Kayso I'm just popping up for air long enough to
Obviously this is a match made in sponsorship heaven. Plus, the guys have asked for fans' help in capturing Nike's attention and showing them that a partnership with Johnny is exactly the opportunity Nike has been looking for:
According to the reports, Nike is most interested in a team athlete from the Big Three: football, basketball, or baseball. However, while we're waiting for a player from one of these sports to find the courage to step out of his closet, Nike could already be way ahead of its competitors in embracing equality and the LGBT market by signing out-and-proud Johnny—an internationally known gay athlete aiming for his third Olympics—to endorse their products (which, as seen above, he actually wears).
And, as fan Nancy Knisley points out, "bet more @Nike customers engage in individual sports like running, golf, tennis, skateboarding than team sports." Plus "@Nike could add an entire new customer base if they added a figure skating clothing line." Given his fiercely devoted worldwide fanbase, a partnership could be a mutually beneficial goldmine for Johnny and Nike.
So yesterday fans started sending tweets to Nike in support of this brilliant idea, and we'd love to politely but enthusiastically continue to do so in a non-irritating way to help Nike get to know their potential new spokesmodel. If you're wondering what to tweet besides "Hey Nike! Sponsor Johnny! Just do it already!" Johnny's bio on his official website is chockfull of excellent reasons why he's their perfect candidate. Not only is he a highly accomplished elite athlete—three-time US champion, two-time Olympian, World medalist, and the only skater other than Michelle Kwan to win the Readers' Choice Award twice—he's also garnered numerous honors as an LGBT icon / warrior:
* In 2010, HRC honored him with their Visibility Award;
* In 2011, he was the face of Macy's Pride + Joy campaign, Grand Marshal of the LA Pride parade, and the guest of honor at Ice Theatre of New York's "Dare to Be Different" Gala;
* In 2012, he was chosen by then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in support of her belief that LGBT rights are human rights, to serve as a goodwill ambassador to Japan, where he met with young LGBT athletes and conducted a skating clinic;
* And in 2013, he was given the first ever "Johnny Weir Winter Pride Award" from the city of Philadelphia, an award which is, in fact, named after him, and he'll be honored in May with the Delaware Valley Legacy Fund's National Hero Award for his work as "a passionate force in the gay community." He's also competed on TV twice this year, on Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off and the upcoming Chopped All-Stars, to raise awareness for HRC and marriage equality.
So please join with other fans and tweet @Nike to let them know that they couldn't find a better candidate to sponsor—especially at this critical juncture, when he will soon begin intensive training again for his third Olympic bid. Johnny wrote about why a sponsorship is vital to his Sochi 2014 quest in his recent blog post for ESPN. This is a great opportunity for fans to help make his Sochi dream come true.
If you're not on Twitter, Nike Corporate allows you to actually call them via the number listed on their website, at 1-800-344-6453, and breathlessly rattle off "Yes! You should sponsor Johnny!" bullet points, or write them at Nike World Headquarters, One Bowerman Drive, Beaverton, OR 97005. (Although please be aware that the site indicates they don't accept unsolicited requests regarding sponsorships...)
One of Johnny's most enduring messages is one that he has lived throughout his career: believe in yourself. And with his accolades, his career achievements, his sense of humor, and the way he both articulates and lives his beliefs every day, on the ice and off, a Johnny / Nike ad campaign practically writes itself in a million ways. Here's just one imagined below....
As always, please click any photo twice for full-size view.
Screencap from Johnny's final
free skate practice at Cup of Russia, after a fall,
and just moments before injury forced him
to withdraw from the competition.
Quote is from Johnny's World: Failure,
one of the best things he's ever written.
Quote from Johnny's Vancouver 2010 Q and A.
Exclusive photo © David Ingogly.
Exclusive photo © David Ingogly.
Bonus video!! Johnny was a guest Tuesday
on western Massachusetts' morning program
"Mass Appeal" to talk about the Ice Dreams show
"Thank you @ThisIsGMC for our
gorgeous Denali Hybrid wheels!"
Thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected.
Photo thanks to Glittersnipe on Facebook.
up to 10x/day from every available
device / browser here. Go Johnny!!
And please be sure to tune in Sunday, April 28,
at 9 pm EDT to see Johnny in Chopped All-Stars
on Food Network!
And please be sure to tune in Sunday, April 28,
at 9 pm EDT to see Johnny in Chopped All-Stars
on Food Network!
ICYMI: Johnny Weir random rehearsal clips.
Congratulations to Johnny, winner of the
Delaware Valley Legacy Fund's HERO Award!!
Johnny will be honored at the DVLF's annual
Heroes event on Sunday, May 19, in Philadelphia.
Tickets on sale now! For more info,
please visit the DVLF website.
His columns are published every Thursday
in the "National Commentary"
section—don't miss a single one!
in the "National Commentary"
section—don't miss a single one!
Click this link to buy yours now!
Japanese fans: Please use this link.
Johnny stickers!!
Click this link to order yours today!
Japanese fans: Please use this link.
Team Weir-Voronov shirts!!
Click this link to buy now!
Japanese fans: Please use this link.
"A Mighty Dream" calendars for 2013,
administered by the lovely Patti Weir.
A number of Johnny's auction items have been relisted,
which means if you missed out the first time around,
you're in luck: It's not too late to own a piece of Weir Gear!
Go check it out and see what treasures you could take home!
not to Chicago, sadly.) More info here!
Patti has posted a new message
on Johnny's Comeback Gift Fund website,
with her thoughts on 2013 Nationals
and what lies ahead for next season.
Please go read it now!
Please alert absolutely everyone you've ever met
to "like" and follow the new
Because he should be on all the things.
With or without ice.
But definitely with Viacheslav.
Please be sure to check in with GetGlue
anytime you're watching the show...
or thinking about watching the show....
or wishing you were watching the show....
anytime you're watching the show...
or thinking about watching the show....
or wishing you were watching the show....
Landing quads and kicking ass!
Read his comeback statement
and the update on his website!
Yes, YOU can be a part of Johnny's comeback!
Please visit Johnny's Comeback Gift Fund today
and chip in as little as $1 via PayPal.
Our small gifts can help make his dream of competing
in his third Olympic Games come true!
And now you can leave a message
of support for Johnny, too!
in his third Olympic Games come true!
And now you can leave a message
of support for Johnny, too!
Please click to vote for Johnny
once a day as "Best Sportsman"!
Because he retweeted Luisa Lotka to tell us
he wants us to! (Note: With his "58.132" rating,
he is currently in 1st place in both
Figure Skating AND across all sports!)
Q and A! Go read it now!
At last: Pop Star On Ice is now available on DVD!
Order yours today from the Pop Star On Ice website!
Johnny tweeted:
"Buy my single,'Dirty Love' via iTunes.
Tell all your friends to as well. The more copies sold
takes me one step closer to making a video! №1!"
IN THE SAME WAY THAT IT NEEDS AIR.
You know what to do.
Please buy the song from Johnny's website,
or just click the "Buy" button on the player
at the top of the blog!
at the top of the blog!
Hey, Welcome to My World also is available
as an eBook! More info on Johnny's website!
copyright 2013 / Binky and the Misfit Mimes / Lynn V. Ingogly / all rights reserved
Tweet
2 comments:
Just tweeted. And to give you a head start on some twitter typing:
@Nike #TeamEffort “Just do it” @JohnnyGWeir
Uh, what was he thinking with the sweater he wore on that TV show? LOL! Checks!
Thanks for all the info, MM. I'm about to go join the Nike twitter campaign! I can just imagine Johnny as a Nike sponsored athlete, and a line of FS related clothing!
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