Patriots QB Tom Brady's upcoming Facebook Watch series is the latest sign he is "building a business for his life after football," according to Joe Drape of the N.Y. TIMES. The "Tom vs. Time" series comes after the release last fall of his book "The TB12 Method" and the launch of his "lifestyle website," TB12Sports.com. Brady has "'merch' to sell on his site: supplements, snack bars, apps and gear," and he has a "brand to build -- one that will carry him well past the end of his playing days." Brady also maintains the "social media tools to brandish his newfound mysticism." Drape: "Give it to Brady. This is a pretty original stab at a third act" (N.Y. TIMES, 1/12).
GETTING AN INSIDE LOOK: NBC SPORTS BOSTON's Tom Curran talked to fimlmaker Gotham Chopra, who worked with Brady on "Tom vs. Time," and noted the series is “not so much a business proposition as somewhat of a living archive.” Chopra said the documentary “started out as a real offseason look” at how Brady prepares for the season. However, it ended up evolving to examine the mental and “emotional aspect” of his training. Chopra: “For Tom, almost unlike any other athlete I’ve worked with, football is not just what he does for a living. ... It's who he is. Nobody loves the game more than this guy.” Chopra said Brady describes playing in front of thousands of fans as “spiritual” and it is “one of the things that really resonates.” Chopra: “I understand (the NFL) is a business, but there’s no version of documenting Tom Brady’s life without seeing how important the TB12 Method and all that stuff is.” Chopra said the series is “really intimate and sometimes, frankly, it’s not the most beautiful” thing ever recorded, but it is "really raw.” Curran asked, "How many warts are there going to be?” Chopra: “It’s going to be pretty revealing” (“Quick Slants the Podcast,” NBCSPORTSBOSTON.com, 1/12).
