Raptors F Vince Carter's next shoe deal -- "whether it
be with And 1 or Nike, the two only real competitors for his
sublime services -- must provide him with indemnification
against any penalties that may result" from his legal action
against Puma, according to sources of Peter Vecsey of the
N.Y. POST. While Carter "figures the exposure he'll give"
his next shoe company is worth $5M per year, Vecsey notes
that Puma was paying him $1M per year and adds that a "more
realistic number" for a new deal is $3M (N.Y. POST, 3/31).
Carter's mother, Michelle Carter-Robinson, said that other
than a shoe deal, her son "isn't seeking endorsements."
Carter-Robinson: "Everybody has their requests in [for deals
with Carter]. I have the right to say yes or no. I'm not
afraid to say no. Money isn't everything. When money
becomes everything you get in trouble" (Col. STATE, 3/31).
STATUS WOE? The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Collin Levey
writes that the "post-[Michael] Jordan era of NBA marketing
has been a failure because it is a transparent attempt to
engineer a new superstar. ... Manufactured hype doesn't fool
season-ticket holders, weekend die-hards or, most of all,
the kids, who know when they are being patronized by
adults." The "difference" between Jordan and NBA stars like
Shaquille O'Neal and Carter is that Jordan "lent dignity to
the brands and projects he endorsed. With his successors,
it's the opposite. The extracurricular glitterati ambitions
of today's players grate on even the most branded fan
because they make the game seem like a sideshow. That's
something Jordan never did" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 3/31).
