See what I did there?  Its a play on words...?  Oh, nevermind.

via Press Release

WIN Products, Inc. and Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) announced today a new licensing agreement that names WIN High Performance Sport Detergent the official licensed sport detergent of the 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM). The partnership will introduce WIN Detergent, the world's first laundry detergent especially formulated to eliminate embedded sweat and odors found in performance athletic attire, to the global market.

The partnership with FIFA provides licensing rights around the 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM). Entering the North American marketplace as the first official licensed detergent of the U.S. Olympic Team, the WIN-FIFA agreement will mark WIN's global distribution expansion into Europe and Latin America. Mirroring the successful USOC partnership, WIN will use the Official Emblem of the 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM) and designations on all products and marketing materials targeted at consumers and products.

"WIN is in the midst of an aggressive expansion strategy and the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa(TM) is the ideal marketing partner to reach the global marketplace as football has such a worldwide, enthusiastic fan base," stated Mark R. Konjevod, CEO and co-founder of WIN Products, Inc. "Our experience with the Olympics demonstrates how valuable this global partnership can be as we grow the WIN brand and we look forward to activating our FIFA licensing agreement."

WIN Products' flagship product, WIN High Performance Sport Detergent, is the detergent of choice for everyone from elite-level athletes to weekend warriors and soccer moms alike. These athletes train in state-of-the-art, high-performance sports apparel made from fibers that are extremely effective in wicking away sweat, but, unfortunately, hold on to odor. WIN works by directly targeting the sweat molecules embedded in high tech fabrics. After several workouts, these fabrics develop an unpleasant odor caused by bacteria that are attracted to the embedded sweat.

Earlier this year, WIN extended its product line with the launch of WIN Green, which is a hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, dye-free and completely biodegradable formula. The ingredients used are sourced from natural, renewable sources and this formula contains no brighteners, which are commonly added to laundry detergents to make the clothes appear cleaner but have been known to cause allergic skin reactions. There are no phosphates used, which create algal blooms in groundwater that can leak toxins into drinking water and harm ecosystems.

Using a proprietary technology, WIN Detergents are scientifically designed with a super oxygenated system that directly targets these offensive odors. This powerful oxygenated cleaning technology eliminates the embedded sweat molecules and odors that overwhelm the fabric. Simultaneously, these same ingredients also react with soil and organic materials causing them to either decolorize or disintegrate. Once in a soluble form after oxidization, dirt and odors easily wash away. WIN is formulated to be safe and gentle on all colors and fabrics and works in traditional and high efficiency machine or hand washing.

via Press Release

SEATTLE —Alaska Airlines and Apolo Ohno today unveiled a specially themed Boeing 737-800 adorned with a larger-than-life image of the celebrated speed skater and "Dancing With The Stars" winner. The unique design features the Seattle native on the aircraft's fuselage and invites travelers to "Follow Apolo" at www.followapolo.com as he pursues winter gold in Vancouver, British Columbia.

"Apolo is one of the most decorated Olympians in history, and we're thrilled to support him on his road to Vancouver," said Brad Tilden, Alaska's president. "The ‘Follow Apolo' jet will fly across our route system to build excitement for this great American athlete."

On www.followapolo.com, fans can track Ohno's quest to become the most decorated winter athlete in U.S. history, view behind-the-scenes training videos, sign up to receive e-mail updates from Ohno, and send questions to his blog.

"It's an honor to be featured alongside Alaska's trademark Eskimo and have the support of my hometown airline for the most important race of my life," said Ohno, after seeing the plane for the first time.

A team of Seattle-area youth speed skaters aspiring to follow in Ohno's path accompanied the athlete onboard the aircraft as it was unveiled at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The skaters are members of Pattison's Team Extreme and train at Pattison's West Skating Center in Federal Way, Wash., where Ohno trained as a teen.

To celebrate Ohno's race for gold, passengers boarding the "Follow Apolo" jet received Ohno trading cards, copies of Ohno's signature bandana and press-on faux facial hair.

A native of the Seattle area, Ohno began his speed-skating career at age 14 in Seattle and Vancouver. He went on to become the youngest skater to win a World Cup event title in December 1999. Ohno has since won 11 national champion, 18 world champion and five Olympic medals.

Alaska Airlines and sister carrier Horizon Air together operate 13 flights a day to Vancouver from several West Coast cities.

Gary Bettman continues his search for a new owner for the Coyotes hockey team. (via CBC Sports)

Hisanori Takahashi is looking to come to the Majors.  Let the bidding war begin, right? (via CNNSI)

Clash of the Titans?  It looks like Comcast is gearing up for a battle with ESPN (via Paid Content/Sports Business Journal)

Tennessee has released two of the three players involved in last weeks allegedly attempted armed robbery (Go Vols Xtra)

Probably the only positive to come out of the downturn experienced by sports and the nation at large over the last year and a half is the fact that fewer available resources have forced people to create innovative ideas to make money at a time when people are spending less.  Granted, the idea of Split Season Tickets may have occurred before the economic problems, but its usefulness is probably more fully appreciated now than it would have been said five years ago.  Right, Seattle Mariners?

Mariners have become the latest team to use California-based SplitSeasonTickets LLC, introducing a fan matchmaking service for current and prospective season-ticket holders. The system, residing at Mariners.com, consists of a two-part matching and drafting process in which fans enter their game preferences on criteria such as opponent, day of the week and month of the year, and seating location and get matched, and then conduct either live or automated drafts for tickets within an account.

The matchmaking system also includes a data-mining component that will allow for more fan research and upsell opportunities than the relatively minimal marketing that occurs around the offline, independent ticket sharing common among fans. (via Sports Business Daily)

It sounds like the best possible outcome for both parties given the current circumstances.  If the Mariners can't get you to buy a full season package, they at least know that they will get you for multiple games.  For the fan who wants to go to the game but can't afford it?  You now have an alternative as well.

Also of note is the fact that sports teams, again, are using the technology for more than just fan interaction, or ticket purchases; the data mining component will allow for more efficient marketing in the future, thereby hopefully increasing the bottom line for the Mariners (ala The Boston Celtics) in a much less obtrusive way than the typical "cold-call".

This just seems like one more component in what is, and will be the wave of the future regarding sports marketing.  Not that you're necessarily tricking the consumer out of the marketing data you desire, but its seems like its much more of a give-and-take, than we've seen in the past.

The 2010 Winter Olympics start in February.  They will be telecast on NBC and, in large part due to the economy, there will be limited commercials during the coverage. Why will we see fewer commercials?

NBC must still sell at least 30% of its ad blocks...in less than 90 days.

Per media agency estimates, NBCU must move between 30 percent and 35 percent of its 2010 Winter Games avails if it’s to be wrapped by the time the first athlete points his skis down the jump at Whistler Olympic Park. That NBC is pacing behind precedent isn’t exactly an unexpected development, given the recession. In late November 2006, the network was about 85 percent sold out for the Torino Games, well on its way to setting a record haul of $930 million. That same year saw the U.S. economy grow 2.7 percent.

Four years ago, sponsors of NBC’s Winter Olympics telecast paid between $500,000 and $700,000 per :30, and an ad in the 2010 Games could fetch as much as $800,000. That said, media buyers suggested that NBC is now much more flexible on pricing. (via Media Week)

The one thing that surprises me about the numbers is that NBC is/was actually charging more per ad for the 2010 games than they did for the 2006 games; in the middle of an economic recession.  We've already seen a price decrease with Super Bowl ad space, and it has long been considered king in terms of sporting events.  The fact that NBC shied away from the "Super Bowl strategy" and gave the recession nothing more than a passing glance makes the Olympic ad cost increase all the more surprising, given everyone else's struggles and hiccups.

Now though, NBC does realize that more proactive measures must be taken to sell the remaining ad space, hence the increased flexibility.  As the article mentions, there will be an emphasis on young, talented Olympians, so maybe now's the time for youth-targeted sponsors to step up and buy an ad?  If they ask nicely, NBC may even cut them a deal.

I mean, who can pass up a sale?

Good thoughts on Lebron's proposed number change (TSBX)

Looking for the hot bed of sports marketing innovation?  Look no further than Silicon Valley (Sports Mktg./PR Roundup)

Examining the sponsorship differences between Peyton Manning and Tom Brady (Wall Street Journal)

Redskins & Comcast...teaming up online (Washington Times)

A lot was made about Eagles TE's Brent Celek's Touchdown reception last week.  After catching the 11 yard TD pass from Donovan McNabb, Celek celebrated by doing what looked like the "Captain Morgan pose"; the pose Captain Morgan does on the label for Captain Morgan's rum.

The NFL was none too pleased.

Yahoo! Sports said the Captain Morgan pose was banned this week after the league learned of a wider campaign meant to get players to strike it during NFL games.

“The issue is that players are specifically prohibited under our policies from wearing, displaying, promoting or otherwise conveying their support of a commercially identified product during a game while they’re on the field,” NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told Yahoo! Sports. “Whether it’s rum or soft drinks or any other commercial product, that type of promotion is prohibited.”

“The (ad campaign) has been going around internally for a while and (Celek) learned of the program through his contact at Diageo (Captain Morgan’s parent company),” said Glenn Lehrman, an account director at Rogers & Cowan, the Los Angeles-based firm that handles Captain Morgan promotions. “Brent said, ‘You know what, if I get the opportunity, I’m going to go ahead and do it.’ He sort of beat us to the punch, but we’re certainly not going to complain.”

Lehrman said that each time a player was caught on camera in the pose Captain Morgan planned to donate to the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund, a nonprofit that helps retired NFL players. The campaign was to be unveiled next week with donations of $10,000 during the regular season, $25,000 for the playoffs and $100,000 in the Super Bowl.

The NFL banned the plan when it learned of it this week, notifying Gridiron Greats and Captain Morgan that it won’t allow the pose during NFL games.

The ad campaign appeared to be designed to capitalize on the attention recently given to the plight of retired players and the criticism the league has received for its handling of their struggles. (via Yahoo! Sports)

Hard for the NFL to spin this into any sort of positive light.  Everyone is screaming that they're the "No Fun League" because they're stopping players from doing the pose.  Its just a celebration after a touchdown, that was technically within the rules (except for the fact that Avant came over and turned it into a team celebration)...What's the big deal?  And furthermore, that money was going to help retired players?  With all of the talk about the NFL's retirement plan and complaints from retired players?  Why won't the NFL just let the campaign happen?

But why should the NFL allow Captain Morgan to get free advertising while other sponsors like Sprint and Gatorade must pay the NFL money?  The NFL makes millions of dollars a year off of advertising; without it, the NFL you know wouldn't exist.

Of course, if you're the NFL, the question becomes, "Where do you draw the line?"  The NFL has now stopped any attempts to mimic the Captain Morgan's pose because players can't convey support of a commercially identified product while on the field.  That's fine, but there is such a fine line.  What happens if someone does a Superman pose?  Or when someone dunks a football over the goalpost?  Or when the Giants' continually referenced rapper Jim Jones' Ballin after every sack a few years ago?

Wasn't that conveying support for a commercially identifiable product while on the field as well?

Maybe its a question of intent?  Or whether compensation is involved?  Or is it a case-by-case basis that unfortunately brings in the element of subjectivity?

In the end, it doesn't really matter what the reasoning is.  It is the NFL's league, and they have the right to be subjective as they want.  That's the whole point.  They have to make the decisions they think will put them in the best position to keep the league profitable, the same rights given to any other business owner.

Could you honestly say you'd do something different if you were in charge?

I'd like to say that this is a crazy idea, but its not.  It actually makes perfectly good sense.  Well, except for the actual product tie-in.

NFL receivers Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens are friends.  Friends who love to make fun of each other and push each others buttons.  In fact, they spent a majority of the summer making fun of each other on Twitter and challenging each other to foot races.  So why is it any surprise they working together now, as endorsers?

Klondike has enlisted both men as part of their Ocho-T.O. thicker shell face off.  Details below,

Ochocinco, who plays for the Cincinnati Bengals, and Owens, a member of the Buffalo Bills, will take turns "roasting" each other at the Klondike Facebook Fan Page. The roast will take place over a two-week period: Starting Nov. 11, Ochocinco will take shots at Owens for a week with "lighthearted messages to test the thickness of Owens' shell."  Beginning Nov. 18, Owens gets to lightly roast Ochocinco. During their respective roasting periods, Owens and Ochocinco will have an opportunity to respond to each other. The campaign also will encompass Twitter and Klondike's Web site.

The purpose is to support the fact that "six of the Klondike stickless bars now have a thicker chocolatey shell . . .  with 25 percent more chocolatey coating!" The campaign plays off of the brand's long-time tag, "What would you do for a Klondike bar?" Here, it becomes, "What would you say for a Klondike bar?" (via NYSports Journalism)

Great idea bringing those two guys together, especially since they'd be making fun of each other regardless of this promotion.  It looks like Klondike got lazy with their promo materials though; photoshopping two unoriginal pictures of the athletes together for the promotion isn't that impressive.  Also, the very lose tie-in with Klondike itself (thicker chocolatey shell? T.O. and Ochocinco making fun of each other? cause they're black, and they're taking the "abuse", I guess?) could be appealing, although it could also put some people off as well. Regardless though, Klondike's brand association with the two athletes should help people remember the Klondike name whether the promotion is liked or disliked, so I guess it works.

Defending Hideki Matsui's contract...by his agent.

How to become social media royalty

The NHL building social networks

The team single-handedly saving the MLS?  The Seattle Sounders.  Basketball fans in Seattle (oxymoron? I kid!) are saddened.

Aren't we in a recession?

The Florida Panthers are an anomaly. First off, they're playing professional sports in the state of Florida.  As I have mentioned previously, professional football is struggling in Florida...so, how do you think hockey is doing?  Did I mention that the Panthers haven't made the playoffs in the last 8 years either?

...did I mention that they've generated more than $4 million in new sponsorships this year and a total of more than $20 million

Yes, you read that right.  This is the same team that was literally giving away tickets last year, and now they've secured $4 million in new sponsorships?  Lets get some details...

In all, the Panthers’ parent company Sunrise Sports & Entertainment has signed up 24 new sponsors for this season – for a value of more than $4 million annually. That’s on top of the already bursting roster of sponsor deals that total more than 100 – yes, that’s why so much signage! – for a value of more than $20 million a year.

The Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler signs that adorned the dasherboards and other parts of the arena have either been removed or covered, but there’s still plenty of advertising across the arena. New deals have been forged with Guinness, Lucas Oil, Mama’s Italian Ice, Bennett Auto Supply, Gran Thornton, Boar’s Head and HotelPlanner.com, among others.

SSE and Panthers President Michael Yormark is still hoping to sell the naming rights to the ice on which the team plays and to the team’s practice facility at Incredible Ice in Coral Springs. (via The Business of Sports)

My goodness. 100 sponsors for a team that was giving away free tickets.  It sounds like Michael Yormark could sell water to a well.  Or maybe a ketchup popscicle to a lady wearing white gloves.  It's almost surprising that the Panthers have been unable to sell the rights to the ice and the practice facility.

Maybe Michael Yormark has been busy selling everything else to even notice.

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