Tuesday, August 03, 2004

KG's Got the Whole World In His Hands The best commercial on television right now features NBA star Kevin Garnett in a spot for his new line of adidas basketball shoes. In it, the Minnesota Timberwolves star strolls down the street as gospel singer Mahalia Jackson sings "He's Got the Whole World In His Hands." A man comes up to KG and climbs on his shoulders, then another follows, then another. The pile keeps growing as people dash off buses and dive from rooftops to catch a ride on the big man's back. The best moment, though, comes just before the end, as Garnett stops at a crosswalk. A woman stares skyward at the mass of humanity, and KG greets her with a friendly "what's up?" nod of the head. It makes me smile every time. You can watch the spot here, if you can get past the popups and Flash animation. Just click on the red side of the screen, then click on KG TV. It's a common phrase to hear how a great player "puts his team on his back", but this commercial -- with Garnett's peaceful expression throughout and Jackson's moving vocals -- puts a fresh spin on that cliche. 11:37:56 AM    comment []