Ghost at the Zoo

The Zoo York Institute, in association with Def Jam and Cornerstone Promotion, have launched an exclusive collaboration that celebrates the recent release of Ghostface Killah’s critically-acclaimed new album, “The Big Doe Rehab.” This highly-anticipated collab features a co-branded skateboard deck and T-shirt adorned with custom graphics that pay homage to Ghost’s new album, as well as the abundance of AKA’s the hip-hop icon has adopted over the past fifteen years. Limited to less than 500 promo-only pieces and slated to release in early February 2008, these co-op collectibles will be available exclusively through in-store and online promos from Def Jam, Cornerstone, and of course, the Zoo.

Logan Aldridge Inspires Great Atlantic Lacrosse

Thirty account managers at Great Atlantic Lacrosse Co., which is part of Eurosport, were enthralled by a meeting with Logan Aldridge, a 16 year old lacrosse and wakeboard enthusiast who attends Ravenscroft School in Raleigh. He is best known for rebounding after losing his left arm in a wakeboarding accident in June 2004, returning to his favorite sports, and achieving at even higher levels. Aldridge has since become nationally-known motivational speaker.

"We brought in Logan because his story is a powerful motivator for everyone, no matter what challenge they face,” said Chris Steffens, director of sales. “He connected with our sales team not only because of his passion for lacrosse, but also because his story has an impact on everyone who hears it.”

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Nike ACG Launches Duo-Film Competition

As part of its Sweetspots film project, Nike ACG launching two competitions. One offers a chance for the athlete to show off his or her skills on the slopes by submitting their own Sweetspot; the second offers an opportunity to join the Sweetspots film crew in July 2008 in Patagonia to help produce next winter’s first Sweetspot. The deadline for both competitions is April 1. Dick's Sporting Goods recently relaunched Nike ACG as an exclusive in its stores.

www.nikeacg.com

Under Armour High School All-American Game

Under Armour is the title sponsor of the ESPNU High School All-American Game debuting Saturday, Jan. 5, 2008 at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, FL. The newly-titled Under Armour High School All-American Game will showcase more than 80 of the country's top prep football prospects. The game will be broadcast live on ABC at 2 p.m. ET.

Nike Bauer Goes Retro

Nike Bauer Hockey has designed retro skates and sticks for the Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres as part of a special outdoor game being played January 1 at Ralph Wilson Stadium, home of the Buffalo Bills. The skates are replica Bauer skates first introduced in 1968. The equipment will be autographed and auctioned off with proceeds to benefit the NHL Players' Association's Goals & Dreams fund's efforts in the two cities. Launched in 1999, Goals & Dreams has donated complete sets of equipment to over 8,000 underprivileged kids in 17 countries. (Shown, Bauer's 1968-1969 catalog.)

Nike Bauer Blog

Denson, Hainer, Plank Crack Sports Top 50

Nike's Charles Denson ranked 13th on SportsBusiness Journal's 50 Most Influential People In Sports Business for 2007. Adidas's Herb Rainer came in at 17, and Under Armour's Kevin Plank, 42. The rest of the list includes an assortment of team owners, sports league commissioners, sports media tycons, and major sports sponsors, etc.

Accessing the list, CNBC columnist Darren Rovell praised SBJ for putting Denson on the list instead of Phil Knight - a common mistake - since Knight isn't involved in day-to-day stuff. He surmised that Mark Parker didn't make it since the mag only wanted one person per slot. Nonetheless, he argued that for donating $100 million to the University of Oregon, Knight could have earned a spot as a sponsor. Steve & Barry's or Dick's Sporting Goods also merit a spot. "They are huge players in the sports merchandise marketplace."

BelaHockey.com Goes Live

Earlier this month, BelaHockey.com went live, producing the first hockey line just for girls. The site offers polka-dotted sticks, pink-and-purple hockey socks and even a scarf to help players keep the hair out of their faces as they speed around the ice. A partner in the business is Cammi Granato, captain of the U.S. women's hockey teams that won the gold medal at the 1998 Olympics in Nagano and the silver in 2002 in Salt Lake City.

BelaHockey.com

Is a Private Jet Your Definition of Success?

For Ed Stack at Dick's Sporting Goods, it looks like he needs his own terminal...

Dick's is planning to build a 1-million-square-foot office campus next to Pittsburgh International Airport to accommodate a growing workforce. The first phase of construction, including 610,000 square feet of office space, related amenities, and a 60,000-square-foot aircraft terminal.

The campus would sit on 116 acres in the North Field development owned by the Allegheny County Airport Authority, just south of Route 60 at the Flaugherty Run interchange. It would have direct access to a taxiway to accommodate air travel by employees and vendors.

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An Intelligent Football

The new Puma V1. 08 ball, which is being officially launched on January 1, contains a layer of d3o on the inside wall of the ball. By using d3o in the ball, Puma has created what it's calling the world's first ever "intelligent" football—at slow speeds it offers more control, and at high speeds it gives more power and truer flight.

How the heck does that work? Check out this d30 podcast showcasing the new product.

See Any Similarities?

Louis Vuitton and DVS have resolved the matter between them regarding the alleged infringement of Louis Vuitton’s registered trademarks and copyrights for sandals, slip-on shoes, athletic shoes, t-shirts, sweatshirts, caps and graphic kits. DVS has acknowledged Louis Vuitton’s intellectual property rights and has agreed to discontinue all manufacture, exportation, importation, distribution, advertising and marketing of said products.

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Image via.

SGB @ 40

The December issue of SGB acknowledges our 40th anniversary and features interviews with sporting goods industry legends such as Doug Morton, Mitchell Modell, Mickey Newsome, Rusty Saunders, Jack Smith, Pat Galyan, Gib Ford, Ralph Parks, Bob Carr, Jim Chick, Gert Boyle and more.

The issue is out now. Looking for a copy? Email us. Want to subscribe? Click here.

Anyone Need An RV?

The guys from Eesa are currently hawking a used RV on eBay.

"Basically this is a dope RV to rally around, we won't lie to ya, it needs a spit shine and some elbow grease, but it is solid and it will get you from A-to-B rested and relaxed, especially when you sleep in the parking lot of your favorite resort the night of a massive storm and wake up for first chair. Oh yeah."

New Balance Acquires Vital

“Our acquisition of Vital gives us significant opportunities to accelerate the growth of New Balance apparel,” says Rob DeMartini, CEO at New Balance.

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Kung Fu Fighting: Zoo York In China

SGB mag readers might recall that as part of our China Report in the November issue, Zoo York team manager Seamus Deegan filed a report from the Zoo Crew's two-week trip through Hong Kong and Shenzhen.

Hot off the YouTube presses, you can now check out some video of the Zoo York trip to China:




More on the Zoo over on their blog.

For information on subscribing to SGB magazine, click here.

Burton: Poach For Freedom

Burton is pushing some buttons with the recent launch of its Poach story on Burton.com. (See above video). The snowboard company is encouraging people to send in videos of themselves snowboarding at one of the four major North American ski resorts that still do not allow snowboarding.

Jake Burton points out that "Two of the four resorts operate on federal forest land, which makes this issue even more frustrating since the taxes of many snowboarders help finance these resorts."