Now? The WPS may not be in danger of folding, but they have reached the point where reorganization became necessary.

This week, in an effort to cut costs, the WPS laid off its chief operating officer and eliminated all of its national marketing employees.  You’d think that laying off your COO and eliminating any thoughts at national marketing (the owners decided to concentrate on local marketing) would lead to doubts about league viability.  But apparently, even Mary Harvey, the now ex-COO of Women’s Professional Soccer, thinks otherwise.

“I am optimistic that there is a place in the global sports landscape for this product.  The global growth rates of women’s soccer point to it, and we have established a world class league here in the United States.”

The WPS hired Melanie Fitzgerald as WPS’s manager of league operations to replace Harvey.

Harvey’s optimism aside, the WPS has certainly seen some struggles in its second year of existence.  Two teams — St. Louis and Los Angeles — now cease to exist, leaving the WPS with seven teams.

It was just this time last year that the WPS had the English Football Association worried; they were diligently working on creating a womens super league to keep English women playing soccer on their side of the pond.

Now, regardless of the optimism of those involved with the league, long term viability has to be questioned…right?

“Everyone is looking at us and saying, ‘Will they make it?’ Yes we will,’” Thomas Hofstetter, who owns the New York club Sky Blue FC, told SportsBusiness Journal. “We’re focused on stuff that will do well for us as a league, and that’s expansion, ticket sales and sponsorship. We’re doing well on all those fronts.”

Well, for now, I guess we’ll give the league the benefit of the doubt, and wait it out.

information from the San Francisco Business Times was used

EA Sports launched the newest version of its ‘Madden’ franchise of video games on the world’s largest social networking site.  The game, dubbed “Madden NFL Superstars” marks the first time that Madden has appeared as a social game.

Apparently, EA Sports realized what millions of people already know; people like to waste obscene amounts of time on Facebook.

“We’re really chasing after consumers in places where they are spending more time,” said Peter Moore, president of EA Sports.

Of course, hardcore gamers expecting the greatness that is Madden 2011 2010 (zing!) will be disappointed.  EA worked with social gaming company Playfish — they acquired Playfish last November — to create the Madden NFL Superstars game.  The game plays much more like an NFL team manager game, than an actual football game, as players manage and acquire players, but never control the actual players on the field.

The company hopes the game will encourage Facebook gamers to play “Madden” on the console, Moore said.

And how does EA Sports plan to monetize the Madden NFL Superstars game?  The same way everyone monetizes on Facebook:  allowing users to buy credits for player upgrades, frequent game play and the like.

I don’t know if the game will have the desired effect (make people play the console game) but I certainly expect good returns for EA.  Those small purchases of credits add up quickly…just ask all of the people that play Farmville.

h/t to J.W. Cannon

Jay-Z and the New York Yankees have teamed up on a merchandising deal.

This week, the two major players in the New York market have teamed up to create co-branded clothes that will be sold exclusively at Yankees stadium.  Included in the merchandising options are t-shirts, hooded sweat shirts, and of course baseball caps.

The merchandise was created to commemorate the first ‘official’ concerts at the new Yankee stadium.  The concert(s), which will take place on September 13th and 14th, will feature Jay-Z and Eminem, who is a native of the Detroit area.

The New York shows will conclude the duo’s “Home and Home” tour; they will perform in Detroit at Comerica Park on September 3rd and 4th.

h/t to Sylvio de Campos

What can Brown do for you?

Apparently, it can be the official package delivery sponsor of the NCAA’s Southeastern Conference (SEC).

The contract, which will run through June 2013, will provide UPS with official corporate sponsor status.  This will allow for UPS to use SEC logos, marketing rights, SEC television and web presence, event signage and SEC merchandise.

UPS will also have an exclusive presence at the Dr. Pepper SEC FanFare during the Conference’s annual football championship weekend and mens basketball tournament.

“Our sponsorship with the SEC will provide substantial B2B opportunities for UPS as well as an exciting platform for customer hospitality and employee recognition at some of the premier college sporting events in the country,” said Ron Rogowski, UPS vice president of global sponsorships and events.

information from Business First of Louisville was used in this article.

Somewhere Al Harris and Clay Matthews are saying…”what about me!”

Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu has long hair.  You could almost say its his trademark.

If you were ever worried that Polamalu might loose his trademark locks, fear not.  Even if he does, they’re well insured.

Dandruff shampoo Head & Shoulders has obtained a $1 million dollar insurance policy on Polamalu’s hair.  The insurance was obtained through Lloyd’s of London, which did not reveal what must be done in order for anyone to collect on the insurance policy.

Polamalu became an official spokesperson of Head & Shoulders in 2009, and has since starred in various commercials and promos for the shampoo.

Head & Shoulders is manufactured by Proctor & Gamble.

The deal is estimated to bring in seven figures annually to the Orlando team, which opens up play in the new Amway Center in October.  GEICO will come into the deal as a ‘Champions of Community’ partner.  The designation represents an elite tier of brands committed to Central Florida and the Parramore community.

As a result of the sponsorship, GEICO will receive naming rights to the Amway Center’s parking garage and a skywalk which connects the garage to the arena.  They will also receive the designation as the Official Auto Insurance of the Magic, and they’ll receive a digital signage package inside the Amway Center, presence on the Magic’s website, and will receive print advertisements, radio spots, and the like.

“We are honored to have GEICO join our ‘Champions of the Community’ partnership category for the new Amway Center,” Orlando Magic President Alex Martins said. “GEICO has been a partner with the Orlando Magic for more than 10 years, and in that time has demonstrated the qualities that align with our ‘Champions of the Community’ partners. We look forward to incorporating GEICO into our Central Florida fan base and for them to play an integral role in the new Amway Center for many years to come.”

“GEICO is proud and pleased to join the Orlando Magic and Amway Center as a ‘Champions of the Community’ partner,” said Ted Ward, GEICO vice president of marketing. “The Orlando Magic is a real champion of the community through its sponsorships and scholarships. We look forward to continuing our partnership with this outstanding franchise.”

GEICO is the fourth “Champion of Community” partner, joining PepsiCo, AirTran Airways and Harris Corporation.

The Magic open up their pre-season, and their new arena, on October 10th.  They open the regular season on October 28th, against the Washington Wizards.

Anybody looking to do some writing for a sports business site?

I’m not promising anything, but I do get a few occasional perks, I assume that would increase with more writing on the site, that I could certainly share with writers (yay! free stuff and insider information!) I do get a few people reading the site every once in awhile, so if you’re looking to get your name out, it certainly wouldn’t hurt to write for the site (although admittedly, there are certainly larger sports business sites, although I don’t think Sports Business Journal is hiring every day).

Maybe money could even get involved, who knows?

In closing, if there’s any interest, feel free to contact me at sportslawyers@gmail.com or emmettjones@sportsbusinessdigest.com

Thanks for the time.

The pure waiver claim means that the Dodgers will receive no players in return for releasing Ramirez, but that the White Sox will be obligated to pay Ramirez’s remaining $4.3 million dollar salary for 2010 (Ramirez is in the midst of a 2 year, $45 million contract).

Earlier Sunday night, there had been talks of other players being involved in the trade, which would have likely led to the Dodgers paying a portion of Ramirez’s salary, but those deals seemingly fell apart late Sunday evening.

Although he’s been hampered by injuries all season, Ramirez is batting .311 with 8 HR and 40 RBI in 66 games.

Sidenote:  Yes…Manny Ramirez and Ozzie Guillen will be in the same clubhouse.  It is a great time to be a beat writer covering the Chicago White Sox.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, although its value is believed to be in the low-to-mid six figure range (annually).

Steak n Shake will receive game night give-aways, on-court promotions, and courtside signage.  They will also be involved with team community relations programs.

“Steak n Shake is proud to partner with the Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever, since basketball and Steakburgers are both Indiana traditions,” said Sardar Biglari, Steak n Shake’s CEO. Biglari added, “Because Steak n Shake is committed to the Indianapolis community, cheering on both teams enables us to participate in and relate to the community year round. We are excited about our new relationship, and we look forward to thrilling seasons for both teams.”

The new partnership already began with the 2010 season of the Indiana Fever, and will continue this fall with the 2010-2011 Indiana Pacers season.

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Sex sells.

I know, I don’t believe it either (I thought it was a rumor!) but apparently naked people make people want to open up their wallets and spend their money.

…even when the naked person is used to sell shoes.

Specifically, Reebok has hired UK Actress/model/Playboy Magazine cover girl, Kelly Brook to help sell their new line of Easy-Tone shoes.

For those who don’t know about Easy-Tones…

These sneakers apparently build your body 12 different ways, just like Wonderbread. Reebok claims these sneakers provide 28 percent more gluteus maximus muscle activation, and 11% more calf and hamstring activation.

Reebok’s site explains that “DMX technology” and “balance pods” are the key. “Air travels between the forefoot and heel pod, creating super soft cushioning. The moving air creates a natural instability and forces your muscles to adapt to the air volume within the pods.”

Okay, here’s what I think they’re saying: The reason these sneakers give you a better workout is because they throw you off-balance and make it more difficult to walk in them.

(Reebok also claims that) “due to the instability of the balance pods, activities with unplanned side-to-side movement and/or any lateral-movement-sports such as tennis or basketball-should be avoided.” (via Business Pundit)

I know that Reebok has struggled in recent years, but I thought that their signing of John Wall, and the Zig-Tech line, were going to be the strategies used to get back into the shoe game. Even without Kelly Brook, toning shoes are already the fastest growing segment in the footwear industry, with nearly $1.5 billion in projected sales this year alone.

But apparently they thought the nudie card was necessary…to sell shoes.

h/t to With Leather

In part due to a lack of competition in Olympic Women’s Hockey, which is in danger of not being offered in the 2014 Winter Olympics, womens hockey officials and the NHL met todiscuss the viability of a womens hockey league.

As you may or may not remember, the U.S. and Canadian womens hockey teams dominated their European opponents, before the Canadians beat the Americans 2-0 in the Olympic final.  Either the Canadians or Americans have won the gold medal since womens hockey was introduced to the Olympics in 1998.  That in part led IOC president Jacque Rogge to question the longterm viability of womens hockey in the Olympics.

Maybe Olympic hockey was in question, but the popularity and competitive nature of hockey in North America is far from being in dispute.

“We had 5,000 girls playing hockey when the first national team started in 1990, and now we have 60,000,” said the four-time American Olympic defender Angela Ruggiero. Canada has 80,000 registered female players, but of the next 12 countries that play women’s hockey, none have more than 5,000, and most have only a few hundred.

The problem is in Europe outside Scandinavia, where centers of men’s hockey like Russia, Slovakia and Germany devote virtually no resources to the women’s game. In North America there are two Canada-based semipro leagues for women who have finished college. (via NYT)

So, with womens hockey being a popular commodity in North America, and teetering on the edge of non-existence in the Olympic-world…a professional womens hockey league doesn’t seem like a far-fetched step.

“I was in a meeting just this week with the N.H.L. and all the stakeholders in women’s hockey, and I think we have the ear of the N.H.L.,” said Hayley Wickenheiser, 32, a Canadian forward regarded as one of the greatest female players ever and the keynote speaker at the final day of the World Hockey Summit here.

“They’re looking at it right now from a sponsorship level to get it off the ground,” Wickenheiser said, referring to the N.H.L. “We’re not talking about big salaries, just sensible steps to get it on the ice to entertain people and see where it can go, and then down the road having an elite, W.N.B.A.-type league, which I think we could do.”

Bill Daly, the N.H.L. deputy commissioner, said the talks have taken place over a number of months and were very preliminary, but they are aimed at setting up a “women’s league or women’s competition.”

“We’ve talked about potential structures that might work, the need for a business plan, and our efforts to be helpful to the extent we can be,” Daly said.

Brian Burke, general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, said his team, the wealthiest club in the N.H.L., supported the idea of a competition that would foster the development of women’s hockey.

Although it certainly won’t be easy, the WNBA model is an example, even if they’re seeing increased attendance this year, the hope is that a womens professional hockey league could help to create some competitive balance amongst North America and the rest of the world.

Competitive balance, which would hopefully keep womens hockey in the Olympics in 2014 and beyond.

The NBA is partnering with Chinese film company Shanghai Film Group (SFG) to produce a Chinese-language movie for Asian audiences.  The film, entitled Amazing, will pair NBA superstars Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, and others with top actors and actresses from Asia.

It is the first time the NBA has partnered with a non-U.S. film studio to release a major film overseas.

It is also the first time Shanghai Film Group, the largest cinema chain in China, has partnered with a U.S. sports league.

As for the film itself, it is set to debut next summer.  The plot?  It’s a story about young people who achieve their dreams through hard work.  The cast includes China film and TV star Huang Xiaoming; south Korean actress and model Kim A. Joong; and Eric Mabius, an American actor who recently appeared in “Ugly Betty.”

Of course, the NBA has long since had a foothold in the Chinese marketplace.

The NBA launched NBA China in 2008 with Disney/ESPN, Bank of China Group Investment, Legend Holdings, China Merchant Group, and Li Ka Shing Foundation, who collectively contributed $253 million. The league also formed a joint venture with AEG to develop NBA-style arenas in the nation. The Shanghai World Expo Culture Center was unveiled on May 1.

The NBA’s marketing partners in China include 7-11 Stores, Adidas, Akamai, Amway, Cisco, Coca Cola, EA Sports, Everbright Bank, Gatorade, Lenovo, Nike, Spalding, Toyota, and Visa.

NBA games and programming are available on 51 television and digital media outlets in greater China and NBA.com/China now ranks as the largest basketball Internet site in China for traffic.

The league also has eight retail stores in China at the Shanghai World Expo Culture Center. And the NBA says that branded merchandise is located in more than 30,000 retail locations, with sales up 100% this fiscal year. Kobe Bryant topped the NBA jersey sales in China for the third consecutive year, per the NBA. Yao Ming ranks 6th.

The NBA will return to play its fifth set of pre-season games in China when the Houston Rockets and the New Jersey Nets play in Beijing and Guangzhou this October as part of NBA China Games 2010. (via Mediapost)

Again, look for Amazing in theaters sometime next summer.

Break open your piggy banks, the Golden State Warriors are looking for investors.

Joe Lacob and Peter Gruber, who bought the team last July, are looking for additional investors according to Lacob’s spokeswoman, Cheryl Heinonen.

According to the Sports Business Journal/San Francisco Business Times Lacob and Guber will finance about one-third of the $450 million dollars they paid for the team.

The sale included the group putting up $300 million in equity, with another $150 million outstanding.  $108 of that $150 million would be covered via the NBA’s credit facility, with the group relying on investors and other lenders to cover the remaining $42 million.

The sale is expected to close within the next two months.

Lacob and Gruber purchased the team from Chris Cohan, who was a 100% owner until 2004 when he sold 20% of the club to various Bay Area investors.

(via San Francisco Business Times)

And no, the deal has nothing to do with the team’s record or any of their fans proclivity to “drink away the pain.”

The gin, made by New Amsterdam Spirits Company, will be featured at the Coliseum’s East Side Club.  The club will serve signature gin-based cocktails and branded signage will be placed throughout the space.  The sponsorship will also include the use of official team marks and logos for consumer retail promotions.

It is the first sports franchise partnership for the Gin company, which launched in 2008.

“We are excited to kick off the season with the support of New Amsterdam Gin,” said Robert Kinnard, Senior Director of Marketing and Corporate Sales for the Oakland Raiders. “The brand is a perfect fit for the Raider Nation and the New Amsterdam Bar is sure to bring a new level of excitement to the in-stadium experience.”

“New Amsterdam is delighted to launch this new relationship with the Oakland Raiders, one of the most popular teams in the NFL today,” said Gerard Thoukis, Director of Marketing for New Amsterdam Gin. “With our distillery located in nearby Modesto, we are proud to partner with an organization that has a legacy of dedication and commitment to our Northern California community. We are thrilled to introduce New Amsterdam Gin to the Raider Nation.”

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The Raiders will play their first home game of the pre-season this weekend against San Francisco.  They open up their home schedule during the regular season on October 3, against the Houston Texans.

Chad Ochocinco is everywhere.  You may have spotted him on his VH1 reality show, Ochocinco: The Ultimate Catch.  Or interviewing his superhero co-hort Terrell Owens on television.  Or dancing with Cheryl Burke last season on television’s Dancing with the Stars.  “Battling” comedian Kevin Love on twitter…or even on the football field itself.

Now, he’s invading the breakfast table.

Yes, Chad Ochocinco has a cereal.  Aptly named Ochocincos, the cereal will officially be released on September 7th at the Kroger Marketplace store in Newport, KY, and online at PLBSports.

PLB Sports, known for their athlete endorsed food products, are also the creators of Terrell Owens, T.O.’s cereal last year.

“Chad is a great personality, and with his involvement in social media and his interaction with the fans, he was an athlete that we were very excited to work with,” said PLB Sports President Ty Ballou.  “One way or another, America has learned and is continuing to learn more about Chad Ochocinco off the field, and they’re finding out how great he is.  Who wouldn’t want to share a breakfast table with him?”

For those possibly thinking that “Chad is all about Chad”, he’s not; a portion of the Ochocinco’s proceeds will be donated to Feed the Children.

Chad has worked with FTC on numerous occasions in the past, including a contest with Degree Deodorant and during his stint on Dancing With the Stars.