In 2009, Adidas will celebrate their 60th anniversary. The anniversary of the name anyway, the Dassler brothers actually started making shoes 25 years earlier, but it wasn’t until 1948 that they had their final fight (Haggar was not involved. Neither was Cody) and set up shop on opposite sides of the Aurach river, with Adi registering Adidas in August of ‘49 and Rudi creating Puma in 1948. But I digress with the history lesson.

Adidas has started the celebration (which I expect to take up all of next year but I think technically would take place in August) with a new “Celebrate Originality” ad, featuring just about everyone they’ve got signed to wear the three stripes: Katy Perry (the “Kissed a girl” biddy); Darryl McDaniels (DMC from Run-DMC); I think I saw at least the girl from the God-forsaken Ting Tings (they sing that horrid “Shut Up and Let Me Go” song) and the guy is probably there too; Russell Simmons (if you don’t know who he is you’re probably 85 and don’t know what the internet is so you couldn’t possibly be reading this); the men Method and Red; Missy Elliott (shudder); Young Jeezy ( I think. It might have been Young Joc. I really don’t know which is which); David Beckham and finally Kevin Garnett. Actually at 30 seconds there is a dude who looks exactly like David Carradine from Kung Fu, but it doesn’t really make sense why he would be in this commercial so I’ll assume I’m mistaken, unless someone can clarify for me. I’d like to think it’s him.

The whole ad is just a big house party with the abovementioned folks hanging out and doing weird stuff while “Beggin’” by Madcon plays in the background. The music is a good fit and it’s cool to see all the celebs in the same place, but I think it could have been a lot cooler. Oh also, if anyone knows the dude with the chubby face that beats KG in poker, let me know. It looks like Glen “Big Baby” Davis but that would be the equivalent of putting Joel Przybilla in a high-budget ad. Or the Ting Tings. Hmm…. on second thought it might be Jeezy without his glasses and making a “fat kid just got cookies” face.