USA TODAY's Bob Nightengale notes T-shirts for Mets RF Curtis Granderson have "been replaced in the Mets’ outdoor gift shop" at First Data Field in Port St. Lucie, Fla., by shirts for Tim Tebow, who made his debut at the team's Spring Training camp yesterday. Tebow's No. 15 jersey is selling at the gift shop for $120. Tebow continues to be the "subject of the debates" as to whether the Mets "really believe he has a legitimate chance of becoming a baseball player or is nothing more than a marketing gimmick" (USA TODAY, 2/28).
SPANNING THE GLOBE: Nike and FIBA yesterday announced a multiyear partnership making Nike the official partner for product and marketing at FIBA's major competitions, including the '19, '23 and '27 Basketball World Cups. The deal covers FIBA's men's, women's and youth flagship events, with the initial phase focused around the '19 World Cup in China. The product partnership spans apparel, footwear and equipment (Nike).
ISLAND LIFE FOR ME: ESPN.com's Darren Rovell noted adidas is "offering an island to any prospect who breaks the 4.24-second time clocked" at the NFL combine by Cardinals RB Chris Johnson in '08. The catch is the player has to be wearing the company's '17 adizero 5-Star 40 cleats and "agree to endorse the company's shoes" for the entire '17 season. The fine print says that adidas "agrees to provide a winner with an island 'as soon as reasonably possible,' but that the company can also just pay" the athlete $1M instead. The company is "not responsible for the payment of any taxes on the prize" (ESPN.com, 2/27).
