Under Armour "plans to complete a 2-for-1 stock split later this summer that will create a new class of stock while ensuring" Founder, Chair & CEO KEVIN PLANK "retains control over the company." The change, which "requires the approval of shareholders at an Aug. 26 meeting, comes as Plank signed a noncompete agreement with the company that would bar him from joining a competitor for five years if he left Under Armour, according to documents filed" with the SEC late yesterday (BIZJOURNALS.com, 6/15). BTIG Chief Global Strategist DAN GREENHAUS said of UA's share structure, “My initial reaction is if you want to maintain the owner-focused culture then don’t go public” (“Closing Bell,” CNBC, 6/15).
HONOR ROLL: Tennis HOFer ANDRE AGASSI last night in Orlando at the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) convention "became the 19th recipient of the Dick Enberg Award" for his work "promoting the values of education" (USA TODAY, 6/16)....BROADCASTING & CABLE's fifth annual list of "Women in the Game," which recognizes "sports media all-stars," includes Turner Sports VP/Talent Services TARA AUGUST; TWC Senior VP/Content Acquisition JENNIFER CHUN; NBC Sports Group co-Senior VP/Business & Legal Affairs and NBC Sports RSNs Senior VP/Strategic Partnerships AMY COHEN; ESPN Exec VP/Global Strategy & Original Content MARIE DONOGHUE; MSG Promotions President & CEO MIMI GRIFFIN; NFL Network Senior Coordinating Producer RONIT LARONE; Whistle Sports Dir of League Partnerships ELIZABETH LODGE; Fox Sports Coordinating Producer JENNIFER PRANSKY and Undefined Creative Founder & Creative Dir MARIA RAPETSKAYA (BROADCASTING & CABLE, 6/15 issue)....Former NFLer STEVE GLEASON has won the '15 George Halas Award "more than four years after being diagnosed with ALS" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 6/15).
CHARITY STRIPE: The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund named UFC the official title sponsor of Team Intrepid Fallen Heroes, a group of amateur athletes who will ride their bicycles in the 34th Annual Race Across America from California to Maryland starting June 20 (UFC)....The Pirates on Sunday morning at PNC Park held the seventh annual “Pitch for Hope” Women’s Baseball Clinic, which supports local breast cancer charity, A Glimmer of Hope. There were about 200 women “mainly dressed in black and gold sporting various Pirates paraphernalia.” The clinic “cost $80 per person and included coaching lessons” from the Pirates including manager CLINT HURDLE, brunch and tickets to the game against the Phillies (POST-GAZETTE.com, 6/16).
NAMES: Former NFLer JOE JUREVICIUS is “in the process of launching WashClub Cleveland -- a service that will allow people in Northeast Ohio to do their laundry without ever leaving the house.” Customers click a few buttons on their computer or smartphone, and “soon someone shows up at your door to pick up your laundry.” Within 24 to 48 hours, they “bring it back, clean and/or pressed” (CRAINSCLEVELAND.com, 6/14)....Warriors President & COO RICK WELTS has been named celebrity grand marshal of S.F’s gay pride parade June 28 (AP, 6/16)....Singer ARIANA GRANDE will headline the Budweiser MLB All-Star Concert at 8:00pm ET on July 11 at Paul Brown Stadium. She will perform along with musical guest RIXTON during the event as part of the Pepsi Music Series (MLB)....WWE wrestler SETH ROLLINS last night called out Cavaliers F LEBRON JAMES and Browns QB JOHNNY MANZIEL, with the latter sitting front row at the "Monday Night Raw" event (THE DAILY).
IN MEMORY: JAMES GORMAN, who "managed Nike's first company-owned retail store and sold shoes from the back of a Volkswagen van" before ultimately rising to Divisional VP as part of an 18-year career with the company, died last week at 67. Gorman, a former Univ. of Oregon runner on the track team that included STEVE PREFONTAINE and was coached by BILL BOWERMAN, also had career stops at adidas and Columbia Sportswear. Gorman "was a sub-4 minute miler and was inducted" into the university's Athletic HOF in '11 (Portland OREGONIAN, 6/15).
