In DC, Cindy Boren notes Patriots QB Tom Brady warmed up before yesteday’s game against the Bills with a "discreet set" of Beats By Dre earbuds. Panthers QB Cam Newton "wore a bigger version" just as he always does in warmups. But the players "may escape fines because they haven’t worn Beats during press conferences and post-game TV interviews." The NFL "hasn’t yet extended the fines to pregame warmups, but players are on camera almost as much then as postgame" (WASHINGTON POST, 10/13). PRO FOOTBALL TALK's Mike Florio noted Seahawks CB Richard Sherman also wore Beats (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 10/12). ESPN's Israel Gutierrez said, "Beats is probably not going to get better advertising than they’re getting right now after being banned" by the NFL ("Around The Horn," ESPN, 10/10).
WATER PRESSURE: In Charlotte, Rick Bonnell noted NASCAR driver Kurt Busch as "part of a sponsor tie-in" with Tennessee-based State Water Heaters "agreed to be the dunk-ee in a dunk-tank outside the infield media center" on Saturday at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Various motorsports writers and broadcasters were each "given three throws at a target to send Busch splashing down" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 10/12).
MAJORITY RULES: In London, James Ducker reported EPL club Manchester United "wanted to explore the possibility of introducing sponsorship on the back of replica shirts, but the idea was rejected" by other EPL clubs (LONDON TIMES, 10/11).
