Nike co-founder & Chair Phil Knight yesterday “announced plans to step away from the company.” Knight, who helped launch the company in '64, has recommended CEO Mark Parker “replace him as company chairman, a change likely to occur” in '16 (OREGONLIVE.com, 6/30).
Yahoo Senior Dir of Fantasy Sports Clifton Ma has moved to FanDuel, where he will be GM/New Products. Ma will be based in L.A. and report to FanDuel CFO Matt King. Ma, a board member of the Fantasy Sports Trade Association, worked at Yahoo since '07 (Terry Lefton, Editor-at-Large).
MasterCard today announced that it has extended its UEFA Champions League sponsorship through ’18 (MasterCard).
Churchill Downs has renamed its $175,000 September stakes, “designed as a prep for the Breeders’ Cup,” after trainer D. Wayne Lukas. The 1 1/8-mile Lukas Classic was formerly called the Homecoming Classic (COURIER-JOURNAL.com, 6/30).
Digital media property ThePostGame today announced a sales and marketing partnership with ESP Properties and the launch of the TPG Studios creative services and production unit. ThePostGame also announced that it extended its content and distribution deal with Yahoo (ThePostGame).
Toyota runs a full-page ad in USA Today congratulating NASCAR driver Kyle Busch on his Toyota/Save Mart 350 victory: “Rowdy’s Back” (THE DAILY).
