Marketplace Round-Up

USA TODAY’s Tom Pedulla, in a sports section Cover Story, notes Patriots QB Tom Brady’s current relationship with supermodel Gisele Bundchen and his baby, due in mid-August, with actress Bridget Moynahan. Univ. of Oregon Warsaw Sports Marketing Center Managing Dir Paul Swangard sees the relationship with Bundchen “as a positive, making Brady as compelling for ‘Entertainment Tonight’ as he is for ‘The NFL Today.’” Swangard: “His new celebrity status may create crossover opportunities that wouldn't normally be available to him” (USA TODAY, 6/6).

SKATER BOYS: In N.Y., Matt Higgins reports the California High School Skateboard Club, a league of teams from seven schools in the L.A. area that began competing in April, is being backed by Nike, which will provide the league’s most valuable skater with two pairs of shoes per month for a year. Nike Skateboard Division Marketing Manager Kevin Imamura said that the company “chose to back the league, in part, because its structure hews to skateboarding tradition.” Imamura: “It becomes less about being a team and more about being a crew or a group of friends” (N.Y. TIMES, 6/6).

CROCS: Crocs yesterday unveiled its new You by Crocs line of women's fashion footwear, which includes nine boots and shoes priced from $149-299 a pair. That is “far above the $30 price on Crocs's standard shoes.” The line, designed by Crocs’ Italian subsidiary, EXO Italia, will be available at retailers and online this fall (WSJ.com, 6/5).