Ohio State has signed a deal estimated at $9.25M to outfit
its athletes and coaches exclusively in Nike apparel and shoes
for the next five years. Nike will provide $1M a year in
products, $725,000 to the school's coaches and $100,000 a year
for advertising and marketing. Nike's swoosh will be displayed
on OSU uniforms (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 12/29). The deal is worth
more than similar contracts with eight other schools, including
Michigan's six-year, $8M deal. In the Big Ten, Nike has similar
deals with Illinois and Penn State (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 12/24).
FEELING NO PAIN: Heisman Trophy winner Eddie George will
reportedly appear in a Tylenol TV spot. George, whose Buckeye
career ended Monday, will reportedly earn $125,000 for the spot
(Larry Guest, ORLANDO SENTINEL, 12/28).
OTHER NIKE NEWS: In the OREGONIAN, Bloomberg's Steve Capo
and Dave Wilke examine recent talks between Rose Bowl officials
and Nike that "could be a first step toward creating a
championship tournament" in college football. Neither party
would disclose the nature of the talks, but the Rose Bowl ends
its current agreement with the Big Ten and Pac 10 in four years
(BLOOMBERG/OREGONIAN, 12/24).... Nike's next Air Jordan design,
currently on the drawing boards, will be partly inspired by a
section of Denver's new airport and a sleek red sports car
(BLOOMBERG/N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 12/24)....Nike has signed Blazers
backup Arvydas Sabonis to a multi-year endorsement contract.
Jeff Manning of the OREGONIAN reports Nike hopes the Lithuanian
will give them "marketing oomph" in Europe (OREGONIAN, 12/22)
