Joe Johnson getting uglyAll this week in Las Vegas, the Jordan Brand is shooting all of their NBA athletes for their next ad campaign: Chris Paul, Ray Allen, Carmelo Anthony, Mike Bibby, Josh Howard, Michael Finley, Joe Johnson and Quentin Richardson are all in the mix. It’s the first time Jordan has ever had all of their guys in one spot for something like this, and they were cool enough to give Dime exclusive access to the entire week of events. I’ll be hitting you with behind-the-scenes blog posts every day for the rest of the week …
Not only did the Jordan fam fly everyone to Sin City, including yours truly, they also put all of us up at the Palms Hotel. The Palms, known for its themed rooms, has basically been transformed into the Jordan Compound for the week.
Most of the action is happening in the Palms’ famous Hardwood Suite. The multi-level suite includes flatscreens, a bar, a pool table, a basketball court and walls covered in basketball leather. Sacramento Kings and Palms Hotel owner Joe Maloof joked with us yesterday that they “wanted a room for the guys who still play ball and still think they have what it takes to play in the NBA but work on Wall Street!”
Joe getting his line rightThe shoot started yesterday at 10 a.m. The first guys shot were Rip, Q, Joe Johnson, Bibby, and Josh Howard. The atmosphere was super laid-back. All the guys were photographed getting their hair cut by Sacramento’s Young Mike, who we’re told is THAT dude to go to for cuts in Northern Cali. His client list is serious. Mike’s nice with the clippers — I can back that up. Mike lined me up something crazy!
While the guys not being photographed waited their turn, they chilled in a separate theater room with a PlayStation 3 hookup. Games of choice were NCAA Football 08 andMadden 08. In between different players and the Jordan crew jumping on the sticks, everyone ate and cracked jokes. Quentin Richardson had everyone dying laughing; he has to be one of the funniest cats I’ve ever met. While Q held court, Chris Paul, his brother CJ, and Rip were trying to catch their breath from Q’s jokes. Mike Bibby and a few of his boys went up to his room and actually had an NFL fantasy draft. Bibby told us he killed it.
Did I mention that Vida Guerra was there? Her role in the shoot will take place on Wednesday and we’ll hit you with coverage (and as many photos as we can).
After the shoot wrapped last night, the entire crew hit up Club Moon at the Palms. We’d hit you with details about that too, but you know what they say about Vegas…
Christian w/Rip Hamilton
JJ and J-Ho on the sticks
Fantasy guru Mike BibbyPhotos. Marcus Eriksson, Francis Chan & Julia Galdo
August 16th, 2007 at 2:30 pm
Ice Mike says:
I luv what Mike has done with his brand, he has some sick azz playas on his rosters, now what he has to do is to enure that these marks don’t trick off and ruin his brand and their name(s)! Holla@mrkeepitreal! P-Out