I’m not going to debate whether or not pro-gamers and esports stars are athletes. If you stick with dictionary definitions, then they very probably aren’t. English, however, isn’t some immutable thing. It’s a living, constantly evolving language – and it seems that the word “athlete” is slowly being redefined.
Ninja, – of Fortnite and Twitch fame, who’s now signed with Microsoft’s Mixer – has now signed with Adidas as their first lone pro-gaming face. The man known as Tyler Blevins to his mum is arguably the biggest face in gaming right now. And it’s a face that’s earned him an Adidas sponsorship, which is something usually reserved for sportsmen and women. According to Adidas, the deal is about “supporting creators who show dedication to excelling in their field” along with showing a commitment to gaming culture in general. Adidas has also said that they’ll continue to look at ways to “support the 2.3 billion gamers across the world.”
It means you’ll likely see Ninja kitted out in the latest Adidas gear. Usually, with prime sports stars, this is meant to be a showcase of how Adidas’ gear helps elevate their performance. I’m not entirely sure how a pair of Superboosts will up Ninja’s Fortnite game.
That said, it’s not really an unusual partnership. Sports brand and teams have been embracing gaming and esports, and this is just a continuation of that. Adidas themselves actually sponsor esports teams, but this is the first time an individual gamer has been made a face for the brand.
With this big brand deal, and the likely ludicrous amounts of cash Microsoft threw his way to ditch Twitch for Mixer, Ninja likely no longer needs to pander to his audience’s every whim. And honestly? All the power to him for that.
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Last Updated: August 28, 2019
Admiral Chief Umbra
August 28, 2019 at 10:55
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C-4EizLXkAAKby1.jpg
CrAiGiSh
August 28, 2019 at 11:34
This … XD
HairyEwok
August 28, 2019 at 12:02
Yes, almost as good as the russian brand Adibass
Son of Banana Jim
August 28, 2019 at 12:23
I’d wear it!
Admiral Chief Umbra
August 28, 2019 at 12:49
You can buy it, local store supplies it
http://www.komedie.co.za
HvR
August 28, 2019 at 11:01
Meanwhile in factories in Indonesia.
“come 9 year olds get those Ninja hoodies done, repeat after me Time In!!!!”
Original Heretic
August 28, 2019 at 11:01
I feel dirty upvoting this, like I’m supporting child labour.
Though I suppose the argument could be made that anyone buying these branded garments is supporting it.
Yahtzee
August 28, 2019 at 11:02
Same way the people eating burgers are the ones who set the rain forests in the amazon ablaze?
Original Heretic
August 28, 2019 at 11:28
Yeahnotevenclose
Original Heretic
August 28, 2019 at 11:01
But didn’t pandering to his audience’s every whim make him as popular as he is?
Geoffrey Tim
August 28, 2019 at 11:28
No; it’s really only when you’re at the upper echelon that fan expectations of creators seem to become incredibly unrealistic.
Kromas
August 28, 2019 at 11:02
I would rather want an Asus sponsor. I game nearly naked. 😛
Admiral Chief Umbra
August 28, 2019 at 11:16
https://media3.giphy.com/media/XFFaKfZSpgGSQ/giphy.gif
Yahtzee
August 28, 2019 at 11:16
So when you play The Forrest is it called “Naked and Afraid” ?
Kromas
August 28, 2019 at 11:16
Hahaha … idd.
Yahtzee
August 28, 2019 at 11:16
Honestly I do the same. Summers in the western cape are wild. And before I got the DxRacer chair I had a pleather office chair. Gaming al natural and sitting on a towel was pretty common.
Admiral Chief Umbra
August 28, 2019 at 11:16
Ja, dis nogal kommin
Yahtzee
August 28, 2019 at 11:16
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/6f1b791dfe3c906e3c1444065ec6f7d2891e1c5f534cb3b458f19432feb87391.png
Kromas
August 28, 2019 at 11:16
I game in a robe but in the summer it usually only covers my waist.
Admiral Chief Umbra
August 28, 2019 at 11:22
Jedi down under
Admiral Chief Umbra
August 28, 2019 at 11:16
The chair is afraid?
Kromas
August 28, 2019 at 11:16
The chair is nuts.
Admiral Chief Emissary
August 28, 2019 at 11:16
All three of them
Kromas
August 28, 2019 at 11:16
I don’t talk about the third one. 😛
Mark Treloar
August 28, 2019 at 11:28
So do I send the shovel to a local Adidas office or their international headwaters?
CrAiGiSh
August 28, 2019 at 11:40
Love him or hate him, the strides he is making for gamers/streamers is next level.
G8crasha
August 28, 2019 at 10:54
He is living a dream so many gamers would love to live! The irony is that I watch Youtube gamers that are just as entertaining, if not, more so than Ninja, but the corporate world isn’t exactly falling over themselves sponsoring them. Maybe he just got handed a lucky card in life!
HvR
August 28, 2019 at 11:02
Just luck with timing and his common sense and brains to maximise what he knew was going to be a very high but short wave of popularity.
He was the first big streamer just as Fortnite and Twitch was reaching peak market penetration; so that means more common media air time thus bigger exposure to corporates.
HairyEwok
August 28, 2019 at 12:09
If you enjoy watching people play games, and enjoy RP, do yourself a favor and search for a GTA5 streamer called SilentSentry on twitch (he usually starts his stream at 16:00), this guy is a professional voice actor and does a bloody good job at roleplaying the characters he has.
Matthew Holliday
August 28, 2019 at 13:05
He’s done the same as Pewdiepie, he found a niche, hit it hard and rolled it all the way to the top.
Anyone who doesnt fit the niche, isnt going to be fan.
I dont fit his demographic, so naturally, Im one of those who thinks he’s overrated.
Not going to say he’s not talented or smart or whatever, but luck was a major component.
But you’re right, he’s doing what we’d all love to be able to do, and we’re all salty about it.
Yondaime
August 28, 2019 at 11:53
My inner slav approves of this
HairyEwok
August 28, 2019 at 12:09
Adibass opa!
HairyEwok
August 28, 2019 at 12:02
I don’t get streaming as a job, am I getting too old? Is the old ways of earning money holding me back in this modern, ever changing society.
Admiral Chief Umbra
August 28, 2019 at 12:02
The money is insanely good
Magoo マグ
August 28, 2019 at 12:09
“Earning money” is not a phrase. Just two english words that mean what they say. If someone pays you to do something, it’s a job.
HairyEwok
August 28, 2019 at 12:09
See, I can’t even keep up with proper word use and grammar anymore. Time for me to leave this forsaken planet.
HairyEwok
August 28, 2019 at 12:09
See, I can’t even keep up with proper word use and grammar anymore. Time for me to leave this forsaken planet.