Marketplace Roundup

Earnhardt Jr. Doing Well In Business World, Despite Winning Only Once In Last 129 Races

CNBC.com's Darren Rovell wrote though NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. has won only one of the last 129 Sprint Cup Series races, he "seems to be humming along in the business world." Nationwide this week announced it was "renewing its deal with him," and Earnhardt also was "in his familiar No. 1 spot" atop NASCAR.com's SuperStore sales rankings. Rovell: "With the exception of maybe Anna Kournikova, there has never been an athlete in the history of sports who has been so popular over such a long period of time with such little success" (CNBC.com, 10/14).

SPIN-OFF GAME: EA is "unveiling a new piece to its Madden NFL franchise" with "Madden NFL Arcade," a five-on-five football game in which players can "choose one of their favorite 32 NFL teams and compete with the best five players on offense and defense." The game "will be available as a download on Xbox Live Arcade and the PlayStation Store" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 10/14). 1UP.com's Kat Bailey wrote the game "seems to be a successor of sorts to 3 on 3 NHL Arcade, which was also released for the XBox 360 and the PlayStation 3" (1UP.com, 10/14).

NO-SHOW: In New York, Cheryl Wittenauer reported sports memorabilia company Steiner Sports last week filed a lawsuit against MLB Cardinals C Yadier Molina, "saying he ignored their agreement to make appearances and sign autographs." The suit indicated that the company "had a contract with Molina dating to October 2006," and that Steiner paid Molina $90,660 "in advance when the contract was renewed in July 2008, but he later refused to attend autograph signings and will not return the money." Wittenauer noted Steiner is "seeking damages in excess of $175,000" (Westchester JOURNAL NEWS, 10/14).

NEW DUDS: In Las Vegas, Ryan Greene reports UNLV's men's basketball team unveiled its new jerseys yesterday, and Nike "mixed both its newest look -- tight, form-fitting tops with long, baggy shorts -- with a splash of a simple, retro design." The pattern "involves a very simple design running down the side, which is reminiscent of the UNLV uniforms from the 1980s and early 90s." Greene notes Nike "debuted the new jersey concept during the 2008 NCAA tournament" (LAS VEGAS SUN, 10/15).