESPN talent and current and former NBA players. ESPN will produce a second Christmas Day game to air on ABC, its sibling within the Walt Disney Co.

50 Cent Interview With The Wall Street Journal

2011-12-07T17:41:00.000-05:00

The Wall Street Journal sat down with Fif to ask him about SMS Audio and why he chose to rock with the company, in a game where everybody wants to drop their own line of headphones. He also talked about Vitamin Water and his Street King ventures, as well as his music and how to combat online piracy.

DWAYNE WADE: "THIS IS FLIGHT" | JORDAN BRAND COMMERCIAL

2011-12-03T13:36:00.000-05:00

BEAVERTON, Ore. (April 5, 2011) –Yesterday, Jordan Brand, a division of NIKE, Inc., revealed the JORDAN FLY WADE, basketball star Dwyane Wade’s first signature shoe with the Brand. The JORDAN FLY WADE is the lightest Jordan basketball shoe to-date and was designed to help today’s best athletes perform at their highest level late in the season.

“I’m thrilled to unveil my first signature shoe with Jordan Brand,” said Dwyane Wade. “This lightweight performance shoe complements my style of play on the court and will help elevate my game during the playoffs.”

Acclaimed shoe designers Mark Smith, Jordan Creative Director, and Tom Luedecke, Jordan Senior Footwear Designer, worked closely with Dwyane Wade to create a shoe inspired by his aggressive style of play on court. The JORDAN FLY WADE features a Nike Zoom unit in the forefoot and Max Air unit in the heel to complement Wade’s relentless approach to the game and provide enough support to take him deep into the playoffs.

At 13 ounces, the JORDAN FLY WADE also features a full-length Phylon midsole and asymmetrical collar for optimal performance on the court. Some of the design features include the classic Jordan elephant crackle print on the outsole and clear rubber sole.

Jordan Brand has a longstanding history of producing high quality performance footwear that is designed to fit the needs of the world’s best athletes. The JORDAN FLY WADE marks Jordan’s continued push towards a new generation of Jordan performance basketball products.

Dwyane Wade joins fellow Jordan athletes Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony and Derek Jeter with his own signature line. Dwyane Wade was hand-picked by Michael Jordan to become a member of Team Jordan.

The first two colorways of the JORDAN FLY WADE will be available in the U.S. on Thursday, May 5, 2011 and in China on Saturday, May 7, 2011 for a suggested retail price of $140. In addition, the JORDAN FLY WADE will be available for NIKEiD customization on Tuesday, May 24, 2011. The final two colorways will be available in June.

About Jordan Brand

Jordan Brand, a division of NIKE, Inc., is a premium brand of athletic footwear, apparel and accessories inspired by the dynamic legacy, vision and direct involvement of Michael Jordan. The brand made its debut in 1997 and has grown into a complete collection of sport performance and lifestyle product. The Jordan Brand remains active in the community through its new corporate responsibility program WINGS for the Future, focusing on three unique community programs emphasizing Education, Sport and Creativity.

Marshawn Lynch Tastes the Rainbow--and a Free Supply of Skittles

2011-12-03T12:01:00.000-05:00

Seahawks Running Back Rewarded With Candy After Scoring Touchdowns

Nothing beats some Skittles after a touchdown -- at least that's how Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch feels.

In the Seahawks' demolition of the Philadelphia Eagles Thursday night, Mr. Lynch gave the Mars brand some free product placement when cameras caught him tasting the rainbow after a 15-yard touchdown in the first quarter. The NFL Network commentators quickly explained that Lynch's mom used to give him the candy in high school and, as one helpfully added for the brand, "You're never too old for Skittles."

The folks at Skittles didn't miss a branding beat. They offered Mr. Lynch a 2-year free supply of Skittles and a customized dispenser for his locker. And later on Twitter, the brand posited a novel explanation for Lynch's monster, 178-yard game on its Twitter feed: "Does he run that fast because he knows people are after his Skittles?"

Which Brands Won While the NBA Lockout Darkened Their Biggest Stage?

2011-12-01T12:36:00.001-05:00

Kevin Durant, Grant Hill and Even NBA 2K12 Game Did Alright -- or Better

For hundreds of professional basketball players and the dozens of brands that market around them, the NBA lockout kept them off the hardwood and the airwaves too.

But some players and marketers delivered branding success stories amid all the lost revenue, missed paychecks and endorsement deals on hold.

More than just immediate income, their efforts helped them maintain brand position while their biggest stage was dark. If players and owners ratify the tentative deal that came over the long Thanksgiving weekend, these are the brands that will start the new season on Christmas Day with the strongest possible position.

Kevin Durant

Between stealing the show at virtually every charity game, working out with LeBron James in promotional videos, and randomly showing up at a Twitter follower's flag-football game, Kevin Durant's YouTube viewership this off-season looked a lot more like NBA Finals ratings.

The young superstar seems to be everywhere lately. He toured China. His limited edition Nike kicks were launched with a popular Back to the Future-themed campaign. Oh, and he shot a movie called "Switch" in the time that was freed up by the lockout.

Throughout he maintained his image as a humble yet hip dude who's just obsessed with hooping, solidifying his role as the league's most likable superstar.

Take-Two Interactive

It would be impossible for Take-Two's NBA video game brand to top the success of last year's NBA 2K11, which totally reinvented basketball game-play, nabbed Michael Jordan as a sponsor, sold a record 5.5 million copies, and won a "best sports game of this generation" mention from IGN Editor-in-Chief Hilary Goldstein.

But this year's follow-up NBA 2K12 came close -- no small feat with players locked out of real play and the sport off the air. It features legendary teams of the past, with historically accurate commentary, uniforms and graphics that make for a unique, immersive experience. It's unclear whether the historical-teams maneuver was made in anticipation of the lockout (Take-Two declined to comment), but it sure looked like a savvy move with the benefit of hindsight. The game offers plenty to keep both casual and diehard fans busy, and critics adore it. After a strong opening that topped 2K11's, sales have slowed just a bit. Some predicted the franchise would lose millions due to the work stoppage, but Take-Two positioned its series to endure as well as conceivably possible.

Grant Hill

The aging Phoenix Suns swing-man is angling to become the next post-career Magic Johnson, the brand of a disciplined businessman with a deep portfolio of properties to ensure a dynamic life after his playing days.

Hill Ventures, the company he founded shortly after entering the league, took up more of his time while he was off the court, expanding its real-estate holdings, philanthropic activity and Grant Hill Collection of African-American Art. Mr. Hill has also pursued the lifestyle space, appearing on the cover of family cooking magazine Chop Chop earlier this year to talk up healthy eating and offering more health tips on his website.

He was recently elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame's board of governors. Put it together, and you've got an aging All-Star turned NBA elder statesman well positioned for life after basketball.

Bill Simmons

The nation's most famous basketball writer did okay without basketball. Mr. Simmons' experiment in literary sports writing, Grantland.com, kicked off during the 2011 NBA Finals and has experienced continued modest growth ever since. How? Some lockout coverage, yes, a few player interviews, sure; but most of all, Grantland has diversified. The site is only loosely basketball-centered, meaning it can lean on the sport without missing a beat during the lockout, focusing instead on football, TV, or internet memes.

"We had to improvise," Mr. Simmons wrote Wednesday, recalling the NBA lockout, the NFL lockout and other headwinds at launch. The site went big on Father's Day, ran a couple of oral histories and played up soccer and tennis, he said. "Repeat: We had to play up soccer and tennis."

Grantland also benefits from a lack of competitors. Mr. Simmons recognized that traditional sports coverage wasn't hitting the spot for many smart, critical sports fans. The site has established a recognizable brand in under half a year, largely by being thoughtful in a business often reduced to the lowest common denominator of highlight reels and cliches. It's no surprise familiar authors such as Dave Eggers, Malcolm Gladwell and Chuck Klosterman have jumped on board.

Baron Davis

The star point guard, banished to the post-LeBron James Cleveland Cavaliers, took on a daunting challenge during his time away from the court: teaching men how to dress.

The 32-year old, who's lost a step from his younger days and has only so many years left when he can command his $14 million salary, is in pre-production for a movie he's spearheading called "American Schlub." It earned him front-page love from no less than The Wall Street Journal, and left some wondering if he's angling for a gig in the fashion industry when his playing days are over.

"We used to be fashion forward," Mr. Davis told The Wall Street Journal. "[Now] we're more of a sweats and Ugg boots type of society. We wanted to challenge men, from that perspective."