Product Endorsements.

   With the NBA Finals and the World Cup going on right now at the same time, I am seeing plenty of ad's and commercials promoting products endorsed by athletes. This has always puzzled me, not that athletes would like more money and don't really care what products they appear in front of a camera with to get it. But that these companies think we are dumb enough to believe that these athletes routinely use some of these. But obviously they do think that, and obviously they work, or they wouldn't still be on. So let me ask you. Do you believe that Lebron James drinks Sprite on the court and while he works out? Well, maybe after the game 1 cramping situation. But in all reality, no, he doesn't. The best basketball player in the world does not drink soda all the time. Or do we believe that the US national soccer team loads up on McDonalds? I'm sure that's how they prepare for the World Cup right? French fries are their secret. These are just to name a couple. During a sporting event, if you watch the commercials, you will find a bunch of athletes promoting junk and crap products. Even Joe Theismann with his prostate problem. 
   But what are these soda and fast food ad's doing? Do they have an impact? Do they send a message? To our youth? How many kids look up to LeBron James? They see him eating a Big Mac and drinking a soda they want to be him. If he does it, they will do it. When in reality these athletes don't routinely use these products, they just get paid millions to influence our children that already have an obesity problem to use them. There is one commercial in particular that drives me nuts. It's a Dr. Pepper commercial that shows a female boxer who used to be a model, and says she is "one of a kind", and so is Dr. Pepper. So I guess in order to be one of a kind, we should all drink Dr. Pepper. This is a joke right? But again, someone is still believing these ads.... 

---