About a week ago, Cam Newton signed his first endorsement contract of his career, when he accepted an offer from Under Armor. The deal is reportedly worth over $1million a year. Just a few weeks before that, Mike Vick signed his first to his first endorsement deal after being released from prison. These two deals got me thinking, and I have realized this; there is no exact science to endorsements.
Let's look at Cam Newton. He had an amazing season, which ended in him winning the Heisman Trophy and the National Championship. But it is no secret that he had issues that some say reflect poorly on his character. He is now entering the league (which has it's upcoming season in jeopardy because of the longstanding labor dispute) as a anomaly. Due to his massive athletic potential mixed with his unproven fundamentals, there is no consensus on whether he will be a star, or a bust.
Contrast that with a guy like, pre-violation, Reggie Bush. The consensus was that this guy was going to be a bonafide star and a fan favorite right away. So when Adidas gave him the biggest rookie endorsement deal to that point, it really wasn't a shock. Or Tim Tebow. He was America's wonder boy in college, did what Cam Newton did for three years, and had very comparable potential and skills. Yet he did not receive a substantial sporting goods endorsement deal.
Yet Cam Newton, with a rocky past, and questionable future, receives the biggest rookie deal ever. Now I am a Cam newton supporter all the way, but I just don't get it.
Then, Mike Vick. We all know his story by now. It looked like 2 years ago this guy would never get an NFL contract again, let alone endorsement contract. But after a great year on the field, he gets one, and is in line for even more.
Now neither of these two men are the most likable, due to their past mistakes (I won't even discuss the race issue). But here they are getting millions more dollars than I ever hope to have, to be the FACES of these two companies. The only thing that I can gather from this is: winning matters, period.
These two men have won and performed on the field, no question. Despite their past off the field issues, and questionable futures, they have recently played extraordinarily well. Are these endorsement contracts a symbol of the American "prisoner of the moment" attitude? I think so. But I think its more indicative of the fact that when you are dealing with sports business, winning trumps all.
I am happy for these two because I am a big fan I just don't understand the logic behind these two endorsement deals.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Bringing the Brutes Back to the City of Angels
After the L.A. Rams departure to St. Louis in 1994, it is no secret that there has been a football void in Los Angeles. Some argue that the NFL is not reaching its maximum potential by leaving the second biggest media market in the country bare. Others say that with 3 other teams in the state and USC football being what it is, L.A.'s football plate is full enough, and the NFL has been doing mighty fine with out it.
Recently there has been a push to bring a professional team back to the city. The effort is being spear headed by two competing investment and development teams, vying for the rights to build a new football stadium in the area. One group, headed by AEG, is garnering some attention lately because of its partnership with Los Angeles icon, Magic Johnson, as well as the naming rights deal it just secured for the, so far imaginary, stadium.
I think it will eventually happen. There is too much money involved and too many influential people that want to make it happen. And my personal opinion is that if it is done right, it can benefit both the league and the city. I think three things need to happen to make it a success:
1) The stadium needs to get done. This is an obvious no brainer, but it is the biggest road block. Who will pay for it? What group will win the rights? Will it be downtown or outside of the main urban area? Will the stadium be built before a team is guaranteed to come? All these questions are being hashed out as we speak and there will be no team in LA until they are answered.
2) A big time name or names should be attached to ownership. I think it will take a popular and savvy owner to make a team work in LA. Magic Johnson might have the initial popularity and he is a proven, successful business person, so he might work. It has to be someone in the Mark Cuban mold, I believe. The owner will have to be innovative and passionate, and must understand how to continuously make his team interesting and keep them winning.
3) There must be fan support. If the people there don't want to watch football, the why have a team there? LA has never been a super fanatical sports city, i.e. Philidelphia. Its much too posh for that (besides for the "Showtime" Lakers). It had a chance to enjoy the LA Rams and the LA Raiders and neither team decided it was best to stay. If the fans aren't into going to the game, it wont happen.
Again, I believe a team will eventually move back to LA. But without these three things happening, I believe it may reach the same destiny as the previous franchises.
Recently there has been a push to bring a professional team back to the city. The effort is being spear headed by two competing investment and development teams, vying for the rights to build a new football stadium in the area. One group, headed by AEG, is garnering some attention lately because of its partnership with Los Angeles icon, Magic Johnson, as well as the naming rights deal it just secured for the, so far imaginary, stadium.
I think it will eventually happen. There is too much money involved and too many influential people that want to make it happen. And my personal opinion is that if it is done right, it can benefit both the league and the city. I think three things need to happen to make it a success:
1) The stadium needs to get done. This is an obvious no brainer, but it is the biggest road block. Who will pay for it? What group will win the rights? Will it be downtown or outside of the main urban area? Will the stadium be built before a team is guaranteed to come? All these questions are being hashed out as we speak and there will be no team in LA until they are answered.
2) A big time name or names should be attached to ownership. I think it will take a popular and savvy owner to make a team work in LA. Magic Johnson might have the initial popularity and he is a proven, successful business person, so he might work. It has to be someone in the Mark Cuban mold, I believe. The owner will have to be innovative and passionate, and must understand how to continuously make his team interesting and keep them winning.
3) There must be fan support. If the people there don't want to watch football, the why have a team there? LA has never been a super fanatical sports city, i.e. Philidelphia. Its much too posh for that (besides for the "Showtime" Lakers). It had a chance to enjoy the LA Rams and the LA Raiders and neither team decided it was best to stay. If the fans aren't into going to the game, it wont happen.
Again, I believe a team will eventually move back to LA. But without these three things happening, I believe it may reach the same destiny as the previous franchises.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)