Bell Canada on Thursday announced a new multi-year strategic partnership with the NBA that enhances the company's position as the official communications partner for the league in Canada. Bell will be the presenting sponsor of the NBA Canada Series preseason game platform, beginning with the upcoming T'Wolves-Celtics game on Oct. 20 at Bell Centre. Bell customers as part of the deal also will be able to watch new weekly NBA content, including special player profiles, on smartphones and tablets during the regular season and playoffs. Bell Mobile TV will feature new nightly NBA highlights from approximately 1,300 games, and the company also will be the presenting sponsor of the NBA All-Star Game balloting platform in Canada (Bell).
PRINCE CHARMING: Pandora is MLB's newest hard-goods licensee and is producing a line of MLB charms in wood and silver, priced from $60. Charms bearing the logos of every MLB team are available now at MLB.com. Additional MLB products from Pandora will be available in '14. Alex Woo debuted a line of MLB-licensed high-end jewelry earlier this year. Other MLB jewelry licensees include LogoArt, Game Time, Alex & Ani, and Tiffany (Terry Lefton, Editor-At-Large).
GET ON BOARD: YAHOO SPORTS' Eric Adelson wrote the NFL instead of fining Bears WR Brandon Marshall for violating league rules by wearing lime green cleats Thursday in support of mental health awareness week "should be following his lead instead." The cleats are a "symbol of hope for all players and their families." The uniform infraction "doesn't deserve a fine; it deserves the NFL's complete support" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 10/10).
WELCOME TO THE FAMILY: Jordan Brand on Thursday officially welcomed Cowboys WR Dez Bryant and Seahawks S Earl Thomas to the company. Both will wear the Air Jordan XII cleat. Bryant's will be a white-based shoe featuring a navy blue overlay on the toe and midsole, while Thomas' shoes will have an action-green overlay on a solid base of white or navy blue (THE DAILY).
WINGING IT: Delta on Thursday announced that it will serve as the Sabres' official airline and provide charter service for the team. Delta now has marketing and/or charter relationships with nine NHL teams (Delta).
