In London, Chris Bascombe notes EPL club Liverpool has “received the full support of their multi-million pound shirt sponsor, Standard Chartered, in the aftermath of the recent race-row controversies which engulfed the club.” Anti-racism organisations claimed that Liverpool’s “reputation and ‘brand’ has been severely damaged in the light of the Luis Suárez affair.” However, Standard Chartered officials are “understood to have maintained daily contact with the Anfield hierarchy following recent events, and held talks with the club after the Oldham defender Tom Adeyemi was abused by a supporter last Friday.” The bank said that it is “happy with how the Anfield board has responded and there is no suggestion their relationship has been compromised” (London TELEGRAPH, 1/11).
TEAM WORK: AD AGE’s Natalie Zmuda reported Dick's Sporting Goods “has selected Anomaly as its new agency.” It is the “first retained-agency relationship for Dick's and a marked shift from its strategy of relying on an in-house creative team and various production companies.” Dick’s Sporting Goods VP & CMO Lauren Hobart “would not disclose exact plans for the sporting-goods retailer, she said Anomaly is working on a brand campaign to launch this spring” (ADAGE.com, 1/10).
NO BEER FOR YOU: The AP reported LSU’s governing body said that plans to license an LSU beer would "violate its contract with the Collegiate Licensing Company.” LSU Chancellor Michael Martin said the school's "Bandit Blonde Ale is on hold at least until later in the spring because of the legal disagreement with the LSU System that oversees all LSU institutions.” The “second contract appendix states that beverages can be licensed, but the first says university logos cannot include any references to alcohol, drugs or tobacco products” (AP, 1/10).
NAMES & FACES: Rays P David Price, Tigers P Justin Verlander, Reds RF Jay Bruce, Angels P C.J. Wilson and swimsuit model Kate Upton yesterday were in L.A. "filming a TV commercial for the MLB2K12 video game” (TAMPABAY.com, 1/10)....IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe, who will drive the Go Daddy car for Andretti Autosport this year, is “among the sport’s most media savvy drivers, developing a loyal fan base through social media.” Connecting with Go Daddy with “edgy promotions, seems a natural fit” (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 1/11).
