Marketplace Roundup
ESPN’s Fran Fraschilla reported Reebok has created a shoe for Knicks first-round draft pick F Danilo Gallinari called "The Rooster," after his nickname. Fraschilla: "He’s in a great town to sell a lot of shoes. ... In time, he could become like a (Yankees SS) Derek Jeter or a (former Giants RB) Tiki Barber in this town" ("2008 NBA Draft," ESPN, 6/26).
OFF THE WALL: In Chicago, Hughlett & Benderoff wrote under the header, "'Ball Girl' Scores Buzz For Gatorade." Gatorade spokesperson Jill Kinney said that the drink has "done viral marketing before, but it's never taken off like ball girl." Kinney added that the video has had 1 1/2-2 million views on YouTube, and Wednesday it was the "most shared video on Break.com." "Ball Girl" was posted on YouTube by a filmmaker affiliated with Element 79 Partners, Chicago, which created the ad (CHICAGOTRIBUNE.com, 6/26).
POOL PARTY: In a sports section cover story, USA TODAY's Vicki Michaelis profiles the new Speedo LZR Racer swimsuit. Nike is allowing swimmers it has endorsement deals with to wear other manufacturer's suits at the Olympics Trials, which begins Sunday in Omaha, despite the company creating the new Nike Swift AMP'd suit. Also, in several countries where the swimming federations have apparel contracts with companies other than Speedo, "elite swimmers have been clamoring for the right to wear the LZR at the Olympics" (USA TODAY, 6/27).
NOTES: TNT has named its sponsors for this year's Wide Open Coverage, which will air during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coke Zero 400 from Daytona Int'l Speedway on July 5. The sponsors include Coke Zero, Coors Light, HP, Papa John's, Sprint, Subway, Toyota, US Army, Viagra and Warner Bros. (TNT)....In Minneapolis, James Lileks writes the Victoria's Secret PINK Collegiate Collection, which the Univ. of Minnesota Wednesday ended a licensing deal with, is "tame by any standards." Lileks: "There's a tote bag. ... There's also a hoodie, a sweatshirt and sweatpants. ... There's nothing naughty here. Except the name" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 6/27)....T-Mobile used the Spain-Russia Euro 2008 semifinal on Thursday to launch a US$34M campaign "with a pledge to guarantee a better deal on minutes than any other company" (Manchester GUARDIAN, 6/26).
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