(Think that’s risky? Try downing three cans of NOS in a row.)
When an athlete like Georges St. Pierre signs with a major product like the Coca Cola-owned NOS Energy Drink, there’s a couple directions we can go in bringing you the news. The most obvious angle is that the news of GSP signing with a prominent brand like NOS is yet another coup for him personally, and possibly for mixed martial arts on the whole, because it signifies another step towards mainstream acceptance and will expose the sports to scores of new potential fans, blah blah blah, etc.
All that is nice, but what sticks in my craw is that I can’t imagine St. Pierre actually choking down that toxic go-go juice in real life. We hope that the deal nets GSP loads of cash and we’re truly happy for him; he seems like a nice dude and is the epitome of what a top-notch professional MMA fighter should be. That said, what are the chances that the health-conscious welterweight champion gets his energy edge from the same caffeinated sugar-water that your 15 year-old cousin uses to stay awake during all-night Halo marathons?
High fructose corn syrup is the second ingredient in NOS Original flavor, but don’t worry, that’s not the only uber processed/artificial sugar in the drink! Sucralose also makes an appearance, before the possibly carcinogenic artificial dyes, yellows number 5 and 6. Mmmmmmmm…you’re sure to be hitting opponents with spinning side kicks and blast double-leg take downs just like your hero Georges in no time, if you drink NOS!
In all seriousness, we love hexametaphosphate and calcium disodium edta as much as anyone and we also understand that in the real world, athletes — like freelance writers — often take whatever paydays they can. So, really, we can’t begrudge St. Pierre for shilling this slop. We don’t pay the man’s bills. Still, the juxtaposition of his healthy image with this product is worth remarking on. Maybe St. Pierre is just looking forward to a possible future super fight with the Burger King-fueled middleweight champ Anderson Silva and is looking for any health advantage he can get.
Below, watch St. Pierre basically answer the same question twice about his deal with NOS, as well as dance to Drake and kick a heavy bag during a recent photo shoot for the energy drink. No, you won’t? Oh, so now you’re getting all precious with your time at work.