The CP's Peter Goffin noted Milos Raonic, who lost to Andy Murray in yesterday's Wimbledon final, could see some "big victories" in the business world. Sports marketing experts said Raonic's run could make him a "more lucrative target for corporate sponsors." Raonic "signed a sponsorship deal with New Balance" in '13, and he also has deals with Rolex, Rogers, Canada Goose, Wilson Sporting Goods and insurance company Aviva Canada. York Univ. professor Vijay Setlur said that he "expected Raonic will earn a 'stable of Canadian brands,' but did not foresee a major increase in deals south of the border." But Ryerson Univ. researcher Cheri Bradish said that "achieving stardom in a global sport might help Raonic land deals outside Canada too" (CP, 7/8).
IMMEDIATE RESULTS: In Minneapolis, Jason Gonzalez noted WNBA Connecticut Sun G Rachel Banham "appeared in her first commercial since signing an endorsement deal" with sports nutrition drink BiPro USA last month. The ad shows Banham "shooting hoops alone in a gymnasium while she tells the story about overcoming a knee injury that ended her season" in December '14. BiPro has said that Banham used its product "while rehabbing from the knee injury and saw immediate results." Banham also "signed an endorsement deal with Nike in April" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 7/9).
HOT HOT HEAT: In Miami, Jordan McPherson noted a "steady flow of about 150 to 200 people weaved in and out" of the Heat team store on Friday to search for discounted Dwyane Wade memorabilia from his time in Miami. Wade gear was marked down to $13 on Friday, and customers "stood in line for up to 30 minutes at peak traffic." By noon, the "bulk of the store's Wade jerseys" had already "been sold, leaving customers scrambling to find any that slipped through the cracks or settle for a T-shirt or other memorabilia" (MIAMI HERALD, 7/9).
