Marketplace Roundup

In St. Paul, Ray Richardson notes the T’Wolves' “surprising” 5-3 start to the season has “led to a significant jump in merchandise sales for the team.” Fanatics.com sales showed that the T’Wolves “experienced a 96.9 percent increase in merchandise sales for the week of Nov. 5-11.” The increase over the one-week period is “third-highest in the NBA” behind the Nets and Clippers (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 11/15). Meanwhile, Fanatics reported leading up to the “start of the season, Bulls merchandise sales nationwide were up 70 percent … ranking fourth” behind the Heat, Lakers and Celtics. Fanatics reported the “top 5 merchandise-selling NBA players in October" were Heat F LeBron James, Lakers G Kobe Bryant, Bulls G Derrick Rose, Lakers C Dwight Howard and Celtics G Rajon Rondo (CHICAGOTRIBUNE.com, 11/14).

COMEDIC TIMING: In Milwaukee, Bob Wolfley noted a Packers fan asked QB Aaron Rodgers on his radio show “if he would ever consider doing a TV commercial like the DirecTV spots” done by Giants QB Eli Manning and Broncos QB Peyton Manning, or the Pepsi ad in which Saints QB Drew Brees “sings and dances.” Rodgers said, "I think I have a dry sense of humor, and I understand that in order to be funny you have to be able to laugh at yourself. That’s why I have always appreciated the State Farm ads.” He added, "I think Peyton Manning set the standard for commercials. I think he consistently is -- he’s got another one out where he’s in the car (for Buick). He’s very, very good at what he does. I think we are all just trying to stay in the same ball park as him" (JSONLINE.com, 11/14).

LIGHTS, CAMERA...: ESPN.com’s Zach McCann noted Cavaliers G Kyrie Irving “stars in a new Foot Locker commercial that spoofs the cinematic, slow-motion dunks seen on so many NBA films and advertisements.” Irving said of the spot, “That took about 9 hours of shooting, so I had to do like three different angles and everything over again. I enjoyed doing it, but you really get to appreciate what it takes to do film work” (ESPN.com, 11/14).

WHAT TIME DO YOU HAVE? Watchmaker Breitling named MLS Galaxy MF David Beckham the face of its Transocean Chronograph Unitime watch. As part of the partnership, the brand will release a new ad campaign featuring Beckham (Breitling).