One of the biggest coups, and an area of the sport in which the UFC may have been beaten to the punch, so to speak, is the collectibles business, where Markham, Ontario-based startup Round 5 this month is releasing its second series of figurines bearing the likeness of some of MMA's top stars.    Read More

Cycling in the United States, for young people and adults alike, is quickly becoming to this generation what jogging was to the Jim Fixx era of the 1980’s. For reasons of health and environmental consciousness, riding a bike has become both cool and cost efficient.   Read More

The business of philanthropy, especially for elite athletes and celebrities, always seems like a simple one. You have name recognition, money and enough mojo that you can go out and start using your money for the common good right away.    Read More

While the Super Bowl isn’t a charity event for the host city, the amount pumped into the local economy is staggering. The NFL is going to make money wherever it chooses to hold a Super Bowl.   Read More

It may be too early to speculate on whether an eight team college football playoff or a “plus one” (essentially a Final Four) will actually be instituted. But the agreement announced this week by ESPN to take over the BCS for 4 years and $500 million could turn out to be a bargain if any playoff option ultimately does get adopted.    Read More

A carefully crafted, clearly messaged, well executed, proactive public relations plan is a far more important and valuable strategy to pursue for the athlete.    Read More

Luxury automaker Lexus will be moving ahead as planned with its USGA and USTA sponsorships for 2009. Lexus spokeswoman Nancy Hubbell tells me the company is committed to its golf and tennis promotional activities for next year.    Read More

One of the best sports biz stories of 2007 resulted from the Red Sox winning the 2007 World Series. Jordan's Furniture, based in Taunton, Massachusetts, offered to refund the cost of qualifying pieces of furniture purchased during a six-week period before the 2007 season, if the Red Sox went on to win the World Series.    Read More

As the economic downturn sends families scurrying to get financial budgeting software for holiday gifts, college athletic directors need to start overhauling their approach to leverage football ticket revenue to help their bottom lines.   Read More

If a company offers a strongly branded product for 40 percent off the suggested price, it sets up a perception in the customer’s mind that the product should be offered at that lower price all the time.   Read More