Coast 2 Coast Mom

Nike Advertising: What Type of Consumer and Athlete is Nike Targeting These Days?

Oh, Nike. (Sigh.) In case you haven't been following the recent Nike advertising and marketing announcements, Ad Chickadee has a thoughtful synopsis on just why I'm sighing right now. Nike announced that they've re-signed Michael Vick to their athlete roster, and also started selling Nike shirts with phrases like "Dope," and "Get High," on them - which while controversial, seem the opposite of phrases that a healthy active athlete would be touting anyway.

There was a reason we stopped getting excited about your products, Nike...and it had nothing to do with your marketing. We didn't start buying Under Armour (among others) for their marketing. Their products were innovative and sexy, so we gave 'em a try. We liked how they made us look (how athletic and flattering!) and how they wicked as we ran (how comfortable!).

Capturing T-Ball Highlights with Windows Live Movie Maker

Father's Day brought a close to the Kiddo's first season of little league tee ball and as eager first time parents, we of course took lots of photos and video. We wanted to capture all of the memories from opening day to the final high five and all of those game playing firsts in between . We turned to Windows Live Movie Maker to create a highlight reel from this first season of t-ball in three minutes or less (we came in at 2:20).

This is how we preserved the Kiddo's t-ball memories in a montage using Windows Live Movie Maker:

Here's some tips from our experience to quickly and easily put together your own video using Windows Live Movie Maker:

Talking Water Safety with Olympian Swimmer Aaron Peirsol and Auro-Dri

Yesterday the Kiddo and I were invited by Auro-Dri swimmers' ear solution, to spend the day poolside atop the Empire Hotel in NYC with five-time Gold Medalist swimmer Aaron Peirsol. They didn't need to ask twice. ;-) We were ever so grateful for the opportunity to cool off poolside during the sweltering 95 degree heat wave, and also to swim and chat with such an accomplished athlete as Aaron, who still holds the world record for the backstroke. The Kiddo was excited to meet the world record holder in the backstroke and took to him like glue.

 

Playing Golf on the iPad with Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12

The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass just wrapped up this weekend in Ponte Vedra Beach, and we found ourselves playing along with Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 12 for the iPad. This full featured game for the iPad, iPhone or iTouch allows you to play TPC Sawgrass like K.J. Choi this weekend, and it comes with four modes for some variety and flexibility in how you want to play your round of golf.

SuperBowl Football Fun With The Kiddo and @Qubee

We've taken the kiddo to several professional and high school football games and watched enough of them on TV that the kiddo "gets" football, but I don't think he really understands the meaning of a "1st down," other than it's what the team gets as they make their way toward their end zone. ;-)

Looking ahead to Super Bowl XLV next weekend, former Arizona Cardinal Kurt Warner has helped to launch an app "Kurt Warner's Football 101 for Kids," for the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch to teach kids the fundamentals of football. It's great timing to help kids understand the big game next weekend. Basic and fun, I'd say the ideal age is pry 4-8 year olds.

The app is broken into four quarters with each quarter focusing on different aspects of the game like players' positions, parts of the field, and how to score touchdowns, field goals and extra points. Each quarter ends with a quiz, and you have to pass each quarter in order to go on to the next. The lessons and quizzes are led by an animated football called Qubee, a character from Kurt Warner's "Good Sports Gang" series.

The kiddo's been playing it mostly on his own these past few days, and it cracks me up that he'll tell me things like, "did you know the teams can line up in different formations on the field?" Admittedly he'd rather be throwing a football around than playing the app. I'm just glad he'll have a better understanding of the game before our Superbowl party, and it's been a great way to occupy him with this year's crazy snowy winter.

The app's available for download for $2.99 at the iTunes store.

If you're on Twitter, follow @Qubee for the opportunity to win a custom engraved and Kurt Warner- autographed iPad or iPhone or official NFL football. Check out http://www.kurtwarnersweepstakes.com/ for the details.

NYC Marathon Goes Green with the LEAF

Tomorrow is the 41st running of the New York City Marathon, and continuing the theme of a healthy and green lifestyle is a not-so-surprising sponsor of this year's event: the Nissan LEAF. The LEAF is the official pace car of the 2010 ING New York City Marathon, and for the first time, the front runners won't be breathing in a trail of car exhaust. . . because this year's car is 100% electric.

 

I unfortunately was unable to make my appointment today to get a personal overview of the Nissan LEAF at the pre-marathon health and fitness expo; however, I've been so interested in the car that I thought I'd share a few details with you:

• The LEAF has a range of 100 miles per charge based upon US EPA LA4 City cycle
• The SL model has a photovoltaic solar panel rear spoiler
• It comes with CARWINGS™ - an in-car telematics system that displays battery power, nearby charging stations, and allows for remote connection to the LEAF

You can have a chance to check out the car as it makes its way through a multi-venue tour and receive some free merchandise courtesy of the ING NYC Marathon partners, and even enter to win a sweepstakes for a chance to win a new LEAF! For each day's location, follow @NissanLEAF on Twitter.

Arthur Ashe Kids' Day and Stonyfield Cafe Launch at U.S. Open

Thanks to Stonyfield, we had a terrific time Saturday attending Arthur Ashe Kids' Day at the U.S. Open in Flushing, NY. This was our first visit to see the Unisphere and the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center as a family, and it was a beautiful blue-sky day for all 23,000 people attending.

The day started with all sorts of tennis fun for kids: target practice, obstacle course, speed tennis, etc. with prizes sponsored by Hess, Olympus, Nike, American Express, Wilson Sporting Goods and others (They gave 200 kid-sized racquets out to the first 200 kids, but we arrived too late for 'em.). Li'l Boo was ecstactic to be a part of the event and raced from activity to activity doing a phenomenal job given that it was his first time holding a racquet and stepping onto a tennis court.

Having a Ball Playing Atari's New Sandlot Sluggers

Last week we were treated to an amazing baseball wonderland at Atari's headquarters in celebration of the upcoming launch of their Backyard Sports Sandlot Sluggers video game. They really outdid themselves bringing in Astroturf, a hot dog vendor, popcorn stand, t-ball equipment - thanks to Franklin for the backstop tents that saved me from spending my entire time chasing down baseballs to keep placing atop the t-ball stand for Li'l Boo to hit ;-) Oh yes, there were lots of video game systems set up for us and the kiddos to play Sandlot Sluggers.

Li'l Boo had a fantastic time (they had baseball pinatas! He got to play with @SelfishMom's kids!), and all of the kids appeared to pick up on the game quickly. The game feels like a diverse neighborhood gathering of kids playing baseball. Li'l Boo played it on the XBox and the Wii systems, and told me that he likes the mini games best. "Dingers" is his fave, and it's similar to playing a home-run derby with continuous power batting. Of course, this morning he awoke asking to play a "The Cube" mini game of pitching skills. ;-)

Raising a Baseball Super Fan, or a Sports Diplomat?

It's a dreary day today, but yesterday was near perfect for the Run for the Wild: Save the Tigers 5K at The Bronx Zoo. Li'l Boo insisted on wearing his Detroit Tigers shirt for the Tiger run. (Thanks to his aunts for sending it to him.) He covered it up in the chilly morning with his zip-up Yankees hoodie, which was a great choice as we learned upon arrival for the race that the Yankees World Series trophy would be on display for photos at the end of the race.

Feed Your Spring Fever With 2 Baseball Video Games

We've come down with fevers this week. Spring fever. Baseball fever.

With the sun shining these past two days and gimpses of blue sky, we're finding reasons to get outside - walking to school or the train yesterday. Egging our fevers on is the b-roll shown during the sports segments of the local news featuring the Yankee and Mets spring training camps down south. Sunshine? Baseball? We're wishing spring would get here already!

Which brings me to today's launch of Major League Baseball 2K10 (and a giveaway: scroll below).