The GUARDIAN’s Matt Scott cites a source as saying that “in the weeks before” FIFA’s presidential election Visa "formally reconfirmed its commitment to FIFA, which runs until after the 2014 World Cup.” There are “strong hints that the financial-services company is in the midst of negotiations to extend and even to raise the level of its $200M sponsorship beyond 2014” (GUARDIAN, 6/7).
IN THE KNICK OF TIME: On Long Island, Barbara Barker notes Carmelo Anthony is “working on making the most of his first offseason as a Knick, expanding his brand beyond the basketball court.” Anthony: “I never wanted to be categorized as an athlete or an NBA player. I want to reach out and touch a lot of people.” He “readily admits that the opportunity to expand his brand by living in a big market like New York was a major reason he pushed" for the Nuggets to trade him during the season. Anthony recently shot a campaign for Ultra Sheen Men and is “getting ready to launch a new Nike sneaker Friday" (NEWSDAY, 6/7).
NEW THREADS: Newly promoted EPL club Swansea City has “signed a new Premier League kit deal” with adidas. The team’s new home uniform “will be launched on June 18 in the Liberty Stadium club shop and online.” A new away uniform will also “be unveiled within the coming weeks.” Both uniforms and training wear “will feature adidas ClimaCool and ClimaLite technologies.” To mark the new deal, the Liberty Stadium club shop “will undergo a complete store makeover” (WALESONLINE.co.uk, 6/3).
PANTS ON FIRE? In Memphis, Bryan Brasher writes golfer John Daly’s wardrobe “will stand out even more than usual” at this week’s PGA Tour FedEx St. Jude Classic. A couple of “aspiring fashion designers who also happen to be patients at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital” were told by Daly to decorate a pair of his Lions Blue pants “any way they pleased.” Fans who attend this week’s tournament “will be able to bid on Daly's specially designed pants at the St. Jude Kiosk” (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 6/7).
ON THE CATWALK: In Boston, Thomas Grillo reports model Heidi Klum is “stepping into New Balance sneakers.” Klum yesterday “expanded her wardrobe" with New Balance, "adding a footwear collection with a pair of shoes out now and more on the way this fall.” The new sneakers “have a retro look, or ‘heritage silhouettes,’ with the 410 model priced at $90 and the 320 model $80” (BOSTON HERALD, 6/7).
