Nike hopes to make Anfernee Hardaway "a household name" when
its newest line of Wieden & Kennedy-produced ads debut Saturday.
The spots feature a "mechanical alter ego" named "Li'l Penny."
Gene Yasuda reports in the ORLANDO SENTINEL that Nike is also
giving Hardaway his own shoe -- the "Air Penny" -- making him
only the third Nike athlete to attain that honor. The campaign
will feature former "Saturday Night Live" star Chris Rock's voice
as Hardaway's alter ego -- a three-foot puppet likeness. Li'l
Penny strives to get more publicity and attention for Hardaway,
who does his best to ignore him. The Air Penny will be available
in the Magic colors and will feature a stylized 1-cent symbol on
the heal. It will retail for $135 (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 10/30).
SWOOPES HOOPS: Sheryl Swoopes, who has her own Nike shoe
along with Hardaway and Michael Jordan, was in New York last week
filming Air Swoopes commercials with U.S. Women's National Team
mates Dawn Staley and Lisa Leslie. The spots were directed by
Spike Lee. Air Swoopes hits stores in the U.S. this month and
retails for $85 (GLOBE & MAIL, 10/30).
