Everthing You Need to Know About Notre Dame Adidas Shoes.

Tuesday 20 January 2009

adidas Originals Men's Gazelle 2 Soccer Shoe

The iconic adidas Gazelle has been called everything except "out of style." Originally launched as a training shoe, the Gazelle soon became synonymous with soccer and the soccer lifestyle. This version combines a suede upper and a Gazelle logo on the heel


Thierry Henry, who was born in Les Ulis, France in August of 1977, is a star footballer for FC Barcelona as well as the French national team. All well-known sporting face, he has fronted ad campaigns for some of the biggest sportswear manufacturers on the planet. Not content to be merely a sports superstar he is also an ardent activist, raising awareness about children and poverty and combating racism in football and the world. Some of his most well known appearances have taken place during the Nike "'Stand Up, Speak Up" campaign.

Although he ended his long association with Nike after the 2006 World Cup, he has enjoyed success with Reebok for the "I am what I am" ad series. This megastar also is enjoying a stint as one of Gillette's featured athletes in the "'Champions Program". During the 2002 and the 2006 World Cup, Henry appeared in a number of television advertisements that promoted football as an activity that should be played for the benefit of young people as a member of the UNICEF-FIFA squad, a team made up of socially conscious professional footballers.

This six foot two inch striker is known by his nickname, 'Titi', but also by his number, 14. He has had this number since his early days with Arsenal and he was given the number when he made the move to FC Barcelona. He is well known for amazing speed, brilliant moves, and the ability to score decisive goals despite full or one-on-one coverage.

Henry began his football career at a young age in his hometown of Les Ulis. He was already playing for a local club by the age of seven, and went on to play for different youth clubs over the next decade. Among these groups were the US Palaiseau, ES Viry-Chtillon, and Clairefontaine. His father, Antoine Henry, was always his most ardent supporter who has encouraged this phenomenal player from the earliest days.

Henry was first signed by Arnold Catalano, an AS Monaco scout. While Monaco were already aware of this goal-scoring powerhouse, it was Thierry Henry's personality and all around abilities that really sold him. It also did not hurt when Henry scored all 6 goals in the 6-0 game that Catalano was watching. Thierry Henry was signed by AS at the age of 13 and made his first professional debut in 1994 when he was still only 17.

Henry then joined Juventus, before moving to Arsenal, where he gained his fame as striker and in 2007, he joined Spanish giant FC Barcelona Today he is one of football's most celebrated players at 31 years of age: and he has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the European Golden Boot, PFA Players' Player of the Year, runner up for FIFA World Player of the Year, and he has been voted French Player of the year four times. Many coaches and players, as well as fans, consider him to be one of the greatest living football players in the world, and even after his departure for FC Barcelona; the Arsenal fans still voted him their best player ever.

Sports fans from around the world flock to the world famous Nou Camp stadium when they visit Barcelona. Buy FC Barcelona tickets online and make sure you don't miss out.

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Monday 19 January 2009

adidas Men's Microbounce+ Fh 08 Running Shoe

Because running should equal fun, there's no place for stiffness in the equation. This shoe has a fanned heel design that's less stiff. Plus full heel-to-toe Bounce that returns energy with each step for a supercharged ride.


Interacting with your customers in today's business world has become a must.
Does this sound like too much of a strong statement? Well, maybe "must" somehow overplays what is today's reality, but it is indeed true, since all you hear marketers and advertisers talk about lately concerns interactive medias, how these are changing their panorama and how much are they gaining momentum.

In fact, a recent research conducted by WPP's GroupM shows that interactive media's share of worldwide advertising expenditures is likely to reach 15% in 2009, which would be double from four years ago. And apparently, this will remain the main source of growth, as advertising spending in traditional media seems to be on the decline.

So what is this all about?

At Labbrand, we have looked at how interactive medias are changing not only the world of advertising, but also branding practices in general.
Our starting point for this article comes from the core of our own brand vision: the key to every successful brand is continuous innovation. Being on the forefront and differentiating yourself meaningfully once you're there are the most important means brands have to satisfy market needs and ultimately gain customer loyalty.

Naturally, every well-conceived communication strategy needs to be well-balanced to achieve the brand's different communication goals. As for increasing mass brand awareness, traditional media has been and still remains the better performing tool that a brand can use, especially in the short run.

However, when analyzing brand communication from a wider angle, it becomes clear that traditional tools are becoming obsolete. TV and radio commercials, web banners, sponsored links, magazine and newspapers ads, billboards...for decades people have been bombed with a multitude of promotional messages dictating what to buy, and how to do it. Well, now that there are the means to answer, people can and want to have their say on this!

Furthermore, and maybe even more importantly, as the market changes at an ever-increasing speed, it has become more and more difficult for marketers to spot and understand new trends in order to develop products & services relevant to their customers.

In this context, interactive medias give marketers a practical tool to:

1) Conduct interactive advertising campaigns: either by involving consumers in the creation of the ad or by creatively engaging them in the message through interactive medias.

2) Have consumers experience your brand outside purchase-like environments. Interactive medias give people the tools to try, play, and live your brand, which eventually can forge a closer bond between this and its potential or existing users.

3) Conduct research among groups of consumers that are gathered online, in communities, networking sites, groups and industry blogs, or that are linked together through interactive media devices.

4) Empower consumers with the means to co-create and co-develop new products and services.

These four issues are, we believe, the reason why interactive medias are taking, and will take even more into the future, such an important role for advertising and branding.

INTERACTIVE ADVERTISING

Companies and professionals have been talking about this for a decade or so already, but it is only in the recent few years that marketers have begun to conceive and launch interactive advertising campaigns. And apparently the initiative has been really successful, as more and more brands are now following pioneers' example.

One of these examples goes back to 2004, when Converse launched one of the first interactive advertising initiatives to date: consumers were asked to create videos showing what the brand meant to them. The result - the Converse Gallery - is a collection of 24 second-videos, made entirely by customers, the best of whom were broadcast on the Converse website, as well as on cable networks. Getting consumers involved in the creation of ads promoted the brand image among target audiences. Also, videos developed by brand fans could quite intelligently address the real meaning of the brand in consumers' minds, in a way likely more meaningfully than traditional promotional messages.

And what about the more recent Nokia project 95 in China? The brand launched a blog-supported N95 road show: Peter Schindler, an experienced traveler, has been called to do a one man road trip across the country and maintain a mobile blog of the whole experience. What a smart way to show and advertise the mobile capabilities and functionalities!

What is really important to note here is that even if brands want to ignore interactive medias, interactive medias are not likely to ignore them!
Online communities, networking sites, industry or users blogs...brand fans and consumers groups are well up and active. Moms talk to each other from one side of the world to the other about diaper brands (very often enabled by the brand itself i.e.: P&G's research section), while sports fans get tuned in on the latest trends and models of their favorite brands through communities. Communities suggest, advise, judge, and complain about brands, creating buzz that can affect the brand both positively and negatively. And they do it regardless of brands themselves.

By ignoring them, brands can be swept up by the noise. However, by using them smartly, brands can participate and somehow lead the conversation inside the community. And if it is true that "buzz advertising" is not easily controllable, it is also true that it can spread virally and it can arouse immediate awareness about new products launches and brand messages in users' circles.

BRAND EXPERIENCE

And what can be said about initiatives in interactive brand experiences? These might not be called direct advertising, but they surely end up creating relatively more brand awareness among industry fans, while performing better than any ad in spurring customer loyalty.

Take Nike ID for instance. The sport brand website gives people the instruments to build on-line customized shoes which can then be bought to order. The attractiveness here is not really in selling customized shoes (even if triggering sales can never be discarded - and what is advertising about if not triggering sales?) but rather in letting customers play, experience, and live Nike, eventually feeling unique and irreplaceable.

Exemplary interactive brand experience campaigns in Asia can be found in the Adidas "The Rook" campaign. This ran throughout 2007 across China, South Korea, Hong Kong, and the Philippines and was based entirely on an interactive digital web platform that enabled users to "live" a rookie's first season in the NBA. Web users were given access to exclusive footage and 3D video games designed to create a 360-degree experience of the games. Ultimate goal? Naturally, to bond Asian basketball fans to Adidas' brand, but also to create buzz advertising, drive sales of the NBA related products and leverage the sponsorship agreements in the Asian region.

RESEARCH

If it is true that the aforementioned uses of interactive medias for advertising and brand experience can be extremely valuable for creating a consistent, multilayered and integrated brand communication strategy, it is equally true that interactive media can be even more advantageous for conducting consumers and trends research.

Especially when identifying lifestyle changes and tracking trends over time, researchers can use interactive media to build or use existing online communities, web and mobile panels and then treat these as a dynamic, real time instrument to tap into targeted respondents' brains and uncover invaluable insights.

However, be aware that that simply data-mining existing blogs cannot bring about meaningful market and consumers insights by itself. Communities need to be nourished and strengthened, participants need to be carefully selected and motivated, and moderators need to have the capability to interact with the community while still allowing it to have its own life.

Look at what P&G has done with Vocalpoint. The company has created an online community centered on products and services that moms care and want to talk about. Community talks range from entertainment to fashion, from music to food and beauty and the insights collected from this community are used not only by P&G: Vocalpoint feedback is also sold to third parties!

Even more interesting are the opportunities offered by mobile phones. Recent surveys inform us that nowadays there are three times as many mobile phone subscriptions as there are internet connection subscriptions: with a 40% global penetration rate, mobile phones represent an incredibly effective tool to conduct carefully targeted, real time, wide reaching interactive research.

If properly managed, mobile research will allow marketers to reach a very vast pool of respondents, t sensibly selecting their target on the basis of very precise characteristics, to use not only text but also pictures and videos as questions and answers, and ultimately do all of this in real time.

The opportunities here are countless. It is up to the researcher, however, to capitalize on them. Successfully managing the tool and the audiences through an emerging methodology can prove quite tricky.

CO-CREATION

Using interactive medias to give your customers the tools to participate in a product's creation and development process could represent a golden opportunity for boosting brand R&D capabilities. There are, indeed, quite a few companies that have thrown global design or product development contests, but just a few really make the best out of engaging consumers in co-creating the brand.

Again, we cannot avoid mentioning P&G in this section, as external collaborations are reportedly playing a key role in nearly 50 percent of the company's products as of today, and co-creation incorporates everything in the company, from trademarks and packaging, to marketing models and engineering, as well as business services and design.

But someone has moved even further. Ryz, a sneaker brand whose design is created entirely by users, allows people to submit their creations and vote for their favorite design on the Internet. The models receiving the most votes are sent into production.

Are you asking yourself what the benefits are here?

As the users themselves create and choose the best product, there is little doubt that this will be successful. No need to hire design staff (or close to none, depending on how far in co-creation your brand goes) and very low investment needed in sales developments, since the product is already promoted inside the community by designers and voters. Is there any more a brand could wish for?

CONCLUSION

Interactive medias can offer marketers opportunities in different fields: in advertising to start with, but also in creating customer-centric brand experiences, real time research and co-created innovative products. We do not want to argue that interactivity is the only road a brand should walk in order to innovate and rejuvenate themselves. Actually, depending on the industry and the brand goals, other tools might prove relatively more effective.

But interactive medias are indeed one of the choices marketers should consider in their diverse applications and possibilities. In fact, these are gaining increasing relevance in the consumer's everyday life and therefore represent an effective tool to reach them, speak their language, understand their needs and satisfy their desires.

Vladimir Djurovic is the founder and Managing Director of Labbrand, a Shanghai based innovative brand agency specialized in brand research, strategic and creative services. Labbrand website at: http://labbrand.com/ is also the portal to Labbrand branding blog: http://labbrand.com/english/news_and_articles.php/ which collects fresh ideas, trend analysis and reviews of branding related hot topics, with a special focus on China.

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Thursday 15 January 2009

adidas Mundial Team Turf (Black/White)

#019228 UPPER: Soft, full grain kangaroo leather with Suede reinforced toe. Stiched for extra durability. OUTSOLE: Multi studded rubber for excellent traction on artificial surfaces and dry natural fields. WEIGHT: (12.7 oz.)


Just as you were ready to trek up the Inca trail to Machu Picchu to see Peru in a World Cup qualifier, along comes Sepp Blatter and his FIFA cronies prohibiting all international games above 2,500 metres (8,200 feet), because it is dangerous for players and gives an unfair home advantage.

As you would expect, the decision has ruffled some feathers amongst the various Andean nations, where World Cup qualifiers are routinely played at high altitude. The question is though - How and why have FIFA come to this decision?

FIFA president, Sepp Blatter, said: I know there will be complaints about this, especially from South America, but we have to think of the health of the players first. It also leads to the distortion of the competition if matches are played at such a level.

There is no doubt that playing at high altitude represents an enormous challenge to the modern day footballer, who is not acclimatised to playing at great altitudes, where the air is much thinner. Anyone who is not acclimatised, and has experienced high altitude will know that you can quickly become short of breath. Some of you will also know that you can feel sick the moment you step of the plane, so you understand where Sepp Blatter is coming from (and that his statement does not sound unreasonable).

But despite this, football has been played at high altitude (by some Andean countries) for more than a century, so why the sudden change?

FIFA has said that it ordered the ban on medical advice, and to end what it classes as the unfair advantage that teams from high altitude regions have when playing visitors from low-lying areas. A quick glance at the home and away records of Bolivia and Ecuador (whos national stadiums are in La Paz 3,600 metres, and Quito 2,800 metres respectively above seas level), will quickly back FIFAs argument.

Although experts from the Andes (in turn) have dismissed FIFAs health concerns, stating that it has provided no concrete evidence that players are at risk playing at high altitude. Admittedly FIFAs health concerns seem rather flawed at this current stage. If they argue that playing at altitude could be dangerous for your health, what about matches which are played in extreme heat (in the tropics of Rio de Janiero in Brazil), or extreme cold (in the freezing winters of Moscow in Russia)?

The ban also appears to apply not only to games involving national teams, but also to international club competitions. What do FIFA expect clubs based in the mountain cities to do? Is it easy for Ecuador to cease playing in Quito, and Bolivia to stop playing in La Paz (as national teams have the luxury of moving venues), but what do the hundreds of domestic club sides do when competing in international club competitions?

To assume that high altitude can solely play a major role in a football game is wrong; otherwise Andean countries like Ecuador, Colombia, Peru and Bolivia would always be the champions of competitions such as the Copa Libertadores, and always qualify for the World Cup. In fact only two winners hailing from those countries (Atletico Nacional in 1989, and Once Caldas in 2004) have actually lifted the Copa Libertadores since it started in 1960. It is also worthwhile noting that Peru have also failed to qualify for any subsequent World Cups since 1982, Bolivia since 1994, and Columbia since 1998.

Argentina and Brazil have had major victories in these countries as well, so there is no truth to these accusations; in fact Brazil only lost their first ever World Cup qualifier in 1994 and that was against the Bolivians 2-0 in La Paz (so they managed countless victories at altitude prior to that result).

The Andean countries believe the move is a political one by FIFA, and has nothing to do with altitude. After Brazils defeat in La Paz in 1994, they have suffered further defeats (along with Argentina) at the hands of the Andean countries, which resulted in a campaign by the continents heavyweights, to ban football at altitude.

FIFA have failed to explain why they have decided on 2,500 metres. Some observers state this neatly excludes (politically powerful) Mexico, and their Azteca Stadium, which is 2,200 metres above sea level (a mere 300 metres below the cut off point). It is quite ironic that Mexicos Azteca Stadium hosted two World Cup finals (1970, 1986) at altitude, but now FIFA are banning matches at altitude.

This only strengthens the Andean nations view on FIFAs stance, being that is specifically targets them. Again the various FA's from the Andres argue that pressure from the continents heavyweights (Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay) has swayed FIFA's decision. The people from the Andres might actually have a valid point, as Brazil, and Argentina both have seats on FIFA's executive committee, and on the medical committee - coincidence?

Whether FIFA will keep their altitude ban in place is open to debate, and will cause many arguments over the course of the year. If FIFA are taking a stance on playing at altitude (based on medical reasoning), then they should consider stadiums where players are subject to heat, and humidity (like games in Manaus, Brazil) as well.

It seems that now the Andean nations are beating Brazil, and Argentina during the World Cup qualifiers (at high altitude), and Uruguay and Chile are failing to make it to the World Cup, that they are now complaining about their health. You have to remember that for more than 40 years, when the continents heavyweights defeated the Andean nations (even at altitude) there was no argument.

Many observers feel that this is an unfair decision, apparently motivated by the national federations from Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. If FIFA maintains the ban, they should start banning places that are excessively humid or cold. But will FIFA consider this option?

The whole point of having different stadiums in different weather conditions is that teams are truly tested. In the South American World Cup qualifiers, each team plays once at home, and once away against the other nations. The result is that each nation then gets the advantage of being at home and under familiar conditions once. This may be harsh, but any good team can overcome these differences, and it makes for great showmanship and training. FIFA should allow teams to do their talking on the field of play, not in the committee room.

Steven Gore is the editor of SoccerManager.com, the free online soccer game

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Wednesday 14 January 2009

adidas Women's adiZero Mana Running Shoe

This light and versatile racer/trainer makes every gram count. And because this functional flat works for everything from speed training to marathon racing, it makes every dollar count, too.


A few important considerations while purchasing wrestling shoes:

Finding the Exact Size

The initial thing you must do is measure your foot to find out your normal shoe dimensions. A classic pair of wrestling shoes will normally run one half to one complete size larger than your ordinary shoes. Take into account that your fresh wrestling shoes will possibly stretch fairly after a few practices. Keep in mind, the fit should be reasonably snug.

Brand Collection

While shopping for wrestling shoes, you can trust on "battle tested brands" such as Nike, Adidas, Asics, Infinity, & Brute. You can buy these popular branded shoes on internet or at typical "brick & mortar" stores. A fine quality wrestling shoe will in general last a year or even at times two. It all depends on how much you fight. Take into account that comfort is extremely important. Look for a shoe that features a good rubber sole & high ankle support. The higher class wrestling shoes are made out of a light weight material that inhale & exhale well. It's suggested that you try on numerous different brands to discover the one finest suited for you. Do not hesitate to ask the sales person for assistance. If you are still not convinced which shoe to buy, try to get an advice from your coach or your team mates.

Color & Style

A lot of manufacturers offer a broad selection of colors to select from. Select a color that goes with you & goes well with your other gear.

Choose either a rip sole or a non rip sole shoe. Rip sole shoes tend to be a slight more comfortable & provide better traction.

Price

Wrestling shoes usually range in price from $40.00 up to $135.00. It is suggested that you purchase an extra affordable style if you are novice to the sport. If you are working on a truly tight budget, you may desire to consider buying a used pair. You may even try to strike an agreement on a used pair of shoes with one of your team mates. The net is also an excellent place to locate & purchase used wrestling gear.

Some Key Points to keep in mind

Your wrestling shoes should have a nice snug athletic to them. Make certain that you have chosen a pair, which features a sturdy sole & high ankle support.

To buy wrestling shoes and wrestling gear.

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Tuesday 13 January 2009

adidas Women's Koolvana Sandal

Sleek and feminine, this lovely thong is designed to hug every curve of your foot. The plush fitFOAM™ footbed pampers you with extreme comfort.


Soccer crossing can bring greater chances to win at higher levels. An expert coach should train his / her team to build their whole attack around servings balls into the penalty box and battling for the ball in the air.

The team trained that way will be noted for the ground attack. Such a team can score a higher percentage of their goals from crosses served into the box. In this article, I will give you a brief insight into some of the details that go into creating scoring chances from wide postures.

  • Find A Way To Build An Attack
  • Before successfully crossing the ball, the player in a wide position in the attacking third of the field needs to do several things. For example, the first and the most important thing he needs to do is to look up to see where to pass the ball.

    The players must keep in mind that if they kick the ball anywhere, it may work occasionally, but that is not the right approach. Before successfully crossing the ball, the players must make sure that they have the best chance possible.

    The coach must train the players that a cross is nothing. It is just a long distance pass. Therefore, the player must look up to find out where your teammates are. Only then, he should pass the ball.

    Again, it is not just that you have to kick the ball the way you like. You need to listen to your coach. Your body is already facing the direction you want to kick and your coach would want your next-to-last touch to angle the ball towards the goal so that as you cross it.

    That is something we call perfect kick in soccer. If you do not follow the coachs words here, you are very much likely to end up in the ball floating high over the end line.

    When it comes to Soccer crossing, there are plenty of things to train the players in order to make a winning team.

    ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
    Andre Botelho is a recognized authority on the subject of soccer crossing.
    His web site, Teaching Youth Soccer Coaching Drills, provides a wealth of informative soccer articles,
    resources and tips for soccer coaches, parents and players.

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    Monday 12 January 2009

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    So you want to get fit. But you're not exactly ready for the olympics. So how do you get started?

    Slowly.

    People often get a rush of blood to the head, and want to chuck on a pair of running shoes, and run 200 miles so they can get fit quickly.

    The best way is to start very small. I have a big garden, and when I started jogging, I ran around the garden til I was tired. When I started, 5 times round the garden was enough to get me real tired! But that soon went up to 10, then 20. I managed to squeeze a 100 meter "figure of eight" course into my garden, and I now do 40 circuits of this course, which means I run 4 km. I'm no action hero, but it keeps me fit, and it's cheap!

    There is however, one expense you need to incur. Running Shoes. If you've got the cash, try and get a decent pair of running shoes. They must be light, the sole must be able to bend a bit by the toes, and they must have ventilation. I've found Asics and Adidas to be OK. But choose your own. Getting blisters does no good for your motivation.

    If you are overweight, combine the slow start approach with better eating habits. Lots of greens. Less meats. Smaller meals. You have to suffer a little bit, but believe me, it's well worth it.

    If you can find a track where you can run, this is a good thing. It's easier on a track than in your garden, believe me! Or just run on the roads in your neighborhood.

    VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE UNFIT (and also for the fit). When you have finished running, don't stop, and fall on your back, and lie there panting. This is a bad idea. Keep walking around, panting! Give your system time to slow down gradually. This is much easier on your heart and muscles, prevents cramps and other nasty things. Don't get too cold before covering up, or getting indoors, and have a warm shower afterwards. (Unless of course you live in the amazon and it's always stinking hot.) A cold shower can be a bit of a shock to your system if your body is really heated up.

    Getting fit, even a little bit fit, has many advantages and benefits. The jogging gets your circulation going which purges toxins from your body.

    It strengthens your heart muscles, improves circulation through the brain which makes you more alert and able to think clearly.

    You will find that you will be less tired at work doing what you've always done there.

    You will be able to endure things for longer.

    You will feel better about yourself. It's a great confidence booster.

    Come on! Give it a bash! You won't be sorry!

    Duncan Kelly

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