Ask Ping!
Friday, July 9, 2010 | 9:20 AM
ODI dates back to the 1980’s as the leader in grip manufacturing. Focusing primarily on the bmx and mountain bike industries through the 90’s and early 2000’s, ODI re-entered the motocross scene when they developed the patented lock-on grip system that eliminates wire and glue. Continuing to advance the way riders hold on to their bikes, ODI has worked closely with the teams they support such as Troy Lee Designs to create the product that is now being used by some of the top teams in the industry.
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So I was listening to a Justin Bieber song and got to thinking, 'What is it with Canadians, and their high voices?' No hate to Deano, but do you think there’s some kind of relation there?
Ash
Dear Ash,
Celine Dion. Shania Twain. Justin Bieber. Dean Wilson. What do they all have in common? They are all Canadians, they all talk (or sing) like they took a swift kick to the nuts (if they have them) and can hit notes that only dolphins and German Shepherds can hear. I’m not sure if it has something to do with the violently cold weather in much of America’s top hat or if there is something in the water, but an alarming number of Canucks can go uber-soprano. Now on to the bigger question: Unless you are a thirteen year-old girl, why were you listening to a Justin Bieber song?
PING
Ping,
I’m going to get right to it. Has there ever been a time in your carer when you have been able to get on a MX track all by yourself and rip a few laps your way pull off and then just look at what you just did?
Dear ?,
Wow. What? I really don’t have any idea what you are trying to say here. Seriously, what the hell does all that mean? Totally at a loss for words. No words.
PING
Ryan Dungey has some pretty big logos of the Target supermarket chain on his helmet and as he consistently shows it, on the palms of his gloves. (You can clearly see the logo when he waves at me.) I like the fact that his designers made good use of otherwise lost advertising space on those glove palms, although it would be more appropriate if the logo was on his back, only larger.
My question is, why do we never hear him mention the brand, the store, or anything else to do with Target? I mean, he could at least say on the podium, "25% off all items at Target if you mention my name."
I’m guessing he must get paid something for it; Target has their head office in MN so that’s probably the link to the sponsorship deal, you know, to help out a fellow Minnesotan with discount garden ornaments and cheap household furniture that has been built 1/3 normal size.
I did actually ask a checkout girl at my local Target store if she knew who Ryan Dungey was, and she just looked at me with that blank checkout stare and said, "Aisle 5 next to the bread."
If you ever bump into him in the pits ask him why he doesn’t mention them.
Thanks mate
Daveintheusa
Dear Dave,
You know, I’ve never noticed that before, but you are spot on here. As soon as the RC imitation is over on the podium he flashes that million-watt smile that the groupies and Jamie Lynn Spears go gaga over, he throws up the palm to show the Target logo. But nowhere in that frequently repeating process is a mention of the company. There is obviously nothing in his contract where he is obligated to mention them. Maybe he’s just in it for the extra small furniture and the never-ending supply of ceramic garden gnomes and it doesn’t warrant a mention up on the box? I’ll see what I can find out from him or his agent.
PING
Have a question for Ping? E-mail it to him at [email protected]. For the results of the trivia question in the last installment of Ask Ping, click here.
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Wow Ping, that`s the nicest, politest reply Ive ever seen on here, thanks for posting!
Maybe that him showing thelogo is all he is required to do. Its a pretty cool idea though.
Actually, wouldn't that gnome be from the Millsaps or Wilson collection?
Jamie Lynn Spears goes nuts for the Dungeon Master!
Other Canadians with high pitched voices - Jim Carey, Alanis Morisette, Aubrey Graham (aka "Drake").... am I missing anyone else?
Hilarious. Daveintheusa also forgot to mention that RD's RV (eer) is also painted a-la-Target ;), good observation on the podium speech there Dave. I think that with a brand like Target, or Nike, who's logo are so mainstreamly recognizable, there's almost no need to spell it on a podium speech among all other RC's (oops, I meant RD's) personal and team sponsors.
Those "Target Palms" are the main reason Dungey wins. He get's extra grip on the bars with all that extra silicone pasted to the Clarino Leather......The AMA should take them away 'cuz it's not fair to the other riders who only have small silicone lines or arrows on their Clarino covered palms....Next we will see guys painting Target's on their palms at home, it won't be as good and guys will be slipping off the bars and getting hurt.....I think they should tear down Dungey's gloves and measure the atomic mass of the silicone, because it might be more than the AMA allows...... The most shocking thing of all is that Jeff Emig never got a giant silicone pot leaf put on his Clarino Leather plams....(sorry Fro I had to go there) or McGrath never got a big patch of gold on his...... Dungey is quite the little innovator when it comes to his corporate image.
except that dean is scottish
I hate dungey's podium speeches. He dodges every question and goes right for the sponsor plug. "How ruff was the track ryan????" "man my dunlop tires were hooking up good and my RG3 suspension was working its tail off. Hats off to the team rockstar makita suzuki" . I wonder how much he gets for every wink and the Target palm high five??? It sure seems like dean has Beiber Fever, but is it possible that the Beib could be a huge Deano fan? That would be effin awesome if deano showed up with a Bieber hair cut to the nationals. He looks like a taller, skinnier version of him. Beiber wishes he had the Deano squeak.
I think this whole conversation proves that Target and Nike are EXTREMELY CONSPICUOUS by the absence of the mention.
Good point pinned927, RD does nt use rg3 anymore though!
I use to manage a Target. Target wants "brand recognition" from the symbol its self. So when ever you see the symbol you think "Target." Dungy is not allowed to talk about Target "verbally."
We've been looking at that Target symbol on Dungey's glove (and a can of Rockstar in the other hand) nearly every weekend since January! ... No, Emig never got a giant silicone pot leaf put on his Clarino Leather palms, but Steve Stackable had one painted on his helmet - aboard his big Maico! (Gotta love the '70s.) ... Other Canadians with high pitched voices? Neil Young? Geddy Lee of Rush? Rik Emmett from Triumph? The guy from Loverboy? The place is full of them!
I'm just glad I have no clue who that Bieber character is.
Geddy Lee is shreikiest voiced Canuck that I've ever heard, and that dude from Triumph
Sorry Sef, I posted before I scrolled all the way down. Once again I'm in total agreement. New Yorkers were somewhat tortured by our northern neighbors, but good light shows! How about Pat Maroney, John Gurga and believe it or not, Jimmy Ellis. Talkin' about the good ole '70s.
Dean Wilson is actually Scottish which is part of the United Kingdom if you didn't know. He moved to Canada when he was about 8 yrs old. The ACU over here are trying to get him to ride for the UK at the des nations