by Natalie Faulk

Created on: September 12, 2007   Last Updated: May 30, 2011

I have one word for Nike's new commercial: brilliant.

If, by some fluke, you haven't already seen it, the ad focuses on San Diego's 2006 MVP LaDainian Tomlinson running all over the Chicago Bears' defense. Knocking players over like bowling pins. Granted, however, no actual Bear was harmed during the filming of this commercial. For frustrated Chargers fans like me, it is nothing short of a Madden-induced-post-game-victory-party-going-to-the- playoffs-and-actually-winning fantasy.

Nonetheless, Brian Urlacher, who seems to always need someone to verbally attack, had something to say.

Urlacher's mouth has a mind of its own. Lately, the brunt of his, shall we say, antagonism seems to fall on San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson and Shawne Merriman.

Psychologically speaking, it seems to all stem from Urlacher's college career. Under the tutelage of University of New Mexico's then-head coach Dennis Franchione, Urlacher went from a bench-warming freshman in 1996 to a WAC Mountain division title-holding sophomore in just a year. However, after the Lobos' successful 1997 season, Franchione left to coach LT's alma mater, Texas Christian University. Granted, Urlacher did set several collegiate records before the start of his professional career; however, I believe there has always been a case of latent Tomlinson-envy in the back of ole' Brian's mind. But I digress.

Urlacher went on to start his NFL career being the ninth overall pick in the 2000 draft, earning Defensive Rookie of the Year, and being named to his first of five Pro Bowls that same year. Interestingly, Shawne Merriman was selected as the 12th overall pick in the 2005 draft, earned Defensive Rookie of the Year as well, and was awarded his first of two Pro Bowls. Coincidence? (And I'm not even going to mention a possible remote similarity between Urlacher's college weightlifting record and Merriman's unfortunate travesty of a banned-substance suspension last season.) Oops.

Back to Nike. The commercial was released during this season's training camp, to which Urlacher couldn't help but illustrate the fact that during the last regular season meeting of the Chargers and the Bears in 2003, LT amassed only 61 yards. Tomlinson, not missing a beat, countered citing the Bolts' pathetic 4-12 record that year. During this season's opener in which the Bears' committed four turnovers in a disappointing 14-3 loss, LT accounted for only 93 yards. Oh, and two touchdowns. Write that down, Brian, you know, for the next time.

Nike has since released a second commercial featuring Shawne Merriman and the Rams' Steven Jackson tearing up the field. Continued brilliance.

Learn more about this author, Natalie Faulk.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.