It's been more than 16 years since Mike Tyson bit off a piece of Evander Holyfield's ear during a heavyweight championship fight. Now, in a Foot Locker ad from BBDO, New York, Tyson is giving it back.
That's just one bit of pop-culture brilliance in a spot that also sees national embarrassment Dennis Rodman buying a one-way ticket to North Korea—to the glee of everyone. NFL Bop Bag Brett Favre, meanwhile, waxes poetic about knowing when to quit, and sportscaster Craig Sager builds a bonfire out of the hideous suits that are his signature.
Alas, it's all a fantasy of NBA baller Kyrie Irving (aka, Pepsi MAX mischief maker Uncle Drew), who is dreaming of a world put in order by a weeklong Foot Locker shoe promotion. Sure, the premise is a bit of a stretch (and we won't delve too far into the many worse wrongs currently in need of righting, because sneaker ads are not about perspective). It's nonetheless fun—good, and simple—to watch Tyson and Holyfield hug it out over a chat about formaldehyde.
Plus, it's nice to see Irving do something in an ad other than dress up like an old man and school hapless street ballers over and over again.
CREDITS
Client: Foot Locker
Spot: "All Is Right"
Agency: BBDO, New York
Chief Creative Officer: David Lubars
Senior Creative Directors: Chris Beresford-Hill, Dan Lucey
Senior Content Producer: Tricia Lentini
Creative Director, Copywriter: Alex Taylor
Creative Director, Art Director: Jason Stefanik
Executive Music Producer: Melissa Chester
Senior Account Director: Troy Tarwater
Account Director: Janelle Van Wonderen
Account Executive: Nick Robbins
Assistant Account Executive: Samuel Henderson
Production Company: O Positive Films
Director: Jim Jenkins
Executive Producer: Ralph Laucella
Executive Producer, Line Producer: Marc Grill
Director of Photography: Ramsay Niokell
Music House: South Music
Edit House: Mackenzie Cutler
Editor: Ian Mackenzie
Assistant Editor: Nick Divers
Visual Effects House: Schmigital
Sound Mix: Heard City
Sound Mixer: Keith Reynaud