Archive for November, 2009

This is World AIDS Day. I’m not sure how many there have been before this…more than 20, less than 30 I suspect. What’s worth noting age-wise, is that after all these years, AIDS has kept its “sweet spot”. Youth.

UNAIDS is reporting some encouraging data on new infections. And while there is an overall global decline of %17 in new transmissions, there are still roughly 6,000 new infections a day. About half of those are in people under the age of 25.

And, this year, after an eye-opening trip to Africa, I saw first-hand how young people are fighting back. And it was amazing.

My friend Pailo and I went to East Africa and visited programs run by young people and funded by the Staying Alive Foundation. Staying Alive has identified some ridiculously cool young leaders and is helping them “get it done”  with money and other resources. Resources like ongoing training so that they get better at what they do.

Travis McCoy of Gym Class Heroes took a similar trip and MTV International documented his journey. Travis, who has thrown himself completely into the work of the foundation, also made some music inspired by the palaces he went and the people he met. Go here today and buy it…because all of the proceeds go to Staying Alive.

Along the way Pailo and I took a lot of pictures and shot some video. I’m posting some of the pics here, on this site in the gallery. And you can see the videos here. I hope the videos capture the activist bent and hard, smart work these young people are doing. MTV Hits and Jams are airing these today as well thanks to my friend Emilienne and some great editing from Tracy, thank you both.

Oh…and if you were thinking about going to any live events over the holidays…today’s the day to buy your tickets at LIVENation.com. Because a portion of every ticket sold today will benefit LIFEbeat, the Music Industry’s AIDS group.

And, finally, to my best friend, Jim Callibarri, who died 21 years ago today; I think we’re getting somewhere , I just wish you were still here to see it.

Tiger Woods, by many counts is the richest, most recognized athlete in the world. According to Forbes, Tiger is the first sports figure in history to hit the $1 Billion career earnings mark. In the last 12 months, he earned over $100 million dollars…and almost all of that was in sponsorship deals.

And why do you suppose that is? Tiger may be the best ever at his sport. He’s a winner, no question there. And everyone loves a winner.  But he’s also bubbling over with the kind of brand attributes that make advertisers salivate. He crosses demographics, White guys, Black guys, Asian guys, young guys, older guys…they all see him as one of their own…he’s got that “every man” appeal. Kinda like Obama. He plays a rich man’s game and thats aspirational…so check off “aspirational” too. Advertisers love aspiration. Then there’s that “nerd quality” that makes women swoon. So cute, yet so attainable. He works across gender lines as well. And last but not least, Tiger seems solid, hard working, dependable; qualities of every real American success story. Perfect.

And now with the exchange of a phone number, the swing of a nine iron (that’s the one I woulda picked) and the crunch of a free car fender (I’m sure the Escalade’s the least of what he got when GM ended their multi-year deal with Tiger a year early), its all up in the air. And if you believe Wanda Sykes version of Thanksgiving night at the Woods mansion (that’s Wesley Snipes former house to the left of Tiger’s which is in the center)…

…there’s sure to be more trouble ahead. The fender-bender may have happened in Windermere, FL, but the impact was felt hard in Beaverton, OR, Chicago, IL and Dallas, TX, headquarters for Nike, Gatorade and AT&T respectively. And with a billion dollars at stake from players like those, rest assured, these players are going to have to bring the “A” game.

And right out-a-the-gate, Mark Steinberg, Tiger’s Uber-Agent at IMG jumps into action.

IMG Agent Mark Steinberg and Tiger Woods

The AP reported that… “troopers were en route to Woods’ $2.4 million mansion in the gated community of Isleworth when agent Mark Steinberg called dispatch and was put through to the troopers, telling them Woods and his wife were unavailable.” This guys on the radio in the patrol car with the officers “en route” to Tiger’s house basically saying “no comment”. If this story is right…amazing! I would love to have seen it from the IMG offices. And he’s still behind the wheel. Today he told CNBC that Tiger is done. Done talking to the Authorities, have a nice day and leave us alone. So Mark Steinberg is earning his fee. So far he’s in it to win it…I give him better than even odds.

And then there’s the other pro in this game. Rachel Uchitel. The alleged “other woman”. Now, Tiger, Ray Charles could have seen this coming. If, as has been “reported” by the National Enquirer, it all came down like this. Rachel is obviously not a woman who doesn’t recognize a moment of opportunity. Otherwise Gloria Allred wouldn’t have had this touching moment with Rachel at LAX today. In what is , so far, my favorite piece of Tiger video. So Rachel’s in it to win it as well. But remember Rachel, today’s sensation can become yesterday’s news real fast. Just ask that other handsome, hard-working nerd Eliot Spitzer and what’s her name…

I’m gonna say that Rachel ends up with somewhere in the neighborhood of a Gillette deal, $10 to $20 million, to go away. It would be well worth it. It all seems so familiar.

But if I were in this game, the hand I would want is Elin Woods’. And Elin, I hope you know just how good your hand is. You are the one player in this high stakes drama that  doesn’t have to live in a world of demographics or brand attributes. So I wish you the best and hope your world doesn’t end up being bought for the price of a diamond…and certainly not one from Zales.

Although, if I were you Tiger, I’d get Jane Seymore on the phone…she may have seen your future.

We’ll see how it all plays out. But one thing’s for sure already; the only beat-down, worse than the ALLEGED beat down that Tiger MIGHTA caught is going to be the one Accenture’s Ad placement agency is gonna get because of this.