The best a man can get? I’m not so sure…
When watching the old idiot box in the corner last night an advert for Gillette Fusion came on. You know the one.
It’s the ridiculous ad where Roger Federer, Thierry Henry and Tiger Woods harass some poor guy trying to have a shave in his bathroom or pick up an item from the supermarket shelf. They assault him into submission with various sporting missiles. They then have a good old laugh at his expense.
It set me thinking…
Before Roger signed up to Gillette he was the number 1 tennis player in the world. And how he has fallen from those heady heights in a very short space of time. Henry was also one of the top strikers around. Then this summer he and France had a disastrous European Championship. Now he’s an injury-plagued substitute at Barcelona, his best days behind him. Even Tiger has been a victim of fate, he hasn’t played in months as a result of a debilitating knee injury and Padraig Harrington has since taken his mantle as double major winner. And now Tiger will miss golf’s premier event, the Ryder Cup. Notice a trend?
And now Gillette have gone for some localised branding by dressing Brian O’Driscoll, Seán Óg Ó hAilpín and Jason Sherlock in the other three’s discarded black suits. The ridiculousness continues.
And so does the trend…
An injury-plagued O’Driscoll recently had to jack in the captaincy of Leinster as it seems he’s unable to shoulder the burden. We all know what happened since Jayo signed up to Gillette Fusion. Dublin were humiliated by Tyrone in the All-Ireland quarter-finals. Didn’t exactly cover himself in glory. And as for Seán Óg Ó hAilpín, well Cork rolled over very easily this year, well beaten by Tipp in Munster and Kilkenny in the qualifiers.
In fact if you look at the photos for the branding of Gillette Fusion in Ireland, you’ll see that the three lads are very confused as to what sports they play. But at least they’re having fun…
So are Gillette Fusion’s “gentle micropulses” to blame? As the great Steve Staunton once said, “You tell me”.
Edit… Andrew Fifield touched upon much of this stuff in an article in the Irish Times recently. I was blisffully unaware until now. So hats off to Andrew, he got there before me.
Lottie said,
September 5, 2008 at 4:29 pm
I can’t comment on the sports aspect of this – but they choice of casting for the ad is quiet clever. The “Gay”man sports man, the “middle class” mans sports man and the “real mans” sports man. Catch all advertising!
NaRocRoc said,
September 6, 2008 at 7:30 pm
Sorry Lottie but your comment got caught in spam net somehow? Just saw it now.
Yeah I see your point. And they’ve also gone for the cover all ethnic backgrounds approach too! Quite clever indeed.
KOS said,
November 2, 2008 at 6:33 pm
I TINK SEAN OG LOOKS WELL FIT IN THE AD. WELL SEXY. HE IS SO GORGEOUS IT ISN.T EVEN FUNNY I SWEAR WOT I WUD DO TO HIM
NaRocRoc said,
November 2, 2008 at 7:11 pm
Welcome Kos. He’s a tough lad, I reckon he could handle whatever you threw at him!!!