NFL star JJ Watt is one of the most storied players still playing in the NFL and much of his success has come after striving to overcome challenging obstacles from serious injury through painful rehabilitation to defeat.
The latest Gatorade campaign, launched on 18 July ahead of training camp for the upcoming NFL season, asks how the three time NFL Defensive Player of the Year keep himself motivated through tough times?
Watt’s answer? He advises young athletes to find a rival – someone who scares them – whether they’re far away, across town, or even in the family.
Watt’s own brother was drafted into the NFL around the same time as JJ and has all but matched him though his career to date.
The Houston Texans defensive end fronts a new US TV commercial and says that rival should be someone dedicated to defeating you: This competitor is the motivation that drives him to stay late, come in early and become obsessed with improvement.
To further illustrate his point, the Gatorade spot showcases on-field action and key moments from some of US sport’s most famous and fierce rivalries: from the NFL’s Chicago Bears vs the Green Bay Packers to the NBA’s Magic Johnson vs Larry Bird.
Watt insists that, eventually, such rivalries foster respect, admiration and they raise your game.
“If I could give an athlete, one piece of advice, it would be to find a rival. Someone committed, to taking you down. They should scare you, into starting early, and staying late. They might be far away, or across town. They might be family, but they should make you obsessed, like “this time it’s personal” obsessed. And they’ll bring you pain, and frustration, you will hate them, but then you’ll respect them and love them. Because that rival, that wants to take you down, is gonna make you raise your game even higher.”
Comment:
This is another powerful, motivational sports spot from the NFL’s official sports drink.
(It’s just a shame that as the ad broke, JJ Watt was put on the PUP list just as NFL training camp season begins).
The campaign follows in the footsteps of other recent inspirational Gatorade initiatives that have ranged from its Women’s World Cup ‘Sisters In Sweat’ campaign (see case study), to its ‘Make Them Sweat’ football initiative starring Lionel Messi and Gabriel Jesus (see case study), not mention April’s Dwayne Wade/Gabrielle Union Gatorade Zero ad (see case study).
Links:
Gatorade
https://www.youtube.com/user/GatoradeUK
https://twitter.com/gatoradeuk
https://www.facebook.com/gatoradeuk
https://www.pinterest.com/gatoradeuk/
TBWA
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