Marketplace Roundup
 |
Djokovic Will Open Restaurant
Chain When Economy Picks Up |
ESPN.com's Ravi Ubha reported tennis player Novak Djokovic will open a chain of Novak restaurants "across Europe when the economy picks up." Djokovic already operates a Novak restaurant in Belgrade, and he also has his own chocolate bar and bottled water, known as Aqua Novak. But Ubha wrote "slightly reshaping his image and more wins would help boost Djokovic's profile worldwide," as he has "underwhelmed since winning his lone Grand Slam event at the Australian Open" in '08. The "carefree guy who used to humorously imitate colleagues is long gone" (ESPN.com, 6/24).
MORE THAN LESS: ESPN's Marty Smith reported that Richard Childress Racing (RCR) will not cut back to two Sprint Cup teams in '10 as has been speculated, and "three of their four cars are fully funded for 2010." Smith: "At the very least, they'll have three cars next season. The one car that is not funded for next year thus far is the No. 07 car currently driven by Casey Mears. They'd like to certainly get that thing funded. If they do, they'll run four." Smith added that Stewart-Haas Racing indicated the "phones are ringing" regarding a possible third Sprint Cup entry next season. Smith: "Sponsors are already interested in discussing a relationship moving forward" ("NASCAR Now," ESPN2, 6/24).
THROWBACK BUZZ: In Atlanta, Larry Hartstein reports the Georgia Tech men's basketball team "will wear throwback uniforms in each game of the upcoming season." The home white uniforms "will resemble those from 50 years ago, with simple block gold letters spelling out 'TECH' and gold trim," while the road gold uniforms "will replicate the 1985 and 1990 versions, with 'GEORGIA TECH' stylized and stacked on the front and the player's number in between." The shoulders, neck and shorts are "trimmed in blue and white, and a 'GT' logo appears on each hip" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 6/25).
HORSING AROUND: New Jersey-based Blake Sports Group has secured its first deal as the sales and marketing agency of record for the U.S. Equestrian Federation (USEF), the national governing body of the sport. Vemma Nutrition Company, maker of Verve energy drink, signed a one-year deal as the official energy drink of USEF. Blake Sports Group is an athlete representation, event management and corporate consulting agency that manages U.S. Open runner-up Ricky Barnes (Jon Show, SportsBusiness Journal).
FIRST IMPRESSION: Dunning Sportswear has signed golfer Kyle Stanley, who is making his professional debut at this week's PGA Tour Travelers Championship (Dunning).
|
