In Chicago, Danny Ecker reported one local Dick's Sporting Goods location has sold "more than 4,500 yellow Jackie Robinson West 'Great Lakes Champions' T-shirts" since Aug. 10 in support of the LLWS U.S. Champions. All of the proceeds "will go directly to the JRW program," and at $20 a shirt, "that likely will total tens of thousands of dollars." The store "started with 300 shirts after the team qualified for the World Series," and those "sold out in a matter of days." The next shipment of 500 shirts "were gone in a couple of hours, followed by another order of 250 shirts that flew off the shelves." Dick's has a "shipment of 7,000 Jackie Robinson West All Stars 'National Champions' shirts on its way," available today, that "offer the same proceeds to the team" (CHICAGOBUSINESS.com, 8/25).
IT'S IN THE GAME: In Utah, Ryan Miller notes Trail Blazers G Damian Lillard will "be gracing the cover" of EA Sports' "NBA Live 15." Lillard yesterday announced the news on Twitter, and "shared the news with a video he posted on Instagram." The appearance on the videogame's cover "further shows Lillard's climb from a little-known Weber State product to starring in the NBA" (DESERET NEWS, 8/26).
ROW, JIMMY, ROW: In New Orleans, Evan Woodbery noted Saints TE Jimmy Graham is "now a pitchman for Degree men's deodorant." Graham yesterday "tweeted out a link to a 30-second commercial" on YouTube. He also is "featured prominently in visual advertising on Degree Men social media profiles." Graham is "part of the brand's 'DO:MORE' campaign" (NOLA.com, 8/25).
ROOKIES UNITE: PR WEEK's Lindsey Stein reported FedEx "kicked off a social media campaign during the first week of preseason games." The FedEx Air & Ground Trivia Sweepstakes, "launched on Twitter," includes three rookies -- Browns QB Johnny Manziel, Vikings QB Teddy Bridgewater and Jets QB Tajh Boyd -- asking fans "trivia questions about the FedEx NFL Air & Ground awards." FedEx Senior VP/Integrated Marketing & Communications Patrick Fitzgerald said the initiative is "much more interactive" this year than in the past (PRWEEK.com, 8/22).
