Mr. Cartoon plays for U.S.A in the FIFA World Cup 2010

The ultimate sporting event is nearly upon us! Yes, the FIFA World Cup is here again, but the training and competition isn't all about the football (soccer) pitch. It's about the world's brands, that are underwriting the sporting event, winning your hearts and minds too!

On June 11, eight groups (A-H) and 32 national teams will begin competing for the World Cup trophy in South Africa. And the toughest group G comprises of Brazil, Portugal, Ivory Coast and...North Korea?! (Don't miss U.S.A. vs. England on June 12th 11.30am PST!)

Nike x Street art Nike (Sportswear) kicked off its True Colors Artist Collaboration with artists from around the world designing their national football team emblems. For the U.S., the privilege goes to Mr. Cartoon from Los Angeles. For the World Cup 2010 project Cartoon approached it as a sign painter:

"For the crest, I wanted it to be real official looking...yet people would want to rock it...
When I approach a project like this I want to look back at it in 10 years from now and say that was cool, that was dope! Doing the U.S.A. logo, doing the eagle icon...putting the U.S.A in a shield that really made it look official, but still had a feel of...a street artist did it instead of a airbrushy-looking. I wanted it to be hard, solid. Mad business, you know what I'm sayin'?"

"I've been asked why me? I don't know...I think it's real, real  edgy for them to do that man, being that I'm heavily tattooed and I'm connected...to graffiti plus being Chicano, being Mexican to be able to do the eagle and snake was outta control!"

The Last Laugh Cartoon has his The Last Laugh store (with photographer Evan Oriol) in downtown L.A. which captures his love for low-riding, tattooing and graffiti. It also has some of his sneaker collaborations for Nike and Vans. Check out the opening here back in 2008.