In Boston, Olivia Vanni noted Celtics F Jayson Tatum is "upping his game, and not just on the court," as the second-year player has been "hitting the ad circuit hard, which now includes starring in a movie promo." Tatum posted on Instagram to "plug DreamWorks' upcoming movie 'How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World,' which is slated for release in February." In addition to "helping spread the word about the flick," Tatum is also "featured in a new Gatorade campaign -- You Fuel Us, We Fuel You -- that launched just last week" (BOSTON HERALD, 12/30).
REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE: In Las Vegas, Alan Snel noted UNLV "pulled the plug" on a new logo. UNLV in a statement said a potential new logo "will be something that is evaluated," and the school plans to "refresh our marks with an unveiling in 2020 to coincide with the move" to the Raiders' new stadium. Snel noted UNLV's sports teams "did not adopt" the logo when it was introduced in '17, with the football team jerseys and helmets "using the arched 'UNLV'" instead (LVSPORTSBIZ.com, 12/31).
TAKING A SWING: In S.F., Bruce Jenkins noted locally-based wooden baseball bat manufacturer Birdman Bats has "made a sudden impact in the major leagues." Free agent RF Hunter Pence has "ordered six of them," Giants P Madison Bumgarner "took interest," and several A's players are also on board. However, Reds RF Yasiel Puig is the "man who made those bats famous." The MLB bat industry is "dominated by the Marucci, Louisville Slugger and Victus brands." Birdman now has "active clients throughout the minor leagues, as well as routine orders from Taiwan, Australia, Germany and Spain" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 12/31).
