It's a weekend, so here's something completely trivial, yet pretty interesting nonetheless. Check out LA Lakers guard Kobe Bryant hurdling a speeding car in his latest Nike commercial.
I've watched this one a few times, and seen some internet discussion. Many think it's a computer trick and there's no way a man can jump over a speeding car. Some say it's completely plausible, given the car's height and Kobe's leaping ability. I know the answer, but I'm not telling.
Either way, I think we can all agree that this, much like GhostRiding The Whip, is sure to spawn legions of suburban YouTube copycats, some of whom will undoubtedly ether themselves get roughed up in the process.
What do you think?
Question: Is Kobe's Nike HyperDunk commercial real or a computer trick? Is this merely mindless fun or a fatal accident just begging to happen?
Nike Hyperdunk to be showcased by Kobe Bryant during game Thursday [ChicagoTribune]
Friday, April 11, 2008
Kobe Jumps Over A Car! Computer Trick, Cool Trick, or Irresponsible?!??
Tags Popped: NBA = Nuthin' But Africans, Web Junk
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I've seen the video a couple of times on CNN. My first thought: the guy wants to keep reparing his bruised image from years ago. My second thought: Is he freaking stupid and how would the Lakers organization feel about their star putting himself in harm's way? Final Thought: Am I being punked?
I've seen other people do it... it's all about timing.
This one is for real - it's a simple math problem. How high can Kobe jump? What is his hang time? How long is the car?
Then you just need to know the speed the car must be travelling to completely cross the plane of his jump during the time he's in the air.
Was it smart to do? Well, we're all talking about it. I'd have to say yes, it was. :)
There's no way a man can jump over a speeding car.
Actually, I have seen it done. Those of a certain age might remember a TV show from the late 1970s/early 1980s called "That's Incredible," starring John Davidson and a few others.
It was finally taken off the air after three serious injuries suffered by those performing the "incredible." One of these was a guy who jumped over speeding cars.
All was well until he attempted to jump over TWO speeding cars on live TV. His foot hit the windshield of the lead car and he tumbled over the second one and ate some serious pavement. While not killed, he was pretty banged up.
My point is that yes, jumping one speeding car is certainly possible and has been done.
But did Kobe do it himself for the commericial? I don't believe it for a moment. What insurer would underwrite the shoot for a talent with that much earning potential doing something so idiotic?
I got the physics and the math and I know it is plausible.
STUPID but plausible. VERY STUPID but plausible.
Okay PEOPLE, WATCH THE VIDEO CAREFULLY, and slow it down when he jumps
Its an optical illusion, Kobe is to the left of the car, the car wheels turn, Kobe jumps at a slight angle, car passes and appears the Kobe actually jumped it.
- www.anythingblack.net
I though so too, at first. However:
Have a look at the position of the static shadow... looks like a streetlight or something. See where Kobe lines up against that shadow. Then see where the car passes over the shadow, and where Kobe lands relative to it.
He jumped over the car.
I don't know if it's real or not, but whomever was the creative genius behind this commercial deserves a very hefty BONUS to their salary. He/She along with the very skilled folks behind the scene all need a raise.
I think it's a computer trick. I mean, the guy is talented, but not that talented.
Now a stunt that I want to see is Soulja Boy attempting to read a book. Seriously. I'll run away from the computer screen.
Totally fake:
A. Anytime you see a locked off / tripod camera shot, be prepared for trickery. Not that there aren't ways around it, but motion tracking can be a pain in the ass, and you don't want to do it unnecessarily.
B. If you pause it at various times, there are weird shadow interrupts, where kobe's shadow doesn't quite intersect with the car where it should, and that kind of thing.
C. Why the hell wouldn't they fake it?
C'mon guys, this one isn't THAT deep. Just watch the video carefully. There are no jump cuts or CGI tricks.
Kobe does actually jump OVER the car. The problem is, the car is never actually UNDER him.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/17221-Kobe-Bryant-Jumps-an-Aston-Martin-Real-or-Fake-
You can't actually believe an NBA franchise would allow their $100M player pull a death defying stunt that could actually kill him to hawk a pair of shoes nobody will buy anyway. Come on now!
"there's no way a man can jump over a speeding car."
Yes, it is possible.
Tony Jaa, Ong Bak. Check out the film.
Besides jumping over a moving vehicle is not that impossible to believe.
Irresponsible? Fatal accident waiting to happen, well, we will see.
I do recall a kid jumping out of his window in attempts to emulate Superman. The kid died. So is Jerry Siegel and DC Comics irresponsible?
It's just fun.
"I though so too, at first. However:
Have a look at the position of the static shadow... looks like a streetlight or something. See where Kobe lines up against that shadow. Then see where the car passes over the shadow, and where Kobe lands relative to it.
He jumped over the car."
Uh...no. He didn't jump over the car. Geez, are most people that dumb? It's a nice site gag but for crying out loud, have IQ's dropped THAT much? The shadow of the lamp post is used to deceive you. Did you ever stop for a second to wonder why the jump is filmed at such a close shot? Wht wouldn't there be multiple angles, to show once the jump was made? I'll tell you why- because the car isn't coming head on. When Kpbe is looking out at the "approach", the car is actually a little off to his left shoulder, and its coming in a wide circle pattern. Its not coming straight at him, it's not even a situation where he's a little to the left of the car. It's rotating towards him in a large circle (watch the front tire folks), when Kobe leaps it is safely about 12 inches to his right, moving in a wide circle that will clip the "shadow" of the post to give the illusion the two are on the same plane. The second illusion is that since the car is coming in a circle, he's jumping up high, but only having to leap part of the vehicle. Again, he's never over the car, just the side of it and having less to do so than he would if the car were coming head on. Lay it out on the table, with a model on a curve and you'll get the idea.
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