http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gameon/post/2012/02/nielsen-jeremy-lins-marketability-tops-kobe-and-lebron/1#.T0mAGYePXe5Jeremy Lin's endorsement potential, says Nielsen research, for now tops the marketability of LeBron James and Kobe Bryant.
Nielsen's N-Score, which is meant to measure name recognition and likeability among consumers and is based on polling a group of 1,100 people meant to resemble the U.S. population, gives Lin a score of 102. Bryant gets a 90 score while James gets 84. About 19% of the U.S. population has heard of Lin, say Nielsen, and of those 30% say they like him.
Lin's name recognition is already comparable to Danica Patrick's: Nielsen's N-Score research found she's also recognized by 30% of the U.S. population.
Spice rack: MIT researchers create system for TNT to show the force of dunks on Saturday's NBA Slam Dunk contest. ... TNT's Rising Stars game Friday draws 2.1% of U.S. households, the event's highest rating since 2004. Said Lin, on TNT during that game's second half: "The last two, three weeks have been tough on my body. This weekend is the perfect opportunity to really rest."