Motor City Cruise’s Post

ANATOMY OF AN AD: ESPN x National Basketball Association (NBA) THE NEED: It's playoff season. Let's get fans pumped. THE CTA: watch the NBA playoffs on ESPN. THE 1-THING: the playoffs are where legends play. THE INSIGHT: today's players are tomorrow's legends. THE CONCEPT: tie in yesterday's playoff heroes with todays by splicing them into video with each other, sharing the court and the spotlight, showcasing that together, they carry a long unbroken tradition of excellence. the 30-second ad drums up feelings of nostalgia AND hype. WHY IT WORKS: this isn't the first time a league has tied in today's players with yesterday's to make a point. (The NFL does this all the time in broadcast promos.) This is the first time it was done via such visceral editing, making you feel like the players are there with each other, aware of and interacting with each other. This concept gets super hokey quickly without world-class editing. Thankfully, the editing *is* world-class, and avoids falling into the uncanny valley, which is a major risk. Also, let's talk about the music: the soul sample and production are deliberately retro, with modern rap heavyweight Future delivering laconic bars atop. This is an overt past meets future mashup which acts as the ad's unsung hero. This likely doesn't work if the song is more popular than it is (too distracting) or if it's simply a throwback soul track or a modern traphouse banger. THE VERDICT: Talk about satisfying the brief. Hell yes it does. Nothing high-concept or overdramatic about it. No copy. no VO. none needed. The NBA's stock-in-trade is, and will always be, it's players. Letting them take center stage is always a good call. But to really tell the history of the league in a bite-size hype video so effectively, so casually? Straight A's up and down the court. . . . #advertising #sports #basketball #rise2024 #branding

RB - Bryce Strong #2 5'10 185 Riverside City College/Colony HS 1900+ all-purpose 18TDs 1st team all-purpose 2x regional playoffs player of the game 2x Southern California championship player of game 1x State champion offensive player game 1x 2023 Juco All American Character: Lunch pale, Hard hat personality. He leads by example and vocal. He is extremely competitive, puts his head down and works. Mentor to younger players. Skill: Versatile, Home Run Speed, dynamic in open field. He can avoid defenders but will go through them to get touchdowns, first downs or just to set the tone for the game.

Can you believe that the NFL's $110 billion worth of media rights deals are - somehow - undervalued? My story on how the NFL is helping push up Paramount's value. Also in The Varsity: * Cable operators take to D.C. to bash Spulu. * What does Diamond need to do to emerge from bankruptcy? * How will the A's local media deal change when the team moves to Sacramento? * Iger on ESPN. * What's behind Fox Sports' move to get into postseason college basketball? https://lnkd.in/efgtgCBB

Some of us are excited that baseball is back. And in that spirit, I got to thinking about the group of people who sometimes think they are the most important part of the game, making the game about themselves. I’ve come up with an ad for a new line of sports fan merch that no one would actually buy. I try it out a few different ways. Which one do you like best? How would you approach this copy? In all seriousness, umpiring can be a thankless job and the ones who do it well deserve a ton of credit. #voiceover #baseball #advertising

In the competitive sports landscape, younger athletes are increasingly starting their professional careers. The spotlight on a 13-year-old sensation has once again sparked discussions on age-appropriate leagues and how best to protect our young talents. Questions arise: Are the USL and Sacramento Republic primarily focusing on this prodigy for media traction? I have seen no press releases about these organisations citing responsibility in safeguarding this child in the adult game. Age categorization is fundamental in many sports, ensuring that participants are paired with counterparts at similar stages of growth and proficiency. Elevating a 13-year-old to a senior tier, impressive as it may sound, might subject them to physical and mental strains they aren't equipped for. The gap in physicality between a 13-year-old and a 16 or 17-year-old is significant, increasing the risks of injuries and undue stress. Clubs and leagues bear a profound duty to shield these emerging stars. The focus isn't solely on sports growth but also on their emotional and psychological health. Their obligations include: Is the athlete, apart from their physical skills, emotionally and cognitively ready for the demands and pressures of competing at an advanced age category? Guidance initiatives, psychological services, and learning tools can guide young talents through the intricacies of professional athletics. Clear protocols should exist, stipulating the circumstances, if any, under which an athlete might be promoted to an older age category. Freddy Adu's trajectory, once hailed as the 'next Pele,' stands as a warning about prematurely magnifying young talents. Adu, at 14, became the youngest professional signee in U.S. sports history, but the weight of anticipation led to a journey that fell short of projected greatness. Over-promotion can be harmful. It exerts undue strain on young athletes, potentially eroding their confidence and passion for the sport. Plus, not all prodigies possess the emotional maturity or backup needed to tackle the intense scrutiny, potentially paving the way for psychological. Domestically on the other hand: Major League Soccer's methodology towards youthful talent has drawn criticism. The framework, which sometimes views young players more as proprietary assets than individuals, tends to neglect the player's personal requirements. This approach can be perceived as handling young prospects like commodities rather than emerging luminaries deserving comprehensive care. At the heart of each budding sports star is a young individual filled with hopes, dreams, and susceptibilities. Entities within the sports world, from clubs and leagues to fans, ought to put their wellness above possible monetary gains or prestige. The spirit of sports is deeply rooted in zeal, evolution, and the sheer pleasure of play

Playing Division I football comes with high expectations and demands. James Neighbors reflected on his journey to the NFL before becoming a strength & conditioning coach. His determination as a former preferred walk-on with the LSU Tigers set the tone. Learn more about his journey here: https://lnkd.in/g3dTbC4U In case you missed his conversation on The Xtra Edge, tune in to the entire discussion here: https://lnkd.in/gHAXNYYA #InnovateTheGame #football #dataanalytics #sportsdata

Potentially my favorite article I've ever written! Check out my article in Fast Company this morning, showing retiring National Football League (NFL) Philadelphia Eagles football legend and Taylor Swift's boyfriend's brother, Jason Kelce as an example of Sylvia Ann Hewlett's updated study on Executive Presence. See article link below in the comments. #executivepresence #jasonkelce #nfl #publicspeaking #career

🏀 Damian Lillard, a true luminary of the hardwood, has embarked on a new chapter in his storied National Basketball Association (NBA) career, donning the Milwaukee Bucks Inc. jersey this offseason. This monumental move comes after an illustrious 11-season tenure with the Portland Trail Blazers @ the Rose Quarter. 🌟 However, last night, in only his second outing with the Bucks, Lillard encountered an unusual challenge. He managed to score just 6 points against the Atlanta Hawks, marking a rare career low point in his scoring prowess. Thus, he recorded only his fifth (!) game with 6 or fewer points since 2013, according to StatMuse Inc. Not such a Dame Time moment to be honest. 🔥 However, throughout his impressive journey, Lillard has showcased his remarkable prowess, boasting an average of 25.2 points, 6.7 assists, and 4.2 rebounds over 771 regular-season games. His accolades include seven All-Star selections and the coveted Rookie of the Year award. ⌚Damian's highlight reel is studded with awe-inspiring performances, with notable gems like his unforgettable 71-point explosion against the Houston Rockets in 2023, and not one but two 61-point masterpieces against the Dallas Mavericks and Golden State Warriors, in addition to numerous 60, 50, and 40-point games, establishing his name in NBA scoring greats history. #NBA #DamianLillard #MilwaukeeBucks #nbaanalytics #analytics #sportsperformanceanalysis #data #dataanalysis

Short form content + Texas HS Basketball Playoffs = fun times I recently went to a playoff game this past week, and decided to create a little what todays athletes call a "mixtape" which is not at all what these edited content is but I find it fun lol. Just short and simple won the game tbh, wanted something really fast to put out for the star player. He's ranked top in the nation apparently. Better use of sound design in this edit in my opinion. #sportsvideography #basketballvideography #sportsmedia #adobepremierepro

Potentially my favorite article I've ever written! Check out my article in Fast Company this morning, showing retiring National Football League (NFL) Philadelphia Eagles football legend and Taylor Swift's boyfriend's brother, Jason Kelce as an example of Sylvia Ann Hewlett's updated study on Executive Presence. See article link below in the comments. #executivepresence #jasonkelce #nfl #publicspeaking #career