ADWEEK's David Gianatasio noted Columbia Sportswear Chair Gert Boyle this week "returns to the company's commercials after a decade" as part of a fall campaign from agency North. The "lighthearted multimedia push, which kicks off this week, uses the line 'Tested Tough' to stress the resilience and durability of Columbia's products." Gore-Tex parkas were touted from '84-'05 in "wacky TV ads starring 'tough mother' Boyle and son Tim." This time, Boyle "appears with a mix of actors and company employees in humorous scenarios that bring the 'tested tough' mantra to life" (ADWEEK.com, 10/4).
CHIEF CONCERN: In Champaign, Julie Wurth reports the Univ. of Illinois' Chief Illiniwek merchandise "is back -- online at least -- as it has been almost every year" since the former school symbol "was officially 'retired'" in '07. But social media promoting its availability "has stirred critics who wonder why the UI is still allowing the sale." UI emeritus professor Stephen Kaufman said the school BOT policy "clearly prohibits the manufacture and sale of merchandise bearing the Chief Illiniwek logo and/or 'CHIEF'" and directs the chancellor to enforce the policy (Champaign NEWS-GAZETTE, 10/2).
STUNTING GROWTH: TENNIS.com's Matt Cronin reported the adidas player development program "will shut down at the end of the year," when the company "will no longer employ coaches Darren Cahill and Mats Merkel as well as physical trainer Gil Reyes to work with its players on tour and at the Las Vegas training facility." Cahill said that he "is working with Adidas until December 31, but says he does not know what his coaching arrangement will be like next season." adidas "heavily promotes players and coaches in its program, but disallowed coaches to work with players or sit in court-side boxes if they were playing another Adidas player" (TENNIS.com, 10/3).
