Speed walking just looks stupid. I don’t even think it is debatable. But I’ll come back to that.
Just keep walking…
Let me start with some disclosure. I was a fan of Mr. T in the 80’s. The first time I saw the mohawked, verbose muscle man encased in gold chains was in Rocky III where he beat the crap out of Sly Stallone.
It was not long after that that he starred as "B.A" Baracs on the hit show "The ‘A’ Team". I can still hear the the theme song…
"B.A." Stands for "bad attitude" if you were curious. Side note: One Halloween, my mother, younger brother and step-father all dressed up as Mr. T. They looked like dorks, if you were curious.
The One and Only Mr. T
Like many TV stars of the past, Mr. T has had his ups & downs. And a man has got to make a living. So shooting a candy bar cannon at wusses sounds like a pretty decent gig. Hell, I’d do it for free.
So there is a new ad campaign in England (the ads have not aired in the US) where Mr. T shoots Snickers bars through a machine gun at less than manly men, telling then to "Get Some Nuts." That alone makes me snicker.
In the following spot Mr. T is targeting a speed walker.
Now I will admit that I believe speed walking is probably the stupidest looking sport there is. It just looks absolutely ridiculous. Some people might even argue it is the gayest looking sport around (some people would, certainly not me, I’m far to enlightened.)
I’m not saying it’s easy. I’m not even saying it is not a sport. I’m saying if you choose to speed walk you are knowingly taking part in an activity that makes you look like a giant dork. You are *asking* to be pelted with high velocity confections.
Anyway, I thought the ad was funny. Not outstandingly hysterical, but funny.
Here it is:
Silly right? Well apparently the folks at Snickers got 2 (yes two) complaints and then pulled the ad in fear that it could be seen as offensive towards gays. I guess English gay rights groups got up in arms too.
This is making the HUGE leap that being a speed walking dufus somehow makes you gay.
Sister, please.
That would mean by extension that being gay makes you a dork. I have found quite the opposite to be true. I am sure there are gay dorks out there. Statistically they must exist, I have just never met one.
Now I know gays. And I certainly know offensive. I even know offensive gays. But that ad is not offensive.
Maybe the English are particularly sensitive to gay issues because most Americans can’t tell if and Englishmen is gay or just an Englishmen.
Anyway, here it is…
Whoever started with all this fuss needs to eat a Snickers and lighten up. That’s right, I said it – chomp down on that nutty, nougaty, chocolaty goodness you English girly man, whoever you are, and then chill the F out.
***You read it here folks- fitness boy Josh wants someone to eat a Snickers- many actually. But take note this is directed solely at Great Britain. This is just the start of my sinister plot to make other countries as fat as the US (making us look thinner in comparison).
Canada be ware, you are the target of my next volley.
If I have my way, Mr. T will be shooting a shotguns full of Reese’s Pieces in the Great White North very soon.
Joshua Carter
http://carterfitness.com
PS: Hey France, I have my eye on you…
[...] am well aware I have very little influence one way or the other at this point, but at least I know Mr. T is on my [...]
Mr. T is the man and pulling the ad is stupid! I mean what year do we live in, last time I checked it was 2008 for pity sake.
I just downloaded Mr. T’s voice from Navtones.com for my GPS and I love it. But my question is, am I meant to get offended every time I make a wrong turn and he calls me a fool or something? On that note, I also go Kim Cattrall from Navtones, can I claim she is sexually harassing me when she says, “Lets just pull over and get in the backseat, that’s bigger enough for us two, or maybe three”?
The Snickers ad is just an ad and with them pulling it, it’s probably getting more attention than it would have if it just came out. (Pun)
“Get Some Nuts.”