Marketplace Roundup

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Nike recently launched a new commercial featuring Cavaliers F LeBron James and Lakers G Kobe Bryant as puppets, and James said that Nike has a "lot more coming out." James: "There's not just one of 'em. There's three or four more. With puppets, it's really unlimited how many they can do because I don't have to be there." James called himself the Exec Producer of the ads, and said Nike "brought the idea to me and I was all for it." James: "I don't have a problem making fun of myself. It was great. It's pretty funny. I like it" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 5/15). In Akron, Patrick McManamon writes the commercial is "very funny," and "could become another Nike classic, up there with Mars Blackmon and Lil Penny" (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 5/15).

THE OLE' COLLEGE TRY: IMG Sports & Entertainment President George Pyne Wednesday night appeared on Fox Business' "America's Nightly Scoreboard" to discuss the company's collegiate partnerships, and said college sports offers the company "an incredible opportunity to reach fans in fun ways." Pyne added, "These are long-term deals with the colleges and universities. ... We've got a great management team and also with (IMG Chair & CEO) Ted Forstmann's business acumen, we've been able to really drive results" ("America's Nightly Scoreboard," Fox Business, 5/13).

NOTES: Izod Thursday unveiled an Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) exhibit in N.Y. to celebrate the track's 100th anniversary. The exhibit, "In Pursuit Of Fast: 100 Years of Indy Racing, Fashion and Design," features vintage cars and memorabilia that will be on display at a Macy's store in Manhattan. The exhibit will run through June 3 (Izod)....Steiner Sports Thursday began selling pieces of the court from the '09 NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four at Ford Field, donated by the champion Univ. of North Carolina (Learfield Sports).