The discussion over which company has the best advertising could go on forever. Without question, one of those in the conversation would be Nike.
Beer companies always hit the funny button well, Volkswagon knows exactly what their customers are looking for, but very few are able to inspire through emotion as regularly as the Beaverton, Oregon based sporting good behemouth.
Predictably, Nike came prepared for the TV onslaught that is the Olympics, and while I enjoy the "Courage" ad, I haven't seen anything close to this Team USA Basketball advertisement featuring Marvin Gaye singing the National Anthem.
Nike stated the following on their basketball website:
The Star Spangled Banner is played before every game to inspire the players and the fans to greatness. Coach K took a moment out of practice to share a version of the song with his players that, in its own right, made sports history.
Performed for the 1983 NBA All-Star Game, Marvin Gaye’s remix captured the passion of 80s soul, mixed it with some old fashioned patriotism and created a timeless classic.
And like Marvin and the Dream Team before them, this year's Team USA intends to put on a show that will forever go down as one the greatest performances in the history of the sport.
To show support for the men that will represent us in Beijing, Nike Basketball brings Marvin, LeBron, Kobe, J-Kidd and the rest of the team together to pay homage to basketball, America's game.
Performed for the 1983 NBA All-Star Game, Marvin Gaye’s remix captured the passion of 80s soul, mixed it with some old fashioned patriotism and created a timeless classic.
And like Marvin and the Dream Team before them, this year's Team USA intends to put on a show that will forever go down as one the greatest performances in the history of the sport.
To show support for the men that will represent us in Beijing, Nike Basketball brings Marvin, LeBron, Kobe, J-Kidd and the rest of the team together to pay homage to basketball, America's game.
If Team USA doesn't score a gold, at least Nike can claim one here.
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