AD AGE chose Nike as its '18 "Marketer of the Year" for its Colin Kaepernick ad campaign. Depending on "who you asked, Nike was either a crusader for social justice or an unpatriotic agitator making a hero out of the man who started the movement of NFL players kneeling during the national anthem as a means to bring attention to racial inequities." Either way, Nike "ended up right where it needs to be: in the middle of a debate that drew attention, admiration and -- most importantly -- sales from the urban millennials it needs to keep the swoosh strong" (ADAGE.com, 12/3).
ON ISLAND TIME: In Honolulu, Ferd Lewis noted the Hawaii Bowl has "ended a four-year absence without a title sponsor for its postseason college football game by becoming the SoFi Hawaii Bowl." Hawaii Bowl Exec Dir Daryl Garvinhe said that the title sponsorship agreement with the S.F.-based online personal finance company is "for two years," but he "declined to say how much the sponsorship was worth." It is the "third title sponsorship in the bowl’s 17-years of operation." ConAgra Foods was the "original title sponsor" in '02 and was "replaced by Sheraton Hotels" from '03-13 (HONOLULU STAR-ADVERTISER, 12/1).
FAMILY-FRIENDLY: In N.Y., Bob Raissman noted the Facebook Portal “empty nest” ad featuring Fox’ Howie Long and his family that aired during Saints-Cowboys on Thursday "took three shoots in three different cities (Philadelphia, Chicago, Scottsdale) to get the commercial done." Two of Long’s sons "currently play" in the NFL: Chris Long with the Eagles and Kyle with the Bears. It is "nice to see" Fox execs "helping an advertiser by partnering them up with their talent" (N.Y DAILY NEWS, 12/2).
