It’s hard to remember a Sprite TV spot that didn’t feature pro/amateur athletes playing street ball and squirting liters of lemon-lime soda into their mouths after a big dunk. In fact, “Obey Your Thirst” ran as Sprite’s tagline for over a decade, and only in 2007 did the brand cut it down to “Obey” because Shepard Fairey speaks to a younger generation or something.

But, when parent company Coca-Cola tapped Johannes Leonardo to lead Sprite’s global creative duties last May, it became clear that a change was imminent. With “Obey You,” Johannes Leonardo is taking Sprite out of Rucker Park and putting it on a much stranger course. It’s become somewhat clear that the younger generation no longer idolizes professional basketball stars like they once did. That is, unless that star is Blake Griffin, and that star is being weird.

“Obey You” seems to be employing the strategy of “weird sells to 18-49.” Are the antagonistic voices in your head going to sell more Sprite than street-ballers? Or is the younger generation getting weary of the weird?

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

-Company 3/Riot alum Shane Reed has joined the color department of The Mill L.A.

-Six months after being chosen by Dartmouth to revamp its website, Digital Pulp has debuted phase one. link

-God (or Congress, in this case) help the United States Postal Service. link

-Inspired by the filming of Lincoln in its hometown of Richmond, VA, the Martin Agency decided to shoot photos of the picture’s extras in their non-work clothes and put them on exhibit (example above, more after the jump).

-Speaking of art, Spike Jonze, Elijah Wood, Vinny Chase, Shepard Fairey and others are trying to help out Hurricane Sandy victims via a silent art auction called “Bring Back the Boardwalks.” link

-OgilvyOne chairman/CEO Brian Fetherstonhaugh talks managing your career trajectory. link

-Wired has promoted creative director Scott Dadich to editor-in-chief. Dadich replaces Chris Anderson, who left after 11 years at the helm to focus on manufacturing drones. link

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New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

-Digitas nabbed Taco Bell’s digital biz, which will be led by the agency’s San Francisco office and executive sponsor Doug Ryan along with teams in the Chicago office. link

-Tribal DDB New York tapped McGarryBowen/Campbell Mithun alum Jen Stocksmith to serve as creative director on the Pfizer Consumer Healthcare business.

-San Francisco shop Grow Marketing was awarded the US consumer lifestyle event business for Pernod Ricard scotch brand, Glenlivet.

-The spirit of Little Red Riding Hood looms over a new Volvo ad from Arnold Worldwide (above).

-Bi-coastal prodco Bodega hired Emmy-winning Haley Geffen as creative director in its New York office.

-Shepard Fairey redesigned the Rolling Stones logo to celebrate the brand’s 50th anniversary. link

-Yes folks, you can now get a QR code emblazoned on your headstone. link

-Here’s a timeline on how Apple ended the iPad trademark issue (hint: it cost $60 million). link

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

-Duncan/Channon welcomes back football in a new campaign for StubHub (above). link

-Cali-based integrated agency Blitz has joined the 4A’s. link

-Speaking of the 4A’s, the organization joins the IAB in hating ICANN’s new domain purchase program. link

-Starbucks’ chief exec says that “Americans deserve better.” link

-Microsoft GM John Kahan joined the board of directors of social targeting company, 33Across. link

-Chrysler has tapped Ignite Social Media as its social AOR. Here’s hoping for no more Twitter drama. link

-Ron Paul goes on the offensive via political ads. link

-Shepard Fairey got his ass whooped in Denmark. link

-Hellohikimori promotes Game of Thrones to the French audience. link

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.