If the kid who jumps a car and breaks his neck decides to sue KB or Nike he better make sure that the car he tried to jump was an Aston Martin because according to Nesbitt-Logic if it is any other type of car then the jump will most certainly fail. Why? You may ask. Well dumb logic has dumb reasoning so how should I know why the make of the car matters, Im just a dumb kid!

Okay, so some idiot “kid” (yeah, right) will try this and break his neck, and then sue Nike and Kobe Bryant. And they’ll lose, rather quickly, while media pundits will rail on their irresponsibility and so forth. Some people, like this author, will pretend they care about the brand and reputation that Nike and Kobe, respectively, are putting on the line, but that’s really just a mask for their disdain/dislike of them both.

You read me absolutely right. The media hates Kobe Bryant. Has since *before* Colorado. And Kobe Bryant doesn’t appear to care anymore, which has freed him to become the most devastating basketball player the NBA has likely ever seen (his jumper is better than Jordan’s, hands down). Nike, meanwhile, has been dealing with flack over its sweatshops in the Asia Pacific region, even inspiring a brand like the Red Dot sneaker (hmm… that didn’t last long, did it?) and yet it continues to move incredible numbers of high-priced units every year.

In summary: meh. What I want to know is if the shoes are any good, as I’d like to play some summer ball. Damn, I miss Kicksology.

Have to run, have to buy some Nike’s so I too can fly…

The problem with the world today is a lack of personal responsibility. Look at me, I’m 26 and I sound 76, but get real.

People need to learn to make good decisions and not blame others.

If some idiot decides to try and jump over a friggin car and gets killed, seriously, who is at fault? Who asked their friend to drive a speeding car at them? Did someone twist their arm?

I know Kobe is a role model blah blah blah, but we all make our own choices. Just cause I watched A-Team and Knight Rider as a kid didn’t mean I was dumb enough to try and jump a car 300 feet over a cliff and do a rolling dive to safety. I mean… for real? It’s pathetic that we’re even talking about this.

It makes me sick that we live in a society that even entertains the idea that people with poor judgment can blame their mistakes on entertainment. Fucking disgusting.

No offense Nesbitt, but you’re a god damned idiot.

As for comparing this to Rambo and Jackass, Rambo is not an ad for Lionsgate and Jackass is not an ad for MTV. This is clearly an ad for Nike.

Rambo has a brand that’s associated with what the movies are about. Jackass has it’s own brand that is rooted in doing reckless things.

IMO this ad makes both KB and NIke look somewhat reckless, and I don’t think that’s great for either KB or Nike’s brand image.

I agree that it was fun to watch - which is why it will get watched a lot.

I hope I’m wrong, but I think there are enough “stupid” people who will try this that someone will get hurt and I think the press won’t have any mercy.

It is sad. Your point that because it’s Kobe people will probably sue is exactly right. It sucks that Kobe and/or Nike would get sued because someone is stupid enough to try this, but I think that it’s a likely outcome.

I agree that the kid and the parents should held accountable, but that is not going to happen. The press never goes after the parents in a case like that. They go after the celebrity, because that’s the story that gets the ratings.

It sucks, it’s unfair, but that’s the way things work- and that’s why I think the “ad” puts Nike’s brand at risk.

2. True. Sad? Yes. Commercial’s fault? No.

3. This is why I hate the press because of its yellow journalism. The only thing you’re right about here is what the press will do, regardless of whether it is correct or not. (and it is incorrect)

4. This is why 95% of Americans are plain dumb and unintelligent. They never pause to stop and think first before acting.

Here’s what I think and why I think it will be bad for KB and Nike.

1. I’m talking about the impact on the Nike brand - I don’t see any brand involved with Rambo or Noxville that’s putting their reputation on the line.

2. Some kid will copy this and get hurt, or worse.

3. The press will see the story and put together the sound bite that sticks. Imagine the headline they will write - for example,”Kobe Video Kills Kid - Nike and Kobe Sued” - and if you don’t think the press won’t write a sensationalist headline you’re mistaken. It’s not this blog that will cause the problem, it will be some mainstream press with a big audience.

4. If/when it happens it will not go away quietly with some hush money, because the story is too interesting to pass up. The press/bloggers/people will talk about it all day long.

As for TV, I’ve already seen it twice on TV news. It will get air play, just because its such an amazing stunt. And TV might not even matter as the fan base is on the web most of the time.

The problem will be when the accident happens and the press connects the dots, which is bound to happen. Then KB and Nike will have a huge PR problem.

They may sell a few shoes, but how many kids will they inspire to hurt themselves or worse.

Plus, If some kid or adult thinks this video is real (and it’s not.. it’s pretty obvious) and want to try it, you can’t blame Kobe or Nike for their stupidity. Also, it’s pretty clear this is basically for online marketing, which is good. It’s not on TV, readily accessible and seen by anyone, unless some shows want to share it. Once you are online, on youtube, or wherever, one can easily figure out it’s fake if they bother to read comments made by others.