Following up on last years commercial directed by Michael Mann, Nike is sparring no expense again. This time around, David Fincher, gets the call from the Wieden + Kennedy.

We’re taken through the lives of two NFL players, LaDainian Tomlinson and Troy Polamalu, from childhood and adolescence through to adulthood. Throughout their lives these two young men learn to run and push everything out of their paths, until they meet each other…

You may recognize the music from a certain Western, and you'd be right. It's music composed by Ennio Morricone ("The Ecstasy of Gold" from The Good, The Bad and the Ugly).

Nike Football Leaves Nothing to Fate [The Inspiration Room Daily]

A lesson in masochism. Allow your punisher to help you. So you can be punished again.

It was a pretty score, but the offense...not so pretty. USC shut out the ASU Sun Devils on Saturday, in a stellar day for the Trojan defense but with a sloppy performance from USC quarterback Mark Sanchez. The Trojans turned it over five times, including three interceptions and a Sanchez fumble, in as many consecutive drives during an atrocious 3rd quarter that seemed to stuck on a never ending loop. It seemed during the third quarter that Sanchez was doing all in his power to help the Sun Devils put points on the board. Luckily for the Trojans, USC DE Fili Moala blocked two field goals and recovered a fumble as part of a defensive stand that helped keep ASU scoreless.

And kudos to ASU QB Rudy Carpenter who taped up his injured ankle and started despite last year's Thanksgiving bludgeoning. Crazy, stupid, or maybe just permanent memory loss from the '07 LoJack and Maualuga collision, Carpenter was hit 12 times in his first 20 pass attempts. Thomas, Cushing and Moore recorded sacks on Carpenter, and Thomas, Harris and Bryant came away with interceptions.

If you haven't done so already...

1) Go sign up for a onedegree account.
2) Join the TrojanWire Fan Club on onedegree.

Then next Friday, October 17th, in this year of the financial hair cut, we will draw five lucky Fan Club members and contact them through the onedegree network as well as make an announcement right here. Winners will have their choice of cardinal or gold, and Medium, Large or X-Large. Winners will also receive a white onedegree Under Armour polo.

The tagless 2004-06 Dynasty shirt (Matt&Reggie&LenDale&Pete) is the first in a line of TrojanWire-branded apparel. The design is printed on a heavy cotton thread that has been treated with an enzyme wash to give it a drinkability you will find in no other beer at any price. This is not your hipster thin, flimsy, slim-fit American Apparel shirt; and for all we know it is not green, friendly to the environment, or produced under "fair" labor laws. It is however, produced in a limited run of 1-100. And it currently cannot be bought. Anywhere.

The only way to get one is to sign up with our sponsor onedegree.

And then all of Reggie Bush's MNF week 5 highlights after the jump.

This picture of David Ausberry's late-game TD sums up most of the night for the Ducks -- a nice effort, but ultimately just not enough to keep up:

PHOTO CREDIT: Mark Avery, AP (via Yahoo! News)

Got a question for USC alum and Cincinnati Bengal Carson Palmer? Or just want to wish him and his elbow a speedy recovery? Tomorrow night, you can talk live with the former Heisman Winner and #1 pick:

Join Carson live tomorrow night at 8pm et/5pm pt on NIKEFOOTBALL's weekly call-in show The Huddle by calling 1-800-603-6817.

Can't make the call? Don't fret -- just email your question to thehuddle@nike.com.

Here's to the man who brought Butch Cassidy, Eddie Felson, Brick Pollitt, and (our personal favorite) Cool Hand Luke to life on screen. And made some delicious lemonade.

Mr. Newman, you will be missed. Condolences to the friends and family of the cinematic and real-life bad-ass.

[Thanks Bob P]

Don't worry. It's only an approximation of what happened.

[Thanks CT]

It looks like there is going to be a lot of car fires and drunk sex in Corvallis tonight.

Fight on.

Always one to push competition, Carroll has elevated backup quarterback Garrett Green to the number two spot on the depth chart, leaping over both Corp and Mustain.

If I win my round, I will advance to the finals and could win money for my Song girl team, great prizes, a photo-shoot in Athlon Sports magazine and much more!

You can vote on AthlonSports.com (up to 20 times per day). You must register for an Athlon account to do so. Or you can add the "Sideline Spirit" Facebook app (and vote up to 10 times per day).

(Image sent by Keli Snyder for promotional use)

With no more cats on the schedule, UCLA is relaxing for now... until they realize they have Cynophobia too — an abnormal fear of dogs. The Fresno State Bulldogs and the Washington Huskies are both capable of putting beatdowns on the baby bears.

[Thanks CT]