An NBA spokesperson said that Nets C Jason Collins' jersey, which debuted last Friday, was the top seller yesterday on NBA.com "for the second straight day." Collins said, "It’s really cool. I really wasn’t thinking along those lines. But it’s really cool that all the people are interested in going out and getting a Brooklyn No. 98 jersey" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/27).
HUNGER PANGS: A new Taco Bell TV spot starring Nuggets G Nate Robinson will begin airing nationally today, concluding its run March 27. The ad promotes the QSR's new XXL Steak Crispy Taco, depicting several ways in which the "pint-sized point guard" has "taken on big things" throughout his life. The ad then shows Robinson eating the taco, which for him is "no big deal," but contrasts that with the average customer: "But you are not Nate Robinson." The ad is similar to one for steak nachos that featured T'Wolves F Kevin Love (THE DAILY).
CRYING OVER SPILLED BEER: In Orlando, Brian Schmitz writes Anheuser-Busch's campaign to make MLB Opening Day a national holiday "might appeal to brewski-guzzling baseball fans as spring-training whets their whistle," but the initiative "sounds like a cheaper, more desperate attempt to reclaim the title of national pastime from the almighty NFL" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 2/27). Baseball HOFer Ozzie Smith has been making the media rounds promoting the initiative, but columnist Kevin Blackistone said, "This isn’t Ozzie Smith's deal. This is Anheuser-Busch, they're the ones that are behind this. They just want another day to let kids out of school and get everybody to the ballpark to drink more brew" ("Around The Horn," ESPN, 2/26).
GETTING THE GREEN FLAG: In Daytona Beach, Dinah Voyles Pulver reports "at least 100 sponsors were represented in some fashion" at Sunday's Daytona 500. NASCAR CMO Steve Phelps said that the turnout was "good news given the 'cautious' approach by companies after the slump that occurred during the recession." Daytona Int'l Speedway President Joie Chitwood III said that "even he was surprised by some of the corporate executives who were introduced at the drivers meeting" (Daytona Beach NEWS-JOURNAL, 2/27).
