adidas N.A. has entered into "individual sponsorship
and marketing deals" with the 49ers, Redskins and Patriots,
the three teams that the company will outfit next year in
addition to the Bucs, which was the company's "lone NFL
team" in '98, according to Andy Bernstein of the
SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL. The deals will include "local
themed advertising that could be rolled out nationally at
any time." adidas Dir of Sports Marketing Robert Erb said
the company is spending "considerably more" than the
$200,000 the league requires a licensee to spend with each
club. He added that "about a dozen players on each team
will be under contract" with adidas, but the company "won't
likely go after the top stars, instead signing 'up-and-
coming' players" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 2/15 issue).
PAINT IT BLACK: Josh Gotthelf reports that Raptors
rookie G Vince Carter "has created his own logo and applied
for a trademark." Carter's agent Tank Black said that the
"idea ... is for Carter to control his marketing rights from
the start of his career." Carter has a marketing deal with
Puma, and Black stated that Puma may use the logo on some of
its shoes and apparel (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 2/15 issue).
