Marketplace Roundup

In Phoenix, Craig Harris reports the NFL Cardinals "have sold a presenting sponsorship to ... Alltel" for the team's first-round home playoff game since '47. The deal also "includes giving at least 50 fans two free tickets each to the team's home playoff game" on either January 3 or 4 at Univ. of Phoenix Stadium. Alltel, a longtime sponsor of the team, "declined to disclose how much it is paying for the sponsorship." Cardinals VP/Business Development Steve Ryan said that the team "would promote Alltel in its playoff local radio broadcasts and on the LED video boards at the stadium." Ryan said that the team "did not need approval from the NFL because no league trademarks were being used and the deal didn't extend nationally" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 12/19).

MAKING A SPLASH: In S.F., Gwen Knapp reports at the European Short-Course Swimming Championships in Croatia, which ended this week, leaders from 15 national federations "signed a petition asking FINA, the organization that governs international aquatics, to draw better lines between appropriate gear and equipment that features anything shy of an inboard motor," including the Speedo LZR swimsuit. USA Swimming "has already submitted a similar petition" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 12/19).

A NEW SPOKESPERSON? Colts WR Reggie Wayne after the team's 31-24 win over the Jaguars Thursday night discussed his pregame meal. Wayne: “Bowl of soup, chicken noodle soup, before every game. Eight years in a row." NFL Network’s Deion Sanders said, “Can we get a sponsor for that? He’s putting himself out there. Campbell’s soup, Campbell’s chicken noodle soup. ... He really does this for real. He don’t even need his mom in the commercial. You can just get him for free." Wayne added his mother “might try to fight me to get in that commercial” (NFL Network, 12/18).

PRIDE OF DETROIT: In Detroit, Krista Jahnke reported during the entire month of January, Lentz USA, a full-service auto center in Jenison, Michigan, "will offer free [brake] pads (you pay for the labor and supplies) if the Lions go 0-16" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 12/16).