In London, Simon Briggs noted tennis player Andy Murray's "long-awaited announcement of a new kit sponsor is clearly moving closer after he was pictured during his training block in Miami in an Under Armour T-shirt." UA is "keen to expand into the British market and now it seems that the confirmation of a deal next week is little more than a formality." The evidence "comes from a photograph posted on Twitter in which Murray is posing with a smiling fan." However, Murray also was "wearing shorts and shoes made by his old sponsors Adidas, who have decided not to extend their five-year deal" (London TELEGRAPH, 12/13).
THE GREAT OUTDOORS: USA TODAY's Mike Brehm reported the Sharks' jerseys for the Feb. 21 Stadium Series game against the Kings "will be a two-toned mix" teal and black. The jersey is "a clean look" and the Northern California shoulder patch "is a nice touch." Larger than usual lettering and numbers also "took into account" that the game will be played at Levi’s Stadium (USATODAY.com, 12/12). YAHOO SPORTS' Sean Leahy noted the NHL and Reebok "have gone away from using chrome, something that was the focus of last year's Stadium Series jerseys." Leahy: "But where's the individuality in these designs?" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 12/12).
DUCKS IN A ROW: USA TODAY's George Schroeder notes there was "no campaign at all" from the Univ. of Oregon to push QB Marcus Mariota for the Heisman Trophy. The school "might have spent a total of $2.50 promoting Mariota" after it put a billboard of QB Joey Harrington in Times Square in '01. UO is now one of college football's "most recognizable brands" and "no longer need to buy billboards, or to pay to put replays of their games on the YES Network." When Mariota "thanked Nike founder Phil Knight and his wife Penny on Saturday night, it was genuine, but it was also an indication of just how important the super-booster has been to the Ducks' ascent." Schroeder: "If promotion is unnecessary -- these days, the Oregon product sells itself -- it's in part because those earlier campaigns were effective" (USA TODAY, 12/15).
