The face of the Lakers is now … Lamar Odom?
The 30 year-old forward has been in three national TV commercials the last two months, including one on Super Bowl Sunday and another that’s running often during the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.
Kobe Bryant still has mass appeal, but Odom is getting plenty of attention these days.
He has made random TV appearances in the past, popping up on “Entourage” and the former sports-agent series “Arli$$,” through his new-found commercial appeal can be traced to his wife of six months, reality TV star Khloe Kardashian.
“I don’t think you can underestimate the impact that those nuptials have had on his marketing value,” said Paul Swamgard of the Warsaw Sports Marketing Center at the University of Oregon. “The typical challenge is you’re only going to get coverage from the beat writers who cover the Lakers, but he has found a way to get some crossover marketability.”
Odom understands why. “We got married and 3 million people watched, you know what I’m saying?” he said. “That’s just part of it. I would have never thought I’d be married … and married to somebody that’s on reality TV.” Copyright © 2010 Los Angeles Times
For more on the Kardashians, see my Blog: EXTRA! EXTRA! The Kardashian Spell: Connections (#8) Published 03/17/10.
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