NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said that the league "wasn’t looking to follow the NBA and allow advertising on jerseys." In California, Elliott Teaford noted several NBA teams, including the Celtics, "announced recently they would begin wearing small advertising patches on their uniforms." Bettman: "It would take an unusual circumstance" (Torrance DAILY BREEZE, 1/29).
A SHARK'S TALE: Greg Norman said today's young golfers "don't know who I am," but they "recognize the logo" for Norman's self-named company. Norman: "How do you bring that social interaction of, ‘Okay, it's not Greg Norman, who he is, it's the shark logo, this is the brand, this is what it represents.’ So, it's a fascinating time for me and sequence of events for me.” He added he wished social media was around during his playing career, as it can "keep your fan base up to speed, honest about what's happening." Norman: "As I build my company out, I want to use it more and more and more" ("Morning Drive," Golf Channel, 1/29).
ON YOUR SIDE: Nationwide today announced it will remain an official auto, home and life insurance sponsor of the NFL for the next four years. The company will continue as the presenting sponsor of the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award. The new agreement includes associate sponsorship of the NFL Draft and provides additional Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award integrations into the first and third rounds of the NFL Draft. Nationwide also remains a top-tier sponsor of NFL Honors (Nationwide).
BREAK IT, YOU BUY IT? SI.com's Jon Wertheim wrote he is "perplexed by the announcement that Yonex reserves the right to fine" its own tennis players "for racket abuse." If the company is "uncomfortable with the way certain players might represent" the brand, "don't sign them." Wertheim: "But you have chosen them to endorse your product. ... Why undercut their appeal by serving them with a sanction?" (SI.com, 1/29).
