After a triumphant Super Bowl debut in 1990 ("Announcers"), Nike's sophomore effort again via Wieden & Kennedy links everyday athletes with superstars' achivements. Ad Age reviewer Bob Garfield called it "a handsome tour of a triathlete's running course through L.A., with the (technically remarkable) projection of inspiring sports moments onto buildings along the route."
"Announcers" took first place on USA Today's second annual Super Bowl Ad Meter in 1990, and "Heritage" took tenth among the 55 panelists comprising the "meter" in 1991. The spot won the New York International Film Festival Award for Best Commercial Campaign of the Year.
After running late in the 1990 game, by which point a blowout was on, Nike bought earlier time in its return.
Nike faced a pair of confrontational Reebok ads in the same game ("Dominique Wilkins on the Pump" and "Boomer Esiason on the Pump") as well as an L.A. Gear commercial ("Machine").
Director: Dominic Sena. Production company: Propaganda Pictures. Director of photography: Ronny Dana. Line producer: Aris McGarry.
Creative directors: David Kennedy, Jim Riswold, Dan Wieden. Agency producer: Bill Davenport. Art director: Charlotte Moore. Copywriter: Janet Champ.
Music/sound: Jim Bredouw at Emoto. Editorial: Propaganda Films. Editors: Fred Raimondi (Planet Blue), Christopher Willoughby (Propaganda Films).
BRAND: Nike
YEAR: 1991
AGENCY: Wieden & Kennedy
SUPERBOWL: XXV
QUARTER AIRED: Q2