On June 28th, 1914, Franz Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria, and his wife Sophie, were assassinated in Sarajevo by a young Serbian nationalist named Gavrilo Princip. This is generally regarded as a bad move.

 

Roughly one month earlier, however, on May 16th, 2014, the Goldenberg family, who had immigrated from Austria to the United States, founded the Brooks Shoe Company, Inc. This is generally regarded as a good move.

 

Today, Brooks Running joins the century club. Happy Birthday Brooks! You’re 100-years-old and you’ve never looked better.

 

You’ve managed to see the end of 13 wars (plus or minus what you consider a “war”), have seen 17 presidential inaugurations, and survived after you flew a “Run Happy” banner over Hayward Field and were kicked out of the 2012 Olympic Trials.

 

It’s been a topsy-turvy one hundred years, filled with everything from booming business to bemoaning bankruptcy. You’ve dipped your toes in nearly every market, including, but not limited to ice skating, roller skates, ballet slippers, and bathing shoes. There were of course the decades of commitments to the major sports--baseball, football, basketball, soccer, boxing, ad infinitum.

 

You’ve sponsored the greats. Mickey Mantle wore a pair in 1962; you helped Dallas Cowboys legend Roger Staubach win two Superbowls, and gave Miami Dolphins legend Dan Marino zero. Zero. Even the Pittsburgh Pirates won the 1979 World Series in black and yellow Brooks cleats. But for the sake of everybody other than the 306,211 people who reside in Pittsburgh, please never sponsor them again.

 

There were also the running greats, too. World Record Mile holder John Walker wore the aptly named Brooks John Walker RT-1; Villanova superstar Marty Liquori helped develop the aptly named Brooks Villanova; Rod Dixon, Bill Rodgers, and Greg Meyer all signed with the up-and-coming brand.

 

Even after brilliant spokesmen have come and gone, like the Running Superfans or Warren Buffet, the brand still remains and the message is clear: Run Happy.

 

It’s an interesting motto with many meanings. It’s applicable to all runners of all ages. Because when you’re young and just getting into running, like the children that the Brooks Beasts coach, Run Happy is just being able to run.

But when you’re a little older, like Riley Masters or Deb Maier, Run Happy means winning.

 

For the 40-something crew, Run Happy isn’t about personal bests, but personal goals.

A few decades later, Run Happy is about giving back to the younger generations.

 

I thought this would be a million, if not billion dollar idea, if Brooks had not already produced this exact advertisement two years ago.

 

Whether or not you decide to cut me a check anyway, we really hope you guys made a cake to celebrate the occasion. There’s something about baking something for an inanimate object that is truly special. In the very least, we hope it goes over better than the cake the Chicago Cubs made to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Wrigley Field and then threw in the dumpster.

 

Unlike the Cubbies, who haven’t won a World Series since the Ottoman Empire existed (thanks a lot, Steve Bartman), Brooks Running has persevered, endured, and even put a video advertisement in a print publication. 

 

Here’s to another one hundred, run happy filled years. Oh, and please make more advertisements like this:

 

 

Full disclosure: Although Brooks is a sponsor on Flotrack, this article is not included in the advertisement package.