The Clippers are "starting to get some of their sponsors back," as Red Bull on Friday night said that it was "resuming its marketing partnership" just four days after suspending its deal with the club in the wake of Owner Donald Sterling's racist comments, according to Nancy Armour of USA TODAY. Red Bull said that the Clippers "will donate 50% of the partnership dollars generated during the rest of the postseason to charity." In addition, Red Bull said that all related team profits will "channel exclusively into basketball operations" (USATODAY.com, 5/3). Red Bull also has a personal sponsorship deal with Clippers F Blake Griffin (THE DAILY). The AP's Peterson & Krawczynski noted Clippers marketing officials "reached out to corporate sponsors after the story hit, trying to assure them it would be addressed quickly and firmly." Silver's decision last week to ban Sterling for life "helped quell concerns" with sponsors. Kumho Tire Marketing Team Leader SB Kim, whose company has a multiyear deal with the league, said, "Our confidence is even stronger going into a three-year sponsorship seeing how they handled such a serious and negative situation as racism. It shows us that we have a sound partner in the NBA that makes strong decisions even in the face of adversity" (AP, 5/4).
