Response To Jenny Molenda's Post

In Jenny’s blog post about LeBron James endorsing McDonalds, she brings up many points that are very informative. Recently LeBron James, a famous basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers, appeared in a commercial for McDonalds. It is a takeoff of a commercial that stared Larry Bird and Michael Jordan. LeBron and Dwight Howard play a game of horse and who ever misses first has to watch the other one eat the meal from McDonalds, but it has a small trick in the end (I don’t want to ruin it for you). Jenny says that LeBron is a good spokesmen for this commercial because LeBron is a famous athlete and appeals to many people, including young adults and children which is one of the biggest targets for McDonalds.

She goes on to talk about how the commercial is not very appropriate because LeBron James is a athlete and McDonalds is known to not have the most healthy food. It is kind of ironic because LeBron has to keep his body in great shape, so eating McDonalds wouldn’t be the best idea for him.

I agree with her on pretty much all of these points. LeBron is a great player who appeals to many people across a wide range of demographics. I think that many people would see this commercial, think it is funny, and then go get a Big Mac because LeBron likes them. I also agree with her that it is not very appropriate to have him endorse McDonalds. It is giving a bad image to kids who are now going to think McDonalds can make you like LeBron or something like that. I have nothing against McDonalds, I even like going there once in a while, but for some people they won’t be able to see that it is bad for you.

*Picture from lebronjamesshop.com
**Video from YouTube

Favre Endorsement of Wrangler

Brett Favre is a well known athlete throughout the United States. He has played football, in the NFL, for almost twenty years now. In some opinions he is one of the greatest quarter backs in history. In 2007, he decided to try something new and signed a contract with Wrangle, a well known jean company. He was shown in many TV, radio, web, and print ads.

Brett is known as a tough player. He holds the NFL record for longest consecutive starts for any player. He has played through many injuries, emotional and physical. In December 2003, his father past away; the next day, he played in a Monday Night Football game and beat the raiders 41-7. Wrangler wanted to have Favre as a spokes person because they wanted their jeans to seem tough and strong. Favre is both of these and people know him as that. The endorsement seems to be successful for Wrangler.

In Donald Patterson’s article, “Wrangle gets quarters back with Favre,” he says, “Brett Favre turned out to be a great catch for Wrangler, a brand with a long history of making big plays on the endorsement field.” He goes on to talk about how Wrangle usually picks good star athletes to endorse their jeans. It is an effective way to advertise jeans. Many of the people buying them are into sports, and even the ones who aren’t know the stars and can relate to them. Favre was a especially great catch because the season after he signed his contract with Wrangler he had a great season.

It was a very controversial move when Favre retired, only to return and play for the Jets. Many people, mostly Packer fans, would never be able to forgive him for abandoning the Packers; However Wrangler still used him as their spokes person.

* Photo from Wrangler home page
**Video from youtube