In Milwaukee, Don Walker noted since Brewers RF Nyjer Morgan's series-winning hit against the D'Backs Friday in NLDS Game Five, his agent Larry Goldman has been “busy fielding calls for the team's unpredictable star.” Goldman said, "We've had calls from people wanting to do interviews or people looking for him to do product endorsements. Right now, though, he wants to be focused on baseball." Goldman said that he “was brought aboard Team Morgan a few months ago as Morgan's celebrity began to get national attention through his antics with his alter ego, Tony Plush.” Morgan now has his own website, and Goldman said that Morgan “designed his own T-shirts, which are for sale on the site, with proceeds designated for two charities” (JSONLINE.com, 10/12).
SEE YOU IN COURT: The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER’s Eriq Gardner reported an “avalanche of lawsuits by former collegiate athletes claiming their likenesses were exploited in video games may be beginning to stress IMG Worldwide, one of the top agencies in the world representing athletes and celebrities.” Collegiate Licensing Company, a subsidiary of IMG, on Monday “took five insurers to court with allegations of breaching contractual obligations to provide coverage for the defense of these many lawsuits.” Some of the insurance agreements “provide coverage up to a $25 million limit.” CLC said that the insurers are “refusing to make good on their policies despite the many legal claims from former athletes,” including a class action suit and Basketball HOFer Bill Russell's lawsuit. The company “wants a judgment that orders the insurers to pay these costs” (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 10/12).
WIRELESS FOOTBALL: Motorola Mobility U.K. on Tuesday announced a sponsorship deal with the NFL in the U.K., which includes a rights package around the ‘11 International Series Bears-Buccaneers game on Oct. 23 at Wembley Stadium, as well as the entire NFL season, including the Super Bowl. Motorola Mobility as part of the sponsorship will become the NFL's wireless communications provider in the U.K. and has launched an integrated marketing campaign building on the brand’s history as one of the NFL’s flagship sponsors. Motorola Mobility has launched an NFL-themed microsite at www.motorola.co.uk/NFL, which features an online game giving players the chance to win a VIP trip to Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis in February as well as Motorola Mobility products and NFL merchandise (Motorola).
JUMPING IN THE POOL: YAHOO SPORTS’ Ben Maller noted the "Michael Phelps Push the Limit" video game was released to the public on Tuesday and the game “will allow Phelps to market himself to a new audience.” It also “helps his already large corporate endorsement resume.” He has a “net worth of $40 million” (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 10/12).
