Marketplace Roundup

Garnett On "NBA 2K9" Cover

Celtics F Kevin Garnett will be the cover athlete for 2K Sports' "NBA 2K9" videogame. The choice was revealed during a 30-second spot that aired during ABC's pregame show prior to Lakers-Celtics NBA Finals Game One on Thursday. The ad featured an animated version of Garnett and a list of his career achievements with a voiceover: “The only game KG’s going to be playing will be the only game you need to be playing” (THE DAILY).

TENNIS, ANYONE? Slazenger has signed a deal with the Lawn Tennis Association to become the title sponsor of the ATP event in Nottingham, a grass-court preliminary for Wimbledon. The Slazenger Open will be held June 14-21 (LTA)....Juvederm, an injectable anti-wrinkle gel from the makers of Botox, is an official sponsor of the '08 U.S. Open (TENNIS, 6/ '08 issue)....SI.com's Justin Gimelstob wrote WTA Tour player Ana Ivanovic has the "work ethic and credibility to ward off the inevitable comparisons that will be made with other over-marketed female stars and the legitimate appeal to attract everyone from fans to sponsors alike." Ivanovic is "charming, sweet and totally endearing" and soon will "have America eating out of the palm of her hand" (SI.com, 6/5).

NOTES: Penske Racing VP/Marketing Jonathan Gibson said that "it's 'way too soon to speculate' about whether Verizon's $5.9[B] acquisition of Alltel will affect the sponsorship" on the No. 12 Alltel Dodge driven by Ryan Newman (USA TODAY, 6/6)....NYRA and the N.Y. Post have entered into a three-year partnership for thoroughbred racing coverage (N.Y. POST, 6/6).