SBNation — Adidas is giving one lucky NFL Combine participant the opportunity to win a private island. All that player has to do is break the record for the fastest 40-yard dash.
So what time do players need to beat to win an island? That would be Chris Johnson’s high mark of 4.24 seconds, which was set back in 2008. The record has now stood for nine years, despite Adidas’ past efforts to give $1 million to anyone who could break it.
Look, I’m no expert at selling athletics products, but I did take half a semester of a marketing class last year, and here’s my semi-educated opinion – this is GENIUS. Bravo, Adidas. Oh, Nike’s taking over NBA uniforms? That’s cool, we’ll just offer a freaking island to any kid who can run super fast in our cleats. And look, there’s a ton of stipulations. Not only do you need to be wearing Adidas cleats, but you have to sign an endorsement deal with Adidas and agree to wear their gloves and cleats all season, or you have to give the island back. Seems like a small price to pay for a literal private island, but that’s just me.
adidas offering an island (up to $1M cost) for player at combine who beats Chris Johnson's 4.24 40 in its shoes. Possible islands to win pic.twitter.com/01c1EbyNAG
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) February 27, 2017
And maybe you don’t want the island, for some ridiculous reason. First off, let’s try to put ourselves in the shoes of a 22-year old future NFL player here; you don’t think he wants an island? You don’t think that’s a decent way to gain the approval of the vets? Maybe a quick island party, couple mojitos, before you know it you’re tight with the WRs and you’re not going anywhere.
Let’s say you still don’t want the island; how’s a million bucks sound? Because that’s the alternative. Especially in a sport where the typical contract is only about 50-60% guaranteed, and the average career is just a couple years, I’m taking that any day. And all I gotta do is wear Adidas cleats to the combine? Maybe when I was 10 and Nike was king of the castle I would’ve resisted, because for a great deal of my life (still sorta now but not as bad) I wouldn’t be caught dead in anything without a swoosh, but Adidas has stepped up their game. And it’s not like someone’s trying to get a 5-star RB to run his combine 40 in Chef Curry’s or tap dance shoes; these are legit cleats that won’t hinder your running, and just showing up in them is the first step towards your own island.
Is it too late to sign up for this Combine thing?
