Names & Faces: Ryan Sheckler Stars In New Commercial For Axe

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USA TODAY's Sal Ruibal reports skateboarder Ryan Sheckler next week "joins the thin ranks of action-sports stars big enough to earn a television commercial for a mainstream consumer product," as he will appear in a new 30-second spot for Axe body spray beginning Monday. The ad will debut during ESPN's coverage of the X Games. In the commercial, which "uses the phraseology of board-sport tricks," Sheckler and skateboarders Greg Lutzka and Jereme Rogers "try to outdo each other with zany tricks, with Sheckler winning the honors by leaping over Lutzka and Rogers -- who are riding in a golf cart -- while performing the triple spray maneuver" (USA TODAY, 7/22).

YO, ADRIAN! In St. Paul, Sean Jensen reported Vikings RB Adrian Peterson will "star in a commercial launching the 2009 season of fantasy football" on NFL.com. The spot, which Peterson filmed last week at Cowboys Stadium, will debut later this week on NFL Network and the league's other broadcast partners. Peterson in the ad is "shown running a drill in slow motion, a juxtaposition to the speed of the features of NFL.com" (TWINCITIES.com, 7/21).

CAN'T STAND THE HEAT: Several NFL coaches, including the Falcons' Mike Smith, have "partnered with Gatorade in a 'Beat the Heat' campaign designed to warn parents and athletes about heat related issues." The campaign encourages coaches, athletes and parents to "download a heat safety kit" from NFL.com, and for each kit downloaded Gatorade will make a donation to the Kendrick Fincher and Stringer foundations (AJC.com, 7/21).

NOBODY'S BUSINESS BUT THE TURKS': Raptors F Hedo Turkoglu recently shot a commercial for Turkcell, the "largest mobile operator" in his native Turkey (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 7/21).