The National Basketball Association is working hard to win back fans after the its recent labor dispute.
But nobody is dishing out the mea culpas better than the Dallas Mavericks.
In its new television campaign via DDB Needham Dallas, the Mavs are putting themselves at their public's mercy, vowing they will do anything to win them back--"one fan at a time."
In one 30-second spot, team coach Don Nelson offers a woman a ride to the airport on his custom motorbike.
Another ad has Mavericks guard Steve Nash and forward Samaki Walker entertaining at a kid's party. Nash gets crushed by the hefty "birthday boy" while playing horsy, leading Walker to comment that the youth is pretty big for a nine-year-old. "Five," the boy's proud father exclaims.
The spot ends with a toddler proudly boasting to "Mavs Man," the team mascot, "I've got a rash."
Apparently the team caught it--it was 1-7 at press time. --Glen Fest