Ben & Jerry’s Apologizes for Racist Jeremy Lin Reference

Ben & Jerry’s, the iconic ice cream brand famous, has apologized for including fortune cookies in its “Taste the Lin-Sanity” frozen yogurt sold at a Harvard Square location in Boston.

The Vermont-founded company has replaced the fortune cookies in its honey-swirl, Jeremy Lin-inspired variety with waffle cones.

“We offer a heartfelt apology if anyone was offended by our handmade Lin-Sanity flavor,” Ben & Jerry’s said in a statement.

Lin, the New York Knicks point guard who shot to NBA stardom this month after spurring a win streak in the absence of Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire, played four seasons for the Harvard Crimson before turning pro in 2010.

“We are proud and honored to have Jeremy Lin hail from one of our fine, local universities and we are huge sports fans,” Ben & Jerry’s said in the news release. “Our intention was to create a flavor to honor Jeremy Lin’s accomplishments and his meteoric rise in the NBA, and recognize that he was a local Harvard graduate.

“We try (to) demonstrate our commitment as a Boston-based, valued-led business and if we failed in this instance we offer our sincere apologies.”

ESPN have already disciplined its editors for using racist remarks towards Lin and MSG have apologised to make a similar fortune cookie reference in its ads.

by Ismail Uddin

Dallas Cowboys Continue to Rule the Roost as Most Valuable Franchise

The Dallas Cowboys have continued their dominance as the most valuable National Football League (NFL) franchise by being top of the annual rankings for the fifth straight year according to Forbes Magazine.

The team are worth $1.85 billion, denture up 2% from last year. Team owner Jerry Jones and his Cowboys continue to find ways to leverage their powerful brand. In 2008, they launched Legends Hospitality Management, a stadium-logistics business run in partnership with the New York Yankees and Goldman Sachs. The $1.2 billion Cowboys Stadium opened in 2009 with a splash thanks to its 160-foot wide scoreboard and seating for up to 100,000 for special events.

Cowboys Stadium continues to be a gold mine for Jones. The 320 suites and 15,000 club seats at JerryWorld generate $115 million in revenue annually. Sponsorship revenues are $50 million even with the Cowboys inability to ink a naming rights partner for the venue. The Cowboys earned $119 million in operating income last season, the most in the NFL for a second straight year.

The Forbes Magazine annual rankings als showed the NFL’s 32 teams have an average value of $1.04 billion, 4 percent more than last season. Team values dropped an average of 2 percent to $1.02 billion in the 2010 Forbes ranking, the only decline since the survey started 13 years ago.

The Washington Redskins are second in franchise value at $1.55 billion, followed by the New England Patriots at $1.4 billion. The New York Giants at $1.3 billion and the New York Jets at $1.22 billion round out the top five.

Average team revenue rose 4 percent to $261 million during the 2010 season, Forbes said. While operating income fell 8.1 percent because of higher costs for stadium operations, training facilities and marketing, the NFL’s new labor agreement will give owners a bigger portion of overall league revenue, the survey found.

Owners will pay between 47 and 48 percent of total revenue to players under the new collective bargaining agreement, down from 51 percent under the previous accord.

The value of the top 10 teams rose an average of 4 percent in the latest ranking because revenue-sharing payments by the biggest franchises to low-revenue clubs drop under the new labor deal, Forbes said.

All 32 NFL teams rank among the 50 most valuable sports teams in the world, according to Forbes.

Orient Follow Spurs Into High Court Appeal Against West Ham Move

English League One soccer club Leyton Orient have followed fellow Londoners and Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur in applying to the High Court for a judicial review to try and prevent West Ham United moving to the Olympic Stadium after next year’s Games.

Orient’s chairman Barry Hearn claims that West Ham’s move will throw their own existence in doubt, stating Premier League has broken its own rules in sanctioning a move by one club close to the established home of another in the same area.

The Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) in February approved West Ham as the preferred bidder for the 80,000-seater stadium which will be reduced to 60,000 for soccer. Newham Council are loaning £40 million ($65 million) to West Ham to facilitate the move.

Hearn told Sky Sports News: “We are taking action against Newham Council because the loan is unlawful.

“We will follow this with judicial applications against the Government, the Minister of Sport, the Mayor of London and will take action against the Premier League for being in breach of their own rules as well.”

Hearn said his club’s interests should have been taken taken into account, adding: “It is an all-encompassing charge by Leyton Orient, a battle by the little man against the big forces of evil if you like.

“This represents a challenge to our entire future and our survival and we have no choice but to fight our corner.”

UEFA bans Real Mallorca from Europa League

Europe’s football governing body, UEFA, has banned La Liga side Real Mallorca from competing in next season’s Europa League because of financial regulations.

Mallorca, who finished fifth in the league last season, went into voluntary administration in May with reported debts of around €60 million (US$77.6 million).

But UEFA has said its control and disciplinary body has decided the club did not fulfill the admission criteria.

A statement from UEFA read: “On the basis of all expert reviews which have been undertaken, The Control and Disciplinary Body ruled that the club does not fulfil the necessary admission criteria [Article 2.07 of the Regulations of the UEFA Europa League], as the license of the club was not granted in accordance with the UEFA Club Licensing Regulations, 2008 edition, and the club has not fulfilled its obligations as defined in these regulations.”

A statement on the club’s official website said: “UEFA’s decision is quite surprising in substance and form. The club will consider legal steps to follow upon receipt of the resolution in its entirety. RCD Mallorca deeply regrets the disappointment that UEFA’s decision (which is unprecedented and not understandable) will cause our fans.”

New coach Michael Laudrup added: “I am optimistic. It doesn’t seem logical that this could happen. I don’t think we’ll stay out.”

Mallorca are expected to launch an appeal in the coming days. If they are unsuccessful, Villareal could be in line to replace them in the competition.

 

NASCAR Announces Executive Reshuffle in Charlotte Office

NASCAR has today promoted Steve Phelps and Steve O’Donnell with both assuming leadership roles in NASCAR’s Charlotte region offices, with immediate effect.

The moves are designed to balance the company’s senior leadership across NASCAR’s various offices and accelerate the implementation of several key growth initiatives.

“In Steve Phelps and Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR has two seasoned leaders who are highly respected throughout the industry and have records of success in leading key functions within NASCAR,” said NASCAR Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Brian France. “Our strong teams in Charlotte and Concord are engaged in many efforts critical to the sport’s future and we’re confident having these two leaders at the helm on a day-to-day basis will accelerate projects and help us drive innovation for the future.”

Phelps, NASCAR Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, now will lead the company’s operations at NASCAR Plaza in Uptown Charlotte. Phelps, who will continue to report to NASCAR Chief Operating Officer Brent Dewar, retains all of his current responsibilities which include oversight of Brand Marketing, Integrated Marketing Communications, NASCAR Digital Media and NASCAR Properties. As part of this move, Phelps now also will assume oversight of Licensing, as well as Entertainment Marketing to bolster integration between the Los Angeles-based division and the other marketing and content disciplines operating primarily out of Charlotte.

O’Donnell assumes leadership of NASCAR’s Research & Development Center in Concord, North Carolina. Reporting to NASCAR President Mike Helton, O’Donnell has been named Executive Vice President & Chief Racing Development Officer and will add oversight of all operations in Concord, including Racing Development and Innovation, as well as Competition. O’Donnell maintains oversight of Racing Operations, Industry Services, Green Innovation, Touring / Weekly Series and Membership Services in addition to his new responsibilities.

Gene Stefanyshyn, who leads NASCAR’s Racing Development and Innovation group, and Robin Pemberton, who heads the Competition department, both have been promoted to senior vice president and now will report to O’Donnell.  Additionally, Tom Swindell who has played a key role on several recent Racing Operations initiatives has been assigned to Concord where he will work closely with O’Donnell on short- and long-term development projects.

USOC Meets with Four Cities to Brief Them on 2024 Bid

The United States Olympic Committee met with representatives from Boston, apoplectic Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., last week in Colorado for a bid city briefing.

The briefing marks the next step in the USOC’s domestic process as it considers a U.S. bid to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“I’d like to thank each city’s civic and political leadership for the commitment they have shown to our process thus far,” said USOC Chairman Larry Probst. “Our discussions this week have created a foundation for something that could be truly unique. There is a great deal of work left to do before we can make a decision, but I’m more optimistic than ever that a U.S. bid for the 2024 Games can be successful.”

The four remaining cities were identified in June following 16-month process that began with outreach to approximately 35 U.S. cities.

“This week marks another important milestone as we evaluate whether the time is right to bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. We’ve tried to create a thoughtful and deliberate process and I think everyone involved believes we’re getting closer to a decision,” said USOC CEO Scott Blackmun.

“Each city has necessarily evaluated how hosting a Games in its community fits into the long-term plans for that city, but equally exciting to me is the universal commitment to making a positive contribution to worldwide sport and the Olympic and Paralympic movements. That’s something I truly believe a Games hosted in the U.S. can do and I’m excited about the potential.”

Denver Broncos Partner with DeskSite to Launch New HD Video Platform

National Football League (NFL) team Denver Broncos have officially launched the Broncos DeskSite, a new HD video platform, after a partnership with digital media company DeskSite.

Essentially a DVR for the Internet, the Broncos DeskSite serves as a personalized video recorder and content library for Broncos HD video. Instead of smartphones, this specialized “Big Screen” app offers new technology specifically designed for laptops, desktops and tablets, to support fans’ growing consumption of online video.

“The Broncos DeskSite offers fans everything they want, and equally important, nothing they don’t,”  said Richard Gillam, CEO of DeskSite. “With this new platform, we’ve made some exciting leaps forward in the evolution of digital media, most notably in the twin pillars of content curation and content access. If you’re a serious Broncos fan, this is a ‘must have’ experience.”

The app automatically downloads and stores videos directly to users’ devices, allowing fans to view content without having to be connected to the Internet. Playback is instantaneous, with none of the buffering, freezing or dropping associated with streaming video. Options include audiovisual alerts, dramatically reducing the delay between a video’s initial release and fan access.

In addition to serving as a premium HD video delivery platform and programmable DVR, the Broncos DeskSite operates as a central hub for aggregated access to Broncos digital content, including the team’s official website, Twitter feeds and Facebook page.

“We’re excited to have another way to deliver our great video content to Broncos fans around the world,” said Dennis Moore, Vice President of Sales & Marketing. “We found that DeskSite offers great technology on a user-friendly platform.”

Premier League Sign Indian Super League Partnership

The Premier League have signed a partnership with the Indian Super League (ISL) organisers to help nurture and develop the Indian league before its inaugural edition of the competition which is set to kick-off in September.

Premier League chiefs will also play a role in establishing club governance, medic shaping the brand, search fan engagement and defining anti-corruption and anti-doping policies for the ISL. 

The Indian Super League is a joint venture between IMG-Reliance and the All India Football Federation in conjunction with Star India who hold Premier League broadcasting rights in India. 

The agreement with the ISL is expected to lead to exchange programmes between clubs in England and in India and could pave the way for Premier League clubs to play friendlies in the sub-continent. 

Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore said: “Having earlier this year signed a mutual co-operation agreement with the Asian Football Confederation, we are very pleased to also enter into this partnership with ISL. 

“This will see both organisations work together and share knowledge in several key areas including player development, refereeing, marketing and promotion. 

“We know from our broadcast partner Star India, and our work with AIFF on our long-established grassroots football project Premier Skills that we run in several locations across India, that the popularity of football, and Premier League, is growing.” 

AIFF President Praful Patel said: “The AIFF is extremely pleased to be a part of the strategic partnership between the Premier League and the Indian Super League. 

“This is an outstanding opportunity for the Indian Super League to build from the very best in the business when it comes to running a highly successful league. 

“The Premier League is revered around the world, and by learning from the practitioners who have made it so successful, the Indian Super League will develop and grow in the right way, ensuring benefits not only for the league itself but also for the wider Indian football ecosystem in the longer term.” 

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IEC in Sports Announced as an Official Partner of the Middle East iSportconnect Directors’ Club

Leading global media company, anabolics IEC in Sports are the latest company to partner with the Middle East iSportconnect Directors’ Club taking place later this month in Dubai, UAE. 

Supported by Dubai Sports Council and in association with INTERACT, the first ever Directors Club Dubai will gather a key group of high level sport business professionals including PGA European Tour, Turkmenistan National Olympic Committee, Falcon and Associates, Red Bull, Pepsi, Oman Sail, Dubai Expo 2020, Abu Dhabi Sports Council, ADMM, Pro League Committee amongst others.  Decision makers will discuss how the sports industry can help to drive business in the Middle East. 

With a strong presence in the region and an industry leader worldwide, IEC in Sports are a perfect partner for the Directors Clubs in the Middle East where high-level discussion takes place to shape the future of the industry.

IEC is a media company active in distribution of television rights globally to sport events to a wide variety of media platforms. The company’s archive boasts more than 5,000 events dating back to 1993. IEC in Sports is truly seen as a major global player in the sports television business and has offices in Stockholm, Lausanne, Sydney, Hong Kong and Dubai to provide turnkey, focused and strategic service to its clients.

“It’s a pleasure to have IEC in Sports as Official Partner of the Middle East iSportconnect Dubai Directors’ Club.  IEC share the same objective to drive the sports industry forward in the region.” commented Michael Cunnah, iSportconnect Chairman “Working with such an established, global brand highlights the quality of our Directors’ Club.”

‘’The iSportconnect Directors Club Dubai is an excellent initiative; to share knowledge and experience with how best to develop the business and attraction of sport in the region.  IEC in Sports operates globally in sports media and has an office presence in Dubai.  We see huge potential for enhancing the reputation of the Emirates through sport and look forward to playing an active role for many years to come’’ said Peter Angell, COO of IEC in Sports.

The first ever Middle East Directors’ Club will take place on May 29, 2014 at the Towers Rotana Hotel in Dubai, UAE and includes an impressive panel of top sports industry leaders.  The high profile audience can network in a closed-door environment and discuss their challenges and the latest topical debate in the sports business here in the region.

Dr Ahmad Al Sharif, Secretary General of Dubai Sports Council will open the event with a welcome to delegates and a short speech, to be followed by a keynote speech from Mohammed Ben Suleyam, President of Automobile and Touring Club and VP of the FIA.  A high-level panel debate will then take place with speakers from PGA European Tour, Turkmenistan National Olympic Committee, Falcon and Associates and Red Bull.

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Malaysia to Host Delayed 2013 Women’s World Squash Championship in March

The Malaysian state of Penang has been announced as the delayed host of the 2013 Women’s World Squash Championship.

The Women’s Squash Association (WSA) failed to bring in a host city during the 2013 calendar year despite rumours Egypt and Hong Kong were potential venues.

The event, boasting a $120,000 prize-fund, will get underway on 17 March at the Nicol David International Squash Centre – with the later rounds staged on an all-glass showcourt at the 10,000-seater Penang International Sports Arena.

It will be the third time in the 35-year history of this World Squash Federation (WSF) title that the WSA’s premier event has been staged in Malaysia – but the first time in Penang, the home of defending champion Nicol David, the world number one.

WSA Chairman Ingrid Lofdahl-Bentzer added: “It is fantastic news for the WSA to be able announce this event. We very grateful to Penang and everyone involved for their dedication and continued support. I have no doubt that the players share my excitement and will be looking forward to a fantastic World Championship.”

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said: “WSA’s agreement to permit Penang to host this event is recognition that Penang has the facilities, amenities and infrastructure of a fitting location for a world class event as well as the experience and expertise to organise a world championship.

“The Penang state government felt it was a real shame that Penang’s very own world squash queen will not be able to add to her already impressive collection of seven world titles earned in 2005, 2006, 2008-2012,” continued the Minister. 

“Malaysians, especially Penangites, are eagerly awaiting her to defend her title for a record eighth time.”