The NBA Kings yesterday announced a "sponsorship agreement" with DraftKings. In Sacramento, Ben van der Meer reports the daily fantasy sports site will "sponsor the team's blog, game previews, replays and graphics on telecasts, and signage at games and on the team's website" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 2/3). Meanwhile, CSNBAYAREA.com's Bill Herenda notes Kings C DeMarcus Cousins last week "tweeted a picture dressed as an old man, which led to believe he could possibly be in" Cavaliers G Kyrie Irving's latest "Uncle Drew" Pepsi commercial. However, it was "not an ad with Uncle Drew," but rather one for "a local Chevrolet dealer." Herenda: "Pretty good acting chops for the first time NBA all star" (CSNBAYAREA.com, 1/30).
WISH LIST: In California, Louis Brewster reports NHRA driver Tommy Johnson Jr. will be "driving the Don Schumacher Racing Dodge Funny Car sporting Make-A-Wish Foundation decals" this season. Make-A-Wish "does not sponsor the car." Rather, team sponsor Terry Chandler "provides the funds for the car in an effort to promote the foundation and raise awareness" (INLAND VALLEY DAILY BULLETIN, 2/4).
EXPRESS LINE: In Richmond, Randy Hallman reported Estes Express Lines "won’t sponsor Jeb Burton" in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in '15. The Richmond-based trucking company "backed Burton for the second half" of the '14 season. Company President & CEO Rob Estes last week said that he "was interested in continuing as sponsor but, 'we just weren’t able to reach mutually agreeable terms with the team'" (RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH, 2/2).
EYE OF THE BEHOLDER: In Dallas, Michael Florek notes Mavericks F Al-Farouq Aminu has his "own eyewear line" called ROUQ with Geek Eyewear. His "most recent design is the ROUQ 4.0." Aminu said the new eyeglasses have "kind of a hipster look" (DALLASNEWS.com, 2/3)
