Marketplace Roundup

An adidas spokesperson said that the message Celtics F Kevin Garnett will wear tonight on his election-inspired shoes "will be non-partisan." In Boston, Mark Murphy notes the "only messages on his sneakers will be 'Embrace Change' and 'Vote 08.'" Garnett previously indicated that "one of the adidas-sponsored messages ... will be 'Obama for Change.'" Murphy writes the "only irony is that the game will be played after most polls have closed" (BOSTON HERALD, 11/4).

RED RAIDER ROYALTIES: Collegiate Licensing Co. Senior VP & Managing Dir Derek Eiler said that this year "will be a record for Texas Tech merchandise royalties," regardless of their final football record. Texas Tech currently is 9-0 and ranked second in the BCS standings. CNBC.com's Darren Rovell reported the "best year Texas Tech ever had on the shelves" was the '05-06 season, the year after the men's basketball team made the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament. Eiler said that Under Armour sales of Texas Tech apparel "were up 117[%] in the third quarter" (CNBC.com, 11/3).

More Than 1,500 Fans Showed Up At Michael Phelps' Launch Of PureSport In Chicago

COMMERCIAL UN-APPEALING: In Chicago, Lewis Lazare writes under the header, "Allstate Drops The Ball With Cheesy Spots." Lazare writes of Allstate's three new college football-themed TV ads, via Leo Burnett, Chicago, "'Brunette,' the most unsatisfying of the three, finds [characters] Bergwood and Vincent in the football stadium parking lot, where they are decked out in drag while Vincent laments the loss of their tickets to the game because of a lawsuit and some cheap auto insurance." Lazare: "A lot of information is introduced in this commercial and not clearly explained, but everyone is apparently just supposed to be amused by two macho guys in female cheerleader attire and cheap wigs" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 11/4).

ROUNDUP: Bids can be made on Lightning G Mike Smith's "Saw V" mask at www.collectsaw.com until 11:30pm ET tonight, after which Lightning G Olaf Kolzig's mask will be available. Proceeds from Smith's mask will go to the Lightning Foundation, while Kolzig's will go to Athletes Against Autism. At presstime, Smith's mask was at $3,150 and had drawn 51 bids (THE DAILY)....Gold Medal-winning swimmer Michael Phelps Saturday launched performance drink PureSport at a Chicago-area The Sports Authority location. More than 1,500 fans turned out to meet Phelps (THE DAILY).