Marketplace Roundup

Baruch College Student Wins EA Sports Jersey Contest

In N.Y., Vincent Mallozzi reports Baruch College student Tim Ahmed won the EA Sports Jersey Creator Contest, in which more than 12,000 participants across the country were "asked to produce a computer-generated design of a jersey to be worn by first- and second-year NBA players" during the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge during All-Star Weekend next month in Phoenix. Ahmed "placed a cactus baking in a golden sun, and the word 'Rookies' splashed across the chest area in huge block letters." The numbers "09" are below that, "nestled inside yet another sun." Ahmed "produced a similar 'home' team jersey in white." For winning the contest, he "received a free trip to Phoenix" for the All-Star weekend festivities (N.Y. TIMES, 1/26).

ON THE DOWN LOW: In L.A., Bill Dwyre reports "only a few might have noticed that there were no Chryslers displayed in prominent places around the course" during this weekend's PGA Tour Bob Hope Classic, especially "none in that traditional middle-of-the-lake spot for maximum TV exposure." But Chrysler, which maintained its sponsorship of the event, "did the right thing," as it paid "all its bills to the tournament, nearly $2[M] of it already disbursed to charities in the Palm Springs area, and waved no flags while doing so" (L.A. TIMES, 1/26).

CENTER OF ATTENTION: SI.com's Ian Thomsen reported Rockets C Dikembe Mutombo has "signed with the Chinese manufacturer Peak to produce a Mutombo basketball sneaker replete with his No. 55 and a logo of his finger wagging back and forth." The deal came forth "thanks in part to his relationship" with Rockets C Yao Ming (SI.com, 1/23).