Be a woman. Be a fan.

Spend any amount of time watching the NFL this season and you cannot miss this ad featuring some Giants and Jets pals getting together to watch the game. [Youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=kixvRbdzqS0]

Why be so subtle? Isn’t the subtext of this commercial really this?

[Youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=r4na9a08ZOM]

You’re right. Totally over the top, so let’s tone it down and be just a bit more ladylike.

And since the “catty noise” is such a great way to express tension and rivalry, does it work in ads featuring competing male leads? Or in this case, Michael Jordan and Larry Bird?

Yeah, it is not quite right one man “catting” another man. What about if it was some blonde bimbo who got in the middle of the old lion Charles Barkley talking smack with the young cub Dwayne Wade?

Almost there. Really, what the cat noise should be saved for is this woman rejecting the advances of one Adam Oates. How dare she!

Still does not feel right. You know what it is, Reebok? You’re only one degree away from this –

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36 Responses to Dear Reebok – Cat We All Just Get Along?

  1. Texas Gal says:

    Girls who like sports are SILLY- right, Reebok? Or are we bitches? Just want to make sure I have the right stereotype.

    Madison Avenue really does not have a clue how to market to this demographic. At all.

  2. The day a hockey player refers to me as a “loose rebound” is the day he pulls a skate out of his gums.

  3. Pam/Shorty says:

    Word Texas Gal, I want to split the girls in that commercial with an axe. (especially the Jets fan – she irritates me the most). Seriously, who dresses like that?

    I think girls who like sports are silly, catty, and somewhat cutesy. They also only like sports because of their husbands/boyfriends, and because the players can be attractive.

    I’m going to the kitchen now.

  4. Pam/Shorty says:

    HAHAHA Adam Oates didn’t win a Stanley Cup in 2003…and it’s offSIDE, not SIDES

  5. Holly says:

    The sad thing is, I love that Reebok commercial–until that stupid noise. Why break up what, until then, is a nicely set up moment of tension with a Casio sound effect?

  6. Tuffy says:

    My cat now desperately hates the Giants and the Jets, thanks to this post. At least someone got a positive message out of the Reebok ads.

  7. Steve says:

    I think the far bigger crime here is making those poor ladies wear Giants apparel. Ewwwww.

  8. Extra P. says:

    The cat sound effect would have been extremely useful during the Hot Male Blogger contest.

  9. Holly – Exactly. I like the clothes. I like the secret handshake and the hip bump. I even like the Jets girl’s earrings.

  10. Holly says:

    Which begs the question: Why don’t we have a handshake? Um, a Galaxy handshake or something? (Hip bumps mandatory.)

  11. Anyone who can do the McDonalds handshake is instantly my friend.

  12. Amanda says:

    The funniest thing is that most of the clothes in the commercial aren’t even available for purchase…or at least they weren’t available on either the Reebok or NFL website a few weeks ago when I looked after seeing the commercial.

  13. metschick says:

    I am happy that the girls are at least wearing the team colors and not pink gear. That drives me insane.

    And I love the Jets fan’s earrings. And her hair. And out of of all the outfits, I like hers the best. I like what the hostess Giants fan is wearing, and what the blond Giants fan is wearing. Even if it is a shiny jacket. But that third Giants fan, the brunette – I don’t know why I don’t particularly care for her outfit. It may be because of those arm things she has on, but the Jets fan has them too, and they don’t bother me on her.

    Okay, I need to stop analyzing the clothes in a 30 second spot so closely.

  14. chasevidwrightley says:

    I am happy that the girls are at least wearing the team colors and not pink gear. That drives me insane.

    I couldn’t agree more. If you’re gonna support a team, please, for the love of…well, everything…PLEASE wear the proper colors. Or (in the case of my powder blue and maroon Phillies shirts, haha), at the very least, wear the FORMER team colors.

    I love the Jets fan’s earrings, myself. However, I have a problem with these “women’s clothes”. What’s wrong with a woman in a tshirt or a jersey? I am excluding the “women’s cut” tshirts in this point because well, I have one or two and I happen to like them. I have more of the “men’s” ones, though, and I like them just as much–mostly because they’re CHEAPER in most cases because they’re not “special”. I might not be making sense (woke up not that long ago), but I think it’s more than just a little bit ridiculous that Reebok (and Alyssa freakin Milano, but that’s another rant) think that just because we’re women we need these, in my opinion, completely ridiculous girly clothes. It’s insulting to me.

    Personally, sometime between today and Opening Day, I’m gonna buy myself one of those official Phillies jerseys. (Yeah, the 200 dollar ones–I’m an idiot). NOT the special “women’s” ones. And I’m gonna rock that thing all over.

  15. chasevidwrightley – I’m short, so this works for me and saves me money.

    Buy boys youth shirts in a L or XL. Cut out neck so it fits my bazzoms and cut slits on both sides at the bottom so it fits my hips. Viola. And I’ve only spent $15.

  16. ladyandrea says:

    Here’s my secret shame: I have a pink Cardinals hat. It was a gift from my Grandpa b/c somehow in our bonding over Cardinals baseball, he decided I’d like a pink hat. But I wear it b/c I love him and it was a nice thought on his part.

  17. Pam/Shorty says:

    it’s more than just a little bit ridiculous that Reebok (and Alyssa freakin Milano, but that’s another rant) think that just because we’re women we need these, in my opinion, completely ridiculous girly clothes.It’s insulting to me

    Amen. Go buy that jersey, and wear it proudly!

  18. Gifts do not count. You had no choice in the matter, and who is going to say no to grandpa? Sounds sweet.

  19. metschick says:

    I have a problem with these “women’s clothes”. What’s wrong with a woman in a tshirt or a jersey?

    I love my tees, but I’d also love to have cute, girly team wear. Like the Giants tank top and the Jets tee.

    But I did recently see the Milano clothes in person and holy crap, batman! They look a lot better in photos than they do in person.

    ETA: Aw, Andie, that’s so sweet. I hope my dad buys Baby Mets some Mets gear. Although now that I think about it, he’d probably buy her this.

  20. ladyandrea says:

    TSW, it was totally one of those “I’m so touched b/c you are so sweet” but also I’m thinking “Do you know me AT ALL?” He gets a pass b/c he’s like 85.

  21. DougOLis says:

    I have no problem with the commercial or the apparel. The cat noise at the end is kind of wonky, but it’s also kind of funny from a guy’s perspective.

  22. DougOLis says:

    I suppose a guy’s perspective isn’t the right demographic though. Maybe they’re shooting for guys to buy it for their significant others?

  23. DougOLis says:

    I really don’t care what you where, but women should have the option of wearing something that makes them look hot and not like a dude if they want. It’s not like I walk around with a woman’s purse but I can walk around with a man-bag.

  24. metschick says:

    I suppose a guy’s perspective isn’t the right demographic though. Maybe they’re shooting for guys to buy it for their significant others?

    Oooh, that is another thing that I liked, that I didn’t mention before. I like to see a depiction of girls watching sports that has nothing to do with boys. Yes, we watch games by ourselves once in a while! Without our men-folk!!

  25. Jess says:

    My favorite chicks love sports commercial is the one where the guy’s on a date and just likes her because of her cable package so he can watch sports with her.
    She tells him she just has cable for the movies.
    He leaves.
    Cut to her on the couch wearing a hockey sweater and screaming at the tv and the game.
    That’s more like it.

  26. DougOLis says:

    *what you wear

  27. ladyandrea says:

    I still think the best sports commercial ever is the Michigan/Ohio State couple making out. “Without sports, this wouldn’t be gross.”

    That made me laugh for months and months, every time I saw it.

  28. metschick says:

    Cut to her on the couch wearing a hockey sweater and screaming at the tv and the game. That’s more like it.

    Awesome. I joke to my BF that I’m with him partly for his HDTV.

    I may or may not be joking. (I love you, hon!)

    I also tell him that when we move in together, we’re going to have to switch to DirecTV, so I can get my baseball package. So far, he’s resisting, but I have my ways…

  29. IJustMadeThatUp says:

    Frankly, everything is better with a catty noise inserted. (I think it’s the element that’s missing from BROTHERS & SISTERS that would hook me into the show, if everytime Sally Field appeared on screen and muttered a line, you’d hear a cat hissing in the background. Pure. TV. Gold.)

    Also, it’s is entirely ridiculous that sports apparel for women seems entirely geared towards accentuating curves and being tight-fitting. I suppose this is fine for the, “I need to look hot to distract the stupid, fat Arizona Cardinals fans from spilling beer on me when I laugh at them for watching the Jumbo-tron instead of the game they paid $200 per ticket for.” But in all other instances, are you really going to want to put on a form-hugging jersey while you’re on your own couch, watching DirectTV, eating cheese dip at 9:00am and drinking blueberry beer?

  30. KCMichelle says:

    Mmmmm, Adam Oates.

  31. The cat is out of the bag. I wear my yoga pants and a t-shirt while I lay around on the sofa all day on Sunday watching football.

  32. chasevidwrightley says:

    Buy boys youth shirts in a L or XL. Cut out neck so it fits my bazzoms and cut slits on both sides at the bottom so it fits my hips. Viola. And I’ve only spent $15.

    My sister gets youth XL shirts, for she is slender enough to wear them. I’m a size 18ish, however, so a mens’ XL fits me just fine. I was finally recently able to buy a womens’ XL (it’s my super-special retro colored Utley tshirt, whee!) and it was a bright and shiny day for me (yay weight loss!) soooooo yes.

    I don’t know why this is such a hot-button issue for me. I reread my post up there and wow, that’s kind of a rant. I just…it IRKS me.

  33. IJustMadeThatUp says:

    Hey, sometimes I don’t even bother with the pants on game day. Especially if the Saturday night before-hand involved something with three or four glasses of specialty scotch and a late-night trip to the local hipster diner for cheese sticks.

  34. Jess says:

    Same ritual every Sunday during football season.
    33 Jason Varitek t-shirt (a little extra Red Sox love never hurts), topped by my number 12 Brady jersey.
    So far, this year, so good. And uber comfy.

  35. […] Dear Reebok – Cat We All Just Get Along? Be a woman. Be a fan. Spend any amount of time watching the NFL this season and you cannot miss this ad featuring some […] […]

  36. what all 19 of you says:

    cat noise will forever be classic bitter loud texas gal

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