Stupid Asthma Commercial with The Bus

[Natalie]

I'm sorry, I know it's wrong to pick on people trying to help people with asthma, and I'm not saying it isn't sad that some kids don't get to play sports because they can't breathe, but this has got to be the stupidest attempt at smaltz I've ever seen.

Kid, not even a little kid, like 14, can't play football because of asthma and the Bus tells him it's okay because he knows what it's like since he has asthma, too.

It's like they are trying to rip the old Mean Green or whoever Coke commercial from the 70's.

Take the stupid thing off the air. If you want to do a commercial about asthma, just let Jerome Bettis stand in front of the camera and say, "Hey kids, don't let Asthma stop you, it couldn't stop The Bus." And be done with it!

[Kaeos]

I dunno Nat,

I thought the commercial was pretty good. know why?

I was that kid.

I came down (quite painfully) with Athsma when I was 7. So long sports. The only options available to me were to take high steriod daily medications that my brother was already on. (He's now 40 and has al enlarged heart and abnornal muscle growth becuse of them)

No one encouraged me. No one told me it was okay. The kids in school treated me like a goddamn pariah (not sure if I spelled that right) and there were certainly no commercials on the air sending a message that people care.

What's so wrong with something positive? Would you preferred they played more of Miss Piggy and Jessica Simpleton Simpson throwing fucking pizza bites at horny teenagers?!?!?!!

[Natalie]

I'm all for encouraging people do break boundaries and inspiring kids, but this just seemed like they were stretching it too far for me. I remember during the 96 Olympics there were commercials about Tom Dolan, the swimmer with asthma, those were fantastic.

And goodness no, who wants to see Jessica Simpson doing anything where she speaks?!!?!?!?

[neglet]

I agree the ad with the kid is a little OTT. But being an athlete who struggles with asthma, I do like the commercials with just the Bus.

Swimming is great exercise for asthmatics ... if you can avoid public pools (aka, large wet petri dishes).

[elena_health]

This is a spam.
And you're in a sports forum.

Sports.

Spam.

Competition.

Shitty ham substitute.

Make a better distinction next time.

[fastcar]

Being in Pittsburgh and being a Steelers fan. I liked the commercial but see the OTT reference to the old Mean Joe Green commercial. But from I remember it played it up for that reason. Bettis has been a huge supporter and donated a lot of his time to helping young atheletes with asthma so I think that's why they went with that angle. He's been a spokesman for GlaxoSmithKline's asthma control test.