Marketplace Roundup

Ronaldo Denies Losing TIM  Deal Over Recent Incident

AC Milan F Ronaldo denied that he has "lost an endorsement contract with mobile phone company TIM as a result of last week's incident with three transvestites." Ronaldo was reported to have "been dumped by the firm in the wake of the scandal." TIM has declined to comment on the rumors, and TIM spokesperson Cintia Vasconcelos said, "The company is analysing the situation" (SPORTINGLIFE.com, 5/3). Ronaldo's TIM deal is worth US$4.8M and includes a clause that allows the company to "unilaterally end the deal if Ronaldo [is] involved in negative publicity." Nike also reportedly is "reviewing a lifetime endorsement deal with Ronaldo worth around" US$100M (TEAMTALK.com, 5/3).

NOT NAU: In Portland, Brent Hunsberger reported Portland-based apparel company Nau Inc. Friday announced that it was "shutting down, just 14 months after launching with goals of shattering retail business practices, changing customer shopping habits and promoting sustainable living." Industry experts and local venture capitalists said that the company "suffered from a flawed business model and possibly missteps along the way." Critics said that Nau's plans, "mostly rooted in the name of environmental stewardship, ate through lots of cash, required an ambitious rollout of stores and relied on consumers to change their shopping habits." The company aimed to "design and sell clothing made from renewable materials, such as recycled polyester and merino wool, for use both actively outdoors and fashionably out at night" (Portland OREGONIAN, 5/3).

Watch Nike's Soccer-Themed TV Spot

IN THE ACTION: Nike last week debuted a two-minute soccer-themed spot from director Guy Ritchie and ad agency 72andsunny titled "To the Next Level." The spot is available online and will air on TV through the Euro 2008 tourney. The ad features "pulse-pounding music and gritty on-field imagery" combined with a first-person camera view, depicting "what it would be like to be discovered on the field and selected to play for English Premier League team Arsenal" (ADWEEK.com, 5/1).

MESSING WITH THE WRONG GUY: During Sunday’s ABC coverage of the NBA playoffs, Columbia Pictures promoted its upcoming film “Don’t Mess With The Zohan” in a cross-promotion with the NBA. The 30-second ad was a spoof of the split-screen ad campaign from the NBA called "There Can Only Be One.” The split-screen featured "Zohan" star Adam Sandler as the title character and Warriors G Baron Davis. The spot differs from the NBA ones as Zohan and Davis talk to each other during the spot while they are split-screen. The spot began with the two speaking in unison, saying, “All you life you have a dream, a dream to...” Zohan, who speaks in a thick Middle Eastern accent, said to Davis, “Come on, Baron, let’s go. ... No, no, no, no, my friend. It’s pronounced ‘adream’” (THE DAILY).