In Portland, Matthew Kish reported the Univ. of Louisville's five-year extension with adidas, announced in April, will "provide the university roughly" $1.5M in cash annually "in return for the right to outfit the university's varsity athletic teams." UL also will "receive an annual allowance of Adidas equipment, starting at" $3.7M in the current year, a "big raise" from the $2.2M the university was owed before extending the deal. The university also "gets an annual 'activation investment' of around $500,000." The nearly $5.7M UL will receive this year "ranks No. 4 of the university apparel deals." The cash and equipment allowances "increase annually." The university "will get" nearly $1.6M in cash and $5.5M in equipment "the final year of the deal" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 2/23).
CAN'T TEACH SPEED: YAHOO SPORTS' Eric Edholm reported the "three fastest men at the NFL scouting combine to wear" adidas' shoes -- Michigan State CB Trae Waynes, Univ. of Miami WR Phillip Dorsett and West Virginia Univ. WR Kevin White -- "each will earn $100,000 for their blazing 40-yard dashes." UAB WR J.J. Nelson "scorched a 4.28," and Univ. of Georgia WR Chris Conley "turned in a shockingly good workout, tying White's number." But apparently, neither player was "wearing the company's UNCAGED adizero 5-Star 40 kicks" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 2/23).
WHITER SHADE OF PALE ALE: In Akron, Rick Armon reports Cleveland-based brewery The Brew Kettle is "teaming up" with the Cavaliers to "produce All For One, a session IPA." The new beer will be "available in 12-ounce bottles with the label featuring the team's wine and gold colors." The name of the beer "comes from the Cavaliers’ slogan 'All For One, One For All.'” Brewmaster Jack Kephart said that he "hopes the limited edition brew will be popular during the Cavaliers playoff run this year" (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 2/24).
