In N.Y., Lisa Fickenscher reports U.S. hammer thrower Amanda Bingson, since appearing in ESPN The Magazine's body issue, has "been getting a slew of offers from fashion companies asking her to shill for their plus-size brands." Bingson on Monday was flown to N.Y. by plus-size chain Lane Bryant to "participate in the retailer’s new campaign, #PlusIsEqual." Slink Jeans also "featured Bingson in a provocative photo shoot on Malibu Beach." Bingson said that she "is thrilled by all of the attention on large women." She said, "It sucks shopping for bigger clothes, and when I was younger it was even worse." Fickenscher notes Nike sponsors Bingson for performance wear, but she is "fielding offers from other fashion companies" (N.Y. POST, 9/17).
IT'S GOTTA BE THE SHOES: adidas has told Rockets G James Harden to stop wearing Nike shoes after he was seen earlier this week wearing Air Jordans, and ESPN's Tony Kornheiser said, "If I'm adidas, I'm crazy mad at this. I paid this guy $200 million and he's not wearing my shoe. You know what I would try to do, I’d try to go reverse-Deandre Jordan. I’d try to void this deal myself. ... They're paying this guy $200 million, he’s wearing somebody else’s shoe. What are they doing? What is he doing?” (“PTI,” ESPN, 9/16). The Washington Post’s Kevin Blackistone said adidas is “correct to call him out." Blackistone: "Did you say $200 million for wearing their kicks and he's still wearing the competition’s kicks? Are you kidding me? I would either tear up that contract or surgically put adidas on his feet. espnW's Kate Fagan: "We're supposed to believe that James Harden just embodies adidas. When you're seen wearing Jordans, that myth is destroyed for the public and that's not what branding is about" ("Around The Horn," ESPN, 9/16).
HIGH WATTAGE: ESPN.com's Darren Rovell reported Texans DE J.J. Watt struck a deal with Dallas-based clothier Mizzen+Main that will see him "receive an undisclosed equity share of the business." Mizzen+Main CEO Kevin Lavelle: "We were looking for someone to help accelerate the growth of our brand." Rovell notes Watt's other endorsement deals include Reebok, American Family Insurance, Verizon, Gatorade, Reliant and HEB (ESPN.com, 9/16).
NOTES: F1 driver Jenson Button appears in a 90-second spot for Johnnie Walker, which includes “celebrities and other personalities that the brand says exhibit a joyful outlook on life.” Johnnie Walker is overhauling its 16-year-old “Keep Walking” campaign, and the brand is “calling on a diverse cast of characters” (ADAGE.com, 9/16)....Beastmode, the brand launched by Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch, has entered into a partnership with underwear company PSD to develop a collection of co-branded products initially designed for men. The co-branded line will launch in time for the holiday season (Beastmode).
