Gonzaga Associate AD/External Operations Kris Kassel said that the men’s basketball team reaching the No. 1 ranking in both polls “has been good to the school at retail.” ESPN.com’s Darren Rovell reported that this season there are “about 1,200 more Gonzaga items at retail versus last season, and the team's success has led to a 50 percent increase in March Madness artwork submitted by potential licensees.” The school “sold 2,300 No. 1 T-shirts in the 24 hours after Gonzaga achieved the ranking” on Monday. Kassel said that sales for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday were “each equivalent to a month of average in-season sales” (ESPN.com, 3/7).
PINK IS THE NEW YELLOW: AriZona Beverages has added pink lemonade to Jack Nicklaus’ Golden Bear drink line. Golden Bear Pink Lemonade’s packaging includes a portrait of Nicklaus following his ’78 British Open victory as well as 20 images of his children and grandchildren. The packaging also includes other professional and personal moments from his career (AriZona Beverages).
STARK REALITY: ESPN’s Charissa Thompson reported Heat F LeBron James “commissioned sneaker designers Mache Customs to create a special 'Iron Man' edition of his Nike LeBron X.” ESPN’s Marcellus Wiley said of the shoes, “Those are sweet. I don’t know what you’re supposed to wear with them, maybe just come out with just a T-shirt and those on. Those are pretty sweet” (“SportsNation,” ESPN2, 3/7).
ROUNDUP: adidas announced that Elegant Sports will be its new gymnastics licensee for this year, and is tasked with growing the gymnastics brand worldwide. adidas Gymnastics also signed U.S. national team members Jake Dalton and Jordyn Wieber to sponsorship deals (adidas)….Coors Light will be the exclusive presenting sponsor for the Sportsnet's “Hockey Central” trade deadline coverage on April 3 (Sportsnet)….Butler has signed a “three-year agreement naming PNC Bank as the official bank sponsor” of the school’s athletic programs (TWITTER.com, 3/7).
