Marketplace Round-Up

Kevin Smith, a spokesperson for General Motors’ Cadillac division, and Ford spokesperson Marcey Evans said that their companies “haven’t pared back any of their Super Bowl activities in light of” their recent losses and layoffs. Evans: “We just think that it’s extremely important to continue to show our support for the city of Detroit and help the city show the best it has to offer to the world.” Smith: “We don’t see our current financial situation as a reason to not utilize this world stage that we paid to play on” (AP, 1/26).

PONY UP: U.S. Ryder Cup captain Tom Lehman has chosen Polo to outfit the team this fall (GOLFWEEK, 1/28 issue).

Gordon Looking To Increase Endorsement Portfolio

BIG BEN: In Westchester, Mike Dougherty wrote Bulls G Ben Gordon has nearly $1M in endorsement income and is “expanding his portfolio this season despite a marketplace that’s less inclined to use sports figures to increase brand awareness.” Gordon recently appeared with Serena Williams and Falcons QB Michael Vick in national Nike spots, is “the centerpiece of a campaign” for Comcast’s VOD service and has done promotional work for Walgreens and Nissan. Gordon also has a deal with McDonald’s (Westchester JOURNAL NEWS, 1/25).

SON RISE: In Charlotte, David Poole reports Matt Martin, the 14-year-old son of NASCAR driver Mark Martin, will be sponsored by Coca-Cola for his ’06 entries in the American Speed Association late model Southern series and the FASCAR pro truck and sportsman series (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 1/26).