ESPN.com's Darren Rovell reported former UAB WR J.J. Nelson "is confused why he doesn't have $100,000 in his pocket" from adidas following the NFL Scouting Combine. The company said that it "would pay the top three fastest players who ran the 40-yard dash in its shoes and signed a contract to endorse the brand before they ran." An adidas news release said that the offer was "open to the athletes who sign with adidas prior to running their official 40 yard dashes later this month." But Nelson said that he "wasn't ever given a chance to sign with the brand" (ESPN.com, 2/24).
SPEND MONEY TO MAKE MONEY: In Baltimore, Sarah Meehan cited an SEC filing as revealing that Under Armour last year spent $333M "on marketing." Those costs increased 35%, from '13 -- "primarily a result of growing sponsorship of professional teams and athletes." The company last year "added professional soccer teams from Mexico and Chile" to its list of sponsored teams," as well as deals with tennis player Andy Murray, NBA prospect Emmanuel Mudiay, Notre Dame and Navy. UA also "extended its deal" with Maryland. The spending spike came during UA's "biggest year yet," as the company posted more than $3B in revenue (BIZJOURNALS.com, 2/24).
ICE, ICE BABY: Washington-based Talking Rain Beverage Company, the makers of Sparkling Ice, announced that it signed Mariners 2B Robinson Cano to serve as a regional ambassador and partner in the Pacific Northwest Area (Talking Rain). The company last year signed Thunder F Kevin Durant to an endorsement deal (THE DAILY).
JUMP LIKE GUMP: CNN MONEY's Aaron Smith reported Nike is "bringing back some vintage kicks from the pre-Jordan era: the Classic Cortez running shoes that were a hit in the 70's and worn" by actor Tom Hanks in the '94 film "Forrest Gump" (MONEY.CNN.com, 2/24).
