ADWEEK's Paul Hiebert reported Panasonic at CES announced the release of its "#WhatMovesUs" campaign, featuring Gold Medal-winning swimmers Michael Phelps and Katie Ledecky, Paralympic long-jumper Lex Gillette and USA Karate National Team member Sakura Kokumai. In a spot, the athletes are "shown giving back to society." Phelps "instructs young people how to swim, for instance, while Ledecky encourages students to participate in science, technology, engineering and math." The "digital-only campaign" was produced with MRM McCann, N.Y., and is "scheduled to run throughout the year" (ADWEEK.com, 1/6).
PUBLIC SERVICE: Actor Don Cheadle has been "tapped to help the USGA promote its various missions" through a large campaign announced yesterday. The USGA " to use Cheadle to help raise awareness about the value of public golf, showcasing him and his distinct voice in PSAs throughout the year." Cheadle will "highlight the USGA's research efforts and technological innovations to promoting golf's role in being good environmental stewards." Cheadle also will serve as a "brand ambassador for the U.S. Open as the USGA launches a new brand campaign around the national championship at the USGA Annual Meeting in February" (GOLFDIGEST.com, 1/6).
OFF THE RACK: In L.A., Arash Markazi notes the official Lakers Team Shop has a "jersey for just about every player on the roster" except C Dwight Howard. It is "common for a team not to sell the jersey of a player on a non-guaranteed contract." The store, along with the Team LA Store at Staples Center, said that they "expected to get a shipment of Howard jerseys and shirts on Friday, which is also the day Howard’s one-year contract becomes guaranteed" (L.A. TIMES, 1/7).
