Aqua Sphere CEO Don Rockwell said of Michael Phelps' swim wear line with the brand, "There's a couple tweaks we have to make." In Baltimore, Jeff Barker notes Aqua Sphere is a "recent player in the business of high-performance swimming suits" and has "broad experience in recreational swimming and triathlons." Rockwell: "We weren't in that realm before." CAA's Peter Carlisle, who is Phelps' agent, said that Aqua Sphere was an "appropriate fit because it is international" (Baltimore SUN, 8/6).
GEARING UP: In Baltimore, James Briggs reported STX has signed a "multiyear deal to provide sticks, heads, goggles, gloves and bags to the U.S. Lacrosse women's national team" through '17. STX also "inked a deal" earlier this year with the U.S. Lacrosse men's national team and "became the equipment partner" of MLL (BIZJOURNALS.com, 8/5).
EASTWARD EXPANSION: In Cleveland, John Harper noted China surpassed the U.S. sometime in the last year to become the "world's largest Internet shopping market." When the NFL "decided to get a piece of that pie," league officials hired Akron-based eCommerce company Export Now to "take their store to China's web consumers." NFL China Managing Dir Richard Young said, "We have a very small office here and we didn't really have the bandwidth or experience to do it and Export Now did" (CLEVELAND.com, 8/5).
BRONX TALE: The N.Y. POST notes Yankees SS Derek Jeter wore a pair of cleats during Monday's game against the Tigers at Yankee Stadium that listed "nearly every incredible statistic in the career of the future Hall of Famer" (NYPOST.com, 8/5).
