AOL has brought the competition down to three agencies vying for its offline account. The advancing agencies are incumbent Initiative Worldwide, New York and Los Angeles; Carat, New York; and Starcom MediaVest, Chicago.

The Sports Authority has made Cliff Freeman & Partners its agency of record.

Tickle Inc., the company formerly known as Emode, has selected SendTec as its creative and media agency of record. The agency will be involved in all aspects of Tickle's offline advertising campaign including conception, creation, execution, and response measurement.

StarLink Worldwide has been awarded various media assignments for Gardner Geary Coll advertising, San Francisco. The assignment consists of media planning, research and buying for a number of GGC clients. Combined billings are estimated at $25 million. The agency beat out Carat for the account.

Jamba Juice has named Publicis & Hal Riney to handle its creative and media duties.

WNBA basketball team the Connecticut Sun has selected New Haven-based Mason & Madison, Inc., as its agency of record. The agency will provide creative and media placement for all forms of advertising including TV, radio, outdoor and print. In addition, M&M will be assisting with the development of sales support materials, literature, promotions and venue signage.

Burrito chain Chipotle has named Mother, New York, as its creative agency of record.

Sanna Mattson MacLeod, New York, has been named agency of record for Evergreen Mortgage. The agency will handle branding, advertising, and direct mail, as well as the creation of sales material.

First Marketing and the La Quinta Corporation, Dallas, have extended their partnership through a two-year, multi-million dollar contract where First Marketing will create print, Web and on-property guest communications for the lodging company.