Spotty Reception

Woods' Nike Ad Drawing Some Strong Reactions

Some are calling it "manipulative," "capitalistic opportunism" and "creepy corporate manipulation." Others believe it is "good strategy" and a "worthwhile gamble to take." Tiger Woods himself says it is "very apropos." But one thing is not open for debate: Everyone still is talking about Nike's new commercial. The consensus seems to be the controversial spot stays in line with Nike's drive to make advertisements take on new life far beyond the TV screen. The Washington Post's Eugene Robinson says it is "devastatingly effective in that we're all talking about it," while Fox Business' Chris Cotter says, "This is what Nike does." IMG's Mark Steinberg also addresses his client's commercial, noting it "wasn't about selling anything" but rather a "moment in time where Tiger was acknowledging that there was a lot in his life that he was not proud of." While the spot's 24-hour run comes to an end Thursday afternoon, parodies of it still are popping up on the Internet and on late-night TV. Stephen Colbert gets into the act by channeling Frankenstein and Ward Cleaver for several humorous parodies.