Linkselect plugin format option need help with

Linkselect plugin format option need help with

I love jQuery Linkselect Plug-in
linkselect info
linkselect plugin sample files


However I need to change font color on each selection ie:
if NO selection 1st option font color is red.
If anything else is selected then the font color is displayed as green.
I tried the format option but my syntax must be crap.
I did try the sample but it changed the whole page not just single selection.
Help!
here is what I have working:
  1. <html>
    <head>
     <link type="text/css" href="css/jquery.linkselect.css" rel="stylesheet" media="all" />
    <script type="text/javascript" src="js/jquery-1.6.3.js"></script>
    <script type="text/javascript" src="js/jquery.linkselect.js"></script>
     <script type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8">
        $( document ).ready( function() {
        $("select.xxxx").linkselect({yAxis: "top"});
        });
      </script>
    </head>
    <style>
    a:link    {color:red;}
    </style>
    <body>

    <span style="position:absolute;top:0%;left:0%; font-size:100%; width: 60%;">
    <select id="ex1_ls" class="xxxx">
     <option value =''>Help Desk</option>
     <option value ='Customer Service'>Customer Service</option>
     <option value ='Knowledge Manager'>Knowledge Manager</option>
     <option value ='Change Manager'>Change Manager</option>
     <option value ='Service Desk'>Service Desk</option>
     <option value ='Asset Manager'>Asset Manager</option>
    <option value ='Software Manager'>Software Manager</option>
    </select>
    </span>
    </body>
    </html>