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This Tyler Hansbrough Commercial is Ridiculously Bad

Written by Ben Koo | 18 September 2009

Athletes can make great spokespeople for products and brands. That's nothing new.

However they can be divisive considering sports fans often dislike various athletes for various reasons. Also sometimes the actual of act of doing a particular commercial can be offputting to some (remember the Charles Barkley, I'm not a role model commercial). Other examples are Carson Palmer's hot dog ad and Michael Phelps joining the lame party with Jared at Subway.

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Anyways today I saw a new AT&T commercial that pretty much blew my mind. It featured, Tyler Hansbrough, probably one the most despised college basketball players of the past decade along with Joakim Noah. Hansbrough was extremely productive and a great team player, but just seemed to irk fans with his sometimes ugly/foul dependent offensive game as well as his very high strung/energetic demeanor. Basically, fans don't think he's the real deal and grew sick of the college basketball world showcasing him for four consecutive years.

Hansbrough went to the NBA and was drafted in the mid first round by the Indiana Pacers. Most people thought it was a stretch as Hasnbrough's game is not believed to translate well to the NBA. Despite the fact that basketball fans tend to dislike him, he has yet to play in the NBA, he plays for one of the smallest NBA markets, and his limited ability to be recognized , AT&T has put Hansbrough front and center in their new ad campaign.

I shit you not it involves puppies, a cute girl who is sad her puppy is missing, and Hansbrough saving the day via his phone. Its atrociously bad.

My guess is that only 1 out of 8 people who see this commercial will recognize Hansbrough. Out of those 7 people who don't recognize its him, 5 will think this commercial blows even with the puppy. Besides that, probably anyone who does realize that Hansbrough is in this commercial will most likely a) hate it b) laugh at how lame it is c) wonder why the ____ , Hansbrough is in this commercial. Yeah he went to school for four years, stayed out of trouble, and is known for monster effort and intensity, but really is this going to push AT&T or just irk sports fans with its lameness?

Comments (20)Add Comment
1 in 8 is being generous
written by Venice Beach John, September 23, 2009
I'm going to say at best 1 in 10 people who watch the shows this commercial airs during know who Psycho T is and of that 10% less than a quarter would recognize Hansbrough in this commercial if they weren't looking for him.

Maybe AT&T paid hired some people who know more about marketing than we do or maybe they wasted their money.

A third option is that Hansbrough is having a hard time getting any sponsors so he just showed up at an open audition for an AT&T commercial and was given a spot in the ad without anyone in the casting department even realizing he's "famous."
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written by TarHeelGirl, September 27, 2009
I think the commercial is wonderful! he was a great college player-won a title and all of the nay sayers can GET OVER IT!!!! I've met his personally-just as a fan and he really is a great kid!! Either cut him some slack and treat him with respect or just shut the *ell up!!!
This Tyler Hansbrough Commercial is Ridiculously Bad
written by nyc ad exec, October 04, 2009
What is Ben Koo's problem here? Ben, you probably couldn't get into UNC and have been upset about it since. This commercial, along with the Cascade commercial and Kohls commercials, have been the highest rated consumer advertisements in history. Coach used a Jack Russell Terrier in 2006 print ads and the season following was the highest in sales in company history. The star of the commercial clearly is the dog, who is obviously having fun socializing with a group of kids and Tyler Hansbrough, before being returned to the little african american girl. The commercial's fault, if any, is that a girl of 6 or 7 years old should not be in charge of keeping a Jack Russell Terrier. They are far too crafty and bold and will not respect a timid little girl's commands. This dog would be better suited to be Tyler Hansbrough's buddy, and I think in the future, this pattern of the Jack Russell escaping and running over to Hansbrough's house to play because he needs some active roughousing will be a problem for the girl. A great ending to this commercial would have been that Hansbrough keep the dog- we all know he'll be back. In any case I am ditching my Sprint PCS phone and going AT&T all the way for featuring Hansbrough and a Jack Russell in their advertising. 5 Stars!
This Tyler Hansbrough Commercial is Ridiculously Bad
written by TV Lover, October 04, 2009
Yeah, I agree with NYC Ad Exec.. Hansbrough practically had to throw that Jack Russell at the little girl, otherwise I think he would have stayed at Hansbrough's house to hang out. Great commercial for AT&T. I don't understand Ben Koo's beef with Hansbrough. Just being associated with a Jack Russell will catapult TH's marketability. Michael Phelps has a bulldog, what has that done for him? TH really needs more face time with that dog.
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written by Mikey K, October 04, 2009
sounds like Ben Koo is a dook fan - remember UNC 6 dook 3!
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written by ben koo is a poo poo, October 06, 2009
ben koo is a poo poo. he said it all when he said hansbrough is the most despised for basically working hard???? are you kidding me. ben koo must be one of those people who sue mcdonald's for spilling coffee on himself. get a life, and a job, you should be fired for writing this article.
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written by webbmiester, October 07, 2009
How the hell did this guy get his own column? When you make grammar errors like "Yeah he went to school for for years, " its ridiculous.

Hey Ben Koo it should be: Yeah he went to school for four years,

Just in case you need to reference it for the next star you make fun of that actually made the better decision to have a backup plan for himself.
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written by mom2ncja, October 10, 2009
The concept for this commmercial was great no matter who the guy with the phone is. I didn't even know it was Tyler Hansbrough until my 13 year old son recognized himand told me.
Hater of haters
written by None of your damn business, October 17, 2009
To Mr., uhhhh KOO? What is it with you punks who are just jaded for the sake of being jaded, like by being that way you have hit on some profound life philosophy? Your guy is President now so why so perpetually pissed off?
If you want some real life philosophy, read The Bible. Get happy ya idgit.
BTW, you have no writing talent either, so take down this website. Loser.
You're off base
written by Basketball Fan, October 23, 2009
It's a great commercial, but then I'm a basketball fan. I also appreciate the way Tyler Hansbrough played basketball. When I first saw it, it did seem like it came out of the blue (no pun intended). I wondered "Was that Psycho T in that ad with that dog?"
Maybe it has no marketing value at all for non-basketball fans. I hope, however, that you don't rank Hansbrough as one of your least favorite players while lauding all these one-and-one guys like Derrick Rose, Kevin Love and the like. College basketball needs guys like Tyler Hansbrough.
btw, is that ESPN's Andy Katz in the ad, too?
written by Basketball Fan, October 23, 2009
They could have left him out.

and also btw, my 7-year-old recognized Hansbrough in the ad, and loved the dog. So I guess AT&T was successful in marketing to us.
ben koo is a douche
written by heff, October 25, 2009
you have issues thats a great commercial as far as commercials go you douchebag
Lighten up
written by bluekzu, November 05, 2009
I'd seen the commercial maybe 3 times before it dawned on me that it was Hansbrough. I'm not a UNC fan, and disliked him both him and UNC on a competitive level as we fans normally do, but I'm sure he's a nice kid...not to mention rather easy on the eyes. But yeah, it was kind of stupid and sappily sweet and I do enjoy making fun of it when it comes on. If it had had, say...Patrick Patterson saving the day with his phone, I'd be more apt to give it two thumbs up despite a corny storyline. Maybe next year, huh?
It's Great
written by Great, November 06, 2009
I'm actually rooting for Tyler after that great commercial.I always hated him, but now I love him. Oh yeah, you're a douchebag. I'd love to watch you get your ass kicked.
who cares?
written by Ilovebasketball, November 09, 2009
With a last name like Koo you shouldn't be calling anyone else "ridiculous". Also you should've written for four years. Did you go to puke, I mean dook, I mean Duke? I don't care about Hansbrough one way or another but he's probably a nice enough guy. If he wants to be in a commercial let him.
This Tyler Hansbrough Commercial .......
written by Jeff Cook, November 10, 2009
Who's Ben Koo anyway, his oppinion isn't worthy of comment, he's lucky to have any kind of job, he obviously doesn't have any brains.
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written by Dookie, November 11, 2009
To say that Tyler Hansbrough was one of the most despised college basketball players of the past decade shows your complete and utter lack of knowledge about college basketball. The UNC basketball program teaches team play and graduates atheletes at a much higher level than most major college sports. Try writing about something you know, dimwit.
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written by Techie, November 11, 2009
I've never heard of Ben Koo.....you must have been a Dookie fan who enjoyed getting your asses kicked as Hansbrough went 4-0 at Cameron in his four year college basketball career. You Dookie losers are a whineful bunch.
Ahhhhhh.......So that is Hansbrough
written by Steve G, November 11, 2009
Honestly, i thought it was him - but was not sure. Not sure what ATT was trying to do, but it did make me google him to find out if it was actually Tyler in the comercial... Guess he was willing to work cheap, because i am not sure the ROI they were expecting will come to fruition.
Tyler is the best of the best
written by Iris Garland, May 14, 2010
When Tyler played for UNC I began to love basketball. He was such a well mannered player. He never showed out, never screamed at the referees and was always courteous to the other players even when they were on the opposite side. It was easy to see some of the opposition was out for his blood. How many times did they bloody, and also break his nose. He always came back to the game just as humble as he was before he got hit. You folks that are so against Hansbrough and hunt for reasons to hate him, just stop and think, I'm just really jealous of the guy! You should be proud of the fact that sports can still recruit an all american kid!

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