by Tess Wolfe
Reporter
Stow -- Standing out in the crowd has opened the door for two local Cleveland Cavaliers fans to appear on international TV. Stow residents Monica Baird and Don Matis are featured in a Nike commercial that will air in August during the Olympic Games.
One of a series of 23 ads promoting LeBron James' "Witness" line of Nike products, the approximately 30-second commercial resulted from a chance interaction.
During a Cavs game, Baird momentarily left her friend, Matis. When she returned, Matis was talking with Lilian Pyles, casting director for the Nike commercials. Matis had caught Pyles' attention from among attendees at the basketball game.
"As you can see, he stands out," she said of Matis, who, during the interview, was sporting his favorite pair of star-shaped, red, white and blue sunglasses and a flowing, salt-and-pepper beard.
"They call me 'Uncle Sam' at Cavs games," Matis said. "All the guards know me -- it's cool."
Pyles had asked Baird if she would like to come to an audition, along with Matis.
"Sure," Baird said. "What are we auditioning for?"
The casting director explained it was for a Nike commercial, specifically for LeBron James products. Pyles said she would get back to them the following week. Soon, they were both called in to film the audition in Pyles' Cleveland studio.
"We were to be as enthusiastic and original as possible," Baird said. "I love LeBron James. He's my favorite player, so it was easy to think of what to say."
When they arrived, Baird and Matis were concerned that the large crucifixes they regularly wear would not go over well for the audition, and began to tuck them inside their shirts.
"The director comes out and says, 'No! Leave it! That's who they are," described Baird.
She said that before she went in to audition, she prayed about what original idea to try.
"So, I came up with sign language," said Baird. "I would sign his name, and for each letter of his name I would say something about him."
Using LeBron James as an acronym, she used the American Sign Language alphabet during the 10-minute filming of the audition, her hands spelling his name as she spoke the words that described him.
"Leader, enthusiastic, brave, reliable, outstanding, never stops," said Baird as she signed James' first name. She also signed his last name, using additional descriptives.
At the end of the clip, she used a shorthand ASL sign for "I love you."
"I was totally spazzing out," Baird said. "Then, my friend, Don, went on and he was so calm in front of the camera."
After leaving the studio, the two friends were not expecting much more to come of it, she said.
"We thought, 'If nothing happens, this was fun. We had a good time,'" said Baird.
Matis added, "We didn't expect it."
A month later, Baird was in Phoenix on a business trip and received a call from Matis.
"He said, 'I'm not in the commercial -- you are,'" Baird said. "I was amazed. I'm still in shock. I'm in happy shock."
In fact, both Baird and Matis appear in the ad, although Matis does not have a speaking role.
"I'm just a silent witness. She got paid," Matis said of Baird.
Although they have not been informed when during the Olympics the commercial will run, the ad in which the two appear currently can be seen on-line at www.nike.com/nikebasketball/witness/. In the second row of thumbnail sketches, fifth from the left, is a thumbnail entitled "Monica and Don" that links to the black and white ad in which Baird and Matis are featured.
"We thought we were just going in for an audition, and the audition became the commercial," said Baird.
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