Visa Gives Michael Phelps its Brandtastic Congrats
On Visa's behalf, Morgan Freeman congratulates US Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps "on having won more gold medals than anybody EVAR." The ad started airing hours after Phelps exceeded his own expectations of winning eight gold medals -- seizing his 10th on Tuesday. (He is now up to 11.)
Don't tell me they didn't have this bad-boy lying in wait, because I seriously doubt Freeman looked up from his gardening or whatever to go, "Oh! Phelps delivered the goods, I think I'll put together another sepia montage and say 'Good job' all over the world."
A recent Nielsen Online buzz tracking study found Phelps is the most-discussed Olympian athlete online. And on TV last night, I found out Phelps' wingspan is 6'7" -- THREE INCHES WIDER than he is tall. Also, his feet bend 15 degrees more than the average swimmer, making them more flippery or something.
UPDATE: Everyone seems to think I hate this ad. I don't. I think it was crafty of Visa to have it on the pipeline, I think it was a lovely way to fist-bump Phelps, and I think the campaign as a whole is a positive step away from the mediocre "Life Takes Visa" stuff we've been seeing. There. Please feel free to untwist your underpants.
Topic: Celebrity, Commercials, Good, Sponsorship, Television
Comments
I agree that the spot was probably completed prior to the games. However, the last shot of Phelps is a shot of him celebrating his second Gold in the 4X100 Free. Point is, they must have quickly cut it together right after he broke the record.
Good stuff from Visa
RD
hmmm. a wing-span three inches more than he is tall. i'm your average 53-yr. old that played high school and college D-1 ball at 5'10" and 160 pounds - not exactly stats to stand out in a crowd - my wingspan is 3" less than my height. i don't think that 3" more wingspan than height is unusual in a world class athlete.
hmmm. a wing-span three inches more than he is tall. i'm your average 53-yr. old that played high school and college D-1 ball at 5'10" and 160 pounds - not exactly stats to stand out in a crowd - my wingspan is 3" less than my height. i don't think that 3" more wingspan than height is unusual in a world class athlete.
Not much of a sports fan, are we?
Phelps' has 11 gold medals over the course of his entire olympic career - not just for these games. He's still shooting for 8 in Beijing, which would be a record.
Also, a lot of professional athletes have wingspans which are greater than their height.
just sayin...
Truly that Visa Ad is great. Simple, elegant and right. He is a fantastic swimmer and deserves the praise he gets no matter where or who it is from. I swim a mile every three days, much much slower, but I know it is hard work. So unless you can keep up with him you have no reason to complain about this add unless you are just one of those people who can't be happy for anyone else and just likes to complain.
There are plenty of other moronic ads like Soyjoy's miserable animation to complain about.
As Morgan Freeman was in a major car accident last week, I'm thinking they had this spot in the can long ago.