Chicago Fire FC’s Post

🥇 Yesterday, I shared Nike's ad for the 2020 Olympics on LinkedIn (https://lnkd.in/dSJf6TRu), to celebrate the beginning of the Olympic games, instead of their new "Winning Isn’t for Everyone" ad. Today I want to explain why. I don't like the message in Nike's new ad. I believe it is riding a dangerous wave of promoting hedonism and a "win at all costs" culture. This message glorifies a new and toxic value that is creeping into various areas of our society. Nike knows that this mentality of "winning at all costs" is becoming more prevalent. Many who can afford to buy Nike products think this way but are still ashamed of it. However, Nike seems intent on normalizing and even glorifying this mentality. In contrast, the 2020 Olympics ad celebrates values like unity, perseverance, and hard work without compromising integrity. This is the type of message I want to promote and support, as it reflects the true values of sports and life. I firmly believe that we need to be careful about the kind of message we choose to spread and the values we want to associate with our success. Victory should come from dedication and fair play, not from selfishness and sacrifices at any cost. What are your thoughts on this? Let's discuss this in the comments. For your reference this is the ad I am talking about https://lnkd.in/d5H6BqAR #IntegrityInSports #TrueValues #OlympicSpirit #FairPlay #Dedication #Perseverance #Unity #NikeAd #WinningIsntForEveryone #Leadership #Success #CulturalValues #SportsEthics #PositiveMessaging

Nike's latest campaign has everyone talking. With the slogan "Winning Isn't for Everyone," the ad has sparked a mix of celebration and criticism. Fast Company describes it as a campaign that touched a nerve: "The campaign was both widely celebrated and criticized. Some said it represented the grit and determination to win, while others saw disrespect and a lack of sportsmanship. Either way, it sparked an emotional reaction, which is exactly what the brand was aiming for." https://lnkd.in/g7pygAwp As we wind down the Paris Olympics, we want to hear from you, our CMO community: 🔎 Is this campaign on brand for Nike? 🔎 Does it capture the spirit of the Paris Olympics for Team USA? 🔎 Or is it simply making an impact through engagement and conversation? Share your thoughts below and join the discussion! 🗨️👇 #Nike #ParisOlympics #MarketingStrategy #Sportsmanship

I still remember an ethics class that for days focused on analyzing the values conveyed by advertising and why it often focuses on negative values to appeal to people's egos. It is done because it works, and because brands do not have their own ethics, but rather adopt the model that aligns with the personal ethics of their audience to reach them in an emotional way. If there is something that most humans have in common, it is the tendency to self-justify when they commit bad actions so as not to feel like a bad person. This can have a very wide range of severity, from small actions that really do not have much impact to systems of oppression that have a great repercussion on people, and those who benefit from them do mental gymnastics not to feel like a bad person for doing so or even for abusing it. It can get as grave as abusive behavior, as this type of mental gymnastics is very typical of narcissistic behavior. This ad goes one step further, linking this type of behavior with success, suggesting that questioning your own behavior and the impact it has on other people is for losers. What do I think of the ad? It's disgusting, I find it disgusting. (for the record, no shade at all intended at John Shehata. He just happened to be the first person that appeared in my feed publishing the ad in English)

Nike’s search for its lost mojo continues. The Olympic Games is always a huge brand and business moment for The Swoosh - only the FIFA World Cup rivals the Olympics for global reach - but the stakes are unusually high this time around for Beaverton. Nike is guaranteed insider status, and the profile that comes with it, during the Paris Games; count how many times you see the Swoosh on an athlete. But it will take much more than that to re-activate the brand, hence this new global campaign, which broke on Friday. My $0.02? Not bad, but not a classic. However it did instantly remind me of a genuine Nike classic, ‘You Don’t Win Silver, You Lose Gold’, the brand’s controversial ad for the Atlanta 1996 Games - worth looking up, if you don’t know it. The DNA of that ad is clearly here too. But the mojo? Still elusive, judging by initial consumer reaction. What do you think? Hit, or miss, or somewhere in between? #Paris2024 #OlympicGames #SportsMarketing #Sponsorship

https://lnkd.in/gRDSiKBR Zig When Others Zag. Nike's latest campaign for the 2024 Summer Olympics has caught my attention as a branding creative and art director. While the Olympics traditionally celebrate excellence, respect, and friendship to build a better world through sport, Nike has decidedly 'to be a winner' one must 'be the villain' ! The campaign, narrated by Willem Dafoe, embraces a ruthless drive to win: "I'm irrational, I have zero remorse, I have no sense of compassion," Dafoe growls. "I'm delusional, I'm maniacal. You think I'm a bad person? Tell me." This stark contrast to Olympic ideals is precisely what makes it brilliant. Nike is reclaiming its edge, going back to its roots as a brand known for peak athletics performance - tapping into the raw, sometimes darker side of athletic ambition that propelled them to the top. While the naysayers might argue approach could alienate casual fans who value sportsmanship over cutthroat ambition. As a creative, I am super thrilled to see Nike take risks. It is a masterclass in standing out - zigging while others zag. Nike proves that sometimes, the most powerful message comes from embracing your roots, even if they ruffle a few feathers. And yes, did I mention Willem Dafoe’s Green Goblin over-the-top narration? Absolutely kickass. #BrandStrategy #CreativeAdvertising

Great campaign Nike! Comes out as a breath of fresh air! In current times, being competitive may often be construed as a behaviour that puts self above others, while essentially it has the power to uplift individuals, teams, communities and countries as much as collaboration, care and compassion can There are few things more gratifying than winning, be it in any sphere of life! Be it winning alone or winning as a team! Lastly, it is not just the outcome but the journey that makes it all the more worthwhile. https://lnkd.in/g7NJvw5k

The Olympics are underway - time for some of the biggest brands to launch new brand commercials. I always love seeing these and even tho there are many brands active at the Olympics here are two commercials that stood out to me: 1. On | Roger vs Zendaya The ad features Roger Federer and Zendaya in a playful, competitive storyline playing at an On shop. Their chemistry and charm make the narrative engaging, while the high production quality ensures it’s memorable. This commercial not only captures attention but perfectly aligns with the brand’s image of elegance and sophistication. It's impressive how On has developed from a brand on the sidelines to take the spotlight with the finishing slogan "Dream On" almost reminding of a younger Nike. Watch it here: https://lnkd.in/dVsjXnjm Roger vs Zendaya.  2. WINNING ISN’T FOR EVERYONE | AM I A BAD PERSON? | NIKE "Am I a bad person?" that's the very first words the viewer gets confronted with. The new commercial follows world class athletes of all sports and is showcasing the sacrifice that the best of the best have to make to be the best. Yes, everybody wants to be like a Lebron, Kobe or CR7 but do you really? On the pitch and behind the scenes these people are ruthless, obsessive, highly competitive and so much more.. Nothing else matters but their vision! No time or empathy for anything else.  This narrative resonates deeply, showcasing that true victory is about focus and obsession, aligning perfectly with Nike's "Just Do It" ethos. The emotional storytelling, combined with high-quality visuals and a motivating message, makes this ad a standout example of impactful brand communication. At the same time, it's highlighting different sports & nations, making it perfect for the Olympics. Watch it here: https://lnkd.in/drC757t8  Which one spoke more to you? #commercial #nike #on #olympics #marketing #digitalmarketing

The new Nike advert is shocking… isn’t it? Or is it? 🤔 In rugby, I used to compete with players who would headbutt me as they were about to lose a wrestling competition. They were also devout Christians. Are they a “bad” person? I guess it’s our judgement. I think it’s dangerous to exclude the essence of what the Nike advert is speaking to. I think what could be invited here is to accept that it is what can go through athletes minds. Is it true that this can co exist with the empathy, compassion, collaboration and teamwork we so often look for? It’s possible the current Nike version - if lingered upon would drive you to oblivion without acceptance and outlet & support. But I think being “delusional” and “irrational” helps many athletes. To achieve a dream do you have to be? Especially when one sets out to play rugby league, One of the toughest games there is. Many game plans we had were verging on delusional and many athletes/ I were selfish to do what they do to devote so much time to their craft. Many players would admit their aim was to hurt the opposing number more than they could them. Ultimately, what the Nike advert is showing is a snippet of an athletes entire life. None of us are wholly good or wholly bad…. Often in sport, athletes are shown as heroes. The ones who win are ‘good’ people. But under the hood there are some dark drivers in there and selfishness… not all is what appears through the tv screen and media portrayal. The advert is asking cleverly: Am I a “bad”person? What do you think? Have you ever had what we call “bad” thoughts? When we want to be a whole person, it means accepting the dark as well as the light. Nike may be moving us toward the whole truth and nothing but the truth 🤩 Carl Roger’s says that “the curious paradox of change is that once I accept myself, then I can change”. How would you react if an athlete said this to you in real life? I’d say crack on…. https://lnkd.in/erheipZP

'But it's also the ethical thing. The way Nike promote themselves and the way they behave are very different.' Interesting quote from this Daily Mail article on the shake up at Nike. https://shorturl.at/bpqrA #nike #sneakerindustry #sports #tigerwoods #sneakers #sportsindustry