Athletes Who Should Pair Up for Commercials
Bill Buckner and Mookie Wilson came together for a commercial campaign featured on MLB Network in September 2016.
The former first baseman for the Boston Red Sox forever linked with the former New York Mets outfielder who hit the ground ball that went between Buckner's legs during the final moments of Game 6 of the 1986 World Series can now share laughs about that moment. That famous play occurred 30 years ago, and yet sports fans who watched it occur live remember where they were when it happened. Thus, an advertisement featuring the two former players entertains us.
This commercial got us thinking about other athletes who should work together for a similar spot. It's about time Peyton Manning, an annual star of comedic commercials, and Tom Brady featured in a memorable ad. The feud between Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz could make for an interesting commercial. LeBron James and Stephen Curry could have some fun discussing their recent rivalry.
Great athletes are superstars in their sports and also away from competitions. Many are their own brands in that they earn profits from endorsements and other business endeavors. Athletes pairing up for commercials can be a smart business move in the right situation.
These ads also leave fans laughing and wanting more.
Peyton Manning and Tom Brady
1 of 10
Has Peyton Manning ever met a commercial he didn't like?
The former NFL starting quarterback has consistently been a star in advertisements throughout the 2000s. Manning has been involved in commercials for video games, pizza chains, phone service providers and other companies. You can't watch an afternoon of football without seeing at least one commercial featuring Manning.
It's no secret Manning and current New England Patriots QB Tom Brady are friends. The two play golf together during the winter months. They interacted with each other during seasons when Manning was still in the league. Brady is also not a stranger to advertisements, as he has starred in commercials for Ugg boots.
We want to see a commercial in which Brady and Manning tease each other about different things. Brady could mention how Manning physically can no longer play in the league. Manning could make "Deflategate" jokes. It would be great fun among two friends making a bit of cash on the side.
Both Brady and Manning have extra time on their hands this month.
Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson
2 of 10
This idea came to mind after Alex Myers of Golf Digest offered a reminder of a funny moment involving Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.
The two were paired together at the 2002 Tour Championship when the starter began listing Woods' accomplishments from that season. Mickelson, jokingly, interrupted, yelling "alright, alright" as if to indicate he was annoyed by hearing of Woods' successes. The crowd and Woods erupted in laughter, and it's a moment that can put a smile on the face of a golf fan 14 years after the fact.
Woods and Mickelson were always different types of stars. Woods, in his prime, was an unbeatable force, a super-athlete who was arguably the greatest golfer in history. Mickelson, meanwhile, was the plucky underdog who didn't look like a bodybuilder. Mickelson never dominated as did Woods.
Both athletes are now past their primes. Mickelson turned 46 years old earlier this year, and he is scheduled to play in the upcoming Ryder Cup. Woods will attempt to make a comeback from multiple back surgeries later in 2016.
Remember when Mickelson and Woods were both at their peaks? Pepperidge Farm remembers. Hey, there's your commercial!
Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter
3 of 10
Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter didn't always enjoy the warmest relationship.
As Neil Best of Newsday explained, Ian O'Connor's book about Jeter detailed the relationship shared by the former New York Yankees teammates. That relationship took time to develop, probably because the two were such big personalities on the diamond. They played for the most prestigious sports franchise in North American pro sports and in the biggest sports market in the United States. Each was a superstar instantly recognized upon walking into a room.
Back in 2013, Shaun Powell of Sports on Earth wrote about what he referred to as "the fork in the road that sent Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter their own very separate ways." Per Powell, the relationship between Rodriguez and Jeter "was fractured forever by A-Rod putting money first." According to Brendan Kuty of NJ.com, Rodriguez did not immediately respond to Jeter after Jeter reached out to A-Rod following Rodriguez's final game with the Yankees.
It's time these two came together and buried any remaining animosity. What better way for that to happen than a commercial? The ad would do well in the New York area, and it would bring two all-time great players together one last time before they went their separate ways in their personal lives.
Pockets of New York fans out there want to believe Rodriguez and Jeter can get along, even if it's a lie.
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Serena Williams and Ronda Rousey
4 of 10
As Ron Dicker of the Huffington Post pointed out, Nike recently ran a commercial that claimed Serena Williams is the "greatest athlete ever." Opinions on Williams' overall greatness vary per person. It cannot be denied Williams has won 22 major championships during her legendary career. Williams is a pioneer and a reason some casual fans who otherwise wouldn't pay attention to tennis tune in to watch events.
Similar statements can be made about former UFC champion Ronda Rousey. Rousey became the first woman ever to hold a championship in the top mixed martial arts promotion on the planet. She could prove to be the biggest draw in the UFC when, or if, she announces her return to fighting.
Williams and Rousey are icons in different ways. Both are noteworthy athletes for reasons that go beyond winning. They deserve to be mentioned alongside each other in terms of greatness and accomplishments. They'd make a great pairing for a commercial. One scene could feature Rousey attempting to return a serve from Williams. Williams could then attempt to block Rousey from submitting her.
It's an idea straight out of those sports variety shows that used to air in the 1970s and 1980s.
Odell Beckham Jr. and Josh Norman
5 of 10
Odell Beckham Jr. and Josh Norman should see each other a lot over the next several years.
Beckham is a superstar wide receiver for the New York Giants, and he will likely put pen to paper on a new contract with the club before the end of next season. Norman signed with the Washington Redskins this past offseason. The means the cornerback who tussled with Beckham while playing for the Carolina Panthers last December should face Beckham at least twice every season through the end of the decade.
Beckham versus Norman is quickly becoming one of the better supposed feuds in the NFL. The two talented individuals got physical with each other on multiple occasions during last year's game, and Beckham beat Norman for a touchdown late in the contest. Per ESPN's Troy Barron, the two have even traded jabs via social media.
Media members and fans will discuss this feud leading up to every time the Giants and Redskins play against each other. The two should capitalize on the attention and work together on a commercial or two. Maybe they could star in a shampoo ad.
Beckham has experience in that field.
LeBron James and Stephen Curry
6 of 10
Remember that old commercial featuring Michael Jordan and Larry Bird competing in a shooting contest over a Big Mac? We need an updated version of it for the 2016 NBA season.
LeBron James and Stephen Curry have a lot in common. They are arguably the top faces of the NBA. Both men have won Most Valuable Player honors. Both have won championships. The two aren't strangers, as they have played against each other in the NBA Finals twice over the past two years.
Like Jordan and Bird, James and Curry are different types of players. James is a physical force on the basketball court and one of the better overall pure athletes of his generation. Curry, on the other hand, is the best shooter in the NBA today and maybe the greatest three-point shooter in the history of the league.
Curry could joke about winning back-to-back MVP awards. James could retort by saying something about rallying from a 3-1 deficit to win a title. It's television gold in the making, and it's a commercial that would feature two of the most famous athletes in the United States today.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi
7 of 10
We want to believe Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi dislike each other.
The two all-time great footballers play for rival clubs. Ronaldo features for Real Madrid, the reigning holders of the Champions League trophy. Messi plays for Barcelona, the club that won the La Liga title last season. Ronaldo and Messi have competed for FIFA Ballon d'Or honors throughout their careers.
We've seen these two interact with each other. There's no bitter feud or hatred shared among them. As Marissa Payne of the Washington Post pointed out last October, Ronaldo's son is a big Messi fan.
Americans who are fans of the sport need to see Ronaldo and Messi come together for a massive commercial campaign that airs in the United States. Such ads would provide additional exposure for the two giants of soccer, and they would potentially draw attention for La Liga, Copa del Rey and Champions League matches that air on cable stations.
If nothing else, such commercials would give Ronaldo's son further opportunities to mingle with his idol. That interaction could even be the subject of an ad.
Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor
8 of 10
This commercial needs to happen as soon as possible.
The feud between Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz has been the best thing in the UFC this year. McGregor, the outspoken champion who is this generation's version of Ric Flair, moved up in weight divisions to fight Diaz earlier this year. Diaz silenced McGregor for a brief amount of time when he won via submission in March. McGregor avenged that loss this past August during the best UFC fight of the year and one of the best encounters in the history of the promotion.
We know these two fighters respect each other even if they won't consistently admit it to the public. The two shared an embrace after their fight at UFC 202. As Marc Raimondi of MMA Fighting explained, McGregor praised Diaz while speaking with reporters after the two fought in August.
Both men proved on multiple occasions they can cut solid and believable promos. We watched them go to war in August. I don't know what product they'd advertise, but a commercial featuring both McGregor and Diaz would be quite a gem.
Allen Iverson and Brett Favre
9 of 10
2016 has been a big year for Allen Iverson and Brett Favre.
Iverson entered the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Favre, meanwhile, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Both are icons of their sports, and both delivered memorable and entertaining speeches during ceremonies this year.
Both also seemed to dislike preparing for games.
Iverson once ranted about his alleged practice habits while speaking with reporters during a press conference that is replayed on sports television shows to this day. As ESPN's Kevin Seifert wrote back in 2009, Favre brilliantly managed to skip training camps during the final years of his storied career.
Some creative mind out there could create an entertaining commercial based on these two hating practice sessions.
The well-known adage in sports teaches us practice makes perfect. Neither Iverson nor Favre were affected by skipping practices now and again. These two could share jokes about their personal traits during a commercial that aired throughout football and basketball seasons.
Former Cleveland Browns Quarterbacks
10 of 10
As Rohan Nadkarni of SI.com pointed out last March, the Cleveland Browns have, as of September 20, started 25 different quarterbacks since the franchise returned to the NFL in 1999. That's downright remarkable. One would think the Browns would stumble upon at least one good QB in 17 years. Cleveland has yet to do so, though, and that trend continues through the 2016 campaign.
Tim Couch, Cleveland's first draft pick in 1999, earned a cameo in a television commercial that has aired during the current football season. Couch and Josh McCown could share stories about how it feels to play behind lackluster offensive lines and about taking beatings during games. These two telling jokes about the importance of having personal insurance policies would be hilarious!
Youngsters should plan ahead for their careers. Charlie Frye, Connor Shaw, Spergon Wynn and Luke McCown could all discuss this during a commercial. Robert Griffin III started one game for the Browns before he picked up a shoulder injury. He has enough free time on his hands these days to take part in a commercial shoot.
Fans of the Browns have few reasons to feel optimistic about their favorite football team. They deserve to be entertained in other ways. Some producer needs to make this commercial a reality for supporters of a team that hasn't posted a winning season since 2007.
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