Andrew Luck Joins MC10’s Sports Advisory Board

NFL quarterback Andrew Luck has joined the Sports Advisory Board for MC10, clinic a venture-backed Cambridge, arthritis Mass company.

The two-time Heisman finalist and 2012 No. 1 overall draft pick will join Colts teammate and NFL quarterback, Matt Hasselbeck, along with seven other accomplished athletes and experts, to develop innovative solutions that optimize athletic performance while minimizing the risk of injury.

”MC10 brings state-of-the-art monitoring technology to athletes of all ages and abilities, and that’s a mission I fully support,” noted Andrew Luck. “As a professional athlete, I have access to world-class performance monitoring equipment and a wealth of personal performance data, but most people don’t. This is precisely what MC10 is doing by creating affordable, second-skin sensors for every athlete, and I am excited to work with the company and its Sports Advisory Board to develop game changing technology solutions.”

MC10’s sports systems give athletes the enhanced sensing they need to get an advance warning before facing the risk of injury. Ultra-thin, skin-mounted sensors provide real-time, personalized biofeedback on hydration, heart rate, muscle activity, motion and other indicators of athletic performance. The company’s first commercial product, the CHECKLIGHT, is an impact indicator designed to measure significant impacts to the head in real-time during contact sports.

“MC10’s approach has always been to work side by side with experts to develop disruptive products that solve important problems and change the way we think about electronics and their interaction with the human body,” says MC10 CEO David Icke, who like Luck, is a proud Stanford alumnus. “Andrew is a perfect fit with MC10. Not only is he one of the best quarterbacks in the league, but he’s also an incredibly bright guy with a keen eye towards design. He wants to put his degree to work, and we’re excited to partner with him to bring the best innovations to athletes at every level.”

Italy to Host 2013 ITF Beach Tennis World Championships

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) Beach Tennis World Championships will return to Italy when the Italian Tennis Federation (FIT) hosts the 2013 event in the Adriatic resort of Cervia in Ravenna from Wednesday 31 July until Sunday 4 August.

The flagship event on the ITF Beach Tennis Tour will see the best men’s and women’s doubles pairs from around the world bidding to be crowned 2013 ITF Beach Tennis World Champions.

This is the fifth edition of the Championships that were first hosted by the FIT at the Foro Italico in Rome in 2009-11, sale before moving to Burgas, Bulgaria in 2012. Italian players have dominated the first four events, with Marco Garavini and Paolo Tazzari winning the 2012 men’s title, and Simona Briganti and Laura Olivieri successfully defending their women’s title.

The Italians will face increased competition as they bid to hold on to their titles this year, with more nations taking up the sport each year. Competitors from 15 countries took part in the 2012 Championships, while over 40 nations are currently represented in the ITF Beach Tennis Rankings.

The Ravenna province in Italy has long been considered the heart of beach tennis, and Cervia has hosted one of the most successful Grade 1 events on the ITF Beach Tennis Tour since 2010. The 2013 Championships will be staged at Bagno Delfino on the Cervia coast with 20 match courts in use.

The ITF Beach Tennis Tour was launched in 2008, and continues to grow each year, with 152 events staged in 32 countries in 2012.

ITF President Francesco Ricci Bitti said: “We are delighted to see the continued growth of the Beach Tennis Tour. The ITF Beach Tennis World Championships remain a focal point of the beach tennis calendar, and it is fitting that this year’s event is staged in such an active region for the sport. The Italian Tennis Federation are experienced hosts of these world championships, and we are confident that the event can go from strength to strength.”

New World Cycling Series Close UCI Confirms

The International Cycling Union (UCI) have confirmed they have been in talks with Omega Pharma-QuickStep owner Zdenek Bakala and his business partner Bessel Kok since late 2011 about the possible development of the professional road cycling calendar. 

World Series Cycling claims eight teams are contracted to the series, which would run alongside the three Grand Tours – of Italy, France and Spain.

In a statement the Cycling’s governing body said: “These discussions have included their potential financial investment in a new joint venture company with the UCI and other cycling stakeholders that would promote and organise elements of this new calendar. The UCI has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with them as the initial investors in the joint venture and will now enter into extensive dialogue with the teams and race organisers before any final agreement is concluded.

“The possible development of the professional road cycling calendar will be subject to comments from the wide-ranging consultation “A bright future for cycling” that will involve all the stakeholders in the sport and which will take place in the first quarter of 2013. This consultation will have a considerable bearing on this proposed joint venture and the future road cycling calendar.”

“No agreement has been reached on the reforms that will take place to the calendar and as such any media reports about the future of the calendar are pure speculation at this stage. However, the UCI will retain full control over the calendar, including sporting and technical elements. The UCI and the investors are also committed to ensuring that the final structure of the joint venture will avoid conflicts of interest.”

Exclusive: Volvo Ocean Race COO Highlights High Performance Boats as Pivotal

Tom Touber, help Chief Operating Officer of the Volvo Ocean Race (VOC) has revealed the series must construct high performance boats following an excess of boats being damaged last year.

The 2011-2012 edition of the Volvo Ocean Race (VOC) was plagued by constant incidences of boats suffering damage during their sail across the world’s oceans, see but Touber believes that the boats should be high performance, rather than indestructible.

Speaking to iSportconnect, he said: “It’s important to note that we’re not building a boat that’s unbreakable.

“We are building a high performance boat and it will be the responsibility of the skipper and the crew to get the best out of the boat.

“But what should not happen is for breakages to be caused by teams really pushing the materials too far during the construction of the boat.

“We are pushing the limit, but we are not going over the limit like some of the teams did in previous races.”

For Touber, his biggest challenge lies in the shift in format of the race, towards a one-design fleet, but can take comfort in the fact that the alteration is reminiscent of past campaigns.

He added: “For me there are a lot of similarities with the ABN AMRO campaign, the two-boat campaign we ran in 2005-2006, also having a new boat, because it was the first time the Volvo Open 70 was introduced. It looks and feels a lot like that.

“The biggest thing now is how do we get it all organised, so that we have the boat ready in time and also the support side to cover it. We want the whole maintenance side of the boat put in place at the highest standard possible.”

Green Bay Packers are Most Expensive Ticket in NFL

With an average cost of $276 per ticket, the Green Bay Packers are the most expensive ticket in the NFL, according to Ticket Liquidator, the second-largest secondary ticketing website.

This represents an increase of 27 percent from last year’s price, when tickets were averaging $216. With the highest price in the NFL, we can assume fans are expecting a big year from Aaron Rodgers, James Starks, Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, Clay Matthews III and the rest of the team.

“What looks to be one of the best teams in the league with perhaps the most dedicated fan base in the NFL combined to make the Green Bay Packers the most in-demand ticket in the NFL,” says Andrés Hidalgo, Media Relations, Ticket Liquidator. “Packer fans are notoriously fanatical, and the demand for game tickets is further proof of their devotion.”

The most in-demand ticket on the Packers home schedule is against the San Francisco 49ers on September 9. The Niners made it to the NFC Championship Game last year and nearly went on to Super Bowl XLV but fell to the New York Giants. The average price for a ticket for the Green Bay vs. 49ers game is $304. The second most in-demand ticket pits two of the NFL’s best quarterbacks against each other, as Aaron Rodgers takes on Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints on September 30 with tickets averaging $283. 

NFLPA Lodge Lawsuit Against NFL Over Bounty Scandal

The NFL Players Association (NFLPA) have issued a lawsuit against the National Football League (NFL) on Thursday alleging the appeals process in the New Orleans Saints’ bounty scandal was unfair.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who banned four players in May after a probe into a program that rewarded Saints players with cash payments for knocking opponents out of games, upheld his ruling on Tuesday after holding an appeals hearing last month with the players.

“The NFL has rendered the arbitral process a fraud, refusing to provide the NFLPA with access to relevant evidence or any witnesses, while at the same time utilizing hearsay to smear and punish the players,” the 526-page suit charged.

Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma, defensive end Will Smith, defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove (now with the Green Bay Packers) and linebacker Scott Fujita (now with the Cleveland Browns) were the players punished for the upcoming season.

Vilma was suspended for the entire 2012 campaign, Hargrove received an eight-game ban, Smith was hit with a four-game suspension and Fujita got three games.

The suit asked for a neutral arbitrator to determine the validity of the players’ suspensions.

Vilma had already filed a defamation suit against Goodell and another claiming the commissioner failed to make a timely appeals decision in the case.

In a statement the NFl said: “As in the case of Mr. Vilma’s lawsuit, this is an improper attempt to litigate an issue that is committed to a collectively bargained process,” the NFL said.

“There is no basis for asking a federal court to put its judgment in place of the procedures agreed upon with the NFLPA in collective bargaining. These procedures have been in place, and have served the game and players well, for many decades.”

2012 International Ice Hockey Federation to Stream Matches on Youtube

The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), abortion has launched an official dedicated YouTube channel that will stream all 64 games of the upcoming 2012 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship running from 4 to 20 May in Helsinki, order Finland and Stockholm, Sweden.

The dedicated channel at www.youtube.com/icehockey presented by main sponsor Škoda will provide fans throughout the world with high-quality video stream both live and on demand of each game as well as daily highlights, such as best action, goals and saves. The service is free of charge.

Infront handles all forms of electronic media rights for the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship including TV and digital media on a worldwide basis. The collaboration with YouTube guarantees full tournament coverage to ice hockey fans far and wide — no matter where they are in the world on any platform and anytime. Access is only geo-blocked in a few countries where exclusive media license agreements are in place*.

Horst Lichtner, IIHF General Secretary, said: “Through the YouTube coverage, realised by Infront, we have managed to realise the best global digital media exposure for the championship possible and provide the fans with exceptional levels of access to this year’s ice hockey action. This together with the extensive television broadcast coverage secured will guarantee that the energy and enthusiasm of the event this year is transmitted across the globe through both traditional and new media platforms.”

Media coverage of the IIHF World Championship has continuously increased since 1998 and through traditional media is aired in more than 100 countries and territories worldwide to reach a predicted cumulative audience of 650 million in 2012. The additional exposure worldwide from the YouTube services is expected to further increase the audience figures significantly. 

Bruno Marty, Infront’s Executive Director Winter Sports, said: “The continuous efforts of the IIHF and Infront to enhance the visibility and availability of the tournament are a critical factor to the success of the platform. Through the YouTube service, the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship is now fully embracing the changing media landscape with its increasing demand for digital media content and the impact this holds today on the fan experience. The fact that the channel is presented by main sponsor Škoda, provides a further example of the all-round marketing benefits and the strong activation potential for commercial partners.”

Kansas City Chiefs Partner with Dreams to Re-Launch Pro Shop

The Kansas City Chiefs have partnered with Dreams, clinic Inc., a technology driven, multi-channel retailer focused on the licensed sports products industry, to re-launch the team’s official Pro Shop Online. 

“Our decision to partner with Dreams is part of our ongoing effort to offer the best possible experience for our fans – both on game day and outside of Arrowhead Stadium,” said Chiefs President Mark Donovan. “The new site features more product choices and a more seamless experience between the Pro Shop at Arrowhead and the Pro Shop Online.”

The Chiefs and Dreams have launched a shopping experience with a wider selection of NFL Licensed products and the Pro Shop at Arrowhead will work in conjunction with the Pro Shop Online to handle customer returns, refunds or exchanges at no additional charge to the fan. Additionally, visitors to the Pro Shop Online will have the option to search and shop online for an expanded product offering.

“This revamped online platform incorporates our proprietary e-commerce technology which will provide Chiefs fans with a one-of-a-kind shopping experience,” said Kevin Bates, president of Dreams’ retail division. “Building upon other successful partnerships with NFL teams, we are confident the new site will deliver a broad portfolio of trend-specific merchandise.”

by Ismail Uddin

LA Dodgers Owners Frank & Jamie McCourt Reach Divorce Settlement

Frank and Jamie McCourt have reached a divorce settlement in a costly and nasty feud over control of the Los Angeles Dodgers, paving the way for a showdown in bankruptcy court between the embattled team owner and Major League Baseball.

The agreement sees Jamie McCourt withdrawing her opposition to the proposed sale of the Dodgers’ media rights, a move her ex-husband says would alleviate his financial woes. Instead, she will file a motion supporting the process, according to the statement. She is reported to get $130 million from the settlement.

A source close to the proceedings told ESPN the Magazine’s Molly Knight that under terms of the settlement agreement, Frank McCourt must pay the entire $130 million by a set date in 2012.

Victoria Cook, one of Frank McCourt’s attorneys, said: “We’re looking forward to having her support of the Dodgers plan as the bankruptcy case goes forward.”

A Los Angeles judge still has to sign off on the agreement, but once he does the settlement effectively ends the divorce saga that began two years ago after Frank McCourt fired Jamie McCourt as the Dodgers’ CEO.

In a separate statement, a spokesman for Jamie McCourt said she was willing to accept a settlement, even if it meant giving up her interest in the Dodgers, “if a fair resolution were possible.”

“That has now been achieved through the cooperation of everyone involved and Jamie looks forward to moving on and focusing on new opportunities,” the statement said.

The divorce case has been placed on hold until a bankruptcy court in Delaware determines the fate of the team. A hearing is scheduled for Wednesday and a judge will consider dueling motions over four days starting Oct. 31.

The agreement removes Jamie McCourt, who had asked the divorce court to order the Dodgers sold, as an obstacle in Frank McCourt’s bid to keep ownership by selling team television rights.

The settlement now allows Frank McCourt to focus on his battle with MLB, which is seeking permission from a bankruptcy judge to file a reorganization plan that calls for McCourt to sell the Dodgers.

Attorneys for Frank McCourt have argued a media rights sale is the best path out of bankruptcy for one of baseball’s most storied franchises.

But baseball commissioner Bud Selig rejected the 17-year TV contract with Fox, reported to be worth up to $3 billion, noting in part that almost half of an immediate $385 million payment would have been diverted from the Dodgers.

On June 27, Frank McCourt took the Dodgers into bankruptcy. Jamie McCourt subsequently lined up behind Major League Baseball and Fox in asking the bankruptcy court to reject Frank McCourt’s bid to auction Dodgers television rights.

If Frank McCourt were to prevail in bankruptcy court, it’s unclear whether the judge would allow him to tap into the TV money to pay the settlement. It’s also unknown whether the proceeds from the sale of the team would even exceed $130 million.

MLB had assumed control of the club’s day-to-day operations in mid-April before the team filed for bankruptcy. Former Texas Rangers president Tom Schieffer was appointed to monitor the team on behalf of Selig, who said he took the action because he was concerned about the team’s finances and how the Dodgers are being run.

A group backed by Chinese government-owned investment banks had made a $1.2 billion offer to buy the Dodgers, but Frank McCourt has repeatedly said he’s not interested in selling the team.

Sponsors mark two-year milestone for 2012 Olympics

The sponsors of the London 2012 Olympic Games have marked the two-years to go landmark through different marketing initiatives.

There are now 34 commercial sponsors of the Games and 36 licensees who will be manufacturing and selling over 10, discount 000 individual pieces of London 2012 merchandise.

To mark the two-year milestone, salve VISA provided 70 of its VISA Team 2012 athletes to join in with the celebrations at the Olympic Park.

The watch company Omega provided the starting blocks for Michael Johnson to use in the Olympic Stadium as he sprinted around the new track.

Electronics company Panasonic had a giant screen in Trafalgar Square to celebrate the day with wide ranging initiatives taking place throughout the day.

Royal Mail has issued the latest set of London 2012 stamps featuring Olympic and Paralympic sports.