Ford Goes ’Freestylin’

You’ve seen Chuck Daly, Joe Dumars, Ben Wallace, Herman Moore, Kris Draper, and Daren McCarty. Now you’ll see Cheryl Ford. The Shock forward will be introducing the Ford Freestyle for the Metro Detroit Ford Dealers in a commercial that is scheduled to premier during the Detroit Pistons vs. Indiana Pacers game on December 25th on FSN Detroit. This will mark Cheryl Ford’s first commercial. “I was a little bit nervous, but having the kids around made it fun,” said Ford. “I am grateful to The Metro Detroit Ford Dealers for giving me the opportunity to introduce this vehicle and be a spokesperson for them. They are great people.”

The commercial, which was filmed in mid-October, features Ford, the player, “freestyling” with children around the car company’s new vehicle, the Ford Freestyle. Stating the obvious, Cheryl Ford goes hand-in-hand with Ford. “She’s got the first name of our newest product, the Ford Freestyle, so we are introducing it with Cheryl in this commercial with the kids,” said Rick Bartus, Director of Advertising for the Metro Detroit Ford Dealers.

The Ford Division feels the Freestyle will attract young adults who want something that looks new and is different or unique. With Cheryl new to the Detroit area and the Shock’s success during her rookie season that resulted in a WNBA Championship in 2003, Ford seemed the perfect fit for what they feel the vehicle embodies.

“That’s the hard part, just trying to find a personality that fits the personality of the vehicle and this is a brand new vehicle,” added Bartus. “It’s meant to attract a lot of younger people as well as people who are looking for something new and fresh and Cheryl is all of those things in Detroit. She is a new person in the community in terms of the team and she’s the right age and the right style for the vehicle, so it is a good matchup for us. With Cheryl coming on board last year and having such a great year and her last name being “Ford,” we thought it was a natural”

The Freestyle is one of many new products that Ford has introduced this year. The Freestyle can seat up to six or seven people and it allows you room to stretch legs with best-in-class first, second and third-row legroom. Room for your stuff is also best-in-class with fold-down second-and third-row seat backs.

For her first time in front of a camera, Ford seemed like a natural. The only thing the director, Ron Castorri of Castorri Productions, asked of Ford was to add a little more to her dance step. “They told me to move a little bit more, but I play basketball, I don’t dance,” said Ford. “It’s been fun though.”

“She’s a sweetheart. She’s fabulous. I was surprised that she said she never been in any commercials before,” said Castorri. “She was incredible, she was natural, she smiled, she was brilliant and she looked good. I was very impressed with her.”

Cheryl will be “Freestyling” with Ford for years to come!