NFL’s Most Fanatical Family
‘Calling All Families’ Program Gives NFL Fans the Chance to Win a Trip to Super Bowl XLIV
PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay North America division and the National Football League are teaming up to give football fans across the country the chance to prove they are the NFL’s “most fanatical family” and win a five-day trip to Super Bowl XLIV in South Florida, where they’ll watch The Big Game from a VIP suite at Dolphin Stadium.
Fans can enter between Aug. 23, 2009, and Oct. 5, 2009, by visiting www.nfl.com/callingallfamilies and submitting a photograph of their family on game day and a brief essay describing why they are the NFL’s most fanatical family.
“We’re thrilled to celebrate the fans whose enthusiasm for the NFL and their favorite teams brings their families together and helps make NFL games so fun,” says Jason McDonell, Frito-Lay’s vice president and general manager of customer strategy. “Frito-Lay snack chips and dips bring something special to the game-watching experience, and we’re excited to be able to give some of the NFL’s biggest fans a family memory that will last a lifetime through our Calling All Families program.”
“We are pleased to work with Frito-Lay to celebrate our fans’ passion for the NFL through our Calling All Families program,” said Mark Waller, the NFL’s senior vice president of marketing and sales.
Frito-Lay and the NFL will support the Calling All Families program with point-of-sale displays at more than 20,000 grocery, mass merchandise, dollar and other retail channels that celebrate families’ at-home game watching environments and feature the Tostitos, Doritos and Lay’s brands. Frito-Lay and the NFL will also support the program with radio and print advertising.
A panel of judges composed of Frito-Lay and NFL executives will review all entries based on several criteria, including team spirit, enthusiasm for the game and demonstration of family gathering, and narrow the entries down to eight semi-finalists. Each semi-finalist and their family will travel to NFL Films to record a video bringing to life why they think they are the NFL’s “most fanatical family.”
From Dec. 1, 2009, to Dec. 15, 2009, fans can watch the videos online and vote for their favorite semifinalist. Then the two families that receive the most online votes will go head-to-head Dec. 16, 2009, to Jan. 3, 2010, with fans voting online to determine which family will win the Grand Prize — a five-day/four-night trip for the winner and up to five guests to attend Super Bowl XLIV, including round-trip air transportation, hotel accommodations, suite tickets to the game, and tickets to the Super Bowl Saturday Night Party and NFL Tailgate Party.
Complete rules are at www.nfl.com/callingallfamilies.
Ricketts family to acquire 95% stake in Cubs Franchise in $845 million transaction
Ricketts to Take 95% Ownership of Chicago Cubs, Wrigley Field and Tribune’s Interest in Comcast SportsNet
The Ricketts family has signed a definitive agreement with Tribune Company to acquire a 95 percent interest in the Chicago Cubs National League Baseball Club, Wrigley Field and Tribune’s approximately 25 percent interest in Comcast SportsNet (CSN) in a transaction valued at $845 million. The Ricketts family will have management control of the joint venture as its 95 percent owner. Tribune will retain a five-percent ownership interest.
“Our family is thrilled to have reached an agreement to acquire a controlling interest in the Chicago Cubs, one of the most storied franchises in sports,” said Joe Ricketts. “The Cubs have the greatest fans in the world, and we count our family among them. We look forward to closing the transaction so that we can begin leading the Cubs to a World Series title.”
The Ricketts family reached the agreement with Tribune after a thorough bid process that began more than two years ago. Tribune intends to proceed to a final transaction close without soliciting further bids from other parties.
“This joint venture will provide dedicated, local family ownership and management for the team,” commented Tribune Chairman Sam Zell. “The Ricketts family will be a great steward of the franchise. They have a strong respect for the team, for the fans and for what the Cubs mean to the City of Chicago.”
Final closing of the agreement is dependent upon approval by Major League Baseball owners and bankruptcy court approvals. As part of the court’s approval process, the entity holding most of the assets of the Cubs franchise will voluntarily file for Chapter 11 protection so that the franchise can emerge free and clear of Tribune Company’s financial obligations. All obligations specific to the Cubs franchise – player contracts and agreements with sponsors, broadcasters, advertisers, suppliers and ticket holders – are not expected to be impacted by the court approval process, and there should be no interruption of team operations. The court is expected to rule on approval of the transaction early in the fourth quarter of 2009.
Source: Tribune Company
Jillian Michaels, America’s Toughest Trainer, announces new QuickStart Rapid Weight Loss System
Jillian Michaels, New York Times bestselling author and renowned wellness coach from NBC’s The Biggest Loser, announces her first ever line of weight-control supplements in partnership with ThinCare(TM) International, LLC. The line launches today in GNC and will roll out in smarter retailers nationwide over the next month. The flagship product of the new Jillian Michaels line is the QuickStart Rapid Weight Loss System(TM) offered at a special introductory price.
“I have always been an advocate of supplements for boosting metabolic function and supporting weight loss,” says Michaels, “but I could never find a product that was effective and made with natural ingredients. So I took matters into my own hands! My new QuickStart Rapid Weight Loss System is designed to help you overcome the two greatest obstacles to successful weight loss — appetite control and fat burning.”
“We are extremely happy to be working with Jillian Michaels,” says Gina Daines, spokesperson for ThinCare(TM) International, LLC. “Jillian is a true icon and this product line is the biggest thing to hit the diet shelves in years.”
“Our partnership with ThinCare(TM) allows Empowered Media to further develop our ongoing strategy to expand the Jillian Michaels brand,” says Empowered Media CEO, Giancarlo Chersich. “We want to provide our customers with total life solutions and this partnership helps us round out our platform. Together, we have developed healthy and innovative natural products that will help consumers manage their weight-loss goals. Since the products are natural, they represent the kind of health and wellness lifestyle that Jillian always promotes. We are looking forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship.”
The entire Jillian Michaels supplement line contains the following: Maximum Strength Calorie Control(TM), Maximum Strength Fat Burner(TM), Triple Process Total Body Detox & Cleanse Plus Probiotic Replenishment(TM) and QuickStart Rapid Weight Loss System, which contains both the Fat Burner and the Calorie Control at a special introductory price.
Jillian Michaels’ products will be sold at GNC, Wal-Mart, Walgreens, CVS, Rite-Aid, Target and most chain grocery stores. For more information visit, www.jillianmichaelsweightloss.com.
Red Bull Soapbox Race Set to Speed Through the Streets of Downtown Los Angeles
FORTY-SEVEN TEAMS GEARING UP TO RACE DOWN GRAND AVENUE ONTO 5TH STREET
On September 26 there will be at least two streets in Los Angeles free from the usual gridlocked traffic. Grand Avenue and 5th Street in Downtown will be reconfigured into wide-open raceways as the Red Bull Soapbox Race screeches into town. The wacky event will feature a field of 47 hand-made soapbox racers, driven by men and women daring enough to brave steep drops, a 90 degree turn and scary speeds in pursuit of achieving glory. But this race is far from your stereotypical childhood derby, and these are no ordinary vehicles! Angelenos can keep their eyes peeled for a giant nose, a bunk bed, a time-traveling DeLorean, Pac-Man, an Aztec temple and more zooming down Grand Ave and taking a sharp turn onto 5th Street next to Pershing Square Park.
After reviewing around 200 applications, the 47 most creative teams were selected to race their human-powered vehicles down the course. While these teams definitely feel the need for speed – they can reach close to 40mph in their racers – they will need more than just velocity to win. Judging is based on three criteria: speed, creativity and showmanship, so expect to see a healthy slice of style added to soapboxes’ blur-inducing speed.
BORN TO BE WILD
It should come as no surprise that Los Angeles would produce some of the wildest soapboxes to date, many of which include a familiar cast of characters. Head Downtown on September 26 and you will witness E.T. and Elliot flying over the moon, OJ Simpson being chased by the police and the cast from Alice in Wonderland riding a giant caterpillar. And where are the Wild Things? Tearing down the Red Bull Soapbox Race course in Max’s boat, that’s where. Also expect appearances by Speed Racer, James Bond, Falkor from The Never Ending Story and Lord Dark Helmet from Spaceballs. The teams come from all over Southern California as well as from Oregon, Arizona, Texas, Colorado and Nevada. College rivalries will be in high gear as teams from USC, UCLA, Pepperdine, Cal Poly Pomona, CSU Long Beach, CSU Northridge, Loyola Marymount University, Oregon State University and University of North Texas take to the track to compete for school pride.
These gearheads may love the smell of axle grease in the morning and race just for the thrill of it, but turns out there’s a pay off! First place at Red Bull Soapbox Race is an unforgettable NASCAR experience including flight and hotel for all five team members. Second prize is the ultimate driving day at one of the most challenging and exciting racetracks in the nation. Third place receives a day of high speed go-kart racing. One team will also win the People’s Choice Award to be chosen by the crowd through SMS voting on race day.
Los Angeles may be the latest pit stop, but the Red Bull Soapbox roads have been braved by many daredevils before. The first Red Bull Soapbox Race took place in Belgium in 2000, and has since visited almost 30 countries including Austria, England, Jamaica, Czech Republic and Australia to name a few. The first U.S. event was held in St. Louis in 2006 and the event is making two U.S. stops this year in Atlanta (August 29) and Los Angeles (September 26).
RULES OF THE ROAD
It may be fast, it may be wild, it may even be weird. . .but there are rules to keep it legal. All driving machines must be entirely human-powered – no stored power or external energy sources allowed – though they must have a braking system. To maintain ground clearance (and prevent them from getting stuck on the starting ramp), soapboxes should sit at least 7″ from the ground, and be no taller than 7′ high. And finally, all soapboxes can have one or two drivers, must weigh no more than 176 lbs (without the drivers).
www.redbullsoapboxrace.com
Source: Red Bull
Soccer training goes high tech with August launch of iSoccer.org
To raise the level of the game of soccer, one player at a time, is iSoccer founder Scott Leber’s vision. After nearly two years of planning, fundraising, filming and beta-testing, the soccer educator is excited to announce the launch of www.isoccer.org. The site is poised to revolutionize soccer with its patented skills assessments and downloadable technical training videos for players and coaches of all levels.
iSoccer’s launch follows Leber’s successes on and off the field. Named 1997 Gatorade High School Player of the Year, he was an NCAA Division I top scorer for Stanford (1997-2001). After graduating with a degree in Industrial Engineering and co-founding the east coast youth soccer training business, Coastal Soccer, Leber has poured everything he knows about soccer education into iSoccer, assisted by a team of fellow Stanford graduates.
“To raise the overall level of soccer in the U.S., we need to focus on the technical development of youth players ages 5 to 17,” said Leber, who believes that successful soccer players must first develop and then build onto a strong technical foundation in order to maximize their individual potential. iSoccer provides tools to assess a player’s current ability and tailors training programs based on individual strengths and weaknesses.
Leveraging the power of social media, mobile technology and worldwide soccer mania, iSoccer now affords an estimated 20 million U.S. soccer players and their parents free access to the tools they need to develop individual technical skills to the best of their ability, on their own time or with their team.
Portability is also key. Registered users may download video training sessions to their iPods and take them to the field, where they can watch skill demonstrations on the spot, then practice the skills and record their results.
With pilot programs underway in Northern California, Arizona and Michigan, Leber says he’s delighted but not surprised that coaches and clubs are embracing iSoccer at a formidable pace. “Knowing what to teach and how to teach it has always been a real challenge for youth soccer coaches, many of whom are well-meaning parent volunteers who lack formal training,” he explains. iSoccer will help clubs and coaches fill that gap.
Plans are already in the works to translate the site into multiple languages and as word of iSoccer spreads, Leber looks forward to witnessing the impact it will have on the game he loves.
Source: iSoccer