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Current DateTime: 11:48:33 06 Jul 2009
LinksList Documentid: 30212900

SPORTS BIZ VIDEO GALLERY

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Current DateTime: 11:48:33 06 Jul 2009
LinksList Documentid: 30231077
    • TV Pitchman Billy Mays Dead at 50  29 Jun 2009

        TV pitchman Billy Mays was found dead in his Florida home on Sunday. CNBC's Darren Rovell has the details.

    • Nike: Not Doing It  25 Jun 2009

        The athletic company faces an uphill battle after its earnings fall 30%, reports CNBC's Darren Rovell.

    • Likely #1 Draft Pick  25 Jun 2009

        Blake Griffin, the likely number one pick in Thursday's NBA draft, talks to CNBC's Darren Rovell.

    • Kyle Busch  24 Jun 2009

        One of the key selling points of a NASCAR sponsorship is driver access. Kyle Busch spent the day at sponsor M&M, getting a tour of the plant and signing autographs for employees, with CNBC's Darren Rovell.

    • Tony Stewart  24 Jun 2009

        Tony Stewart is a winner both on and off the track. The two-time Sprint Cup Champion also runs a dozen other businesses, including racetracks and a public relations firm, with CNBC's Darren Rovell.

    • Brian France  24 Jun 2009

        The France family has run NASCAR since its inception. Brian France is the third generation of the family to oversee the sport, with CNBC's Darren Rovell.

Sports Biz Blog
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Sep.02
5:51 PM ET
Tuesday, 2 Sep 2008
Olympian Marketing Plan: Date an A-Lister

Last week, when I was doing the morning show circuit with Michael Phelps, he was asked on camera if he was dating anyone. Phelps predictably said that was his personal business.

I'm a big fan of Michael's and if I were managing his brand, I will tell him this: Go star hopping on the dating circuit and do your best to make sure everyone knows about it.

I've already talked plenty about the tight marketing window Olympians have to cash in -- some think that even a guy like Phelps is a couple of great football games away from being forgotten about, until right before the 2012 games.

What's the best thing to do to become a permanent item in the papers and in the magazines? You know it: date the right stars.

Rumors were floating around that Phelps has been aggressively approached by Lindsay Lohan, who is supposedly begging Phelps to take her out on a date. Phelps reportedly rebuffed the offer, which I'm not sure is even true.

If it is, I think it's a good move by Michael to turn it down in this case. Associating with the wrong people (like Lohan) could hurt your image, but if a big A-Lister who doesn't allegedly get drunk or in an accident every minute, comes after you, go for it.

It means "Access Hollywood" and People magazine won't forget about you -- and that should be important to you and your sponsors.

Need a mentor? Look at Lance Armstrong. Sheryl Crow. Tory Burch. Mary Kate Olsen. Kate Hudson.

Dating and relationships might seem like personal business, but the bottom line for Phelps is that everything is now out in the open. That's why he might as well take advantage of it.

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