NBA
Two truths about Americans and America: Americans like a show and in America (nearly) everything is a giant commercial.
Take professional sports, for example. If you think people go to sports game just for the sports, you're wrong. Also, commercialism is everywhere.
I've been to major league baseball games where the audience is entertained between innings by mascots and all kinds of games played with the audience. These games are typically sponsored by companies.
Last week I went to see an NBA game, a new experience. It was at the U.S. Airways Center in Phoenix where the Phoenix Suns took on the LA Lakers. There were the typical ads everywhere around the arena and shows whenever there was a time out or at the end of each 12 minute quarter.
The shows included barely dressed cheerleaders/dancers, drummers and acrobats jumping off a a trampoline in rapid succession, dunking balls in the basket after doing a flip. Games played with audience members included guessing the "Right Guard" (get it, Right Guard, the deodorant), taking a "lucky shot" on the basket from one of three different distances, with prize money increasing the further out the shooter went (sponsored by a Casino.)
In between all that the Suns lost to the Lakers.
It was a lot of fun and I recommend that if you visit the States, you go see a basketball game. It is much quicker than baseball games, which can take forever. Plus there is much more action going on in the game as well as during those breaks. If you're lucky, you will win a prize.
I also thoroughly enjoyed myself because of the company, the fun people at Henkel, including a 10-year-old smart ass :-)
Take professional sports, for example. If you think people go to sports game just for the sports, you're wrong. Also, commercialism is everywhere.
I've been to major league baseball games where the audience is entertained between innings by mascots and all kinds of games played with the audience. These games are typically sponsored by companies.
Last week I went to see an NBA game, a new experience. It was at the U.S. Airways Center in Phoenix where the Phoenix Suns took on the LA Lakers. There were the typical ads everywhere around the arena and shows whenever there was a time out or at the end of each 12 minute quarter.
The shows included barely dressed cheerleaders/dancers, drummers and acrobats jumping off a a trampoline in rapid succession, dunking balls in the basket after doing a flip. Games played with audience members included guessing the "Right Guard" (get it, Right Guard, the deodorant), taking a "lucky shot" on the basket from one of three different distances, with prize money increasing the further out the shooter went (sponsored by a Casino.)
In between all that the Suns lost to the Lakers.
It was a lot of fun and I recommend that if you visit the States, you go see a basketball game. It is much quicker than baseball games, which can take forever. Plus there is much more action going on in the game as well as during those breaks. If you're lucky, you will win a prize.
I also thoroughly enjoyed myself because of the company, the fun people at Henkel, including a 10-year-old smart ass :-)
posted by Joris Evers @ 6:36 PM
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