Kellogg Rep Takes Rap After Phelps Flap†

Little-Known Brand Tracker Vanno Finds Marketer Took a Hit for Dropping Olympian

Advertising Age, February 25, 2009 — What can more damage your reputation — recalling peanut butter products due to possible salmonella contamination or firing a bong-smoking Michael Phelps? According to a little-known online "social evaluation" community, Kellogg took a much bigger hit for the latter.

Phelps Image as Hero Hurt by Photos†

Wall Street Journal, February 3, 2009 — During the Beijing Olympics, Michael Phelps's sports agent said the gold medalist could earn $100 million in endorsement deals over his lifetime. Now, with Mr. Phelps photographed smoking marijuana, that figure may have to be adjusted, though for the time being most brands say they are standing by the swimming champion. Mr. Phelps was caught up in a torrent of bad publicity Sunday when photos of him appeared in a British tabloid. Although he apologized immediately for the incident, sports-marketing experts expect some fallout.

How Subway Nabbed Michael Phelps†

Olympian Is McDonald's Biggest Fan, so Why Is Swimmer Shilling for the Competition?

Advertising Age, November 24, 2008 — If there was one thing Americans learned about Michael Phelps during his history-making eight-gold-medal run at the Beijing Olympics — other than that he can swim really, really fast — it was that he really, really likes McDonald's