Some other good reads…the New York Times’ Ken Belson has a good look into the planning and reasoning behind the NFL’s retro styles…the Washington Post’s Tom Boswell has a great macro look at the whole Tiger Woods mess… and the LA Times’ Bill Dwyre has a look at all the reasons the Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao fight will be good for boxing.

In each case, there is a brand that has challenges either with spending or exposure looking to cut through the clutter to generate buzz and build awareness. Each one had someone or a team watching the events of the day or the week and looking for an opportunity to quickly act and exploit. None had long lead planning or intricate media or promotional plans. What each had was the ability to take a random event and find a very unique way to cut right through the clutter and get brand exposure. It takes great timing, strong media skills and the ability to move quickly on a project, all of which rarely happen at the same time but seem to be happening more and more as traditional opportunities for exposure become more difficult for execution. Now do all “stunts” or ambush ideas work? Nope. The best plan is always the one that is carefully planned and well executed. However for a quick hit and some great buzz generation, it is refreshing to see the creative, cost efficient pops coming more often these days. Hopefully will push all to generate new ROI and creative thought.

Some other good reads…John Feinstein’s column on Navy football is another good read on the amazing program…Noam Cohen had a good profile of what has made Bill Simmons a success in Monday’s New York Times …and the Orlando Sentinel had a good piece on the building of Dwight Howard’s social media strategy by its architect, Nate “Basketball” Jones.

However, as with most things global, the NBA still does it best. Granted the business of basketball, as positioned by the league for over 20 years, is truly global these days. Other than soccer and baseball, which ironically may have the best stories that are least told, there is no sport that has more elite, marketable international stars than hoops. The buzz and global appeal of the NBA, whether it is following players or just “the spectacle” is well positioned, well messaged and well delivered from products to video, and the live game experience again takes the fan of the sport and transforms him or her into a fame of the NBA.

So can others follow the NBA’s lead? Good question. Soccer’s appeal is global, and the “friendlies” played in the States featuring global powers…clubs as well as national teams…are always well attended, well supported and well covered. The World Baseball Classic this year again showed the baseball’s country by country approach can pull in fans, draw media attention and give great added value to current and new brand partners. Even with the specter of challenge the KHL presents to the NHL in Europe, the top players remain tied to the NHL, and with that level of play comes the ability to grow those stars maybe not globally but in places where the game is played on the grassroots level. Even with all those steps, the business of sport, and the brand of the NBA, is on par with no other on a global basis. The ability to generate an effective in game experience is as strong in Beijing and Barcelona as it is in Oklahoma City and Chicago. On top of that, the ability to effectively create unique, multiplatform year round sponsor activation programs on a country by country basis is a business execution that the NBA has mastered and is without parallel.

Why are they so far ahead? History is one reason…they really were the trailblazers in global licensing and media, and other brands are catching up. Another, and most important, is the conscious effort made by the NBA to make global branding and licensing a priority from step one. The business in North America is the core, but the attention to detail, and the growth and cultivation of fans and partners around the world is a close second to what goes on in home markets. Growing pains around the world for the business of basketball? Of course, but rarely at the expense of massive progress.

So the question remains, can the NBA global business be replicated in other sports? Soccer has many of the tools…huge presence outside the States, a solid and growing business here in MLS, great grassroots support and a four year platform, the World Cup, which makes the sport transcendent of every boundary. Baseball too has the ability to do so…a growing interest in emerging countries, a billion dollar marketing outlay, telegenic stars from over 30 countries, and a growing platform in the World Baseball Classic. Hockey has it obvious challenges globally, but the ability to make it a stronger European brand also exists. Ironically the NFL probably has the most to spend and least to gain from a global push, but can still use its annual overseas events as added and extended value for TV partners, core fans and brand partners. However for any to get near where the NBA is on a global basis would be a stretch. Yes, boundaries have narrowed, technology has given us the ability to communicate more effectively and there is a push to find brands looking to activate on a global level instead of just on a regional or continental one.

However to just assume a visionary global position in this economy now has bigger challenges than ever before, and with the issues with sponsor and the disposable income of the fan in the home market now in flux, the risk might now outweigh the reward, giving the NBA the chance to work of a position of strength and expand their lead globally like never before.

Some other good reads…another great positioning piece for the NBA was in Tuesday’s New York Times…documenting the number of players going back to college and the experiences they have had… the LA Times had a good piece on boxer Manny Pacquiao’s efforts to help typhoon victims…and Yahoo’s Kevin Rogers has a look at the Mountain West Conference’s efforts to build off their recent success on field.