Names & Faces: Ford All Smiles After Phil Wins Second Major

Mickelson Helping Drive Traffic To Ford Promotion's Web Site

In Detroit, Eric Mayne writes while Ford “can’t quantify the ... effect” of its five-year deal with Phil Mickelson –- who won the PGA Championship yesterday — the partnership “has enhanced the company’s image.” Ford General Marketing Manager Marty Collins: “He gives us a tremendous amount of exposure in winning circumstances.” Collins noted that a Ford Web site featuring Mickelson’s “Phil’s on the Phone” promo in ’04-05 drew nearly 700,000 visitors, 250,000 of whom requested information about Ford vehicles and nearly 400,000 entered a contest to play golf with Mickelson, Coyotes Managing General Partner & coach Wayne Gretzky and NASCAR driver Dale Jarrett (DETROIT NEWS, 8/16). Ford runs a full-page ad in USA Today congratulating Mickelson on his victory in the PGA (THE DAILY).

DIESEL-POWERED: Take-Two Interactive’s 2K Sports named Heat C Shaquille O’Neal the cover athlete and spokesperson for its “NBA 2K6” videogame (Take-Two Interactive). O’Neal appeared on ESPN2’s premier edition of “ESPN Hollywood” last night, where he said of his off-court career, “I still get a lot of offers to do movies, but I’m waiting for the right role” (“ESPN Hollywood,” ESPN2, 8/15).

THEY LIKE IKE: Rams WR Isaac Bruce has signed a two-year deal to appear in outdoor and in-game ads for Cleveland-based National City Corp. Bruce will also make appearances at National City events. The company also sponsors the Rams (BIZJOURNALS.com, 8/15).