The latest public surveys from Nielsen and E-Poll Market Research, a tracker of public perceptions of athletes and other celebrities, show that Eagles QB Michael Vick “still stands as the least liked player in the NFL.” The poll found that “a full 60% of respondents” said Vick is a player they “dislike,” “dislike somewhat,” or “dislike a lot.” Casual fans who “know Vick’s name primarily through his dog fighting legal circus naturally tend to focus on the negative.” Women “view Vick negatively at a 70% clip, compared to 50% for men.” Nielsen Sports VP Stephen Master said, “If this were a poll of fantasy football players, you’d see a whole different result. They love him.” Occupying the two spots immediately behind Vick were Jets WR Plaxico Burress and Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger. The E-Poll-Nielsen results “were limited to active NFL players that record a minimum 10% awareness level with the public” (FORBES.com, 11/7).
BEARING IT: NASCAR driver and team owner Tony Stewart appeared on Fox Business’ “Varney & Company” to promote the Coca-Cola paint scheme he will run at the Sprint Cup Series Kobalt Tools 500 at Phoenix Int'l Raceway this weekend. Stewart said, “A bunch of Coca-Cola family drivers this weekend the roof of our cars will be white and it’s to help represent a program that Coca-Cola and the World Wildlife Fund are partnering up with, and the project is called Arctic Home.” The goal is to raise $3M “to conserve the polar bear habitat,” and it is the “first time in Coca-Cola’s history that they’ve ever changed the color of their cans from red” (“Varney & Company, Fox Business, 11/8).
FUELING THE GAMES: Chevrolet Canada signed a four-year sponsorship with the Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan Am Games Organizing Committee, making Chevrolet a Premier Partner and the exclusive automotive partner of the Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games. Chevrolet is providing 1,000 vehicles, sedans, passenger vans, SUVs and trucks to be used by organizers and volunteers leading up to and during the Games (THE DAILY).
