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ATLANTA (AP) — Pepsi is pouring it on in Coke’s house — injecting some fizz into its biggest rivalry during the buildup to the Super Bowl.While the visitors had called for a “cola truce” on social media with the NFL title game in the shadows of its competitor’s Atlanta-based headquarters Youth Takkarist McKinley Jersey , it seems to have been more of a Trojan Horse subterfuge designed to lure Coke into lowering its defenses.Billboards all around Atlanta call for Pepsi to “paint the town blue” and announce “Pepsi in Atlanta — how refreshing.”“I’d say Pepsi’s had a great heritage of being a challenger brand,” Todd Kaplan, Pepsi’s vice president of marketing, said Thursday. “The Pepsi-Coke rivalry has been going on for years. As a marketer, it’s been a fun, friendly kind of a thing. As a challenger brand, it’s really embracing the role to show everybody we’re the official NFL sponsor. Do it in a fun way with a competitor that we respect.”But while Pepsi has been intent on having fun at Coke’s expense, Coke will be tapping into its home-field advantage: Because it owns the “pouring rights” at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Coke products will be for sale at the fountains during the game between the Patriots and Rams. But the drinks will be served in NFL-themed Super Bowl cups.That hasn’t deterred Pepsi. The company, based in Purchase, New York, wheeled a life-sized statue of its founder, Caleb Bradham, in broad daylight to toast a soda with none other than the statue of Coca-Cola founder John Pemberton. The meeting came just outside the World of Coke museum in downtown Atlanta.And it didn’t last long.Pepsi was asked to leave a few minutes after setting up on the Coke property that’s located just a couple of blocks from the stadium.But Coke believes it has home-field advantage and has gone out of its way to stay above the fray.“I think certainly they came and they used Atlanta as an opportunity to have an Atlanta-focused message, and what I would say is that we have a message that is uniquely Coca-Cola,” said Brynn Bardacke Stitched Calvin Ridley Jersey , vice president of content and creative excellence for Coca-Cola North America. “I think we’re going to leave the rumbling to the football.“We’re going to use our advertising to talk about what’s important to the brand.”The latest chapter in the decades-long rivalry between Coke, the longtime leader in worldwide soda sales, and its not-quite-as-massive rival has been entertaining.Ask almost anyone around Atlanta — anywhere, really — and they have very strong opinions about the soda giants.Mark Meek, a Carolina Panthers fan from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, wasted no time choosing a side.“I like being the little guy, fighting for his place in the world,” he said. “I like it because it’s from my home state and we’ve got a little rivalry thing going with Georgia anyway. I like Lowe’s more than Home Depot. I like Pepsi more than I like Coke. I like the Panthers more than I like the Falcons. I like Bojangles more than I like Chick-Fil-A.”His friend Keith Priest, also Panthers fan from Winston-Salem, is a Coke man all the way.“Pepsi’s too sweet, way too sweet,” he said. “The carbonation seems better in a Coke. Every now and then I’ll get Cherry Coke, but other than that, it’s always just Coke.”Lest anyone forget that, Coke has bought the time slot right before the national anthem to roll out its big Super Bowl ad Youth Calvin Ridley Jersey , “A Coke is a Coke,” a strategic move it would’ve made regardless of Pepsi being in his hometown.“Well, we are here to welcome everybody to the city, Pepsi included,” Bardacke said. “Our effort is really focused on what our brand is and means to people and really what we offer. The message at a high level is that Coke is for everyone.”Maybe so, but not for Kaplan. Pepsi knows where it stands in pecking order, and has launched a marketing campaign that Pepsi is “more than OK.”“Every day there’s a cultural truth that people get asked this question when they’re in a restaurant.” Kaplan said. “Sometimes they will order our competitor’s beverage and they’ll be asked the question, ‘Is Pepsi OK?’ That’s a question that, for years, people get asked, and we wanted to take that truth and flip it on its head. Absolutely, Pepsi is more than OK.”But not for Atlanta resident Jack Jessen.“You’ve got to go with the hometown teams,” he said. “Coke and Falcons.”For Houston resident Zephra Belle, there’s no way she’s drinking Coke.“I’m Team Pepsi all the way,” she said. “It’s sweeter. It makes me feel better. I haven’t adjusted to Coke. I don’t understand the Coke people.” ATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta Falcons guard Ben Garland has won the NFL’s Salute to Service Award.Garland was recognized Wednesday by the league and USAA for his exceptional efforts to honor and support members of the military community. He will be recognized on Saturday night during NFL Honors, the prime-time TV show in which The Associated Press presents its individual awards for the 2018 season.“I am honored to win the award Stitched Alex Mack Jersey , but, honestly, I am just honored to be part of an organization that puts military first from the top down, from (owner) Arthur Blank to our head coach (Dan Quinn),” Garland said.“They do so much for our military and I am proud to be with an organization that is the spear in the NFL of showing how to do it right and how to truly give back and say thank you to the military members that absolutely deserve it.”USAA, a leading provider of insurance and other services to U.S. military members, veterans and their families, will contribute $25,000 in Garland’s honor to the official aid societies representing all five military branches. The NFL will match USAA’s donation of $25,000, which will be donated to the Garland’s military charity of choice.“From his time at the Air Force Academy and continuing throughout his NFL playing career, Ben Garland has embodied and demonstrated the understanding and appreciation for the service and sacrifice of the U.S. military and their families for which this award stands,” said Vice Admiral (Ret.) John Bird, USAA senior vice president of military affairs. “In the true spirit of the Salute to Service Award presented by USAA, we salute Ben for his tireless effort to support our military, veterans Youth Alex Mack Jersey , and their families, as well as his own service to our country as a member of the Colorado Air National Guard.”In 2018, Garland traveled on two USO tours, the first to Italy and Germany and the second to Iraq and Kuwait.Garland is involved with helping veterans make the adjustment after their service and in helping raise awareness of PTSD. Last year, he participated in the Armed Forces Mission’s Georgia LOSS Walk. He walked alongside veterans, service members and their families in honor of “Turning the Tide on Veteran Suicide.”As a current member of the Colorado Air National Guard, he also supports his fellow active duty service members. He donates game tickets each week to them; visits the Air Force Academy at least once a year to speak to the current students; works with Georgia Tech ROTC to inspire young officers; and meets with local young officers to mentor them.Garland was chosen for the award by a panel that included the 2017 recipient, Andre Roberts of the New York Jets; Bird; Chad Hennings, an Air Force Academy graduate and three-time Super Bowl champion; former wide receiver Vincent Jackson, the 2015 award recipient; for NFL coach Jim Mora; and Lenny Bandy, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and an NFL vice president of security.Other previous recipients were Quinn, Jared Allen, John Harbaugh, Charles Tillman and Bud Adams.