{{short description|Advertising campaign}} {{for|the magicians|Dan and Dave (magicians)}} '''Dan & Dave''' was an [[advertising campaign|advertising]] and [[merchandising]] campaign by American [[shoe]] manufacturer [[Reebok]] during the build-up to the [[1992 Summer Olympics]] in [[Barcelona]]. The promotion was meant to generate excitement and support for the Olympic competition between American [[decathlon|decathletes]] [[Dan O'Brien]] and [[Dave Johnson (decathlete)|Dave Johnson]]. However, the campaign had to be modified when O'Brien failed to qualify for the Olympics.<ref name="CNBC">{{cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2008/07/29/catching-up-with-dan-and-dave.html|title=Catching Up With Dan and Dave|last=Rovell|first=Darren|date=2008-07-29|work=CNBC|access-date=2009-03-09}}</ref>

==History== {{external media | float =right | width =120 | audio1 = [http://pc-cdn.espnradio.com/audio/303/4312/29946/3369750/30for30_2017-06-27-032850-6427-0-0-0.128.mp3 "The Trials of Dan and Dave"], ''[[30 for 30 Podcasts]]'' (2017) 53m43s.<ref> {{cite podcast | first = Jody | last = Avirgan | title = The Trials of Dan and Dave | url = https://30for30podcasts.com/episodes/the-trials-of-dan-and-dave/ | website = 30 for 30 | publisher = ESPN | date = June 27, 2017 | accessdate = April 6, 2018 }}. Subsequently aired as ''[[99% Invisible]]'' [http://99percentinvisible.org/episode/trials-dan-dave/ episode 267] on July 18, 2017.</ref> }}

The campaign began with [[television commercial]]s aired during [[Super Bowl XXVI]], January 26, 1992.<ref name="CNBC"/> O'Brien and Johnson, though rivals, were favored to win medals in Barcelona, and Reebok, which had recently lost U.S. market share to [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]],<ref name="CNBC"/> was hoping to rebound with their endorsement. The series of television spots featured the same general message: "Who will be the world's greatest athlete &ndash; Dan or Dave? To be settled this summer in Barcelona."<ref name="POR">{{cite news|url=http://www.portlandtribune.com/sports/story.php?story_id=32050|title=A 'Dan and Dave' reunion|last=Brandon|first=Steve|date=2005-10-07|work=Portland Tribune|publisher=Pamplin Media Group|accessdate=2009-03-09|archive-date=2012-02-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120211141058/http://www.portlandtribune.com/sports/story.php?story_id=32050|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Reebok's plan went awry five weeks before the Games began, when O'Brien failed to qualify for the American Olympic team by missing the [[pole vault]] during the [[1992 United States Olympic Trials (track and field)|Olympic trials]] in [[New Orleans]].<ref name="CNBC" /><ref name="ESPN">{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/page2/s/list/biggestbusts.html|title=The List: Biggest sports busts|last=Merron|first=Jeff|date=2003-08-11|work=ESPN.com|access-date=2009-03-09}}</ref> This resulted in Reebok modifying the television spots to feature Dan cheering Dave on.

==Aftermath== "Dan & Dave" made O'Brien and Johnson&mdash; both unknowns outside the world of [[track and field]]&mdash;into household names in the United States. The campaign led to both receiving endorsements from other companies, including O'Brien with Nike in 1993.<ref name="CNBC" /> Despite a foot injury, Johnson won a bronze medal in Barcelona.<ref name="CNBC" /> He retired from competition shortly after the Games. O'Brien went on to win a gold medal at the [[1996 Summer Olympics]] in [[Atlanta]].<ref name="CNBC" /> Both were inducted to the [[Oregon Sports Hall of Fame]] together in 2005.

The "Dan & Dave" ads were parodied by [[Ryder|Ryder Trucks]] with both athletes participating in a mock [[biathlon]] where they started a foot race and continued it with a race in rental trucks. In the ads, O'Brien easily completes his reservation at Ryder and continues on in a truck, while a frustrated Johnson is held up at a second-rate truck service.<ref name=djk1>[http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising/dan-and-dave-part-ii-37853 "Dan and Dave Part II"]. "Adweek", May 31, 1993.</ref>

In June 2017 Johnson and O'Brien were the subjects of and participants in the ESPN Radio ''[[30 for 30]]'' podcast "The Trials of Dan and Dave" about the famous ad campaign and its aftermath.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/espnradio/play/_/id/19747090|title=The Trials Of Dan And Dave|website=ESPN.com|accessdate=16 September 2018}}</ref>

{{Portal|1990s}}

==References== {{reflist}}

{{Reebok}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Dan and Dave}} [[Category:Advertising campaigns]] [[Category:Track and field in the United States]] [[Category:1992 Summer Olympics]] [[Category:1992 in the United States]] [[Category:Reebok]]