If you haven't yet heard about Marc Ecko's 3/4 of a million dollar purchase of Barry Bonds' 756th home run baseball, come out of your cave and read up. The hip-hop fashion guru, and founder of ECKO Unlimited, let America decide on the fate of the ball via a week long online survey. By popular demand, Ecko branded the ball with an asterisk and gifted it to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Everyone seems so enthralled with the fact that he spent over $752k on a prank. But the amount of publicity? Priceless. What an absolute ingenious marketing strategy! Not only has his face (and clothing line) been plastered in newspapers, magazines and television internationally, but he drew thousands to his website - targeting consumers both in and out of his typical demographic. I wonder how many middle-aged men were surprised to find nice button up shirts and polos by ECKO. I also wonder how many Bonds haters purchased a clothing item just in support, and how many of those people will become loyal customers.

And talk about the campaign that keeps on giving. Thousands of people visit the Baseball Hall of Fame every year and will be constantly reminded of ECKO Unlimited. And to top it all off, as a business expense - it's tax deductible! So hats off to Marc Ecko. Coming from both a marketer, and a die-hard Yankee fan.