Tony Godsick, the agent for Roger Federer, "traveled around and listened to lots of different offers" from apparel companies, and there likely was not anything "bigger than Uniqlo," according to ESPN's Chris Fowler. Federer debuted his move to Uniqlo from longtime outfitter Nike at Wimbledon Monday during his first-round match on Centre Court. Fowler said, "He doesn't look much different in the Wimbledon whites, but it will be interesting to see what the clothing looks like when he gets to the summer series and begins to introduce some color." ESPN's Mary Joe Fernandez said, "Uniqlo wanted him for what he represents -- he's one of the good guys in the sport." However, she admitted it is "still weird for me to see him without the swoosh." Fernandez: "It's a new chapter. It's a new stage in his career." ESPN's Chris McKendry noted observers "could hear the gasps on Centre Court" when he debuted his Uniqlo deal on Monday. The new partnership does not include the RF logo that Nike had popularized in recent years, and ESPN's Brad Gilbert said, "Something tells me they will get it worked out" ("Wimbledon," ESPN, 7/4).
LESS THAN FIRST IMAGINED: SportsBusiness Journal's Daniel Kaplan reports Federer’s deal with Uniqlo is for $10M annually, “nowhere near” the $300M total over 10 years that was reported earlier this week. One of the main reasons Federer took the new deal is that Nike offered $5M annually “only if he was playing,” while Uniqlo’s contract was “guaranteed for a decade.” The $300M figure likely was floated out “to justify losing the RF logo and putting him in what is seen in some quarters as a discount brand.” Nike has upcoming negotiations with Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova and Rafael Nadal, and if they outbid Uniqlo for Federer, it would “set parameters for those deals.” IEG Senior VP Jim Andrews wrote on Twitter, "The $10M figure makes more sense than $30M, but if the Nike offer is accurate, I'm surprised that wouldn't go higher to keep a 20-year relationship with an iconic brand ambassador" (TWITTER.com, 7/5).
LIKE A FISH OUT OF WATER: CNBC's Andrew Ross Sorkin said Federer's new Uniqlo apparel is "so ugly," as most of the clothes do not feature large logos. Sorkin said, "They should do no logo, and then you'd look and you'd go, 'That looks so cool. What is he wearing? I will now go to Uniqlo to find out." However, he added, "If you go to the Uniqlo website, they don't even advertise the clothes he's wearing. The whole thing makes no sense" ("Squawk Box," CNBC, 7/5).
