Adidas.tv

If 2008 was the Year of the Widget, 2009 will be the Year of Rebranding the Widget. In this case we're talking about Adidas TV. My first thought was that Adidas was merely skinning their Youtube videos which is a fairly common but stale tactic. It turns out they've created a cagey little gadget that you can put on your web pages (Facebook, Blogger, et al.), send via email, and upload to your mobile phone. But why take my word for it? Scroll down and you'll see a sample install of it on the right rail.

The install took all of :30 seconds, and resizing it is simple if you know even a thimble-full of javascript. People who say Social Media isn't trackable completely miss one point, which is that Social Media apps are just part of a larger initiative and that larger initiative always includes some kind of tracking mechanism. The 'rising tide floats all boats' theory in action. In this case they've done a great job and created a nice little add-on for people who want to spice up their pages with some video without any fuss.

The Friday Numbers

Sorry, most of you are probably at the bar already, I didn't get to post the numbers this morning. So without further ado...here's your Friday diversion. We're celebrating February only having 28 days (I'll drink to that) and that means spring is around the corner.

- At Age 28, Adam Dunn has more home runs, runs, and walks than Reggie Jackson, Darryl Strawberry, Jose Canseco and Harmon Killebrew all did at the same age.

- Legendary basketball coach Pat Summitt has averaged 28 victories a year for 35+ years...and a typical NCAA women's basketball season is about 35 games. Over the last four seasons the New York Knicks have averaged just 28 victories per year out of a possible 82.

- Pitcher Tim Wakefield has 164 victories in a Red Sox uniform, leaving him 28 short of the two club record holders: legends Cy Young and Roger Clemens.

- Darrell Greene, a Washington Redskins Hall-of-Famer, was a first round pick by Washington, in 1983. He was the 28th overall pick. He also wore the jersey number 28.

- Legendary basketball coach Dean Smith was born on February 28th, 1931.

- Last year Amateur UK horse jockey Anthony Knott won his first ever race. It took him 28 years to do it.

- There were a total of 28 sports at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China.

See you in March!

mi adidas

In a surprise that can only be called serendipitous, I found a sweet email from Adidas in my inbox two nights ago announcing the launch of mi adidas (clever wordplay there), a site for customizing one-off sets of shoes... straight on the heels of my NIKEiD post a day earlier. I love my Adidas shoes, but there can only be one 'smartest kid in the online class' and we're reserving that for Nike at the moment. Here's why:

1. Interface. While mi adidas is certainly navigable, its got the plot a bit wrong. I want to choose my colors and know my options straight away. I dont want to be asked my gender / shoe size / shoe width first. That's what happened when mom took me to the store right before school was back in session. I'm going to assume you can figure out a way to make these shoes for me regardless of those details. While Adidas sports a more classic and clean interface, certain UI options were overlooked as well: it's great to show me the timeless Stan Smith on the homepage and let me customize it, but let me select it right there. I want to do the customizing without being required to jump through several categories to get there. (eds note: tried this on Safari and Firefox for Mac; perhaps it is clickable via Internet Explorer but I can't verify that.)

2. Urgency. Nike are the masters of imploring you to get on with the matter. Just Do It, right? The contest is always the context-- the Royale32 tournament, or the Euro2008 ID soccer campaign-- giving you the impression that time is limited. Those contests are satellites of the main NIKEiD site to be sure, but even hitting the iD site through your generic login, you'll see terms such as 'Spring Collection' and a display presentation like you'd find at the local boutique. Translation: you're out shoe shopping, be impulsive, have some fun. If you're not feeling it yet, maybe you oughtta click on the Nike Sportswear Music widget in the corner (yep, you can buy the music you're listening to via itunes or visit the artist's site).

So while I'll applaud mi adidas for the efforts so far, I'd say its a bit more like shopping for shoes at the suburban mall, while NikeiD is hangin' somewhere in fashionable mid-town.

NIKEiD throwdown

Nike iD and the Nike iD Studio are all about specialization; a brilliant concept to involve customers in unique "one-offs" if you will. I've never really believed Nike makes a ton of money off the iD concept, but it plays well with the younger crowd and keeps them true to their street roots.

So what better way to play up those roots than an old-school East vs. West throwdown. Enter NIKEiD Royale 32, a design contest where people are required to create their entries at the NYC Mercer location or the LA Montalban location, and voting occurs online. 32 contenders, 4 weeks, and one winner. Very cool, and painless... vote and get on with it. Purchase your choice if you want. No hassle, no commitment. Nicely executed, with the one exception...Nike are masters of the Inbox but terribly frustrating for passing links along to friends or mining for yourself. Meaning, you'll get something cool via email and Nike will dial you in straight away, but good look stumbling along through their site(s) and finding the unexpected treasure.

Logistics

You thought you had problems packing up your kids for a trip to Florida, eh? Then pity the crews of an F1 team like Williams who have to deal with "packing day". I suspect this time of year poses unique problems such as: no race adrenaline, routines not entirely established or executed comfortably, and so much at stake in the testing process. Especially this year as the testing rules have changed so much. I dug up this video from the AutomotiveTV channel on moving an F1 team around the globe. (side note: if you're not subscribed to AutomotiveTV, you should be.)

Spotlight on marketing

A tidy and interesting interview with Perry Cooper, senior VP of digital and direct marketing for the NHL can be found in the recent issue of Deliver® magazine. It's a great reminder in this day and age when Direct Mail is yawned at (at best) or (worse) sneered at, the NHL has shown that it's all about the touch points...reminding your customers of your offerings in the right way without bombing them with offers. In this instance, the direct mail is a targeted outreach in tactile fashion, something often lost in today's "receive-process-delete" society.

Spring Training 2

Down the road a piece from the Indians new facility lies Camelback Ranch, the new home of the Dodgers and Chicago White Sox. Facility sharing is nothing new and occasionally makes for strange bedfellows-- the Indians will welcome their intra-state rivals from Cincinnati as facility partners in Goodyear soon.

While the desert browns and assimilation into nature are both on display in Camelback and Goodyear, Camelback is taking aim straight at the holiday crowd with lakes, walking paths and more. Even the CR website says its "a campus rather than a complex...a park rather than a facility." When you've got 140 acres and budget that isn't endless, the choice becomes clear: develop the property or develop the stadium. And while the main stadium does not appear to be lacking, it's clearly only part of the experience promised by the CR proprietors. How else to explain the music bandstand and the orange grove? (Nice tip of the cap to the original Dodgertown in Vero Beach). 'The Ranch' will also host concerts and corporate outings when baseball is not in session.

If you plan on going, the Chicago Tribune has some helpful hints and potential warnings.

Yas Marina Circuit

Continuing this week's overly-indulgent car theme, I found new pics of the Yas Marina track in Abu Dhabi . Side note: yes, we're a little obsessed with tracks and stadiums these days but fun design is worth celebrating. Besides, when you're in Abu Dhabi there are virtually no financial restrictions...so the designers get to go a little nuts. See for yourself.

Yas Marina official website
Pics from Formula1.com

The Friday Numbers

Yes, I realize it is not yet Friday in some parts of the world, but we post when we can, calendar be damned. Since the Chicago Auto Show is this weekend and F1 testing has begun on the heels of the Daytona 500, we've got cars on the brain. Here you go:

- After F1 testing on January 26, 2008, Nick Heidfeld of BMW Sauber said of the new vehicle: "Last year [at this stage] things seemed better to me. Last year the balance was there quicker and we were more where we expected to be." In 2008, Nick Heidfeld would complete 1,112 out of a possible 1,117 race laps, the most of any driver.

- The Fastest Lap in the 2008 Bahrain Grand Prix was 1:33.6 set by Felipe Massa of Ferrari
- The Fastest Lap in 2009 testing at Bahrain was 1:32.01 by Kimi Raikonnen of Ferrari
- Massa and Raikkonen finished 1/2 respectively at the 2008 race.
Lesson: Ferrari is really fast at Bahrain.

- Matt Kenseth won this year's rain-shortened Daytona 500. The Daytona 500 has been rain-shortened 4 times in it's 51 history.

- The American Le Mans Series will begin it's schedule with the Twelve Hours of Sebring in March. The past 10 winners of the 24 Hours of Le Mans raced at Sebring prior to their Le Mans victory.

- In 2008, Toyota had 445 Million USD available for its F1 program through suppliers, ownership contributions and sponsorships. It had the most money at its disposal of any F1 team. In 2009 a budget cap will be introduced, believed to be 150 Million USD. Only three teams on the F1 grid had less than 150 Million at their disposal for the 2008 campaign.

- The 2009 schedule for NASCAR will result in 37 stops between now and November. That number is more than double the events scheduled for Formula One, IndyCar Series, LeMans Series and WRC Rally Car.

2009 Formula One Rule Changes

Almost perfect. An engaging two-minute film here. Props to AutomotiveTV.

Spotlight on Cycling

Any form of racing is a giant petri dish for innovation- mechanical, chemical or otherwise. This weekend we saw a handful of cycling teams roll out in the Tour of California with Shimano's new Dura Ace Di2 electronic gear-changing system. This system isn't brand new per se, as it was used in last year's Tour De France by a couple of two-wheeled guinea pigs. But its the first time we've seen multiple teams jump on the bandwagon with Shimano's final product.

This New York Times article sums the landscape up pretty well. The key line in the article starts here: Because cycling teams rely on sponsorship from companies like Shimano for their financial survival... And there is the crux of the matter. You want sponsorship? You help us sell products. All that aside, the Di2 system is actually a bit lighter than the current Shimano cabling system, and once riders get over the fear of dead batteries and ill timed shifts I could see this catching on. Anyone who does a lot of riding in inclement weather also knows that fewer moving parts = fewer weather related problems, etc. I'm not sure I like the idea of letting riders use the electronic system in time-trials which is precisely where it will have most of its impact. I liken it to electronic -traction control in Formula One; It makes for a more interesting race, but it doesn't make for better drivers.

Interesting that Campagnolo is launching a version, so you can be pretty sure we've got industry-wide buy in on this equipment. And if Shimano can't make it work, then probably can't be done. So the heavy-weights have spoken. Now we'll see what the riders have to say.

The Friday Numbers

For fun, we thought we'd start a regular Friday distraction called 'the numbers'. Because Fridays are all about small distractions right? These may not always be design and tech oriented, but they will most definitely involve sports. Since it's Friday the 13th, the most talked about and feared day on the calendar, its only fitting we start with 13. Here goes...

RACING:
-The number 13 has not been in use in Formula One racing since 1976 and has only twice made an appearance at racetracks in the World Championship.
-Formula 1 teams are no longer given the number 13 when car numbers are given out to them. The team now finishing seventh in the previous year's championship will take numbers 14 and 15 as opposed to 13 and 14.
-The only driver to win a race in the No. 13 car was Johnny Rutherford, making his NASCAR debut at Daytona. Rutherford would win the Indianapolis 500 of Open Wheel racing three times.

STADIUMS:
-George Steinbrenner rejected 13 plans by architectural firm HOK prior to the building of the new Yankee Stadium.
-Most American High School gymnasiums have scoreboards which contain 13 digits (score, time of possession, etc.)


BASKETBALL:
-Wilt Chamberlain, who wore the jersey number 13, was named to 13 All-Star teams.
-Tonight, February 13th, the Harlem Globetrotters will play in Madison Square Garden...Wilt Chamberlain once played for the Harlem Globetrotters.

SOCCER:
-Its not always bad luck. Kristine Lilly, who made more international appearances than any other player in the sport's history, wore #13 for the USA women's team.

HOCKEY:
-No player wearing the #13 sweater has been inducted into the NHL Hockey Hall of Fame.

Green Point gets its roof

Cynics please step down, the Green Point stadium in Capetown is finally getting its head-dress. And what a beauty it is. The massive glass / steel / cable roof, designed by Birdair (Buffalo, NY) is unique, providing a veil-like effect for the stadium at the foot of Table Mountain. If you've not seen the official Green Point stadium site, visit it here. The 2 minute youtube video provides excellent site context.

I will make no pretenses about it- I have friends in South Africa and Zimbabwe and hope that this WC can heal a part of the world that is desperate to prove not just that it is normal, but that it can shine when given the chance. As those games draw near, you'll see more stadium photos from around South Africa here. An ongoing catalog of the stadium progress can be viewed here.

Spring Training 1

With Spring Training upon us, I thought I'd take some time over the next few weeks to look at the new facilities and assorted gadgetry that will make its debut across the ballparks and 'mallparks' of Arizona and Florida. The Cleveland Indians are up first; their fantastic new facility in Goodyear Arizona has all the makings of a blueprint for other MLB clubs to follow: real practice and workout facilities for personnel, easy access to high-end urban shopping and restaurants, expansion options, a design compatible with its surroundings, and lest we forget... Club Suites! For only $75 million, this too, can be yours.

Goodyear AZ is in fact named after that bastion of Ohio manufacturing, the Goodyear tire company in Akron, so its fitting that the Indians ended up here. And with apologies to the good people of Winter Haven, it's a clean break from the baggage that weighed them down at that facility. The current US economy will prevent some of the more elaborate entertainment and business options at the complex (does anything get built without conference centers and an on-site hotel anymore?) but as you can see from the photos there is ample room for growth, and the complex is a straight-shot of 30 minutes from downtown Phoenix on I-10. Companies and sponsors wanting to create an "Indians getaway" for staff or friends won't be short on options.

ed: Remember when Spring Training used to be about baseball? And it was cheap? No more. Spring Training is an event, and events demand financial commitment. Especially from you, dear consumer.

It should come as no surprise that HOK, the 800 lb. gorilla of world stadium design, are behind the beautiful design. We're loathe to call it "post-modern" but modern and classy it is, as if Bloomingdale's Home Outlet decided to pitch in on the project. When the grand entrance is fleshed out with plant life/grass/walkways it should make for a striking entrance. The gradual slope of the seating bowl and the wide concourse give the stadium a European feel (ex: review some of the Portuguese stadiums used for Euro 2004) and are a subtle nod to the flat landscape it faces on the outskirts of the hardscrabble desert. A tip of the proverbial ballcap to the Indians, HOK, RTKL and the municipality of Goodyear for pulling this off.

Pay to Play

To my regular readers (both of you. hah.) my apologies for a lack of posts this week. Without dwelling on it too much, I had to be hospitalized and that put quite a crimp in my writing/researching time.

I'm getting back to speed and in the meanwhile I've found this gem on Wired. ESPN is attempting to completely flip existing models on how video is distributed. Normally the ISP makes the rules and the content provider has to pay up for the bandwidth in use. But when your content is "that good" and "that widely distributed" the potential for a power-shift becomes self-evident. We've seen this tried before in other venues though (see: Ticketmaster versus Pearl Jam) and we know how that ends.

Dialogue, not Monologue.

Detroit Red Wings media-maven Shannon Paul likes point out that advertising and corporate communications are no longer a dialogue but rather a monologue, and I think it's a point that can't be made often enough.

Telemundo and Terra apparently agree, as their new futebolstar.tv site tries to create meaningful new two-way content for the Latino audience. View the Ad Age Article for more info.

When there are no live games the site functions more or less like any other soccer portal, so it remains to be seen whether it will steal eyeballs from content-rich sites like ESPN Deportes, but I do like the concept of letting fans decided what replays they want to see. (If you don't watch much soccer it's easy to forget that the on-field action never stops, so cutting away to a replay is a dicey proposition for the broadcaster.) The screen-in-screen replay or 'split screen' seems to be a natural here.

Super Bowl: the digital army

It's going to be a nutty week, so most of my posts will either be recaps or 'forwards' from other articles, but I couldn't let the Super Bowl pass without mention. The Super Bowl isn't traditionally the venue for a major network to breakout new technology as there are already enough distractions and logistical nightmares. This year was no exception, but I've noticed that every year we hear the word 'more' at the Super Bowl. More coverage, more cameras, more explosions. Well, if you're going to bring 'more' to the masses then it takes an army. This CNET article provides a nice background on the sheer firepower it takes to keep the Super Bowl afloat. Oh, and of course it analyzes Twitter (Big Surprise!). I spend an unusual amount of time monitoring media as part of my profession and not an hour goes by that someone isn't mentioning Twitter.

Texas sized swagger

It took me awhile to find a webcam for the new Cowboys facility. I kind of thought maybe they just couldn't find a land-based camera to get it all in one frame. You think I'm joking? This view is from one of the short sides. The largest domed project in the world. I wondered if the down economy and the troubled bond-market might impact some of the more exorbitant stadium details as opening day draws near, but that appears not to be the case. The Cowboys and City of Arlington got the bond debt re-financed in December (no small feat in this economy) and it's full steam ahead.

The City of Arlington site has quarterly 'scoreboard' reports with pictures of the stadium progress and other information, if you're so inclined. Work continues on the massive videoboard, and seats continue to be installed.

Slightly off-topic: I was unaware that the Cowboys and the New York Yankees got together to create a new concession, catering and merchandising firm last Fall. They borrowed (!) $100 million USD to create Legends Hospitality Management. LHM will provide its services to the teams' new stadiums next year. Interesting to see these two sports powerhouses collaborate.