Authentic Brands Group has acquired the rights to manage Shaquille O'Neal's name "in both the merchandise and endorsement world," according to Darren Rovell of ESPN.com. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, though sources said that O'Neal will "retain a significant stake of his business future." O'Neal will now "be part of a company that has made its name recently by licensing the names of Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, Muhammad Ali and Michael Jackson." O'Neal has "put an emphasis on selling affordable items with his name on them." His shoes, which often retail for less than $20, "sell more than 2 million pairs a year at Wal-Mart." His suits at Macy's often "sell for less than $300," and his jewelry collection at Zales mostly "ranges from $100 to $500 per piece." Over his 19-year career, which ended in '11, O'Neal has "endorsed more than 70 products, yet companies can't seem to get enough of him." The deal with ABG "does not include a stake in O'Neal's contract with Turner Sports" -- he is a studio analyst for the net's NBA coverage -- nor does it include his "small stake" in the NBA Kings. The deal "was brokered" by Perry Rogers and Colin Smeeton of PR Partners, "who have represented O'Neal" since '01 (ESPN.com, 12/17).
