Marketplace Round-Up

On Long Island, Mark Herrmann reported Commerce Bank, which this week will be acquired by TD Banknorth and become known as TD Commerce Bank, is "pulling out" of sponsoring the Champions Tour tournament on Long Island after this year's event  from June 23-29. The PGA Tour, which operates the Champions Tour, "wants the venerable and resilient tournament to continue." Local golf sources "point out that TD Commerce might return for 2010.'' The bank pulled out because the "prospect of sponsoring in '09, right after another U.S. Open on Long Island, was daunting'' (NEWSDAY, 4/6).

VOTE FOR KOBE: In Boston, Peter May wrote the Lakers' campaign for G Kobe Bryant to be named the NBA MVP, "is, well, a campaign." The team mailed out three bumper stickers that read, "Who else? Bryant 08," as well as a "large pair of red suspenders with 12 campaign buttons, six on each side" (BOSTON GLOBE, 4/6). 

NOTES: A Vancouver-based automobile firm is advertising a car that former Canucks LW Matt Cooke was driving and endorsing before being traded to the Capitals. The buyer of the car also will receive the jersey Cooke signed as part of the promotion (VANCOUVER SUN, 4/5)....Trading card company Donruss will "unveil a line of [MMA] cards" featuring fighters Randy Couture, Matt Serra, Georges St. Pierre, Rich Franklin, Forrest Griffin and Dan Henderson (CALGARY SUN, 4/5)....Former Olympic swimmer Janet Evans has signed a one-year endorsement deal with CanolaInfo to highlight the health benefits of canola oil (THE DAILY).