BLOOMBERG NEWS' Eben Novy-Williams noted former Boise State football coach Chris Petersen's departure for Washington means there is a "$40,000-a-year payment from Nike Inc. on the line" for BSU. The school's sponsorship contract with Nike states that the company "can reduce cash payments to the school if Petersen is no longer with the team." BSU's deal with Nike gives the school $1.08M in "products and equipment this year and an additional $40,000 in cash." Nike "can reduce that at its own discretion if it decides the brand value diminished with Petersen's departure" (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 12/10).
ANGRY BIRDS: In Washington, John Boyle notes many Seahawks fans are "upset about the way they were portrayed in a new Beats by Dre commercial" featuring 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick. While nothing in the ad "explicitly said Seattle or Seahawks, it's clear by the color of the fans' gear, the rainy weather, etc., that the ad is meant to portray Kaepernick facing a hostile crowd in Seattle, then tuning out that noise thanks to his fancy noise-canceling headphones." The fans are "quite upset that the ad portrays them as abusive, aggressive, obscene, and sometimes prone to urinate on buses" (Everett HERALD, 12/11).
WHAT'S IN STORE: In Pittsburgh, Teresa Lindeman notes the holiday shopping season will give officials at both Dick's Sporting Goods and the NHL "a chance to evaluate" how well the new NHL Super Shops at the retailer's select locations are working, and "where to go next." NHL Dir of Retail Sales & Marketing Dan Near said that the company's buyers "would need to start placing orders early next year for goods to sell" during the '14-15 NHL season, so decisions on how many of the shops to have open by fall "could be made soon." Near: "I don't think we'd be satisfied if this ended with three. I think there are a number of markets that are ripe to have at least one" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 12/11).
SAY UNCLE: WNBA Lynx F Maya Moore said of her role in a spot for Pepsi's "Uncle Drew" ad campaign this year alongside Cavaliers G Kyrie Irving, "I've always done a really good old lady for some reason." The AP's Doug Feinberg wrote Moore is "one of the rare WNBA players who has been able to cross over into a mainstream commercial, joining the likes of Lisa Leslie, Candace Parker and Diana Taurasi." However, "most of their commercials came with existing league partners" (AP, 12/10).
