Comments on: New Nike ad features overweight 12-year-old boy

By: Nash Rambler

Nash Rambler — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 13:57:00 +0000

“I like this kid.” Am I crazy, or did you sneak in a “Goonies” reference, Xeni?

By: penguinchris

penguinchris — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 01:08:00 +0000

I’m late to the comments but I want to put it out there that I like the ad too. I’m not obese but have been visibly overweight for years (though it comes and goes a bit).

I’ve played with the idea of regular exercise for a few years but have always given up quickly. This year, though, I managed to overcome that first hurdle and haven’t given up, and I’ve been running several times a week (I’m almost at the point where I can go out every day). Already look and feel a lot better.

I don’t, and wouldn’t, wear Nike shoes (I have some great Brooks shoes I found in a clearance section). While I’m sure Nike would prefer that you do, the ad doesn’t put the brand in your face and it really is just about getting off your ass, not about buying their stuff specifically.

I don’t know if a single ad is going to encourage anyone to get off their ass, but if it signals a trend toward more positive messages about athleticism and exercise for average people, it could inspire people.

For the record, what actually inspired me to start running this year was the film Chariots of Fire (and Gallipoli – wish that one had inspired me more when I first saw it when I was 13 or so). So media as an inspiration is not right out. I’m looking forward to doing most of my running barefoot on the beach, CoF style, when I move back to California in a couple weeks.

By: denise blount

denise blount — Sat, 04 Aug 2012 17:49:00 +0000

I’m sure there are some out there who will die laughing at this, but I think it’s pretty great. Alot of overweight people don’t even want to try to get in shape and lose weight because they feel there’s no hope. I think that this commercial will inspire some to give it a try

By: Anton Gully

Anton Gully — Sat, 04 Aug 2012 17:28:00 +0000

Me too. Then I clicked on the next ad and the next ad and the next… by the time I swept my monitor to the floor my eyes were raisins yet I could still clearly see how I had squandered my potential immeasurably and forever.

So thanks Nike.

By: Ty_MY

Ty_MY — Sat, 04 Aug 2012 15:43:00 +0000

From my experience Nike shoes, basketballs and bags seem have a limited shelf life and not very well-made for the price. They may have fancy “tech”, but not built to last.

Threw away a lot of Nikes due to the foam rotting (some people do change every few months, but I’m not a heavy user nor do I soak or wash the shoes) or the outsole coming off from the midsole; just threw away a Nike Pure Grip basketball because the surface also started “rotting”, and the Nike Gym bag has two busted zippers and a tear in the fabric which should have been thicker.

Well, used to have a worse experience with the old Reeboks too. Adidas, Asics and New Balance seem to be better made, of the big “mass market” brands.

By: crnk

crnk — Sat, 04 Aug 2012 14:35:00 +0000

Antinous – Maurice is more correct than your defense of what you said. Your initial post had NO qualifiers. Maurice called you on it and I would have too. Some gear I buy on price and others on fit (shoes go here) but as with most [ex] athletes, none of it is directly due to branding. I’ve even scoured the internet buying discontinued shoes because they were much more cheaper than the current version. Serious non-ultra elite runners almost all purchase based on fit and comfort. But there are 2 categories of gear here- the stuff you buy at a big box store is fashion for the masses while the items found at a running store are mostly being bought for athletic purposes.

By: Cefeida

Cefeida — Sat, 04 Aug 2012 11:17:00 +0000

“if a deer decided that it was going to run all day long just for fun or competition, it would far exceed any persons distance running abilities”

There was a seagull that did it.

By: CH

CH — Sat, 04 Aug 2012 07:03:00 +0000

Try water walking. Great exercise, and low impact on the joints.

By: rossangeles

rossangeles — Sat, 04 Aug 2012 04:03:00 +0000

Directed and shot by my friend Lance Acord. He directed the VW Little Darth spot as well.

By: Madeline Ashby

Madeline Ashby — Sat, 04 Aug 2012 03:14:00 +0000

I suspect that if I just looped him saying “You mustn’t be afraid to dream a little bigger, darling,” I’d get through my exercise a hell of a lot more happily.

By: Madeline Ashby

Madeline Ashby — Sat, 04 Aug 2012 03:05:00 +0000

It’s Tom Hardy. Nike’s reckoning.

By: mattcornell

mattcornell — Sat, 04 Aug 2012 02:13:00 +0000

Pretty much our whole culture hates on fat people. For a recent example, see:

http://jezebel.com/5931275/i-know-youre-mad-at-chik+fil+a-but-stop-taking-it-out-on-fat-people

Or, look at People of Walmart. Or the endless fat jokes about everyone from Jessica Simpson to Chris Christie. “The war on obesity” is all too often a war on fat people. And it pervades our culture.

By: EvilSpirit

EvilSpirit — Sat, 04 Aug 2012 02:12:00 +0000

When you do try, and you should, don’t be discouraged if you cannot particularly run right away. Consider (assuming you’re even thinking about running, and not some other option) starting with a walking plan to build up leg and cardio fitness, and transition through intervals.

The best way to “try” is to have a good plan, is what I’m saying.

By: EvilSpirit

EvilSpirit — Sat, 04 Aug 2012 02:09:00 +0000

Guess I’ll just lay down and give up, then.

By: EvilSpirit

EvilSpirit — Sat, 04 Aug 2012 02:07:00 +0000

I can’t tell what you’re responding to. Who’s “hating on fat people” here?

By: plyx

plyx — Sat, 04 Aug 2012 01:35:00 +0000

He’s great because he’s fucking trying. Greatness never comes from the complacent.

By: Jim Saul

Jim Saul — Sat, 04 Aug 2012 01:28:00 +0000

Is that who it is? He doesn’t sound at all like Deckard Cain, as he did in the last Batman movie.

By: Walter Guyll

Walter Guyll — Sat, 04 Aug 2012 00:08:00 +0000

I’m more nature than nurture on this. The ad makes it seem that those that aren’t high achievers merely forgot to toggle the “greatness” switch.

By: Caitlin Dees

Caitlin Dees — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 22:50:00 +0000

Curious. All the “exploitative” comments have me a little baffled. Isn’t preferable to have some positive exposure (even if meant to entice consumerism) than to have none at all? Depends on the individual, I suppose.

Either way, from a strictly artistic point of view, a very well done ad. In my opinion, of course.

By: surreality

surreality — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 22:47:00 +0000

Just glad there’s some of you so that next time I ride my bike and someone yells “fatty” at me, I can think of you guys.

By: Antinous / Moderator

Antinous / Moderator — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 22:41:00 +0000

I’m not saying that their products aren’t good for what they claim, just that most people aren’t buying exercise shoes for the purpose of exercising.

By: morgane

morgane — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 22:38:00 +0000

best thing about these new Nike ads: Tom Hardy’s voice

meow

By: Donald Petersen

Donald Petersen — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 21:59:00 +0000

Dunno, Ryan. I just yesterday read an article on Slate that puts forward a fairly good argument that, when it comes to long-distance running, we can outdo nearly any species, largely because the quadrupeds will tend to overheat much sooner than we will.

By: Mike Robinson

Mike Robinson — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 21:44:00 +0000

This ad is dead on. The ads of professional athletes are so disconnected from most peoples’ realities that they can’t relate. It’s not the 3-hour marathon workouts that are hard. The hard ones are when you have a body that absolutely does not want to participate. When you stand up and suffer again and again just to improve yourself. That’s what this ad captures.

By: WillieNelsonMandela

WillieNelsonMandela — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 21:41:00 +0000

Very cool! Congratulations!

By: starfish and coffee

starfish and coffee — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 21:37:00 +0000

There is another reason to love their products: Following bad publicity in the early 1990s Nike
is now widely credited as the most conscientious of the large consumer goods corporations when it comes to working against exploitative labour practices. For that reason alone I will make sure I always have a pair of Nikes in my wardrobe.

By: Antinous / Moderator

Antinous / Moderator — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 21:22:00 +0000

I thought that it was Rob.

By: Maurice Reeves

Maurice Reeves — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 21:14:00 +0000

Exactly. As a guy who’s lost 65lbs so far, in part by running, this is a fabulous commercial. I don’t feel it’s exploitative at all. In fact I feel like it’s saying that greatness exists in each of us, and we need not be Lebron James, Usain Bolt, or Kara Goucher to reach for greatness. He’s a big kid, he’s trying to make a change, and that’s inspiring.

By: Antinous / Moderator

Antinous / Moderator — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 21:12:00 +0000

just an s tag

By: Maurice Reeves

Maurice Reeves — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 21:11:00 +0000

I wouldn’t say that’s entirely true. I am a runner who alternates between Nike and Brooks shoes because both are comfortable for wide feet, especially the Nike Free Run shoes. I have tried plenty of other brands, and those are the two makers that work best for me. Sure there are plenty of people who buy them just for the fashion, but it’s not always the case.