Bulls G and Jordan Brand endorser Jimmy Butler said he has "always been a fan" of Michael Jordan, so when he "got an opportunity to switch from Adidas to Jordan, I just thought it was the right choice, because I’ve never had problems with my feet." Butler: "I’m not bashing Adidas at all, but I got turf toe one year and rolled my ankles a few times. That’s never happened, whenever I was at Marquette with Jordan or before that, with Nike. So I thought maybe I should go back to that shoe. And then Jordan picked me up. It’s not about the money. ... Mike takes care of his players. He’s always saying how this is a Jordan family" (GQ.com, 6/25).
NOTHING VENTURED...: Warriors G Andre Iguodala said he was in as “good of a situation as any NBA player can be in being on a championship and then being in an environment like Silicon Valley where you can capitalize off the court with business.” Iguodala added, “We’ve had some great relationships with VCs out there, mainly Andreessen Horowitz, who have taken me under their wing and shown me some things in their portfolio and how I can integrate my brand into some of their brands” (“Squawk Box,” CNBC, 6/25).
CAL CALL: USA TODAY's Steve Berkowitz reported Cal-Berkeley on Wednesday announced that it has signed a 10-year deal worth roughly $4M that "makes Sungevity, Inc., the school's official solar energy partner." This is the first "school-wide deal that Cal has put together, and most of the money will go to the athletics department and the California Alumni Association." However, campus officials and documents indicated that the school "is heading toward completion of a broad financial services deal and has issued a request for proposals for a comprehensive rights/sponsorship contract with a coffee-and-tea provider" (USATODAY.com, 6/24).
