Best Super Bowl Commercials: 2000-2009

1. Gatorade, “Young Mike vs. Old Mike”

This was a hard decision for us. I love Reebok’s defying convention almost as much as I love the eTrade baby, Terry Tate, King Gimp and the others on this list — so it was hard to pick a favorite. A “best” commercial. It’s like choosing one of my favorite children (the Asian one) — but in the end, I settled on this.

Old Michael Jordan playing Young Michael Jordan. Old Michael Jordan matching Young Michael Jordan shot for shot, Old Michael Jordan showing Young Michael Jordan that age and wisdom is just as important as speed and skill. Maybe I’m just a sport’s fan, or maybe I’m a sucker for nostalgia, but the simplicity of this ad, Michael’s acting, and the amazing way in which they put it all together makes it, to me, the top commercial of the decade.

Aside from all of that, there’s another, simple reason why, to me, it’s in first place. Because, as a commercial should, it creates an identity for Gatorade immediately. It doesn’t just sell the drink; it makes you associate it with perseverance, with inspiration, with talent, with the thrill of winning and competition. And that, if you’re wondering, isn’t especially easy to do with a neon-colored bizarro non-fruit drink that, if we really thought about it, probably causes Cancer somewhere down the line.

Still, you just can’t beat this commercial — even if it came back when it was older and played itself in a game of basketball.

Thanks for reading and have a good Super Bowl! May your team win, may your cheerleader accidentally flash, and may your commercials be funny and plentiful.