Portfolio.com: Playbook

Super Bowl Ad Rejects: Britney Spears

aivey — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 23:08:26 GMT

Advertiser: Pepsi; Commercial: "Britney Spears"; Year: 2002

Super Bowl Ad Rejects: Mickey Rooney Sauna

aivey — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 23:04:41 GMT

Advertiser: Airborne; Commercial: "Mickey Rooney Sauna"; Year: 2005

Super Bowl Ad Rejects: Got Milk

aivey — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 22:59:39 GMT

Advertiser: PETA; Commercial: "Got Milk"; Year: 2006

Super Bowl Ad Rejects: Wardrobe Malfunction

aivey — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 22:57:06 GMT

Advertiser: Bud Light; Commercial: "Wardrobe Malfunction"; Year: 2004

Super Bowl Ad Rejects: Swear Jar

aivey — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 22:52:23 GMT

Advertiser: Bud Light; Commercial: "Swear Jar"; Year: 2007

Super Bowl Ad Rejects: Skinny Dip

aivey — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 22:49:46 GMT

Advertiser: Bud Light; Commercial: "Skinny Dip"; Year: 2007

Super Bowl Ad Rejects: Bottle Opener

aivey — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 21:37:06 GMT

Advertiser: Bud Light; Commercial: "Bottle Opener"; Year: 2007

Chris Evert and Greg Norman Announce Marriage Plans

akreda — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 21:39:06 GMT

In a match of sports legends, former tennis champion Chris Evert and top golfer Greg Norman announced their engagement during the South African Open golf tournament in the South-Western Cape.

Evert and Norman both have divorced in the last year -- Australian Norman agreeing a reported $100 million settlement with wife of 26 years Laura in September and Evert splitting from Andy Mill, her second husband, last December.

Evert, the winner of 18 Grand Slam singles titles including a record seven French Open crowns, was also previously married to British tennis player John Lloyd. The 52-year-old Norman won the British Open in 1986 and 1993.

Photo of Chris Evert and Greg Norman arrive at Boca Raton Resort & Club on Nov. 3, 2007 by Chris Gordon/Getty Images

Evert, who turns 53 on Dec. 21, confirmed the engagement at a news conference to announce she would be building a tennis center at the Pearl Valley Golf Estates, where the South African Open golf is being held.

Evert was asked whether marriage is in the offing between her and Norman. Sporting a large diamond on her left ring finger, she replied:

"Well, it is an engagement ring. We were engaged on Sunday night coming over here, en route to South Africa. We don't know when and where we'll be married though."

Jordin Sparks of 'American Idol' Fame to Sing Anthem at Super Bowl

akreda — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 18:55:09 GMT

Fox has always been smart about cross-pollination.

Thus, "American Idol" winner Jordin Sparks will sing the national anthem in her hometown minutes the kickoff to Super Bowl XLII on Feb. 3,
Arizona Republic reported.

During meetings in Phoenix this week, National Football League officials said Sparks, who is from nearby Glendale and won Season Six of the Fox reality-TV competition this year, will sing The Star Spangled Banner before the game, according to sources who attended the meetings.

Sparks will join a elite group of vocalists who have sung the anthem at the Super Bowl. They include Diana Ross, Neil Diamond, Whitney Houston and Billy Joel. The international exposure that accompanies such a performance could boost the career of Sparks, who turns 18 on Dec. 22.

/> Photo of Jordin Sparks at the 2007 American Music Awards in Los Angeles by Paul Smith/ Featureflash /Polaris

Last week's announcement that Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers will play the Super Bowl halftime show was largely unexpected, the newspaper said. But speculation had been increasing in past months that Sparks would be part of the game-day entertainment since her hometown is hosting the Super Bowl.

She's also the daughter of former NFL player Phillippi Sparks, and American Idol network Fox will be broadcasting the sporting spectacle to millions upon million of living rooms around the world.

And in a Super Bowl first, "Idol" host Ryan Seacrest will be conducting red-carpet interviews as celebrity guests arrive at University of Phoenix Stadium.

Cross-promotion. Fox does it well.

Callaway, NewPage Won't Renew Nascar Sponsorships

akreda — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 18:20:12 GMT

Two of Nascar's official sponsors, Callaway and NewPage, say they won't renew when their contracts run out at the end of this year, reports the Sports Business Journal.

Callaway owned the title of official golf club of Nascar, while another Callaway brand, Top-Flite, was the official golf ball. The company called the sponsorship primarily a business-to-business play, and Callaway has expressed an interest in continuing to work with Nascar on golf outings for sponsors and other partners.

Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images

NewPage, Nascar's paper of choice used its position to become the paper supplier to other Nascar sponsors. A NewPage official cited only a "change in strategic direction" for not renewing.