Golfing in Brazil
Nike (click the image for a larger view)
4 years ago, the Americans paraded around South Africa in a beauty pageant sash. This year, it’s a golf shirt/polo shirt (whichever you prefer). I want to offer a special congratulations to the entire Creative Department for the USMNT Soccer Jerseys and Uniforms at Nike for (again) successfully implementing that rare business plan centered on the premise of designing bland/unimaginative/terrible-looking jerseys that will sell like the complete opposite of something that sells like crazy.
With the biggest window for American commerce to soccer (which only presents itself every 4 years, mind you), Nike has again managed to design the most confusingly bizarre, plain-looking jerseys with the best colors and creative opportunities at their fingertips in red, white and blue, coupled with America’s amazingly inspiring history.
Nike has the vivid colors of red and blue at their disposal and they chose all white. The jerseys don’t need to be loud, but there are infinite possibilities regarding attractive color combinations and sharp designs for a quintessential American look that projects belief, talent and relentless heart (the collar should, without question, be blue by the way).
Is this uniform supposed to symbolize the vanilla and often predictable and mundane ball movement of the USMNT players on the field? If so, then maybe this uniform works.
Where is the creativity from the red and white striped-“Waldo” jerseys?
The premiere of the 2014 World Cup jerseys/uniforms for the United States could not have demonstrated less creativity or fewer instances of inspiring imagination on the part of Nike.
Interestingly, Nike has proven that simplicity can certainly work (see the new oranje Dutch 2014 World Cup jersey/uniform), but it has also proven the opposite (see the American 2014 World Cup jersey/uniform).
Nike had 4 years…4 years. It’s almost unbelievable.
Usually the terms “cash cow” and “soccer” don’t joyfully collide in the United States…and sadly, after this recent jersey/uniform reveal, they still won’t.
Yes, heat will be at least some issue and white is the best color to combat heat. But that’s no excuse for what Nike ultimately and willfully designed. Plus, the heat will not be the determining factor for the USMNT in Brazil. It just won’t. A darker jersey will not prevent them or be the deciding reason for why the USMNT may not progress out of their very difficult group.
Where’s Waldo?
Hopefully in Brazil this summer!
P.S. I had a jersey idea about a year and a half ago…
Happy Monday!
For a while, there appeared to be no gravitational pull against Best Director Alfonso Cuarón’s space masterpiece as the film soared with Oscar after Oscar after Oscar (7 in total), except for the two it should have collected at the end of the night (especially for Best Picture).
Still, Gravity made a bold statement in 2013 and early into 2014. And we cannot neglect the other triumphant winners in Frozen (including Best Original Song), Dallas Buyers Club (Jared Leto & Matthew McConaughey), The Great Gatsby (3 golden statues) and 12 Years a Slave (Best Actress: Lupita Nyong’o & Best Picture).
The 86th Academy Awards was a night full of speeches, tributes and celebration (and pizza!). If only there was a single picture that captured the spirit of the entire evening…
I am proud to say I was among the millions of people who retweeted this photo that set the record as the most retweeted picture in history (it even broke Twitter for a little while: true story).
And, let it be known that the words Caddyshack, Ghostbusters and Groundhog Day were spoken on the Oscars stage last night.
Thank you Bill Murray (and of course Harold Ramis).
Let your imagination run wild today, this week and far off into the future!
Happy Monday!
A Comedy Icon with a Golden Legacy
In a show about virtually everything, Emmy-winning writer Chuck Martin and his good friend and boss Jerry Seinfeld rocked the Ohio Theatre last night with daily observations that left the audience with nothing but pure laughter, joy and appreciation for two men from the world of entertainment that hilariously exposed all the annoying things in life that they and we encounter and comment on on a daily, continuous basis.
One example?
How about how we directly define our own personal energy with the precise battery percentage on our phones (you know it’s true!). Once it gets below 20%, the game’s over. Your day has ended. Sadly, it’s only 2:17 p.m.
The show (and the 2nd row seats: a sincere thank you to my sister!) were the real deal and it was all spectacular.
Now, here’s a juxtaposition for you to contemplate this Friday before the Oscars: What would Jerry Seinfeld be like hosting the Academy Awards?
He would be the host of an awards show about nothing.
Genius.
Giving Picture-Taking Advice to Steven Spielberg
This Sunday night, Ellen DeGeneres will host the 86th Academy Awards from Hollywood with approximately (give or take a few people) a billion people (with a “b”) watching from all around the world. With this being her second time hosting this prestigious event, Ellen is well-versed in what the tone should be, as well as the critical opportunities to grab and (hopefully) maintain the attention of nearly a billion people throughout the exhausting, time-consuming ceremony.
Speaking of exhausting and time-consuming…
A speech is a speech is a speech.
If viewers are lucky, one of their favorite actors, actresses, writers and/or directors will win the life-altering award and provide a refreshingly clever, entertaining and memorable acceptance speech (think Sandra Bullock and Adrien Brody, as just two examples).
Plus, perhaps Ellen will provide the viewers with a random minute or two of something refreshingly clever, entertaining and surprisingly memorable…
Ellen to Steven Spielberg taking a picture: “Make sure we’re both in Steven” & “Make it more even on both sides.”
Only at The Oscars!
Jimmy's Daily Planet 