Larry Brown Sports

A public health group wants the Gatorade commercial highlighting Michael Jordan’s “flu game” pulled because they feel it sends a bad message. The commercial glorifies MJ’s incredible Game 5 performance in the 1997 NBA Finals against the Jazz where he scored 38 points despite having a 103 degree fever because he was extremely ill. The commercial’s message is you “win from within,” and the implication is that Gatorade helped him overcome his illness.

“The Jordan Ad openly promotes engaging in vigorous physical activity while suffering from a very high fever, in Jordan’s case 103 degrees,” the PHAI said in a letter dated May 8, 2012, to the Federal Trade Commission.

“It is a generally recognized safety principle that teens and even professional athletes suffering from a severe fever and flu-like symptoms should not engage in vigorous physical activity.”

I don’t think anyone would disagree that someone with a severe flu should not be playing in athletic events, but we’re talking about Michael Jordan and the NBA Finals here, not some lame frosh-soph high school game. Exceptions can be made in those situations. Can you say OVERREACTION much?

When Rod Tidwell was hoping to make it big in the NFL, scoring an endorsement deal with Depends was not on his list of dreams. But that doesn’t mean some of today’s star players are too cool to endorse an adult diaper.

Wes Welker, DeMarcus Ware, and Clay Matthews all participated in a Depends commercial to promote the “Real Fit for men” diaper. Depends is running a “Great American Try-on” campaign, and as Adam Rank of NFL.com points out, the campaign is in support of the V Foundation.

It’s pretty cool that these guys are risking ridicule to endorse a product that is typically considered embarrassing. Now that these studs are wearing diapers, how could anyone be too embarrassed to give them a try?

Oh NBA, how we missed you so. Last year’s big head commercials weren’t too interesting (they were actually kind of stupid), but the one that was playing all throughout the opening day on Christmas was splendid. Dirk on the mic, Amare on the horn, Steph Curry playing base, and Rondo on the guitar. Does it get better than that? Yes, yes it does. Watch:

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I hadn’t seen that ESPN commercial until my buddy Sam at Play Action Picks shared it with me, but it’s definitely a good one. There’s nothing quite as awkwardly amusing as furry love. What would be sick is seeing Bucky Badger fight a death match with the Oregon Duck for the right to Wilma’s heart. Make it happen, ESPN.

When LeBron James had his celebration in Miami and proclaimed the Heat would win “not one, not two, not three, not four, not five, not six … not seven” championships, he was influenced by equal parts confidence and a desire to appeal to the home crowd. Had he been in an actual interview and faced by reporters, he probably would have hedged his bets and said the team will win some titles. Now, after the Heat lost to the Mavericks in the finals, LeBron has learned the art of self-deprecating humor:

That is the second time this summer that LeBron has made fun of himself. It’s a good approach for a man who was so conscious of his image that he once confiscated a potentially embarrassing tape. It’s OK to show you’re human, LeBron. It might actually help your appeal to the common man who you once so notoriously ripped.

As for McDonald’s, don’t get caught up in this Monopoly game. I once put on 15 pounds in five weeks searching for Boardwalk. Supersize this, supersize that — whatever got me the extra Monopoly cards. Took me until high school to finally drop that weight. Ugh, stay away!

Chest bump to Weedy Claxton for the video

You may have seen a Pizza Hut commercial playing over the weekend featuring running back Reggie Bush. In the commercial, Bush is traded in fantasy football for a $10 Pizza Hut supreme pizza.

Is that not the best representation of Reggie’s NFL career to-date? I won’t call Bush a bust the way other people have because I think that term only applies to players who can’t cut it in the NFL. Bush has a role in the league, he just never lived up to expectations. And now he’s been traded for a $10 pizza. Pizza Hut couldn’t have embarrassed him more if they had tried.

For whatever reason, playing sports and having sex have been connected countless times in the past.  Certain coaches have claimed it weakens legs and should be avoided before a big game.  Some people believe sex helps relieve tension before a stressful event so it can be a useful tool.

Russell Martin says he was once injured while getting it on. The Beijing Olympic committee knew doing the dirty was inevitable in the Olympic Village, so they provided the necessary resources for athletes to remain safe.  Ray Edwards partially credited abstinence for helping him win his boxing debut. Contemplating the effects of sex makes sense from a competitor’s standpoint, but why should fans abstain?

The television ad company Telecom Corp. in New Zealand seems to think practicing abstinence is a great way to show your support for the New Zealand All Blacks during the Rugby World Cup.  The video rallying for fans to avoid temptation features former Rugby player Sean Fitzpatrick.  Check out the strange rally cry, courtesy of Off the Bench:

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