photo via multivu.com
In recent years, March Madness fans have become accustomed to the TV ad campaigns executed by Dove Men+Care. They often feature current or former NBA athletes who made a name for themselves during the NCAA Tournament, college basketball coaches and also experts. Magic Johnson, Steve Nash, Shaquille O’Neal and John Thompson are a few basketball greats who have participated in the campaign in the past. This year, the Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade and ESPN college basketball expert Jay Bilas were tapped to represent the brand. The campaign’s theme is fatherhood and shows the proud papas in ‘Real Moments’ with their real children.
According to the official press release,
The “Real Moments” campaign reveals an unexpected glimpse into Bilas’s and Wade’s life experiences via “how-to” formatted stories with a comedic twist. While fans may believe that ‘mastering the drive’ is a basketball focused activity for Jay Bilas, what he really cares about is finding the time to sit shotgun while guiding his daughter behind the wheel. Dwyane Wade shares that the best method for ‘staying in shape’ is not solely about hitting the gym, but playing in a bouncy house or swimming pool with his sons.
Wade, who’s been very vocal about the role his children play in his life, had this to say about the campaign, “The real moments in my Dove®Men+Care™ campaign capture the joy and excitement my boys and I feel when we are all together. Being a father is the most rewarding aspect of my life and my children teach me, just as much as I teach them.”
Take a look at all four of the fun and playful spots below.
Photo via bossip.com
Continuing with the fatherhood theme, but on a much sadder note, another senseless tragedy took place in Chicago earlier this week. A father, Jonathan Watkins, and his six-month-old daughter, Johnylah Watkins, suffered multiple gunshot wounds while changing her diaper in the front seat of his van. Unfortunately the baby, who was shot at five times, didn’t survive.
This story hit Chicago Bulls star Derrick Rose close to home. The new father to a four-year-old son generously offered to cover the funeral expenses for baby Johnylah. While Rose is a Chicago native, it’s often easy to become numb to the senseless violence that’s destroying the community on a daily basis. Not to mention the personal stress he’s dealing with as he continues to rehab from his ACL injury. I doubt his gesture was attention seeking, but I wanted to acknowledge his thoughtfulness because athletes are often perceived as selfish. However, this Rose story does a great job of dispelling that generality. My condolences go out to the family. Chicago, please do better.
Here are details on what took place, in cased you missed it.
