Shaq, Obesity and REI

I'm not ashamed to say that I was absolutely absorbed by Shaq's Big Challenge, which wrapped last night on ABC. I'm a hoops connoisseur and sometimes Shaquille O'Neal apologist, admittedly, so it's no surprise that I enjoyed the show. But I didn't expect to get goosebumps during the finale, even though I do goosebump easily.

What was so compelling about? It's realism? The kids weren't dropping 100+ pounds like the full-grown candidates on other weight-loss shows, like Biggest Loser. It would probably have been a warning sign if they were dropping more than the 25-75 lbs. they seemed to drop, given that they're growing teens.

It's completeness? They attacked childhood obesity from every angle, with after school workout regimens, the President's Physical Fitness Test, school lunch improvement, and a trip to the governor to get a commitment to support it all (leading to the only frustrating moment: a footnote that the governor's office was "exploring paths" to implementing Shaq's Wellness Wheel and other programs. How governmenty!)

Shaq? Always likeable, and convincingly fit without being unachievably svelte (a knock he's heard once or twice in the later years of his career). But most compelling: why would he do the show? To make money? Doubtful. The Diesel came off as genuinely interested in reversing the epidemic, and who better to get through to kids? Some remote and irrelevant President's Fitness Test, or one of the most admired athletes out there?

All told, a very entertaining miniseries (let's not curse it with the reality label) that, hopefully, will inspire more local action.

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BONUS CLIP on children and activity: A CSRwire news release about REI's Passport to Adventure, a program that organzies hikes and bike-hikes recommended by store employees for kids and their parents. It's nice community involvement (that probably also drives sales) from a company that is also notorious for passionate employees, hands-on shopping, and localized classes, training sessions, etc. It's also perfect alignment, a great outdoor program from a great outdoor retailer.