LT's Nike spot offends Bears
By Kevin Acee
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
September 4, 2007
Nike at first wanted to use New England as the defense LaDainian Tomlinson carved up in his commercial that debuted last month.
Tomlinson told them, “No. Don't use New England or anyone like that.”
(Reality here, how about don't use any of our 2007-8 opponents?)
But when he showed up for his Nike commercial shoot in May, he could only bury his head in his hands.
“They had Chicago jerseys,” he recalled yesterday, shaking his head and smiling.
The commercial, shot at Qualcomm Stadium, showed Tomlinson running wild through the Bears defense en route to the end zone. Tomlinson knew right away he was going to provide the Bears with bulletin board fodder.
“Oh yeah, that's expected,” he said yesterday. “It's all fun and games though.”
The Bears might be a little hotter than that.
“We're pretty excited for next week because of that commercial,” Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris told the Chicago Tribune. “Hopefully everything plays out well.”
Earlier this month, Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher said he had not seen the spot but had heard about it.
“How did we do the last time we played them?” Urlacher told the Tribune. “How did he do that game? Look at the stats and see how he did.”
Tomlinson carried 16 times for 61 yards and a touchdown on Nov. 2, 2003, at Soldier Field, the last time the Chargers and Bears played. The Chargers finished 4-12 that season.
“Four years ago,” Tomlinson said. “Whole different line, whole different everything.”
