In Portland, Matthew Kish reported adidas and Rutgers yesterday "confirmed a seven-year footwear and apparel deal." Rutgers' 24 athletic teams will "start wearing Adidas products on July 1," with their current Nike deal expiring June 30. Financial terms "were not disclosed." Rutgers in '16-17 is getting $1.3M in "cash and equipment from Nike," making it "likely the smallest deal in the Big Ten" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 2/13).
DON'T HOLD BACK: FS1’s Jason Whitlock called Nike’s new “Equality” ad campaign a "trite little message." He said, "It's Nike, in my view, trying to go after Trump, and that’s all about business. That's not about equality or whatever. If they really believe in equality, then quit going over to Asia and getting all that slave labor and then coming over here and selling these $200 shoes to everybody. It just rings inauthentic to me" ("Speak For Yourself," FS1, 2/13).
RELEASE THE KRAKEN: In N.Y., Mike Mazzeo noted Yankees C Gary Sanchez' T-shirt line from "Routine Baseball" last season "sold out online." The line features the hashtag, "#IAmGary," along with phrases "Yo Soy Gary" and "The Kraken" -- Sanchez' nickname given to him by Yankees Senior VP & GM Brian Cashman. Sanchez' agent, Francis Marquez of Magnus Sports, said that a second edition of Sanchez' T-shirt line -- featuring 3-4 varieties and a new "The Kraken" logo -- "will be announced at the end of spring training and possibly be sold at Yankee Stadium this season" (NYDAILYNEWS.com, 2/13).
SIX SHOOTER: The Patriots recently trademarked the phrase "Blitz for Six," and FS1's Jay Onrait said, "It seems like a bad idea." FS1's Dan O'Toole asked, "Who buys that T-shirt if you’ve got ‘Blitz For Six?’” Onrait: “A million Patriots fans. That’s why they’re trademarking all that stuff. They want to make some sweet cash.” O’Toole: “You have to walk around explaining it” ("Fox Sports Live,” FS1, 2/14).
