Now there's an idea! How about Yao just carry Mini Me, throw him and the ball at the basket, and if anyone even touches him, it'd be a foul......but who'd take the foul shots?
Yao Ming's first TV commercial is for Apple By TOM FOWLER Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle Houston Rockets center Yao Ming made his television advertising debut this week with a spot for Apple Computer's new notebook computer. In the ad, the 7-foot, 5-inch Yao is flying on a passenger jet and pulls out a new PowerBook G4 computer from the overhead compartment. His fellow passenger, Verne Troyer, the actor who plays Mini Me in the Austin Powers films gets out his own PowerBook, but this one with a 17-inch screen. Troyer begins watching the movie Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Yao looks on with mild envy at the bigger computer before the two smile at each other. The ad was shown today at Macworld, the semi-annual trade show devoted to Apple products, and usually used by Apple to announce new products and business plans. Terms of Yao's deal with Apple have not been released. Yao recently signed a two-year endorsement contract with Sorrent Inc., a company that develops video games for mobile phones and other wireless devices. The games, which will cost between $1 and $5, will be available in the first half of this year in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore, the San Mateo, Calif.-based company said. The PowerBook computers in the TV ad will run from $1,799 for the 12-inch machine and $3,299 for the 17-inch model.
I first used a laptop a little while ago at school and realized that typing is a pain in the ass. Not just b/c of the level of the keys but also b/c there's no number pad on the right. On the 17" notebook why didn't they add it b/c there's plenty of room?
I think that you're right about the blue shirt, but the design looks cool. When I think of China the colors that come to mind are red and gold. Along those lines of color...I was wondering if anyone has called "the Red Scare" as a knickname yet. In a Houston Chron article Francis mentioned about his company (http://www.weronegear.com/) doing some "dynasty" stuff. On their online catalog they have other clothes and its damn expensive.
What I am surprised is that nobody knew anything about this till today. The only thing I heard close to this was that Yao was doing a movie with Verne Troyer. As much as we stalk on the BBS, I am very disappointed in you members to not say a word about this.
It's a funny video indeed. For those of you who wants to save this movie, you can do a "Save Target As" at the following URL: http://a772.g.akamai.net/5/772/51/9...879e74bbe2b8cf864/powerbook_g4-03-02_m480.mov
Yeah all the people who were in the know of this ad had to sign agreements on not to disclose the details of the ad until it debuts.
Here's an updated article from the Chron. Also mentions the new site Yaoming.net to be up soon. Apple ad leads a bevy of Yao-endorsed products By TOM FOWLER Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle As fan support for Houston Rockets rookie Yao Ming surges, so too does the marketing machine behind the burgeoning basketball star. The 22-year-old Yao made his television advertising debut Tuesday with a spot for Apple Computer's new notebook computer, his third product endorsement deal of what is likely to become a multimillion-dollar sidelight to his sports career. The ad, first shown Tuesday at the semi-annual Macworld trade show, features Yao and Verne Troyer, the actor who plays Mini-Me in the Austin Powers films. Seated on an airliner, Yao pulls out a PowerBook notebook computer with a 12-inch screen. Troyer pulls out his own PowerBook with a 17-inch screen and begins watching the movie Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. As Yao looks on with envy, the two smile at each other. Terms of Yao's deal with Apple have not been released, but it is part of a brand-building strategy that is beginning with technology products, said Bill Sanders, marketing director for BDA Sports Management and a member of Team Yao, the marketing machine behind the player. "He loves technology and video games, so we wanted to begin there," Sanders said. "He will only do ads if he actually uses the products and has turned down some because he didn't like them." In addition to the Apple deal, Yao has a two-year endorsement contract with Sorrent, a company that develops video games for mobile phones and other wireless devices. The games will be available in the first half of this year in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore, the San Mateo, Calif.-based company said. Yao also has an endorsement deal with shoe company Nike, but it predates his arrival in the National Basketball Association. Other nontechnology-related ads for Fortune 100-level companies will air on television shortly, Sanders said. Aside from providing an anchor to the Rockets' local promotional campaign, Yao's marketing potential is starting to resonate throughout the league. He ranks first among centers in the fan poll for the All-Star Game, leading Los Angeles star Shaquille O'Neal. And his NBA debut against the Indiana Pacers in October reached 287 million households in China via the government-run China Central Television, more than double the number of TV households watching in the United States. That has led the NBA to increase the number of its games broadcast in China this season to 170, with 30 involving the Rockets. The approach taken by Team Yao -- which includes Bill Duffy, Sanders' colleague at BDA Sports Management; University of Chicago graduate student Erik Zhang; and University of Chicago business school deputy dean John Huizinga -- has been selective. Yao is not interested in doing a lot of endorsements, so when he signs on with a company, it has to be something he will use. "He doesn't drink, so you won't see that. And there are certain competitors in a business where he has a preference of one product over the other," Sanders said. "That's important because the only way to get to his long-term potential is if he has credibility with the consumers." A Web site, www.yaoming.net, will be launched shortly. Fans can see the ads, download the video game and see other information and products related to him. Yao has the athletic ability and charm to be a success from a marketing perspective, Sanders said, but his ties to China make him even more unusual. "He's really more interested in just playing ball than doing ads," Sanders said. "But being from the last great frontier in terms of the marketplace means all bets are off when it come to his potential."
It just occured to me...why did they choose Yaoming.net instead of Yaoming.com? It appears it is still available. I could be wrong.
You are correct. After a search I found this is the owner: Evergreen Sports, Inc. (YAOMING-DOM) 2000 E 9th Street #629 Cleveland OH,44115 US Site developers are from www.nforce.com
