Remember that old Powerade commerical where LeBron James is shooting full-court jump shots with ease? As soon as it started airing, the debate began.
Was LeBron really swishing those shots or was it all fake?
In the end, Powerade let it be known that the commercial was the work of Method Studios, a company that specializes in visual effects, and that the spot was part of their new ad campaign (which also featured a Michael Vick).
While the footage turned out to be fake, Powerade got what they wanted. They created some buzz and pretty soon, everyone wanted to see the ad to judge for themselves; was it real or fake?
Well another NBA star may have taken a page out LeBron's book.
On Thursday, Kobe Bryant's website, KB24.com, released a video in which the Los Angeles Laker pulls off his own ridiculous stunt.
As the video begins, Kobe holds up his newest signature shoe, the Nike Hyperdunks. Bryant then laces up his sneakers while teammate Ronny Turiaf tells him that what he's about to do isn't a good idea. "Don't worry, I got this. Come on, bring it down!" shouts a confident Kobe.
Then it happens.
A silver Aston Martin then comes flying onto the screen at fifty miles per hour and Bryant jumps. He lets out a roar and completely clears the car.
"I told you!" he yells to Turiaf, "March 31, 2008, baby! That is how you jump over an Aston Martin boy, that's how you do it. Hyperdunks!"
The video has been slowed down, freeze framed, and analyzed by many people and nobody seems to have any evidence that the stunt is fake.
In the LeBron commercial, the ball briefly leaves the screen which caused many people to doubt the ad's authenticity. But with the Kobe video, you see everything perfectly. Hell, check out the photo above this article. Looks pretty real, right?
But let's take a second and put all video effects to the side. Hollywood magic can do some amazing things and who knows, Bryant may have spent a fortune on that spot. Rather than analyzing the video for imperfections, let's just use common sense for a second.
Would an athlete of Kobe's caliber risk injury and possibly death just to sell a few pairs of shoes? I doubt it.
One slip, one mistimed jump is all it would take for his career to be over and Bryant isn't stupid. Can you imagine what the Lakers would have done if he landed too early, hit the car, and broke his leg? Phil Jackson wouldn't be too happy.
But Kobe's mini commercial is already making noise. It's getting hit after hit on YouTube and was shown on TNT's halftime show during Thursday's game between the Lakers and Clippers.
Here's my opinion on the video: I think Bryant's jump is 100% real. He has a great vertical leap and probably could clear the car if he tried. However, I don't think Kobe is stupid enough to actually attempt the stunt. Just because he can clear the car on a perfect jump, doesn't mean he'd do it and risk injury if he were to slip or screw up.
I think the car was driven right next to Kobe so that from our angle, it looks like he's jumping over the car but really, he's just jumping really high directly beside it.
It'll be interesting to see if Kobe ever reveals if this video was real or fake but for now, you be the judge.
Did Kobe really clear the car or is this just another example of amazing special effects used to generate hype?
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3 months ago
I think it's real. You saw how excited he was after he did it.
from 3 months ago
He was pretty pumped. I don't know, I just can't see him doing that. It's so damn risky.
from 3 months ago
I agree
from 3 months ago
its fake morans.... he is a rapist not a high jumper....
3 months ago
If you freeze the video at various points you can clearly tell that the car drives by slightly to his right. Try freezing it just before his feet leave the ground.
3 months ago
Of course it's fake! I agree, it passed to the right, but he wasn't in the same shot... the ground and shadows look fake, so do the buildings in the back. Studio special fx, that's all. Cool spot though.
3 months ago
No way it's real. No question he could have done it easily, but what impresses me is how talented an actor he is, too. He wouldn't risk everything for one of his sponsors.
Its not like the car just drove by him either, as some have speculated, which would have been too easy to spot from so close.
I'm no expert, but I dont see why the effect is that difficult to do. Blue screens have existed for decades, but I have a feeling in this day and age they do it like this:
Notice how the camera doesn't move.
They film once with just the car, then they film again with Kobe. Then they splice the video together. We could probably do it too with some planning, a digital video camera, and the right software.
'But Wait!', you say he moves the camera in the beginning. Either he actually moves the camera, jumps, then they film the bit with the car (and without Kobe) with the camera where he left it, or more likely, they just take a larger resolution shot, and move the part we see.
Its either that or the blue screen, but i have a feeling with modern computers and software, its actually cheaper to do what i described (no need to rent a studio big enough to drive a car around in).
3 months ago
the shadow of the car wouldn't make sense if the car was actually beside kobe...it's gotta be right underneath him.
3 months ago
Hes already playing with an injured finger and you think hed risk another injury with this stunt? Seriously, think about it.
And theres no way Nike would let him do this for real. If anything had happened to Kobe he might end up owning Nike.
3 months ago
Anyone who can get Ronnie Turiaf a Nike commercial should be the MVP in my book
3 months ago
Any one in there right mind would know that unless you have a pair of 159 dollar sneakers you should not try this!
3 months ago
There is a rumor that the Lakers have fined him for doing this. If that's true, can we assume this was real?
And thanks for all of the comments everyone!
from 3 months ago
I don't think so. They could of fined him simply because he attempted it, or because he tried an "un-authorized" act. People are getting in trouble left and right for pick-up basketball games, I think Kobe would get fined because of a stupid act like this...even if it's not real.
3 months ago
The video is obviously 'fake' because Kobe would most likely be in breach of contact for pulling this stunt. Additionally, the jump itself is probably edited. If you look at Kobe's height as he walks out away from the camera to the position where he jumps, you can match it up against the building in the background. If you pause the video at the height of his jump, you can make pretty close approximation to where his center of gravity would be. It's pretty close to 9 feet in the air. The Aston Martin dimensions on the Aston Martin website put the height of the car at about 4.2 feet. It looks like Kobes center of gravity is doubling that height, putting him somewhere between 8 and 9 feet in the air. In addition, the physics of the landing are a bit off. So using his center of gravity as a reference point, the time between when he leaves the ground and the peak of his jump should be equal (ideally) to the time between the peak of his jump and when his center of gravity returns to its original position. However, to the naked eye it looks like he returns to the ground much more swiftly than he takes off. (This could be an optical illusion due to his shifting position mid-air).
If the jump is real, Kobe should enter the Olympics as a high jumper as the current record for the high jump is 8 feet 1/2 inch, and Kobe's center of gravity appears to be above that mark. (Granted, he used both legs in take-off, but with good form he could probably reach that height from a running start).
3 months ago
I belive that Kobe really did it
3 months ago
That ad did what Powerade wanted it to -- generate a buzz and improve sales 0%.
3 months ago
That ad did Powerade wanted it to do - create a buzz and increase sales by 0%.
3 months ago
Remember that Tiger Woods commercial of him bouncing a ball off a club, putting it between his legs and finally hitting the ball in mid-air? Everyone thought it was CGI but it turned out to be real. Dont believe thats the case here though. I dont believe there is any way in the world Nike, the Lakers and Kobe's agent would ever sanction this stunt.
3 months ago
Look at when he comes down. The area surrounding him does not match the background or the foreground. It appears there is a fog or haze around him. It's fake.......
3 months ago
Can Kobe jump that high? No doubt. He probably has a 40-plus inch vertical leap. All he has to do to get the extra 16 inches needed to clear the car is bend his knees.
Was the car too far to the right? No. It passes right over the shadow Kobe was standing on.
Was the video faked? I have no idea. It would be very easy to fake it using modern technology, or even using 1970s technology.
3 months ago
hahaha this is so fake. Incredible that some of you idiots would even think FOR A SECOND that this was real. I bet you people thought star wars was real. There's a big difference between bouncing a golf ball and risking your entire career/life jumping a car. Yeah, I think kobe jumped a car to sell sneakers two weeks before the playoffs start.hahahaha morons. Nice camera angle too... one which is easiest to fake. I love how gullible some people are... dumber than chimps!!!!!!!
3 months ago
hahaha this is so fake. Incredible that some of you idiots would even think FOR A SECOND that this was real. I bet you people thought star wars was real. There's a big difference between bouncing a golf ball and risking your entire career/life jumping a car. Yeah, I think kobe jumped a car to sell sneakers two weeks before the playoffs start.hahahaha morons. Nice camera angle too... one which is easiest to fake. I love how gullible some people are... dumber than chimps!!!!!!!
3 months ago
This article got the jump on me, but I have your answer right here: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/17283-Kobe-Jumping-over-Car-Fake-but-Cool-110408
Kobe even admitted it to John Ireland last night.
3 months ago
thats not real... he didnt play in the all star game cause he didnt want to his pinky to get even more injured.. were talkin about a car running at u... its not real.. if he didnt play the all star game his not goin to jump over a car
3 months ago
thats not real... he didnt play in the all star game cause he didnt want to his pinky to get even more injured.. were talkin about a car running at u... its not real.. if he didnt play the all star game his not goin to jump over a car
3 months ago
thats not real... he didnt play in the all star game cause he didnt want to his pinky to get even more injured.. were talkin about a car running at u... its not real.. if he didnt play the all star game his not goin to jump over a car
3 months ago
thats not real... he didnt play in the all star game cause he didnt want to his pinky to get even more injured.. were talkin about a car running at u... its not real.. if he didnt play the all star game his not goin to jump over a car
3 months ago
Wow nice poem...U sound like a source with some great info...Keep up the beautiful poetry and enjoy watching Kobe lead the lakers to another Championship.
IDIOT
3 months ago
Anybody who thinks he would risk his career and life and/or injury for a NIKE commercial is under the age of 12, especially for $130 pair of shoes. No doubt he could do it, very cool commercial though.
3 months ago
It is completely idiotic to think that he did it. It's posible he could clear it, if the car was going fast enough. Anyone who understands physics and can figure out how many feet per second that car was going understands that the timing necessary, if he could do it, would be basically impossible for him to accomplish, let alone attempt. From a visual standpoint, it is very well done. Nice job. Say what you want about Kobe, but he does have some skills.
3 months ago
Thanks for all of the comments everyone.
3 months ago
By the way, check out this video.
Kobe admits it was fake: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7shHyZZCcls
3 months ago
kobe is a rapist not a high jumper... the video is fake like his street cred.. he is soft and sucks without shaq...
3 months ago
kobe is the man, screw whoever talk crap about him! whoever is calling him a rapist you probably is rapist yourself! you think he care about whoever talking bad about him, check and see hom many points he is averaging per. game!!! GET A LIFE!!
3 months ago
im not a kobe fan but to the idiot who says that lebron has passed kobe is a fool. lebron has not won nothing in this league. kobe has championship rings!!!! lebron maybe and even this is a maybe more popular than kobe, but lebron has no hardware.. nor will he ever get any hardware; unless he leaves cleveland... i dont normally blog but i felt it to be morally imperative to respond to such stupidity......
3 months ago
really? serious?? there are actually people out there stupid enough with no common sense that thinks this is real??
here is Kobe admitting it was FAKE, duh!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7shHyZZCcls
3 months ago
This jump is REAL people.They don`t want you to know the truth because it will make the N.B.A look bad. Kobe is paying a fine because he did this.Ths U.S. is built on so much lies that people will take a lie faster than taking the truth.
Gameworldbaby INC.
3 months ago
http://www.kobebryantjump.com
3 months ago
If you watch the shadow on the car from the street light you can tell that the car was to the right but it was a one shot and he would have jumped it if it was for real.
3 months ago
haha nice illusion...they're not even on the same line...
3 months ago
IT IS REAL! I am not a Kobe fan, but if you think there is trick photography, etc. YOU are completely wrong. The persons article comment, where he doesnt think Kobe is stupid enough to actually do it, is not accurate. One question for you:
If you can use all these ways to video this stunt without actually, having to do the actual event, then why is Kobe standing to the right of the car? why is the car, turning its wheels sharp right while it passes? Why does Kobe jump in a slight angle?
The jump is 100% REAL, and everything in the video is REAL. The reality of the stunt is, Kobe, did it, however, he did not actually jump directly over the car, its an optical illusion.
3 months ago
absolutely fake
3 months ago
the car went right over the shadow kobe was standing on. it didn't drive to the side of him
3 months ago
It's obviously fake, Im not saying kobe cant do this, but he would not risk it, he would get suspended from the team if it was real.
3 months ago
First off, totally fake, and the only thing Kobe is that's real is a little bitch. Even though, he is a little ball hogging bitch, he ain't stupid, he ain't going to throw away his career as one of the best basketball players to ever play by getting hit by a car.
It passed to his right, look closely at the shadows, like I said he might be a bitch, but he's a talented smart bitch. I mean how many people can rape someone and get away with it. I'm just saying.
3 months ago
After watching this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7shHyZZCcls
maybe I don't hate him so much, he still needs to learn to pass more though.
3 months ago
I think that Kobe CAN do it but didn't do it. Why would he risk an injury days beore the playoffs?
3 months ago
It's fake. As awesome as it looks, it's definitely fake. The Lakers front office would be all over him if he pulled a stunt like this.
3 months ago
Wow, I can't believe how many reads/comments this has gotten. Good to see that the majority of readers agree with me and think it's fake. haha
from 3 months ago
I can't believe that this is still getting reads after Kobe admitted it's fake.
3 months ago
it could easily be a green screen behind him...all it takes is a carefully placed green screen. you can practically put anything on a green screen and place a person infront of it and make it look real. how do u think movies are made with there is shit flying everywhere and the main actor just dodges it??? nike wanted the buzz we an gave em the buzz, this is just another example of viral marketting at its prime. also, people who have argued that its real because of his expression/reaction because of completing the jump...you guys are idiots. it doesnt take jack nicholson or al pacino to laugh out loud and rejoice, even you could do it, let alone kobe bryant.
3 months ago
HOw stupid can u all be? IT IS REAL!!! Look at the SHADOW ON THE GROUND. KOBES LEFT FOOT IS RIGHT ON IT. THE CAR DRIVES OVER THE SHADOW. I HOPE IM NOT THE ONLY ONE TO FIGURE THIS OUT. IF SO THEN THERE ARE SOME REALLY STUPID PEOPLE OUT THERE. ITS IS REAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!
3 months ago
There is no way it is real, buddy, with camera work now a days, they could have just made him jump, then imported a car into the video, there is no way he would risk this injury, he is not that stupid, if it were real, the laker organization would have suspended him instantly for doing something that stupid
3 months ago
Do you really think Nike and the Lakers would take a chance of Kobe getting hit by a car?
3 months ago
http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1811089
Proof that it's fake.
from 3 months ago
hahahahahahahaha, that was awesome Bradley
3 months ago
its called CGI kids, what a complete waste of time...
3 months ago
It is fake, if it was real, the Lakers would have already been pretty unhappy with him. Portland got upset after Greg Oden played a pick-up game, so why wouldn't the Lakers be upset if this was real? The jump itself was probably real, but you can easily edit the video to make it seem like a car was coming at the same time as well and make it look very real. Plus, IT'S FAKE.
3 months ago
It's fake, Alex Kennedy, you my friend are an idiot for even considering its autheticity. Jumping over a speeding car? Please, Kobe loves money way too much to risk his career like that.
3 months ago
Sorry, Alex, just realized your 16, honest mistake for a kid to make. By the way, would you like to hear about an investemnt opportunity I have?
3 months ago
It's obviously fake, this is just some kind of viral marketing attempt orchestrated by nike AND aston martin.
Buzz is so cheap.
3 months ago
kobe24
its real because he has the lightest shoes on the market right now.
3 months ago
Whoever mentioned kobe high jumping is a moron. That guy must have never high jumped before in his life, just because you can jump off two feet and pull your legs up to about 5 feet (aston martin height is right under), doesn't mean anything when you have 11 steps and approximately 90 feet to clear a bar barely supported while jumping off one foot. There is more technique than vertical leaping ability in high jump. (trust me i had a 37 inch vertical and no technique, and i wasn't that good at high jump, best mark was 6-6, district winner that year 6-10, state winner 7-1) and i easily could outjump (outside of the HJ pit) any of those kids. So this is fake as shit, this shouldn't even be a topic, way to buy into nike's advertising!!
3 months ago
Did you watch any of the lakers games this year?? he passes more than he ever has, and look they are the 1st in the west... SHUT THE FUCK UP, OR THINK BEFORE YOU POST STUPID SHIT!
3 months ago
by looking at the picture, and not the vid i think its real but deceptive. The picture almost looks like kobe is right next to the car...like at most he had to jump over the side mirror.
3 months ago
Wow. It's amazing what some people believe in 2008.
If you were to air this commercial in 1998, I might believe it was real.
Then again, that was in 1998, before computer effects were as widespread and ubiquitous as they are in 2008, and I was also in 7th grade. I would have believed anything.
But for those that still think it's real, there's a great ad for Bud Light with a dog that can actually SPEAK! He repeats the word sausages. There is also a sassy squirrel in the ad who seems to have a grasp on urban English.
3 months ago
Check out my newest article, Kobe explains what happend on Pardon the Interuption
3 months ago
exactley, y would he risk enjury, and they are going to the playoffs, they are a championship team wit kobe, if they lose games without gasol then how kan they win without kobe. what if he was injured?? then his carrer is done, 6 year 126 million contract down the drain, championship hopes gone, even he knows that. and his reaction, lebron acted the same way in his fake back court jumper commercial,(hint hint: the reaction was to make you think he really did it )
3 months ago
You guys missed the author's point. It doesn't if the car was lined up against Kobe or next to him. He has the athletic ability to jump over an Aston Martin going 50/mph. But he wouldn't risk it. Ultimately, the commercial was a success because we're writing about it right now! He'll sell more sneakers and the optical illusion entertained all of us. And like all magicians, Kobe might not ever reveal how he did it, or if it's real or fake. He got you "see" the unbelievable as real. I'd say he pulled off some great magic.
3 months ago
You guys missed the author's point. It doesn't matter if the car was lined up against Kobe or next to him. He has the athletic ability to jump over an Aston Martin going 50/mph. But he wouldn't risk it. Ultimately, the commercial was a success because we're writing about it right now! He'll sell more sneakers and the optical illusion entertained us all. And like all magicians, Kobe might not ever reveal how he did it, or if it's real or fake. He got you "see" the unbelievable as real. I'd say he pulled off some great magic.
3 months ago
yall r dumb as hell it is real ass shit wen he gets ready 2 jump da car tire is line up wit da left half of his body incase if anything go wrong he can bail out or car can dats y wen car cums it turns right so the whole car can go under kobe body that why it tuirns right so yall dumb ass hell it is real as hell dont fake on kobe he not goin waiste his time 2 make some fake shit it was real just face fact i just prove it to you
3 months ago
quite obviously fake.
2 months ago
it is fake. the air displacement would make him front flip. i should know lol
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