Source: WENN

Openly gay women’s college basketball star Brittney Griner is having an amazing year that seems to be getting better and better with each passing day. Earlier this month she was selected as the number one overall WNBA draft pick by the Phoenix Mercury.

“It’s humbling, it’s a true honor to be a part of this league. It’s a dream come true. I feel like a little kid in Disney World for the first time. …I definitely felt like I was going to have a heart attack,” the rising star said of Phoenix’s draft selection.

Now, we’ve learned that the 22-year-old Houston native just inked an exclusive endorsement deal with American multinational corporation, Nike. USA Today reports that Griner’s sports agent, Lindsay Kagawa Coles announced the deal.

“It’s big-time, let’s just say that,” Griner said of her new endorsement.

Aside from her stellar athletic ability, Griner is also widely known for her decision to openly discuss her sexuality with Sports Illustrated, “coming out of the closet.”

“It was’t too difficult. I wouldn’t say I was hiding or anything like that. I’ve always been open about who I am and my sexuality… If I can show that I’m out and I’m fine and everything’s OK, then hopefully the younger generation will definitely feel the same way,” she said of her chat with Sports Illustrated.

The soon-to-be WNBA star recently took to her Twitter page to express her excitement about the new partnership with Nike.

Specifics of the endorsement have to be released, but it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that this is a pretty huge deal.

Way to go Brittney!

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Here we go again. By now, we should know that we’re never too far away from a Kanye West “episode.”

On Saturday night, he kicked off his back-to-back shows at London’s Hammerstein Apollo. After performing the G.O.O.D Music single, “Clique,” Yeezy decided that it was time to get some things off his chest.

He first discussed how he hates business people and the corporate world because they are wiling to stifle an artist’s creativity just to make a few million dollars.  “Remind me again why we in this s**t? Since when was making music about getting rich,” he added.

But that was just the tip of the iceberg.

In what could be used as a double-edged sword, Kanye said:

“Remind me why we in this Isht? And I got love for Hov but I ain’t f**king with that Suit & Tie.”

As we all know, Jay-Z is featured on Justin Timberlake’s new single “Suit & Tie.” In the context of his rant, it is likely that he made the “suit and tie” comment in reference to his sudden disdain of corporations. However, Kanye is not a stupid man so he’s undoubtedly aware that this also comes across as an open “attack” of his friend’s new song.

Apparently, he also hates the foundation that has given him 21 awards: The Grammys.  Kanye told the crowd that the Grammys can “suck my d**k” and that he’s “never won a Grammy against a white person.”  Now unless he’s talking about winning an award in a non rap category (he would be right in that case), he is wrong because he’s beat both Eminem and The Beastie Boys in the past.

Oh, he’s also not over Taylor Swift beating Beyonce at the MTV Awards years ago. He still believes it is “bulls**t” and that a six year who’s working on their musical craft will be discouraged because someone like Swift (who he is saying is less talented) will always come out on top.

Finally, in response to President Obama calling him a jackass, Kanye replied, “I don’t give a f**k what none of the presidents got to say!”

At some point during the first video, he starts yelling uncontrollably, saying:

“Real [n-word] don’t live too long in this Shyte. They say you coming on too strong in this Isht. They always talking about I’m doing wrong in this Isht. I could give a f**k about…! Remind me why we in this Isht! I lost my muthaf**king mama! So I could a Fawk about your comments, I promise!”

On Twitter, fans who attended the concert tweeted that the rant brought down the energy of what was otherwise a great show.  His rant just never seemed to end.

People have been saying that Kanye has not been the same since his mother, Dr. Donda West, passed in 2007. Many feel that he has just let his emotions simmer and his music – and personality – has greatly suffered.

One can only wonder how Nike feels about his hatred of corporations and big businesses since they’ve given him a deal to design the Air Yeezy sneakers.  There aren’t many major businesses that need any artists to do anything for them so if this continues, Kanye could find himself on the outside looking in trying to figure out where he went wrong.

Check out the videos below for the rants (in the first video, it starts at about 4:10).

What do you think?

by Cynthia Wright

Say what you want about Michael Jordan, the man knows how to turn a profit. A recent Forbes article discussed that even after his retirement eight years ago, the Jordan brand is still a profitable franchise. According to the article, Jordan racked in approximately 60 million dollars last year – without touching a basketball.

Like most star athletes, Jordan had his pick of endorsements throughout his career and most, like Gatorade, Hanes, Upper Deck and Nike are as synonymous of Jordan as much as his red Chicago Bulls jersey. Jordan has also inked endorsement deals with 2K Sports and Five Star Fragrances; he also bought five restaurants and a car dealership in North Carolina.

However, Nike is still Jordan’s most profitable endorsement. Although, Jordan inked a $2.5 million contract with the company, straight out of college in 1984 – his endorsement checks are higher now since his brand has exploded. His annual revenues from Nike alone bring him an estimated $1 billion, with Jordan’s brand market share coming to a whooping 71%. Nike follows after with a share of 22%, with Adidas and Reebok owning the rest at 3% and 2%. Not to mention, Jordan has other well-known athletes under his brand umbrella, such as Derek Jeter, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony and Denny Hamlin also bring a considerable amount of traction insuring Jordan’s financial coiffures remain full.

During his tenure with the Bulls, he was banking about $50 million from his endorsement deals and during his last two years with the NBA dynasty, he made $63 million in combined salary.

Neilson and E-Poll Market Research produce an N-Score for celebrities that measure their awareness; general appeal and likeability, Jordan’s N-Score comes out to be 682. He is the highest scored athlete by nearly 300 points. His awareness is ranked at 71%; with the only athletes above him being Tiger Woods, Mike Tyson and OJ Simpson (easy to guess why). His rate of being liked by the public is charted at 93%, which shows how far his presence extends. Current b-baller LeBron James, whom many believed would follow in Jordan’s footsteps, has a likeability of 51% – nowhere near close.

Many attribute Jordan’s ability to be in the mind and heart of the consumer was his ability to stay negatively out of the headlines. Unlike his counterparts James and Kobe Bryant – while, they may be popular – their popularity has been somewhat tainted by their off-the-court extracurricular activities. Not that Jordan was a saint, there have been plenty of tales surrounding his gambling and philandering way but being that Jordan’s popularity was amassed before the era of social media. Did the lack of celebrity profiling help cement his legacy? Perhaps, one thing is for sure, Jordan’s business growth is undeniable and with his ownership of the Charlotte Bobcats, his stock will go nowhere but up.

Cynthia Wright is an avid lover of all things geeky. When she isn’t freelancing, she can be found on her blog BGA Life and on Twitter at @cynisright.

Stiletto pumps and over-priced Michael Kors heels are always nice to have in your wardrobe. But they often look better in your closet than they wind up feeling on your feet after a few hours of walking on tore up sidewalk and dancing the night away. We all love to get our black Carrie Bradshaw on in shoe havens like Macy’s and Aldo, but don’t lie, you know your eye gets preoccupied when you walk past a Footlocker or Finishline and a colorful pair of sneakers captures your attention. You’re not too far into the business world that vibrant Nike’s can’t tickle your fancy. Besides, you’ll love them more after a long day at work, a good workout or when it’s time to run some errands. Know this, sneakers (at least one pair) are just as essential in a woman’s wardrobe as heels, summer sandals, a good pair of boots and a go-to pair of flats. So here are a few pairs of kicks that you know, and I know, that you know you KNOW are fly would look even “flyer” on your feet.

By Jay Anderson

America has a peculiar love/hate relationship with professional athletes. We love them when they’re playing well. We think they’re overpaid, whiny babies when they don’t. We build them up to tear them down, only to then (sometimes) build them back up again. We have watched some of our favorite athletes fall from the heights of sports success, to the depths of injury and incarceration – only to praise their resurrections. Here are 10 such tales of destruction, redemption and in some cases intense struggle back to the pinnacle of athletic achievement.

Michael Vick

After spending time in jail for dogfighting, Vick’s climb back to the top has been slow, but steady. After a season as the Eagles’ third string quarterback, a combination of luck of hard work has thrust Vick back into the starting lineup and superstardom. By ringing up 3,018 yards and 21 touchdowns in 2010, the once discarded Vick was given the franchise tag by the team in February, and recently signed a new deal with Nike. Vick’s challenges has changed him into an appreciative man that brands want to identify with again.

Nike and Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick are back together again. Four years after Nike terminated Vick’s contract due to his arrest and 18 month prison sentence on dog fighting charges, the two have reunited.

“Michael acknowledges his past mistakes,” Nike spokesman Derek Kent expressed. “We do not condone those actions, but we support the positive changes he has made to better himself off the field.”

These positive changes have not only inked Michael a new deal, he has also returned to the game a star player. Vick was named the starting quarterback for the Eagles over Kevin Kolb early in the 2010 season. Then he went on to dominate in 2010, throwing for 3,018 yards and 21 touchdowns.

Read more here….

It looks like Michael is getting the ‘Vicktory” after all. How do you feel about his criminal to celebrity status? Do you think Nike should have given him another chance?

(Philadelphia Inquirer) — The Michael Vick comeback story has come full circle. Nearly four years after he was dumped by Nike, the Eagles quarterback was re-signed for promotional services by the worldwide leader in sports sneakers and apparel, according to the company.  ”We have re-signed Michael Vick as a Nike athlete,” spokesman Derek Kent said Friday. “Michael acknowledges his past mistakes. We do not condone those actions, but we support the positive changes he has made to better himself off the field.”  The deal, the exact details of which are unknown, is believed to be the first for a major athlete who was dropped by an endorser only to be re-signed later.  Vick did not respond to a text message seeking comment, but he released a statement.

Read More…

By Brittany Hutson

What do you define as a “cool” company? Are there brands that you just can not imagine doing without? Are there companies that you are proud to support and spend your hard earned money on  simply because they “get” you?

According to Marc Gobe, Chairman and CEO of Emotional Branding Alliance, marketing and branding is not the same as it once was. These days, leading brands are ones that have successfully established a “powerful emotional connection between their vision and people’s expectations.”

Additionally, DeeDee Gordon, president of Innovation at Sterling Brands says companies  that are successful have a “deep understanding of what’s happening in the culture and infuse these ideas into their businesses. Many of them invest heavily and continuously in innovation [and] are always thinking about how to update and develop new products,” she said.

With the assistance of Gobe and Gordon, we selected 7 companies that are considered “cool” not only for their ability to inspire, influence and engage with consumers, but also for their willingness to be creative and innovative. Not to mention, these companies also provide work environments that encourage diversity, creative thinking, and have a positive impact on society.

Apple

It may sound silly, but there are numerous people who couldn’t imagine life without Apple. Says Gobe, “Apple’s innovation strength is in its ability to create products that serve as media platforms for fun, enrichment and enablement.” Of course, Apple is not only innovative when it comes to their technologies and products, but also in how they market for retail.  According to ICSC, currently, Apple is the most successful brand in retail with in-store sales productivity that far exceeds any other retailer.

by Andrea Williams

The date was October 26, 1984, and the Chicago Bulls were taking on the Washington Bullets in their season opener.  In the starting lineup was an anxious rookie from North Carolina, fresh off of a gold-medal performance as a member of the ’84 US Olympic team and eager to make his NBA debut.

Michael Jordan won Rookie of the Year honors that season while leading his team in almost every major statistical category, including total points scored, points per game, rebounds, assists, steals and minutes played.  Over the course of 15 seasons – intermixed with a couple of highly publicized retirements and reinstatements –Jordan proceeded to re-write NBA record books and earn scores of accolades on his way to becoming, who most believe to be, the greatest basketball player of all time.

Equally as impressive as his on-court domination was Jordan’s methodical construction of a now billion-dollar retail empire –Air Jordan.  And, despite the fact that he hasn’t taken a professional jumpshot in more than seven years, his dynasty is more secure than ever and growing stronger – and more profitable – each year.

Rebel Birth

The Air Jordan I was launched in the spring of 1985 and, even though it was banned in the NBA (the red and black color scheme violated uniform regularity rules), the shoe flew off the shelves.  In the process, Nike devised a way to capitalize on the controversy, producing a 30-second commercial that claimed, “On September 15, Nike created a revolutionary new basketball shoe.  On October 18, the NBA threw them out of the game.  Fortunately, the NBA can’t stop you from wearing them.”

Erin Patton, who was later handpicked to lead the marketing and branding efforts of Brand Jordan, vividly remembers the buzz surrounding the first Air Jordan release – particularly within his own circle of friends.

“That shoe changed the game,” he recalled.  “There was a sense of rebellion associated with it because it was banned in the NBA, and we saw that as a license to embrace it.  That just made us want it and want it more.”

Jordan continued to wear the shoes, racking up thousands of dollars in fines – paid by Nike – to go along with the legions of fans who were clamoring to get their feet in a pair of the iconic sneakers.  When the dust settled, Nike had made around $130 million that first year – far surpassing their goal to net $3 million by the end of the third year of MJ’s contract.

By all accounts, the partnership was a phenomenal success, and the AJ I frenzy was only a sign of things to come.

By Brittany Hutson

As hip-hop became the soundtrack for a younger generation, companies took notice and have been utilizing hip-hop’s prime players to endorse their products in the hopes of reaching those younger and potential consumers. Mike Street, senior digital strategist for Syndicate Media Group, a communications and marketing agency, explains that in order for a company to have a successful marketing campaign featuring hip-hop artists, brand managers must find an artist who is aligned with the culture and mission of the product. “If the artist doesn’t even really use the product or have a passion for the product, consumers will see right through it and it will be money wasted,” he said.

TAP consulted with marketing experts to critique some of hip-hop’s more successful inspired marketing campaigns, as well as those that fell short.

Mos Def and Air Jordan XVI

Nike and Michael Jordan made a slam dunk in 2001 when they combined “basketball, hip-hop and sneakers into the perfect 30 second piece of art,” said Street. To promote the company’s Air Jordan XVI sneaker, Mos Def was tapped to include his melodious track “Umi Says” from his solo debut album, Black on Both Sides, as the commercial’s background music. Even today, people still associate Mos Def’s “Umi Says” to the Air Jordan XVI commercial.

Watch here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nhRjV_60R4