Even Without The NBA, Lamar Lands Work

Fill in the punchline as you may. Los Angeles Lakers forward (and co-star of Khloé & Lamar) has been named the national spokesperson for Life Insurance Awareness Month, which is in September. Odom will appear in national TV and radio public service announcements beginning in August, which will add Internet presence the next month. Odom was 12 when his mother died at the age of 35 from colon cancer, and the fact that she had insurance enabled him to continue. “When I began my pro career, one of the first things I did was buy life insurance to make sure that my loved ones would always be taken care of,” Odom offers in advertising.” According to the Life Insurance and Market Research Association, 30% of U.S. households have no life insurance.

No Hope For PGA Tour

Bob Hope used to be among the best-known entertainers in the world. Part of his world was golf, which gave birth to the Bob Hope Classic, a tour event that was renamed for him in 1965. Now, the event has officially become the Humana Challenge, a result of a naming-rights deal that gives the health insurance company other marketing and activation rights. Although one local politician observed that “the name Bob Hope doesn’t mean what it used to,” Hope’s presence will be felt at the PGA Tour event in La Quinta, Calif., via a memorabilia section other signage. Hope can also still be seen in those corny “road” films with Bing Crosby.

Money Goes Out The Door When A Lockout Comes Innuendo

Fitch Ratings, a financial institution that tracks the global economy and offers credit ratings for businesses and investors, says that if the NBA lockout endures for any length of time, the league might not recover from the impact of potentially lost income from fans, marketing partners and investors. According to Fitch, “longer-term impacts from work stoppages in professional sports have always been highlighted as a credit risk as they have the potential to alienate the fan base,” pointing to similar events in the NHL and MLB. “[There is also the] potential for declined renewal rates associated with key sponsorships and advertising agreements as well as the national television contacts.” If the lockout were to continue more than a season, which Fitch views as highly unlikely, “heightened concerns related to team valuations, demand for NBA related content and further fan loss are likely to come to fruition.” Bottom line to both the NFL and NBA owners and players’ union: Fans rule, so get your butts in a room and don’t leave until the fans are happy.