RCN has stepped up its marketing efforts in advance of Verizon‘s entry into the NYC cable television market reports Crain’s.  It has snagged the New York Giants‘ Justin Tuck and New York Jets‘ Brad Smith as company spokespeople and recently sponsored the Manhattan Island Marathon Swim.

The company, with only 100,000 NY customers (25% of their total), might not have the resources to fend off Verizon’s entry, expected this fall.