ADIDAS LAUNCHES NEW CHELSEA FOOTBALL CLUB CAMPAIGN TO SHOW THAT BLUE REALLY IS THE COLOUR

To celebrate the launch of the new Chelsea FC home shirt for the 2013/14 season, adidas has launched a bold new campaign – ‘It’s Blue, What Else Matters’ encouraging Chelsea fans across the globe to go ‘all in’ and buy the new 2013/14 home kit before seeing it.

To mark the occasion, adidas has created a hero film featuring some of Chelsea’s biggest stars and iconic imagery that will adorn the club for the forthcoming season. The artwork and film illustrate the commitment and the lengths that the players will go for the club.

The imagery is the centerpiece of the adidas marketing campaign based on the belief that Chelsea is not just a football club, not just a team, but something deeper and emotional.

adidas spokesperson said “The campaign was created based on the insight that Chelsea can clearly own ‘blue’ as a colour. Not only do they sing about it, but they are the only club in the English Premier League that call themselves ‘The Blues’. Seeing the players take part and show their commitment to the colour and the lengths that they will go to will inspire the fans and show the club as they have never been seen before”

The 1.5 min viral film that has been created for the campaign features Juan Mata, David Luiz, Gary Cahill and club captain John Terry. It starts with the journey of a single drop of blue liquid dominating the screen before cutting to a locker bleeding adidas’ iconic three stripes of blue liquid from its vent. The anticipation builds when you see Terry’s feet being covered in blue and builds intrigue as a suspended barrel of the blue starts to slowly pour creating a wall of paint. As the music drops and the speed picks up, the film cuts to John Terry, Juan Mata and Gary Cahill, bear chested, sizing up the blue liquid in front of them. John Terry is then pictured, falling back into a pool of the blue liquid, a scene that had to be shot in one take. The locker that was bleeding the three stripes suddenly explodes over Juan Mata, who does not flinch such is his commitment to being blue. Gary Cahill walks through the wall of paint in a dramatic scene before the climax of the film, which showcases David Luiz, unrecognizable, but truly iconic as he bursts out of a vat of blue from where he was submerged.

Each player spent two hours on set to create this epic piece of film and imagery showcasing their passion, love and commitment to the club.

David Luiz, “I have really enjoyed being part of this day, I would do anything for this club and to show my passion for being a Blue means everything to me”

Juan Mata ‘The blue is to belong to this club, as a player and a supporter’.

Petr Cech ‘I can say that painted in blue, It shows how blue I can be, Chelsea is a huge part of my life and Chelsea Football Club has become like my second family’.

The campaign was launched last April 5 and Chelsea fans will be able to explore the imagery throughout Stamford Bridge as Chelsea take on Sunderland.

To view the film visit: http://youtu.be/m9kAH2v9200

My Shoe Story, True Story

My Shoe Story, True Story

 

I love basketball.

There was a time when basketball was my life. I played basketball like eight hours a day. From here on, call me THE MACHINE!

Unknown to many – there were circumstances and reasons, financial crunch is one – I stopped college schooling for a year. One summer, I went back home and rode the loneliest 2-hour bus drive ever.

In the year I was a bona fide out of school youth and stayed home, basketball was my salvation.

In the morning, I did hundreds and hundreds of shots. I kept on playing ’til sun’s burning hot. And pre-internet days, no iPad, no DVD, no cable TV, no nothing, as early as 3pm, I was back, shooting again.

Lemme mention that, for optimum performance, I ate my snacks first. My daily afternoon vitamins was a combo of richee-rich (or cream-o) and water.

At around 3pm, kids were in school, so I played alone. I had to wait some 2 hours before I get to play with some dudes (#ruralvillageproblems). Damn, this is a sad story. Wait til you hear this…

At one point, because I played hoops mula sa morning – hanggang sa evening, almost all day (sometimes after dinner too), my trusted slip-ons wasn’t able to take the abuse.  For the sake of this story, let’s name this tsinelas, “RAMBO.”

Part of Rambo’s sole were consumed and gone. The strap part, I had to put GI-wires (alambre) for it not to pop out. I dunno but I can’t seem to get a tsinelas replacement those days.

So I played with the busted slip-ons for a couple of days. Feet bruised and skinned out but I kept on playing and playing and playing and playing. Did I mention I love basketball? Our village court had this road concrete pavement. Rough, sharp, edgy. Close your eyes, imagine that.

Finally no masterful engineering feat could save my Rambo. One afternoon I shouted in despair. No tsinelas and it’s Christmas time! And, without tsinelas, I can’t play basketball! You know the scene when Tom Hanks shouted “Wilson” on Cast Away? That’s basically what I did that day… RAMBO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But I am a MacGyver disciple, I see things, I see solution. I see dead shoes. I saw a basketball shoe.

One afternoon, I saw a pair of discarded black running shoes in the storage room, toe cap is pointed and long, a BIG SIZED one, (could be 3 size larger than my size), and no brand. It’s like running shoes slash kung-fu shoes.

Anyway, I am somewhat a painter. So I looked for a white paint and painted the shoes. I put on the Nike Sus! I mean SWOOOSH! Let’s call the shoes
“NIKE HYPER LOL.”  And there you go, an hour later, I was rocking kickass shoes with 2 pairs of socks, both folded at ends.

And of course, the gang made fun of my shoes. Ughhhh, I want to cry now but I can’t. They’re right, my shoes looked stupid. It deserved the mockery. But two things… they can’t guard me wearing that “Nike Hyper LOL” and that’s an upgrade over the tsinelas, so I am good.

Speaking of, there’s good news too in this story.

Things happen for a reason. Me stopping schooling for a year made me realize, no school aint cool. The following year, I was back in school and pounding the calculator and finding “X”. Hence on I valued my studies and all the wonderful things that came with it. And the year I was a legit out of school youth, I believe I improved my basketball skills, it made me an above average basketball player (or so I believe.)

To cut the story short, like a ball, I was able to bounce and rebound in my, then, young life. I finished school, passed some kind of an exam, found a job, then later started a business.

Fastbreak 15 or so years, walah, I AM NOT RICH, but I am able to buy basketball shoes that I like. I have LeBron, Kobe and DRose Shoes but sadly, I am not able to really use ‘em. Priorities, my schedule and my abdominal muscle injury prevent me from playing basketball.

I wrote a poem (oh now wait, I am a poet now?) years ago and it had a line “new shoes can’t take away the blues” and to me, that still very much true. Looking back at things, maybe it’s time to add a new line… “it’s hoops, it can take away the blues.”

Not playing hoops is by far, the greatest frustration of my life. I love these latest shoes but sometimes, even for a day, I wish I could trade my Kobe shoes for that Nike Hyper LOL shoes and be able to play again for one whole day.

This is my shoe story, a true story.

13 basketball facts, as tweeted, Pinoy style

These are my tweets. Just making a post out of it. Edited for clarity…

1. Mas magaling mag-basketball ang batang nagsimula sa maliliit na bola kesa sa mga 5 Y/O, na pinalaro agad sa official ball.
2. Mas masarap mag-basketball kesa manood ng basketball.
3. Walang “I” sa “basketball”. Puwera na lang kung bisaya.
4. Sa Pilipinas lang, ang mga reperi sa plaza/street basketball, eh kumukuha ng tong.
5. Ang basketball ay ‘di lang pang matangkad at macho, pwede ding sa bading at unano. See rafeboogs’  Pacific Rim.
6. Sa pilipinas madaling maging coach ng basketball sa barangay level. Bili ka lang jacket tapos paburda mo sa likod “COACH,” ayus na!
7. Average height ng point guard sa larong kanto, 5-2
8. Sa basketball, mahirap bantayan yung construction worker na naka inom ng lapad tas nakahubad #simalakasatmadulas
9. Lusot lamang, pusta ng wala pera. Pag meron konting pera, ice tubig.
10. Ang kasabihang “bilog ang bola,” pang-basketball lang yun. ‘Di yun applicable sa American football.
11. Sa basketball, ang sakit na sobrang madribble ay tinatawag na #cabagnotism
12. Walang congressman, gob, mayor sa Pilipinas ang di nagpatayo ng basketball court. As in wala. #votewisely
13. Sa basketball, mahirap mag-manage ng isang team. Paano pa kung tatlo?!

McKinley Hill Football Field

As per Santi Araneta, “McKinley Hill football field is complete! Home of the UFL!” I’m happy for UFL fans and football aficionados in general. Pitch looks lovely in the photo. Hoping that lots of seats are in place.  I just hope too that it is “putik” proof.

 

Mark Caguioa’s Advanced Celebration With the Fans (Meet & Greet)

Some photos in the advanced birthday celebration of Mark Caguioa and Meet & Greet held today at the San Juan Arena.

Later in the day, Mark Caguioa thanked his fans and supporters via twitter.

To all the GINEBRA fans thank you for all the gifts and thank you for making time for me and my teammates. Special thank you to Albert.

— Mark Caguioa (@officialMC47) November 17, 2012

Happy birthday Mark, long live a King.

Photos from bgkjamships.

SM MOA Loves Breaking Dawn, So Much #teambella #teamedward #teamjacob

Let me get this out of the way. This sucks. It is possible that Henry Sy is a big fan of Breaking Dawn. That’s because 8 of 8 SM MOA cinemas are showing this epic film. Really? 8?! And they picked Secret Kulasisi as the lone non-vampire movie (afternoon screening). Ganun din, kagatan din sa leeg. Let’s say this night, tonight, is the only time you can squeeze out time to watch Skyfall. Or, imagine if guys are planning to watch Skyfall and are waiting for payday Thursday. And with MOA theaters going all out for #teambella, #teamjacob and #teamedward, you’ll need to go IMAX at an early 7pm or late 10pm screenings and pay a ton as well. Cmon now SM, learn demographics 101. Pakagat ko kayo sa bampira eh!

Houston, the Beard has landed

Woj broke the story…

 

Oklahoma City has traded James Harden to the Houston Rockets, league sources tell Y! Sports.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) October 28, 2012

OKC unable to reach an acceptable contract extension for both parties, they ended the Harden drama with one quick trade. The Oklahoma City will get Jeremy Lamb, Kevin Martin and future draft considerations and Houston Rockets acquire James Harden, Daequan Cook, Lazar Hayward and Cole Aldrich.

Harden covets max deal worth about 60 millions and the offer on the table is 55. Yeah 5M is big but I really believe Harden also wants to be a star and he’s tired of 6th man title, he wants touches & to put up like 20 shots per game. With Westbrook and Durant taking 45-50 shots per game, it’ll be difficult for him to get the touches the he desires. At the end of the day, parties need to do what’s best for them. Harden gets that extra 5-6 million dollars and stardom. Meanwhile, OKC can look at the sheet and be happy that the numbers are right, they still have KD, Westbrook and Ibaka, they have young talent, they got future picks and compete for many years.

Apl.De.Ap and Jessica Sanchez’ music video, “Jump In”

I don’t care if the single sounds commercial or has jingle-tone in it but I love the lyrics, the HD video, the basketball scenes, the Filipino words inserts (Jump in, jump in, sabay-sabay, Up in the sky, taas-kamay, Walang kasing taas-taas, Walang kasing lakas-lakas) and Jessica Sanchez’ legs!

I’m Jumpin’ In!

TY @coachot for the video assist.

Do you like Jolas the TV guy?

NIKE INTRODUCES THE LEBRON X

 

LeBron James’ successful 2012 continues with the introduction of the LeBron X shoe. Designed to the specifications of James, the shoe combines dynamic containment, protection and responsiveness tailored to one of the world’s most explosive players.

 

Inspired by the creation and beauty of a diamond, the metaphoric comparisons run parallel to James’ career. Diamonds form between the earth’s crust and super-heated core, where intensity changes the structure of carbon over time. Under extreme pressure and temperature carbon then becomes diamonds.

 

Heat, time and pressure are three things James has faced and act as the shoe’s inspiration. Although a refined diamond is beautiful, it takes work to get there – it starts as a dull rock. Over time, it gains clarity and sharpens with multiple facets.

 

Each colorway of the LeBron X has a unique story. The blue diamond colorway is symbolic of the blue tint diamonds gain from interaction with electricity, which can be paralleled to James’ electric style of play. The cutting Jade colorway is inspired by the Chinese art of cutting jade using diamonds. The story continues throughout the season with multiple colorways linked to the diamond.

 

The LeBron X+ is Nike’s first signature basketball shoe featuring Nike+ Basketball technology and is available in select colorways and in three versions: the fully loaded LeBron X+ Sport Pack – which includes the shoe and the Nike+ Sport Kit, a Nike+ Basketball enabled version with NIKE+ technology embedded in the midsole, and a non-enabled version. The interactive experience allows users to track in-game activity with NIKE+ enabled shoes and later review, analyze, and share that information using the Nike+ Basketball app.

 

The technical benefits also include a lock-down fit, excellent cushioning on impact, and a lightweight feel. The very first full-length visible Nike Zoom unit, dynamic Flywire technology, Hyperfuse construction and Nike+ Basketball all bring the shoe to entirely new heights.

The shoe is now available globally.

 

The LeBron X launches two colorways in Nike stores nationwide beginning November 2, 2012, with the final colorway on December 1, 2012. LeBron X will retail at Php 8,995.

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