Liberty G Teresa Weatherspoon has signed a three-year
endorsement deal with "startup sneaker/apparel brand
Ballgirl worth around" $1M "before royalties and profit
sharing," according to Terry Lefton of BRANDWEEK, who writes
that the "woman's-only" brand is using Weatherspoon "to
launch its first athletic shoe during the critical back-to-
school season." But Ballgirl is not a WNBA sponsor, so
Weatherspoon will not be able to display the brand on court,
as league restrictions "will prohibit her from wearing the
shoes ... unless the brand name is blacked out." Also,
Weatherspoon "can never appear" in her Liberty uniform
endorsing the brand and "can't appear at all in ads during"
the WNBA season. Ballgirl Chair & co-CEO Matt Whitehead, on
why the company would enter into the deal despite the WNBA
restrictions: "She'll give us credibility with consumers and
at retail." Lefton notes that Weatherspoon, who will help
design shoes and apparel for Ballgirl, "was under contract
to Reebok for three years" (BRANDWEEK, 5/22 issue).
AND HE SCORES 22 POINTS: In Indianapolis, Mike Chappell
writes that Pacers F Austin Croshere, who has worn Nike
shoes throughout his basketball career, wore AND 1 for the
first time in last night's playoff game against the Knicks.
Chappell writes, "Troubled by plantar fasciaitis in his
right foot and a sprained right ankle, he [Croshere] was
willing to take a chance" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 5/24).
FIELD & STREAMLINING: Jazz F Karl Malone and his Malone
Properties have signed multiyear deals with MN-based Field &
Stream Licenses Co. Under the deals, Malone becomes a
spokesperson for the Field & Stream brand, and Malone
Properties gets the right to include the phrase, "Karl
Malone Field & Stream Outdoor Stores," within all Malone
Outfitters locations (Field & Stream Licenses).
PICTURE THIS: Samsung Cameras has inked a three-year
deal with former NFL QB Joe Montana to become the company's
"first-ever" corporate spokesperson (AD AGE, 5/22 issue).