The Rockies on Thursday told a U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware that they have "held up their end of a sponsorship deal" with Sports Authority and "should be paid the nearly $350,000 owed." In Denver, Alicia Wallace noted Sports Authority "decided it could not emerge from bankruptcy whole" and they "stopped making payments on a sponsorship deal that started in 2011 and puts the company's name on ticket backs and ballpark signs." The company's logo "still hangs high on the Coors Field scoreboard, the Sports Authority name pops up on the rotational signage behind home plate, and the retailer's now-useless coupons are printed on the back of Rockies home-game tickets" (DENVER POST, 6/10).
FLU-ID SITUATION: FOXSPORTS.com's Brett Pollakoff noted Saturday was the 19-year anniversary of Michael Jordan's famous "Flu Game" against the Jazz, and Jordan Brand set up a one-day "pop-up shop" in Salt Lake City to commemorate it. Jordan Brand "likes to use moments like these to create special experiences for its fans." Jordan Brand Senior Dir Jill Rankin said, "We have a lot opportunities to celebrate Chicago, and we haven't in Salt Lake. And we know that we have a lot of fans there." Pollakoff noted the shop opened at 2:30pm MT on Saturday and "stayed open into the night." Fans were "lined up for blocks" (FOXSPORTS.com, 6/13).
LONG RUNNING REGRETS: Long-distance U.S. runner Kara Goucher said of concerns of losing her sponsor, Nike, after informing USADA of potential drug use by her former teammates, “They controlled my life, my professional life. I mean if I lose Nike then I have a hard time getting into meets, I don't have money, I provided for my family at that time." She added. "They could find a reason to cut me or to reduce me and then I'm screwed.” Goucher said of looking back at her decision, “I have regretted it. I mean, I felt like it was going to end my career" (“OTL,” ESPN2, 6/12).
