Tiger Woods may not be playing much like the number one golfer in the world anymore. But he is still the most watched golfer.
And that quality, along with a persona that still reeks of athleticism and excellence was more than enough to attract MusclePharm Corporation (OTCQB: MSLP) as a sponsor. MusclePharm, which bills itself as a scientifically driven, performance-lifestyle sports nutrition company, made Tiger its “brand ambassador” just in time for last weekend’s Open Championship.
The move seemed to be pretty savvy, considering that ESPN “has announced a Woods-dedicated feed that will follow his entire round each day he plays,” according to MusclePharm. “In addition to all his shots, viewers will see everything from the walk between holes to Woods selecting clubs from his MusclePharm branded bag. The feed will air on ESPN3, the network’s multi-screen online sports platform.”
Brad Pyatt, chairman and CEO of MusclePharm added that “this exclusive ESPN3 coverage exemplifies the interest people have in Tiger and the excitement that he creates. Not only is he dedicated to peak physical performance, but he’s one of the all-time best players in golf.”
Inside the Deal and the Attorney Behind It
Under the terms of the multi-year agreement, the MusclePharm logo will appear on Tiger’s golf bag, and Tiger will be on the hook for additional marketing commitments and brand promotions.
The attorney behind the multi-year endorsement deal was Ed Schauder of Sichenzia Ross (www.srff.com). He was assisted by attorneys Harvey Kesner and Tim O’Brien.
With Schauder leading the firm’s Sports and Entertainment Law Practice Group, Sichenzia Ross has consummated numerous transactions that have involved well-known athletes and celebrities including Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mariano Rivera, Carmelo Anthony, Patrick Ewing, Mike Tyson, the Joe DiMaggio Estate, Chris Paul, Don Larsen, the 1994 New York Rangers, Andy Pettitte and Joe Torre.
The group has also recently advised Steiner Sports in connection with its sponsorship and partnership agreements with the New York Yankees, Madison Square Garden, the Brooklyn Nets, the Boston Red Sox and Syracuse University.
Tiger’s Agent Likes the Deal
Meanwhile, Mark Steinberg, Tiger’s agent at Excel Sports Management, told Golf Magazine that the deal with MusclePharm was a long time coming.
“It’s a cool company,” Steinberg said. “We talked to these guys at MusclePharm a couple of years and didn’t have availability. The attraction is they’re a company about the athlete and helping the athlete perform better. When people think about Tiger, he was one of the first athletes in the sport of golf. Now it seems that everybody is an athlete. That resonated a bit with Tiger and I.”
