nike tops ‘fast company’ list of most innovative companies



Nike - Most Innovative Company - 'Fast Company' March 2013

Sightings in the (news)stands: Serena Williams and Nike CEO Mark Parker are on the cover of Fast Company‘s March 2013 issue, which profiles the company’s rise to the top of its list of the World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies with the introduction of FuelBand, an electronic bracelet used for athletic training, and the super-light Flyknit shoe.

The article also mentions that Serena will be releasing her core workout as part of the Nike Training Club app.

Serena, on the need to innovate her “brand” more:

“I’m not disrupting my brand enough. I need to do it more. Nike always tries to improve. They never say, ‘I’m No. 1, and I’m happy.’ They always say, ‘How can we get better?’ … What can I do to be better?”

Right track: Serena must be doing something right; she became the oldest No. 1 on the WTA Tour since computerized ranking system came into being in 1975.

(Photo Credit: photo by TSF)

under armour’s first global marketing campaign will feature sloane stephens, among others



Under Armour logo - Global Campaign with Sloane Stephens

Under Armour announced on February 12 the launch of their first ever global marketing campaign, I WILL™. The campaign aims to highlight athletic passion and UA’s “commitment to engineering innovative products that provide real performance advantages.” At the event the brand unveiled the campaign’s principal creative spot featuring Canelo Alvarez, boxing’s welterweight World Champion; Sloane Stephens; Bryce Harper, the reigning National League Rookie of the Year; and Kemba Walker, who is currently leading his NBA team in points, assists and steals per game. The minute-long ad shows the athletes in their authentic training environment wearing Under Armour products.

“Ten years ago Under Armour became a household name when the brand asked athletes everywhere to ‘Protect this House.’ The response in the iconic commercial, and throughout the years, has been the same: I WILL,” said UA CEO and Founder Kevin Plank. “Today, Under Armour inspires the next generation of athletes to unleash their inner resolve and our I WILL trademark confirms our promise to continuously redefine the future of performance through innovation that will help give athletes an edge.”



The campaign launched Tuesday globally online (watch it above) and debuts on television in the US on Saturday, February 16, during NBA All-Star Weekend (TNT). The spot will also air on multiple networks including ESPN and MTV. Other elements include digital, OOH, grassroots, international extensions, a social competition and a new microsite, IWILL.ua.com launching on February 15, 2013.

The brand also showcased its Armour39 system – a digital performance monitoring system which helps improve training, scheduled for a March 2013 launch. The system provides a single score WILLpower measurement that reflects an individual’s overall effort during a workout session and also tracks heart rate, calories burned, and intensity. Designed to seamlessly integrate into any workout, Armour39 allows athletes to uncover precise information about their training and athletic potential.

Sloane in Doha: Stephens, ranked 17th, was entered as the 16th seed in the Qatar Total Open, held in Doha this week. She beat Anna Tatishvili in the opening round before falling to the Czech Republic’s Klara Zakopalova, losing the second and third sets in tiebreaks. The quarterfinals will be played tomorrow, with Victoria Azarenka, who double-bageled McHale, facing ErraniSerena Williams vs. Petra KvitovaMaria Sharapova taking on Sam Stosur; and Agnieszka Radwanska playing Caroline Wozniacki. (Draw: Qatar Total Open Women’s Singles)

(Photo Credit: image via Under Armour)

itf: zahlavova strycova suspended for 6 months for doping violation



Barbora Zahlavova Strycova - 2013 Doping Violation

The ITF announced today that Czech player Barbora Zahlavova Strycova commited a doping violation after testing positive for the stimulant sibutramine in a sample submitted at the BGL BNP Paribas Luxembourg Open in the fall of 2012. Zahlavova Strycova says that she had unknowingly ingested it as part of taking ACAI Berry Thin (for which she did not have a therapeutic use exemption). While the ITF does not dispute BZS’ claims, they’ve doled out a six-month suspension backdated to October 16, 2012 and will be in effect until midnight of April 15, 2013. This suspension will include forfeiture of ranking points and prize money earned  in Luxembourg and at her participation in the ITF Bueschl Open. (RELATED: Other tennis doping incidents)

(Photo Credit: BZS at a U.S. Open event in 2011 by Getty Images)

More: Full Release after the cut…

trophy watch: a bonus trophy for the ladies in doha



Nadia Petrova holds Diamond Ball trophy - Qatar Total Open 2013 -

A Girl’s Best Friend: The organizers of the Qatar Total Open 2013 in Doha are a bit more excited about this year’s draw, with the possibility of the Diamond Ball trophy being awarded at the end of the week. The secondary trophy can go to a player who wins the Qatar Total Open three times. Both Maria Sharapova and Nadia Petrova have each hoisted two Total Open trophies; Sharapova won Doha both in 2005 and 2008, while Petrova won Total Open titles in 2006 — in Doha and Berlin.

Trophy Watch: This isn’t the first time a special trophy’s been awarded to three-time winners. The Proximus Diamond Games, held for most of the 00′s in Antwerp, handed out a bedazzled racquet to Amelie Mauresmo.

(RELATED: TSF’s Trophy Watch archives)

Doha: Save for a few early dropouts in Kirilenko and Sloane Stephens — and breakthroughs in Barthel (over Kerber) and  McHale (over Safarova), it’s biz as usual. Results, draws, and orders of play available at the Qatar Total Open website.

(Photo Credit: Qatar Total Open)

kit count: lacoste shows at french tourney in montpellier



#kitcount - Feb 4-10, 2013

 

Last (gar)men(ts) standing: As much as we here at TSF pay attention to the scorelines week in and out, we’re also curious about which brands have been making the smartest (luckiest?) moves with their sponsorships: are they putting eggs in the correct tennis baskets? Are their players making the later rounds of tournaments?

#kitcount: If you have questions, feedback, or comments about this, please contact us with the #kitcount hashtag. Looking forward to explore this with y’all.

Croatian love: The sponsor-less Ivan Dodig is makin use of his real estate with shout-outs to his homeland, similar to how Marcos Baghdatis had Cyprus badges for a brief period in 2010. Dodig’s worn badges over his kits in Kooyong and at the Australian Open.