In N.Y., Pat Leonard notes Eli Manning's jersey sales have "spiked in support" of the Giants QB, in between last weekend's benching against the Raiders and Sunday's home start against the Cowboys. Manning's jersey "suddenly ranks No. 29 in the entire NFL" on the Dick's Sporting Goods Jersey Report, which is "up 21 spots from Manning's ranking at No. 50 one week ago" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 12/6).
YOU HAD ONE JOB: In Tampa, Joey Knight notes the Birmingham Bowl "sparked a mild cyberspace outcry" yesterday when its official online merchandise store "featured a green T-shirt with the bowl logo and an image of a gold" USF helmet above the words "South Florida University." USF plays Texas Tech in the game, and the Birmingham Bowl issued a response saying, "This is being resolved now. We have contacted the president of our merchandise partner and he has been made aware of the issue and is 'handling it immediately'" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 12/6).
FEELING CORNERED: In N.Y., Stephen Rex Brown notes a Miami-based boxing promoter is taking rapper Jay-Z’s Roc Nation Sports to court -- to "ensure his brand be featured at an upcoming fight" at MSG. Caribe Promotions VP Luis Fonseca said that he has been "frozen out of the highly-anticipated fight" between Vasyl Lomachenko and Guillermo Rigondeaux on Saturday. Fonseca in a suit filed yesterday in N.Y. said that it will "suffer 'disastrous' financial consequences if it's brand name is not featured prominently in the fight." Fonseca claims that Roc Nation Sports is in "violation of an agreement the two companies signed" in November '15 to co-promote Rigondeaux (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 12/6).
