Marketplace Roundup

The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Suzanne Vranica reviews the year in advertising and reports despite an "ad-rich presidential election and the Olympics," Publicis Groupe SA indicated that U.S. ad spending this year is "expected to decline" 3.8% to $172.5B. Marketers also "continued to shift resources to the Web, as brands such as Gatorade relied on viral videos to grab attention." Vranica lists her choices for the "best and worst ads that made headlines this year." Included as one of the best is Gatorade's viral ad depicting a ball girl climbing the fence for a foul ball, while Salesgenie.com's Super Bowl XLII ad is one of the worst (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 12/23). Meanwhile, AD AGE lists its top five ads of the year, and included is the NBA's "There Can Only Be One" ad featuring Celtics F Kevin Garnett and Cavaliers F LeBron James and Nike's "Fate" ad featuring Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson and Steelers S Troy Polamalu (AD AGE, 12/22 issue).

PEAKING THEIR INTEREST: The Nets have signed a multi-year sponsorship agreement with China-based sports apparel company Peak. The deal includes television-visible courtside and baseline signage during the 31 Nets' regular-season home games that will be broadcast in China. The deal comes after the Nets traded for F Yi Jianlian this offseason (THE DAILY).

Web Site Launched To Persuade Ditka To Replace Illinois Gov. Blagojevich

IRON MIKE: In Chicago, Stacy St. Clair reports Illinois resident Shaun Radecki has "launched dagovernor.com to persuade" Pro Football HOFer Mike Ditka to replace Gov. Rod Blagojevich. The site, "which sells T-shirts, mugs and various tchotchkes urging Ditka to run, lays out its platform in language that only a Bears fan can appreciate" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 12/23).

NOTES: CVS will assume the remaining two years of the title sponsorship of the LPGA's Longs Drugs Challenge in Danville, California. CVS agreed to buy Longs earlier this year for $3B (THE DAILY)....In Denver, Troy Renck reports Rockies RF Ryan Spilborghs is the "new face of Honda and Hyundai" of Greeley, Colorado. Spilborghs duties will include a role as the dealership's "TV, radio and print spokesman" (DENVER POST, 12/23).