In Montreal, Rene Bruemmer reports Bauer Hockey “filed a statement of claim in federal court against Sher-Wood Hockey Inc. on Monday, ordering them to desist from marketing and producing a new line of high-end hockey sticks and to destroy or hand over any products already created.” At issue “is the name: Sher-Wood’s new sticks, first released in August, are dubbed Nexon.” Bauer contends that the name is “too similar to the name it has chosen for a full family of products it is launching in June 2012, called Nexus.” Bauer is “seeking a permanent injunction restraining Sher-Wood from manufacturing, selling or advertising the sticks or any other hockey products with the Nexon trademark.” It also calls for Sher-Wood “to hand over or destroy any sticks, products or logos that could be confused with the Nexus trademark.” Bauer also “might press for damages” (MONTREAL GAZETTE, 11/16).
BALANCING ACT: Octagon's Olympic & Action Sports Division signed U.S. Gymnast Aly Raisman, a bronze medalist in the floor competition at the '11 World Championships. The agency already has helped Raisman find an endorsement opportunity, as she has signed a deal with Polo Ralph Lauren ahead of the '12 London Games. The 17-year-old Massachusetts native has been on the national team since '09. She is Octagon's second gymnastic client; the agency also represents men's gymnast Jonathan Horton (Tripp Mickle, SportsBusiness Journal).
BY THE NUMBERS: In Detroit, Susan Tompor noted the NFL’s Financial Football campaign kicked off in Michigan classrooms yesterday with “an assist” from Lions DT Ndamukong Suh. The Michigan Jumpstart Coalition, a group that “promotes personal financial literacy in schools, and Visa launched a statewide effort to put the NFL-themed financial-literacy video game and class curriculum in every public middle school and high school in Michigan.” A small group of students at Detroit Renaissance High School “played the Financial Football game on the big screen with Suh and Michigan state treasurer Andy Dillon” (FREEP.com, 11/15).
ONE-TWO PUNCH: YAHOO SPORTS’ Maggie Hendricks noted UFC fighter Anderson Silva has displayed “his dance skills on stage with Justin Bieber, and his acting skills in an ad for Burger King.” Silva now is “filling in as a wife putting pressure on her husband in a Brazilian Ford TV spot.” Silva with his spate of ads is “becoming the Peyton Manning of Brazil” (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 11/15).
