The AP reports Olympic Gold Medal-winning swimmer Missy Franklin this morning turned pro and has chosen WME-IMG VP/Action Sports Mark Ervin "to represent her." Franklin will be the "first swimmer in his client stable that includes Olympic champion skier Lindsey Vonn." Ervin "used to work with" snowboarder Shaun White (AP, 3/23). Octagon Olympics & Action Sports Managing Dir Peter Carlisle said that Franklin "may have inadvertently increased her commercial value by keeping herself out of the market." He added that "nearly every conversation he has had with a sponsor of Olympic sports has ended with a question about when Franklin would become available." The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Matthew Futterman noted with companies "now beginning to plan Olympic advertising campaigns, Franklin will enter the market at the perfect time." Carlisle: “There’s a hunger for her" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 3/21).
COLLEGE SAVINGS PLAN: In Austin, Kirk Bohls writes the Univ. of Texas' new deal with 289c Apparel is just the "latest example in the school’s hard look at finances as it ended its longtime relationship with Collegiate Licensing Company, saving it more than" $1M a year. A source said that had UT remained with CLC, it "would have had to win two football national championships in one year to make the profit it will with 289c." The deal "doesn’t mean Texas will discontinue its relationship with Nike after their agreement expires" in June '16, but "it could." UT men's AD Steve Patterson said, "We’ll have to wait and see. Nike’s been a good partner for 15 years" (AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 3/23).
SHAKE THINGS UP: Protein milkshake company Core Power has signed several athlete endorsers to coincide with the brand's '15 "Everyday Awesome" campaign. Core Power on Friday announced deals with Cowboys QB Tony Romo, Hornets G Kemba Walker, NHL Rangers D Ryan McDonagh, Blackhawks LW Patrick Sharp and Paralympic athlete Blake Leeper (Core Power).
