Foster the Creativity

While there isn't basketball being played, at least there is time to make extremely creative basketball commercials.

Of course I already highlighted my favorite basketball commercial.
Here are two of my more recent favorites:

1)

Let me just say it, this commercial is dope.
The beat is banging and the visuals are stunning.
My favorite sequence is when the beat loops (as if a DJ is replaying it) while Rose fakes throwing the ball at the matador before emerging unscathed from underneath his flag in slow motion.

There are times when I think that basketball is more than just a game. That it can change lives and even society. Something about this commercial brings out that sense. It's epic.

There are times when I still get the urge to play basketball seriously, and even go back to training. Something about this commercial brought out that urge (albeit briefly).

There weren't many times when I rooted for the bulls growing up (although I did root for them in the finals towards the end of Jordan's career). Dare I say as a Knicks fan, something about this commercial makes me want to root for the bulls. It certainly makes me want to root for Derrick Rose.

And for sure, it makes me want to buy those sneakers......



2)

I assume this commercial was made in reference to the lockout.
It made me smile more than anything.

The desire to play, for the sake of playing.
For the sake of comradery.
And also for the sake of competition.

In addition to the "jewish under 40 league" (oy vey, now leaving Brooklyn), my favorite scene is at the end when Carmelo and Paul team up and go to China only to find Wade is there also and ready to compete against them.

Is there perhaps a reference to a new-new big three vs. the new (soon to be new-old) big three? What, you thought it was gonna be easy? Game recognize game.


A few random thoughts about this second commercial:

1) Question: How come New York had the most jacked up courts? 


2) I have always found Jordan being an owner during the lockout intriguing.
Here you have the greatest player of all time, who you think would be sympathetic towards current players, falling more in line with the owners.

Although maybe its not that surprising considering he is a business man.

Still, with this commercial you have Jordan "the owner" - of the brand and NBA team - approving a commercial that seems to support players - that happen to make him money.

3) It's hard to pick a side in this lockout - when you have billionaires fighting millionaires. 
This commercial seems sympathetic towards players - hey they love the game so much they'll play in recreational leagues.

You know what I would love to see???
How about the players stick to their demands of 53%, or 52.5% of the BRI until the owners cave.
Then, the players take a portion, if not all, of the difference from a 50-50 split (3%) and donate it to charity just to show it's not about the money but getting a fair deal.

Of course that will never happen.

4) More than two sides
We talk about how the owners pay the salaries and create the platform for players to become stars and rich. We talk about how the players are the star power and generate owners and the league huge amounts of revenue.

Well, one thing these commercials tell me is how much the social media, arts, labels, commercials, technology, and marketing drives all of this. It has it's own economy that caters to our dreams.
We buy half this merchandise so we can dress up and be in our own reality show where we are the basketball players. Where we are the star athletes - or even underrated role players that make a team successful (even though most of us really look and play like the people in those recreational leagues - oy vey). An economy of fitness and training - where we have something that drives us. Where we can sweat for a purpose and compete.

Of course, that's where Jordan really revolutionized the game right? Through the development of his sneakers and brand through nike. Through these commercials. Where our "love of the game" allows us to buy all this stuff - which in turn provides and even bigger platform (and market) for both the owners and players.

How much are the creative designers behind these commercials worth? What's their fair deal?

Better yet - how much are the people who watch these commercials (and write about them) worth?

What's our fair deal?