Nike: A SONG IN HIS HEART By M.H. Moor

Having conquered the Broadway musical in an earlier spot, Charles Barkley now moves onto opera. Nike's lavish 60-second 'Barkley of Seville' commercial, which was directed by

The story, in an ironic twist, casts noted bad boy Barkley as an innocent who accidently slays a referee with the swing of his hand, then has to duel to keep his Air Max Nikes. The play-by-play of the drama is given by the chorus and subtitles.
The spot was initially intended only for European audiences. But, says Tom Noble, a Wieden account executive in Portland, Ore., ‘Charles in that role transcends opera. He’s such a big lunk.’ If you didn’t catch the spot in April, you’ll be hard-pressed to see it. Due to steep talent fees, the agency plans to run ‘Barkley of Seville’ only on special occasions.
Copyright Adweek L.P. (1993)