It’s not uncommon for a brand to hang onto the same slogan for years, or even decades. Nike has used “Just Do It” since 1988, for example. McDonald’s has embraced “I’m Lovin’ It” since 2003. And, for its part, Snickers has been telling Americans that they’re just not themselves when they’re hungry for the last 15 years.

Today, Mars’ candy-bar colossus will remind them yet again with a pair of spots starring Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen.

Of course, the tricky part about sticking with a longtime slogan is finding fresh interpretations of it, and that’s especially true in Snickers’ case. “You’re Not You When You’re Hungry” came storming out of the gate at the 2010 Super Bowl with a 30-second spot from BBDO featuring the incomparable Betty White playing football in the mud with a bunch of bros straight out of central casting. After White gets sacked and decides to take a time out with a Snickers bar, she metamorphoses into a strapping young jock.

Those final few seconds created not just the a-ha moment, but a template that’s served the snack brand for a generation.

Following the White spot (still considered among the best Super Bowl ads of all time) was no mean feat. But Snickers managed it by adapting its transmogrification formula to an all-star cast that over the years has included Robin Williams becoming a football coach, Joe Pesci transforming into a frat boy, and Danny Trejo turning into… Marsha Brady.

The latest ads (still from BBDO), hold fast to that formula. The twist this time is that Allen transforms into… himself.

The cornerstone spot shows us Allen’s father dozing off while reading his adult son-in bed, wearing his Bills uniform-a bedtime story. With a bite of a Snickers bar, delirious dad blinks and he’s again reading to Allen as a boy.

The second features Allen rescuing a heat-exhausted construction worker by snatching a Snickers bar from an ice chest he has handy. There’s no sugar-fueled metamorphosis in this one, but Allen’s delivery of a self-referential punchline (“Still stressed about the Bills game next week, huh?”) furnishes the requisite denouement.

BBDO also shot quick-cut verticals for social channels, featuring Allen blowing his lines and holding the candy bar the wrong way-until, of course, a restorative nibble on a Snickers returns order to the universe.

“Even Josh Allen isn’t immune, fumbling lines and forgetting sponsors until he gets his Snickers fix,” helpfully chirped a company statement.

That these crisply-produced snippets feel like outtakes and bloopers spotlights Allen as one of those rare pro athletes who’s actually a natural on camera. Who knows? If Allen doesn’t get his Super Bowl ring before retirement time, there’s always marketing as a second career.

SAN JOSE, Calif. — San José State Athletics is partnering with the Kyle J. Taylor Foundation to offer free heart screenings to youth and young adults, ages 12–25, on Sunday, September 21, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Yosh Uchida Hall, One Washington Square, San Jose, CA 95192.

As students head back to school and prepare for another year of classes and sports, these two organizations are joining forces to ensure San José State University students are healthy and safe.

This event is part of a community-driven mission to combat Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA), a leading cause of death in young people. Studies show that approximately 1 in 300 youth unknowingly live with a heart condition that puts them at risk for SCA—conditions that routine physical exams often fail to detect. These standard exams fail to detect 90% of at-risk youth.

“We are grateful to partner with San José State University to provide these life-saving services to our community,” said Jennifer Sarmento, Executive Director of the Kyle J. Taylor Foundation and mother of Kyle. “Before losing my son, I never imagined that a healthy-looking young person could die from an undiagnosed heart condition. No parent should have to endure that kind of loss—especially from something that can be found with a simple heart screening. Our mission is to make sure other families never face the same heartbreak.”

“San José State Athletics and Sports Medicine is honored to be able to partner with the Kyle J. Taylor Foundation and its mission to bring awareness to Sudden Cardiac Arrest. We are happy to be able to help support our local San José community through cardiac awareness and education, as we share the same purpose and goals of KJTF,” shared Stephen Bartlinski, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Medicine.

Where: San Jose State University – Yosh Uchida Hall. One Washington Square, San Jose, CA 95192

Date:  Sunday, September 21, 2025

Time: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm

Pre-registration is required. To sign up for an appointment, visit:

https://kylejtaylor.app.neoncrm.com/event.jsp?event=545&

Media Contact: Kylie Clark, Kyle J. Taylor Foundation, kylie@kylejtaylor.org

About The Kyle J. Taylor Foundation: The organization was founded in 2018 in honor of Kyle Taylor, who passed away at the age of 18 from Sudden Cardiac Arrest. His family established the foundation to bring awareness to and stop Sudden Cardiac Arrest in three critical areas: proactive prevention, raising awareness, and effective response.

For more information: www.kylejtaylor.org  

#AllSpartans

Over the past two summers the Red Wing Aces roster has gradually gotten younger in age. Fifteen players on this year’s team are 22 years old or younger.

It was those players that supplied much of the energy and results on the field that led to the Aces claiming the Region 2B title at The Ath on Saturday with a 7-3 win over the Austin Greyhounds.

They led 2-0 through four innings, but were wanting to add on after scoring in the first and second. Leading off the fifth inning, Tyler Rodgers hit a solo home run to left field. The home run was key in getting the Aces rejuvenated. 

Reid Hartmann followed with a sharply hit single, his third hit of the game to that point, which prompted pitcher Aaron Johnson to say “The Aces youth movement has arrived.”

“We’ve always looked forward to playing with the year ahead of us growing up. We were always really excited about getting the chance to play together,” Rodgers said. “Now, here we are. It’s been special to be a part of.”

Rodgers reached safely twice, scoring in the second after a walk, then a stolen base. His fifth-inning home run was his second of the summer, but first at The Ath.

“To be honest, I thought that was a pop up for sure. Thought I didn’t get all of that ball. I think I got a little gust of wind from the man upstairs,” he said. “I kind of blacked out around the bases there, as soon as I came across the plate is when I felt (my teammates) all erupt.”

Hartmann had a productive day at the plate, going 4-for-4 with a walk. He stole two bases, drove in a run on a double in the second and scored three runs.

He said after the game, he hadn’t had a day like that in a while. His swing has improved greatly and the results this summer have been rewarding. Hartmann made slight adjustments to both his load and stance, both allowing him to swing with more power and keep the barrel of the bat in the zone longer. His RBI-double in the second inning was a few feet short of a home run, hitting near the top of the fence in the left field gap.

“It was good to get a couple different perspectives to help me with my swing that I’ve taken here to the Aces,” Hartmann said of his time at Augustana in the spring and at Spearfish last month. The Spearfish Sasquatch are an independent collegiate league. “I feel like I picked up where I left off. Even being gone for three weeks, I felt comfortable in the box and felt like I was seeing pitches well. Felt like I was going to put good swings on the ball.”

The other adjustment for Hartmann has been moving up to the leadoff spot in the lineup. He never really was a leadoff type growing up, but has thrived in the role.

“I like it a lot. My approach was just to get on base,” Hartmann said. “Get on base for the guys behind me because we have a lot of really good hitters in our lineup. If I can get on base, maybe steal a couple bags, they can knock me in.”

Following his terrific complete game against Stewartville, Drew Ball got the start against Austin. He pitched into the sixth inning with little issues, working around a hit or two, but maintaining control once again of his offspeed.

Ball got two outs in the sixth before being pulled. He finished with 11 strikeouts, two walks and three runs on six hits. The only cause for concern was the three-run home run hit by Austin’s Jordan Hart.

Seventeen-year-old Brodie Gibart came in to pitch in relief. Johnson and Aidan O’Brien were also getting ready later in the game just in case, but Gibart brought about a mound presence far better than most others his age. He stranded two on with two outs in the sixth. Gibart got the ground ball that began a double to end the seventh inning.

Gibart struck out a pair in 3 ⅓ innings, getting a double play to end the game. It was the third turned by the Aces.

“He’s got some great stuff,” Hartmann said of Gibart. “Basically I was there to calm him down and frame his pitches to make him look good. Honestly, he did all the work. He was on point today, pretty calm and collected.”

Hartmann summed up how the team values the younger players and what it has been like to feel that value, then prove it on the field.

“The knowledge and reps that I gained from the first year at college. This is my third year playing and I’ve had family members play. It feels good to be one of the guys and help this team go to state, and give this community a show,” Hartmann said.

“We definitely have the pitchers and we definitely have the hitters to win,” Rodgers added. “Any given day can be ours.”

Red Wing swept its way to the No. 1 seed to come out of Region 2. The Aces earned a bye in the Class B state tournament and will face the winner of the Cold Spring Springers and the Union Hill Bulldogs in Hutchinson on Saturday, August 23.

After defeating the Auston Greyhounds, the Rochester Roadrunners lost 6-2 to the Northfield Knights. The third and final game of the day at The Ath, which began at 9:30 p.m. and ended after midnight, was won by the Knights. They came back in the late innings to snatch an 8-6 victory over the Greyhounds to get the No. 2 seed out of the region.

The Aces drafted Tyler Schmitz and Brendan Baxter from the Stewartville Sharks to join the team at state.

Upcoming schedule

Saturday, Aug. 23 – vs Cold Spring or Union Hill (Hutchinson), 11 a.m.

Water polo players briefly left the pool after shots were fired near an under-20 World Cup game in Brazil.

Brazilian police have said there were no injuries after shots were fired near an under-20 World Cup water polo women’s game between China and Canada in the city of Salvador.

China won 12-8 on Sunday – the opening day of the tournament – but footage showed the game being briefly interrupted as players got out of the pool, lay down and took cover by a small barrier after hearing gunshots outside the water polo venue in the Pituba neighbourhood. China led Canada 3-2 at the time.

“The match stopped for about a minute. Our team saw that the police were taking care of it,” Marco Antonio Lemos, head of the Bahia state water sports federation, said in a statement on Monday.

Police said the cause of the shots was a confrontation with an alleged local thief who was outside the venue and tried to escape. No more details were given.

Spectators were told about the incident after the game had resumed.

Brazil is hosting the 16-team tournament for the first time.

A local coach and Coronado resident is bridging the gap in youth sports through his innovative program, The Bridge Basketball Club. Founded by Anthony Ott, the head coach of Coronado High School’s boys’ basketball team, the club offers local Coronado and San Diego youth opportunities to improve their basketball skills, try out new equipment, compete at a high level, connect with college coaches, and develop into well-rounded members of society. 

A graduate of Coronado High School, Ott has been involved in basketball for most of his life, starting to play at just four years old. “I’ve always been obsessed with basketball since I can remember,” Ott shared. After a successful high school career, he went on to play at the junior college level until a career-ending injury redirected his passion towards coaching. “I have been a basketball coach for 17 years now, and this will be my fifth season at the high school (Coronado High School).” 

Ott’s coaching career took off in Chicago, where he witnessed firsthand the challenges that young athletes from under-resourced communities faced. “The genesis of The Bridge Basketball Club began when I was coaching in Chicago. The goal was to offer under-resourced communities a platform for exposure to college basketball opportunities,” he explained. 

From its inception in Chicago, the program’s mission has reflected a commitment not only to the sport but also to the personal growth of its participants. “The whole idea behind the name was to bridge the gap for underprivileged, under-resourced communities to give them an opportunity and a platform to get exposure to college basketball coaches and these tournaments that took place around the Midwest,” Ott explained. “A lot of the players that I was coaching at the time and members of that community, couldn’t afford to pay for what they call AAU, which is travel basketball … So I started a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to give the kids of the Chicago community an opportunity to be involved in AAU sports.”

Since returning to Coronado in 2020, Ott has worked tirelessly to improve the community’s basketball infrastructure here just as he did in Chicago. “When I arrived, there was not much of a feeder program… I could quickly tell that the younger students within Coronado Unified School District had not had exposure to the proper way of playing the game of basketball,” he noted. “So I took it upon myself to not only be the varsity head coach, but also to orchestrate the development of basketball within the community.” 

The Bridge Basketball Club has made significant strides in this regard, expanding its reach to field teams for various age groups, from 9U to 18U. “So, the first year we did it, I actually teamed up with a coaching friend of mine who at the time was coaching at San Diego High School, and we basically created a team called The Bridge, and it was half San Diego High School players and half Cornado High School players,” Ott explained of the club’s origins here in town. “We traveled around Southern California, and then it kind of expanded.”

Last season, the club offered teams across multiple age levels, and this year, they are focusing on building strong middle school teams, with sixth, seventh, and eighth-grade players participating alongside a ninth-grade team. “We wanted those younger kids to get exposure to real basketball coaching… it was something that I always wished was offered to me growing up [in Coronado],” said Ott.

While Ott would love for everyone to participate in these teams, he noted that they are all competitive, and members must try out. “I would love everybody the opportunity to participate in The Bridge, but at the end of the day, it is a competitive team. It is not just a rec league ‘pay-to-play.’ I think AAU has really been diluted with a lot of that. It’s become really like a cash grab, which I did not want to be the case,” he began. “I wanted to focus on players who were going to take it seriously. But we do offer, for example, if a player didn’t make the team, he’s still allowed to participate in our developmental program, where he can attend practices and get better. And then when the next session comes around, hopefully they advance their skills well enough to make the team.”

Ott also offers training camps for those interested in improving their skills or maybe interested in getting started with basketball for the first time. Ott explained that this is a great way for players of any skill level to get involved without having to commit to a team or the many expenses that often come with joining a competitive league. 

The Bridge Basketball Club operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, relying heavily on community support. “We welcome sponsorships and donations to help fund our programs and provide essential resources like training equipment and gym rentals,” Ott stated. With gym rentals being a significant expense in Coronado, community involvement is vital to the club’s sustainability and growth. “We want to be able to get these kids involved in more tournaments. We also want to be able to hire more coaches and provide them with different training equipment and gym rentals,” Ott explained. “Certainly, we would love for members of the community to get involved, whether it’s volunteering, fundraising, sponsorships, donations, and things like that.”

In addition to developing athletic skills, The Bridge Basketball Club aims to build a sense of community among its players. The club emphasizes more than just basketball skills; it instills essential values such as discipline, leadership, and accountability. “Beyond the basketball, I’ve always been big on teaching these kids skills that translate off of the basketball court and into success in their real life,” Ott added. He believes that participation in sports can help young athletes become well-rounded individuals, contributing positively to their communities. “We are big on communication and skills that translate to being a successful human being off the court, whether it’s being a business owner, being a student, being a good brother, a good classmate, a father, however you want to look at it… So we’re big on implementing habits into their life that are going to make them healthy and are also going to just make them well-rounded human beings.” 

For participants who do not live in Coronado, this program offers a world of opportunities they might not otherwise have, including meeting other players and utilizing Coronado’s facilities. Ott believes that connecting these kids with other communities fosters strong relationships between Coronado students and those in the greater San Diego area, all brought together by a shared love for basketball.

“I wanted to give kids, who maybe haven’t had an opportunity or a chance to come to Coronado, an excuse and vehicle to come to the island and experience all the great offerings that the community has here,” he said.

“And on the flip side, I also wanted, after being in Chicago for six or seven years, to come back here. With the experiences that I learned there, I want to take Coronado and get it involved more in the greater San Diego County community, not just be isolated on our own island.” 

For those interested in joining The Bridge Basketball Club, Ott encourages parents and players to stay informed through the club’s Instagram page and sign up for newsletters. “We want to give everyone a chance to participate, even if they don’t make the competitive team. Our developmental program allows kids to improve their skills and try again in future sessions,” he explained. This inclusive approach ensures that all interested players have the opportunity to learn and grow.

Looking ahead, Ott envisions The Bridge Basketball Club evolving beyond traditional basketball training. He hopes to create a platform that exposes young people to various career paths within the sports industry, including coaching, physical therapy, and sports journalism. “I want to help kids see that there are many ways to stay involved in sports beyond being an athlete,” he said. Ott hopes to expand the program to incorporate workshops and mentorship programs focusing on various sports-related careers, which could further empower participants.

As The Bridge Basketball Club continues to grow, its impact on the Coronado community is undeniable. “We are devoted to delivering a holistic athletic and leadership development curriculum that enables young athletes to maximize their capabilities both on and off the court. By offering top-tier coaching, mentorship, and resource access, our goal is to cultivate an environment characterized by excellence, integrity, and collaboration,” said Ott. “Our dedication to every player extends far beyond the realm of sports, as we aspire to impart enduring values and skills that will benefit them long after their basketball endeavors. Together, we build bridges to success, nurturing each individual player along the way.”

For more information on how to get involved or support The Bridge Basketball Club, follow them on Instagram @thebridge.basketball.

VOL. 115, NO. 32 – Aug. 6, 2025

QUINCY (WGEM) – The Great River Economic Development Foundation, along with the city of Quincy and Quincy Sports Commission, announced Monday that they are accepting site proposals from property owners and representatives for land to be considered for the development of a new regional sports complex.

GREFD officials stated the complex will be used for community recreation, youth sports, and regional tournaments. It may include both indoor and outdoor facilities and serve as a long-term asset for tourism and quality of life in the Tri-State region.

Proposal submission details

GREDF will be accepting sealed and electronic site proposals beginning 4 p.m. Monday through Sep. 25. Sites ranging from 5 to 55 acres will be considered, with a preference for locations that offer build-ready terrain, utility access, and room for future expansion.

GREDF officials stated that ideal sites should have appropriate zoning or be easily rezoned, be accessible, and minimize environmental or topographical challenges. Proposals must include a legal property description, site maps, zoning details, and purchase terms, among other criteria.

Selection process

A subcommittee of the Quincy Sports Commission will evaluate proposals based on size, location, cost, topography, and utility access. Top proposals may be invited to present to the full commission, with a final site recommendation made to the Quincy City Council this fall.

Vision for the future

This RFP marks the first step in a multi-phase planning and development process that includes site selection, facility design, operator selection, and construction planning throughout the next year. The complex is expected to become a destination for both local residents and regional visitors.

Electronic proposals should be submitted to gredf@gredf.org, and sealed proposals may be mailed or delivered to: Great River Economic Development Foundation 501 Hampshire Street Quincy, IL 62301

RELATED: Quincy Sports Commission begins talks for new sports complex

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