EA SPORTS FIFA Soccer 11 Takeover Tour Schedule:

EAST COAST WEST COAST

The EA SPORTS FIFA Soccer 11 Takeover Tour will be supported by an integrated marketing campaign, including live Twitter feeds, Facebook fan page updates, PlayStation.com and more, that will drive game and tour awareness, in addition to driving attendance at Tour stops.

FIFA Soccer 11 will be available in retail stores throughout the United States beginning Tuesday, Sept. 28. FIFA Soccer 11 reinvents player authenticity–on and off the ball–with all-new Personality+. Individual abilities are now reflected in-game, allowing clear differentiation for every player on the pitch. Plus, experience true freedom in man-to-man interactions with 360° Fight for Possession that transforms physical play from lateral jostling to full 360° collisions and new Pro Passing, where pass accuracy is determined by a gamer’s ability on the control pad, and player skill, situation and urgency on the pitch.

For more information about the EA SPORTS FIFA Soccer 11 Takeover Tour,   including specific Tour stop details, visit the Facebook Fan Page at http://www.facebook.com/EASPORTSFIFA or via the Tour’s Twitter Feed at http://twitter.com/EAFIFA11Tour. Visit the official FIFA 11 game page at http://www.FIFA.EASports.com.

Project Pink is a line of products by Puma that supports Breast Cancer Research.  The line was first seen with the WPS.

Calle Republic always has the coolest clothes.  The dead pigeon guys have done it again with their latest.  We tested these a while ago and they are still favorites.

Pele Sports is the newest member of our family.  They are a new company that is combining old school looks with modern design.

There are a lot more pictures and products from all of these companies.  Check out our Facebook page for the pictures and check in with ASER for the reviews.  Let us know which items are must haves and which are passes.

It all started in the early 1980′s while serving as a missionary in Chile, South America.  During my year and a half there I never saw a grass soccer field.  They were all dirt!  I wondered why.  It finally came to me that grass just could not grow when the fields got so much use.  Many of the players had no shoes, but this didn’t seem to matter.  The sport looked simple enough, so I began to join in.  I soon gained a great respect for what these kids could do with their feet.  I found that after a year and a half I could barely keep up with kids between the ages of 10 and 12.  I was 23 at the time!

When I returned home to the US, I found a group of mostly Hispanics playing “Baby Football” ([futsal] played on a basketball sized court) at the local YMCA.  I was the worst players out there!  Within a few years an adult league was forming and I was asked to play Keeper.  I had good hands from my High School [American] Football days.  It took years, but I was invited to play on the field and found that I was a decent defender.  One day, a top club asked me to join their team as a defender.  I was honored, and felt that all my soccer aspirations had materialized.  They actually wanted ME to play for them.

About this time, my children were getting old enough to play.  I decided to lend a hand as an Assistant Coach.  I found that I knew much more about the sport than many of the other AYSO coaches, and was one of the few that had ever played, or was now playing.  My boys were very athletic, and were willing to put forth a great effort.  I felt like I needed to clone them and have them all over the field… but soon learned that if I could help the other players around them improve, we could work better as a team.

That became my philosophy: “Take each of the players on the team, and leave them better than I found them.”  I concentrated on teaching them the basics many times, because bad habits had not been recognized or corrected in the past.  Some of these young kids were like “old dogs” that didn’t want to learn any new tricks.  Slowly but surely they began to trust and listen to me.  My favorite player is the one that will take instruction and try to implement it.  I have had some less talented players who would do whatever they were asked to do.  And, I prefer them to the very talented player that will not listen.  Over the years, we developed several championship teams, and saw a lot of growth among the players.  Over time the kids recognize that it isn’t just kicking a ball.  There can be so much more to it.  The more they learned, the more they realized they still needed to master.  This is a sport that just gets better and better.  I love every aspect of the game.. from playing, to coaching, to watching great soccer on TV.  With the World Cup right around the corner, we just got our cable turned on and the only reason is to watch the greatest game ever played.  We will turn it back off once a champion is named.

I now have the pleasure of playing adult league soccer with 4 of my oldest children.. They now coach me!

The new brand offers a large selection of Pele inspired products designed to meet the different needs of players. The personality and philosophy of the football idol Pelé is integrated into every product and Pelé himself has shared his experiences as a player to inspire and educate the product development team. The result is a product line that offers a wide selection for the individual tastes of an 11-a-side player, a small sided specialist or a fashion conscious supporter – Pelé Sports combines premium product quality with an optimum price-performance ratio.

The Performance Category

The excellent quality of the Performance shoe is guaranteed by the unique product development: product design specialists work closely with a network of biomechanics and podiatrists to create the best shoe for each different need.
The design has a great deal of Pelé recognition: 1958, 1962 and 1970 – the years Pelé won the World Cup title – are the model names and are found as a detail on the boots’ cleats, while number “10″ – Pelé’s famous jersey number – is integrated into the creative graphic design on the heel instep and outsole.

The result is a Futebol bonito experience that will be accessible to the ambitious 11-a-side footballers.

• A reinforced heel area for better support.
• An EVA midsole for more absorption and to prevent, among other things, problems with the Achilles heel.
• A special cleat configuration to absorb pressure better and a special cleat shape to reduce the pressure on the knee when the player pivots.
• The upper material is kangaroo leather with Dual Friction Technology for more grip on the ball.
• Dual Friction is used from the start in the processing of the leather and guarantees a long-lasting grip.
• Kangaroo leather is extremely durable and tear-resistant, and yet supple – it wraps around and hugs the individual shape of the foot perfectly. Available in black (with yellow decorative stitching), and white (with red decorative stitching).
• Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price: 170 EUR / $ 160

A top of the line model, the 1970 is a football boot that you’ve never seen before; combining function with attention to detail. The 1970 FG MS (Black) and 1970 SG MS (White) boots both provide the football player with a perfect balance between performance, comfort, cushioning, stability, and design.

The Pelada Category

Pelé Sports products will not only appeal to ambitious club football players – they will also appeal to everyone who plays football, regardless of where they play and what team they play with. The products assimilate the characteristics of football as well as the individuality of each and every player.

Pelada is the category that features the appropriate kit for a footballer’s personal style and honors the origins of Pelé, who learned how to play football in the streets of Brazil. Whether they’re playing organized futsal, or playing on a small field, at the beach, in a municipal park, or in a parking lot – all you need for Futebol bonito are one ball and two players, and the game can begin!

The Pelé Story Category

Pelé – the IOC Athlete of the Century – is not only lending his name to Pelé Sports, but he is also closely involved with the brand. That’s reason enough to give the best footballer of all time a fitting fashion stage for his lifestyle line – Pelé Story. This collection is unique in that it features some of the most famous football experiences associated with Pelé ,the celebrated “bicycle kick” for example, but also elements of his life that are less known, like his experience as an outstanding goalkeeper. Featuring fashionable sportswear, the Pelé Story is for anyone who identifies with football and the philosophy of Futebol bonito – and, of course, for everyone who admires Pelé.

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About Pelé Sports

Feeling and technique are the two qualities that reflect Pelé Sports: The brand philosophy combines the legendary Brazilian enthusiasm for playing football, along with top products that are designed to completely satisfy a footballer’s every demand. The inspiration of the football legend Pelé,, who is also directly involved in product development, can be felt in every product: Futebol bonito, regardless of who you are and where and how you play. This desire is combined with an outstanding price-performance ratio. The P-Sports company was founded in 2009 and has its US headquarters in Aspen, Colorado. A selected team of product design specialists and football experts are managing the international launch of the Pele Sports brand under license in June 2010. Sales and distribution through selected specialist sports stores will start with a mixture of the brand’s own marketing and distribution subsidiaries and selected distribution partners. www.pele-sports.com

AVID Soccer GK Contest Entry

• Soccer was my passion growing up it was what defined me.  My business is keeping the goal, but I have never been afraid to pull out the smooth rainbow on a defender in a street game; nutmeg a striker trying to steal a goal on a back pass; step up to the spot and convert the 5th PK only to have the pressure of stopping the next shot for the win.  Nothing seems sweeter than duping players with my foot skill as they are outmaneuvered by the man with the gloves on.

• When I am out on a soccer field, I am a whole different person because I feel like I am where I belong.  I feel like I am home. Whether it is raining, snowing, or what ever, I’ve never felt better in my life than when I am out on that field doing what I love to do most. Play soccer and that is truly why soccer is my passion.

AVID Soccer Contest Entry

• I am from a small town in the USA and almost nobody plays [soccer]. I don’t know how many times I have been at the park and seen tons of people playing and doing activities, but I am the only one there with a soccer ball. It’s really kind of depressing at times, but I have fought through it. I constantly practice my skills by juggling and other individual drills. I quickly became interested in freestyle which has opened up many opportunities for me. I have been a competitor in the Red Bull Streetstyle national finals for the last two years, and I was a part of the Burger King Futbol Kingdom team as well. These have been fabulous experiences.

Think you can do better?  Time is running out.  Get your entry in by 28 May.  Get all of the details at AVID Soccer.

NEWPORT BEACH, CA (March 2009) – Socially conscious soccer ball producer Little Feet has announced that it has partnered with the two largest US Men’s National Soccer Team support groups, Sam’s Army and the American Outlaws, to produce the official US Men’s National Team Supporter Shirt for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. For every shirt sold, Little Feet has pledged to donate a soccer ball to an underprivileged child in South Africa during the World Cup.

Since 2006, Little Feet has donated a soccer ball to a needy child for every ball sold through its Web site. True to its “one for one” business model, for every World Cup shirt sold, Little Feet will continue its philanthropic mission by donating a soccer ball to underprivileged children across South Africa during the World Cup. In July, the organization plans on delivering the balls to various schools, orphanages, and other organizations throughout the country.

Returning to Africa for the first time since visiting Rwanda, Burundi, and Kenya in April 2009, Little Feet is eager to leave its mark on South Africa. “With all the hype of the World Cup, it’s easy to forget that there are 2.5 million orphans in South Africa and two-thirds of the children are living below the ‘one dollar per day’ international poverty line,” says Little Feet founder and president Trevor Slavick. “This is an easy and fun way to try and help some of these kids and a reminder for us all that more needs to be done.”

John O’Brien—former member of the US Men’s National Team during the 1998, 2002, and 2006 World Cups and the 2000 Summer Olympics—and Frankie Hejduk, who has been a member of the US Men’s National team since 1996, enthusiastically endorse the project on the Little Feet website.

Emblazoned with a peace sign superimposed on the continent of Africa and the logos of Little Feet, Sam’s Army, and the American Outlaws, it is made of 100% cotton and printed with eco-friendly inks. It is available in “Match Day Red” (in Men’s, Women’s and Youth sizes), and “Pub-Crawl Gray” (in Adult sizes only) at www.littlefeet.com/worldcup.

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About the shirts:

Little Feet T-shirts are 100% cotton and printed using water based Eco-friendly inks. The shirt comes in two colors; red and grey. The red shirts are game day shirts (Sea of Red) and have the number 10 (reference to 2010 World Cup) printed on the back. The number 1 has ‘Sam’s Army’ printed multiple times and the zero has ‘American Outlaws’ printed multiple times. ‘Little Feet’ is printed over the top of the numbers to complete the jersey look. The red shirt is available in men’s, women’s and youth sizes. Please note, youth sizes are American Apparel sizes 8, 10, and 12.

The grey shirt is a classic vintage print and does not have the game day number on the back. It has a vintage look and the artwork has been purposely distressed. Grey shirts are only available in adult sizes. Adult shirts shrink a tad but run very true to size, so if you are on the cusp, we recommend going for the larger size.

The colors on the front of the shirt are the colors of the South African flag. The logos of Sam’s Army, American Outlaws and Little Feet are represented inside of Africa and are divided similarly to the triangular division of the South African flag. “We’re In” over South Africa does not need any explanation. We’re going to the cup!

About Little Feet

Little Feet is a social enterprise that gives underprivileged children the chance to play “the Beautiful Game” by providing them with new, high-quality soccer balls. Founded upon the “one for one” model, it donates a ball to a needy child for each one sold. Headquartered in Newport Beach, California, it has shared its passion for soccer with disadvantaged children and schools around the world since its inception in March 2006.

Winners are selected in each category based on value, quality and desirability.  Other criterion is category specific.  Winners are selected by a combination of votes from editors, testers and readers.  Details are available at http://blog.avidsoccer.com.

The Best of 2009 are:

• Coolest Lifestyle Product – Nominees include Nike’s Holland Anthem Jacket, the adidas Hero Hoodie.  The winner is the Calle Republic Rilo street shoe.  Calle one over great products from adidas and Nike by creating a shoe ideally suited to the soccer lifestyle and street soccer.
• Best Boot – Nominees include the adidas Predator X and Puma v1.10.  The winner is the Concave PT+.  Any of these boots could have finished first and there was a strong argument for each.  In the end, better grass roots support for the Concave PT+ pushed it ahead of the competition.
• Best Ball – Nominees include the adidas Jabulani and Nike Ascente.  Both are world class professional quality balls, but we selected the value priced (relatively speaking) Puma King XL as our winner.
• Best Kit – Nominees include the Sarson Bonn and adidas Russian National team kit.  The winner is a balance between high quality and value in the Diadora Ermano.
• Innovative Product of the Year – The first nomination for our most important award go to the Woman’s Professional Soccer league for changing the way soccer franchises are marketed in the US.  The second nomination goes to Lotto Team Sports for changing the way uniforms are designed and produced.  Our winner is the Concave striking plate.  It changes the way we think about hitting the ball.  The Concave striking patch may be the equivalent to the oversized golf club.

About AVID Soccer:

AVID Soccer is a grass roots organization that provides information and training to individual players, groups and teams. AVID Soccer consists of coaches and trainers dedicated to improving the image of soccer; the level of training; and the level of play.  http://www.avidsoccer.com

The AVID Soccer Equipment Review (ASER), one of the largest independent review sites, provides objective testing services, reviews and information on soccer equipment and related products. The AVID Soccer Equipment review web log was founded in March 2006.  http://blog.avidsoccer.com

AVID Soccer News presents product announcements, player gossip, team transfers, lifestyle, etc. In short, we present the news and views of the soccer world. Articles are compiled from original content, press releases and reprinted publications.  http://news.avidsoccer.com

Each year, the ASER writers, testers and editor select the products that provide the best overall experience.  That is defined as a balance between quality, desirability and value.

… and the nominee for best…

• Best Boot
  • adidas Predator X
  • Concave PT+
  • Puma v1.10
• Best Ball
  • adidas Jabulani
  • Puma King XL
  • Nike Total 90 Ascente
• Best Kit
  • adidas Russian Federation WC Kit
  • Diadora Ermano
  • Sarson Bonn
• Coolest Lifestyle Product
  • adidas Lampard Hooded Jacket
  • Calle Republic Rilo Street Shoe
  • Nike Holland Anthem Track Jacket
• Most Innovative Product
  • Lotto Team Sport custom jersey system
  • Concave striking plate
  • Women’s Professional Soccer League

Voting opens January 1st.  To vote, click on one of the links above and add your comments or send email to the Review Desk.  Voting will close January 22.  Winners will be announced the following week.

CHICAGO, IL (Oct. 20, 2009) – Electronic Arts Inc., (NASDAQ: ERTS) today announced the launch of the EA SPORTS FIFA Soccer 10 Tour, a nationwide, 15 city, five-week long program that showcases EA’s acclaimed FIFA Soccer 10 videogame and the new slimmer and lighter 120GB Playstation®3 (PS3™) computer entertainment system. Throughout the five weeks, two vehicles outfitted with 13 TVs along with PS3™systems, plus a full-time crew, will travel the East Coast while another team will visit West Coast cities. At each Tour stop, fans will have the opportunity to play FIFA Soccer 10, as well as receive free prizes courtesy of EA SPORTS and PlayStation®, including the chance to win a PSP® (PlayStation®Portable)go system.

EA SPORTS FIFA Soccer 10 Tour Schedule:

• 10/17 – 10/18 Chicago, IL
• 10/24 – 10/25 Boston, MA
• 10/24 – 10/25 Denver, CO
• 10/31 – 11/1 New York City, NY
• 10/31 – 11/1 Seattle, WA
• 11/7 – 11/8 Baltimore, MD/Roanoke, VA
• 11/7 – 11/8 San Francisco, CA
• 11/14 – 11/15 Raleigh, NC
• 11/14 – 11/15 Los Angeles, CA
• 11/21 Atlanta, GA
• 11/21 San Diego, CA
• 11/22 Columbus, OH
• 11/22 Las Vegas, NV

 FIFA Soccer 10 will be available in retail stores throughout the United States beginning Tuesday, Oct. 20. FIFA Soccer 10 features the first-ever true 360° dribbling system that gives players finer control of the ball and the all-new Virtual Pro that enables you to live out the fantasy of playing as a professional player by putting yourself in-game using Photo Game Face. Earlier this month FIFA Soccer 10 launched in Europe selling 1.7 million copies during the first seven days, becoming the largest sports videogame launch in history.

The EA SPORTS FIFA Soccer 10 Tour will be supported by an integrated marketing campaign, including live Twitter feeds, Facebook fan page updates, PlayStation.com and more, that will drive game and tour awareness, in addition to driving attendance at Tour stops.

For more information about the EA SPORTS FIFA Soccer 10 Tour, including specific Tour stop details, visit the Tour’s Facebook Fan Page at http://www.facebook.com/EAFIFA10Tour or via the Tour’s Twitter Feed at http://twitter.com/EAFIFA10Tour. Visit the official EA Sports FIFA Soccer 10 game page at http://www.FIFA.EASports.com.

ABOUT ELECTRONIC ARTS
Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is a leading global interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, the Company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers, wireless devices and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA™, EA SPORTS™, EA SPORTS Freestyle™ EA Mobile™ and POGO™. In fiscal 2009, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $4.2 billion and had 31 titles that sold more than one million copies. EA’s homepage and online game site is http://www.ea.com. More information about EA’s products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com. EA, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS Freestyle, EA Mobile and POGO are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. Official FIFA licensed product ‘ © The FIFA brand OLP logo is a copyright and trademark of FIFA. All rights reserved.’ Manufactured under license by Electronic Arts Inc. Player names and likenesses used under license from FIFA, International Federation of Professional Footballers “(FIFPro)” and national teams. John Madden, NFL, NHL, NBA, NCAA, Tiger Woods and PGA Tour are trademarks of their respective owners and used with permission. Microsoft, Xbox, and Xbox 360 are registered trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. “PlayStation”, “PLAYSTATION” and PSP are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Memory Stick Duo™ may be required (sold separately). Nintendo DS, and Wii are trademarks of Nintendo. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

adidas is pleased to announce the 8th installment of the annual FANATIC soccer tournament to be held Saturday July 25, 2009. Twenty four teams will turn out to compete for this year’s title and special prizes that will be awarded to the winning team, runner-up, and those with the best customized jerseys and best team spirit.

FANATIC was created in 2002 as an immersive experience of soccer and community in New York. The objective from the beginning has been to create a supportive environment that would provide the necessary conditions for the “activators” of New York City to embrace playing soccer. The tournaments themselves were approached in the same way you would curate a group show, seeking like-minded artists that would ultimately work well together, resulting in a movement that could, in fact, affect change. A “niche” group of magazines, local boutiques, artists, creative agencies, photographers, dj’s, restaurateurs and record producers have been brought together for the past seven years, creating a new kind of soccer community.

This year’s FANATIC teams include veterans such as Chinatown Soccer Club, Diner Old Boys, PSYOP, Bowery United, dGi Dillingers, CHEZ, REAL BIG, The Krauts, The Tokion Sports & Leisure Club, Vice FC, Nom de Hooligans, and Complex FC. Returning again are La Esquina, Fader, Opening Ceremony, The Smile, and United Bamboo. And finally, this year’s first time participants are Turntable Lab and Paper Shredders.

Hosted by adidas & Metro Soccer, this year’s tournament will continue to honor the FANATIC tradition. DJ Neil Armstrong is back to provide the beats and Brother Jimmy will provide the much needed BBQ nourishment, while Heineken and Volvic Water will be provided throughout the day.

FANATIC VIII
Saturday, July 25th
12:00 pm – 08:00 pm
Chelsea Waterside Park
(West Side Hwy @ 23rd Street)

FANATIC: Definition: an immersive experience of soccer and community in New York.

From Nike, the world’s leading sports brand, comes an exclusive release by De La Soul, one of the most influential hip hop bands of the last two decades.  Commemorating the 20th Anniversary of 3 Feet High and Rising, De La Soul’s groundbreaking debut record, ARE YOU IN?: Nike+ Original Run is the groups’ first-released original material in five-years. The record is only available through iTunes, and is part of a continuing series of releases through the “Nike+ Sport Music” section of the store.

With additional production by Chicago-based DJ/Production-duo Flosstradamus, ARE YOU IN?: Nike+ Original Run is a unique album written specifically for runners, but its allure extends to all music fans. Posdnuos of De La Soul explains, “When we first heard about this project we were psyched on the challenge. We pride ourselves on being able to get bodies moving, so it was cool to do it with a specific goal in mind – giving runners the sonic fuel to clock some miles.”

ARE YOU IN?: Nike+ Original Run is a continuous full-length body of music that reflects the arc a runner experiences during a run. Commissioned by Nike, this is the fifth release in the Nike+ Original Run series following releases by artists such as A-Trak, Aesop Rock, LCD Soundsystem and Crystal Method.

The release also features cover artwork by famed designer Joe Buckingham and an exclusive single.

Runners and fans alike can buy De La Soul’s ARE YOU IN?: Nike+ Original Run at the Apple iTunes Music Store for $9.99. Download the album April 28th at:  www.itunes.com/nikedelasoul.

About Nike + iPod

Nike + iPod now provides motivation to runners in 180 countries around the world. The Nike + iPod Sport Kit allows Nike+ Running shoes to talk wirelessly to an iPod® nano or an iPod® touch. Information on time, distance, pace and calories burned is displayed on the nano or touch and can be easily stored on www.nikeplus.com. Runners can also stay motivated by setting goals, challenging others to virtual races or to reach specific goals, connecting with friends, and using the Nike+ Coach features on www.nikeplus.com.

As of January 2009, Nike+ members have logged more than 100 million miles, the equivalent of 200 trips to the moon. Since launch in July 2006 over 900,000 challenges (908,935 and counting) have been created, more than 1.7 million goals (1,732,653 and counting) have been created, and more than 140,000 training programs (141,819 and counting) have been launched on www.nikeplus.com. About Nike SportMusic

Launched on June 29, 2006 by Nike, the Nike SportMusic store on iTunes is the definitive source of musical inspiration and audio coaching for athletes. It’s more than music. Nike + iPod Coaching Workouts feature star athletes like Lance Armstrong, Serena Williams, and artists like OKGO guiding you through a run or an exercise session while engineered PowerSongs rev you up. De La Soul’s ARE YOU IN?: Nike+ Original Run is the fifth release in the Original Run series, which includes exclusive workout albums by A-Trak, Aesop Rock, LCD Soundsystem and Crystal Method.

About The Artists

Posdnuos, Trugoy the Dove and Maseo formed De La Soul in the late 80s while still in high school. The band’s debut album, 3 Feet High and Rising, was released in the spring of 1989 and garnered commercial and critical success, showcasing their unique lyrical style and writing with the sounds of funk, soul, pop, jazz, reggae, and psychedelia. Today De La Soul remains one of the most influential hip-hop groups of the past 20 years.

Flosstradamus, the oft-mentioned Chicago DJ duo comprised of J2K (Josh Young) and Autobot (Curt Cameruci) have been dominating the party scene nationwide with their tag-team DJ sets (3 turntables, 2 mixers) since 2005. Gathering vast influences from their respective backgrounds in punk and hip-hop, Flosstradamus have brought normally divided crowds together with their unique mixes of Baltimore club, hip-hop, house, obscure remixes, punk rock and juke.  Flosstradamus have toured internationally with A-Trak, Chromeo, and Kid Sister, J2K’s sister, who they also perform live with. Flosstradamus have produced and remixed original tracks for Kid Sister and have recently remixed Bloc Party, Mates of State, The Cool Kids, Matt and Kim, Heartsrevolution, Walter Meego and many more. They have also recently collaborated with Caroline Polachek of Chairlift for a Green Label Sound release.

For the past 20 years, designer Joe Buckingham has continued to design and create music packaging, sportswear graphics, web graphics, corporate identities, branding, and print and provides design consulting services through his company ArtilleryDS. Two of his most popular works, De La Soul is Dead and Saturdays, have became highly recognizable pieces of cover art and to this day are still considered iconic in the urban music genre to this day.

About Nike

NIKE, Inc. based near Beaverton, Oregon, is the world’s leading designer, marketer and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities. Wholly-owned Nike subsidiaries include Cole Haan, which designs, markets and distributes luxury shoes, handbags, accessories and coats; Converse Inc., which designs, markets and distributes athletic footwear, apparel and accessories; Hurley International LLC, which designs, markets and distributes action sports and
youth lifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories; and Umbro Ltd., a leading United Kingdom-based global football (soccer) brand. For more information, visit www.nikebiz.com.

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adidas and the Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) are celebrating their 20-year partnership with a contract extension that keeps the brand as the Official Supplier and Outfitter of the Boston Marathon for years to come.  Looking forward, adidas and the B.A.A. will be together for the B.A.A.’s 125th anniversary in 2013, and the historic 125th running of the Boston Marathon in 2021.   

This year, adidas will again supply the coveted official Boston Marathon jacket and will outfit more than 10,000 race volunteers, media members, medical personnel, race officials and staff. In addition, the extension expands on the adidas role to include exclusive rights to manufacture, distribute, promote and sell B.A.A. branded apparel.
“The Boston Marathon is the world’s most prestigious road race. Runners of all levels travel to Boston each April to run, cheer or simply watch history being made. As a running brand it is the place to be,” said Patrik Nilsson, President, adidas America. “The Boston Marathon is a key platform for us to introduce new products and technologies, and we look forward to more opportunities to build on the traditions surrounding this race with runners and fans alike.”

When adidas first sponsored the Boston Marathon in 1989, the race had 6,458 entrants; this year it will have 26,400. The B.A.A. and adidas will continue to create comprehensive and proactive community outreach programs to serve and promote sports in the city of Boston.  Currently, the two entities partner on programs such as clinics for Boston-area runners throughout the year and the B.A.A. Kid’s Relay Challenge, conducted over marathon weekend.

“The partnership between the B.A.A. and adidas has strengthened the Boston Marathon in ways that not even we could have predicted,” said Guy Morse, B.A.A. executive director. “We have been able to inspire, motivate and create products, events and programs that are consistent with the Boston Marathon’s prestige and history. Since we joined efforts in 1989, adidas has been with the B.A.A. and with runners every step of the way.”

2009 Boston Marathon Product
adidas running product will be on sale at the adidas booth at the John Hancock Sports & Fitness Expo inside the John B. Hynes Convention Center and at local Boston retailers including Marathon Sports, City Sports, New England Running Company and the Greater Boston Running Company. The full line of product can be purchased online at www.shopadidas.com.

•  In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the original partnership and the running of the 113th Boston Marathon, adidas designed a limited edition B.A.A. Supernova Sequence 2 running shoe. The limited-edition shoe features a unique colorway with the iconic B.A.A. unicorn logo. Only 800 pairs of the shoes were created. The shoes retail for $100 and are available at the Boston Marathon Expo, Marathon Sports, City Sports, New England Running Company, the Greater Boston Running Company and www.shopadidas.com.
• All runners should have the chance to show off their accomplishment and adidas and the B.A.A invite them to do that with the Official Race Jacket of the 113th Boston Marathon. Featuring ForMotion apparel technology that optimizes performance and fit, this jacket offers greater comfort and freedom of movement. The ClimaProof lightweight shell allows heat and sweat to evaporate while keeping cold air and wind away from the body. The jacket retails for $90 and is available for men and women.
• For the first time, Marathon finishers will have the chance to create a personalized t-shirt after the race through adidas and partner SpreadShirt.com. Finishers can visit the site to select from various colors and styles and also can incorporate the official B.A.A Marathon logo as well as their finishing time on select designs.

About the Boston Marathon

The Boston Marathon is the world’s oldest annual marathon and ranks as one of the world’s most prestigious road racing events. The Boston Athletic Association manages this American classic, which is sponsored by John Hancock Financial Services. The Boston Marathon has distinguished itself as the pinnacle event within the sport of road racing by virtue of its traditions, longevity and method of gaining entry into the race (via qualification).

About adidas
adidas is a global designer, developer and marketer of athletic footwear, apparel and accessories with the mission to be the leading sports brand in the world. Brand adidas is part of the adidas Group, a corporation that also includes Reebok, TaylorMade and Rockport. Some of the players in adidas’ roster of athletes include: Kevin Garnett, Dwight Howard, Jeremy Wariner, Allyson Felix, Shawn Johnson, Candace Parker, Reggie Bush, Tim Duncan, Ryan Howard and David Beckham.

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The two best freestylers in the world, John Farnworth and Abbas Farid, flew in from the UK and linked up with CALLE for a weekend to hit the streets of LA.  These two guys are just plain nasty with the ball on any part of their bodies.  They hold all sorts of world records, have done shows with Ronaldinho, and they loved hanging with the CALLE crew for the weekend.