The PA reported Irish bookmaker Paddy Power will pay the US$127,000 fine incurred by Denmark FC F Nicklas Bendtner “for wearing his so-called lucky underpants in Denmark's recent Euro 2012 fixture against Portugal.” A Paddy Power spokesperson said, “We pride ourselves on listening to our customers and what we heard loud and clear yesterday was that Nicklas Bendtner should not suffer as a result of UEFA’s double standards” (PA, 6/19). Paddy Power said that it “posted the ‘lucky’ underpants to team hotels around Poland and Ukraine -- including the one England used in Krakow -- targeting likely goalscorers.” A brand spokesperson said, “There are plenty of our pants out there, so who knows when they will next be seen? It’s a bit of harmless fun and the UEFA reaction is completely over the top” (London DAILY MAIL, 6/19).
WE SALUTE YOU: Miller High Life will be presenting sponsor of the ’12 TD Ameritrade College Home Run Derby. The brand will host 50 veterans and their families at the event, which will take place at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha on July 3, and will air July 7 at 2pm ET on CBS (THE DAILY).
BACK ON BOARD: Principal Financial Group will remain the title sponsor for the Champions Tour event in Iowa through ’15 and Tournament Board Chair and Principal Senior VP & CMO Mary O’Keefe said that the company “will pay just over" $2.5M annually in the new sponsorship agreement. That fee “includes television rights paid to the Golf Channel” (DESMOINESREGISTER.com, 6/19).
OUR LIPS ARE SEALED: USA TODAY’s Michael Hiestand notes adidas spokesperson Lauren Lamkin yesterday “declined to comment further” on the JS Roundhouse Mid sneakers. Sports Business Group President David Carter said, “I was immediately aware that Adidas has been caught flat-footed. I was amazed that this could have gotten through so many levels” (USA TODAY, 6/20). Civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, who appeared on CNN yesterday, said that he was "astonished by the insensitivity" and had contacted NBA Commissioner David Stern. Stern “in turn contacted Adidas” (BOSTONHERALD.com, 6/19). SB Nation's Bomani Jones said, "I’m just going to ask adidas, you didn’t have a single person that worked in your entire operation that saw those shoes and was like, ‘Hey, these might harken to slavery?’ Everybody that saw the shoes in regular life saw shackles. None of those people worked at adidas? Maybe you guys should add some lines to the employee questionnaire” (“Around The Horn,” ESPN, 6/19).
BRAVO: NASCAR took home two awards at the American Business Awards for events created for official partners. NASCAR After The Lap won Best Consumer Event and NASCAR Fuel for Business Council won for Best Association Event or Meeting (NASCAR).
