AD AGE's Jack Neff noted Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh "plays his trademark humorless self" in a new "funny campaign" for Downy fabric softener. In the spots via agencies Woven and Grey, mythical laundry assistant Josh "commits to keeping Harbaugh’s khakis wrinkle-free all season with new Downy WrinkleGuard." Josh is "dogged in his pursuit of khaki crispness as he follows the coach from field to vending machine to monitor quality control." He "even monitors the khakis’ game-time performance in a film room in one spot" (ADAGE.com, 10/3).
FAN FAVORITE: In Minneapolis, Chris Carr notes the Twins' Homer Hanky, originally born in '87 during the team’s "run to a first World Series championship," is now on sale again. Fans can buy the new bright red Homer Hanky at Cub grocer locations in Minnesota, at the team’s stores at Target Field and at the Minneapolis Star Tribune's website. Fans "attending home playoff games at Target Field also will receive one." The item switched to red for this iteration as MLB rules now "prohibit white 'in-stadium rally towels'" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 10/4).
PUCK FEVER: In Montreal, Pat Hickey notes Hockey Canada is "getting a multimillion-dollar boost from BFL Canada," a locally-based insurance company. BFL will "become the title sponsor of training, evaluation and selection camps for the Canadian national women’s team, the national development team and the women’s under-18 team." BFL President Barry Lorenzetti said that his company is "making a five-year commitment to programs that range from elite athlete and coaching development to grassroots programs" (MONTREAL GAZETTE, 10/4).
