Ambush Marketing, ESPN/ABC, MLB, Media Post, Mixed Martial Arts, NBA teams, NFL

When Fantasy Becomes Realty, And Vice Versa…

The fantasy sports space continues to grow expontentially with each passing season.  While industry leaders like Rotohog.com get set to launch NBA games on NBA.com and the NFL fantasy space is great water cooler chatter each week, it is always interesting to see what the players…those who both play AND participate…can do in the space.  The answer at least in the NFL, is the players-only site that the NLPA has created, and is featured on wsj.com.    The piece gives fans an interesting insight into who those who play the game actually think can move the fantasy needle from week to week, and it also could give a look into which players can actually judge talent and marketability amongst their peers.  Now could it create some interesting scenarios on the field for those involved on a serious level?  Maybe.  But at the very least it gives the fantasy participant a good feel as to whether those who play the game and actually judge the game and the talent, or are the fans who study all the goings-on just as good as the pros.  Pretty good read and a great way for the NFLPA to get players engaged and understanding all the intricacies of the space.  

Some other good reads…the Partnership Activation blog has a nice piece on the cult following of the “Love Me Tenders” Cubs promotion going on in Chicago, and the good luck feeling that came about with the t-shirt giveaway attached…Media Post has a good piece on ESPN’s brand activation extensions into Mexico and Europe… espn.com’s Jay Adande has a good look at the burden on the Lakers’ Andrew Bynum as he comes back from injury…and USA Today has a good look into Saturday’s EliteXC MMA battle featuring Kimbo Slice and Ken Shamrock, and the bad blood between the two…