I finally got around to reading Sports Illustrated’s May 26 profile of Adam Silver, but amazingly that wasn’t the thing that stuck out the most in the magazine. And not their profile on Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews, either. Which is stunning given that both pieces were superbly done.
So what could possibly be more eye-catching? An unfortunately timed ad starring one Landon Donovan.
Clearly put together by people who (rightfully) did not conceive of a scenario where Donovan wouldn’t make the U.S. World Cup team, the ad identifies the shirtless, pantsless, chest-hairless player as “Landon Donovan, U.S. Soccer Star.”
This, planned out quite meticulously in advance, no doubt, ran the very week he was cut from the national team. Doh.
Being a public service ad, it carries an important message.
GET A SUNBURN, AND YOU COULD END UP ON THE SIDELINES.
Wait… come to think of it, what better way is there to get that message across than actually cutting Donovan from the roster?
Now the Skin Cancer Foundation can make a whole new ad campaign saying “Do you see what happens when you don’t wear sunscreen? Do you see what happens? YOU GET CUT.”
Time for someone to hire me as the next Don Draper. I totally just saved that ad campaign.
