Marketplace Roundup

Sanchez' No. 6 Jets Jersey Top Seller Of All NFL Rookies Drafted This Year

Reebok and the Jets said that Jets rookie QB Mark Sanchez' No. 6 jersey is the "top seller of all NFL rookies drafted this year" -- even ahead of Lions rookie QB Matthew Stafford, who was the top overall pick. Reebok "doesn't release specific sales statistics," but said that Sanchez was "ahead of the pace set last year" by Raiders RB Darren McFadden, the top seller in the '08 draft class. In N.Y., Judy Battista wrote Sanchez has "undeniable star power" (NYTIMES.com, 5/4).

MOVING UP THE RANKS: B-TO-B magazine ranks the NFL No. 5 on its Media Power 50 list. B-TO-B's Matthew Schwartz writes, "No longer a media vehicle just for marketers of beer and other consumer products, the NFL is attracting a growing number of b-to-b advertisers interested in targeting a mass audience." NFL sponsors include IBM, Sprint and Visa. Despite "increasing fragmentation in media markets, the NFL hasn't suffered much erosion in audience compared with other broadcast and cable programming" (B-TO-B, 5/4 issue).

I WANT CANDY: The AP's Doug Ferguson noted golfer Tim Herron has signed a deal with Mars to wear the M&Ms logo on his shirt through the '10 season. Herron said that the deal "comes with a charity component," as the two sides are working on a deal in which Mars will "match Herron's contribution for every birdie he makes to 'Target House' in Memphis," which provides "lodging for parents of sick children" (AP, 5/5). Herron's other sponsorships include Tommy Bahamas, Titleist, Taylor-Made and Allianz (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 5/6).

KEY DETAIL: In Detroit, Tony Augusty writes "what's the NBA thinking" in awarding Cavaliers F LeBron James a new Kia for winning the league's MVP award? James "immediately donated the car, which was nice, but the fact is, he wouldn't be caught dead driving a Kia. Neither would any other NBA player, unless Kia starts making hearses" (DETROIT NEWS, 5/6).