Former NBAer Junior Bridgeman said that he "plans to drop his pursuit of a purchase" of SI after the Wall Street Journal identified Authentic Brands Group as the "new frontrunner late last week," according to Marty Finley of the LOUISVILLE BUSINESS FIRST. Bridgeman in an email yesterday "acknowledged the article and said his investor group will 'stop trying' to purchase" the sports magazine. Bridgeman said of last week's report, "I believe the information is correct." News "started circulating about Bridgeman's interest in the SI purchase in August," when the Louisville Courier-Journal reported he was a "serious contender to buy the magazine" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 4/29).
MOVING AHEAD: WOMEN'S WEAR DAILY's Jean Palmieri noted if Authentic Brands is successful in its bid for SI, it "would undoubtedly become primarily a licensing and digital play." Sources said that the print magazine "would continue to be published for at least the next two years as ABG works to capitalize on its content to extend the brand’s reach into a number of sports-related businesses." Sources said that that could "include everything from camps for kids to sports rehabilitation clinics." ABG "owns 50 brands." Among its "sports-affiliated brands" are those owned by Greg Norman, Shaquille O’Neal and Muhammad Ali. A source said that SI eventually "could potentially include golf tips from Norman or basketball strategy ideas from O’Neal" (WWD.com, 4/26).
BREAKING THE MOLD: Somali-American model Halima Aden will be the "first woman to wear a hijab and burkini in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue." SI said that Aden would be the "first Muslim model to appear wearing a burkini, a full-body swimsuit worn by some observant Muslim women." The swimsuit issue hits newsstands May 8 (N.Y. TIMES, 4/30).
