THE NEW NIKE+ RUNNING EXPERIENCE: SMARTER, MORE SOCIAL, MORE MOTIVATIONAL
Nike+ Running is evolving to empower more runners than ever before to track, measure, compare and share their runs across the globe. The new Nike+ Running experience motivates runners with insightful and inspirational new features, and broadened access to the NIKE+ community, which has grown to approximately 7 million members since its launch in 2006.
Runners globally now can enjoy access through the redesigned Nike+ Running App for iPhone, brand new Nike+ Running App for Android, faster performance and smarter motivational features through the reengineered nikeplus.com, and enhanced social sharing through Facebook Friend tagging – all within the evolving ecosystem of Nike+ Running products.
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“The Nike+ Running experience is one of the most personalized and motivational ways we serve the runner,” said Jayme Martin, Vice President, Global Category Running. “We’re introducing a new chapter that will take the running experience to a new level in terms of connectivity, community, social sharing and data-driven insights.”
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Mobile Expansion
The culmination of the Nike+ Running evolution is the launch of the redesigned Nike+ Running App (formerly called the Nike+ GPS App). In addition to major upgrades to the version for iPhone, Nike has released the Nike+ Running App for Android. Both apps are free and allow runners to track, share and compare their runs – all within a seamless, intuitive user experience.
“The expansion of NIKE+ onto multiple mobile platforms will allow us to serve more runners than ever before. This opportunity will give even more athletes the chance to experience NIKE+, which makes this an incredibly exciting time for the Running community,” said Stefan Olander, Vice President, Digital Sport.
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The Nike+ Running App features a smooth new user interface – tailored and optimized for each operating system – that hosts a number of new features for runners. The in-run navigation is seamless and simple, allowing runners to easily check key run stats, see their in-progress GPS map, change songs or get audio feedback without missing a stride.
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The key focus in both apps’ designs is motivating runners. A new “Next Moves” feature on the home screen allows runners to easily flip through suggested challenges: for example, to run their fastest 5k or go their farthest distance. In the iOS version, the "Next Moves" feature shows how your last run stacked up against your average and other recommendations for your next run. In addition, a dynamic goal progress bar helps runners stay motivated and tracking on goals they’ve set up through their nikeplus.com profile.
The apps make social sharing more fun with added run summary features. Now runners can choose from a wider variety of terrains and emotions, as well as tag which shoe they ran in to track shoe total mileage. Runners no longer have to input weather if they want to record it – the app automatically knows the weather based on GPS location.
The Nike Free App for iPhone is available for free from the App Store on iPhone or at http://www.nikefreeaustraliavip.com. The Nike+ Running App for Android is available for free beginning today on Google Play.
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Enhanced Social Sharing
Nike and Facebook have partnered to make sharing runs to Facebook easier and more fun with a dynamic and social integration from the Nike+ Running App. By posting Nike+ Running App runs to Facebook, runners will see their total distance logged, which cities they’ve run in, and a map of their longest run. The app is one of the first to use friend tagging so runners can see their most frequent running buddies and who has cheered them on.
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For the first time, runners can tag their Facebook Friends to runs via the Nike+ Running App. The route will then be shared to their Timeline – making it even easier to get the word out on a great run.
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The new experience makes it easier and more fun to post runs to Twitter and, exclusively in the iOS version, to Path. With Path, runners now have the option to share running routes and duration with the app’s easy to use “Share This Run” feature.
NIKE, FIVE GLOBAL COMPANIES TO ACCELERATE DEVELOPMENT OF PRODUCTS MADE FROM PLANTS
The Coca-Cola Company, Ford Motor Company, H.J. Heinz Company, NIKE, Inc. and Procter & Gamble today announced the formation of the Plant PET Technology Collaborative (PTC), a strategic working group focused on accelerating the development and use of 100% plant-based PET materials and fiber in their products. PET, also known as polyethylene terephthalate, is a durable, lightweight plastic that is used by all member companies in a variety of products and materials including plastic bottles, apparel, footwear and automotive fabric and carpet.
The collaborative builds upon the success of The Coca-Cola Company’s PlantBottleTM packaging technology, which is partially made from plants and has demonstrated a lower environmental impact when compared to traditional PET plastic bottles. Currently, Heinz licenses the technology from Coca- Cola for select Heinz ketchup bottles in the U.S. and Canada.
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This new collaborative was formed to support new technologies in an effort to evolve today’s material that is partially made from plants to a solution made entirely from plants. By leveraging the research and development efforts of the founding companies, the PTC is taking the lead to affect positive change across multiple industries. PTC members are committed to researching and developing commercial solutions for PET plastic made entirely from plants and will aim to drive the development of common methodologies and standards for the use of plant-based plastic including life cycle analyses and universal terminology.
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“Fossil fuels like oil have significant impacts to the planet’s biodiversity, climate and other natural systems” said Erin Simon, Senior Program Officer of Packaging for World Wildlife Fund (WWF). “Sustainably managing our natural resources and finding alternatives to fossil fuels are both business and environmental imperatives. It’s encouraging to see these leading companies use their market influence to reduce dependence on petroleum-based plastics. We hope other companies will follow their lead.”
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These leading brand companies are making a commitment to champion and support research, expand knowledge and accelerate technology development to enable commercially viable, more sustainably sourced, 100% plant-based PET plastic while reducing the use of fossil fuels. PTC member companies look forward to working together to meet each member’s future business goals and lead the charge toward 100% plant-based materials.
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About The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world's largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands. Led by Coca-Cola, the world's most valuable brand, the Company's portfolio features 15 billion dollar brands including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, Georgia and Del Valle. Globally, Coca-Cola is the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, ready-to-drink coffees, and juices and juice drinks. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy their beverages at a rate of more than 1.7 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, Coca-Cola is focused on initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint, support active, healthy living, create a safe, inclusive work environment for its associates, and enhance the economic development of the communities where they operate. Together with their bottling partners, Coca-Cola ranks
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among the world's top 10 private employers with more than 700,000 system employees. For more information, please visit http://www.nikefreeaustraliavip.com or follow them on Twitter at twitter.com/CocaColaCo.
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About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 166,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit http://www.nikefreeaustraliavip.com.
About The H.J. Heinz Company
H.J. Heinz Company, offering “Good Food Every Day”TM is one of the world’s leading marketers and producers of healthy, convenient and affordable foods specializing in ketchup, sauces, meals, soups, snacks and infant nutrition. Heinz provides superior quality, taste and nutrition for all eating occasions whether in the home, restaurants, the office or “on-the-go.” Heinz is a global family of leading branded products, including Heinz? Ketchup, sauces, soups, beans, pasta and infant foods (representing over one third of Heinz’s total sales), Ore- Ida? potato products, Weight Watchers? Smart Ones? entrees, T.G.I. Friday’s? snacks, and Plasmon infant nutrition. Heinz is famous for its iconic brands on six continents, showcased by Heinz? Ketchup, The World’s Favorite Ketchup?.
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About NIKE, Inc.
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 Converse Inc., which designs, markets and distributes athletic footwear, apparel and accessories; Cole Haan, which designs, markets and distributes luxury shoes, handbags, accessories and coats; Umbro Ltd., a leading United Kingdom-based global football (soccer) brand; and Hurley International LLC, which designs, markets and distributes action sports and youth lifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories. For more information, visit www.nikeinc.com and follow @Nike.
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About Procter & Gamble
P&G serves approximately 4.4 billion people around the world with its brands. The Company has one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Pampers?, Tide?, Ariel?, Always?, Whisper?, Pantene?, Mach3?, Bounty?, Dawn?, Fairy?, Gain?, Charmin?, Downy?, Lenor?, Iams?, Crest?, Oral-B?, Duracell?, Olay?, Head & Shoulders?, Wella?, Gillette?, Braun?, Fusion?, Ace?, Febreze?, Ambi Pur?, SK-II?, and Vicks?. The P&G community includes operations in about 80 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.nikefreeaustraliavip.com for the latest news and in-depth information about P&G and its brands.
FY10-11 SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS PERFORMANCE SUMMARY
NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:NKE) today released its FY10-11 Sustainable Business Performance Summary which introduces its new targets and outlines its progress against key business, labor and environmental goals. The company also discusses the key challenges and its strategy for its work ahead, demonstrating its commitment to a more transparent and sustainable future.
Nike’s long-term strategic vision – to decouple profitable growth from constrained resources – is underscored by new targets and commitments, including a company-wide commitment to further integrate sustainability principles into its innovation processes, governance and portfolios. The work ahead is structured in two levels: continuous improvement targets against key impact areas to “make today better” and broader innovation commitments to “design the future” that establish how Nike is approaching longer-term change.
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“Nike is known globally for our innovative performance products and sustainability has now increasingly become core to our business approach,” said NIKE, Inc. President & CEO Mark Parker. “We have continuously invested in reducing our environmental and social impacts within our own business and supply chain and have made substantial gains over the last decade. We know we cannot achieve our bold sustainability goals simply by delivering incremental improvements. We need to deliver innovations that rapidly evolve the way things are done at Nike, in our industry and throughout business.”
Nike also unveiled its new factory rating system, the Manufacturing Index, which looks comprehensively at a contract factory’s total performance and includes a deeper look at how a factory approaches sustainability. This Index elevates labor and environmental performance alongside traditional supply chain measures of quality, cost and on-time delivery.
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Within the overall Manufacturing Index, the company has developed an innovative Sourcing & Manufacturing Sustainability Index (SMSI) which assesses contract factory performance on sustainability measures including measures of lean, environmental performance (including water, energy and carbon, and waste), health and safety, and labor management factors. After more than two years of development work and concluding a successful pilot program, the SMSI is currently being rolled out across NIKE, Inc.’s global supply chain.
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Nike’s report focuses heavily on the role of innovation, transparency and collaboration in addressing sustainability issues. The Summary shows that Nike achieved or made significant progress against most of its previous targets, including waste reduction in footwear manufacturing, utilizing its Considered Design Index guidelines in product design and implementing Human Resource Management training programs in contracted factories.
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In some areas, including the reduction of excessive overtime at contract factories, progress was slower than targeted. Nike also changed its approach to some targets, including carbon emissions, based on deeper understanding of the challenges and to improve alignment with business strategy. Incremental progress against several targets was a key driver for Nike to redesign its factory evaluation and sourcing criteria to improve performance in the long-term.
Nike worked with Business for Social Responsibility to engage a panel of external reviewers with expertise across broad areas, including representatives from Non Governmental Organizations and academia to business, students and open data advocates, to assess its reporting and engage in discussion on its new set of sustainability targets. Massachusetts Institute of Technology Professor Richard Locke, whose current research is focused on improving labor and environmental conditions in global supply chains, was one of the reviewers and said the process had been well-organized, rigorous and transparent.
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“I have been impressed by Nike’s willingness to engage in constructive debate over what is feasible and what is aspirational,” Locke said. “This is a company that takes a leadership position and has clearly learned the value of partnership and that collaboration is a business opportunity, not a risk.”
Some of the key results against the last goals Nike set include:
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The number of factory audits showing serious, repeated violations has remained low, at about 5 percent over the past five years. The number of contract factories with unknown conditions has decreased from 48 percent in FY09 to 8 percent in FY11, due in large part to increased monitoring against NIKE, Inc.’s Affiliate base.
Human Resource Management training was conducted in 79 percent of focus contract factories (76 of 98) which covered 94 percent of footwear volume, 43 percent of apparel volume.
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CO2 emissions from contract footwear factories used to source NIKE Brand product were down 6 percent from FY08-FY11, despite a 20 percent increase in production.
97 percent of NIKE brand footwear achieved a baseline level or better on Nike’s Considered Index.
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“Since we began setting targets years ago, we’ve learned the greatest opportunity to drive change is in the areas where we have the most impact,” said NIKE, Inc. Vice President of Sustainable Business & Innovation, Hannah Jones. “We know our materials create our greatest environmental impact. We control the design so this is where we began to focus when we rolled out our Considered Design ethos in 2009. We are now applying this same discipline and rigor in designing sustainability into the way we source and manufacture our products.”
Nike first began reporting its environmental and social performance around key impact areas including waste, water, energy, toxics, climate and labor in 2001. With improvements in measurement and data, and achievement of some targets, the company continues to reexamine its targets and approach as it has learned more about root causes of issues and where it can bring about the greatest change.
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The next phase of sustainability performance targets released in its latest report include:
Product Design – All product improves environmental profile as measured on Sustainability indexes evolved from our Considered Design ethos and indexes. By end of FY15, all new NIKE Brand global footwear will achieve silver rating and all new NIKE Brand global apparel will achieve bronze rating.
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Climate/Energy - Achieve 20 percent reduction in CO2 emissions per unit from FY11 levels through FY15 (from assessed footprint in built environment, inbound transportation and footwear manufacturing).
Labor – Source by end FY20 only from contracted factories that demonstrate their commitment to workers and sustainability by achieving minimum Bronze on our Sourcing & Manufacturing Sustainability Index, which includes measures of worker rights and protections, including health and safety, and progressive movement toward the Fair Labor Association’s definition of a “fair wage” approach.
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Chemistry - Achieve zero discharge of hazardous chemicals* for all products across all pathways in our supply chain by 2020.
Water - Improve efficiency by 15 percent per unit in apparel materials dyeing and finishing, and footwear manufacturing (from FY11 through FY15).
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Waste - Achieve 10 percent reduction in waste from manufacturing across NIKE, Inc. and shoebox weight per unit (from FY11 baseline through FY15), building on waste reduction in footwear manufacturing of more than 35 percent per pair in first 10 years of program.
Community - Invest a minimum of 1.5 percent of pre‐tax income in communities annually.
In conjunction with the release of its report, Nike has launched an interactive web experience at http://www.nikefreeaustraliavip.com enabling users to explore Nike’s value chain and learn more about its progress and commitments against each impact area. It also provides tools where users can design footwear and clothing, check the environmental impact of various material selections and explore the company’s global contracted manufacturing base with an interactive map.
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* Hazardous chemicals are those that show intrinsically hazardous properties (persistent, bio-accumulative and toxic; very persistent and very bio-accumulative; carcinogenic, mutagenic and toxic for reproduction; endocrine disruptors; or equivalent concern), not just those that have been regulated or restricted in other regions.
About NIKE, Inc.
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 International Limited, which designs, distributes and licenses athletic and casual footwear, apparel and equipment, primarily for global football (soccer).
Teammates cherish time spent with their hero
"Most people would love to meet their childhood hero.
But for many of the younger players on the Seattle Mariners, they got to play alongside him. And as the marathon that is a baseball season wore on, that opportunity and privilege to wear the same uniform as a man they idolized growing up never once grew stale or routine.
The simple sight of Ken Griffey Jr. in the clubhouse made them all as giddy as 12-year-olds.
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So on the day that Griffey announced his retirement, those players already were reminiscing about the time they spent with the greatest player in Mariners history, a player whom they grew up idolizing.
"It was amazing," infielder Matt Tuiasosopo said. "In the six years I've played in the organization, the last year and a half has been the best of my career, just coming here to the clubhouse every day knowing I'd get to be with a guy like Griffey, who I grew up watching and wanting to be like."
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How much did the Woodinville High grad want to be like him?
"Every day me and all my friends would go out in our cul de sac just up the street from my house and play with a little tennis ball, and we would all act like him," he said. "I wasn't even a lefty, but I would act like him from the right side. We loved him, the Bone (Jay Buhner) and Edgar (Martinez)."
You didn't have to be from the Northwest to grow up loving griffeys.
"Coming from Australia, he was one of the handful of guys you could relate to being a young kid," pitcher Ryan Rowland-Smith said. "He had a huge impact on the game in Australia."
Rowland-Smith made his major league debut on June 22, 2007, and the first batter he faced was Griffey, then with the Reds. He struck him out swinging.
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"To come in and get to face him and talk to him about a few years later was a cool experience," Rowland-Smith said. "All I remember is that I got ahead of him and trying to throw a curveball as hard as I could. It bounced, and he swung. I walked off, and I could hear the groans from the crowd cause they wanted to see him hit a home run. But it was a special moment for me."
Then again he will view the whole time with Griffey as special."
There's a place in Mariners' organization for Ken Griffey Jr. — after he apologizes
"His leave-taking last season was like something out of a country-western song.
Ken Griffey Jr. walked out of the Mariners' clubhouse last season without saying goodbye, without even leaving an explanatory note.
He got in his luxury vehicle and drove off into the night, leaving Seattle in his rearview mirror.
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It was straight out of Nashville, all broken hearts and disillusionment.
Griffey felt he'd been disrespected by manager Don Wakamatsu, and instead of going into Wak's office and asking for an audience, Griffey just disappeared.
That night in early June was the beginning of the end of the 2010 season. Partly because of Griffey, the clubhouse became a house divided. Partly because of Griffey, Wakamatsu lost control of his team.
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It was an ugly, unsatisfying way for Griffey to leave the franchise that birthed him. It left a hole in his legacy here.
At that time, I wondered if time would heal this wound, if the bitterness that Griffey felt toward the franchise, and the disappointment many fans felt in the way he departed, could be fixed.
I wondered if we'd ever see Griffey's stadium-lighting smile again inside Safeco Field.
But Tuesday the Mariners announced that Griffey has been hired as a "special consultant." According to the M's news release, he will be involved in major-league operations, player development, marketing, broadcasting and community relations.
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He should arrive at their Peoria training camp some time in March. And the first thing he has to do if he's serious about staying in the organization is call a news conference and explain himself.
Before he becomes a Mariner again, he needs to tell the fans why he left the way he left and why, now, he has decided to return. He needs to fix his reputation."
Michael Clarke wins Allan Border Medal; ASICS Ambassadors sweep major awards
ASICS Ambassador Michael Clarke has claimed his third Allan Border Medal, as well as Test Player of the Year, to cap a stunning first year as Australian Cricket Captain, whilst fellow Ambassador Shane Watson completed the ASICS clean sweep, taking out the Australian One Day International and T20 Player of the Year Awards.
The Allan Border Medal is the most prestigious annual individual award in Australian Cricket, and celebrates the nation’s most outstanding cricketer over the past season, as voted by his peers, the media and match umpires.
An emotional Clarke claimed his third Allan Border Medal, having won previously in 2005 and 2009, and ensured during the moment that the success of the team always remained first and foremost in his mind.
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“When you lead a team and the team has success, it’s actually irrelevant how you perform individually. To see the team win is the most satisfying thing, and I think this is probably the most pleasing thing for me over the time I’ve been Captain of this team.”
Earlier in the evening Clarke had also been awarded the Test Player of the Year, the second such time in his career, after producing an outstanding Test Season which was highlighted by his career-defining 329* against India in January.
ASICS Ambassador and Australian Vice-Captain Shane Watson completed the clean sweep of Major Awards for ASICS, despite a season shortened by injury, claiming the T20 and One Day International Player of the Year Awards.
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It was the second consecutive time Watson had secured the prestigious One Day Award after winning in 2011, whilst it was the first time he had secured the T20 Award. A surprised Watson accepted the well-deserved T20 Award after producing some outstanding performances in the reduced format, despite only playing two-thirds of the matches.
“I am a bit shocked actually considering I haven’t played most of the summer, so it’s nice to have… done enough at the start of the year to get this award”
ASICS is very proud to have Michael Clarke and Shane Watson as Ambassadors, and is also very proud to be the Official Footwear and Apparel Sponsor of Cricket Australia, and the Australian Cricket Team.
ASICS signs Ironman Champion Pete Jacobs
Global sports brand ASICS has announced that Ironman triathlete and 2011 Ironman World Championship runner up, Pete Jacobs, has signed on as an ambassador.
Renowned for being one of the world's leading high performance footwear and apparel brands, ASICS will support Jacobs in a multiyear deal as he trains and races in his quest for his ultimate goal of winning the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii.
The sponsorship will see Pete Jacobs using ASICS footwear and apparel exclusively for training and racing throughout the coming seasons.
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Jacobs will wear the Onitsuka Tiger range of lifestyle and casual footwear and apparel when not training.
Jacobs is currently enjoying his off season following a successful 2011 of racing where he once again posted the fastest run split amidst the lava fields of Kona on his way to a 2nd place finish.
Jacobs spoke from his Sydney home "I am always in close contact with my management about wanting to work with the best in the business when it comes to all my sponsors. ASICS has a long history of producing the highest quality performance footwear and apparel so it was a very easy decision for me to enter a working partnership with them. They have such a wide range of quality product so I'll have plenty of options on and off the race course."
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"ASICS has a great track record in triathlon with the athletes we have worked with over the years. We've seen ASICS worn to victory in triathlon for Commonwealth Games, World Championships and of course the Olympics. We've admired Pete's progression in the sport and are extremely pleased to help him towards more victories including a world championship title." said Sam Chew, Marketing Manager, ASICS OCEANIA.
"ASICS is honored to have such a rising star like Jacobs added to our growing roster of triathletes," says ASICS America Promotions Manager of Running Athletes, Annie Adams. "Jacobs shows all signs of becoming a World Champion and we hope to help him achieve that goal."
Jacobs will commence his 2012 season in Australia as he takes on the Geelong Multi Sport Festival in Victoria.
Triple-hundred Treat: Clarke hits his way into record books
Australian Cricket Team Captain and ASICS Ambassador Michael Clarke has created history on Day 3 of the 100th Test Match played at the famous Sydney Cricket Ground, scoring an unbeaten 329 runs against India in the second Test.
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Clarke’s incredible innings, lasting 468 deliveries, saw him reach and surpass a number of Test records as well as easily eclipsing his own previous Test best. The knock, coming in the 100th Test match to be played at his home ground, the historic Sydney Cricket Ground, saw Clarke achieve the highest Test score ever at the ground, as well as the highest Test score ever by an Australian Captain on Australian soil. Clarke innings also ranks 4th on the list of highest scores by Australian Test batsmen, and 3rd on the list of all-time Test scores against India, as well as the 18th time he has reached a score of 100 in Test Cricket.
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His innings could not have been timelier, commencing on Day 1 with the Australian Team in trouble after losing 3 early wickets, having already bowled the Indian team out for 191. In amassing his final tally of 329, Clarke also became only the 21st batsman in history to score a Test triple-century, with his score also representing the 25th time a score of 300 has been achieved by a batsman in Test history.
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A technically-gifted and free-flowing right-handed batsman, Clarke, the current captain of the Australian Cricket Team, has been an indispensable member of the team since making his Test debut in 2004, amassing over 5,000 Test runs at an average over 45 runs per inning.
EURO 2012 Kicks Off with Group A
After much hype and hysteria building up to the kickoff of the EURO 2012 tournament, it’s now underway! Co-Host Poland kicked off on their home turf against 2004 upset champion Greece. A lot of early pressure from Poland saw mounting chances that made them destined to score. In the 17th minute, Robert Lewandowski headed a zooming cross from Jakub Blaszczykowski.
Maybe the Greek goalie was out of position, but the strike looked pretty good from here. Tension mounted and Greece was forced to 10 men when Sokratis Papastathopoulos was sent off for his second yellow, a weak foul at best, only 9 minutes after his first. With a weak first half and now down a man, Greece came out firing in the second half. Their first half conservative style was nowhere to be found as they made constant attacks out of the gate.
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They equalized in only the 51st minute with a goal from substitute Dimitrios Salpingidis. Now destined to take another lead, Poland continued their strong counters, but in a rare foul by Polish keeper Wojciech Szczensy, Greece was given a penalty and a chance to take the lead for the first time.
Substitute Polish keeper made a spectacular save to keep the game even, and that’s how it would finish: Poland 1-1 Greece. Notably though, Poland will miss their starting keeper in their next match against Russia. Russia, meanwhile, faced Czech Republic in what seemed to be an easy first match for the Russian side.
Taking a 1-0 lead on a deflected header shot home by Alan Dzagoev (15′) and quickly adding to their lead with a finesse chip by Shirokov (24′) over Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Czech. Not until the second half did Czech Republic get a glimmer of hope. In the 52nd minute, when Pilar escaped the Russian keeper and sent home an easy goal to the side net.
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Not long before Russia struck back and flexed their mussle. What might become one of the best goals in the group stage, Alan Dzagoev took a quick little through ball, and instinctively sent it to the far top shelf from 17 yards. Peter Czech may have been close, but there was no stopping such a deadly strike.
To top it all off, Roman Pavlyuchenko toyed with the Czech defense and after dribbling back and forth across the corner of the box, planted one home off the finger tips of Czech. Two powerful goals in the final few minutes of the game will have the rest of Group A questioning their own confidence.
Catch Groups B and C tomorrow and Sunday, when they kick off at 8am and 11:45Aam PDT on ESPN and affiliated networks.
Rosicky eager to ′make amends′
Tomas Rosicky has assured Czech Republic fans his team will prove people wrong when they face Greece at Euro 2012 on Tuesday.
The midfielder, whose team suffered a humiliating 4-1 loss to Russia in their opening match, believes it is important to 'make amends', but also has to win over the fans if his tournament is to be a success.
If selected, he will start on Tuesday when his side take on Greece, a team they lost out to at the semi-final stage in 2004.
"When it comes to our mental stage, we have a chance to make amends for the mistakes we made," Rosicky told reporters.
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"To say the truth, I remember it, the 2004 semi-final, but it's not revenge. I still feel sorry about it though.
"Both teams have changed a lot since then, but for me it's not a matter of revenge. That's the past and this is today and tomorrow's game is another match we have to win.
"It's not a good memory. But I don't want to go home yet. We'll try to fight and not make mistakes."
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Manager Michal Bilek gave away little about his team selection ahead of the match against the Greeks, afforded the luxury of having a fully fit squad.
"Everybody is healthy, so this is good. I haven't really decided on the line-up yet. The line-up will be decided tomorrow. I have many ideas on mind." he said.
Bilek acknowledged the strong Greek defence, but was bullish about his side's chances.
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"We know that Greece have a great defence. For several years they have performed very well. And in the first half against Poland they showed their strength. They dominated the game," he said.
"The following matches will be crucial and we'll have to get the most of the six points. I wouldn't say this is going to be the hardest match.
"Our players are good. We can come up with a good line-up. We can win the game tomorrow."
PSG join bidding war with Man Utd for Modric
Cash-rich Paris Saint Germain are poised to beat Manchester United and Chelsea in their bid for Tottenham playmaker Luka Modric.
The Qatari-backed French side could end up wrecking United boss Sir Alex Ferguson’s hopes of landing Croatia midfielder Modric, as it is believed they are ready to offer ￡30 million plus, according to the Mirror.
United have already had a ￡22m bid knocked back, and Ferguson is growing frustrated in his attempts to land Modric, it said.
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PSG coach Carlo Ancelotti has identified Modric as one of his top targets this summer, and had scouts at Croatia’s Euro 2012 win over the Republic of Ireland on Sunday.
The Sun reported last week that United had offered the Croatian a four-year contract worth ￡25 million, with a weekly wage of ￡125,000.
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However, it appears Spurs chairman Daniel Levy, who successfully held of Chelsea's advances 12 months ago when they made a ￡35 million bid, is intent on keeping Modric at White Hart Lane during this transfer window.
It is also believed Modric would prefer a move to Old Trafford rather than PSG, but the French club have made things very complicated for Fergie as he attempts to land him, the Mirror added.
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United are determined to land Modric after being beaten to the signing of Lille winger Eden Hazard by Chelsea after the club thought they were favourites to land the 21-year-old.
Ferguson wants to rebuild his squad after his team finished without a trophy last season, having signed Japanese attacker Shinji Kagawa from Borussia Dortmund for ￡17m.
He is also apparently interested in Everton full-back Leighton Baines and Newcastle defensive midfielder Cheick Tiote.
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United are also lining up a ￡14m move for Dutch midfield enforcer Kevin Strootman, it was reported.
Modric insists he is only focused on Euro 2012 and is refusing to elaborate on his future.
He said: “I’m with the national team. I am a Spurs player and it’s not down to me to speak about it.”
To fans, Griffey was Jordan, Montana, Gretzky rolled into one
"It was a time for goose bumps and tears. Fans attending Wednesday's Seattle Mariners game only got about an hour's advance notice that the greatest player in team history had retired.
With Aerosmith's haunting anthem "Dream On" echoing throughout Safeco Field, fans stood and watched a montage of Ken Griffey Jr.'s highlights. Realistically, Junior has provided enough highlights to require an entire Aerosmith album to get through them all.
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The scene was so moving that both the Twins and Mariners players watched from the top step of their dugouts.
As the montage ended - fittingly - with the Kid's mad dash from first to home plate in the 1995 playoffs against the New York Yankees, with the voice of a screaming Dave Niehaus piercing the air, fans applauded.
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It wasn't raucous, enthusiastic applause like during Griffey's return to Seattle with the Cincinnati Reds in 2007, or his return to the Mariners in 2009. The crowd was significantly larger on those instances, and knew what to expect.
This was applause with a touch of melancholy. For many, their favorite player had said goodbye.
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Many fans at Safeco on Wednesday were still stunned at the news that No. 24 had called it quits.
Andrea Katalich of Seattle was at the Pyramid brew pub with her husband and saw the news scrolling across the bottom of the TV."
Ken Griffey Jr. announces retirement
"The players didn't hear the news – Ken Griffey Jr. had just announced his retirement – until manager Don Wakamatsu huddled his Seattle Mariners around him just before batting practice Wednesday.
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Milton Bradley glanced at the gray sky above Safeco Field and turned to teammate Mike Sweeney.
"It ought to rain on this day," he said.
The face of the Mariners organization since being drafted as a teenager in 1987, Griffey retired Wednesday with a telephone call to friend and team president Chuck Armstrong.
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"While I feel I am still able to make a contribution on the field, and nobody in the Mariners front office has asked me to retire, I told the Mariners … I will never allow myself to become a distraction," Griffey said in a written statement.
"Without enough occasional starts to be sharper coming off the bench, my continued presence as a player would be an unfair distraction to my teammates."
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Griffey left the game at age 40, after 22 big-league seasons in which he became one of baseball's most recognizable players. He retired with a .284 lifetime average, 630 home runs and 1,836 RBI.
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"Speaking for every other player on this team, I love Ken Griffey Jr.," Sweeney said. "It's hard, there's a void that will never be filled. Ken's heart, his charisma, you can't replace that – on or off the field."
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This season, Junior batted just .184 in 33 games – 98 at-bats – and had seen his role diminished from primary designated hitter to occasional pinch-hitter.
"It's a sad day for all of us with the team, because he's not just been a great baseball player, he's been a personal friend," Wakamatsu said.
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It wasn't long after the news became public that people began talking about Griffey and his remarkable career."
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