In Oklahoma City, Kersey & Tramel note Oklahoma football coach Bob Stoops in a news conference yesterday was "asked about his recent appearance in an AT&T commercial." Stoops responded, "Hello. Give AT&T a plug right there." He said, "They approached me a few weeks before one of our off weeks and asked me if I would be a part of a commercial." Stoops said that he "went to Putnam City High School to film the spot on a Thursday night so he wouldn't miss any practice time." Stoops said, "I think I was there from 11 at night until 1 to 1:30 in the morning for that 'Hello.' That's how bad I am. It took two-and-a-half hours to say that. I don't know how many takes." He added, "It just sort of came that way. It just felt the recruiting exposure and putting the program in front of people never hurts. As long as it fits your schedule" (OKLAHOMAN, 1/3).
CAR & DRIVER: ESPNW.com's Brant James cited sources as saying that NASCAR driver Danica Patrick will "drive for Turner Motorsports in her 10-race commitment to this year's Nationwide Series schedule." Patrick drove for JR Motorsports "in her first full-time Nationwide season last year." Sources said that Patrick's car "would be sponsored by GoDaddy.com" (ESPNW.com, 1/2)....Turner Motorsports yesterday also announced that its two-year primary sponsorship by Great Clips in the Nationwide Series would not continue into the '13 season (Turner Motorsports).
BALANCING ACT: The GLOBE & MAIL's Rachel Brady reported ATPer Milos Raonic has "landed a lucrative new deal to make him the first athlete endorsing New Balance tennis clothing and shoes." A source said that he would be "wearing a line of custom clothing and shoes from his new sponsor" at the Brisbane Int'l tournament this week. Raonic had "previously worn gear from Lacoste, which he had been endorsing both on the court and in casual-wear photo shoots for the French athletic wear label" (GLOBE & MAIL, 1/2).
TOP OF THE HEAP: AD AGE has been counting down last year's "best moves in brand creativity," and on Tuesday ranked Nike No. 1 in TV and print categories as "one of this year's most innovative advertisers." Nike's "Find Your Greatness" ad took the top spot on TV, while the company's Nike Volt -- the "vivid neon-green-meets-highlighter-yellow color that [was] featured on hundreds of athletes' shoes during the Olympic Games" took print's top spot (ADAGE.com, 1/1).
