Nike have extended their agreement with Serie A to be the official ball for Serie A, Italian Cup and the SuperLeague until 2015.

The renewal of the contract was signed yesterday and approved by all 20 clubs and will be signed soon by Serie A President Maurizio Beretta with the Italian branch manager of Nike Andrea Rossi.

According to the latest agreements between Italian football and the company that provides sports products, each team will have more balls of A, a type for the winter and one for the rest of the season.

The League, will be given a grant of Euro 4 million ($5.5m) a year for a total value of the Euro 4.7 million ($6.5m) a year. “It’s a major deal and I am pleased to point out that it was voted on by all 20 companies, who then confirmed their satisfaction with the product,” said Beretta

Team Jordan, a subsidiary of Nike have added to their portfolio of NFL players with the sponsorship of Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman.

Freeman joins current NFL stars such as Andre Johnson of the Houston Texans, Michael Crabtree of the San Francisco 49ers, Dwight Freeney of the Indianapolis Colts, Charles Woodson of the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley sponsored by the sports brand.

In just his third NFL season at the age of 23, Freeman has 33 career starts under his belt, as well as 42 touchdown passes and more than 7,000 passing yards. Last season, he won two NFL Player of the Week Awards, led the Bucs to a 10-6 winning record and was named an alternate player for the 2011 Pro Bowl.

Freeman, one of the league’s most promising young talents at the quarterback position, isn’t the first Buccaneer to wear the Jumpman on the field – the team’s former defensive tackle Warren Sapp was a prominent member of Team Jordan during his soon-to-be Hall of Fame playing career, wearing various turf Jordan Player Exclusives.

After a lot of speculation and controversy surrounding one of Emirates airlines sponsorship deals they have managed to get back to commercial activity with a partnership with England’s East Grinstead Hockey Club on a three year deal that will see the Emirates logo displayed on the shirts of the East Grinstead men’s first team.

The club’s home ground is at East Grinstead Sports Club in West Sussex, just nine miles from Gatwick Airport where Emirates currently operates three daily flights to Dubai and beyond to a global network of over 100 destinations. 

Founded in 1897, the stature and reputation of East Grinstead Hockey Club has grown rapidly both on national and international circuits. Now boasting some of the most exciting talents the British Isles has to offer, the club has amassed an impressive haul of titles including the EHL Premier Division, European Indoor Trophy, and National Indoor League.

To announce the new sponsorship, Emirates invited 100 young hockey players from the local community to participate in an exclusive training session with, amongst others, England and Great Britain captain Barry Middleton and 2009-2010 World Young Player Ashley Jackson ahead of their match against Bowdon on Sunday 6th November 2011.

Emirates, one of the world’s fastest growing airlines, has been involved with a wide range of sporting events and teams around the world for over 20 years. “Emirates has a rich heritage in world sport sponsorship and we continue to further expand this with our first ever partnership with a hockey team, the East Grinstead Hockey Club,” said Laurie Berryman, Emirates’ Vice President UK & Ireland. 

With his team currently sitting top of the Men’s Premier Division 2011/12, player/coach and two-time Olympian Mark Pearn said: “The team are delighted to have agreed this partnership with Emirates, an award-winning airline which shares many of the same core values as our sport. We look forward to working closely with Emirates over the next few years on our journey.”

England and GB Captain Barry Middleton said, “We’re excited about this partnership with Emirates. Our sport is about passion, speed and respect and the interest of Emirates shows that hockey is being taken seriously by global brands. This partnership will certainly help East Grinstead Hockey club, both in terms of performance on the field and our continued investment in youth development in the area.”

In 1987, only two years after its inception, Emirates began to build up its impressive sponsorship portfolio which now includes partnerships with the IRB (International Rugby Board), FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) and the ICC (International Cricket Council).

Attitude Drinks announced a marketing endorsement partnership agreement with Boston Celtics All-Star Paul Pierce and his charitable foundation, The Truth Fund.

Through his Truth Fund, Pierce will promote Attitude Drink’s Phase III Recovery Drink, according to the terms of the one-year agreement. Attitude’s Phase III Recovery is a revolutionary new reduced-sugar protein drink that tastes like chocolate milk and is designed to aid in lean muscle recovery and re-hydration.

Pierce will attend Attitude events, appear in commercials, and work together with the energy drink company and its retailers and distributors to raise awareness and funds for his Truth Fund’s Truth on Health campaign. The Truth on Health includes an awareness campaign and sustainable programming that teaches young people how to incorporate physical fitness and healthy eating into their everyday lives.

Its signature component, FitClub34, is a rewards-based “fit” club that provides children with the information, resources, and tools necessary to become more active and physically fit. Members must commit to eat healthy and dedicate 60 minutes per day to physical activity. Participants receive the Paul Pierce Activity Watch, powered by Switch2Health, to track their activity and accrue points for a chance to win great prizes.

Pierce said the partnership is a natural fit for him and will compliment his work with the Truth Fund. “I’m excited to work with Attitude to promote healthy living and exercise,” Pierce said. “Phase III is an excellent product to associate with the Truth Fund and I’m happy the company will support my efforts to inspire kids to embrace fitness and healthy eating.”

Attitude Drinks CEO Roy Warren, added: “It’s an honor to partner with such an accomplished and cause-oriented athlete. Paul is a proven role model and we’re delighted to support his Truth on Health Campaign and other Truth Fund initiatives.”

Ice Hockey Hall of Famer Brett Hull has formed a strategic partnership Miken Sports, apoplectic a subsidiary of global consumer products company Jarden Corporation and manufacturer and innovator of high performance sports equipment.

The former NHL star will serve as an adviser on product development and will play an integral role in the development of the Miken brand in the hockey category.

Jim Hoscheit, remedy General Manager of Miken, said: “Brett embodies all that is hockey, and we are extremely excited to have him join us in this prominent role as advisor and ambassador of the Miken brand. As evidenced by his impressive accomplishments on the ice, Brett knows what it takes to score goals and Miken sticks are engineered to do just that.

“Combining Brett’s extensive hockey knowledge and experience with Miken’s engineering expertise will result in a powerful product lineup that will enhance player performance. Brett will contribute design ideas for Miken’s line of high performance composite hockey sticks as well as other protective gear, and his prominence and respect in the world of hockey will help elevate Miken’s exposure to players of all levels.”

In September, Hull made a visit to St. Louis to film a commercial for the newest addition to the Miken hockey stick line, the Razor Z9. The video was just launched on the Miken website and the Miken Hockey Facebook and Youtube pages.

“I am very proud to align myself with Miken – a brand known as an innovator and leader in the development of high performance sports equipment,” said Hull. “I admire Miken’s exceptional engineering capabilities and was drawn to their passion for hockey and drive to be the best in all they do.”

Apologetic New Zealand caddy Steve Williams may have saved one of his sponsorships after regretting his comments about former employer Tiger Woods.

Williams, who races stock cars when not on the PGA Tour, has retained his Valvoline endorsement deal.

A spokesman for Ashland Inc, the Kentucky-based firm that owns Valvoline, says it has communicated with Williams and is effectively satisfied with his apology, CBS Sports’ website reports.

Williams wears the Valvoline logo on his shirt while working as a caddie.

“We’re not speaking for Steve Williams. He has a contract with us, a legal contract. Well, for now, anyway,” Ashland spokesman Jim Vitak told CBS Sports.

“We do periodically review contracts at appropriate points in time,” he added.

Australian golfer Adam Scott has resisted calls to fire or suspend Williams for describing Woods as a “black arsehole” while addressing a caddies’ awards party in Shanghai at the weekend.

Scott on Monday night released a statement reiterating he had accepted Williams’ apology and said Williams didn’t mean any racial slur.

Williams, sacked by Woods this year after carrying his bag for 12 years, posted the apology on his website saying he realised how his comments “could be construed as racist. However I assure you that was not my intent”.

A-League club Central Coast Mariners have joined forces with Brazilian football legend Pelé and his global company on a two-year sponsorship deal.

The Mariners and Pele’s global football brand, arthritis Pelé-Sports, look have entered into an agreement making the former Santos star’s company the Official Footwear Supplier of the Mariners.

The club’s General Manager for Marketing and Commercial, order Ned Negus, feels the partnership will greatly benefit all involved.

“Pelé-Sports is another great addition to our sponsor line-up,” Negus said. “This partnership really focuses on two key elements of what the Mariners are about – being active both in our immediate community and the global football arena.

“Pelé-Sports will utilise its association with us to become part of the footballing fabric in our region and around Australia, and we believe the association with one of the greatest players to ever have played the game will have positive benefits for us, too.”

Pele-Sports was founded in 2009 and has its headquarters in Germany. From their headquarters a selected team of sporting good specialist, football and health experts works closely with designers and football connoisseurs in Brazil on the Pele Sports Brand.

National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) officials have announced that Summit Racing Equipment has signed a multi-year agreement to extend its title sponsorship of the popular NHRA Summit Racing Series.

The NHRA Summit Racing Series features a bracket racing format staged at NHRA Member Tracks nationwide that allows drivers in many types of vehicles, hospital including dragsters, medstore roadsters, sedans, and coupes to compete on an equal basis against each other. In addition to the three categories of competition for cars, a motorcycle category also is featured. Summit has sponsored the series since the 2000 season.

Tom Compton, president, NHRA, said: “We can’t thank Summit Racing Equipment enough for its commitment to and support of the NHRA Summit Racing Series. Summit Racing Equipment’s contribution to helping support the racer community is immeasurable.”

Jim Greenleaf, motorsports and events manager, Summit Racing Equipment, added: “The Summit Racing Series and division E.T. Finals were developed to promote and celebrate sportsman racing at local tracks, and provide a platform for those racers to compete for a national championship. We couldn’t be more excited about renewing this program and continuing our support of sportsman racing for years to come.”

NHRA Summit Racing Series racers compete for points and cash awards at a number of qualifying events at 130 NHRA member tracks throughout North America. Drivers who earn the most points are eligible to compete for individual and team honors at the NHRA Summit Racing Finals in each of NHRA’s seven divisions.

Individual winners receive a division champion trophy and purse along with travel expenses to attend the NHRA Summit Racing Series National Championship held each year at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series season finale, the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona (Calif.). There, they compete for a national championship, $5,000, a national champion trophy, and bragging rights for the year.

Brazilian soccer club Flamengo have taken FC Barcelona’s example and agreed a major partnership with charity Unicef.

The Brazilian giant has signed what it describes as an “innovative partnership” with the world’s leading children’s charity which is set to promote the rights of children and adolescents. Along with featuring the Unicef logo on the club’s shirts the agreement will centre on Flamengo’s ‘My Team is Top 10’ initiative. This revolves around a set of 10 principles relating to the protection and promotion of the rights of children and teenagers – both athletes and non athletes – inside and outside the club.

Unicef has been increasing its presence in sport in recent years and has enjoyed a high-profile partnership with Barcelona since 2006. Barcelona star Lionel Messi and Los Angeles Galaxy icon David Beckham also serve as Unicef Ambassadors and the partnership with Flamengo will open the organisation up to a club, who with 40 million fans, are said to be the most popular in Brazil.

Anthony Lake, Unicef executive director, said:  “We are very proud to work with the Club de Regatas do Flamengo. The club is showing great leadership in creating guidelines for the promotion of the rights of children and adolescents. My Team is Top 10 is a wonderful step toward creating a club that will serve as a model for the community and to other clubs. Unicef hopes that millions of fans of Flamengo – inside and outside the country – get involved and help spread the message that creates a more equitable and fair world for all children.”

Flamengo president Patricia Amorim, added: “People and the world of sports organisations have a crucial role in protecting and promoting the rights of children and adolescents. Flamengo is enthusiastic and willing to take action to contribute to defending the rights of children and adolescents.”

Women’s sport hasn’t hit the popular heights as its male counterparts but no one expected the outcome of a recent report published by the Commission on the Future of Women’s Sport that showed that women’s sport is “spectacularly missing out” on large sponsorship agreements.

The report detailed that sponsorship of women’s elite sport in the UK represented just 0.5 per cent of the total market.

Men’s sport currently accounts for more than 61.1 per cent and mixed sports the remainder, with the report showing a continuing “chronic lack” of commercial investment.

The value of women’s elite sport has grown just 0.1 per cent between the last valuation and 2010-11, despite the forthcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games to be held in London.

However, data for the first half of 2011 suggested the trend may be shifting, with women’s sport attracting 1.5 per cent of the market in terms of sponsorship deals.

Commission chair Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson said: “In just a few months, the eyes of the world will be on London 2012 – the only occasion in our lifetime that we’ll be a global showcase for women’s elite sport in this country. 

“It’s disappointing that more brands and rights holders haven’t seized the opportunity to benefit themselves and women’s sport, and help create a lasting legacy.”

Sue Tibballs, chief executive of the Women’s Sport and Fitness Foundation, added: “The time is ripe for investment in women’s sport. However, the lack of investment accounts, in large part, for the absence of a female sporting culture in the UK.”

To discuss this topic click here