In Dallas, Brandon Wheeland notes adidas yesterday unveiled its NCAA tournament gear "for nine universities dubbed the Made in March uniform collection." Texas A&M is again participating, but while last year's uniforms "featured a black and maroon look, this year's version heads back to its roots with Maroon and White." Other schools featured this year "include Miami, Kansas, Nebraska, UCLA, Mississippi State, Arizona State, NC State and Indiana" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 3/2). In Phoenix, Jeremy Cluff notes Arizona State's uniform will "feature a version of the Arizona state flag on the top of the shorts," but mascot Sparky's head "appears where the star is normally located" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 3/2).
SEARCH PARTY: In Orlando, George Diaz notes NASCAR driver John Hunter Nemechek on Saturday won the Camping World Truck Series race in Atlanta "despite not having a sponsor." Nemechek and his father, veteran driver Joe Nemechek, are "out there scratching for dollars." They have "received some money from D.A.B. Constructors and a sausage company in Las Vegas." The two "won't be able to run an entire season without more funding." The younger Nemechek is "surfing the Internet, writing letters, sending emails, even hiring an agent who is a headhunter trying to link him with sponsorships" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 3/2).
REBUILDING A CITY: Blake and Brent Sonnek-Schmelz, who in December bought the IP rights for sporting goods retailer City Sports, said that the revived brand will "cater to the adult athletic community and become a place for training and bonding." In Philadelphia, Suzette Parmley noted the brothers "plan to open new stores, one at a time, over the next year" in Philadelphia, N.Y., Boston and DC. Brent Sonnek-Schmelz said, "Philly is one of our key targets" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 2/29).
