Red Bull has a new product endorser.

While New Jersey Nets guard Deron Williams was scheduled to arrive at his NBA season kickoff party by helicopter, but inclement weather forced those plans to be canceled. That, of course, did not stop Williams from arriving at the party, or being introduced as Red Bulls’ newest spokesperson.

“Even though the original plan of checking out the skyline from a heli didn’t go as planned, it was an incredible night out,” said Williams. “I had a fun ride into Manhattan, and my friends at Red Bull threw a great party to welcome me to the family.” (via Press Release)

Although terms of the deal were not disclosed, Williams’ party, Red Bulls’ first major activation with Williams can be viewed on his page on the Red Bull website.

Williams joins an increasingly large roster of athletes sponsored by Red Bull, including NBA players Blake Griffin and Rajon Rondo, MLB players Tim Lincecum and Jimmy Rollins, NFL players Reggie Bush, and DeMarcus Ware, and a host of others.

Melendez has agreed to an exclusive equipment contract/endorsement deal with fitness apparel company Everlast.

Under the agreement, Melendez will continue to exclusively use Everlast equipment for his training needs, while also playing a role in direct-to-consumer/retail marketing initiatives . The fitness apparel company will also become the official equipment sponsor of Melendez’s gym — El Nino Training Center.

“Gilbert Melendez is the perfect athlete to add to the Everlast stable of fighters,” said Matt Cowan, VP of Marketing and Products for Everlast. “He is focused, driven and at the apex of the sport of mixed martial arts. His dedication and strength make him a natural fit for our brand.”

“Becoming a member of the Everlast team is the next step toward realizing my goals in this sport,” said Melendez. “Having the support of such a great company both personally and at the gym level has relieved some of the stress of training and allowed me to primarily focus on my upcoming title defense. I am excited to be a brand ambassador for the best fight sports brand in the world!” (via Press Release)

Details on Everlast and all of its products can be found on the Everlast website.

Jackson has signed with Rawlings Sporting Goods to endorse Rawlings’ NRG Quantum football helmets. As part of Jackson’s endorsement deal, he will wear the Quantum helmets during this upcoming season, and appear in Rawlings’ print, digital and video marketing materials. Jackson joins two other running backs, Ronnie Brown and Frank Gore, as endorsers, on Rawlings’ “Football Advisory Staff”.

“I really like the fit and feel of the helmet, and I feel protected and secure when I wear it,” Jackson said. “I’m looking forward to being the face of Rawlings and their Quantum football helmet and increasing their presence in the NFL.” (via Rawlings)

Amidst many concerns over head injuries, CTE, concussions and the like, Rawlings is of course touting the new safety features of the NRG helmet. They include,

• Rawlings AIA™ – Active Impact Absorption™ has dual air bags with a scientifically-designed spacer material allowing for instant and long-lasting protection, unlike standard conventional foams.
• Rawlings C3™ – Custom Comfort Cushion™ allows players to customize their helmets’ fit. The proprietary rate-dependent passive impact absorption cushioning provides maximum protection without sacrificing comfort.
• The Rawlings Heat Exchange™ has strategically placed vents and padding systems that create optimized air flow and temperature control.

As for how Jackson was chosen as an endorser for the Rawlings’ brand? Look no further than his hard hitting playing style,

“We’re excited to add Steven to our Football Advisory Staff as we continue our commitment to develop helmets that meet the protective needs of today’s athletes at all levels,” said Mike Thompson, Senior Vice President of Marketing for St. Louis-based Rawlings. “Watching Steven locally, we appreciate his hard-hitting, physical playing style and are excited to see him lead the evolution of the Rawlings Football brand. We recognize the factors of style, comfort and technology that Steven looks for in a helmet and the NRG Quantum meets his high-level demands.”

For more information on the NRG helmet, and to look for Jackson in Rawlings’ campaigns on Rawlings website, and their Facebook page.

Under Armour has a new product endorser.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell reported that Under Armour has come to terms with the ninth overall pick in this year’s NBA draft, Kemba Walker. Walker, who led his Connecticut Huskies to a National Championship victory this past April, is the first player from this year’s NBA draft class to sign a shoe deal. The fact that he’s signed with Under Armour could potentially make things a little interesting though, considering the fact that he was drafted by the Charlotte Bobcats,

If Walker turns out to be the real deal, it might get a little bit awkward. He was selected ninth in the draft last month by the Charlotte Bobcats, which is of course owned by Michael Jordan, the greatest shoe endorser of all time. The Jordan Brand, which is owned by Nike, make up 91.5 percent of all basketball shoes, according to SportsOneSource, a sports market retail tracking firm.

At 0.19 percent of the total basketball shoe market share, in dollars, Under Armour has less of a share than Fila (0.34), Converse (0.78), And 1 (0.98), Reebok (2.45) and Adidas (3.47), according to SportsOneSource. (via CNBC)

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, although it is believed to be a multi-year deal.

The signing of Kemba Walker continues an impressive run for UA. In recent months the company, among other things, has signed Tom Brady to an endorsement deal, and had a prominent showing during college football’s national championship game, being the official endorsers of the National Champion Auburn Tigers.

Favre has spent the last year working with Top Five Laboratories creating a energy-boosting product called XRP Energy.

XRP Energy is a specially formulated extended release energy product in an attractive 1.9-gram-per-serving size stick pack. It is expressly designed to boost cellular energy and to restore mental alertness when fatigued. Pour the powder directly into your mouth (think “Pixie Stick”) and due to the patented “smooth dissolve technology” and proprietary “extended release technology”, the effect can be felt in minutes, with up to six or seven hours of sustained energy-enhancing performance without the ‘crash’ often associated with other energy product consumption. Each stick pack serving includes the nutrients choline, taurine, and vitamins B6 and B12 and has only four calories. It is exceptionally travel-friendly, easy to open and tamper evident. The smooth-dissolving powdered formula is available in a great grape/cranberry flavor and requires no messy mixing of water or other fluids, thereby totally eliminating portion control concerns.

After initial success in select convenience stores in Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, XRP is going national. That’s right, for everyone who can’t get enough of Brett Favre, you may soon see him in a convenience store near you!

“We are very encouraged by the initial market response that has been generated by XRP Energy in our test sites, and we can now confirm that the uniqueness of the product, its great taste and proven performance has broad consumer appeal,” saidBuddy King, President of Top Five Laboratories. “The key for breaking into this highly contested market niche is having a truly distinctive product that performs. Utilizing pharmaceutical technology used in the prescription drug market gives us the distinction and edge needed to succeed. Based on our five-state market study, we’re confident to conclude we have both, coupled with the necessary horsepower and resources required to launch and market this product on a widespread national basis.”

Favre himself, on the product,

“Personally, I love the benefits of XRP Energy and how it truly delivers energy for the day,” said former NFL Quarterback and XRP Spokesperson Brett Favre. “I’m not one to easily endorse products, but this one got my attention because of its fabulous taste and outstanding performance. I experience no jitteriness that is often characteristic of other energy products, only a terrific initial boost followed by a continued feeling of focus and alertness. I am proud to be actively engaged with this product and I genuinely recommend it to my own circle of friends, athletes and family, for good reason. It works!”

According to Top Five Labs, XRP Energy has been proven safe to use in MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL and MLS. More details on the product can be found on the Top Five Labs website.

[format] Weeks after being traded to the New York Knicks, and recently appearing on Saturday Night Live, Carmelo Anthony has inked an endorsement deal with pre-paid mobile provider Boost Mobile. The deal is localized, as both Boost and Carmelo are looking to capitalize on Carmelo joining the Knicks as the team moves into the NBA Playoffs. [/format]

Boost Mobile is already the Knicks’ official wireless telecommunications partner, so the thought of adding the Knicks newest commodity to their roster is certainly not a stretch.

[quotes]“New York is a key market for Boost Mobile,” said Bob Stohrer, vice president-Marketing, Boost Mobile. “We couldn’t be happier that Carmelo has decided to team up with Boost to help build on the momentum both Boost and the Knicks have in New York City.”[/quotes]

To highlight the deal, Boost Mobile unveiled their new advertising campaign with a gigantic Carmelo Anthony billboard. The billboard, which is situated near Madison Square Garden, is accompanied by the slogan ‘Be Heard’. The campaign will also engage fans on local radio, billboards, in-store merchandise and giveaways.

[quotes]“I am really excited to be joining Boost Mobile,” said Anthony. “Boost is a brand that has strong roots in New York City, and together we will definitely be heard in the coming weeks!”[/quotes]

Look for Carmelo, the Knicks, and their fans to make themselves ‘heard’ as the NBA season winds down and the playoffs begin in mid-April.

[format] The NFL’s All-Time leading rusher has signed a deal with Full Tilt Poker to become a “Friend Of FullTiltPoker.net”. Smith will represent FullTiltPoker.net at various live events, including the National Heads-Up Poker Championship, which starts today in Las Vegas. He will also represent Full Tilt Poker at the 2011 World Series of Poker event, having participated in, and been the official starter of the event in 2010. [/format]

Smith joins many other entertainment and sports celebrities as Full Tilt Poker ambassadors, including Don Cheadle, Mekhi Phifer, and James Blake among others.

…newest endorser of UGG Boots.  Seriously.

UGG’s, which coincidentally are made by Decker Outdoor, a men’s surf brand, are actually looking to reintroduce the ‘masculinity ideal’ into their products.  Tom Brady was apparently the perfect endorser through which to achieve that goal.

“We have decided that we needed to just get the word out there that it’s a brand for guys,” CEO Angel Martinez said, “give guys permission to wear UGG. And who better to give guys permission to wear UGG than … Tom Brady.”

“He’s the guy every guy I know wants to be,” Martinez said, adding that it is Brady’s “cool under pressure” quality that men want. “Guys like that.” (via CNBC)

Granted, Brady has spent a lot of this NFL season being ridiculed for having the hair of teen-pop superstar Justin Bieber, but that’s neither here nor there.  Comparison’s to a teenie-bopper icon aside, how could UGG turn down the opportunity to work with Brady when he unabashedly loves their product so much?

“I have worn and loved the UGG brand for a long time,” No. 12 said in a statement released this morning. “This collaboration gives me an opportunity to work with a leading global brand with a great history and a true vision for the future of its men’s collection. It’s an exciting time to be part of the UGG Australia team.”

CNBC stock analyst Jim Cramer believes that Brady’s endorsement of UGG could cause their stock to jump at least 10%.  At the end of business on Monday, the stock price had already increased more than 5%, closing at $76.90.

ANTA Sports Products Limited (HKSE: 2020.hk), a leading branded sportswear enterprise in China is pleased to announce that it has signed NBA superstar Kevin Garnett as its second endorsed NBA player following Luis Scola in Beijing today. Kevin Garnett’s list of sporting achievements includes the title of NBA Champion, and NBA Most Valuable Player, of both the regular season and the All-Star Game, as well as NBA Defensive Player of the Year. Kevin Garnett will kick off his China tour in Beijing, Xiamen and Shanghai where he will take part in a series of basketball events to mark the NBA’s highest-paid and greatest power forward joining the family of ANTA Sports. The theme of the tour is “For Basketball. Choose China.”

Kevin Garnett is passionate about basketball. With innateness and hard work, he was able to join the NBA when he was in high school, making him one of the youngest players ever to have played in the NBA. At around seven feet tall, Kevin Garnett is one of the most outstanding all-around players. His amazing bounding, flexibility and dynamic performance on the court makes him one of the most feared players for opponents whether he is in the role of offense or defense. His excellent performance includes 4-time NBA regular-season leader of rebounds per game, and he is the only player in NBA history who averaged over 20 points and 10 rebounds per game for a consecutive nine seasons. With his determination, he has always dreamed of winning the NBA Championship, a dream that finally came true with his team, the Boston Celtics. His motto “Blood, Sweat and Tears” fits nicely with ANTA Sports’ motto of “Keep Moving.”

To enhance the brand image, ANTA will pull together the best R&D resources to tailor the designated basketball shoes forKevin Garnett that offer maximum performance, comfort and protection. In the upcoming NBA season Garnett will be competing in that pair of ANTA’s basketball shoes impressively. In a gesture to thank the fans of Kevin Garnett for their support, ANTA Sports will launch a new “KG” basketball sportswear series, which carries a smart logo that reflects the unique characters of the series.

Ding Shizhong, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer said, “I would like to offer my warmest welcome to Kevin Garnett for his joining ANTA Sports as an endorsed player. Kevin Garnett has been successfully voted 11 times to be game starter for the forward position in the NBA All-Star Game. This is a strong proof of his enormous popularity in both the United States andChina. Leveraging Kevin Garnett’s worldwide popularity and influence in the sport, and with our extensive basketball resources and nationwide integrated marketing strategy, the joining of Kevin Garnett will no doubt help support the sustainability of the basketball industry in China, enhance our brand image, and bolster our leadership and competitiveness in the basketball market.”

There are 300 million basketball enthusiasts and participants in China. That is why ANTA Sports has always made the sport one of its key priorities for development. Since 2004 ANTA Sports has been the exclusive sponsor of sportswear and equipment for the Chinese Basketball Association. The Company has a number of up-and-coming endorsed players in the CBA. It also has major sponsorship resources with high popularity such as the Chinese University Basketball Association and the TV programme “HOOPARK.” With Kevin Garnett joining Luis Scola as our endorsed NBA players, ANTA Sports now has assembled the strongest portfolio of sponsorship and endorsement resources that include top-tier basketball leagues and endorsed players, which favours the sustainability of ANTA Sports’ development in long term.

It’s always a welcoming sight to witness all-star, professional basketball players excelling on and off the basketball court and still finding time to give back to the community. The “King” of the Cleveland Cavailer’s, Lebron James, and the “Superman” of the Orlando Magic Dwight Howard are two such athletes. These supreme athletes are admired by all through there unbelieveable skills on the court. Children of all ages live, breathe, and dream of growing up to be just like these superstars of basketball.  Billions of people each year eat at McDonald’s, a multi-million dollar fast food franchise, and families take their kids to the fast-food restaurant for entertainment. What a great idea it is to combine NBA greats who so many look up to with a multi-million dollar fast-food business that people can’t live without.  Lebron James signed a multi- year endorsement deal with the fast food chain.  Add that to the list of other endorsements James has which include: Nike, State Farm,  Coca- Cola, and Bubblicious and your looking at a NBA giant who will be worth billions over time.  The amount of money James will receive from Mcdonald’s is not yet known, but Dwight Howard signed a $3 million endorsement deal with the company for three years.  ”Last year, Forbes Magazine estimated the 25-year-old made more than $40 million in salary and endorsements.” (Via  NBA.com) Lebron and Mcdonald’s had talks over the past four years so a partnership with the franchise had been well in the making. For those who are unaware, Mcdonald’s has had a long running relationship with Lebron James which started back in his all-star basketball high school days. The “King” of the Cleveland Cavaliers is a prime example of what Mcdonald’s stands for, and James’ two sons are an enhancement to the company’s image as well.

“McDonald’s and I make a great team,” James said. “We share many of the same core values, including  a commitment to excellence and giving back to the community. I’m also excited about the opportunity to work with Ronald Mcdonald House Charities, which helps improve the lives of so many children and their families around the world.” (Via news-herald.com)

Lebron isn’t stopping with charity work with Mcdonald’s, he will also be doing advertising for the company as well. “Lebron is an All-Star both on the court and in the community,” said Neil Golden, Mcdonald’s USA chief marketing officer. (Via news-herald.com) When you go to eat at the restaurant, you will find a picture of James on the outside of your fountain-drink cups. You can’t help but take a minute and ponder about what this basketball powerhouse will accomplish next. “In March, James lent his support to the McDonald’s All-American high school games in Columbus, Ohio.” (Via NBA.com) The money raised from this event will be used in Ronald Mcdonald Houses across Ohio.

Earlier this year the “King” and “Superman” game together for a great cause. Although, they are rivals on the basketball court, they put together a commercial for Mcdonald’s which aired during the superbowl. The commercial is a remake of the famous commercial with Michael Jordan and legendary basketball great Larry Bird.  Right now, as James and Howard are battling in the play-off’s to have a chance at the NBA title we as fans have to take a moment to realize what these stars accomplish off the court as well. There is a great chance that these two powerhouses will meet again and play each other in the playoff’s. Everyone is sure to have their favorite. I know I do! Enjoy the playoff’s eveyone.

“Nike’s relationship with LeBron has created innovative basketball products and captivating campaigns,” said Nike.

James, who plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers, had a seven-year contract with Nike that was due to expire soon, according to Cleveland newspaper The Plain Dealer. It said the new deal will keep the two together for at least the next seven years.

James, who becomes a free agent in July, won the National Basketball Association’s Most Valuable Player award in 2009. (via Reuters)

The Tiger Woods media storm continues.

In light of the Giambi-esque apology posted on Tiger Woods website on Tuesday, you knew it was only a matter of time before some company looked to cash in on the situation.  My personal endorsement choice was Southwest Airlines (Wanna get away?) but alas, they are not in the running.  Who is? AshleyMadison.com.

TMZ has obtained a contract sent to Tiger by the people over at AshleyMadison.com — a website for people who want to secretly cheat on their spouses — offering him $5 million to provide services in connection with the “advertisement, endorsement, sale and promotion” of the website.

The site’s honchos never call Tiger out for cheating … they just think Tiger and his self-proclaimed “personal sins” are a perfect match for their cheeky agenda. (via TMZ)

The offer to Tiger can be found here. Obviously, Team Tiger is turning this one down.  Especially in light of the fact that he’s reputable endorsement deals seemingly haven’t been effected by the situation.  What is interesting though is the fact that AshleyMadison.com has essentially generated nationwide free publicity by doing absolutely nothing.

It really is crazy, and goes to show the star power of Tiger Woods; a company mentions his name, and they get news articles written about them.  Women allege that they had a sexual relationship with them, and now the entire nation knows their names.

How could Nike and Gatorade turn down that sort of notoriety?

Although she fell in tonight’s match against Caroline Wozniacki, it looks like rising tennis phenom Melanie Oudin did manage to turn her time at the U.S. Open into a new endorsement deal.  Darren Rovell reports,

The company is BackOffice Associates, a Massachusetts-based technology company.

As part of a multi-year deal, Oudin brought an apparel bag out to tonight’s match with a BackOffice patch — not allowed to be larger than four square inches — on it.

Oudin will also make hospitality appearances for the company, which has an office in Atlanta, near where Oudin grew up, her BEST agent Sam Duvall told CNBC.

The company also sponsors James Blake and golfers Jonathan Byrd and Boo Weekley.

No matter what happens tonight, endorsement deals are expected to come to Oudin, who already has deals with Wilson and Adidas.

As Rovell goes onto mention, the area in which Oudin should see some interest is in the hotel category.  Her story with the Marriott and her subsequent move to the Intercontinental Hotel has practically written itself into a sponsorship opportunity.

Congratulations to Melanie for a very gutsy Open performance.

Press release via PLB Sports:

I Love Me Some T.O.’s……..

Have you ever wanted to share your breakfast with a football star? Well, now you can with a bowl of the new, Terrell Owens’ T.O.’s honey nut frosted oat cereal. Pittsburgh based PLB Sports has teamed up with Owens to market an extremely limited edition cereal in the Buffalo, N.Y. area.

T.O.’s Honey Nut Toasted Oats Cereal will hit the shelves of Tops Markets the end of July.  Tops Markets, LLC, is headquartered in Williamsville, N.Y., and operates 71 full-service supermarkets & five franchise supermarkets.  With over 10,000 associates, Tops is the leading full-service grocery retailer in Western New York, Central New York, including Rochester, & Northwestern Pennsylvania.  For more information about Tops Markets, visit the company’s Web site at www.topsmarkets.com.  Aside from in stores, T.O.’s can also be found on the worldwide web at www.plbsports.com.

Entering his 14^th season in the NFL, Owens, was welcomed to his new team, the Buffalo Bills, by receiving a key to the city from Mayor Byron Brown. With more than 14,000 career receiving yards & 139 touchdowns this prolific athlete is sure to be a very valuable addition to the team.  Outside of football, Owens gives back to the community through his Catch A Dream Foundation, which was created to erase hunger & the lack of basic daily needs from households throughout our nation by providing the necessary resources children & youth require to realize & act on their dreams. We, at PLB Sports, are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Terrell on a new cereal product. “Terrell’s performance & overall body of work within the NFL make him standout as truly one of the elite players in the league. T.O. Cereal should be on every Bills fan breakfast table as the playoffs are in site for 2009” President of PLB Sports Ty Ballou explains.

PLB Sports is familiar with paring star athletes with food products & saw a great opportunity with Owens. Best known for the development & launch of Flutie Flakes for football great Doug Flutie & MarinO’s cereal for Dan Marino, the company has continued success with such athletes as Pedro Martinez, Ed McCaffrey, Ben Roethlisberger, Carmelo Anthony & Dustin Pedroia. For more information, please contact Merett Ballou at PLB Sports Inc. at 412-787-8800 or mballou@plbsports.com.

I’m actually surprised it took this long.

If there was ever anyone who had the personality that screams “put me on the front of a cereal box”, it was, and is Terrell Owens.  Larger than life, fairly arrogant, a big flashy smile…the product practically makes itself.

The Terrell Owens cereal (aptly named, T.O.’s) comes by way of PLB Sports, the same company that made the Flutie Flakes cereal some years ago.  The cereal technically launches in the Buffalo area at the end of the month, but you can already pre-order the cereal from the PLB website.

Below, see exclusive pictures of the Terrell Owens cereal, which launches July 30th, in Buffalo.

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So…lets recap. Reality Show on VH1? check. Dating a Supermodel? Check. On the front of a cereal box? check.  Its pretty good to be Terrell Owens right now.  Did I mention that he plays football as well…and is a multi-millionaire?

2K Sports announced today that Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals, the 2009 Maurice “Rocket” Richard Award winner and Hart Memorial Trophy candidate, will be featured as the cover athlete and spokesman for the next iteration of the popular NHL 2K franchise, NHL® 2K10.

In celebration of the announcement, Ovechkin will be participating in 2K Sports’ first-ever outdoor hockey motion capture session tonight in the Roman Plaza at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas from 8:30-11:30pm PT. The open-air rink recalls the September 27, 1991, LA Kings vs. New York Rangers hockey showdown when Wayne Gretzky led the Kings to victory in a similarly unusual and picturesque open-air setting at the famed Las Vegas resort. Joining Ovechkin on the ice will be Vancouver Canucks center and 2009 Selke Trophy finalist, Ryan Kesler, along with play-by-play commentator for the San Jose Sharks, Randy Hahn, who will act as host MC. Only media will be allowed into the rink area for this private event, as synthetic ice will be laid down to create a special hockey rink and 2K Sports’ game producers will put Ovechkin through a number of dynamic drills to capture his signature style data for NHL 2K10.

As far as interesting hockey figures go, Ovechkin has to be at, or very close to, the top of the list.  Even though I’m required to hate him when he plays the Penguins, I have to admire the fact that he always seems to be genuinely enjoying himself on the ice.  A great, if not obvious choice by 2k sports to use the guy who is arguably the most charismatic hockey figure for the cover of their game. And, in case you’re wondering, Ovechkin has appeared on video game covers before (see EA Sports NHL ’09).  As an aside, How many casual sports fans can name 10 hockey players? Again, not that Ovi isn’t a great choice, but how often are hockey game creators pigeonholed into choosing from a very short list of people due to the fact that no casual fan will know any of the more obscure players?  Speaks a lot about the popularity of the NHL and its players, does it not?

PlanetBox360 — Alex Ovechkin Announced as cover athlete for NHL 2K10