I've read a number of reports, and seen a few news outlets broadcasts news of a controversial advertisement by Nike.
In the ad, NBA stars LeBron James and Kobe Bryant are posed beside each other, all cut up and looking ready for a battle. In fine print by Kobe's image it reads: "I'LL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO WIN GAMES. I DON'T LEAVE ANYTHING IN THE CHAMBER."
That's the dialog that seemingly has the NBA commissioner upset with Nike. That's the commercial that has analyst saying that it was poor taste by the company to release that commercial at this time, so soon after the Gilbert Arenas gun issue. That comment has some people saying that Kobe should've known better than to use that "gun lingo."
First of all, I thought it was great writing. Really, that's all it was... it was great writing. As a writer I understand the process of trying to come up with phrases that represent what I want to deliver without using simple statements. You try to use your intelligence a little sometime. Nike used a great Metaphor. I guess Nike could've easily had Kobe saying, "I don't have anything left after a game. I give it all I have." LOL.
Besides, why is Nike or Kobe supposed to dumb it down simply because Gilbert Arenas and another suspended NBA player made a stupid decision with a gun, and has the NBA all worried about its image? I mean, come on. We watch violent movies. Some of us listen to violent music, and enjoy watching sports that lead to injuries and pain. But it's wrong to use words like bomb, kill, shoot, blitz, war, combat, battle and "chamber," to name a few.
I thought it was silly when the slashing of the throat gesture was banned a few years ago. You know, that gesture that basketball players used to use to imply that a team was done, or the game was over?
I simply feel like the Nike ad controversy is a bit much. I didn't think anything of it until I started seeing so many people fire off.
Remember what Kevin Garnett said during the playoffs in 2004? During a heated series with the Kings, Garnett said, " This is for all the marbles. I'm sitting in my house loading up the pump, loading the Uzis. I've got a couple M-16s, couple of nines, couple of joints with the silencer on them. A couple of grenades, I've got a missile launcher. I'm ready for war."
He apologized for that.
And I UNDERSTAND why. But Nike or Kobe shouldn't have to apologize for great writing and use of expression.
