Posted on 01/19/2015 10:20:34 AM PST by Red Badger
The Geico commercial featuring Fresno native Ickey Woods not only has gone viral but it's also introduced the Edison High grad to a new generation.
FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The Geico commercial featuring Fresno native Ickey Woods not only has gone viral but it's also introduced the Edison High grad to a new generation.
Ickey was very surprised by the popularity of his commercial. It has thrust him back into the national spotlight. 25 years have passed since Ickey has done the shuffle on the field for the Bengals. He still lives in the Cincinnati area.
Woods said, "Now I'm known as the cold cut man now. It's fun because I got a lot of people calling me letting me know their kids and their grandkids are doing it now."
In January of 1989 Ickey Woods was the country's most celebrated pro athlete. He led the Bengals to the Super Bowl in his rookie year. Action News was there when Sports Illustrated came to town to snap pictures of Ickey and his mother. The kid named Elbert Woods made the cover of SI that week.
Ickey said, "Never thought in my wildest dreams that 25 years later the Ickey Shuffle would be back on the scene."
Woods was inducted into the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011. The TV spot always brings a smile to former Hall of Fame president Tom Sommers.
Sommers said, "I thought that is hilarious. They really did a great thing with that and I bet he's getting great attention across the country. I think it's well done and for a guy who only played three years in the NFL but had a great rookie season - I mean he's known for that."
Cincinnati running back Jeremy Hill offered an Ickey Woods tribute after scoring a touchdown on Sunday.
I asked Ickey if he knew Hill would do the shuffle. He replied, "I did not. I was actually at the game and it kind of took me by surprise. Then he got up and ran and I said, oh what is he getting ready to do."
Ickey is now using the country's rediscovery of his past to help strengthen the future of the Jovante Woods Foundation. His teenage son Jovante died of a severe asthma attack in 2010. Ickey Woods "Get some cold cuts" t-shirts are now helping raise money for asthma research.
Woods also said he plans to return to the Valley soon for a fundraiser for the Fresno children's asthma division of his foundation. He said the calls and text messages have been non-stop since the TV spot started airing.
GET SOME COLD CUTS!..............................
That is without a doubt the funniest commercial I have seen in a LOOOOOOOOOONNNG TIIIIIIMMMEEEE!
I just love it!
Even when I got my jury duty summons, I thought to myself I wonder if former pro footbal player Icky Woods would celebrate a jury duty summons?
ICKY WOODS JURY DUTY!? THAT’S ME!!! WOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! ON THE JURY, ON THE JURY, ON THE JURY!!!!
GONNA GET SOME JURY DUTY TODAY!!! WOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!
it was then I realized that I watch tooo much TV :D
Good heavens-—I thought I was the only one that got a kick out of this ad.
Cold cuts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
.
If there is a cold cuts t-shirt, I’ma just have to get one! or 4!
Funny ad!
My 11 year old daughter says, “Gonna get some cold cuts today!” when I make her a sandwich.
http://www.cincyshirts.com/index.php/cincyshirts/cincyshirts/ickey-woods-cold-cuts-shirt.html
GONNA GET A T-SHIRT TODAY!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!
Other great “Has beens” enjoying another 15 minutes of fame include Eddie Money and Kenny Rodgers. Ok, maybe not completely has-been.
AHh That is crackin’ me up just watching it :D
It’s so funny when he hops on one foot and throws his pad down!
I hope she doesn’t slam the plate on the floor!.......................
My husband and I laugh every time. My husband generally tunes out the commercials, but not this one.
Thanks for the link,terrific——and I am stunned.
I’m not a cutting edge type of person and it never occurred to me that others enjoyed this commercial as much as I do.
I just sit and grin.
.
I don’t think GEICO would have run it if they thought people would not respond favorably-—probably focused-group the idea before going forward.
No doubt-—a great memorable ad.
Ah thank you, that seems like a better site to get it from in terms of supporting that cause.
Me too, I had to explain it to my wife.
Back in the days before the NFL became the “No Fun League.”
1989, seems like a million years ago when he was playing.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.